Sports Update

[Edoman]

Liverpool to face Tottenham in the Champions League final



 



The Champions League final will be an affair between two English clubs, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur F.C in Madrid on June 1.
 
On Tuesday, Liverpool made one the greatest comebacks as they thrashed Barcelona 4-0 in the second-leg to complete a stunning 4-3 aggregate, despite the Spanish club initial 3 - 0 victory in the first leg of their semifinal clash.
 
In Wednesday's semifinal match between Ajax and Tottenham Hotspur F.C, Lucas Mourascored hattrick to seal the game 3-2  for Spurs at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam. The final scoreline was 3-3 on aggregate and this saw the visitors go through on the away goals rule.
 
Ajax, went into the second leg with a 1-0 from the first leg courtesy of Donny van de Beek's goal in London.
 
Five minutes into the game today when their teenage captain Matthijs de Ligt headed home from a corner kick. The Eredivisie leaders doubled their lead in the 35 minutes as Moroccan international playmaker Hakim Ziyech curled.
 
But the downfall of Ajax began after Brazilian Lucas Moura slotted home on 55 minutes and then slammed the ball in from close range on 59 minutes to equalize on the night.
 
The biggest shocker of the night happened in the stoppage-time as Moura found the net again and scored his third goal in the 96th minuteto complete a second remarkable comeback for Premier League clubs in the Champions League.
 
English clubs, Liverpool and Tottenham will now face each other in the final game of the Champions League competition in Madrid on June 1.
 

by Linda Ikeji 

[Edoman]

Arsenal, Chelsea take last steps to Europa League finals

 


                               
English giants, Chelsea and Arsenal will continue their quests for continental glory today when they return to the Europa League at the Stamford Bridge and Mestalla respectively. While Chelsea will host Eintracht in London, Arsenal will travel to Spain for the second leg of their tie against Valencia. Both matches will be broadcast in Nigeria by StarTimes on its Channels 254 and 245

Arsenal could be in for a nervy game after their opponents, Valencia thumped struggling Huesca 6-2 in La Liga at the weekend.

The Gunners appear to have one foot in the Europa League final in Baku, which takes place on May 29, after a 3-1 win at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg. A double from Alexandre Lacazette and a late strike from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang means the Spanish side have it all to do at the Mestalla.

Unai Emery’s side stuttered to a 1-1 draw against Brighton on Sunday, leaving them out of the reckoning for a top four finish in the Premier League. Now, their only realistic chance of qualifying for Europe’s premier competition is by winning the Europa League – and they may have to beat Chelsea in order to do so.

Chelsea, meanwhile, secured their place in next season’s Champions League with a 3-0 win over Watford, although they could be without N’Golo Kante for the second leg of this tie after he came off injured in the first half.

[Edoman]

Juventus coach, Maximiliano Allegri 'agrees to leave' after five years and five Serie A titles with the club




 
Juventus manager, Maximiliano Allegri has reportedly agreed to leave the Italian club after winning five Serie A titles during his five years stay with the club.
 
According to multiple reports in Italy, including in La Stampa, an agreement was reached between Allegri and Juventus president, Andrea Agnelli on Wednesday night to part ways.
But the report didn’t reveal details of the agreement between the pair to part ways.
Allegri's departure will likely see him join Paris Saint-Germain, who are reportedly set to sack current coach Thomas Tuchel. 
Tuchel , who joined the Ligue 1 champions last summer has fallen out with both president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and sporting director Antero Henrique.   
 
by Li

[Edoman]

Man City on brink of Premier League glory as Liverpool cling to hope

[url=https://guardian.ng/sport/excitement-as-consul-generals-take-over-ikoyi-club/][/url]


Manchester City’s players pose before the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England on April 17, 2019. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)
Manchester City and Liverpool have slugged it out in one of the most gripping Premier League title races of all time, going toe to toe in a monumental battle for the ages.
But it will all be decided on Sunday when City travel to Brighton and Liverpool host Wolves, with Pep Guardiola’s team firm favourites to get over the line ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s charging team.
The bare statistics from both sides this season are phenomenal.

City, on 95 points, have won their past 13 Premier League matches to wipe out a seven-point lead for Liverpool and are on the brink of becoming the first team to retain the title since Manchester United in 2009.
Klopp’s men, with 94 points, have recovered from a mid-season stumble to record eight straight victories and are agonisingly close to their first English top-flight title since 1990.
The 18-time league winners face the scarcely credible scenario of ending the season with the third-highest points tally in Premier League history and a single defeat yet still missing out on the title.
City look almost certain to finish off the job on the south coast but Guardiola, speaking after a nervy 1-0 win against Leicester on Monday, is taking nothing for granted.
“The players are mature, and we have one more game,” said Guardiola. “It will be tough in Brighton. They took a result at Arsenal. We played a few weeks ago against them (in the FA Cup semi-final) and it was tough.
“They will play for pride but it’s in our hands. We were seven points behind but we never give up. We are still there and we win 13 games in a row.”
City cannot quite match the record 100 points they mustered last season but they have shown their ability to dig deep in recent weeks. Guardiola’s side have been free-scoring for the majority of the campaign, racking up 91 goals, but three of their past four wins have been 1-0 victories.
A second consecutive title for the club, who remain on course for a historic domestic treble, would underline their status as the dominant force in the English game.
A Vincent Kompany thunderbolt settled the match against Leicester, although that astonishing moment has since been overshadowed by breathtaking Champions League comebacks for Liverpool and Tottenham.
Champions League
Klopp will have to re-focus his players’ minds on their clash with Wolves at Anfield after their semi-final heroics against Barcelona as they cling to the hope that City will slip up.
“We will again try to collect the bones and go again against Wolves,” said Klopp, who also has fitness doubts over Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson and Andy Robertson to deal with.
The Liverpool narrative has changed dramatically since they overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit against the Spanish champions to reach the Champions League final 4-3 on aggregate on Tuesday.
They now know that even if they fall short they have the chance to become champions of Europe for a sixth time if they can get past Tottenham in Madrid on June 1.
But despite their European adventure, the Anfield faithful are desperate to see their team at the top of the domestic tree again.
“Now I know the atmosphere will be brilliant again and they will need to push us again because it is a difficult game on Sunday,” added Klopp.
“We have to win, which is already difficult enough, and then we will see what happens in the other stadium.”
Behind the runaway front two, all the issues in the Premier League are virtually done and dusted.
Barring a spectacular swing in goal difference, Tottenham will finish above Arsenal and mathematically seal the remaining Champions League spot alongside Chelsea, while the highest Manchester United can finish is fifth.
Wolves, in seventh place, cannot be caught and will earn a Europa League spot provided Watford do not beat City in the FA Cup final.
At the bottom of the table, Huddersfield, Fulham and Cardiff are already preparing for life in the second-tier Championship.


Fixtures

Sunday (1400 GMT)
Brighton v Manchester City, Burnley v Arsenal, Crystal Palace v Bournemouth, Fulham v Newcastle, Leicester v Chelsea, Liverpool v Wolves, Manchester United v Cardiff, Southampton v Huddersfield, Tottenham v Everton, Watford v West Ham

[Edoman]

Ander Herrera confirms Manchester United exit as he edges closer to joining PSG on a free transfer






Spanish midfielder,  Ander Herrera has confirmed he will leave Manchester Unitedwhen his contract expires this summer.
 
The 29-year-old who looks to be edging closer to joining Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer paid tribute to both the fans and the club for the 'five amazing years' he has spent at the Premier League giants.
 
In the posted on Manchester United's Twitter account this morning, Herrera said: 'There is red in my heart. I knew it from the first time I played here and in the moment I started to wear it. 
'A club with thousands of fans that respect and remember all the players who give everything. I felt special when I heard my name chanted. I felt proud when the fans decided I was part of this incredible history.
'Every time I represented this club in every game, in wins and losses, even when I couldn't help from the grass, I understood what this club means.
'I am going to remember each of the almost 200 matches that I have played with this jersey because playing for the greatest club in England has been a true honour. 
'Thanks for these five amazing years!'
He added on his own Twitter account: 'I could never express enough gratitude'.
 
Herrera who joined from Athletic Bilbao in the summer of 2014, went on to win the FA Cup, Community Shield,  EFL Cup, and Europa League titles.

[Edoman]

David Luiz Signs New Chelsea Contract Until 2021

David Luiz's Chelsea future has finally been resolved after he signed a new two-year deal through to 2021.

The Brazil defender's current Blues deal was due to expite at the end of the season, with the 32-year-old having been in protracted talks with the club over an extension.

But the popular centre-back, who has been a mainstay in Maurizio Sarri's side this season, will now remain at Stamford Bridge until June 2021.

Luiz has made 48 appearances in all competitions and scoring three goals, helping Chelsea secure a top-four finish in the Premier League and book a place in the Europa League final against Arsenal .


David Luiz has signed a new contract with Chelsea

He said: "I am so happy to be here and to have this opportunity to stay. I love this club and I still have the ambition of a young player.

"It means a lot to reach another European final, and we still have the opportunity to finish in the top three of the Premier League this season and I will continue to try to do my best to help the team."

Chelsea have decided to break the rule of not handing new deals to players over the age of 30, with former captains John Terry and Frank Lampard among those to leave in recent seasons.

Chelsea Director Marina Granovskaia added: "We are delighted David Luiz will be staying with the club. He has set the perfect example to those around him throughout the campaign and been a huge influence on and off the pitch.


The Brazilian poses for a photo at Stamford Bridge

"With the Europa League final still to come, we hope to finish off the season with silverware and David will be central to that success in Baku and beyond.'

The Blues have already secured Champions League qualification for next term courtesy of cementing a top-four Premier League finish, and could yet add the Europa League silverware.

Chelsea would deny Arsenal a Champions League place next term by beating the Gunners in Baku, with Luiz admitting that only adds extra motivation.

"It is going to be a difficult game, they have a great team and a great coach," said Luiz.


Luiz signs a contract extension with Chelsea Director Marina Granovskaia

"He (Unai Emery) knows how to win this competition. I worked with him a bit in Paris and I know how passionate he is.

"He knows how to play these kind of games. It is up to us to prepare well.

"We have to try to win the trophy. We know that if we win they will not be in the Champions League.

"This will be better for us because we put a fantastic team out of the Champions League."



http://www.reportminds.com/2019/05/david-luiz-signs-new-chelsea-contract.html

[Edoman]

Liverpool defender, Virgil van Dijk wins Premier League Player of the Season 



 



Liverpool defender, Virgil van Dijk has been crowned the Premier League's Player of the Season, just days after he won PFA Players' Player of the season.
 
The Holland international, 27, who has been Liverpool's key player in the 2018-19 Premier League campaign is now the third defender to win the trophy after Nemanja Vidic and Vincent Kompany. 
 
The winner was decided by a mixture of votes from fans, the captains of the 20 Premier League clubs and a panel of football experts.
Van Dijk who was signed from Southamptonin world record £75m deal in 2017, has four Premier League goals this season has also helped Liverpool keep 20 clean sheets in 37 games so far.

by Linda Ikeji

[Edoman]

Manchester City retained the English Premier League title,  after coming from behind to beat Brighton 4-1 at the Amex stadium on Sunday in an unprecedented title race.Manchester City who retained the English Premier League title, also became the first team to retain the title back-to-back since Manchester United a decade ago. 

They finished a point above a Liverpool FC, who were chasing a first championship crown in 29 years as the top two finished with a record 195 points combined. Six teams have won the Premier League since its inception in 1992. Manchester United have won it the most – 13 times under Sir Alex Ferguson. The other winners are Blackburn Rovers (one title), Arsenal (three), Chelsea (four), Manchester City (three) and Leicester City (one). Guardiola has now won eight league titles in his 10 seasons as a coach, stretching back to his debut campaign at Barcelona when he won a treble in 2009 and featuring successes at Bayern Munich.


https://unclesuru.com/2019/05/12/manchester-city-retains-premier-league-title/

[Edoman]

SPORT
EPL: Aubameyang speaks on sharing Golden Boot with Salah, Mane

 
on
 May 12, 2019



Arsenal forward, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has said that he was happy to share the Premier League Golden Boot with two other African players, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

Aubameyang took his tally to 22 in the league to end up as joint top scorer, but came within inch of winning it outright.
The Gabon international scored 31 goals in 50 games for the Gunners this season, being his first full campaign since his £56m move in January last year.

He said, “I’m happy that we won and that I’m sharing the [Golden Boot] trophy with two other guys that I like.
“My team mates knew I was in contention. Me? I said nothing to the guys because I didn’t want them to only focus on me.
“I’m a team player and if I wasn’t scoring, it wouldn’t have mattered. But I scored and I’m really happy for that. I have to be thankful to the team.

“It was a tough season but I had the chance to score goals, because the team played a great season.
“Of course the last months were not the best in the Premier League, but the whole season, we put in a great effort.
“I was near (to a hat-trick) but sometimes that can happen.”

[Edoman]

History was made in the English Premier League as the golden boots were shared among three players.

For the first time in history, there is a complete dominance by African players in the EPL goals scorer chat.

Mo Salah 22
Sadio Mane 22
Pierre Emerick Aubameyng 22

Below are photos as the players strike a pose with their awards.


Source: https://gidifeed.com/photos-of-salah-man...ts-awards/

[Edoman]

It will "take a long time" for Manchester United to challenge for the Premier League title again, says manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

United ended their season with a dismal 2-0 home defeat against relegated Cardiff to finish sixth, 32 points behind champions Manchester City.

The Red Devils won just one of their last seven league games.

"The last couple of months have been extremely hard for the team, the club and for the players," said Solskjaer.

United finished second under Jose Mourinho last season, but the Portuguese was sacked in December following a run of poor results.

The Old Trafford club's legendary former striker Solskjaer was appointed on an interim basis, taking the the club on a run of 12 games without defeat, but they collapsed in the final few months to finish five points off a Champions League place.

They last won the title in 2012-13, in Sir Alex Ferguson's last season in charge, while it is now two seasons without a trophy after the Europa League and League Cup triumphs in 2016-17.

Solskjaer told BBC Radio 5 Live: "More or less the only positive from today is that the season is over. We meet again on 1 July and we will work back to where we belong.

"To reach the leaders it will take a long time. For ourselves, the short-term focus in the league will be getting into the top four.

"We have got the Europa League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup to go for a trophy because Manchester United can't go many years without winning a trophy. Jose [Mourinho] won the Europa League last and that is a realistic ambition.

"In the league, the points we are behind the top two, they have been excellent, those two. Absolutely exceptional. And we are five or six points behind Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea. They are the ones we have to make sure we catch up and don't let anyone closer to us."

Speculation continues over the futures of several big-name players at United, mainly midfielder Paul Pogba, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.

In videos on social media, the French World Cup winner received abuse from his own supporters while performing the end-of-season lap of honour.

Club captain Antonio Valencia and midfielder Ander Herrera will leave, while Juan Mata's contract runs out at the end of the season and Alexis Sanchez could also move on.

Against Cardiff, Solskjaer gave a full start to academy product Mason Greenwood at the age of 17.

"We will need players in," said Solskjaer. "We will need some characters in but, of course, you see Mason [Greenwood] today, he is made for Manchester United and a player we will see a lot of."

'I was always a professional in all aspects' - Sanchez
Meanwhile, forward Alexis Sanchez took to social media to "apologise" on behalf of the team and defended himself against accusations against his own commitment to the cause.

The Chilean, who only managed 27 appearances this season, said: "Personally, I didn't perform as much as I was expecting because of unpredictable injuries.

"Press and people were speculating of things that were not even true. I was always a professional in all aspects.

"I apologise to the fans for not be able to achieve our goals, nevertheless we are Manchester United!

"Players and staff are questioning if we were doing the right thing and if we were giving our best for this football shirt... I'm certain that Manchester United one day will return to be the club, as it was in the old days with Mr Alex Ferguson."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48248090

[Edoman]

By MandyNews.com

Brighton have sacked Chris Hughton as manager despite the club winning their battle against relegation this season.
The Premier League club announced on Monday morning that they had taken the  decision to bring Hughton’s four-and-a-half year reign to an end.
Brighton finished above Huddersfield, Fulham and Cardiff to maintain their top-flight status.
The Seagulls had an impressive first-half of the season but crumbled after Christmas to put themselves in big danger of the drop.

Via https://mandynews.com/brighton-sack-mana...s-hughton/

[Edoman]

SPORT
Real Madrid to announce €100m deal for Eden Hazard after Europa League final

on
 May 13, 2019



Real Madrid will announce a deal to sign Eden Hazard from Chelsea for a fee of around €100m after the Europa League final, according to L’Équipe.

Hazard, while speaking on Sunday, confirmed that he would only make his decision on his future after the Blues’ UEFA Europa League final against Arsenal on May 29 in Baku.
The 28-year-old has drawn interest from Real Madrid for a number of years, and returning manager, Zinedine Zidane, is a huge admirer.

DAILY POST had reported that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, is ready to lose Hazard to Real Madrid this summer. 
It is now understood that a deal is all but done, but all parties involved will announce it after the Europa League final.

[Edoman]

Serena Williams Overcomes Slow Start To Italian Open

 
 

                              
Serena Williams fell behind 3-1 in the first set before opening her clay court season with a routine 6-4, 6-2 win over Swedish qualifier Rebecca Peterson on Monday in the first round of the Italian Open.

After a shaky start, Williams began to take control with her baseline power on a windy day at the Foro Italico. When she ran down a passing attempt from Peterson and replied with a cross-court winner to break for a 5-2 lead in the second set, she let out a scream and bent over as she pumped both of her fists.

Frances Tiafoe: ‘I want to use my story to inspire others, you can’t make it up’
Read more
Williams was playing for the first time since withdrawing ahead of her third-round match at the Miami Open in March because of a left knee injury. The last time Williams had played in Rome was when she won the last of her four Italian Open trophies in 2016.


Meanwhile, Johanna Konta will face American Sloane Stephens in the second round after a straight-sets win over her compatriot Alison Riske. Konta took fewer than 90 minutes to defeat Riske 6-4 6-1 in the first round on Monday.

The British No 1 beat 2017 US Open champion Stephens in Brisbane in January, their only previous meeting.

Others advancing on the women’s side included Dominika Cibulkova, Katerina Siniakova and Yulia Putintseva.

In the men’s draw, Kyle Edmund bowed out after a first-round defeat to Fernando Verdasco. Edmund took the first set 6-4, but Spaniard Verdasco hit back to win the second and third 6-4, 6-2 and wrapped up victory in two hours and 23 minutes. The 2010 Rome semi-finalist, who converted five of the 16 break points he earned against the Briton, will meet fifth seed Dominic Thiem in the second round.

In other action, 13th-seeded Borna Ćorić rallied past Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4 in a clash of two of the top young players on tour. Auger-Aliassime struggled with his serve, hitting seven double-faults to Ćorić’s one.

Tags # SPORT

[Edoman]

Sport
EPL: Solskjaer, Ed Woodward identify player that’ll replace Herrera as he leaves for PSG
 


Manchester United executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward and manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, have identified Paris Saint-Germain star, Adrien Rabiot, as a possible replacement for departing midfielder, Ander Herrera.

Herrera is widely expected to join Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer this summer.
The Spaniard has already sent a message to the club’s fans as he confirms his departure from Old Trafford.

However, the Mirror UK is now reporting that Woodward and Solskjaer are discussing the possibility of making a move for Rabiot, who will be available on a free transfer when his contract with PSG expires this summer.
The report claimed that the pair are deciding whether they will make a formal offer for the 24-year-old, who has also drawn interests from Tottenham, Juventus and Chelsea.

[Edoman]

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba should not have engaged with fans following the 2-0 home defeat by relegated Cardiff City, says former England striker Alan Shearer.

The French World Cup winner, 26, was applauding home fans when he was criticised by a supporter.
United finished the season in sixth, 32 points behind champions Manchester City and five points off the top four.

"After the season he's had, just go in," said Shearer. "You cannot argue."

Pogba was United's top scorer this season with 16 goals and also registered 11 assists, but he failed to track back for one of Cardiff's goals on Sunday.

He has scored just twice - two penalties in a 2-1 win against West Ham in April - in United's past 15 games and his performances in recent months have been widely criticised.

Since beating Paris St-Germain 3-1 on 6 March, United have won just twice in 12 matches.

Against Cardiff, Pogba failed to track Josh Murphy, who ran onto a throw-in and then squared for Nathaniel Mendez-Laing's second goal of the match.

Speaking on Match of the Day about Pogba's lapse, Shearer said: "This is the problem at Old Trafford, it epitomises everything that is wrong with this football club and football team."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48251713

[Edoman]

Legendary Italian footballer, Daniele De Rossi to leave AS Roma after 18-years with the club



 



Legendary Italian footballer, Daniele De Rossi, who has spent his entire football career with his boyhood club, AS Roma will leave the Italian side at the end of the season after 18 years.
 
The Serie A outfit broke the news on Tuesday morning, revealing the long-serving midfielder will emotionally leave the club at the end of the campaign after his last match against Parma. 

'For 18 years, Daniele has been the beating heart of AS Roma's team,' club president James Pallotta told the club's official website.
'From his debut in 2001 to taking on the responsibility of the captain's armband, he always represented the Roma fans on the pitch with pride as he established himself as one of the best midfielders in Europe.
'We will all shed tears when he pulls on the Giallorossi shirt for the last time against Parma but we respect his desire to prolong his playing career - even if, at almost 36, it will be away from Rome.
'On behalf of everyone at Roma, I'd like to thank Daniele for his incredible dedication to this club and ensure him that our doors will remain open for him to return to the club in a new role whenever he wants.'

 
De Rossi who joined Roma as a teenager back in 2000, before going on to make his first-team debut a year later has scored 63 goals, as well as winning two Coppa Italia titles and a Supercoppa for the club.

DE ROSSI AT ROMA: 
2000-2019 
Appearances: 615
Goals: 63
Assists: 54
Coppa Italia: 2007 & 2008
Supercoppa: 2007 

by Lind

[Edoman]

Premier League champions, Manchester City set to get one-year ban from  Champions League



 



Premier League champions, Manchester Cityare set to be handed one-year ban from Champions League by UEFA.
 
An investigation into accusations that Manchester City misled European soccer’s financial regulators in pursuit of its success on the field is expected to recommend that the team be barred from the Champions League, European soccer’s richest competition.
 
According to New York Times, English soccer authorities and officials at UEFA, European soccer’s governing body and the organizer of the Champions League, have for months been investigating Manchester City amid allegations of rule-breaking revealed in damaging leaks over much of the past year.
 
Members of the investigatory chamber of UEFA’s financial control board, a group set up to analyze the accounts of clubs suspected of breaking strict cost-control regulations, met two weeks ago in Nyon, Switzerland, to finalize their conclusions.
 
Yves Leterme, the investigatory panel’s leader and the former prime minister of Belgium will have the final say on the submission to a separate adjudicatory chamber, which could be filed as soon as this week. The body is expected to seek at least a one-season ban.

by Linda Ikeji at 

[Edoman]

SPORT
AFCON 2019: Rohr releases 25-man Super Eagles squad, six on standby [Full list]
[img=46x0]https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aa2c2e28f470cea3c2fa8d321ca746e8?s=46&d=mm&r=g[/img]

 
on
 May 14, 2019



Head coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr, has released a 25-man provisional squad ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Rohr also put six players on a standby list, incase of withdrawals and injuries.
Midfield enforcer Mikel John Obi, pacy winger Ahmed Musa and defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Abdullahi Shehu all made the 25-man squad.

Rohr has largely kept faith with those who earned a ticket to the AFCON finals, with goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, defenders Leon Balogun and William Ekong, midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo and Wilfred Ndidi and forwards Odion Ighalo, Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon also on the roll-call.
The six players on standby players include defenders Ikouwem Utin, who recently completed a move to Maccabi Haifa in the Israeli Premier League and Valentine Ozornwafor who has also been named in Nigeria’s final 21 for the FIFA U20 World Cup starting in Poland next week.
Russian born defender, Bryan Idowu alongside Portugal-based Mikel Agu and Egypt-based Junior Ajayi, and home-based goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai, are also on standby.

The invited players are expected to report at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Asaba, Delta State on Sunday, June 2.
Nigeria confront Burundi, Guinea, and Madagascar in that order in Group B.
The tournament will run from June 21 to July 19.

FULL LIST:
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Katsina United); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa)
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Chidozie Awaziem (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Semi Ajayi (Rotherham United, England)

Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Middlesbrough FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nassar FC, Saudi Arabia); Victor Osimhen (Royal Charleroi SC, Belgium); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Spain); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Odion Ighalo (Shanghai Shenhua, China); Alexander Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France); Paul Onuachu (FC Midtjyland, Denmark); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain)
Six On Standby: Theophilus Afelokhai (Enyimba FC); Bryan Idowu (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia); Ikouwem Utin (Enyimba FC); Mikel Agu (Vitoria Setubal, Portugal); Junior Ajayi (Al Ahly, Egypt); Valentine Ozornwafor (Enyimba FC)


https://mobile.twitter.com/thenff/status/1128364699547000833

[Edoman]

Mikel Obi returns to Super Eagles for 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt






John Obi Mikel has confirmed his return to Nigeria’s Super Eagles for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
 
The Middlesbrough midfielder last played for Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and didn't play a part in the qualifier for this year’s Nations Cup.
 
Confirming his availability, a top team official said: “Mikel has met with coach (Gernot) Rohr in England and he has confirmed he will feature at the Nations Cup in Egypt.” 
 
This comes after the head coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr had a chat with the former Chelsea star ahead of the Nations Cup. 
 
The 32-year-old Obi who has won 85 caps for Nigeria also has six goals since his full international debut in 2005 against Libya.

by