Nigeria international Kelechi Iheanacho says Manchester City will fight Tottenham “to the final whistle” when the teams go head-to-head on Super Sunday. City head to White Hart Lane having seen their Premier League title bid rocked by a 3-1 home defeat to leaders Leicester City last weekend. As a result, Manuel Pellegrini’s side are six points behind the Foxes and one behind Spurs on a weekend which also sees Arsenal play host to Leicester.
The IAAF has suffered a new blow after Nestle announced it has terminated its sponsorship of the world athletics’ governing body. The Swiss-based food and beverage company said in a statement it was concerned its own reputation could be damaged by association, owing to the doping and corruption scandals involving the IAAF. Nestle was a financial backer of the IAAF Kids Athletics programme, being its main sponsor since 2012. Nestle said in its statement: “We have decided to end our partnership with the IAAF Kids’ Athletics programme with immediate effect. This decision was taken in light of negative publicity associated with allegations of corruption and doping in sport made against the IAAF.
Bolton Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside has died aged 63 following a battle with cancer. He was chairman for 16 years, during which time the club enjoyed an 11-year stint in the Premier League and two UEFA Cup campaigns. “This is a very sad day for everyone,” said Brett Warburton, vice-chairman of the Championship club. “Phil has been a personal friend for more than 30 years. We send our deepest condolences to all Phil’s family.” Our own Jay Jay Okocha was signed by Bolton and made captain under his tenure.
Liverpool’s owners have scrapped their controversial £77 ticket and apologised for the “distress caused” by last week’s pricing announcement. Thousands of fans left 77 minutes into Saturday’s draw with Sunderland at Anfield in protest at the planned top-price £77 ticket in the new main stand. In reversing their decision, club owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) told disgruntled fans “Message received.” Liverpool’s dearest matchday ticket will now stay at £59.
Badou Zaki has left his job as coach of the Morocco national team by mutual consent, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) announced Wednesday. A federation statement explained that “After 20 months of instability and inconsistent results” it agreed with Zaki to end his contract. The federation also announced that a new coach would be appointed in the coming days. Former Ivory Coast boss Herve Renard is being tipped to take over. Renard, who lead the Elephants to the Africa Cup of Nations title in Equatorial Guinea last year, was sacked by French club Lille earlier this season, The 47-year-old also lead Zambia to the Nations Cup title in 2012. Former international goalkeeper Zaki, 56, took over as Morocco manager for the second time in May 2014. Zaki first managed the side for three years from 2002, losing the Africa Cup of Nations final to Tunisia in 2004.
Footballer Adam Johnson has pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child and one count of grooming. The 28-year-old Sunderland winger continues to deny two charges of sexual activity with a girl aged under 16. The footballer, who has earned 12 caps for England, appeared in the dock at Bradford Crown Court on Wednesday wearing a black suit and white shirt and was flanked by a female prison officer. The defendant, from Castle Eden, County Durham, had his case moved from Durham. Born in Sunderland, he began his career at Middlesbrough before moving to Manchester City and then to Sunderland for £10 million in 2012.
Ahmed ‘Mido’ Hossam has been sacked as the coach of Zamalek for a second time after just 37 days in charge of the Egyptian champions. His dismissal follows a 2-0 loss to their arch-rivals Al Ahly on Tuesday. It was a second consecutive defeat for Zamalek and means Ahly are seven points clear of them at the top of the table. Mohamed Salah takes over as interim coach while the club looks to recruit a foreign coach. Director of football Hazem Emam, who was appointed at the same time as Mido, has also been dismissed.
You will recall that on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 the Nigerian Supreme Court handed down judgment on the Rivers State Governorship matter. In that judgment, the apex court upheld the appeal by Gov. Nyesom Wike against the earlier decisions by the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Appeal Court which concurrently annulled Nyesom Wike’s election as governor.
NYESOM WIKE’S UNBECOMING THREAT TO INEC, OTHERS
Consequent upon the judgment by the Supreme Court, I, the APC Governorship Candidate, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, despite receiving the judgment with mixed feelings, came out to publicly announce my unreserved acceptance of the verdict. However, a few days later, the Governor, while addressing Civil Servants in Port Harcourt exhibited unconscionable indiscretion of the highest order by re-echoing his earlier incendiary statements threatening INEC personnel with death over the forthcoming National and State Assemblies rerun elections. He said, “Anyone who plans to rig an election is an armed robber and should be treated as such. If you are coming to rig an election in the state, first prepare your will before embarking on the journey. Inform your wife or husband and go ahead to say your last prayer.”
The English Premier League has launched a new logo which will be used from next season. The fresh new design includes a modern take on the lion icon – a symbol that is part of the competition’s heritage dating back to its launch in 1992. The crowned lion has been a prominent feature of the Premier League logo since its inception, representing the relationship between the league and the English Football Association – whose logo features three lions. Premier League clubs agreed a new central sponsorship strategy last July which included a move away from a title sponsorship model. Instead of long-time backers Barclays, the Premier League will have a roster of secondary rights partners from next season onwards. From next season the Premier League will have seven main sponsors instead of one title sponsor. Two – Nike and EA Sports – have already been announced with five more to be named in the coming months.
Kenya could pull out of this summer’s Rio Olympics if the Zika virus in Brazil reaches “epidemic levels”, says the head of Kenya’s Olympic committee. The outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease in South America is being linked to severe birth defects. Last week the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus a global public health emergency. Kipchoge Keino said: “We are not going to risk taking Kenyans there if this Zika virus reaches epidemic levels.” Brazilian authorities insist there will be no risk to athletes and spectators, except pregnant women, when the Rio Games take place in August. The International Olympic Committee says it is in “close contact” with organisers, while Olympic venues will be inspected daily in the lead-up to and during the Games.
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo says he will not leave the club before his contract expires in 2018. The 31-year-old Portugal captain has been continually linked with former club Manchester United, who sold him to Real in 2008, and Paris St-Germain. “I want to stay here two more years. The two years I’m talking about take me to the end of my contract,” he is quoted as saying by AS. “And the future, we’ll see.” Ronaldo was speaking at an event to collect his Pichichi trophy, which he won for being last season’s La Liga top scorer with 48. “This is the best league in the world, although I also played in the Premier League,” he said. “It’s fantastic, competitive, and with great players. It is a privilege to leave my mark on it.”
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi missed training on Monday to have tests on his kidneys. The Argentina international sat out December’s FIFA Club World Cup semi-final after being diagnosed with renal colic, a type of abdominal pain commonly attributed to kidney stones. He was able to play in the final three days later, and has played in all of Barca’s league games since. A club statement said Messi, 28, will return to “normal duties” on Wednesday. “Barcelona striker Lionel Messi will undergo several tests on Monday and Tuesday to assess the evolution of the kidney problems he suffered last December,” it said. Messi has scored 12 goals in 17 La Liga games this season to help Barcelona go three points clear at the top of the table.
Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma faces six months out because he needs surgery on the knee injury he suffered on Sunday. The 21-year-old landed awkwardly after contesting a high ball and was taken off on a stretcher in the 1-1 Premier League draw with Manchester United. “Scan today has shown I injured my anterior cruciate ligament. I will have surgery this week and will come back stronger,” Zouma tweeted. Chelsea said he would be out for “approximately six months”. The France centre-back has made 32 appearances for the Blues this term. The most recent of his two France caps was in an international friendly with Denmark in October. France host this year’s European Championship, which begins in June. Zouma and John Terry have become preferred starters in central defence as Chelsea have gone nine matches without defeat under interim manager Guus Hiddink.
Claudio Ranieri will return for £23million CSKA Moscow striker Ahmed Musa in the summer. The Leicester boss is determined to land the 23-year-old Nigeria captain despite having a determined effort to land him blocked on Deadline Day. CSKA refused to countenance selling him as they believe his departure would weaken the team too significantly. They are currently top of the Russian Premier League and face Dinamo Kiev in the knockout stages of the Champions League. Musa, who has netted 10 times in all competitions this season, continued his good form with a goal to help beat Valarenga in a friendly last Wednesday. lies with them beyond this summer.
The Democratic Republic Of Congo won the African Nations Championship (CHAN) for a second time on Sunday, beating Mali 3-0 in the final in Rwanda. The Leopards, coached by Florent Ibenge, secured the title with two goals from the impressive Meschak Elia and a late Jonathan Bolingi strike. DR Congo became the first nation to win the trophy twice, having won the inaugural CHAN tournament – which is only open to footballers who play in their own local leagues – in 2009 in Ivory Coast. At a packed Amohoro Stadium in Kigali, DR Congo enjoyed huge support from the crowd although it was Mali who started with more purpose with Mamadou Coulibaly going close twice with a couple of early shots.
Sunday 7 February, 2016:
Bournemouth 0 – 2 Arsenal
Chelsea 1 – 1 Manchester United
A group of Napoli supporters will wear masks of defender Kalidou Koulibaly against Carpi on Sunday, after the player was racially abused by Lazio fans in their previous game. Wednesday’s league match was stopped for three minutes in the second half after some Lazio fans aimed racist chants at Napoli defender Koulibaly. The game continued and Napoli – who are top of Serie A – won 2-0. Supporters’ group Quelli del Sangue Azzurro are behind the mask appeal. A statement read: “Everyone in Naples is offended by what happened to our young star. Because of this, we want to show our full support to Koulibaly. “We are all with you, Kalidou. Our invitation to Napoli fans is to print a photo of the defender and put it on your face when the teams come on the pitch.” Lazio were fined 50,000 euros and will have to close three sections of the Stadio Olimpico for their next two Serie A home games.
Jamie Vardy has signed a new three-year deal with Leicester City. The England striker, 29, joined Leicester from Fleetwood for £1m in 2012, and his goals have helped Claudio Ranieri’s side reach the top of the Premier League table this season. “I’m absolutely delighted to be fighting to achieve something special with this club. I’ve never known a spirit like it,” he said. “I want to be part of it for a long time.” He added: “Leicester have shown nothing but total faith in me since the day I arrived and it’s impossible to measure how much that belief has helped me to improve. “I’ll forever be grateful for the investment the club has made in me and I’ll spend every day working to repay it.” In November, Vardy became the first player to score in 11 successive Premier League matches. He broke the record, previously held by Ruud van Nistelrooy, when he put Leicester ahead in their 1-1 draw with Van Nistelrooy’s former club Manchester United.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has undergone surgery to remove his appendix, according to reports. The German boss was forced to miss Liverpool’s match with Sunderland at Anfield this afternoon due to the problem, with his side squandering a two-goal lead against the Black Cats. Goals from Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana had given the hosts a comfortable advantage going into the final 10 minutes, but a late Sunderland comeback saw Sam Allardyce’s side rescue a point. Klopp, meanwhile, spent the afternoon in hospital and has now had his appendix successfully removed. It is unclear whether or not Klopp will be back in the dugout for Liverpool’s FA Cup replay with West Ham United on Tuesday.
Saturday 3 February, 2016:
Man City 1 – 3 Leicester
Aston Villa 2 – 0 Norwich
Liverpool 2 – 2 Sunderland
Newcastle 1 – 0 West Brom
Stoke 0 – 3 Everton
Swansea 1 – 1 Crystal Palace
Tottenham 1 – 0 Watford
Southampton 1 – 0 West Ham
Naija Sports Crib 