DR Congo and Norwich striker Dieumerci Mbokani has quit international football after his country’s FA threatened to sanction him for missing two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Mbokani missed the games with Angola after being caught up in the Brussels airport attacks on his way to Kinshasa. The 30-year-old is unhappy that Congolese FA president Constant Omari said he should still have travelled. “I don’t want to play for Congo. I find the treatment unfair,” said Mbokani. The attacks at the airport and a metro station on 22 March left 32 people dead. The striker, on loan at Premier League side Norwich from Ukrainian champions Dynamo Kiev, added on Congolese radio: “I was at Brussels airport at the time of the attacks. Immediately after, I called the vice-president Theo Binamungu and he promised to call me. “Since that day, no one called me. Not even a message of support and encouragement after what happened to me.

Continue reading →

Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain has received a four-match ban after appearing to push a referee following his red card against Udinese. The Argentine, who has scored 30 Serie A goals this season, has been fined €20,000 and will miss four of the remaining seven games of Napoli’s run-in as they look to close the gap on leaders Juventus. After reacting badly to picking up a second yellow card towards the end of Sunday’s 3-1 loss at Udinese, Higuain put his hands on referee Massimiliano Irrati and had to be restrained by his team-mates as he tried to confront Felipe, who was the recipient of the kick which earned him his marching orders. He also shoved a member of Napoli’s staff as he stormed down the Stadio Friuli tunnel, and his ban has now been confirmed and the details given.

Continue reading →

West Ham midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate has his red card from the match against Crystal Palace on Saturday rescinded by the FA. Kouyate saw red for a challenge on Dwight Gayle in the 2-2 draw at Upton Park. The FA said a claim of wrongful dismissal had been upheld, and the 26-year-old Senegal midfielder “will therefore not serve any suspension”.

An Italian prosecutor wants a six-month suspended prison sentence and an 8,000 euro fine for Antonio Conte over his alleged role in a match-fixing case, the Italy manager’s lawyer has said. Conte, who denies any wrongdoing, is accused of “sporting fraud” by prosecutors in the city of Cremona. The case focuses on 2011 when he was in charge of Siena in Serie B. The 46-year-old ex-Juventus boss agreed a deal on Monday to manage Premier League side Chelsea after Euro 2016. Conte has already served a ban imposed by the Italian soccer federation in connection with the 2011 case.

Continue reading →

Aston Villa say they will be taking no action against striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, whom they had suspended pending the outcome of an internal investigation into his conduct. The forward was pictured appearing to hold a shisha pipe while on holiday in Dubai during the international break. Caretaker boss Eric Black had said he took the decision to remove Agbonlahor from the squad because he did not want anything to distract the players. In a statement made through its Twitter account the club said: “Aston Villa Football Club has completed its investigation into Gabby Agbonlahor’s trip to Dubai over the international break. The club will be taking no further action.”

Nigeria’s Alex Iwobi has agreed a bumper new long-term Arsenal deal keeping him at the club until 2021. The Gunners have handed the exciting teenage forward a five-year contract worth in the region of £30,000 a week. Iwobi only signed his previous deal, understood to be worth up to £10,000-a-week, last October. That agreement was due to run until 2019. But he has made big strides since then and boss Arsene Wenger was keen to reward the 19 year-old academy product with improved terms. Iwobi has become a regular in the Arsenal first team since the turn of the year. He has started four of the last five games and followed up his first goal against Everton before the international break with another strike against Watford on Saturday.

Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce says his relegation-threatened side may need some divine intervention after their goalless draw with West Brom. The Black Cats had 22 shots – their most in a league game this season – but only six on target as they failed to score for the 10th time this campaign. “I need to go back to church and start praying,” Allardyce told BBC. “I can’t ever imagine in my long career dominating a game for so long, creating so many chances and not winning it.”

French emergency services held a security exercise simulating a chemical attack at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne on Monday ahead of Euro 2016. The stadium will hold three group-stage matches and one last-16 tie in the tournament that starts on 10 June. We pray there will be no real situation.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is convinced he has “something special” in Alex Iwobi, after the Nigerian teenager scored his second Premier League goal for the club in Saturday’s 4-0 win against Watford. “These people (the fans) have seen many good players over the years and they know straight away when a player has something special, so they acknowledge that,” Wenger told the club’s website. “You cannot cheat people. They’ve seen how quickly he’s improved and how well he’s played. It’s surprising how quickly he’s integrated into our game.”

Boxer Nick Blackwell, who was placed in an induced coma following his fight against Chris Eubank Jr nine days ago, has woken from his coma and has been speaking to family and close friends at his bedside.

Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah was recently involved in a brawl where he was alledged to have slapped Heartland goalkepper, Ebele Obi (Mikel Obi’s sibling). This happened at a game involving FC Ifeanyi Ubah and Heartland. Ubah in a letter accepting to submit to the summary jurisdiction of the LMC pledged not to appeal the decision and offering an unconditional apology to the LMC, FC IfeanyiUbah fans and the football community while explaining that his actions were due to his overriding passion for the NPFL and its development. He explained in the letter that he was moved to intervene by the actions of Heartland players towards the referee after the match with FC Ifeanyi Ubah in Nnewi, an action which led to some over reaction that he regrets. “May I conclude by rendering my unconditional apology to my numerous fans nationwide and in Diaspora for the incident and outcome. To the football family and the LMC, I promise to uphold the tenets of the game while promising to remain a good ambassador of the sport. To those who feel disappointed by the outcome, I plead that you find a place in your hearts to forgive me. With a deep sense of humility, I ask Nigerians for their support and encouragement as I wish to state categorically that this will never repeat itself again as dire lessons have been learnt”, Chief Ubah wrote in the letter  dated April 2 and addressed the LMC Chief Operating Officer.

West Ham will not make the loan signings of Alex Song, Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike permanent in the summer. The trio are currently on-loan to West Ham until the end of the campaign from Barcelona, Chelsea and Al Ain respectively. West Ham have the option to make all the deals permanent, but it is understood the Hammers have decided not to do so. Song joined West Ham on a season-long loan from Barcelona in August 2014 and enjoyed a hugely impressive first four months at the club, playing a leading role under then-manager Sam Allardyce. However, West Ham did not take up the option to make Song’s move to the club permanent at the end of last season after midfielder sustained an ankle injury. Song did re-join West Ham in August, on a second season-long loan, but remained on the sidelines for a further three months because of that injury before making his long-awaited return as a late substitute in the 4-1 defeat at Tottenham.

Continue reading →

Yaya Toure will leave Manchester City this summer, according to his agent, and has “various offers” on the table. Dimitri Seluk claims the midfielder will assess his options at the end of the season as he ponders his future with just one year remaining on his contract at the Etihad. The 32-year-old Ivory Coast international joined City from Barcelona for £24m in July 2010 – where he was sold by incoming City manager Pep Guardiola – but now looks set for a fresh chapter in his career. “We have waited too long,” Seluk said. “Manchester City promised a deal but nothing has materialised so Yaya will leave in June. “Yaya is disappointed of course. But he is a professional and he remains under contract so he will continue to do his best for City.”

Continue reading →

Wednesday 6th April, 2016:

Shooting Stars vs Ikorodu United 4pm

Rivers United vs El-Kanemi Warriors 4pm

Giwa vs Kano Pillars 4pm

Ifeanyi Ubah vs Plateau United 4pm

MFM vs Enugu Rangers (top of table clash) 4pm

Lobi Stars vs Wikki Tourists 4pm

Akwa United vs Abia Warriors 4pm

Niger Tornadoes vs Sunshine Stars 4pm

Chelsea have announced the appointment of Antonio Conte as their new coach on a three-year contract which begins on 11 July. Conte will succeed interim coach Guus Hiddink and will take up his role after managing Italy in this summer’s European Championships, Chelsea announced. In a club statement, the Italian says: “I am very excited about the prospect of working at Chelsea Football Club. I am proud to be the coach of the national team of my country and only a role as attractive as manager of Chelsea could follow that. “I am looking forward to meeting everyone at the club and the day-to-day challenge of competing in the Premier League. “‘Chelsea and English football are watched wherever you go, the fans are passionate and my ambition is to have more success to follow the victories I enjoyed in Italy. “I am happy we have made the announcement now so everything is clear and we can end the speculation. I will continue to focus on my job with the Italian national team and will reserve speaking about Chelsea again until after the Euros.”

Novak Djokovic beat Kei Nishikori in straight sets to win the Miami Open for a record-equalling sixth time. The world number one matched Andre Agassi’s Miami tally with a 6-3 6-3 triumph in one hour and 26 minutes. Djokovic, 28, also moves ahead of Rafael Nadal with a record 28 Masters tournament wins in his career. “It’s quite amazing,” said the Serb. “I’m very thrilled about it and hopefully I can make many more records.” He also becomes the first man to win the Indian Wells-Miami double three years in a row, and surpasses Roger Federer as the ATP’s leading prize money winner on $98.2m.

Nigeria and Arsenal striker, Alex Iwobi made his second start of the premier league on Saturday when Arsenal hosted Watford who featured another Nigerian striker, Odion Ighalo. Arsenal won the match four nil and Iwobi scored Arsenal’s second goal – his second in as much starts. So superlative was Iwobi’s performance that he was named the Man of the Match for the game. One goal, one shot against the crossbar and forcing Heurelho Gomes into a full-stretch save – 19-year-old Iwobi showed his potential with a classy performance. He made way for Theo Walcott in the 74th minute. Iwobi is a nephew of former Nigerian captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha. Meanwhile, Ighalo was substituted in the 45th minute in a match he will want to forget.

Continue reading →

Saturday 2^nd April, 2016:

Aston Villa 0 – 4 Chelsea

Arsenal 4 – 0 Watford

Bournemouth 0 – 4 Manchester City

Norwich 3 – 2 Newcastle

Stoke 2 – 2 Swansea

Sunderland 0 – 0 West Brom

West Ham 2 – 2 Crystal Palace

Liverpool 1 – 1 Tottenham

Sunday 3^rd April, 2016:

Leicester 1 – 0 Southampton

Manchester United 1 – 0 Everton

It all got a bit too much for the Leicester fan pictured above following his side’s win over Southampton on Sunday. The victory – courtesy of Wes Morgan’s winner – moved the Foxes seven points clear at the top of the Premier League with six games remaining. Leicester will now win the title if they win four of their remaining games. Claudio Ranieri’s side have now won five of their last six matches by a 1-0 scoreline, and beat Southampton after main title rivals Tottenham slipped up with a draw at Liverpool on Saturday. Jokes apart, how did we get here? Who foresaw Leicester doing this?

Chelsea striker Diego Costa has been banned for one game and fined £20,000 “in relation to his behaviour after he was shown a second yellow card” in the FA Cup tie against Everton last month. The Spaniard was sent off following a clash with Gareth Barry, but denied biting the Everton midfielder.