Saturday 30 May 2015:

New Zealand 0 – 0 Ukraine

USA 2 – 0 Myanmar

Argentina 2 – 2 Panama

Ghana 1 – 1 Austria

The FIFA U-20 World Cup started today in New Zealand. The Flying Eagles of Nigeria will be seeking to better the second place finish they got at Saudi’89 and Netherland’05 editions. The Flying Eagles are in Group E along side Brazil, Korea DPR and Hungary. They will play all their group matches at the Stadium Taranaki, New Plymouth, New Zealand. Their group fixtures are as follows:

Monday 1 June 2015:

Nigeria vs Brazil 2am

Thursday 4 June 2015:

Nigeria vs Korea DPR 5am

Sunday 7 June 2015:

Hungary vs Nigeria 6am

*Time = Nigerian

Good luck to the Flying Eagles!

Amir Khan wants to fight Floyd Mayweather next after claiming a unanimous points victory over American Chris Algieri in their welterweight bout in New York on Friday. Khan, 28, scored 117-111, 117-111 and 115-113 on the three judges’ scorecards to claim a fifth consecutive win. The Briton now wants to try to end triple-welterweight world champion Mayweather’s 48-fight unbeaten run. “Amir Khan wants to fight Floyd Mayweather,” he said. “I want that next. I’m number one World Boxing Council [challenger]. He’s the champion. So let’s make it happen.” Mayweather beat Manny Pacquiao earlier this month in Las Vegas to add the WBO welterweight title to the WBC and WBA titles he already owned, in the most lucrative fight in boxing history. Mayweather, 38, who is set to retire after a final fight in September, turned down a meeting with Khan last year ahead of the Pacquiao bout, with the five-weight world champion preferring to fight Argentina’s Marcos Maidana instead. Former two-time light-welterweight world champion Khan showed good stamina to overcome former light-welterweight world champion Algieri at the Barclays Centre, Brooklyn, scoring heavily with his quick combinations after a bright start from the New Yorker. Algieri landed a strong combination of his own early in the eighth round, prompting a surge of cheers for the New Yorker from the partisan crowd, but Khan says it inspired him to dig deeper and see out the fight. “He came to fight, wanted to win, had his home crowd, but I came here to win,” he said. “The crowd really fired me up the last three rounds when Chris really came at me hard.”

Former England captain Rio Ferdinand has retired from football, days after being released by Queens Park Rangers. The 36-year-old said it was “the right time” to retire from “the game I love”, in a statement read out on BT Sport.  London-born Ferdinand, who had 12 years at Manchester United after spells with West Ham and Leeds, last played for QPR in March. In the statement, he paid tribute to his wife Rebecca Ellison, who died from breast cancer on 1 May. Announcing his retirement, Ferdinand said: “After 18 years as a professional footballer, I now feel it’s the right time for me to retire from the game that I love. “As a 12-year-old boy, kicking around a football on the Friary Estate in Peckham, I never dreamt that I would play for my boyhood club West Ham, captain Leeds United, win the Champions League with Manchester United, or re-join my first manager Harry Redknapp at Queens Park Rangers. “I will always regard the 81 times that I played for England with immense pride. These are all treasured memories that will last a lifetime.” Ferdinand began his career under Redknapp at West Ham, and had a short loan spell at Bournemouth before making his England debut at the age of 19 in 1997. He joined Leeds for £18m in 2000, and then moved to Manchester United two years later in a deal worth £29.1m, which at the time was a world-record fee for a defender. While at Old Trafford, he won six Premier League titles, and lifted the Champions League in 2008 as Chelsea were beaten on penalties in Moscow. He captained England for the first time in 2008, and replaced John Terry in the role on a full-time basis in February 2010, but missed out on the chance to lead his country at that year’s World Cup in South Africa after suffering knee ligament damage during a pre-tournament training session.

Namibia and Mozambique are both aiming to lift the Cosafa Cup for the first time ever when they meet in Saturday’s final in South Africa. Both countries are past runners-up in the southern African Championship, Namibia in 1997 and 1999 and Mozambique in 2008. In Thursday’s semi-finals Namibia snatched a 3-2 win over Madagascar, despite poor defending and finishing. While the Mozambicans scored late to beat Botswana 2-1 in the last four. Namibia’s victory came thanks to a Peter Shalulile goal six minutes from the end of the first game with a rocket like effort off his left foot. The goal came not long after the youthful striker had missed an easy chance in front of goal – one of several glaring misses by the Brave Warriors, who dominated the game. The two teams, playing their fifth match in just over week, provided four goals in the first half but looked understandably tired after the interval. Namibia scored first through Benson Shilongo in the 17th minute, although he almost made a hash of a close-range tap-in. Dean Hotto set up Shilongo for a 32nd minute equaliser and a 2-2 half-time score. Mozambique broke the deadlock against Botswana through nippy striker Isac, who despite his lack of height climbed above the defence to glance home a header from a corner in the 65th minute. But Botswana’s Omaatla Kebatho equalised in the 78th minute to look to send the game to extra time. But as the match went into the last minute, substitute Parkim headed home as Botswana were caught ball watching. Botswana will meet Madagascar in the third place play-off before Saturday’s final. Both matches will be played at the Moruleng Stadium. On Friday, at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, neighbours Malawi meet Zambia in the final of the plate competition for the sides knocked out in the last eight.

Ghana opened their Fifa Under-20 World Cup campaign in New Zealand with a 1-1 draw against Austria. Ghana’s Yaw Yeboah converted an 90th minute penalty, that he had won when he was brought down by Konrad Laimer, to salvage the draw. Earlier, Austria had taken the lead after Bernd Gschweidl scored an early second half goal in their Group B clash. It was an entertaining match despite the wet conditions in Wellington. Austria seemed to be in control of the fixture after their 50th minute goal, and even missed the chance to double their lead ten minutes later when Markus Blutsch shot over from a good position. But Ghana, champions in 2009, rescued a point after Laimer’s clumsy tackle on Yeboah which resulted in a penalty. Yeboah produced a solid spot-kick, hitting a left-foot shot low to the right of Casali, the Austria goalkeeper. In the other Group B match, Argentina captain Angel Correa scored both his team’s goals as the tournament favourites were held to a 2-2 draw by Panama. Three other African teams – Mali, Senegal and Nigeria – will also feature at the tournament.

Promoted AFC Bournemouth have signed Chelsea winger Christian Atsu on a season-long loan deal. The 23-year-old joined Chelsea from Portuguese side Porto in 2013 for a reported £3.5m, but has yet to feature for the Premier League champions. Ghana international Atsu spent last season on loan at Everton, making 13 appearances in all competitions. “It is a huge coup to us as a club that he was so keen to come here,” Cherries chief executive Neill Blake said.  “Eddie Howe has got the team playing an exciting brand of football which has earned us plaudits nationwide. “I am confident that Christian will flourish under his watchful eye and amongst this talented group.”