Samuel Eto'o announces he's ending his international career

He wrote this on Twitter yesterday...

Nigerian Girl Stripped Of Gold Medal At Commonwealth Games

Nigeria teenager Chika Amalaha has been stripped of her Commonwealth Games weightlifting gold medal after failing a doping test, the Commonwealth Games Federation said on Friday, Reuters reports.

The 16-year-old, who won gold in the women's women's 53kg competition, provided positive 'A' and 'B' samples that contained prohibited diuretics and masking agents.

"The Commonwealth Games Federation has determined that Nigerian weightlifter, Chika Amalaha, has committed an anti-doping rule violation and has fully suspended her from the Commonwealth Games in

West Brom Albion Signs Brown Ideye For A Record Breaking Fee

West Bromwich Albion have signed Nigeria forward Brown Ideye for an undisclosed club record fee.

The former Dynamo Kiev man becomes the fifth summer signing of the Baggies and has beat Stephane Sessegnon's 5.5 million pounds record transfer from Sunderland last year. Ideye, 25, was part of the Nigeria squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations title in South Africa last year. He scored a goal in the semi final 4-1 routing of Mali. However, he was dropped from the provisional World Cup squad by coach Stephen Keshi in May.

According to West Brom, the striker who will wear number 9 has signed a three year contract with the option of an additional year. He has since passed a medical at the Hawthorns and agreed to personal terms.

Enyeama pockets over N20m as World Cup reward

 

Some of the Super Eagles stars like goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama received $130,000 ( over N20 million) each as appearance fee for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

“It was not a flat rate, but some of the players like Enyeama, who were involved in both the qualifiers as well as the World Cup in Brazil got as much as $130,000,” said one official.

This is outside the match bonus and daily allowances they were paid.

AfricanFootball.com specially gathered that players who qualified Nigeria to a fifth World Cup also got a share of the FIFA largesse, several top team officials disclosed.

Team officials were also not left out of the largesse with the least getting about $25,000.

Angry Uruguay President Calls FIFA Leaders As Old Sons Of B***es

Luis Suarez’ infamous World Cup bite and the measures taken by FIFA did not leave anyone indifferent. Even Uruguay’s President Jose Mujica expressed his view on the controversial situation calling FIFA leaders as “sons of bitches”.

Uruguay’s President Jose Mujica (left), Luis Suarez (right)

During the interview with Uruguay’s President Jose Mujica at a state-run TV sports show, one of the journalists asked, "What does this World Cup mean to you?"
The president said, "Those at Fifa are a gang of old sons of bitches." He gasped and put his hand to his mouth in an I-can’t-believe-that-I said-that manner, but smiled. "They could have sanctioned him but not with fascist sanctions."

Mike Adenuga Grants Super Eagles $250.000, Promises More For Quarter-Finals

 

Nigerian business mogul, Dr Mike Adenuga Jnr, has sent through the Minister of Sports, Hon Tammy Danagogo, the sum of $250,000 to boost the Super Eagles ahead of their clash against France on Monday, June 30.
During addressing players and officials of the national team at their Brasilia Palace Hotel camp in the Brazilian capital, the Minister speaking on behalf of the President also announced that Super Eagles’ outstanding appearance fees have been ordered and cleared.

Cesc Fabregas signs for Chelsea

Chelsea have completed the signing of Barcelona midfielder and former Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas.

Jose Mourinho's side are believed to have paid £30m for the Spain international, who has signed a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge.

Fabregas scored eight La Liga goals for Barcelona and provided a further 19 assists in 36 appearances last season and thanked the Catalan giants after sealing his move to Stamford Bridge.

Fabregas told the club's official website: "Firstly I would like to thank everyone at FC Barcelona where I enjoyed three wonderful years. It was my childhood club and I will always be proud and honoured that I had a chance to play for such a great team.

Photos from the opening ceremony of the 2014 World cup in Brazil

The 2014 World cup began this evening June 12th with a colorful opening ceremony at the Arena de Sao Paulo in Brazil that reportedly cost around $4.5million to put together. International music stars, Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull were joined on stage by Brazilian pop-star Claudia Leitte to perform the official World Cup song 'We Are One (Ola Ola)'.

The ceremony was followed by the opening match of the tournament - hosts Brazil vs Croatia. The match ended 3-1 in favour of Brazil. And what a match it was!

I wasn't going to post this before but some of you were complaining that I didn't post anything about the world cup opening ceremony/match...(Like y'all didn't watch it live...*hiss*). Lol. Anyway, that's why it's coming late...:-).. See plenty more photos after the cut...

Full List of Super Eagles 23 Man World Cup Squad

 
After hours of waiting on Monday, Stephen Keshi released the final World Cup list at midnight. And as the drama and suspense that preceded the release, the list also came with some surprises.
Joseph Yobo will play in his third FIFA World Cup finals and have opportunity to become Nigeria's first-ever century — international after he was named in the African champions' final list of 23 for Brazil 2014 but African Nations Championship Most Valuable Player, Ejike Uzoenyi and AFCON winner, Sunday Mba failed to make the final cut. Gabriel Rueben and Babatunde Michael made the list.
Also going to their third World Cup are goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide, but midfield strongman Mikel Obi will only be attending his first finals after Nigeria narrowly missed Germany 2006 and he was omitted from South Africa 2010 due to injury.

UEFA Champions League: Real Madrid Wins La Decima After A 12-year Wait

After waiting 12 years for its 10th European glory, Real Madrid has engraved its name into the annals of Champions League history with a 4-1 win over Atlético Madrid.
The 2013–14 UEFA Champions League was the 59th season of Europe's premier club football tournament and the 22nd season since it was renamed from the European Champion Clubs' Cup to the UEFA Champions League.
Real won a record tenth European Cup/UEFA Champions League trophy when Sergio Ramos' 90th minute goal cancelled out Diego Godin's 36th minute goal, dragging the game into extra time.
Gareth Bale's 110th minute goal was the turning point for the Los Blancos who ran riot from thence scoring two more before the final whistle went off, including a penalty by world's best footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Atlético Madrid had gambled on starting Diego Costa, the club's best player in its most successful season ever, but lost after he needed to be substituted after just nine minutes — the third quickest substitution in

UEFA fine Manchester City $82 million

UEFA on Friday fined Manchester City 60 million euros ($82 million, £49 million) and capped their Champions League squad to 21 for falling foul of financial fair play rules.
Newly-crowned English Premier League champions, Manchester City enjoyed a massive spending spree under billionaire owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan of Abu Dhabi.
But they have paid for that with a massive fine, 40 million euros of which is suspended "if the club fulfills the operational and financial measures agreed with the UEFA CFCB (Club Financial Control Body)".
UEFA said other clubs to have failed the financial fairplay rules were French champions Paris St Germain, Turkish trio Buraspor, Galatasaray and Trabzonspor, Russian sides Zenit St Petersburg, Anzhi Makhachkala

Vincent Enyeama makes history, wins Africa player of Ligue 1 award

Vincent Enyeama became the first Nigerian, the first goalkeeper and first player from English speaking Africa to be named France's Ligue 1 African player of the season on Monday.

The 31-year-old, who is set to feature at the World Cup finals for his country in June, has played all 37 championship games for his club Lille this season conceding just 25 goals.

At one point this season — which comes to an end next weekend — he went 1,062 minutes without conceding a goal in the championship.

He won the Marc-Vivien Foe award — named after the Cameroon international midfielder who died aged 28 of a heart attack during the 2003 Confederations Cup semi-final — ahead of Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier, who plays for Toulouse, and Lyon's Cameroon defender Henri Bedimo.

Brazil 2014 Worldcup: Nigeria Release 30 Man list

Stoke city striker Osaze Odemwingie, Joseph Yobo and Joel Obi have been included Nigeria’s 30 man provisional list for the Brazil 2014  Worldcup. The list was made public on Tuesday by a member of the NFF technical committe.

Goal Keepers – Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim (Gombe Utd), Daniel Akpeyi (Warri Wolves).

Defenders – Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Kenneth Omeruo, Joseph Yobo, Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars).

Midfielders – John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Ejike Uzoenyi (Rangers Int’l), Sunday Mba, Gabriel Rueben, Nosa Igiebor, Joel Obi, Michael Uchebo.

Attackers – Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Victor Moses, Emanuel Emenike, Victor Nsofor, Osaze Odemwingie, Michael Babatunde, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Nwofor Uche.

Meanwhile, Dynamo Kiev and AFCON 2013 striker, Brown Ideye, Fegor Ogude, John Ogu and new entrant, Leon Balogun were among those that were left out of the World Cup party.
All invited players are expected to report in camp on May 26, before Stephen Keshi compiles his final list of 23 players that will represent Nigeria in Brazil this summer.

Check out footballer Dani Alves' incredible response to racism

Barcelona star Dani Alves responded to a racist taunt in the most incredible way during a match yesterday Sunday April 27th

While playing for his team against Villareal, a spectator threw a banana at him as he tried to take a corner kick. What do you think Dani did? He casually picked up the banana, peeled it, eat the banana, threw away the peel, and then completed the kick...

This move has left many people in shock and Dani is getting a lot of praise for how he handled it.

This is not the first time the Brazilian footballer will face racism on the pitch. He complained about it last year after being taunted by monkey chants from sections of the crowd during a match at Real Madrid.

Racism in football is becoming an issue in Europe and enough is not being done to stop it. Dani is a star! Hopefully, he made the person who threw the banana feel like stupid!

Van Gaal backed to succeed as Manchester United manager

Former Holland international Bryan Roy, has backed compatriot Louis van Gaal to be a "huges success" at Manchester United.
According to sources, the Red Devils will make contact with Van Gaal to take over from David Moyes, who was sacked as manager on Monday.
Roy, who played under Van Gaal at Ajax, says the current Holland coach would be keen on taking charge of the Old Trafford outfit.

He said: "He has definitely still got the hunger. I think he will die on the pitch, because he will never retire. He loves the job too much.
"He will never turn down Manchester United, believe me. I think it's the job he really wants. And he will be a revelation at Manchester United.
"He is, without question, the best manager I have ever played for. For me, he has proved himself to be one of the best managers and coaches in the world.
"He is very disciplined, very strict and is very attacking in his philosophy. I know English football well, and his style is suited to that.
"He believes in wingers, he is very strong and very tactical. The best word I can think of is demanding.

FIFA bans Barcelona from signing players for the next two transfer seasons

FIFA today April 2nd banned Spanish football giants FC Barcelona from signing players till summer 2015 over rules breach relating to the international transfer and registration of players under 18.

According to reports, the club was investigated by FIFA for 12 months over their youth recruitment policy. And after FIFA found out that the club had been engaged in illegally recruiting and importing non-Spanish minors over a four year period, the world football governing body handed out the transfer ban and also fined the club £306,000. (450,000 Swiss francs.)

FIFA also fined the Spanish FA £340,000 for allowing Barcelona to embark on a sustained and extended policy of what is viewed as child exploitation by the world governing body. Read FIFA's statement after the cut...

PHOTOS: Heineken® Showcases UEFA Champions League Trophy In Nigeria

Heineken®, the World’s leading international premium lager beer has explained the rationale behind its bringing the UEFA Champions League Trophy to Nigeria. This is coming just as the Champions League enters the critical 2013/2014 knockout stage. The trophy which arrived in the country on Wednesday with brand ambassador Ruud Gullit, ex-international Footballer and coach,will make a city wide tour of Lagos from March 13 - 16, 2014. Continue...

Bayern Munich President sentenced to 3 plus years in prison

 

62 year old football legend and President of German Football Club, Bayern Munich, Uli Hoeness, has been sentenced to 3 and a half years in prison after he was found guilty of dodging 27.2million euros in taxes through an undeclared Swiss bank account. Uli who is one of the powerful figures in German football was charged and sentenced today Thursday March 13th by a German court

He was allowed to walk out of the court today because he has one week to decide whether to appeal the verdict.

Bayern Munich Wins Club World Cup

European champions Bayern Munich claimed their fifth title of 2013 as they lifted the Club World Cup with a 2-0 win over Raja Casablanca in Saturday's final.
The Bavarian giants had few problems against Moroccan champions Raja as Bayern grabbed both goals inside the opening 22 minutes from Brazil centre-back Dante, then midfielder Thiago.
Having become the first German team to win the treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup titles last season, Bayern now add the Club World Cup to the UEFA Super Cup title they won in August.
"To dust off a title like that at the end of such a year is unbelievable," said Bayern captain Philipp Lahm. "We made life hard for ourselves on occasion and it's a pity we eased up at the end."

Blow For Man United As Van Persie Is Ruled Out

Robin van Persie will play no part in Manchester United's busy holiday programme after being ruled out for a month with a thigh injury, manager David Moyes said on Friday.

With United trying to claw back the damage of a poor first third of the Premier League season, starting at Aston Villa on Sunday, the Dutchman's absence is a big blow.

"Robin van Persie is out for a month. He picked up a thigh strain in taking a corner kick which led to the goal (against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday)," Moyes said.