SPORTS

‘WENGER HAS INFORMED PLAYERS HE IS LEAVING’

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eports in Italy have revealed that Arsene Wenger has told his players that he will quit Arsenal at the end of this season.

According to Italian football journalist, Tancredi Palmeri, the Frenchman has informed the team members about his decision but has yet to have a meeting with the club’s board to inform people running the club as well.

Arsenal are reported to have offered Wenger a two-year contract extension although the Frenchman seems intentioned to part companies with the North London club after spending over 20 years with the Gunners.

 Wenger’s Arsenal faced Bayern Munich yesterday with the impossible task of subverting the first leg’s verdict as Bayern Munich trashed the Gunners 5-1 in an Allianz Arena clash three weeks ago.

Many Arsenal fans will celebrate this news although Palmeri insists that the club’s board has yet to be informed about Wenger’s decision and that “everything can still happen.”

Also yesterday, Gilberto Silva became the latest Arsenal great to say his former manager Arsene Wenger has reached the end of the road.

The World Cup-winning midfielder, a cornerstone of Wenger’s ‘Invincible’ league champions of 2003-04, believes that a new breed of Premier League managers, including Chelsea’s Antonio Conte, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp – have the energy the 67-year-old lacks after over two decades at the Arsenal helm.

“I feel that the time has come,” the 2004 Premier League champion told Sport 360.

“The more the past is coming to a close, the more his time is coming – not because he can’t do the job any longer, but, perhaps because the other clubs have changed their way of working, the way of doings things.

“He hasn’t changed much, he hasn’t changed his way of working – not because he doesn’t want to, but it is not so easy to compete with clubs who spend a lot of money every season.

“Wenger has spent a lot more years than them (Conte, Guardiola and Klopp) in the Premier League. They are younger and motivated and they have a lot of energy to look around and source ways to win against Wenger.

“He has his own way of working, in which he believes. Irrespective of whether you are either a young or an old coach, you have to believe in something, and that’s what he does.”

Gilberto is not the only member of the Invincibles to have criticised Wenger, whose contract expires at the end of the season, in recent weeks. After last month’s 5-1 defeat former Arsenal defenders, Martin Keown and Lee Dixon said they believed the Frenchman’s time at the club was up.

BASH ALI SUES SPORTS MINISTER, SEEKS N1 BILLION DAMAGES

 

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nternational boxing champion, Bash Ali has filed a N1 billion suit against the minister of sports before a High Court of Abuja, over the alleged violation of his fundamental human rights.

Listed as respondents in the suit, apart from the sports minister are, Nansel Nimyel, Inspector General of Police, Charles Boga and one Mr Joseph.

The athlete is asking for the sum of N1 billion as compensatory damages and public apology in two national newspapers for the violation on February 13, 2017. He is also asking for the sum of N8 million as cost of litigation.

In his affidavit in support of the application, the plaintiff claimed that Police officers attached to the office of the minister assualted him on that date.

He averred that he had been frequenting the office of the minister in respect of an International Boxing event billed to be hosted in Nigeria.

“On February 10, 2017, I and my Local Organizing Committee went to the office of the Minister where we were told by the acting Permanent Secretary that the Minister has asked that I should come on February 13, 2017 and that everything will be resolved on that day.

“By 8am on February 13, we again went to the office of the Minister and we were asked by the 2nd respondent to wait as the Minister was very busy in his office. And we waited till 1:45pm when a foreign visitor walked in and after exchanging pleasantries with me, the doors to the office of the Minister were thrown open to him,”he alleged.

Ali stated further that he protested and was shouted down by the 2nd respondent and was pushed out of the office before the policemen attached to the office pounced on him.

“Members of the police led by the (second respondent) Special Assistant to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Nansel Nimyel, assaulted and beat me up. They hit me to the ground with the butt of their guns and pummeled me into a state of unconsciousness,”he claimed.

No date has been fixed for hearing.

REVEALED: ALEXIS SANCHEZ HAS MADE FINAL ARSENAL TRANSFER DECISION 

 

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lexis Sanchez is ready to leave Arsenal at the end of this season.

So says Mirror journalist John Cross, who has close connections to the Gunners.

Cross reckons the attacker has already made up his mind, claiming the big European clubs are interesting Sanchez.

"I think Sanchez will go," Cross told the Mirror.

"His mind's made up. I think there's big clubs in for him - PSG, Juventus as well."

Cross also had his say on Mesut Ozil, saying the Germain international is more likely to stay than Sanchez.

"But I do think Ozil is much more likely to stay and sign a new deal than Sanchez," he added.

MAN UNITED FAN PASSES AWAY AFTER COLLAPSING AT WEST HAM

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 Manchester United fan has passed away after collapsing at West Ham on Tuesday, the Old Trafford club have confirmed.

United won 2-0 at London Stadium thanks to goals from Juan Mata and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

But their sixth successive Premier League victory has been tinged with sadness after the club announced that a supporter had lost his life, with West Ham adding their condolences.

“Everyone at Manchester United is deeply saddened following news one of our fans passed away after collapsing at yesterday’s game v West Ham,” read a post on the club’s official Twitter account.

FG PAYS SUPER EAGLES, FALCONS N471.8M SALARIES, ALLOWANCES

The Federal Government has, Friday, released a total sum of N471.8m for the payment of the salaries and allowances of Super Eagles and Super Falcons. 

The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation released the mandate to Central Bank of Nigeria for payment of naira equivalent of US$1,173,820.00 at N305/$ to Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, for the payment of the outstanding winning bonuses for Super Eagles in the 2018 World Cup Qualifying Matches and for the Super Falcons’ participation in the 10th Women’s Africa nations Cup.

This is in furtherance of the approval from Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, for the said amount to be paid. The mandate, which is a sum of N358 million, was paid by Central bank of Nigeria on Thursday, a statement signed by Kenechukwu N, on behalf of the Accountant General, said.

Similarly, another mandate for N113.8 million has also been released by Office of Accountant General of the Federation for the payment of wining bonus for Super Eagles in the 2018 World Cup Qualifying matches; and for the Super Falcon’s participation in the 10th Women’s Africa Nation’s Cup. This amount has also been paid to Nigeria Football Federation and is equally sequel to the approval of the minister of finance. 

The payment came after members of Super Falcons demonstrated in Abuja demanding payment of their outstanding bonuses. Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari, on hearing about the issue had authorized the payment within 24 hours.

PIERS MORGAN BLAMES ARSENAL BOSS WENGER FOR BAYERN DRAW

Arsenal celebrity fan Piers Morgan blames Arsene Wenger for their Champions League draw with Bayern Munich.

The Gunners have been knocked out of the competition in the round of 16 in the last six seasons but hopes were high among fans after Wenger's side topped Group A on the final matchday.

However, their lack of luck in the knockout stages draw continued as they came out of the group winners' pot after the Bundesliga outfit were drawn from the runners-up bowl.

RONALDO, ALVES STARS OF TODAY’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCHES

 

Cristiano Ronaldo will be hoping to build upon his formidable away form in the Champions League at Legia Warsaw, while Leicester City – amid exalted historical company – are on the brink of progression.

Expect plenty of goals when Sporting CP visit Borussia Dortmund, with Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang certain to be a threat.And defender Dani Alves will be looking to continue his exceptional attacking contribution when Juventus face Lyon.With the help of Opta, we bring you the best stats for Wednesday’s Champions League group stage fixtures.

Legia Warsaw v Real Madrid
Real Madrid have failed to score only once in their last 47 Champions League group games.Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 28 times in his 23 Champions League appearances away from home for Madrid.

Borussia Dortmund v Sporting CP
Borussia Dortmund have had more shots than any other team over the first three games in this season’s group stages: 61. Only Barcelona (13) have scored more goals than BVB (10).Sporting CP’s last five Champions League games against German clubs have produced 29 goals, an average of 5.8 goals per game.

Juventus v Lyon
Juventus fullback Dani Alves has created 14 chances this season in the Champions League; three more than any other player. The last three goals recorded by Juventus in the 2016-17 Champions League have seen the direct involvement of Alves (one goal and two assists).

Tottenham v Bayer Leverkusen
Tottenham have failed to score more than one goal in their last seven Champions League games and in this season’s group stage, only two of Spurs’ 43 shots have found the back of the net. They failed to have a shot in the second half of the reverse fixture in Germany. Leverkusen have won only two of their last 24 Champions League away games and won just one of 11 home or away, drawing seven times and losing three. They have drawn the last five in succession.

Copenhagen v Leicester
Leicester are only the fifth team in Champions League history to win their opening three games in the competition, after AC Milan in 1992-93, Paris Saint-Germain in 1994-95, Juventus in 1995-96 and Malaga in 2012-13.And they have Riyad Mahrez to thank. The Algeria star has been directly involved in four of Leicester’s five Champions League goals, scoring three times and claiming an assist.

Sevilla v Dinamo Zagreb
Despite having had their woodwork rattled three times, Sevilla are one of four teams yet to concede a goal in their three Champions League group games this season, alongside Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Leicester.Dinamo Zagreb have lost 21 of their last 24 Champions League games, failing to keep a clean sheet in all of those 24 games and conceding a massive 63 goals in the process.

Monaco v CSKA Moscow
Monaco have only lost two of their last 18 Champions League games at home and have not been beaten at Stade Louis II in the competition since a 1-0 defeat to Rangers in September 2000.CSKA, meanwhile, have lost nine of their last 11 away games in the Champions League and have not kept a clean sheet in their previous 25 outings.

Porto v Club Brugge
Club Brugge have given away more penalties than any other team in the competition thus far (three); one of those includes Andre Silva’s injury-time winner for Porto last time out.No team has faced fewer shots this season in the Champions League than Porto (19, level with Barcelona).

FOOTBALLER SHOT DEAD IN NIGER DELTA

A footballer identified as Izu Joseph has been shot dead in an unexplained circumstance involving soldiers  at Okakhi community, a town bordering Bayelsa and Rivers states.

The Nation gathered that the dead footballer plays his football with the Shooting Stars Football Club of Ibadan, Oyo State before his untimely death. 

While some said that Joseph was gunned down by troops of Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS), others said the incident occurred during a shootout between other soldiers and hoodlums in the area.

The deceased was said to be on a break following the end of 2015/2016 season of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) when the incident occurred.

Three billets reportedly punctured different parts of his body.

Joseph, an indigene of Okhaki was said to have joined the Shooting Stars in 2014 from Bayelsa United Football Club. 

Some sources from the community said the killing, which happened on Saturday evening, sparked anger in the community, leaving everyone in confusion.

A friend to the footballer, identified as Nyieye, confirmed that Okhaki is notorious for harbouring bad  boys who are not militants.

“They smoke and drink in the area. As an established footballer from the community, many of the youths usually swam around him and he reciprocated by buying them drinks.

“We gathered that some youths had the previous days angered some soldiers but they came when Izu Joseph was hanging out with his people. He was shot three times. Others died but we only heard about Izu,” he said.

Contacted on the development, Acting Coordinator of ODS’ Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC) Lt. Cmdr. Thomas Osuji, said the incident had nothing to do with ODS.

MIKEL OBI REVEALS

HOW NIGERIA CAN QUALIFY FOR WORLD CUP

 

  

Mikel  Obi  has tipped the Super Eagles to  qualify for the Russia 2018 World Cup.

Nigeria got off to a flying start in the Russia 2018 qualifiers by beating Zambia 2-1 in Ndola on Sunday. The win helped the Eagles to top Group B of the qualifying series after Algeria and Cameroon settled for a 1-1 draw in the other group’s fixture.

Chelsea midfielder Mikel  told thenff.com  that the victory  at  Levy Mwanawasa Stadium  in Ndola had given the team confidence.

The Eagles captain said, “I have belief that we can reach new heights with this team. The boys are so committed that it makes you happy. The coaching  staff  is made up of brilliant people who respect the players. We are onto a good thing.”

The 29-year-old added,  “We have a very good chance to qualify for the World Cup if we keep our heads and play at our best level. Each and every one of us is determined to go to the World Cup. Now that we are top of the table, we have to remain there.”

Meanwhile, Zambia coach Wedson Nyirenda has blamed  his defenders  for the defeat by Nigeria.

However, Nyirenda  insists Chipolopolo  are  still in the race to qualify  for  the World Cup despite the defeat.

 He told The Post, “It was sad, football being what it is, it went the other way. But I want to say that the defenders were  jittery and unsettled. Maybe the stage was big but it happens in football.We are still in the game, we are not out.”

The coach added,  “We were so careless at the back in the first half, we did not press on them, we gave them a lot of room and if you are playing a senior team like Nigeria with good stars, they will punish you.”

FIFA RANKING : NIGERIA MOVES UP BY 3 SPOTS, NOW 64TH

Nigeria on Thursday moved up by three spots to place 64th in the world in the September ranking by Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), world’s football governing body. In the ranking table on FIFA’s website, the Super Eagles garnered 534 points as against 513 it had in August when it was placed at the 67th position.
The latest ranking now puts Nigeria in the 14th position in Africa. In spite of the shifts in the ranking, Argentina and Belgium maintained first and second place, respectively, cementing their positions at the summit of the world ranking for another month.

The large number of qualifying fixtures for continental competitions (26 matches) and the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia (61 matches) over September is reflected in significant movement in this month’s edition of the ranking. 
Among the top five are Germany, Colombia and rejuvenated Brazil, under a new coach. A total of 126 international A-matches were played over the past few weeks, bringing the total number of games so far in 2016 to 632. The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on Oct. 20, 2016. Read more

IHEANACHO STUNS TANZANIA IN UYO

  

WATCHED by capacity crowd at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, the Super Eagles have begun the reigns of head coach, Gernot Rohr, with a 1-0 victory over the Taifa Stars of Tanzania in a 2017 AFCON qualifier yesterday.

Over 30,000 fans were at the stadium to cheer the Eagles in the dead rubber fixture with both teams already out of next year’s AFCON slated for Gabon and after waiting patiently for 78th minutes they were rewarded with a spectacular strike off the boot of Manchester City striker, Kelechi Iheanacho whose 25 yard well weighed-in shot sailed past impressive Tanzanian goalkeeper.

The Eagles started the match on a fast lane in the first half and had golden opportunity to take the lead in the opening five minutes but Odion Jude Ighalo and Victor Moses were guilty of missed chances.

The Tanzanians did not lie low waiting for the Eagles to capitalise and after early gilt edge chances wasted by the  Nigerian senior national team they came out of their shell and forced Eagles’ goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme to make some decent saves.

The Nigerian team dominated the game for a long spell but they were uncoordinated in front of goal but the Eagles played as a unit and the decision of the head coach, Rohr to invite the team’s best legs because of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers seemed to have paid off.

The tempo of the game changed dramatically after the Eagles got the lone goal as Nigeria emerged as second best in the group with five points from four matches and five points adrift of group leaders, Egypt who are on 10 points while Tanzania are last with a point from four games.

It was the first time Eagles have had the maximum points at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, since it was commissioned three years ago. Read more

 BATSHUAYI WELCOMES DAVID LUIZ TO CHELSEA: WE WERE ONCE ENEMIES!

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helsea striker Michy Batshuayi has hailed their swoop for David Luiz.

Luiz has returned to Chelsea from PSG in a deadline day €40 million deal.

 
 



 CHELSEA FANS BEG DAVID LUIZ TO REJOIN THE CLUB AS ANTONIO CONTE TARGETS £32M DEAL

Thursday, 1st September, 2016

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helsea fans are desperate to see David Luiz return to Stamford Bridge and took to social media to beg the defender to rejoin the club last night.

The 29-year-old was a hugely popular figure in west London before Jose Mourinho sanctioned a £50million move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2014.

The Brazilian came in for criticism for having a lack of focus in the heart of the Blues’ defence but his his ability on the ball was unquestionable.

Antonio Conte is keen on re-signing the defender and Luiz is thought to be open to returning in a £32m deal.

But nobody wants the move to happen more than Chelsea fans, who took to Twitter to beg the charismatic Brazilian to ‘come home’. Read more