Cristiano Ronaldo wins the 2016 Ballon D'or award for the 4th time

Real Madrid and Portugal super star Cristiano Ronaldo had been crowned the world's best player for 2016 after he defeated rival Lionel Messi to clinch the Ballon D'or award for the fourth time in his very illustrious career. 

The award crowns such a hardworking year for the Madeira native who helped Real Madrid win the UEFA champions league title and also helped his country, Portugal, to win a historic EURO 2016 cup, despite the huge odds against them. 

The striker topped the poll of 173 journalists worldwide to take home France Football magazine's coveted award on Monday night held in Paris, France. 

The player was not present in Paris to collect the award due to the Club World Cup which Reeal Madrid is currently participating in, in Japan. 

Messi came second in the award while Antonie Griezmann of France/Atletico Madrid came third. 
FIFA will hold its own award 'the Best' awards in January and Ronaldo is favorite to win that award also. 

Congrats to Ronaldo! One of the greatest athletes of our time!

"Solomon Dalung is the most embarrassing human being in the Nation" - actor Kunle Remi slams the sports minister

The backlash continues! Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, told state house correspondents in Abuja on Thursday that the reason the Super Falcons who recently won the African Women Cup of Nations have not been paid their allowances is because they were not expected to win the competition... 

Lere Olayinka, Media aide to Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose, also slammed the minister via his Facebook page.

Chapecoense footballer Neto, who survived the Colombian plane tragedy was reading Bible before the crash

Chapecoense centre back, Helio Neto, one of only six people who survived the Colombian plane crash which killed 71, was reading a Bible passage about 'being safe in the shadow of your wings' before the crash. The footballer’s bible was found at the scene of the crash by journalist Roberto Cabrini. 

In a video footage Cabrini notices the Bible with a note inside saying it belongs to the defender. 

A bookmark had been inserted next to Psalm 63. It reads; 

 'On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night; Because you have been my help; Then I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings. My soul follows you closely; Your right hand upholds me."

The bible was handed to the footballer’s wife, who said that Neto is deeply religious and takes religious scriptures with him everywhere. 

A total of 71 people lost their lives when the British-made Avro RJ85 aircraft came down en route to Medellin, where Brazilian side Chapecoense were due to play in the Copa Sudamericana final. 

More photos below... 

Source: DailyMail UK

After 2 Months in a French Hospital, Cameroonian legend, Rigobert Song smiles again

Former Cameroon and Liverpool defender, Rigobert Song who left Cameroon for France to get extra care after suffering a stroke on Sunday, October 2, 2016 is recuperating and getting better. 

It's been two long months for the 40 year old African legend since he came out of a two-day coma at Yaounde Emergency Centre on Tuesday, October 4, 2016. 

He has since been at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital (Groupe hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière) a renowned teaching hospital in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, France.

Connor McGregor says he'll knockout Mayweather if they ever step into the ring together

There has been so much hype surrounding a potential fight between Floyd Mayweather and Connor McGregor. The state of California has granted the mixed martial artist a boxing license which makes the super fight more likely to happen. 

Connor McGregor in his characteristic brashness says he'll knockout Mayweather if they ever step into the ring together. 

He said: 

 'If I took out all those different disciplines and focused with the work ethic that I have on the sport of boxing, there's no telling what I could do. I wouldn't go in there just to show up. I'd go in there to knock him (Mayweather) out. He can be hit. He's been hit before. Age waits for no man, also. So I know they know that. I know the size, the reach and the youth is on my side. 

There's a lot to lose for them. So that's why they're scrambling. But that's OK. I've got some other boxing opportunities and potential opponents in mind, some previous Floyd opponents. I can bring in anyone in the game. We'll see what happens.'

However, McGregor insisted that fighting the 'Money Team' leader, who has recently distanced himself from the idea, is not something he is particularly concerned with. 

'Since I've got that boxing licence, Floyd's fat boxing manager came out and was like, "Floyd's in the Bahamas. He doesn't care about Conor. Well, I don't give a f*** about Floyd, either. If you don't want this fight, that's no problem. Other than the Floyd-Manny (Pacquaio) gate numbers, I hold all the numbers, other than that one fight. So I don't need Floyd. I do not need him.

'All I do is win no matter what!'- says Asisat Oshoala as she displays AWCON & 'highest goal scorer' trophies

 

Nigeria's Super Falcons on Saturday beat Cameroon's female National team, Indomitable Lioness, 1-0, to emerge the winners of the 2016 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations. Desire Oparanozie scored the only goal that gave Nigeria victory and this will be the eight time Nigeria will win the title. 

Striker, Asisat Oshoala, shared these photos of herself posing with the Africa Women Cup Of Nations trophy and her own trophy for being the highest goal scorer in the tournament. See photos of some of her teammates after their win, as you continue. 

 

 

Nigeria's Super Falcons win 2016 African Women Cup of Nations for the eight time

Nigeria's Super Falcons this evening beat Cameroon's female National team, Indomitable Lioness, 1-0, to emerge the winners of the 2016 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations. Desire Oparanozie scored the only goal that gave Nigeria victory in the match which was played at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Omnisports Stadium in Yaoundé. This will be the eight time Nigeria will win the coveted title. Congrats to the team... 

Samuel Eto’o to face 10 years imprisonment & enormous ‎€14m fine for tax fraud in Spain

Antalyaspor of Turkey football star Samuel Eto'o faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a huge €14m fine for tax crimes committed while he played in Spain. 

According to Spanish paper, El Pais, the Cameroon footballer's alleged tax crimes date from 2006 to 2009 when he played for Barcelona, and he managed to defraud the Spanish government of about 3.5 million euros through an illegal, well crafted structure for his image rights.

According to the report, 35 year old Eto'o, started two companies, one in Spain called Bulte opened in 2002 and one in Hungary called Tradesport which allowed him to cleverly divert his image rights and avoid paying for tax . He also through the company structure, allegedly avoided paying tax for the huge money (about 1.5 and 3 million euros a season) he received from his sponsorship with sportswear giants Puma.

Spanish prosecutors are demanding Eto'o be fined around £12m (‎€14m), as well a 10 year imprisonment term.

Robbers attack football icon, Luis Figo's house, make away with €500,000 worth of jewellery

Former Barcelona and Real Madrid player Luis Figo's Madrid mansion was attacked on Wednesday night while the footballer wasn't around and the robbers made away with jewellery worth €500,000 according to reports in the Spanish media. According to top Spanish magazine, AS, who reported the story; 

 

'The thieves – who apparently waited until Figo and his wife were out to ransack their home – did away with jewellery items and luxury watches with a value of approximately €500,000.' 

'The ex-Barcelona and Real Madrid star reported the incident to a police station in Hortaleza and an investigation is now underway.' 

'Figo’s house was also robbed in 2003 when three armed-men broke in and looted a great number of valuables.'

Figo made 127 appearances for Portugal, scoring 32 goals and shockingly swapped Barcelona for Real Madrid in 2000 for a then world record €60million fee.

Sports minister Simon Dalung says Nigeria does not need to attend the world cup

Sports minister, Simon Dalung made a surprising assertion that Nigeria does not need to attend the World Cup because the game is riddled with corruption and we can never win it. Speaking to Voice of America, Hausa Service, he said: 

 “The cup that we can win is the African Cup of Nations. There is nothing again that will take us to another man’s balcony in the name of the World Cup. We already have the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.

 For these, we can attend such meets. But I am opposed to the World Cup. We don’t agree to it. Conspiracy in the World Cup is too much.

“There is the issue of bribery and favouritism. There is also the issue of corruption before you are even given the hosting rights. We are here suffering from hunger and we don’t have money for such things. That is why, even if we try many times, once it gets into the politics of the game, we can never win.

“That was why this year, we had to tackle him (FIFA President, Ginani Infantino) and we said, ‘you , Infantino, if you win this election, you have to give us a position. If not, we shall not agree.’ And you see , by the grace of God, he even picked an African as his Secretary-General.  That means he has started taking honey and rubbing on our lips. That means that one day, we shall get to really lick the honey.”

Pep Guardiola forgives Yaya Toure, starts him for 1st time this season

Manchester city head coach Pep Guardiola has apparently forgiven midfielder Yaya Toure as he was among the start up line in Saturday's Premier League clash against Crystal Palace which they won after Toure scored twice to move Man City level at the top of the league. 

This is the first time Toure is playing this season for Man City in the EPL after he was frozen out by Pep Guardiola following 'insulting' statements from Yaya's agent.

Toure was told by Guardiola in September that he would not play for City again unless his agent Dmitry Seluk apologised for claiming Guardiola had “humiliated” his client by omitting him from the club’s 25-man Champions League squad. 

Guardiola's statements made Yaya Toure release a statement before the FIFA international break,  apologizing for his agent's statements and urging for forgiveness from the club

Chelsea is not punishing me for participating at Rio 2016 Olympics- Mikel Obi

Mikel Obi has debunked the reports that he is being punished by Premier League club Chelsea FC for playing at the 2016 Rio Olympics for Nigeria. In a statement issued Sunday, the Super Eagles captain said the comments made by Nigeria coach, Gernot Rohr were mistranslated and taken out of context by the media. Rohr had claimed that the 29-year-old footballer is being punished by Chelsea coach, Antonio Conte because he had left pre-season camp to play at the Olympics. Read his statement after the cut... 

'Mikel Obi is being punished at Chelsea because he played at Olympics'- Coach Gernot Rohr blasts Chelsea coach

John Mikel Obi has not played a single minute of football this season for Chelsea, with Chelsea coach Antonio Conte preferring the likes of Kante, Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas, Loftus Cheek and Oscar to Mikel Obi.

Nigeria's chief technical adviser Gernot Rohr has blasted Chelsea coach, saying he is punishing the Nigerian captain for missing out on pre-season preparations with Chelsea as he helped Nigeria's U-23 team win the Rio 2016 Olympics football Bronze medal.

"I can never punish a player because he played for his country, and I am not happy with what is happening to Mikel at his club because he is my captain.' Rohr told journalists at a press conference in Uyo.

”The only thing that has not made Mikel to play for Chelsea this season is because he went with the U23 team that won bronze at the 2016 Olympics games, and that is why he is being punished” the Super Eagles coach said.

''He has not featured under the new coach, Conte, since then. But I will still build  the   team playing against Algeria around him because he is in a  good shape and fit for the match.

“Besides, Mikel is committed to the national team and he is a source of motivation to the other players.”

Footballers Association rebukes Man U coach, Jose Mourinho over his treatment of players

The Professional Footballers Association (PFA) of Britain has rebuked Manchester United coach, Jose Mourinho over his treatment of players, Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw. 

Early this week, Jose Mourinho called out both players saying they refused to put their heart and body on the line for Manchester United, as they declined playing in the match against Swansea because they didn't feel 100% fit.

Speaking at the VSI Sporting Directors governance dinner, Gordon Taylor, head of the players’ union, urged Jose Mourinho to be more careful with the handling of his players;

 “I was disappointed by that [Mourinho’s comments] because, knowing the individuals, they are both highly thought of. 

“They’ve got personal problems which I don’t need to relay, but sometimes a manager needs to be a psychologist as well, and also to be a counsellor because you can’t treat everybody in the team [the same], every manager must know that. Every player in a team is different. 

“When you see what happened with Welsh football and Gary Speed, that brings it home to you that somebody can look on top of the world, with no problems, but [in reality] it’s quite different and that’s why we have a 24-hour counselling service. 

“We get some 200 calls a year to those lines because a player could be out of the team, he could be injured. It’s a short-term career and we’re all human beings. 

“I think that’s what management these days has to be. I’m not talking about being soft, I’m talking about being understanding.”

Iamteddieb

One time Coach of the Nigeria Super Eagles Monday Sinclair clocks 80

One time coach of the Nigeria Super Eagles and father of Reggae music maestro Konboye Sinclair Coach Monday Perekeme Sinclair clocks 80 years

He coached :
1.Sharks FC Port Harcourt
2.Leadway Assurance FC Kahuna
3.Niger Tornadoes  Minna
4.Iwuanyanwu Nationale FC Owerri
5.Rangers International FC Envy
6.Bayelsa United FC Yenegoa
7. Super Eagles Nigeria
8. Nzalang Nacional Equatorial Guinea

He will be honored this weekend

Participating Teams are :
1. All Stars FC
2. Kalongee FC
3. Goldash FC
4. Expro FC
5. Sinclear @ 80 FC

TIME:
1. Football Clinic -11am
2. Book launch -
3. Matches -4pm

Date : Saturday  November 5, 2016

Venue :@ Port Harcourt Club Soccer Pitch

Source: @eugeneabels

'The Best awards' to rival Ballon D'or award after separation from France Football

FIFA have unveiled their own individual award for football's best players called 'The Best Awards' to rival the Ballon D'or award they originally co-owned with France Football after ending it's partnership with France football in September. 

The awards will take place in Zurich on January 9, 2017 and according to FIFA, the inaugural 'Best FIFA Football Awards' is the 'definitive accolade' for players and coaches in world football. 
World football governing body, FIFA will be unveiling the shortlists for the four individual awards this week, starting on Tuesday with the Women's Coach award then 10 candidates for the men's coach prize  on Wednesday then on Thursday and Friday the 10 candidates for the top women's and men's players prizes will revealed respectively. 

FIFA previously named their award 'FIFA world player of the year' prior to their partnership with France Football in 2010 but decided not to revert to the same name after ending their partnership with France Football hence the new name 'he Best' awards.

The Best' awards will also feature a new voting system that sees fans have a say in the player and coach of the year in both men's and women's football.

World Cup trophy sculptor, Silvio Gazzaniga dies at age 95

Italian sculptor, Silvio Gazzaniga who designed and created the current version of the FIFA World Cup trophy has died at the age of 95. Silvio designed the trophy in 1971. He passed away in his sleep on Monday October 31 following series of minor aliment. 

A released statement from his son, Giorgio, announced his father’s demise. ‘He just didn't wake up this morning. It was a peaceful death.’

Alex Iwobi impresses me - Says Sir Alex Ferguson

Legendary football coach Sir Alex Ferguson has given his endorsement of the talent of young Super Eagles attacker Alex Iwobi while also posturing Arsenal, Iwobi's club, as premier league title challengers this season. 

Arsenal sit pretty good at the upper echelon of the EPL table and Iwobi has been instrumental providing 3 assists so far, and Sir Alex Ferguson, who won a record 13 Premier League titles as United manager, believes Iwobi has helped to make Arsenal more competitive.

"You shouldn't forget Arsenal (in the title race)," Ferguson said in an interview with German magazine, Kicker.

"The team is more sturdy, they've got better and more aggressive. I'm impressed with the young boy Iwobi."

He also praised Liverpool's manager Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho and gave his say on who he thought were title challengers..

"It can happen that big clubs lose it (their identity). For two decades, Liverpool changed managers without building their own identity.

"You can now well and truly sense that you have to count them in this year. You can see Klopp's dedication on the sideline - I'm convinced his work in training is similar. He's a strong personality. That's absolutely vital at a big club."

"I think there are five potential candidates," he said. "Manchester City as favourites, Tottenham and Liverpool, but also United are still there if we get some consistency soon. Even when you are trailing by six, eight points, it's still possible to catch one or two teams.

"Guardiola's skills are beyond debate, Antonio Conte is getting Chelsea on track, but Mourinho can also rival Guardiola - he's won the Champions League with two different clubs and titles in three different countries.

"For my money Mauricio Pochettino has fantastic potential. Spurs have a good mix of youth and experience. Top players like [Harry] Kane or [Eric] Dier were injured but they're still in a good position."

Alex Iwobi can be new Arsenal playmaker- coach Arsene Wenger says

 

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that Nigerian starlet Alex Iwobi can prosper as a playmaker following his display in Arsenal's 2-0 English League cup win over Reading FC on Tuesday. Arsenal boss Wenger said to journalists during a press conference : 

“Yes, he can play in a central role. You see that he is not a typical winger. I think he can play in that role. He turns the game forward, he passes the ball through the lines very well, he has a final ball in him.” 

Wenger also said he wants Iwobi, nephew to African football legend Jay Jay Okocha to improve his goal scoring ratio and add goals to his game. 

He continued: 

“I think he has all in the locker to pass and give the final ball – what you want from him now is the finishing, and that’s still a little part that is missing in his game. He is too nervous at the moment when he has the possibility to finish."

Liverpool set to sign 15 year old Nigerian defender Emeka Obi for '6 figure sum'

Liverpool is set to sign 15 year old football whizkid, Emeka Obi dubbed the 'best schoolboy player in England' from Bury for a six figure sum after he impressed the club with his performances in the center of defence for Bury. 

The club would have completed the signing of the Nigerian defender since Wednesday but it's been delayed as the club had to work out his Visa issues. 

The centre-back is the youngest player to pull on a Bury shirt after making his professional debut in August - aged 15 and 86 days. Congrats to him!