Swansea City have parted company with Spanish forward Michu by mutual consent. Both parties have reached a financial agreement over the remainder of the 29-year-old’s contract, which ran until the end of this season, and he will now become a free agent. Michu, who joined from Rayo Vallecano in July 2012, scored 28 goals in 67 appearances for the Swans.
International police body Interpol has said it will coordinate a French-led global investigation into doping allegations in athletics. The body announced the news at the same time as a team of investigators for the World Anti-Doping Agency recommended disciplinary action against Russia. Last week, French prosecutors accused the sport’s governing body’s ex-president Lamine Diack of being involved. He is alleged to have taken bribes to cover up doping cases.
Patrick Vieira has signed a three-year contract at New York City and begins work in the Big Apple on 1 January. “I am delighted to take up the role of head coach,” said the Frenchman. “To work with this squad, with (sporting director) Claudio Reyna and Rob Vartughian and the fantastic support team that is in place, is an exciting prospect for any coach. “This established football set up, together with a passionate and loyal fan base – located in a special city which I know well – makes for an unparalleled opportunity that I am delighted to seize with both hands. I cannot wait to get started.”
The World Anti Doping Agency have said that Russia should be suspended from competition until improved measures are taken. They’ve also accused the Russian government of ‘direct intimidation’ over their Moscow doping lab, which they say should lose its accreditation. A further recommendation says that 5 athletes and 5 coaches should be given lifetime doping bans.
The International Olympics Committee have recommended that former IAAF president Lamine Diack should be provisionally suspended as an honorary member. This is as a result of findings of an independent report into claims of doping, cover-ups, and extortion in Russian athletics. The independent commission was set up by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The 82-year old from Senegal is accused of being complicit in a cover-up of doping by Russian athletes. French police confirmed that he is under investigation for allegedly receiving more than 1 million euros to cover up doping. His son Papa Massata Diack, advisor Habib Cisse and the former IAAF anti-doping chief Gabriel Dolle are also being investigated by French police.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he felt “alone” at Anfield in the closing stages of the 2-1 defeat by Crystal Palace. Sections of home supporters left their seats after Scott Dann headed Palace ahead eight minutes from time. “Eighty-two minutes – game over,” said Klopp, who suffered his first defeat as Liverpool boss. “I turned around and I felt pretty alone at this moment. We have to decide when it is over.” Dann’s header saw Palace go above Liverpool in the Premier League table and means Klopp has won three, drawn three and lost one of his first seven games in charge. Former Borussia Dortmund manager Klopp – who said that the club must calm down after they conceded another late goal against Southampton in October – was not angry with the fans who left, but frustrated with his players for not making them believe that a comeback was possible. “I am not disappointed about this, the fans leaving, they have reasons,” said the German. “But we are responsible that nobody can leave the stadium a minute before the last whistle because everything can happen. “Between 82 minutes and 94 you can make eight goals, if you want, but you have to work for it. “That is what we have to show and we didn’t.”
Spain defenders Sergio Ramos and Juanfran will miss this month’s friendlies against England and Belgium after picking up injuries. Ramos injured his shoulder while scoring in Real Madrid’s defeat at Sevilla while his fellow defender sustained a thigh injury in Atletico Madrid’s win over Sporting Gijon. Coach Vicente del Bosque has called up Real’s Nacho Fernandez and Athletic Bilbao’s Oscar de Marcos to replace them.
Nigerians have been congratulating countryman Wellington Jighere, who has become the first African to win the English-language World Scrabble Championships. The 32-year-old beat Englishman Lewis MacKay 4-0 in the final in Australia. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari was among those to congratulate him, saying he has “done the country proud”. Mr Jighere said on his Facebook page that he felt he was playing with the “whole continent” behind him. He added that it “still baffles” him that he managed to win, given how tired he felt as he had “not slept well in about a week”. He told the Guardian newspaper that he had training to deal with the fatigue from the jet lag, but also had to cope with 31 rounds of matches in four days before getting to the final in Perth.
Ten-man Enyimba yesterday won their seventh Nigeria league crown with a game to spare after they held Warri Wolves to a goalless draw in front of over 40,000 fans at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba. Enyimba needed just a point in their final home game against closest rivals Wolves and they did just enough to get the job done. ‘The People’s Elephant’ clinched the championship with a round of matches to spare as they have 69 points, six points clear of Wolves. The best away form of the season – five wins and seven draws – earned the two-time African champions Enyimba the league title five years after their last conquest. Warri Wolves gave a good account of themselves and they are expected to end the season as runners-up to earn a ticket to next year’s CAF Champions League with a home win over relegated FC Taraba on the final day of the season next week. After a rather cagey first 45 minutes, the second half opened up after Nigeria U23 forward Daniel Etor was sent off for punching Gbolahan Salami in the 50th minute. Joseph Osadiaye had a good chance to put Wolves in front in the 54th minute when the lively Stanley Dimgba found him with a fine cross from the right, but he blasted his effort well off target.
As we round off the Chile U-17 world cup coverage, below are other individual and team honors won. We already know that Nigeria won the gold medal, Mali silver and Belgium bronze. Nevertheless, in the coming days, we’ll bring you memories of Nigeria’s past exploits in this U-17 world cup category. We can never finish this sweet story but we have to take a break for now.
adidas Golden Ball: Kelechi Nwakali (Nigeria)
The captain of the Golden Eaglets was included in Nigeria’s provisional squad ahead of the 2013 edition, but was not named in the final party that went on to win the title. Here, however, the playmaker was the first to lift the trophy aloft. Coach Emmanuel Amuneke right-hand man out on the pitch, he shouldered responsibility and kept a cool head in difficult moments. He scored three goals, including two penalties, and provided a further three assists, a haul that was also brought him the adidas Bronze Boot.
The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria became only the second side to retain the FIFA U-17 World Cup with a 2-0 win against Mali in Vina Del Mar. Victor Osimhen stole the show once again thanks to his record-breaking tenth goal of the tournament, with Funsho Bamgboye adding a second moments later. Samuel Diarra had saved an early Osinachi Ebere penalty as the Malians played their part in an entertaining finale to Chile 2015. The penalty came as both sides were just finding their rhythm in the opening exchanges, Chato the culprit with a handball. Ebere saw his low effort saved brilliantly by Diarra, the No17’s follow up header hit the bar before a third bite of the cherry was blocked by the Malian defence. Both sides had chances in a tense opening period, with Golden Eaglets skipper Kelechi Nwakali hitting just wide and Boubacar Traore seeing his glancing header tipped over by Akpan Udoh.
The second half saw the game burst into life, with Emmanuel Amuneke’s words clearly working their magic on the Nigerian youngsters. Osimhen shrugged off the challenge of Mamadou Fofana before hitting a wonderful dipping half volley towards goal, which Diarra spectacularly saved. Udochukwu Anumudu then smashed a thunderous effort at goal, which rebounded back off the crossbar and was cleared away. Mali did not heed those warnings. Good approach play by substitute Chinedu Madueke saw him tee up Osimhen for his record-breaking goal, seeing him surpass the nine goals scored by Florent Sinama Pongolle in 2001 and Souleymane Coulibaly ten years later. The holders doubled their advantage mere minutes later, with Bamgboye bursting down the Nigerian left before smashing a powerful effort at goal, Diarra standing little chance. Despite a couple of late chances for Mali, from corner kicks, Nigeria retained possession for large spells and saw the game out to retain their crown. The jubilant scenes on the final whistle in Vina Del Mar will surely live long in the memories of these Nigerian heroes of the present, some of whom may just become the stars of the future.
Sunday 8th November 2015:
Third Place Match:
Belgium 3 – 2 Mexico
Final Match:
Mali 0 – 2 Nigeria
Nigeria has successfully defended her U-17 World Cup title.
Nigeria’s leader, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), fondly called PMB by Nigerians, on Saturday had a live telephone conversation with players and officials of the U-17 National Team, Golden Eaglets, ahead of their Final Match against Mali at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015. The live conversation was at the instance of NFF President Amaju Pinnick. PMB, who was Military Head of State 30 years ago when Nigeria won the inaugural FIFA cadet World Cup in China, and actually gave the team the sobriquet ‘Golden Eaglets,’ tasked the players to win the Cup again and make the country proud.
Chinese commentator Dong Lu gets sacked for snoring on air during Real Madrid v PSG that ended 1 – 0 in favor of Madrid. Dong, 46, is a veteran Chinese pundit who had been tasked with commentating on the Madrid v PSG clash as part of LeTV’s Champions League coverage. Unfortunately, the time difference between Madrid and Beijing meant that Lu had to stay up until 3.45am to watch the match, and tiredness just got the better of him. Dong can be heard snoring live on air after dozing off around the 79-minute mark, with LeTV promptly removing him from his post.
Karim Benzema has been charged in an extortion case involving a sex tape featuring fellow French international Mathieu Valbuena, the French prosecutor’s office said on Thursday The Real Madrid striker has been charged with ‘complicity in an attempt to blackmail’ and conspiring to commit a criminal act, which is punishable by at least five years in prision. He’s been placed under judicial supervision, meaning he cannot meet with the victim or other people charged in the case. The prosecutor’s move, which in France’s legal system does not confirm any wrongdoing but does mean investigators have serious grounds for pursuing the matter with him, exposes Benzema to a lengthy period of doubt ahead of a Europeans nations football contest that France holds next year.
Sunday 8th November 2015:
Third Place Match:
Belgium vs Mexico 8pm
Final Match:
Mali vs Nigeria 11pm
*Time = Nigerian.
All the best to the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria as they go for an unprecedented fifth U-17 world cup title. Proudly Nigerian!
Thursday 5th November 2015:
Mali 3 – 1 Belgium
Mexico 2 – 4 Nigeria
Current champions, Golden Eaglets of Nigeria have reached their second consecutive final thanks to a thrilling 4-2 victory against Mexico in Concepcion. Mexico opened the scoring through Kevin Magana, with stunning efforts from Kelechi Nwakali and Orji Okwonkwo seeing the African side ahead. Diego Cortes’s remarkable solo effort levelled matters, before Osinachi Ebere and Victor Osimhen’s late record-equalling penalty saw the Golden Eaglets into an all-African final against Mali. Mexico controlled the ball in the opening stages of the match, and took the lead early on. Kevin Lara beat his man on the Mexican right and delivered a teasing cross into the middle. Aguirre tried to control with his chest, but Magana took charge and fired home. Emmanuel Amuneke’s side began to grow into the game, with Kelechi Nwakali hitting a low drive from the edge of the Mexican penalty area with his venomous drive stinging the palms of Romero before the ball was cleared away. The game see-sawed back Mexico’s way, with a free-kick from the Mexican left headed goalwards by Jose Esquivel. The chance forced a superb point blank stop by Akpan Udoh, onto the crossbar and eventually cleared behind.
Aston Villa have appointed Remi Garde as their new manager on a three-and-a-half-year deal. The Frenchman, 49, succeeds Tim Sherwood and will watch Villa’s match at Tottenham on Monday from the stands. Garde, who left Lyon in 2014 after three seasons, described joining the Premier League’s bottom club as an “unbelievable honour”. “Obviously we have a difficult task in front of us but I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he added. Villa have slipped to six straight defeats in the league and, with just one win since the opening day of the season, the club sacked Sherwood after eight months in the job. Chairman Randy Lerner said: “Nobody at Villa can deny that we are way behind. We recruited aggressively this past summer and it is our responsibility to now harvest this talent rather than buckle under pressure and criticism – we are better than that. “Remi arrived with honesty, humour and a steely sense of what it will take for Aston Villa to be what it is meant to be – hard working, tireless, creative and unwilling to concede.” Garde was Arsene Wenger’s first signing as Arsenal manager in 1996 and he stayed at Arsenal until he retired in 1999.
Thursday 5th November 2015:
Mali vs Belgium 9pm
Mexico vs Nigeria 12am (Friday morning)
*Time = Nigerian.
Naija Sports Crib 