Nigeria’s dominance in athletics on the African continent has again been proven as the country’s contingent to the 12th edition of the Africa Junior Athletics Championships which ended Sunday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, finished tops in the four-day event, premium times reports. The Nigerian team, led by Ese Brume and Divine Oduduru, finished top of the medals table with 12 gold, 8 silver and 7 bronze medals.
Sunday March 8:
Senegal 1 – 3 Nigeria
Congo 1 – 1 Ivory Coast
Taiwo Awoniyi scored the first two goals for the Flying Eagles of Nigeria in the 10th and 13th minutes respectively while Sidy Sarr pulled one back for hosts Senegal in the 27th minute. Ifeanyi Matthew made it 3 – 1 for Nigeria in the 44th minute.
Yakou Meite scored for Ivory Coast in the 37th minute while Silvère Ganvoula M’boussy equalized for Congo in the 75th minute.
AFTER allowing South Africa and host Ethiopia to dominate proceedings on Day one of competition at the on-going Addis Ababa 2015 African Junior Athletics Championship, Team Nigeria rose to the occasion Friday, picking four gold medals to jump to the top of the medals table, Guardian reports.
The Football Association has banned Manchester United’s Jonny Evans for six games and Newcastle’s Papiss Cisse for seven matches for spitting. Defender Evans, 27, had denied the charge which related to an incident with striker Cisse in the Red Devils’ 1-0 win over the Magpies on Wednesday. Cisse, 29, has been suspended for an extra game as he has already received a ban this season. There is no right of appeal and the bans will take immediate effect. As a result, Northern Ireland international Evans will miss Monday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. “Mr Evans denied the charge but it was found proven,” said an FA statement. The flashpoint between the two was not seen by referee Anthony Taylor or his assistants, but was caught on video. A three-man panel of former referees reviewed the footage on Thursday and agreed the players should have been sent off, prompting the FA to bring a charge. Evans’ statement on Thursday said: “I would like to make it clear that I did not spit at Papiss Cisse. Having woken up this morning, I am shocked to have seen the media coverage from last night’s match.” Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said: “I don’t think Jonny Evans is a spitter. He was not aware he was spitting. He has said that also. I believe him. For me, the matter is done.” After accepting the charge for his role in the altercation, Senegalese Cisse, who accepted the charge, issued an apology, adding: “I reacted to something I found very unpleasant.” An independent regulatory commission heard the charge and decided both players should be banned.
West Ham striker Carlton Cole has accepted a Football Association charge for making abusive comments towards a Tottenham fan on Twitter. The 31-year-old reacted to a comment on social media after a 2-2 draw between the sides on 22 February, where he went off injured having been subbed on. An FA independent commission will now meet to decide his sanction. In April 2011, he was fined £20,000 by the FA for comments he made on Twitter during England’s friendly with Ghana. On that occasion, he wrote: “Immigration has surrounded the Wembley premises! I knew it was a trap!” before deleting the comments. “The only way to get out safely is to wear an England jersey and paint your face w/ the St George’s flag!” He later apologised for the comments, describing them as a “light-hearted joke”. Cole has made 17 appearances for the Hammers this season and scored three goals.
The thing is they get charged all the time yet they wont learnt. I wonder o. Sorry o brother Cole (has a Nigerian father and a Sierra Leonean mother). His full names are Carlton Michael George Cole Okorie. His dad is from Omoku in Rivers state but he played for England at youth and senior levels.
Saturday 7 March 2015:
Bradford v Reading 1:45 pm
Aston Villa v West Brom 6:30 pm
Sunday 8 March 2015:
Liverpool v Blackburn 4 pm
Monday 9 March 2015:
Man Utd v Arsenal 8:45 pm
*Time = Nigerian
The Football Association is pleased to announce that Martin Glenn has been appointed as the organisation’s new Chief Executive Officer. Glenn, 54, is a veteran of industry and has built up a reputation for making well-loved British brands more dynamic, competitive and international in their reach. He will join The FA on 18 May, leaving his current role as CEO at United Biscuits, a £1bn company which is home to the McVitie’s and Jacobs brands and with a rapidly growing international division. Glenn, a Wolverhampton Wanderers FC supporter, said: “I am incredibly proud to have been chosen to play my part in shaping the future direction of The FA. There are few more important and interesting places to work than Wembley Stadium and St. George’s Park and I am very much looking forward to meeting the staff and leading them into an exciting new period. “I have coached football at grassroots level, have sat on the Board of a Premier League football club and have spent my time on the terraces at Molineux where I have a season ticket. I hope this informs my work at The FA as we look to inspire everyone to be involved in what is the nation’s most watched and played team sport. “I very much hope my personal experience of operating in highly competitive global markets will help The FA in its own drive to promote greater success for our all of our national teams in international tournaments.” FA Chairman Greg Dyke added: “On behalf of The FA Board I am delighted with the appointment of Martin Glenn as Chief Executive Officer of The Football Association. He brings with him a wealth of experience as a CEO to what is an extremely important role in English football, and he will play a key part in helping us shape and deliver our new strategic priorities for the years ahead. “I know, as a football fan, he will take great pride in the job and he will be an asset to The FA and will lead the organisation through a significant period of change. “Martin came through a highly competitive process, and we are delighted that he has chosen to join us. He is a natural leader and I look forward to working with him.”
FIFA’s new independent ethics chief says “nobody will interfere” with his task of keeping corruption out of football’s world governing body, BBC reports. Swiss attorney Cornel Borbely has succeeded Michael Garcia, who quit in protest in December. Garcia was unhappy at how FIFA officials handled his investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Borbely said: “I don’t take any orders at all from FIFA – none whatsoever.” He added: “I alone decide whether to open, conduct and conclude an investigation and on its result.” The 36-year-old – who was Garcia’s deputy – told Reuters: “I am completely independent of any FIFA officials. Otherwise I couldn’t, and wouldn’t, do this job. Nobody interferes – neither the FIFA executive committee nor anybody else.” Borbely headed an economic crimes investigation unit in Zurich for three years and has worked as a prosecutor for a military tribunal. He said anyone coming forward with information about alleged FIFA corruption could do so in confidence, with any tips “carefully evaluated”. And the Swiss added: “I also have my eyes and ears open and if I see something that calls for it, of course I open a preliminary investigation.” FIFA has suffered a series of damaging allegations in recent years, including claims of corruption in the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. US lawyer Garcia was called in to investigate those allegations and a 42-page summary of his findings said there had been no wrongdoing. However, Garcia questioned that summary and complained to FIFA about its “erroneous” representation of his work. But FIFA dismissed his appeal, prompting his resignation. FIFA has since agreed to release a redacted version of Garcia’s full 430-page report.
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association following the match against Hull City on Tuesday. The charge relates to kicking a water bottle as he was sent to the stands in the 35th minute of the Premier League match, which finished 1-1. Bruce has been contacted by the FA over a touchline row with Poyet and formally reminded of his responsibilities. Poyet has until 18:00 GMT on Monday to respond to the charge. The incident at the KC Stadium occurred with Sunderland trailing 1-0. Poyet was sent to the stands by referee Mike Dean for reacting badly to a yellow card for midfielder Jack Rodwell, who was booked for diving. The Sunderland manager kicked over a water bottle carrier in the dugout and then confronted Bruce, who had to be restrained by an assistant referee and his own coaching staff. Bruce described it as “grown men acting like children”, blaming the incident on the “heat of the moment”. Poyet refused to talk about the incident after the game, telling reporters: “What happens on the pitch stays there.”
Newcastle United’s Papiss Cisse has accepted a Football Association charge of spitting at Manchester United defender Jonny Evans. The striker, 29, faces a possible seven-game ban for his part in the incident, which happened during Manchester United’s 1-0 win at Newcastle on Wednesday. Evans, 27, has yet to respond to the FA after being charged on Thursday. However, he has denied deliberately spitting at Cisse. Senegal international Cisse had earlier issued a statement apologising for his actions.After the striker accepted the charge, Newcastle managing director Lee Charnley said: “Both ourselves and Papiss agree that this kind of behaviour is not acceptable. “When you do something wrong you have to front up, admit your mistakes and accept the punishment. “Papiss was proactive this morning in making a full and heartfelt apology, which he did in advance of any notification from the FA regarding this charge. “This was something he felt strongly about and we fully support him in quickly accepting the charge.” The FA charge read that “in or around the 38th minute of the game the two players spat at each other” and Cisse could receive a ban of up to six matches for the offence after admitting his part in the incident. He would also have to miss an additional game, having already received a ban this season. Charnley said Cisse recognised his importance as a role model to young fans and was eager to atone: “He is keen to carry out extra community activities on behalf of the club during his ban.” Evans has until 18:00 GMT on Friday to respond to the FA charge.
Five Kano Pillars players have been shot by gunmen in an attack on the club’s entourage as they travelled to Owerri for the start of the new Nigerian Premier League season.
Ivory Coast goalkeeper and African Cup of Nations star Boubacar Barry announced Tuesday he is retiring from international football. The 35-year-old issued a statement and posted a video on his Facebook site where he explains his decision.
Japan have appointed former Algeria manager Vahid Halilhodzic as their new boss. Previous coach Javier Aguirre was fired after Japan flopped at the Asian Cup in January and he was beset by allegations of match-fixing dating back to a previous tenure in Spain. Bosnian Halilhodzic has also managed Paris Saint Germain, Dinamo Zagreb and Ivory Coast in a nomadic career.
Jonas Gutierrez has described his first-team return for Newcastle United after being given the all-clear from cancer as like “a new debut”. Argentina international Gutierrez made his first Magpies appearance since April 2014 as a substitute against Manchester United on Wednesday. The midfielder, 31, had surgery in September for testicular cancer. “My first Newcastle game was against Man United and it was like a new debut for me,” Gutierrez told BBC Newcastle. “I’m really pleased to be back. I want to work hard, look for my moment, do it right and improve. “From now until the end of the season I want to play as many minutes as I can.” Wednesday’s outing takes Gutierrez, who had been playing for the reserves to regain fitness, to 196 Magpies appearance in seven years at the club. Newcastle head coach John Carver had named the former Atletico Madrid winger on the bench for last weekend’s win against Aston Villa, prompting a warm reception from the 51,573 crowd. However, that experience was nothing compared with actually returning to match action, particularly as it looked as though his Newcastle career was over before the cancer diagnosis last year. “It was really emotional and really exciting,” added Gutierrez. “I was so emotional when I put my feet on the pitch. I’ve travelled a long way to get to this point and I really enjoyed it. “I thank the fans for their support and also my team-mates. It was a great moment for me.”
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet is charged by the Football Association after being sent-off during his side’s 1-1 draw at Premier League rivals Hull City. The Uruguayan angrily kicked over a water bottle before having a touchline scuffle with Hull City counterpart Steve Bruce. Bruce has also been “formally reminded of his responsibilities” by the FA. It is alleged Poyet’s behaviour amounted to improper conduct and he has until 18:00 GMT on 9 March to respond to the charge.
Former international midfielder Aliou Cisse has been appointed Senegal coach, the country’s football federation has revealed in a statement. The 38-year-old, who won 35 caps for Senegal, has signed a four-year contract, to be reviewed after the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. He takes over from Alan Giresse, who left after the recent Nations Cup. Cisse has had spells as Senegal assistant coach and also as part of the coaching team for the 2012 Olympics. He also brings experience of playing at the highest level with Senegal, having captained them at the 2002 World Cup where the team reached the quarter-finals. Cisse began his football career at French side Lille and played for Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier before his performance at the 2002 World Cup in the Japan and South Korea led to a move to England. He played for English clubs Birmingham City and Portsmouth between 2002 and 2006.
It was a fun filled football match on Wednesday evening at the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta when a team led by former president Olusegun Obasanjo of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library slugged it out with a team of Ogun State Government led by the governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Punch reports.
Manchester United defender Jonny Evans and Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse could face six-match bans if found guilty of spitting. The pair appeared to spit at each other during Wednesday’s Premier League game at St James’ Park. Referee Anthony Taylor spoke to Evans and Cisse after the first-half incident, but neither was booked. The Football Association says it is waiting for Taylor’s report before deciding whether any action is needed. Last season, George Boyd was given a three-match ban for spitting at Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart. But from this season, FA disciplinary guidelines dictate that the penalty for such an offence is double that. Television replays appeared to show Evans spitting towards Cisse, who was on the ground. The Senegal forward then appeared to spit in the direction of Evans.
Winston Reid has ended speculation over his future by signing a new long-term contract with West Ham, Sky reports. Central defender Reid was due to be out of contract in the summer and the 26-year-old had been linked with both Arsenal and Tottenham after West Ham boss Sam Allardyce said in January that he expected him to leave the club.
The Major League Soccer season will kick off as scheduled on Friday after a new collective bargaining contract was agreed, avoiding the threat of a players’ strike. The new five-year deal was reached after four days of negotiations. The agreement is a contract to promote the mutual interests of MLS, the players and their union. “I am pleased to announce we have reached an agreement in principle,” said MLS commissioner Don Garber. There was a similar dispute in 2010, although that was resolved with five days to go. The first game of the 2015 season is between champions Los Angeles Galaxy, captained by Robbie Keane, and Chicago Fire. Chicago had flown out to LA despite the dispute. As part of the new deal, a form of free agency will be introduced, although it is limited to players 28 years and older with at least eight years in the league. The deal also includes a rise in the minimum wage in the league and the overall team salary cap, although full details are yet to be announced.
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