Monday 2nd November 2015:

Ecuador 0 – 2 Mexico

Belgium 1 – 0 Costa Rica

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been given a one-match stadium ban with immediate effect and also fined £40,000 by the Football Association. The punishment comes after Mourinho admitted a misconduct charge over his language and behaviour in the defeat by West Ham on 24 October. Mourinho, 52, was sent to the stands after going to speak to referee Jon Moss in his room at half-time. He will miss Chelsea’s league game at Stoke on Saturday, unless he appeals. Mourinho will receive the FA’s written reasons this week and, if he contests the punishment, he could still be on the bench at the Britannia Stadium. The stadium ban is separate to the suspended one he received along with a £50,000 fine for comments he made after the loss to Southampton on 3 October. The Portuguese described that fine as a “disgrace” and appealed. Mourinho’s assistant, Silvino Louro, was also charged by the FA after being dismissed during the match at West Ham in relation to his behaviour in the technical area. In a statement,  the FA withdrew an improper conduct charge against Louro but reminded him of his responsibilities.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has pruned down the number of contenders for the 2015 African Player of the Year award to ten. Nigeria’s Vincent Enyeama and Ahmed Musa who had been in the previous list of 37 players have both been dropped. Nigerian players used to dominate this list in the years past and it calls for sober reflection as to what is happening now. Current African Player of Year, Cote d’Ivoire’s Yaya Toure made the list of ten.

THE LIST:

Andre Ayew (Ghana & Swansea)

Aymen Abdennour (Tunisia & Valencia)

Mudather Eltaib Ibrahim ‘Karika’ (Sudan & El Hilal)

Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Roma)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Borussia Dortmund)

Sadio Mane (Senegal & Southampton)

Serge Aurier (Cote d’Ivoire & Paris Saint Germain)

Sofiane Feghouli (Algeria & Valencia)

Yacine Brahimi ( Algeria & Porto)

Yaya Toure (Cote d’Ivoire & Manchester City)

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho is to be the subject of an individual legal claim from former Chelsea team doctor Eva Carneiro in addition to the action she is bringing against the club for constructive dismissal, it can be revealed. Mourinho is to be the subject of an individual legal claim from former Chelsea team doctor Eva Carneiro – papers are to be served this week. The constructive dismissal claim now has two respondents – Chelsea FC and Jose Mourinho – both are legally liable so whilst linked are also separate. In the case of Jose Mourinho the claim will argue that Carneiro was subject to victimisation and or discrimination. The claim against Mourinho will be on the basis that he was instrumental in the actions against Carneiro in having her dropped from first-team duties and effectively demoted. It means the Portuguese manager will have to appear in person at an employment tribunal unless the case is settled out of court beforehand. Under employment law, an individual can be personally liable for damages if victimisation or discrimination can be proved.

Sunday 1st November 2015:

Brazil 0 – 3 Nigeria

Croatia 0 – 1 Mali

Today’s fixtures (Monday 2nd November 2015):

Ecuador vs Mexico 9pm

Belgium vs Costa Rica 12am (Tuesday morning)

*Time = Nigerian.

The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria cruised into the FIFA U-17 World Cup semi-finals after stunning Brazil with three goals in five first half minutes in a 3-0 victory. Victor Osimhen, with his eighth goal in five games, Kingsley Michael and Udochukwu Anumudu battered Brazil, and the Golden Eaglets played the rest of the game out at a canter to reach the final four. Brazil had looked bright in the opening stages, either finding Akpan Udoh in fine form in the Nigerian net or hitting their opportunities off target, with Rogerio and Evander two of the culprits. A Seleção were made to rue those missed opportunities when the lethal Osimhen extended his lead at the top of the goalscoring charts. John Lazarus crossed from the Nigerian right and the Nigerian No9 headed in, via a deflection off Eder Militao. Moments later, Nigeria doubled their lead, Osimhen instrumental once more. The forward hooked a bouncing ball back over his shoulder, with Michael following in. The ball bounced up off the turf and past Juliano. The Brazilian No1 was deceived by another bounce just four minutes later, as Anumudu hit a left-footed drive from distance. The effort skipped off the turf, and past the stopper, who was visibly unhappy at not keeping the shot out. The second period saw few clear-cut opportunities, with Funsho Bamgboye and Evander going closest for either side but, in truth, it was a mere procession for the holders to take a step closer to retaining their title. They will head to Concepcion for Thursday’s semi-final against the winner of tomorrow’s quarter-final between Ecuador and Mexico. Mali, another Africa’s representative also reached the semis by beating Croatia with a lone goal.

Saturday 31st October 2015:

Chelsea 1 – 3 Liverpool

Crystal Palace 0 – 0 Manchester United

Manchester City 2 – 1 Norwich (Kelechi Iheanacho made his first premier league start for City)

Newcastle 0 – 0 Stoke

Swansea 0 – 3 Arsenal

Watford 2 – 0 West Ham

West Brom 2 – 3 Leicester

Liverpool piled the pressure on Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho as Jurgen Klopp secured a hugely impressive first Premier League win since taking charge at Anfield by beating Chelsea 3- 1 at Stamford Bridge. Mourinho was recently given the backing of Chelsea’s hierarchy after their poor start to the season – but whether their faith remains after this desperate defeat remains to be seen. Chelsea made the perfect start when Ramires headed them into the lead after only three minutes but Liverpool’s confidence was not dented and Philippe Coutinho equalised spectacularly in first-half stoppage time. Coutinho put Liverpool ahead with a shot that deflected off John Terry with 16 minutes left before substitute Christian Benteke wrapped up a victory Klopp’s side thoroughly deserved. How long more will Jose stay? We’ll get to see.

Watford secured their second win in a row with victory over West Ham as Odion Ighalo continued his goalscoring form. Ighalo turned home the opener after Nathan Ake robbed a dallying Andy Carroll in defence and crossed low. The Nigerian doubled Watford’s lead just after the break, firing home from Ikechi Anya’s cut-back for his seventh goal of the season. Enner Valencia intercepted Craig Cathcart’s poor backpass but hit the post, before James Collins saw red. The centre-back was dismissed for a foul on Ighalo, who was then replaced by Adlene Guedioura. Watford’s win, their second at home since promotion from the Championship last term, moves them up to ninth, while West Ham drop to fifth.  Odion Ighalo is now the highest scorer in Watford’s Premier League history, overtaking Heidar Helguson and Hameur Bouazza. This is the first time Watford have scored more than once at home in a Premier League game since April 2007 (4-2 v Portsmouth). Ighalo has now been involved in Watford’s last nine Premier League goals, scoring seven and setting up two.

Former candidate Luis Figo has come out in support of UEFA’s Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency. In a statement, Figo has praised Infantino, saying he “knows football inside out and his experience, competence, hard work and honesty make him the best candidate for the FIFA presidency”. “I fully support him in this race and I humbly ask all of those who will vote on the 26th of February to back Gianni Infantino. He won’t let football down”.

It has emerged that the Ministry of Sport in Russia has signed a document banning all foreign head coaches. According to Eurosport, the bill was signed on September 21st and published on the official web portal of legal information on October 28th. Interestingly, the Russian national team can still be run by a foreign coach. At clubs, they can employ foreigners as coaches – but not the head coach. Of the sixteen clubs in the Russian Premier League, six are run by foreigners. It’s unclear how soon they will be forced to leave their jobs. Former Chelsea coach, Andre Villas-Boas who now coaches Zenith St. Petersburg is one of the coaches to be affected by this new development.

Kelechi Iheanacho has revealed how “big brother” Wilfried Bony has made him feel part of the Manchester City family. Kelechi gave another glimpse of his exciting potential in City’s 5-1 Capital One Cup win over Crystal Palace, scoring one and making two others, and says Bony is a big help to him. The Nigerian teenager made his first start alongside Bony against Palace and says his fellow African has taken him under his wing. “Wilfried is a very good striker who is strong and intelligent,” said the forward. “He talks to me all the time and advises me. “We sit together in the dressing room and he’s like a big brother to me. Yaya too, I’m happy being with them.”

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Sunday 1st November 2015:

Brazil vs Nigeria 8pm

Croatia vs Mali 11pm

Monday 2nd November 2015:

Ecuador vs Mexico 9pm

Belgium vs Costa Rica 12am (Tuesday morning)

*Time = Nigerian.

Thursday 29th October 2015:

Croatia 2 – 0 Germany

Mali 3 – 0 Korea DPR

Russia 1 – 4 Ecuador

France 0 – 0 Costa Rica (Costa Rica win 5 – 3 after PSO)

Super Eagles Coach Sunday Oliseh has released a team of 24 players for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture against Swaziland. The two–legged fixture will take place over four days next month, with the first leg in Lobamba on Friday, November 13, and the return at the Adokiye Amiesiamaka Stadium in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, November 17. Obafemi Martins is making a comeback to the team after announcing months back that he has retired from international football. Kelechi Iheanacho is being called up to the Super Eagles for the first time. The list is made up of 18 foreign based pros and 6 home based players.

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Reigning FIFA U-17 World Cup champions, the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria advanced to a quarter-final meeting against Brazil on the back of a hat-trick from the impressive Victor Osimhen, ending Australia’s run with a one-sided 6-0 victory in Vina Del Mar. The tale of the first half was compacted into a three-minute period as Nigeria scored twice sandwiched either side of a gilt-edged opening for Australia. It was 2-0 at the interval, and the game was still a contest until the final 17 minutes before Nigeria ran riot against an Australian side looking flat after surviving the ‘group of death’. The Aussies started in pro-active fashion, but it was Funsho Ibrahim Bamgboye who hit the post with a rasping shot from the edge of the penalty area as Nigeria’s first effort narrowly failed to break the deadlock. That moment came on 22 minutes as Osimhen showed just why he is the tournament’s leading goalscorer by bursting forward with pace and power on the left, before turning his defender and sliding the ball impressively inside the far post.

Australia could have drawn level immediately with Cameron Joice seeing his shot saved, while Lucas Derrick pushed the follow-up wide as a golden opportunity was spurned. Almost immediately Nigeria were two in front as Funsho Bambgboye went to ground in the penalty area, and Kelechi Nwakali coolly slotted home the resultant penalty. The two goals seemed to inspire the Nigerians who took a greater hold as the half wore on creating several half-openings around the Aussie goal. Nigeria continued their powerful performance after the break, and although Australia dominated possession for periods, it was the Africans who ended the contest with a third. Osimhen scored twice in the space of six minutes, the second with another laser-perfect drive into the top corner. The deflated Aussies conceded to more goals in the dying minutes as firstly substitute Edidiong Michael Essien, and then Samuel Chukwueze, inflicted further pain as Nigeria stormed into the last-eight in confident fashion.

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen scored the first hat-trick of Chile 2015 to see him stand alone as the outright top goalscorer in the competition so far with seven goals. The Golden Eaglets 6-0 victory over Australia is the joint-biggest win in the history of the FIFA U-17 World Cup knockout stages, level with Japan’s 6-0 win against their antipodean neighbours New Zealand in 2011, which also come in the Round of 16.

Wednesday 28th October 2015:

Brazil 1 – 0 New Zealand

Mexico 4 – 1 Chile

Nigeria 6 – 0 Australia 

Korea Republic 0 – 2 Belgium

Today’s Fixtures (Thursday 29th October 2015):

Croatia vs Germany 9pm

Mali vs Korea DPR 9pm

Russia vs Ecuador 12am (Friday morning)

France vs Costa Rica 12am (Friday morning)

*Time = Nigerian.

Seven candidates will stand in FIFA’s presidential election on 26 February. The candidates are: Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, Musa Bility, Jerome Champagne, Gianni Infantino, Michel Platini, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa and Tokyo Sexwale. Trinidadian ex-footballer David Nakhid was not included on the list, despite saying he had submitted his candidacy. The election is to find a successor to the suspended Sepp Blatter, who is under criminal investigation. The Swiss 79-year-old announced he would be stepping down in June, with world football’s governing body at the centre of a corruption scandal. Nigeria’s Orji Uzor Kalu and Segun Odegbami who decleared interest did not make it to this level as they later bowed out.

Wednesday 28th October 2015:

Brazil vs New Zealand 9pm

Mexico vs Chile 9pm

Nigeria vs Australia 12am (Thursday morning)

Korea Republic vs Belgium 12am (Thursday morning)

*Time = Nigerian.

Boxer Floyd Mayweather chilling with his new 2015 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse that cost $3,498,000. The Money Man indeed.