Africa Women’s Championship : Super Falcons Thrash Zambia 6 – 0

The Super Falcons of Nigeria thrash Zambia 6-0 in a Group A match in the ongoing African Women Championship (AWC) in Namibia.
The Super Falcons top group A with six points having earlier defeated Côte d’Ivoire 4-2.
This tournament which kicked off on 11th – and ends 25 October 2014 is also a qualification tournament for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup , with top three qualifying for the finals in Canada.
Nigeria will be playing its last group game against the host of the tournament Namibia.

Neymar Scores A Quadruple As Brazil Romp Japan

Barcelona forward and captain of the Brazilian national team scored a quadruple as the samba boys of Brasil romp Japan in a friendly match in Singapore.
Brasil returned to winning ways after a poor outing at the world cup on home soil with a win Argentina and followed by another against Japan.
Just as expected It took just 18 minutes for Neymar to open the scoring, rounding the keeper and finishing into an empty net after some beautiful play in the midfield had put him through.
The rest of his goals came in the second half, the first within three minutes of the restart as substitute Coutinho played Neymar in with a lovely through ball and the Barcelona forward slotted in past Kawashima.
Brazil continued to threaten and returnees Kaka and Robinho were keen to show that they were worthy of a place in Duncan’s squad.

KESHI BOASTS: Even if I’m Sacked, Other Countries Are Ready To Employ Me

The coach of Nigeria’s national team the Super Eagles is pissed at the criticisms he has been receiving from all angles concerning the poor performance of the country at recent football games.
Keshi who thinks it is not his fault exploded in an interview with my colleagues at AfricanFootball.com, saying;

“It’s not about the game, it’s about other personal stuff. So, if tomorrow they say Keshi leave, there is no shaking because there are two or three countries waiting for me.“My job is about hire and fire.”
“I have coached in other places before and I was not fired. If it comes down to Nigeria, I have been here before, qualified Nigeria for 2002 World Cup with Amodu Shaibu and we were asked to leave.”

Iniesta Beats Ronaldo, Messi And Co To Win The 2014 Golden Foot Awards | Photos

Andres Iniesta beat Ronaldo and co to win  the 2014 Golden Foot.The 30-year-old  fought off competition from players such as Wayne Rooney, Andrea Pirlo and Thierry Henry to become the first Spaniard to lift the award . The Golden Foot award can only be won by  players aged 28 or over.
The Barcelona play maker attended the gala in Monaco on Monday evening with his wife Anna Ortiz, joined by  previous winners Ronaldinho, Ryan Giggs and Zlatan Ibrahimovic . He also had  a mould of his footprints taken on stage during the ceremony.
More photos below :

Nigerian football is Long dead & Gone – Jay Jay Okocha

The two-time BBC African Footballer of the Year and former Captain of the Super Eagles, Austin Jay Jay Okocha described the 1-0 defeat to Sudan as confirming his worst fears that “football is long dead and gone” in Nigeria.
Writing on Twitter on Sunday, Okocha wondered if the Super Eagles could have performed better, considering the level of development of football in the country.
Stating that the result of the match has put the national team in a “very unusual situation,” he cautioned against unfairly criticising the Super Eagles and the coaching crew.
“We are in a very unusual situation. The question is: ‘do we deserve better considering the state of our football affairs in recent times?’ Anyone that blames Keshi or the boys is short-sighted. Our football is long dead and gone. This is just the confirmation,” the former Nigerian midfielder tweeted.
“Well done, South Africa. It is not the result most Nigerians expected, though. But we have to step up our game and grab the next six points to have a chance,” Okocha added.

Luis Suarez Returns After Bite Ban

Luis Suarez set up Uruguay’s goal in the 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia, as he made his first appearance for the country since his ban for biting.
The Barcelona forward’s strike came off the post before it was diverted into his own net by Hassan Muath Fallatah.
The 27-year-old was initially banned for four months and nine international matches, for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.
That was changed to nine competitive internationals on appeal.
The ban will end in time for Barca’s El Clasico game against Real Madrid on 25 October.
Suarez was available for last month’s friendlies against South Korea and Japan, but Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez opted to leave him out of squad.

A star is moving away from Man United

Manchester United was the king of this transfer window spending more than 200 million euros. The devils have transfered Di Maria, Falcao, Blind, Rojo, Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw.
Last January they transferred Juan Mata from Chelsea for £37.1 million, and probably they will return the Spaniard where he became famous, in Valencia.
The Spanish club is ready to offer 30 million euros for Mata.

Real Madrid confirm AC Milan friendly and refuse to deny Santiago Bernabeu will be renamed

Real Madrid will play AC Milan in a prestigious friendly in Dubai on December 30, Blancos director of institutional relations Emilio Butragueno has confirmed.

Butragueno was in Dubai on Monday together with Milan legend Franco Baresi to announce and promote the friendly, which will be played at the Dubai Sevens Stadium.

But the former Madrid striker was caught off guard when asked to confirm whether Real Madrid are negotiating a deal with IPIC (International Petroleum Investment Company) to rename their stadium from Santiago Bernabeu to Abu Dhabi Santiago Bernabeu.

A hesitant Butragueno said: "We are here to talk about this game and I think we should focus on that. This is our first game here in Dubai, a great opportunity. That [IPIC - Real Madrid] is a different matter."
Madrid president Florentino Perez unveiled plans for the €400 million renovation of the club's famous home last year and the construction magnate claimed much of the development would be paid for by the sale of naming rights for the ground.

'Come home Ronaldo' - Manchester United fans fly banner during Real Madrid game

A banner urging Cristiano Ronaldo to return "home" to Manchester United has been flown over El Madrigal during Real Madrid's clash with Villarreal.

The Portugal forward has been linked with a move back to Old Trafford and one United fans' group is doing its bit to make it happen with a banner which read: 'Come home Ronaldo - United Reel'.

United Reel, which describes itself as an organisation for "die hard Manchester United fans from every corner of the globe", raised the funds ahead of Real's La Liga match at Villarreal on Saturday.

Sanchez dropped by Wenger for disrupting Arsenal's style

Alexis Sanchez has been an instant hit with Arsenal supporters since becoming the second-most expensive signing in the club's history.

Yet despite the €41 million forward's eye-catching goals, pace and industry, his early performances for the Londoners have not totally convinced Arsene Wenger.

Goal has learned that Sanchez has been dropped by the manager from the starting XI for Arsenal's last two Premier League matches for slowing down the team's well-established passing game.

Wenger reacted to Arsenal's limp 2-0 defeat at Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League opener a fortnight ago by axing Sanchez and replacing him for the trip to Aston Villa with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Arsenal triumphed 3-0 at Villa Park and Wenger repeated the formula for last Saturday's 1-1 draw against Tottenham, with Oxlade-Chamberlain smashing in the equaliser.

Real Madrid tell Ronaldo: Manchester United move is not happening

Real Madrid have made it clear to Cristiano Ronaldo that they have no intention of allowing him to return to Manchester United this summer, Goal understands.

New Old Trafford manager Louis van Gaal publicly stated an interest in signing the 29-year-old last week, but the Champions League holders have ruled out the possibility of Ronaldo leaving the Bernabeu at the end of the season and have refused to discuss a price for the forward.

Ronaldo, who has endured an ambivalent relationship with Madrid despite record breaking achievements in his five years there, has regularly expressed his “love” for United, encouraging hope of an Old Trafford return.

Extensive efforts were made to put together a deal to re-sign the forward in 2013 before his contract renewal with Madrid and the subject has been floated again this year, with United having already spent an unprecedented sum of over €257 million on transfer fees alone.

BEHOLD NIGERIA'S 23 MAN WORLD CUP SQUAD

Stephen Keshi did not spring any surprises with his selection for Brazil, with the likes of Vincent Enyeama, Joseph Yobo and Echiejile making the cut alongside 19 debutants

The reigning African champions will be making their fifth appearance at world football's major showpiece and have been drawn in the same group with Argentina, Iran and Bosnia.
Experienced names such as Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Joseph Yobo and Elderson Echiejile who were part of the squad to South Africa 2010 made the final list and will look to make amends for their group stage exit in their last outing.
Top scorer of the 29th Africa Cup of Nations, Emmanuel Emenike, Godfrey Oboabona, John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses will be expected to make their World Cup debut when the championship kicks off.

Victor's World Cup Dream

There was silence across the country.
The streets are completely deserted except for a few stray dogs and chickens that strolled aimlessly in search of grub. Everyone had hurried home to watch the football match.
They display the whole spectrum of emotions largely oscillating between excitement and anxiety as the match progresses. Sometimes, shouts of delight would puncture the silence. At other times, shouts of anguish would invade the air.
It was the finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
The Times of London had described this year’s competition as “the year of the underdogs.” A Nigerian-based newspaper was quite prescient. In its editorial, it wrote that 2014 is “Nigeria’s date with history.”
Nigeria had been making global headlines since the tournament started. It all began with Nigeria’s invasion of Iran in her opening match. In the second match, Nigeria not only beat but also humiliated Bosnia-Herzegovina. The team went on to annihilate Argentina in the last match of the group stage. Italy, Spain, England and Germany suffered similar fates at the hands of the seemingly unstoppable Super Eagles, who had not lost a single match since the competition started on June 12. No African team had ever come this far in the previous editions of the tournament. Against all odds, Nigeria eventually managed to get to the finals!

Brazil still straining to complete World Cup stadiums 10 days before kickoff

With 10 days until the World Cup begins, Brazil was rushing Monday to finish installing seats in stadiums and to deal with threats ranging from violent protests to dengue fever.
The count-down to kick off has been marred by protests — from striking drivers who abandoned their buses mid-route to indigenous leaders in bright-feathered headdresses shooting arrows at police.
Anger over the more than $11 billion being spent on the event has raised fears of a return to the violence seen last year during the Confederation Cup, a World Cup dress rehearsal.
Then, clashes erupted as a million people flooded the streets calling for more money for social programs and less for stadiums.
But recent protests have been smaller, with journalists and street vendors sometimes outnumbering the crowds of anti-government demonstrators chanting: “There won’t be a World Cup!”
In a country that takes pride in its five World Cup titles, the tournament is starting to unleash growing excitement, with media providing exhaustive coverage of the Brazilian team’s training camp.
That national ambivalence is the target of a viral social network joke.

PHOTOS: Nigeria's World Cup base camp

this is  an exclusive look inside the luxurious Vitoria Hotel Concept, Campinas, that will host the Super Eagles during their World Cup campaign in Brazil
Located in the city of Campinas, the beautiful Vitoria Hotel Concept has been chosen by the Nigeria Football Federation as base camp for the Super Eagles during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Their Group F opponents Argentina, Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina have opted for Cidade do Galo in Belo Horizonte, Joaquim Grava and Guaraja both in Sao Paulo respectively.
Campinas itself, a city 96km from Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, is an ancient metropolis founded in the 18th century. The Super Eagles will find the city warm and welcoming when they arrive for the Mundial in a few days.
The city is home to one of the biggest shopping malls in Latin America, the Shopping Parque Dom Pedro, one of seven big malls that cater to tourists all year round.
The Vitoria Hotel Concept, founded in 2003, is the biggest hotel in the Vitoria Hotel chain. It is a 19-floor edifice with 253 rooms. It contains a spa, a swimming pool, a heliport, fully fitted gym and four restaurants that cater to different tastes - Mediterranean, Oriental and Iberian.
“I love the place. It is good for our team and we will be able to achieve full concentration,” Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi gushed about the hotel when it was announced in December.

Eto'o hits back at 'fool' Mourinho

Samuel Eto'o has described Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho as a "fool" for questioning his age and vowed to play on at the highest level.

Mourinho, who was also Eto'o's manager at Inter Milan, was caught on camera making unguarded comments suggesting the Cameroon striker was older than his official age earlier this season.
The 33-year-old, in line to feature in his fourth World Cup this summer, responded by celebrating his next Chelsea goal as if he was a geriatric.
Now Eto'o, who is out of contract this summer after scoring 12 Chelsea goals, plans to continue to ply his trade in one of Europe's top leagues.
Eto'o told africanfootball.com: "Thanks for informing me that it will be my last World Cup.
"Today, I am 33 years old. And it is not because a fool called me an old man that you must believe it.
"And you may have noticed that the old man was better than the youngsters.
"Some believe I am going to retire in the United States or in the Middle East, but I have regained the joy of the Champions League and I am going to carry on playing in the Champions League. Where? I am not going to tell you.

Man United third-quarter profits up 60 per cent

Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has announced a 60 per cent jump in the club's third-quarter profits.

On the field, United endured a dismal 2013-14 season, finishing seventh in the Premier League having disposed of the services of David Moyes.

However, Woodward was able to deliver more positive news from a financial perspective and hoped the club would be more competitive next season.

"We once again generated record revenues and EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) as all of our businesses delivered impressive year over year growth," he said in a statement. "This puts us in a healthy financial position to continue to invest in the squad.

"Everyone at the club is working hard to ensure the team is back challenging for the title and trophies next season."

Puyol: I have lived the dream at Barcelona

An emotional Carles Puyol expressed his pride at having "lived the dream" at Barcelona after calling time on his trophy-laden career.

The 36-year-old will retire at the end of the season after a long-standing knee injury finally took its toll on the combative centre-half.

Puyol is a one-club man who won six Liga titles and three UEFA Champions League crowns, earning himself a reputation as one of the game's true greats along the way.

Addressing a farewell event held in his honour at Camp Nou on Thursday, Puyol recalled playing football with his brother as a child when such lofty achievements seemed mere fantasy.

"I would never have thought then that I would have this great career," he said.

"I've lived the dream of so many young kids, doing what I most enjoy in life, playing football and training. I've won lots of titles but the most important thing is the human warmth and feeling I take from this club. I came here as a boy and I'm leaving with a family who I'm really proud of."

Team-mates past and present were among the huge crowd gathered to bid a fond farewell to the Spaniard, who has 100 caps to his name and boasts FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship winners medals.

ARSENAL TO BID FOR BENZEMA

This is a transfer that we would really like to see. Karim Benzema is a quite wonderful striker that has had a quite wonderful season, and yours truly has staked a fair amount of his well-earned money on him being in the top few goalscorers at this summer's World Cup.

The Daily Telegraph report that Arsenal could be set to renew their interest in the Frenchman, after hopes of a deal were dashed last summer.

The paper admit that the chances of such a deal depend largely on Real Madrid's ability to recruit either Luis Suarez or Sergio Aguero from the Premier League, but mention that a deal could be done for £30million. Benzema is still only 26 so that would seem a more than fair price, reflecting that the striker only has one year left on his deal at the Bernabeu.

United delay over van Gaal

Manchester United have remained silent about their new manager and might wait until next week to make an announcement.

United are thought to be close to a deal with the Dutchman, who is currently preparing Holland for the World Cup in Brazil, but look likely to wait a few more days before unveiling van Gaal as David Moyes' successor.
Ed Woodward, United's executive vice-chairman, could shed some light on the managerial situation this afternoon when he addresses Wall Street analysts following the publication of the club's quarterly financial figures.
Ryan Giggs, who took charge temporarily following Moyes' sacking after just 10 months in charge, held 'positive' talks with van Gaal in Holland on Wednesday to discuss his role in the new Old Trafford set-up