The Spanish Football Federation has just confirmed it has sacked Julen Lopetegui as manager, little more than 24 hours before the World Cup begins. Spanish Football Federation (SFF) president Luis Rubiales explains that the SFF only knew he was joining Real Madrid after the World Cup, five minutes before it was announced he would join the Champions League winners. “We have been forced to dispense with the national coach. We wish you the greatest of luck,” said Rubiales. “The negotiation has occurred without any information to the RFEF. Just five minutes before the press release. There’s a way to act that needs to be fulfilled.”

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The Super Eagles have arrived in Russia ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The players and coaches landed in their Essentuki base late on Monday night at about 11pm Nigerian time. Their arrival time was affected by slight delays in their flight from Austria, where they had been training following their friendly matches. The players and coaches landed in their Essentuki base late on Monday night at about 11pm Nigerian time.
Their arrival time was affected by slight delays in their flight from Austria, where they had been training following their friendly matches.

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Super Eagles of Nigeria today lost by a lone goal to Czech Republic in their final warm up game played in Austria. The match started at 2pm Nigerian time. Czech’s goal was scored by Tomas Kalas in the 25th minute. Nigeria started the game with Francis Uzoho in goal and with Shehu Abdullahi, William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun and Brian Idowu all in the defensive positions. The midfield had John Ogu, Wilfred Ndidi and Mikel Obi. Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi and Odion Ighalo all started in the attacking positions.

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola “often has problems with Africans”, says ex-Blues midfielder Yaya Toure. The Ivorian, who left City in May after eight years at the club, says he wants to “break the myth” about Guardiola, whom he describes as “jealous”. “Maybe we Africans are not always treated by some in the same way as others,” said Toure in an interview with France Football.

You can’t wait for the world cup to start right? Get all the fixtures in Nigerian time.

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Nigeria

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna), Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba), Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United).

Defenders: William Troost-Ekong, Abdullahi Shehu (both Bursaspor), Tyronne Ebuehi (Benfica), Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge), Bryan Idowu (Amkar Perm), Chidozie Awaziem (Porto), Leon Balogun (Brighton), Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea).

Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Tianjin Teda), Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester), Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense), John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva), Joel Obi (Torino, Italy).

Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho (both Leicester), Victor Moses (Chelsea), Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal), Simeon Nwankwo (Crotone).

Continue to check out all the players going to Russia. It’s gonna be fun….

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World Cup fever? Worry not as we’ll soon be treated to classic football matches. June 14th it is. Let’s checkout the home kits the teams will be wearing. I much fancy Nigeria’s kit.

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RB Leipzig vs Marseille

Arsenal vs CSKA Moscow

Atletico Madrid vs Sporting Lisbon

Lazio vs Red Bull Salzburg

First legs to be played on April 5 with return legs on April 12.

Barcelona vs Roma

Sevilla vs Bayern Munich

Juventus vs Real Madrid

Liverpool vs Manchester City

The first legs will take place on 3-4 April with the return on 10-11 April.

1. Nwankwo Kanu’s two late goals for Nigeria against Brazil at Atlanta’96 Olympics….

2. 26 May 1999: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates scoring the winner for Manchester United during the Champions League Final against Bayern Munich in the Nou Camp. United won 2 – 1 with both United goals scored during injury time, to secure the treble of League, FA Cup and European Cup….

3. Steven Gerrard’s strike vs. Olympiacos to send Liverpool into the knockout stages of the Champions League 04/05. Liverpool lifted the trophy 5 months later….

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Fiorentina have retired the shirt number worn by Davide Astori, the Italian defender who died on Sunday at the age of 31. Astori’s former club Cagliari, where he spent eight years from 2008, have also retired the number 13 shirt – which he wore at both teams. Capped 14 times by Italy, Astori joined Fiorentina from Cagliari in 2016 and made 58 appearances for them. On Monday, prosecutors opened a routine investigation into his death. Udine chief prosecutor Antonio de Nicolo said he had opened a “culpable homicide” inquiry – a routine move before an autopsy in Italy.

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Al Khartoum Watani SC of Sudan’s coach, Emmanuel Amuneke has disclosed his excitement after recording his first league win in Sudan following his team’s win at Kober SC in a match day four fixture. “I’m happy we won, we had a good pre-season, but somehow we did not get off in the season the right way”, Amuneke said from Sudan moments after the game. Tuesday’s clash at the 23,000-capacity Khartoum Stadium on Army Road, was Al-Khartoum’s first win in four games and the 2015 U17 FIFA World Cup-winning coach in Chile said it has lifted his team going into Friday’s trip to Koster. “We drew two, both games ending scoreless and lost one. “This is our first league win in four games so far played and we are happy. “At least, the players will be in good spirit going into our next game which is yet another away match”. Continue reading →

Twenty-time tennis grand slam champion Roger Federer has won the 2017 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year and Comeback of the Year awards. The 36-year-old Swiss won the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles in 2017 after seven years without a major. “I didn’t believe I would ever come back to this level,” said Federer. “The year I had was something else.” Serena Williams took the World Sportswoman of the Year award after winning her 23rd grand slam in 2017. “This means the world to me,” added world number one Federer. “The comebacks are always extremely emotional. Last year was a dream come true.”

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Borussia Dortmund’s fans stayed at home in protest and Augsburg left with a point as the hosts had a disappointing night at the Westfalenstadion. Dortmund dropped two points in the race for a Champions League place and were followed by ‘just’ 54,300 fans. That crowd was almost 25,000 down on average as supporters protested against the match being moved to Monday night. Marco Reus had put the home side ahead but Kevin Danso scored from a corner to leave Dortmund frustrated. They stay second but are only three points ahead of RB Leipzig in sixth place.

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Usain Bolt will finally make his footballing debut at Old Trafford. The eight-time Olympic gold medallist will captain a team of celebrities and footballers for the Soccer Aid match on 10 June. “It’s my dream to make it as a professional footballer. To play against some of football’s biggest legends is going to be remarkable,” the Jamaican sprinter said. Robbie Williams will captain rivals England for the UNICEF match.

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Paris St-Germain forward Neymar has a “small chance” of playing in next Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 second-leg tie against Real Madrid. The 26-year-old Brazilian is recovering from a fractured metatarsal and sprained ankle he suffered in Sunday’s Ligue 1 win over Marseille. PSG coach Unai Emery denied reports that the world’s most expensive player will need surgery. “Neymar wants to play every game – he’s focused on Real,” he added. “I think there’s a small chance that he’ll be ready for the match.” The striker joined PSG for a world record £200m fee from Barcelona last August and has scored 29 goals in 30 games.

Nigeria’s women’s bobsleigh team will make history in Pyeongchang as the first African sled to compete at the Winter Olympics. Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere, and Akuoma Omeoga hit the qualifying standard in November but needed to maintain their world ranking until 14 January. Nigeria will be represented for the first time at the Winter Olympics. Simidele Adeagbo will also fly the West African nation’s flag in the women’s skeleton. All three bobsledders were once track and field athletes before switching to winter sports, with Adigun competing in the 100m hurdles at the London 2012 Olympics.

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Brazil playmaker Philippe Coutinho who joined the Spanish giants from Liverpool in a £142m deal, which was officially completed on Monday, has been unveiled at Nou Camp.

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Former football star George Weah has been elected as Liberia’s president. With nearly all ballots from Tuesday’s run-off vote counted, Mr Weah is well ahead of opponent Joseph Boakai with more than 60% of the vote. As news of Mr Weah’s victory emerged, his supporters began celebrating in the capital Monrovia. He will succeed Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female president, in Liberia’s first democratic handover in decades. “My fellow Liberians, I deeply feel the emotion of all the nation,” Mr Weah wrote on Twitter after the results were announced. “I measure the importance and the responsibility of the immense task which I embrace today. Change is on.”

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Super Eagles of Nigeria captain John Mikel Obi has dismissed reports linking him with a move back to the Premier League and insisted he is happy playing in the Chinese Super League. The 30-year-old spent 10-and-a-half years at Chelsea before moving to Tianjin Teda back in January where he is the club captain. He has been named as a potential target for Everton but the Nigeria international has ended the uncertainty surrounding his future by claiming he wants to stay in the Far East.

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