Archive | March 2016

Suarez back to Uruguay squad after biting ban….

Luis Suarez (right) has served his nine-match international ban

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has returned to training with Uruguay and is available for selection after serving his ban for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup. Suarez was handed a nine-match international suspension, as well as a four-month ban from football-related activity, for the incident. The 29-year-old has joined his team-mates in Montevideo as Uruguay prepare for World Cup qualifying matches against Brazil and Peru. Suarez admits his error in biting defender Chiellini during Uruguay’s last group match in Brazil in 2014 but still maintains his penalty was too hefty. “I made a mistake,’ Suarez told Mundo Deportivo. “But there was no logic to the punishment. For four months I was not even allowed to train with my club.

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Norwich striker Dieumerci Mbokani was at Brussels Airport when the bombs went off….

Norwich striker Dieumerci Mbokani was caught up in the terror attacks in Brussels on Tuesday morning, but is unharmed. Zaventem Airport was the site of two explosions, while there was at least one at a Metro station near the European Parliament building. At least 34 people were killed in the blasts, with around 170 injured. Congo international Mbokani, who is on loan from Dynamo Kiev, was at Zaventem Airport at the time of the attacks. City say the 30-year-old was “unharmed but shaken” by the events, and that he had returned home to be with his family, and the club remain in constant dialogue with him.

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Mitrovic apologises to Newcastle doctor for trying to play despite head injury….

Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has apologised to the club’s doctor after having to be restrained as he tried to return to the pitch following a head injury. The 21-year-old Serbia international was knocked unconscious minutes after scoring the Magpies’ equaliser in Sunday’s 1-1 derby draw with Sunderland at St James’ Park. However, having come around and being led to the sidelines, he was desperate to return as his side pressed for a last-gasp winner, and had to be physically restrained by doctor Paul Catterson as he followed Barclays Premier League protocol, as well as manager Rafael Benitez.

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Belgian FA cancels training session after Brussels explosions….

The Belgian national team have cancelled Tuesday’s scheduled training session out of respect for the victims of the Brussels attacks. Belgium are set to play Portugal in an international friendly at Brussels’ King Baudouin Stadium on Tuesday, March 29, but the fixture is now in doubt following suspected terrorist bomb attacks in the nation’s capital. Brussels Airport was rocked by a double blast on Tuesday morning while another blast was reported by local media at a Metro station in the city.

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West Ham complete signing of Manuel Lanzini….

West Ham have completed the signing of Manuel Lanzini on a four-year contract from Al Jazira. The 23-year-old midfielder had been on loan from UAE club Al Jazira and has now sealed a permanent switch to Upton Park. The deal, which includes an option for a further two years, is understood to be worth around £9m. Jack Sullivan, the son of Hammers joint-chairman David Sullivan, confirmed the news on Twitter. He wrote: “Lanzini is a WHU player for the next 4 seasons, with a further 2 year option.”

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Gutierrez sues Newcastle….

Jonas Gutierrez

Argentina international Jonas Gutierrez is suing Newcastle. It’s over the way the 32-year-old says he was treated by the club when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He was released last summer. “The case is due to get under way today at the Employment Tribunal Court in Birmingham.

Arsenal set to reward Iwobi with improved deal….

 

 

Arsenal are set to reward Alex Iwobi with an improved contract after the 19-year-old’s breakthrough spell in the  first team. Iwobi signed a new contract to stay at Emirates Stadium until 2019 — understood to be worth less than £1,000 a week — only last October but has since made his full Champions League and Premier League debuts.  The attacking midfielder scored his first senior goal for the club in Saturday’s 2-0 win at Everton and is expected to continue negotiations over a new deal during the international break. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is keen to ensure Iwobi is financially remunerated after quickly acclimatising to the demands of first-team football in difficult circumstances. Iwobi’s performance was one of the few positives to take from Arsenal’s European exit at Barcelona last week and it is believed he could now take his earnings to more than £10,000  a week. English FA recently tried to convince Iwobi to change his mind and represent England but the move has failed as Iwobi is presently in Nigeria to prepare with the Super Eagles for the upcoming African Nations Cup qualifier games against Egypt.

Two killed as Raja de Casablanca fans fight….

Mohammed V stadium

Two people were killed in fighting among fans of Raja de Casablanca on Saturday, the Moroccan Football Federation (FMRFF) has confirmed. Fans threw flares and ripped up parts of the Mohammed V stadium after Raja’s 2-1 victory over Chabab Rif Al Hoceima. The country’s DGSN security service said in a statement that 31 people were arrested for acts of vandalism. FMRFF has banned fans from the next five Raja home matches and fined the club 100,000 dirhams. Footage on Moroccan media showed the fans, dressed in the club’s green colours, charging at each other. It was unclear how the clashes had erupted. DGSN revealed 10 people had been arrested prior to the game. Prosecutors have opened an inquiry into the fan trouble.

Indian Wells CEO quits after comments….

Indian Wells tournament chief Raymond Moore has quit after his controversial comments about women’s tennis. Moore, 69, said the women’s game “rides on the coat-tails” of the men – a view described as “sexist” by the United States Tennis Association (USTA). Women’s world number one Serena Williams said Moore’s statement was “offensive and very inaccurate”. But her male counterpart, Novak Djokovic, claimed his tour should fight for more money. Moore said female players “should get down on their knees” in thanks to male counterparts such as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The South African – a former player – later apologised for his “erroneous” remarks.

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That picture of the Newcastle pitch invader….

Mitrovic

Aleksandar Mitrovic’s last-gasp equaliser in the Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland certainly got the Newcastle faithful out of their seats and quite literally for one pitch invader who celebrated with the striker in bizarre fashion. The match ended 1-1 but the Magpies are still in the mire as they fight to stave off relegation. New Coach Rafa Benitez has plenty of challenges ahead if he is to lead them to safety.

Djokovic claims Indian Wells win….

Novak Djokovic kisses the trophy after defeating Milos Raonic at Indian Wells

Novak Djokovic won a fifth Indian Wells title and record-equalling 27th Masters crown with a dominant 6-2 6-0 victory over Milos Raonic in California. The world No 1 did not need to be at his best as Raonic struggled with an injury, seeing his usually reliable serve wilt in the desert heat as he lost his third Masters final. For Djokovic though the records continue to come, he goes clear of Roger Federer with a fifth Indian Wells crown and has now drawn level with Rafa Nadal’s career total of 27 Masters titles – he will start as red-hot favourite to make it 28 when the Miami Masters gets underway on Wednesday.

CAF Champions League: Enyimba advances despite loss….

Enyimba FC of Aba are the only surviving Nigerian club on the continent, and now face the task of defending the pride of the country as the journey becomes tougher following the summary crashing of Warri Wolves and Nasarawa at the weekend. Enyimba’s coach, Paul Aigbogun believes the 2-1 loss to Vital’O will not affect his team as they have achieved their objective of qualifying to the next round of the CAF Champions League. After an impressive 5-1 win in the first leg in Port Harcourt, Enyimba needed to avoid a 4-0 defeat in Bujumbura to seal a place in the next round of the tournament and that, according to Aigbogun, they have achieved.

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Siasia picks six home-based players for Egypt duel….

Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia has picked six home based players out of the lot to make up the team to face Egypt in this month’s all important African Nations Cup qualifier. The selected players are Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Kalu Orji, Chibuzor Okonkwo, Matthew Etim, Ifeanyi Matthew and Oghenekaro Etebo. These players will join up with the overseas-based players who will start arriving today for the clash against Egypt. Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi has tweeted that he has landed in Abuja this morning.  It was rumored that England is planning to lure Alex back to the English team as he has only played friendly games for Nigeria. The rumor is now quashed as Alex has come and might likely play in an official game for Nigeria this time given his recent form for Arsenal. Defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Leon Balogun are out of the matches due to injury. The Eagles will host Egypt on Friday March 25 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna and face them again in Alexandria, Egypt four days later. Egypt top Group G with six points from two games, two points ahead of the Eagles who are second on four points and the same number of games.

 

Nigerian Premier League results….

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Sunday 20th March, 2016:

Wikki Tourists 2 – 1 Niger Tornadoes

Ikorodu United 0 – 0 Giwa

El-Kanemi Warriors 2 – 1 Ifeanyi Ubah

Heartland 1 – 0 MFM FC

Plateau United 2 – 1 Lobi Stars

Shooting Stars 1 – 0 Rivers United

Enugu Rangers 3 – 0 Akwa United

English Premier League results….

Sunday 20th March, 2016:

Newcastle 1 – 1 Sunderland

Southhampton 3 – 2 Liverpool

Manchester City 0 – 1 Manchester United

Tottenham 3 – 0 Bournemouth

Saturday 19th March, 2016:

Everton 0 – 2 Arsenal

Chelsea 2 – 2 West Ham

Crystal Palace 0 – 1 Leicester

Watford 1 – 2 Stoke

West Brom 0 – 1 Norwich

Swansea 1 – 0 Aston Villa

FIFA signs China’s Wanda as partner….

Lionel Messi of Argentina controls the ball in the 2014 World Cup final

Conglomerate Wanda Group has become the first Chinese top-tier partner of world football governing body FIFA. It is the first big deal of new FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s reign, and the first since the scandals that engulfed the organisation. Wanda Group operates in a number of sectors including property, retail, sport, hotels, film and stores. It has entered at the highest level of sponsorship rights and the deal covers the next four World Cups until 2030. The financial size of the partnership has not been revealed, but it is believed to be one of the biggest in FIFA’s history. FIFA’s top five sponsors – Coca Cola, Gazprom, Adidas, Visa, Hyundai – paid some $180m to the governing body between them in 2015. Although Wanda is the first Chinese firm to enter at this top level, another Chinese firm, Yingli Solar – a solar panel provider – was a second-tier FIFA sponsor of the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

Oshoala signs for Arsenal Ladies….

Asisat Oshoala

Arsenal Ladies have completed the signing of Nigeria international Asisat Oshoala. The 21 year-old striker spent the 2015 season with Liverpool, where she became the first player from Africa to feature in the Women’s Super League. She scored three goals in 12 league appearances for the Reds. On the international stage, Asisat has represented Nigeria with distinction at youth and senior level. In 2014, she was player of the tournament at both the Under-20 World Cup and the African Women’s Championship. She was also named the BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2015. Manager Pedro Losa said: “Asisat is a fantastic talent and will be a great addition to our squad. She is quick, with excellent feet and has proven she can score goals so it’s very positive she has decided to join us.”

Go girl !!!

Barcelona leaves Arsenal behind….

Neymar celebrates his opener for Barcelona

Arsenal’s Champions League hopes were extinguished as goals from Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi sent the Gunners to a 3-1 defeat at the Nou Camp on Wednesday night. It was a bit too little, too late for the Gunners who mostly played well in the round of 16 second leg tie, but were outdone by Barca’s potent attacking trio to lose 5-1 on aggregate. The Catalans added to their 2-0 first leg advantage with a simple first half strike by Neymar, before Mohamed Elneny scored his first Arsenal goal to give the visitors a glimmer of hope. But Suarez struck a stunning volley with 25 minutes to play, before Messi added the third of the evening late on to see Barcelona into the quarter-finals.