Sport
Monday, 18 September 2017 03:29
Improved Arsenal hold Chelsea to goalless draw
CHELSEA 0 ARSENAL 0Arsenal produced a vastly-improved away performance to have the better of a 0-0 draw with Premier League champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. After defeat at Stoke City and a thrashing at Liverpool, Arsene Wenger's side showed far more steel and hit the post through Aaron Ramsey as well as having Shkodran Mustafi's headed goal disallowed as they had the better of the chances. Tempers frayed near the end with Chelsea's David Luiz shown a red card for a wild tackle on Sead Kolasinac -- their third red card of the season from only five league…
Saturday, 16 September 2017 04:14
Over 500,000 World Cup tickets requested on first day of sales - FIFA
Soccer fans requested more than 500,000 tickets for next year's World Cup finals in Russia on the first day of sales, FIFA said on Friday. World soccer's ruling body said in a statement that Russian fans had made the most requests in the first 24 hours of sales, "followed by their Mexican, Argentinian, Brazilian, Chinese, U.S., Colombian, German and English counterparts". More than 50,000 tickets have been requested for the final, which will be held at Moscow's newly-renovated Luzhniki stadium on July 15. Just under 40,000 tickets were requested for the tournament's opening match, which will also be held at…
Wednesday, 13 September 2017 03:19
World Cup tickets to cost from $105 to $1100
Tickets for next year's World Cup in Russia will go on sale from Thursday with prices ranging from $105 (£79) for the cheapest seats at group stage matches to $1,100 for the most expensive seats at the final, FIFA said on Tuesday. The global soccer body said in a statement that sales, which would be made through its website, would be divided into two phases, followed by last-minute sales. "We have put in place a ticketing system that will enable all fans a fair chance to secure tickets," said FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura. "Throughout history, fans have made a…
Wednesday, 13 September 2017 03:18
PSG's Neymar, Mbappe and Cavani run riot at Celtic
Paris St Germain's attacking trio of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani were all on the scoresheet as they tore Celtic apart to lead the French club to a 5-0 rout in their Champions League Group B opener on Tuesday. The world's most expensive frontline produced a potent display of force to sweep Celtic aside, inflicting the heaviest home European defeat on the Scottish side. PSG, who have so often flattered to deceive among Europe's elite, looked genuine contenders to make a run for the title as they mercilessly picked apart their opponents. Neymar, making his first European appearance for…
Monday, 11 September 2017 03:23
Rafael Nadal wins US Open with straight-set win over Kevin Anderson
Rafael Nadal won his third US Open and 16th Grand Slam title with a one-sided victory over South Africa's Kevin Anderson in New York.The world number one powered to a 6-3 6-3 6-4 victory in Sunday's final at Flushing Meadows. The Spaniard, 31, has now won two Slams in the same year for the first time since 2013, having won the French Open in June. "It's just unbelievable what happened this year," said Nadal."After a couple of years with some troubles, injuries, sometimes playing not good - since the beginning of the season it has been very, very emotional." The…
Sunday, 10 September 2017 03:27
Plateau United are NPFL champions
Plateau United have won the Nigeria Professional Football League title after defeating Enugu Rangers 2-0 on Saturday. The Peace Boys only needed a win to secure the title, having held a one-point lead over MFM FC, who lost 2-1 at El Kanemi Warriors in Maiduguri. Any slip would have been severely punished, as the Olukoya Warriors would have lifted the title in other circumstances. Goals from Emeka Umeh and Benjamin Turba, however, secured the points that the Jos side needed to lift the title. Their campaign has been one of effective persistent excellence since the commencement of the season. Moreover,…
Sunday, 10 September 2017 03:25
3SC, ABS relegated from NPFL
Shooting Stars and ABS are confirmed relegated from the Nigeria Professional Football League after they registered losses in the last day of the 2016-17 season. Prior to the Matchday 38, teams positioned from the sixth to 18th in the Nigerian topflight log were candidates to ply their trades in the Nigerian National League next season. But the Ibadan and Ilorin sides lost their games and thus, were unable to retain their topflight status. ABS, who just like Remo Stars failed at their first attempt in the elite division, were defeated by Nasarawa United 2-1 while Shooting Stars lost 2-0 to…
Friday, 08 September 2017 03:33
NFF announce Nigeria squad for WAFU Cup of Nations
Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) have announced Super Eagles squad for 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations. The tournament is scheduled to take place in Ghana between 9th-24th September. Salisu Yusuf, Nigeria assistant coach, will be in charge of the squad at the West African tournament. The tactician has selected goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Dele Ajiboye, and 16 other players for the competition. Nigeria will play Sierra Leone in the first round of the tournament (which is a knock-out) on Saturday, before eight teams emerge for a group phase competition. Nigeria squad Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah); Dele Ajiboye (Plateau United) Defenders:…
Thursday, 07 September 2017 02:33
FIFA orders South Africa-Senegal qualifier to be replayed after ref banned
FIFA has ordered the World Cup qualifier between South Africa and Senegal, played in November 2016, to be replayed after the referee was banned for life. FIFA said in March that Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey had been banned for life after they found him guilty of unlawfully influencing a match result following South Africa's 2-1 win over Senegal in African Group D. FIFA did not give further details but African soccer's governing body (CAF) said at the time that Lamptey had wrongly awarded a penalty to the South Africans and suspended him for three months.The life ban for Lamptey was…
Wednesday, 06 September 2017 03:51
Super Eagles to get full match bonus despite draw with Cameroon
Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has opted to pay players and officials of the Super Eagles full match bonus for Monday’s crunchy 2018 FIFA World Cup encounter against Cameroon in Yaounde. According to a statement from NFF, the players and officials will receive their full match bonuses even though the tie in Yaounde ended in a draw. The statement noted that NFF President Amaju Pinnick disclosed this to the team on board the ARIK Air Bombadier CRJ 1000 aircraft that flew the Nigerian delegation back from Yaounde on Tuesday morning. It noted that excited players and officials applauded as Pinnick insisted…
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Tuesday, 05 September 2017 03:31
2018 World Cup qualifier: Cameroon 1-1 Nigeria - As it happened
Welcome to as-it-happened coverage of the 2018 World Cup qualifier between Cameroon and Nigeria from Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde. Commentary:
All times CAT 90+8' - Full time - It ends 1-1 in Yaounde, probably a fair result given Cameroon's improvement in the second half. The result means Nigeria cannot secure qualification in this round of matches, but they remain very much on course for Russia 2018. 90+5' - Yellow card - Fai is booked for a challenge on Moses. 90+3' - Some tactical time wasting from Ezenwa as he receives treatment for the earlier collision with Fai. 90+2' - …
Tuesday, 05 September 2017 03:25
Africa champion Cameroon misses out on World Cup
The African champion won't be in Russia for next year's World Cup.Cameroon was the first team to be eliminated in the final round of qualifying in Africa after drawing with Nigeria 1-1 at home on Monday. While the result put group leader Nigeria's hopes on hold, it definitely ended Cameroon's, meaning the one-time World Cup quarterfinalist's revival to win the African Cup of Nations in February was short-lived. The draw that sealed Cameroon's World Cup fate came three days after it was beaten in Nigeria 4-0, a result that did not befit the African titleholder. There was one other qualifier…
Monday, 04 September 2017 03:35
Nigeria vs Cameroon: Businessman promises Super Eagles $20,000 per goal
A businessman, Mr Aka Udofia, has offered the Super Eagles $20,000 for each goal they score in Monday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup second-leg qualifying cracker against Cameroon. In a statement from Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, the young businessman from Akwa Ibom made the promise as he briefly greeted players and officials inside the chartered ARIK Bombadier CRJ 1000 aircraft just before take-off at the Ibom International Airport, Uyo on Sunday afternoon. He said “I am a good friend of NFF President, Mr Amaju Pinnick, and I am happy that I am here in time to see you guys before take-off…
Monday, 04 September 2017 03:34
Nigeria League title race goes to the wire; NPFL Match Day 37 results
Winner of Nigeria Professional Football League for the 2016/17 season will only be decided on the final day of action following results from the penultimate games of the season played on Sunday. Plateau United who are still the table toppers going into final day of action were beaten 1-0 on Sunday by Wikki Tourists. That means the Jos-based team stay on 63 points after 37 games. Plateau United are now condemned to win their last fixture for the season which is a home game against Enugu Rangers to be assured of winning a historic league title. Should they lose, then…