Sports Updates

[Edoman]

Former Manchester City assistant coach, Domenec Torrent sacked after just 10 games at Flamengo 







Spanish manager, Domenec Torrent, who worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant manager at Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona has been sacked from his first major managerial role after just three months in charge.
 

 
Domenec Torrent was only hired by Brazilian champions Flamengo back in July but suffered two heavy defeats in their last three games. 
 
The announcement followed Flamengo's 4-0 loss to Atletico Mineiro on Sunday, a result that left the Rio de Janeiro outfit third in the Brazilian Serie A standings.
 
'Domenec Torrent and his backroom staff are no longer in charge of the first team,' the Rio de Janeiro club said in a statement.
 
Flamengo won 14, drew four, and lost six of their 24 matches under the Spaniard's command.
 
Mauricio Souza, Flamengo's U-20 boss, will take over as interim manager, starting with the first leg of Flamengo's Copa do Brasil quarterfinal against Sao Paulo at the Maracana stadium on Wednesday, November 11th. 
 

[Edoman]

Lionel Messi’s attitude towards Griezmann is deplorable’ – Griezmann's former agent blasts the Barcelona superstar







Eric Olhats, former agent and advisor to World Cup-winning France star, Antoine Griezmann, has blasted Lionel Messi claiming the Barcelona legend has too much power in the club, calling his attitude towards Barcelona team-mate Antoine Griezmann “deplorable”, 

According to Eric Olhats (pictured below) the Argentine superstar is a bad influence off the pitch at Camp Nou and has never liked Griezmann since he was signed by Barcelona in the summer of 2019.
 

 
Since joining the club, Griezmann has failed to live up to the high expectations fans had, but Olhats says that is not down to a lack of effort from the 29-year-old.
 
         
 
Olhats told France Football: “Antoine arrived in a struggling club where Messi has a view on everything.
“He’s at the same time emperor and monarch, and he didn’t see Antoine’s arrival with a good eye.
“His attitude has been deplorable, he made him feel that. I’ve always heard Antoine say there’s no problem with Messi, but never the other way around.
 

 
“In my eyes, Messi said he wanted to leave to see what role he still had as a decision-making player, regarding the players who arrived and those who left, but he eventually stayed. Classic Messi! As good on the pitch as he is bad off it"
“Barcelona has been suffering for a while. There was a cancer in that club, and it obviously leaves some marks.”
 
Griezmann managed only 15 goals for Barcelona in his debut campaign, and has only two to his name this term but Olharts says the bad form is due to issues outside of the Frenchman’s control.
 
He added: “It’s the club that’s sick, not him.
“Last year, when Antoine arrived, Messi didn’t talk to him, didn’t pass him the ball. He created a real trauma for a more than negative adaptation.


“That clearly left its mark. It was clear and visible. Add to that the president stepping down, the club conceding eight against Bayern and three different managers, the conditions aren’t good.”

[Edoman]

Arsenal rejecting me made me doubt i would make it in football" - Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze







Crystal Palace's £17 million ($22m) summer signing, Eberechi Eze, has revealed how his rejection by Arsenal and Fulham at a young age helped propel him to stardom.
 
Eze, whose mum and dad are Nigerians, has played for England Under-21s' but before he found success he was released by Arsenal aged 13 and tried his luck at a series of other clubs like Fulham, Reading and Millwall, who all declined his services.
 
Eze worked part-time in a UK shop chain while studying in college, before he was signed by Queen's Park Rangers in 2016.

Fast forward to 2020 and he is now a premier league star.
 
Eze has now admitted that he was concerned that his dream might never have come to pass.
 

 
"Of course, you have doubts," Eze said at England's training centre at St. George's Park on Wednesday November 11.
"You have doubts in your thinking of whether you're going to get your professional contract, whether you're going to be what you hoped you'd be.


"It has built huge resilience in me; I think being released, I'm sure loads of players will tell you this, being released is not the best feeling and you're not in the best space mentally.


'But of course, as a footballer, not just a footballer, but anyone, you have to be strong, you have to be courageous.


"You have to get back up again, not allow your setbacks to determine where you end up in life. You have to keep moving forward. For me, I feel that's something that was put into me, was forced into me after being released - I had to get up and be strong.


"But for me, it was more the support my family and people around me that continue to instil, that faith in me - and being religious as well.


"Having faith was huge for me, I would always believe that I would get to where I hope to get to and thankfully, and thanks to God, it has worked out."
 
Eze grew up in Greenwich, London and said he and his family suffered financial troubles before he started making money.


"I didn't come from a rich family or anything like that, my parents did what they could and try their best to help me and my brothers and my sister to get through life. I know the struggle that they've been through, it wasn't easy for them even to gather money for us to look after us," he added.


"But that's why it was more of a relief because I can take some pressure off them and help them a bit and it's not so much of a hand-to-mouth sort of situation.


"I finally got the pro contract that I was praying for, endlessly. And for my family, knowing that I'm now in a position where I can grow and progress along if I work hard, I can grow and be able to help them out of whatever situation that we were in back then.


"That's why it was more of a relief because we had been in a situation without a club for a while and was still working hard still doing what we can but the fact that it came eventually and came quite late, it was honestly a grateful moment.


"I can't relax because you're still working hard but a bit of pressure is off now."

 Eze, is now as a key player for Roy Hodgson's Crystal Palace side but says game hasn't affected his mentality.
"You know how I feel about myself? I feel the same as how I felt when I was at QPR," he continued.


"So it's not much of a difference for me. I know other people may look at me differently,  but for me, the way that me and my family have been and how they've helped me and supported me, I can't look at it any differently."

[Edoman]

Lionel Messi's father reacts to reports linking him to PSG transfer







Lionel Messi's father and agent, Jorge Messi has reacted to reports that the Barcelona star is considering a move to Paris Saint-Germain next summer. 
 
Messi's future has been a constant debate ever since he expressed his desire to leave Barca.
 
He ended up not leaving after he was told  that for him to leave in the summer of 2020, his team would have to pay a €700 million release clause. 
 
ESPN published a report this week saying that contact had already been made between the French champions and Messi Sr. in order to broker a deal, with negotiations possible as early as January. 
 

 
But the agent has now dismissed the story as fake news.
"Stop inventing! Fake news," Jorge fired on Instagram, posting his message over a screenshot of the offending transfer rumour. 
Messi is currently in his native Argentina preparing for Thursday's CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier at home to Paraguay.

Messi was left out of the starting line-up by coach Ronald Koeman last weekend although he came on at half-time to contribute two goals and an assist to his side's 5-2 defeat of Betis. 

"Messi has shown me to be a person who wants to win things and continue to be the best, even though he has had his problems with the club," Koeman told Sport of his star.



"Barcelona have been, are and will be a better team with Messi than without. When I arrived, they told me that Messi was unhappy.


"We spoke at his house and he explained his reasons to me. I was honest. I told him that the only thing is the system, his position on the field, his importance in the team.


"But the problems that he had had with the club I couldn't change. From the first day I have said the same thing. He is the best and is committed to the club.


"He has had his issues, his problems this summer, but since he returned to training he has been very good.


"He has had bad luck in some games and he has not been able to offer the usual performance, but I am sure that at the end of the season he will have scored the usual goals."

[Edoman]

AFCON Qualifiers: ‘Away from home is always difficult’ - Joseph Yobo warns Super Eagles to prioritize home win in Nigeria vs Sierra Leone







Former Nigeria international and current Super Eagles Assistant coach, Joseph Yobo has stressed the importance of Nigeria beating Sierra Leone at home when they face off in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game on Friday November 13.
 
The three-time African champions, Nigeria, will play Sierra Leone at Ogbemudia Stadium before the reverse fixture in Freetown on November 17.
 
Nigeria leads Group L with six points from two games after victories over the Republic of Benin and Lesotho.
 

 
Yobo, who assists Head coach Gernot Rohr, believes the Super Eagles must take the home tie seriously, if they want to qualify for the Nation's Cup.
“These are big games. There’s a difference between friendly matches just like the ones we played, [against Algeria and Tunisia],” Yobo said on the Super Eagles YouTube channel.
 
“It was experimental where we gave younger players the opportunity to show themselves. But this is a qualifying match where if we do well in both games we will almost qualify for the Afcon.


“We expect big performance and very good results. If we have to do the mathematics, I think four points will get us through. But when you play at home, it’s crucial, it is so important to play very well and to take the three points. 


“Away from home we know is always difficult especially Sierra Leone. If I can remember the last time we were away to Sierra Leone was 2008 and it was very difficult and I scored the only goal. So, it’s a difficult place to go to but football has also changed so the first game is what is important.


“I try not to bother much about the second game. All we have at this moment is the first game so we need to play very well and our performance will get us the three points.”
The 40-year-old Yobo played for 13 years in the Super Eagles winning 101 caps but had his first experience as a Super Eagles assistant coach when Nigeria played Algeria and Tunisia in international friendlies last month.


”It was good. One thing was that after my career I stayed away because I played for 13, 14 years and I wanted that break. So coming back was refreshing for me because most of the players haven’t seen me,” he continued.
“I think it was a very good thing. And coming back as a coach and not as a captain or player anymore is a different ball game.

“We have the head coach, Gernot Rohr that is there and his team. For me, it was like a family. It was like I never left, even easier than I thought because when I got on to the pitch and into the mood of playing and coaching, the natural things I needed to do started coming out.


“So, whatever I do came out naturally and I think it’s because of my love and passion for the national team.”
?????
 

[Edoman]

Diego Maradona released from hospital after successful surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain (photos)








Diego Maradona has been released from the hospital eight days after being admitted for emergency brain surgery.

 
The Argentinian footballer legend, 60,  was hospitalised last week and had to have an emergency operation to remove a blood clot from his brain.  
 

 
On Wednesday, November 11, Maradona was driven away from the private Olivos Clinic just before 6pm as hundreds of fans of photographers tried to get a glimpse of him.
 
His physician, Leopoldo Luque told reporters the 60-year-old coach of Gimnasia y Esgrima finally left hospital in an ambulance accompanied by family members.
 

 
It was also confirmed that Maradona was taken to a rehabilitation facility in the north of Buenos Aires, where he will spend time there recovering from his alcohol problems.
 
"We always need to look after Maradona and particularly right now," Leopoldo Luque said.
 

[Edoman]

Former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder, Alex Song makes shock move to Djibouti club Arta Solar 7 after being sacked by FC Sion (photos)








Former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder, Alex Song has completed a shock move to Djibouti club Arta Solar 7. 
 
The 33-year-old has been a free agent since March when he and eight other players were sacked by Swiss club FC Sion for refusing a pay-cut amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
However, the midfielder is now back in the sport after signing a two-year deal with Arta Solar 7.
 

 
"I have signed a two year contract with Arta. This is an opportunity to promote Djibouti football", he announced on twitter.
 
Song was unveiled earlier today and has been handed the No.17 shirt by the club. 
 

 
The club said in a statement:
 

Welcome to Djibouti!!!
 
International footballer Alexandre Song arrived yesterday afternoon in Djibouti, where he is engaged in a two-year contract with AS Arta Solar 7. This is the 8th club that this midfielder Franco-Cameroonian , has evolved since his career began. 
 
Here it is for AS Arta Solar 7 president Timoro Nickoss Tommy to not only make this team the flagship formation of the Republic of Djibouti but also raise overall the level of national football.
 
Enhancing the AS Arta Solar 7 game techniques so that this young team becomes unstoppable in international football tournaments is one of the goals that Djibouti's president Tayoro Nickoss Tommy. 
 
To achieve this, he hires Alexandre Song, a footballer who has evolved at the top level in large European stables, at the breast of this team.
 
In any case, Alexander Song represents a real added value for this Djiboutian club. Because with him, the AS Arta Solar 7 has beautiful days ahead of him.

 
Song played for several clubs including Arsenal, Barcelona, Bastia in Charlton Athletic, West Ham United, Rubin Kazan and Sion before his latest move.
 
Arta/Solar 7 are the reigning Djibouti Cup champions which automatically guarantees them a place in next season’s Caf Confederation Cup.
 

[Edoman]

Pulisic returns to Chelsea after dropping out of United States squad

11 November 2020,


Christian Pulisic has returned to Chelsea after withdrawing from the United States squad for their upcoming friendlies against Wales and Panama.


The 22-year-old linked up with his national side despite not playing for Chelsea since October 28 because of a hamstring injury sustained ahead of the Premier League clash with Burnley.


However, Pulisic has been deemed unfit to play against Wales in Swansea on Thursday and Panama in Austria next Monday, and has now dropped out of the squad.


Speaking at a pre-match news conference on Wednesday, United States head coach Gregg Berhalter said: "Christian is a big part of our group.
"He has been working through an injury, but he really says a lot that he wanted to come into camp, be around the guys and continue to be a leader with this team."


Pulisic had featured five times for Chelsea in all competitions this term before suffering his latest injury setback and scored in his most recent match, a 4-0 Champions League win over Krasnodar.


He has yet to get off the mark in terms of a goal or assist in three Premier League outings this campaign and has created only once chance from open play.


Asked if Pulisic will be available for Chelsea's trip to Newcastle United on November 21, Berhalter said: "It is hard to speculate."


USA have triumphed in their last three games by an aggregate score of 9-1 but last won a match against one of England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland in May 2012, beating the latter 5-1.

[Edoman]

Griezmann: France must learn from shock Finland defeat

12 November 2020, 


Antoine Griezmann said France must learn from their shock 2-0 defeat to Finland ahead of a showdown with Portugal on Saturday.


The world champions' 12-match unbeaten run came to a halt in a friendly at Stade de France on Wednesday following goals from 21-year-old debutants Marcus Forss and Onni Valakari in the space of three first-half minutes.


Victory for Finland was their first against Les Bleus in nine attempts, but it could have been a different story in Paris, where Didier Deschamps' side failed to capitalise on a bright start.


Marcus Thuram, making his full international bow, headed against the crossbar and volleyed off target when unmarked from close range before Finland took the lead.


Deschamps made eight changes to the side that started in a win over Croatia last month, with Griezmann among those coming off the bench three days before a crunch Nations League encounter with Portugal.


France's 24 attempts at goal was their most without scoring since firing a blank against Luxembourg in September 2017 and Griezmann warned they must be more ruthless.


He told M6: "We had two or three opportunities with Marcus. If he puts them in, it's another game. We have to look at what we did wrong and look to Saturday."


Thuram was in the thick of the action in a lively debut and hopes to soon get another chance to show he belongs on the international stage.
"It's true that it was a good first half. This Finnish team has come together very well," said the Borussia Monchengladbach forward.


"I try to learn a lot alongside the other internationals to gain as much experience as possible as quickly as possible."

[Edoman]

Ronaldo, Jota and Joao Felix? Santos giving little away ahead of France clash

12 November 2020, 


Fernando Santos gave little away regarding Portugal's attack for their Nations League clash with France.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Jota and Joao Felix came off the bench as the European champions thrashed Andorra 7-0 in a friendly on Wednesday.


Ronaldo and Joao Felix got on the scoresheet, while Paulinho marked his international debut with a brace as he started.


The reigning Nations League champions, Portugal host France in Lisbon on Saturday, the teams both on 10 points in Group 3 of League A with two matches left to play.


But, asked about Ronaldo, Jota, Joao Felix and Paulinho facing France, Santos said one would miss out.


"Only three of the four play," the Portugal head coach said.


"But I will not reveal which ones."
Pedro Neto and Renato Sanches were also on the scoresheet against Andorra, to go with an Emili Garcia own goal, as Portugal dominated.


Santos was satisfied with his side's performance as they extended their unbeaten run to eight games.


"It was an interesting game and within what we expected," he said.


"Obviously Andorra is a very defensive team. It was necessary to have a lot of patience to circulate the ball and to find spaces. The team did well in that respect.


"It was a successful game."

[Edoman]

Three players to watch out for as Nigeria, Sierra Leone clash on Friday


 
on
 November 11, 2020



Gernot Rohr would lead his side against the lowly ranked African side Sierra Leone but much would be required of the Nigerians as they play at home.


As the clock ticks down to this game, there are players who are expected to determine their Super Eagles career and it promises great excitement to see how they fare during the match proper following the criticism hanging on their names.


Ahead of Friday clash, DAILY POST analyses expectations from Ahmed Musa, Frank Onyeka, Zaidu Sanusi as they battle to prove themselves in the fixture.

Ahmed Musa (Nigeria Captain).
The Nigerian forward would be under pressure as he’s been criticized owing to his form and club criteria so to say. Musa’s call-up to the team has been relatively criticized as many Nigerians have questioned the criteria for his inclusion in the team.


There is a debate among fans as to why Musa is still involved in the National team set-up after the player became a free agent. He terminated his terms of agreement with his Saudi Arabia club leaving him clubless at the moment. Musa’s performance would be of interest to the Eagles in Friday’s clash.

Frank Onyeka (New Defensive Midfielder)
The talented midfield player has been outstanding for his Danish club Midtjylland even as they are widely involved in the UEFA Champions League.
But with the player set to fill the defensive midfield spot held in previous times, all eyes would be on his performance.

[url=https://dailypost.ng/2020/11/11/kai-havertz-reveals-why-he-snubbed-bayern-munich-move/][/url]
The role has been played by influential figures like Sunday Oliseh, Yusuf Ayila and now the ever-present and robust midfield dynamite in the person of Wilfred Ndidi.

Such could see more pressure on Onyeka as he would be expected to live up to the billing at the base of Nigeria’s Super Eagles midfield.


Zaidu Sanusi (Left back from FC Porto)
The new Porto recruit would be aiming to cement his place in the Super Eagles team in the left-back position. While he would love to gain ascendancy over Jamilu Collins, he would be saddled with the task of providing defensive cover and also provide attacking contributions like Nigeria have seen in the past.

Such was evident in the era of Celestine Babayaro, Ifeanyi Udeze and Taye Taiwo and Nigeria would be demanding a true quality from the left-back position come Friday.

[Edoman]

Nigeria vs Sierra Leone: Three significant things to expect from teams


 
on
 November 11, 2020



Nigeria would take on Sierra Leone on Friday in the African Nations Cup qualifier ahead of the International fixture.


The Super Eagles are in preparation ahead of the all-important game as a win could be to Nigeria’s advantage with respect to their weighty aspirations.
With players in camp amid certain match expectations, DAILY POST takes a look at what promises to be an exciting match.


The Nigerian side takes on the Leone stars of Sierra Leone at home, though star midfield player Wilfred Ndidi and Ovie Ejaria would not be part of the Eagles team for some personal reasons.

Here are three significant things to expect as Nigeria hosts the African qualifiers at home.


Maximum Three Points
The Super Eagles would be expected to pick the maximum points at home come this weekend as action returns in the AFCON qualifying series.
The talent of Ahmed Musa, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen should see to this feat as the game is slated to take a place on Friday.


Gernot Rohr and his ward would do well to ensure the win at home as nothing else would be tolerated by the ever passionate Super Eagles fans as have been witnessed in the past.

Credible Team Display
The team would be in awe of their viewers as the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho, Chidera Ejuke, Oghenekaro Etebo gets set to perform on the pitch.
And just like always, the fans and viewers at large would expect the team to produce a flamboyant display on the pitch.


[url=https://dailypost.ng/2020/11/11/kai-havertz-reveals-why-he-snubbed-bayern-munich-move/][/url]
The Super Eagles must be at their best while they must prove themselves the giants of Africa as called.

A credible performance would be in vogue as the Super Eagles would be expected to put up dominant display worth eye-catching as Sierra Leone takes the trip to Nigeria.


Goal-Laden Feast

The Super Eagles would be expected to shine against the visitors when the stage is set on Friday. With the forward lines brimming with quality and form as we’ve seen in Europe lately, goals are expected to flow in when Nigeria takes on the Leone stars.

The team is blessed with goal-scoring talent and is no fluke why the team must respond to Nigerians (fans) quest for more goals in the contest.


Kelechi Iheanacho, Ahmed Musa and co are expected to do the goal-scoring business for Nigeria.


The West African Nation has got the further chance of adding more firepower in their attack especially in the future as Ademola Lukman switches allegiance to play for the Super Eagles.

[Edoman]

KF Tirana Sack Ndubuisi Egbo As Coach

Albanian Club KF Tirana Sack Nigerian Coach Egbo

Albanian League champions KF Tirana have sacked their Nigerian coach Ndubuisi Egbo, Completesports.com reports.

The club made the announcement in a statement released on Thursday.

KF Tirana have failed to replicate last season’s form as they have struggled for consistency so far in this campaign.

They were eliminated at home on Wednesday in the Albanian Cup which is now back-to-back defeats.

The defeat was their fifth in the last seven games played, winning two.
“Tirana Football Club have announced the dismissal of Nigerian coach Emmanuel Egbo.

“After the poor performance of the team in the last matches, Egbo will no longer be at the top of the white and blues due to the poor results.

“The club thank him for the dedication and success achieved, which culminated with the return of the championship title.

“The club also wish him success in his career, the camp of champions gave special merit of success last season to the man who for years was and will be part of the white and blue family.”

Egbo became the first ever African coach to lead a European team to a league title after KF Tirana were crowned 2019/2020 Albanian League champions.

The league triumph saw the club qualify for this season’s Uefa Champions League where they were eliminated early.

https://www.completesports.com/albanian-club-kf-tirana-sack-nigerian-coach-egbo/

[Edoman]

AFCON Qualifiers: Super Eagles throw away four-goal lead to draw 4-4 with Sierra Leone








The Super Eagles of Nigeria threw away a four-goal lead against Sierra Leone to draw in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match which took place on Friday at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State.
 
Two goals from Alex Iwobi and one each from Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen gave Nigeria a 4-0 lead in the first half before Sierra Leone's Kwame Quee scored one just before the break
 
Heading back into the second half, the Super Eagles threw away the lead as Sierra Leone pulled a shocking comeback to draw the match 4 - 4. 
 
Two goals from Al-Hadji Kamara and one from Mustapha Bundu completed the comeback for John Keister's side. 
 
Despite the stalemate, the Eagles are still top in Group L with seven points from three games so far while the Leone Stars are now third on the group with just two points.
 

[Edoman]

Sierra Leone star Kei Kamara to be investigated by FA over his alleged 'defamation' of Benin hotel where team is camped ahead of Super Eagles game







The Sierra Leone Football Association has announced an investigation into national team striker Kei Kamara after the player posted videos online criticising the national team’s hotel accommodation in Benin city, Edo state, Nigeria.
 
Sierra Leone's national team are currently in Nigeria for an AFCON qualifier against the Super Eagles at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin on Friday night in Benin.
 
Kamara in a social media post that he has since deleted, claims he was not too pleased with the hotel where the Sierra Leonean delegation have been lodged.
 

 
In the viral video,  the 36-year-old striker who plays in the United States can be seen complaining about the texture of the pillows and mattress in his room, claiming he couldn't sleep.
 
He also jokingly replayed a conversation he had about his concerns with a hotel employee.
“I go to the front desk, talk to the lady about how I can’t sleep,” the Minnesota United striker said in one of the videos which was apparently shot in the early hours of Thursday.

“She’s so calm ‘don’t worry, don’t worry we’ll fix everything in the morning, don’t worry’. I said, ‘I can’t sleep, I’ve been lying down for two or three, four hours, I can’t sleep’. ‘Don’t worry we’ll fix it in the morning we’ll fix it’.
“And why can’t I sleep?”, he asked before pointing to the pillows and the bed.
 “This bed, this pillow” he replies while striking the mattress.
 
Raising the pillow he says “my head cannot sink in this thing, my head can’t get in the pillow. So my neck hurts. My body can’t get comfortable because this (hitting the mattress) is a box spring not a mattress.”
 
The video which was hours before the all important match against Nigeria has received condemnation from the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA),  as the association doesn't want such publicity.
 
The clearly embarrassed federation have now issued a swift apology to the hotel and the NFF and announced an investigation into Kamara’s behaviour.
 
“The Sierra Leone Football Association will open an investigation into a viral video posted by the Sierra Leone National Team striker Kei Kamara in  which he is  seen defaming a hospitality establishment at which the National Team Delegation including the Minister of Sports  Ibrahim Nyelenkeh, the Executive Director of the National Sports Authority Dr. Kenneth Brima and the President of Sierra Leone Football  Association Madam Isha Johansen are currently residing,” the SLFA said in a statement on Thursday.
“The SLFA unreservedly apologises to  the  Management of Lushville Hotel and Suites in Benin City, Edo State,  emphasizing that the views expressed  by Kei Kamara are his individual comments which are strongly  condemned by the FA.
“The SLFA would also like to apologize to the Nigerian Football Federation for Kei Kamara’s unprofessional conduct and any embarrassment caused. Further  information will be provided on the conclusion of  the investigation.”
 
It is not clear if Kamara will be suspended for the game yet.
 
It's not the first time Kamara is getting into trouble over his social media activity as he  has been suspended thrice before by the SLFA.
 

[Edoman]

Ahmad Musa: We Made Costly Mistakes Against Sierra Leone, We Sincerely Apologize

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUpJEiFsCtQ
"We made costly mistakes, we sincerely apologize and we promise we will fix things and get a win in Sierra Leone". @Ahmedmusa718

[Edoman]

'I do not feel the spark again' - Ex-Barcelona, Liverpool and Argentina star, Javier Mascherano announces retirement







Former Barcelona and Argentina defender, Javier Mascherano has announced his retirement from football after a glittering 17-year career across South America and Europe.
 
The 36 year old defensive midfielder returned to his homeland in January to join Estudiantes until the end of the season but has now called time on his career.
 
Mascherano started his professional career with Argentine giants River Plate in 2003 and spent a year in Brazil with Corinthians before making the move to the Premier League.
 
Mascherano had a brief spell at West Ham and then three years at Liverpool before he joined Barcelona, where he enjoyed the most successful spell of his career.
 
He won five La Liga titles and two Champions League crowns at Camp Nou, then joined Chinese club, Hebei China Fortune.
 
He then came back to Argentina in January 2020.
 
Speaking at a press conference, Mascherano said: "It is time to finish my career because of things that happened to me in recent months, that on a personal level and after having thought about it for all this time, the most correct thing is to finish today.


"I have lived my profession 100 per cent, I gave the best I could and today I find that it has been difficult for me for a while and I do not want to disrespect Estudiantes, who trusted me to return to Argentina, or my colleagues, or this profession.


"It does not have to do with the club or with a result, but with feelings that one is feeling over recent times, which make the illusion that one had of being a footballer fade.


"Post pandemic, I thought that I was going to feel the spark again, but the truth is that I could not. Out of respect for everyone, it is time to step aside and end this race. I didn't want to let time go by.


"I am infinitely grateful to the clubs I played for, the team-mates I had throughout my career and to Estudiantes who gave me the opportunity to come and play in recent times. It was less than I expected, things happened this way and sometimes you don't choose the end.


"I thank [coach Leandro] Desabato, the institution and my colleagues for having put up with me this last time."

[Edoman]

Ryan Giggs’ estranged girlfriend, Kate Greville spotted with bruised lip in first outing since his assault arrest (photos)








Ryan Giggs’s ex-girlfriend Kate Greville has been pictured with a bruised lip on her first public outing since their bust-up which led to his arrest for assault. 
 
The Manchester United legend and Wales manager was arrested on November 1st on suspicion of assaulting Kate Greville at his £1.7million mansion.
 

 
A Greater Manchester Police spokesman told The Sun after his arrest: 'Police were called at 10.05pm on Sunday to reports of a disturbance. A woman in her 30s sustained minor injuries but did not require any treatment.
 
'A 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of section 47 assault and section 39 common assault.'
 
Gigg was released on bail and was photographed leaving Pendleton police station the next day. 
 
On Sunday, November 15, PR exec Kate Greville, 36, was pictured with what appeared to be a bruised lip as she went for a walk with their dog and a pal as she tries to bounce back from the “worst two weeks of her life”.
 

 
A source said: “Kate has been through a living hell. These have been the worst two weeks of her life, a nightmare.
“Kate doesn’t want to talk about what happened but it’s clearly shaken her up. They’ve had bust-ups before but it really is over.
“Ryan doesn’t seem to be dealing with it well either — he looks like he’s got the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"His career is in the balance while he’s under investigation.
"And when he tried to get away from it all on a walk, the weather was horrific.”
 

 
Giggs denies the assault allegations and was understood to have told cops any physical contact with Kate was accidental.
 
The Wales manager temporarily stepped down from his position while being investigated for the alleged attack. 
 
Giggs and Ms. Greville, who both first met in 2013, have been on-and- since 2017. They were linked after she ended her marriage in 2015, 18 months after she started working for him as head of PR for GG Hospitality, his firm owned with Neville. 
 
Ms Greville's ex-husband, Damian Burke accused Giggs of being 'the third person in our marriage'. They denied they had a sexual relationship at the time.
 
Kate was showered with gifts by the footballer as his ten-year marriage to wife Stacey, who has two children with the footballer, crumbled, according to the Sun.
 
Giggs and ex-wife Stacey finalised a £40million divorce after he cheated on her with model Imogen Thomas and his brother's wife, Natasha. They had an eight-year affair.
 

[Edoman]

Nigerian footballer slumps and dies during a friendly match in Ogun







Nigerian footballer, Usman Yusuf, who plays as a striker for Crown Football Club in Ogbomoso, Oyo, died after slumping during a friendly match in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The sad incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, November 15 at Muda Lawal Stadium, Asero, Abeokuta

Yusuf, who was on trial at Gateway United FC, played the first half in their friendly against Sliema Wanderers before the incident. 

It was gathered that after he slumped, he was resuscitated after the medics attended to him. The striker was later taken to the State Hospital in Ijaye, where he passed on.
 
Moses Ojewumi, the Media officer of the Gateway FC confirmed the incident on Monday in Abeokuta.
 
He said, “Usman Yusuf who came on trial played the first half in a friendly for Gateway United FC against Sliema Wanderers on Sunday afternoon, during half-time he showed bad signs and Gateway United team doctor attended to him.
 
“It was later in the night, a call came in from camp that he had suffered a relapse, swiftly he was taken to State Hospital, Ijaiye where he gave up the ghost.”
 
Ojewumi also added that the player “didn’t show any signs of illness when he came for trials and didn’t die at the camp as it was erroneously reported in some quarters.”

 

[Edoman]

"An honour to have Ronaldo break my record"-  Former Iran striker, Ali Daei says as the Portuguese striker moves closer to his goal tally of 109







Former Iran striker,  Ali Daei has said he would be honoured to see Cristiano Ronaldo break his record for the most goals in international football as the Portuguese forward moves closer to his tally of 109.
 
No other footballer has scored more than 51-year-old Daei on the international level, with 109 bagged in 13 years for his country. But Ronaldo is now moving closer to his tally of 109, having scored 102 goals in 168 appearances since his debut in 2003.
 
The Juventus striker will have a chance to close the gap when Portugal play Croatia in their final Nations League group stage match on Tuesday, November 17. 
 
Daei is reportedly ready to congratulate Ronaldo when he finally breaks his record. 
 
"I sincerely hope that Cristiano Ronaldo will reach my goal record for the national team,' Daei was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.
 
"In no way [would I be hurt], it would be a real honour for me if a player in his class could do it.
 
"Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players not only of his time, but of all time. He is an absolute phenomenon.
 
"I would congratulate him directly. But first he has to get there.

"Cristiano Ronaldo already has 102 goals for Portugal and will beat my record, I'm sure of that, but he still has seven goals to go."

Daei, who captained Iran and retired in 2006, reached his mark in 148 appearances.