David Moyes has been sacked as manager of Real Sociedad. Moyes’ assistant Billy McKinlay has also been dismissed. A statement on the website of the La Liga club reads: “We want to thank both David Moyes and Billy McKinlay for the entire contribution, professionalism and dedication they have shown during the course of their duties in the direction of the first team. “We wish them the best for their professional and personal future.” David Moyes’ Real Sociedad team are marooned near the bottom of La Liga. They are above the relegation zone on goal difference and a limp performance in Friday’s 2-0 defeat against lowly Las Palmas left the Scot;s future in serious doubt. Moyes’s potential departure has been a slow burning story for the last few weeks, but in the last couple of days it has started to accelerate quickly. Sociedad, known throughout Spain as ‘La Real’, made a poor start to the season, winning just twice (both away from home) and have nine points from their opening 11 games.
Russia’s sport minister, Vitaly Mutko, has denied all allegations, while the RusAthletics, the Russian track and field federation, has accused WADA of circumventing established protocols for dealing with doping. “Any suspension should be discussed at the meeting of the IAAF [International Association of Athletics Federations] in November,” the acting head of RusAthletics, Vadim Zelechenok, told R-Sport channel. “It should be proven that any violations were the fault of the federation and not individual sportspeople. We should be given a chance to clear our names.”
IAAF president Sebastian Coe is to seek approval for sanctions against Russia in the light of the doping allegations in the Wada Independent Commission report. “The information in Wada’s Independent Commissions Report is alarming. We need time to properly digest and understand the detailed findings included in the report. “However, I have urged the IAAF Council to start the process of considering sanctions against Araf (Russian Athletics Federation). This step has not been taken lightly. “Our athletes, partners and fans have my total assurance that where there are failures in our governance or our anti-doping programmes we will fix them. “We will do whatever it takes to protect the clean athletes and rebuild trust in our sport. The IAAF will continue to offer the police authorities our full co-operation into their ongoing investigation.”
Swansea City have parted company with Spanish forward Michu by mutual consent. Both parties have reached a financial agreement over the remainder of the 29-year-old’s contract, which ran until the end of this season, and he will now become a free agent. Michu, who joined from Rayo Vallecano in July 2012, scored 28 goals in 67 appearances for the Swans.
International police body Interpol has said it will coordinate a French-led global investigation into doping allegations in athletics. The body announced the news at the same time as a team of investigators for the World Anti-Doping Agency recommended disciplinary action against Russia. Last week, French prosecutors accused the sport’s governing body’s ex-president Lamine Diack of being involved. He is alleged to have taken bribes to cover up doping cases.
Patrick Vieira has signed a three-year contract at New York City and begins work in the Big Apple on 1 January. “I am delighted to take up the role of head coach,” said the Frenchman. “To work with this squad, with (sporting director) Claudio Reyna and Rob Vartughian and the fantastic support team that is in place, is an exciting prospect for any coach. “This established football set up, together with a passionate and loyal fan base – located in a special city which I know well – makes for an unparalleled opportunity that I am delighted to seize with both hands. I cannot wait to get started.”
The World Anti Doping Agency have said that Russia should be suspended from competition until improved measures are taken. They’ve also accused the Russian government of ‘direct intimidation’ over their Moscow doping lab, which they say should lose its accreditation. A further recommendation says that 5 athletes and 5 coaches should be given lifetime doping bans.
The International Olympics Committee have recommended that former IAAF president Lamine Diack should be provisionally suspended as an honorary member. This is as a result of findings of an independent report into claims of doping, cover-ups, and extortion in Russian athletics. The independent commission was set up by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The 82-year old from Senegal is accused of being complicit in a cover-up of doping by Russian athletes. French police confirmed that he is under investigation for allegedly receiving more than 1 million euros to cover up doping. His son Papa Massata Diack, advisor Habib Cisse and the former IAAF anti-doping chief Gabriel Dolle are also being investigated by French police.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he felt “alone” at Anfield in the closing stages of the 2-1 defeat by Crystal Palace. Sections of home supporters left their seats after Scott Dann headed Palace ahead eight minutes from time. “Eighty-two minutes – game over,” said Klopp, who suffered his first defeat as Liverpool boss. “I turned around and I felt pretty alone at this moment. We have to decide when it is over.” Dann’s header saw Palace go above Liverpool in the Premier League table and means Klopp has won three, drawn three and lost one of his first seven games in charge. Former Borussia Dortmund manager Klopp – who said that the club must calm down after they conceded another late goal against Southampton in October – was not angry with the fans who left, but frustrated with his players for not making them believe that a comeback was possible. “I am not disappointed about this, the fans leaving, they have reasons,” said the German. “But we are responsible that nobody can leave the stadium a minute before the last whistle because everything can happen. “Between 82 minutes and 94 you can make eight goals, if you want, but you have to work for it. “That is what we have to show and we didn’t.”
Spain defenders Sergio Ramos and Juanfran will miss this month’s friendlies against England and Belgium after picking up injuries. Ramos injured his shoulder while scoring in Real Madrid’s defeat at Sevilla while his fellow defender sustained a thigh injury in Atletico Madrid’s win over Sporting Gijon. Coach Vicente del Bosque has called up Real’s Nacho Fernandez and Athletic Bilbao’s Oscar de Marcos to replace them.
Nigerians have been congratulating countryman Wellington Jighere, who has become the first African to win the English-language World Scrabble Championships. The 32-year-old beat Englishman Lewis MacKay 4-0 in the final in Australia. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari was among those to congratulate him, saying he has “done the country proud”. Mr Jighere said on his Facebook page that he felt he was playing with the “whole continent” behind him. He added that it “still baffles” him that he managed to win, given how tired he felt as he had “not slept well in about a week”. He told the Guardian newspaper that he had training to deal with the fatigue from the jet lag, but also had to cope with 31 rounds of matches in four days before getting to the final in Perth.
Ten-man Enyimba yesterday won their seventh Nigeria league crown with a game to spare after they held Warri Wolves to a goalless draw in front of over 40,000 fans at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba. Enyimba needed just a point in their final home game against closest rivals Wolves and they did just enough to get the job done. ‘The People’s Elephant’ clinched the championship with a round of matches to spare as they have 69 points, six points clear of Wolves. The best away form of the season – five wins and seven draws – earned the two-time African champions Enyimba the league title five years after their last conquest. Warri Wolves gave a good account of themselves and they are expected to end the season as runners-up to earn a ticket to next year’s CAF Champions League with a home win over relegated FC Taraba on the final day of the season next week. After a rather cagey first 45 minutes, the second half opened up after Nigeria U23 forward Daniel Etor was sent off for punching Gbolahan Salami in the 50th minute. Joseph Osadiaye had a good chance to put Wolves in front in the 54th minute when the lively Stanley Dimgba found him with a fine cross from the right, but he blasted his effort well off target.
As we round off the Chile U-17 world cup coverage, below are other individual and team honors won. We already know that Nigeria won the gold medal, Mali silver and Belgium bronze. Nevertheless, in the coming days, we’ll bring you memories of Nigeria’s past exploits in this U-17 world cup category. We can never finish this sweet story but we have to take a break for now.
adidas Golden Ball: Kelechi Nwakali (Nigeria) The captain of the Golden Eaglets was included in Nigeria’s provisional squad ahead of the 2013 edition, but was not named in the final party that went on to win the title. Here, however, the playmaker was the first to lift the trophy aloft. Coach Emmanuel Amuneke right-hand man out on the pitch, he shouldered responsibility and kept a cool head in difficult moments. He scored three goals, including two penalties, and provided a further three assists, a haul that was also brought him the adidas Bronze Boot.
The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria became only the second side to retain the FIFA U-17 World Cup with a 2-0 win against Mali in Vina Del Mar. Victor Osimhen stole the show once again thanks to his record-breaking tenth goal of the tournament, with Funsho Bamgboye adding a second moments later. Samuel Diarra had saved an early Osinachi Ebere penalty as the Malians played their part in an entertaining finale to Chile 2015. The penalty came as both sides were just finding their rhythm in the opening exchanges, Chato the culprit with a handball. Ebere saw his low effort saved brilliantly by Diarra, the No17’s follow up header hit the bar before a third bite of the cherry was blocked by the Malian defence. Both sides had chances in a tense opening period, with Golden Eaglets skipper Kelechi Nwakali hitting just wide and Boubacar Traore seeing his glancing header tipped over by Akpan Udoh.
The second half saw the game burst into life, with Emmanuel Amuneke’s words clearly working their magic on the Nigerian youngsters. Osimhen shrugged off the challenge of Mamadou Fofana before hitting a wonderful dipping half volley towards goal, which Diarra spectacularly saved. Udochukwu Anumudu then smashed a thunderous effort at goal, which rebounded back off the crossbar and was cleared away. Mali did not heed those warnings. Good approach play by substitute Chinedu Madueke saw him tee up Osimhen for his record-breaking goal, seeing him surpass the nine goals scored by Florent Sinama Pongolle in 2001 and Souleymane Coulibaly ten years later. The holders doubled their advantage mere minutes later, with Bamgboye bursting down the Nigerian left before smashing a powerful effort at goal, Diarra standing little chance. Despite a couple of late chances for Mali, from corner kicks, Nigeria retained possession for large spells and saw the game out to retain their crown. The jubilant scenes on the final whistle in Vina Del Mar will surely live long in the memories of these Nigerian heroes of the present, some of whom may just become the stars of the future.
