NFF insults Yobo over testimonial – Emenike

Ex-Super Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike, has described as “an insult” the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to fix another match on the same day Joseph Yobo’s testimonial match will be played even after the federation had approved the match to retire the former national team skipper.

Nigeria will play a friendly against Mali in France on May 27, the same day the Yobo testimonial will be staged in Port Harcourt.

Emenike told africanFootball.com the decision of the NFF was disrespectful to the ex- Everton defender who had served the country with total dedication and had a century of caps to prove.

“If we are still on the same page of rebranding football, we should have the common sense of celebrating our heroes so that the younger ones in the team will live by example,” he told africanFootball.com

“Yobo deserves the honour and everybody has to turn up to celebrate him. But it’s unfortunate that it’s the NFF who are now looking like the obstacle to this testimonial. The Super Eagles players are the ones who want to play the Yobo match, tell me how will that be possible if they are in for another national assignment on that same day.

“We should change our mentality of ‘use and dump’ approach in order to reach greater heights of football in the world.”

EXCLUSIVE: Harry Redknapp set to become Nigeria manager within next few days

The Super Eagles appointed Salisu Yusuf as interim manager this week to take charge of two upcoming friendlies against Mali in Paris on May 27 and Luxembourg on June 1.

But former Tottenham boss Redknapp has been approached to take over the national side full time.

A source close to the team revealed he could be named as the next permanent manager within a few days.

The role is widely seen as the biggest job in African football.

Redknapp is largely untested at international level after narrowly missing out on the England job to Roy Hodgson.

Last month Redknapp, 69, finished a two-game deal managing Jordan – reportedly a favour for the country's FA president Prince Ali bin al-Hussein.

Now Redknapp is free to prepare for Nigeria's opening African Cup of Nations qualifier in September.

Derby appointed Redknapp as an adviser earlier this year – but the ex- West Ham and QPR boss has said he did not want the job full time.

How Will This French Goal Scoring Beast Fit In At Manchester United Next Season?

Manchester United are buzzing high after their recent FA cup semi-finals match against Everton. It was a match which reminded many of the older Manchester United of Sir Alex Ferguson.

An attacking game throughout with an injury time winner is what Manchester United have done for the greater part of their time since the early 1990’s. Accordingly Anthony Martial has roped in all the reviews for his cool and composed finish. Marcus Rashford has also raved in a lot of positive reviews.

Since making a breakthrough in the senior team due to injuries to other strikers, this 18 year old striker has been absolutely amazing.

Wayne Rooney has also moved in to a more midfield approach now a days. Even though United are somehow managing to score a goal or two in recent matches, one cannot forget their first half of the season where the goals had just dried up. United looked miserable in front of the opponent defence. With the transfer season coming on pretty soon, Manchester season are expected to look in to it for a good goal scoring striker. With that many have associated the name of Alexandre Lacazette with Manchester United.

So will the talented Frenchmen fit in at Manchester United? I feel he will be perfect at United.

The talented striker is a prolific goal scorer in front of the goal and always looks like a threat in the opponent box. He has made 31 appearances this season and has scored 18 goals in them. He has also registered 3 assists and maintained a 60% shot accuracy. He has created 38 chances, maintained an average pass accuracy close to 80%. He is also good in the air and has won close to 50% of his average duels. In the 2014-15 season he made 33 appearances and scored 27 goals in them. He also had a shot accuracy close to 70%, an average pass accuracy close to 80% and created 20 chances.

Lacazette looks like a striker who offers the complete package. He is prolific goal scorer who creates chances and is good in duels. He is also known to have quick feet and hold great control over the ball.

Manchester United need a quick fast striker who is also a goal scoring machine. Lacazette seems to be the perfect fit for that. The United philosophy needs a player with attributes that Lacazette offers. With Rooney in a play making role, United need a fast striker to run in to the opponent box to receive the long balls from him.

Lacazette might do that with perfection. Also the Frenchman will form a formidable partnership with fellow countrymen Anthony Martial. Both of them seem to be the future for France and might just become the future for United as well. Just being 24 years old, Lacazette already looks like a matured striker and looks to be set to go on and become a world class striker in a couple of seasons. Martial, Rashford and Lacazette will make a trio that might absolutely dominate the EPL next season.

They might offer United the chance to play 4-3-3 formation in more and more matches and I feel that might just be the way that United struck free flowing football again. Three fast paced attackers in front and Rooney in behind them. That sounds exciting.

Well, we all hope that we get to see the old United of 1990’s and 2000’s. A United team that used to struck fear into the heart of the oppositions. A United team that used to be fast, creative and attacking all throughout the match. We have missed that United for a few seasons now and it’s about time that we get them back.

Lacazette looks like one of those key players who might guide United back to their old form.

Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez wins PFA Player of the Year award

The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele
Alli, a highly impressive performer in
his first top-flight season, took the
Young Player of the Year award.
Manchester City’s Izzy Christiansen was
named Women’s Player of the Year
while Beth Mead, of Sunderland Ladies,
won the Women’s Young Player of the
Year award. Ryan Giggs, who won both
of the major men’s gongs during his
playing career, completed a rare hat-
trick with the PFA Merit Award.
Mahrez has had a stunning campaign
with the Foxes, scoring 17 goals and
providing 11 assists. The Algerian
international’s most recent contribution
came with the opening goal in the 4-0
win over Swansea City hours before the
awards event, which Leicester’s
contingent attended in London via
helicopter.
Mahrez said his Leicester team-mates
deserved to take the plaudits for his
success. “All the credit is for them,
seriously,” he said. “And my manager
and the staff. Without them I wouldn’t
receive this award and I wouldn’t score.
It’s the team spirit. I want to dedicate it
to them.

“I’m very grateful to receive this award,
it’s a pleasure. It’s extra special because,
if the players vote for me, it’s because
they’ve seen I’ve been great this year so
I’m happy.”

After signing from the French second-
tier side Le Havre in January 2014
Mahrez made a steady rather than
spectacular start to life in England but
featured prominently in Leicester’s
escape from relegation last season and
began 2015-16 with two goals in the 4-2 victory against Sunderland . Neither
player nor club has looked back since,
with Leicester now five points from an
historic title and Mahrez having shone
throughout.

Ossie Ardiles, the former Tottenham
midfielder, collected Alli’s award on
behalf of the 20-year-old – who did not
attend the ceremony at Grosvenor
House Hotel due to the proximity of
Monday night’s home match against
West Bromwich Albion.

“Thank you Ossie, the Tottenham
legend, for receiving this award for me,”
Alli said in a video message. “I feel
honoured to win such a prestigious
award and thank you to my friends,
family and all the staff at Tottenham.”

Alli’s award came with some mild
embarrassment for Tottenham, who had
dedicated an article in Monday’s
matchday programme to his
achievement. The piece appeared to
have been leaked online earlier on
Sunday, which was hardly the ideal
scenario, given that news of the winners
is strictly embargoed.

Christiansen, the 24-year-old forward,
won her first senior England cap last
September, scoring on her debut against
Estonia. She has been in superb form
for her club and the same is true of the
prodigious striker Mead, who was the
top scorer in Women’s Super League
One last season with 12 goals from 14
games.

Giggs became the latest Manchester
United stalwart to be given the merit
award, following in the footsteps of Sir
Alex Ferguson, Sir Matt Busby and Sir
Bobby Charlton. The honour is given for
“meritorious service to English football”
and Giggs, who was named player of the
year in 2009 and young player of the
year in 1992 and 1993, expressed his
delight at completing the clean sweep.
“I’m chuffed to have won all three
awards. The young player was a long
time ago and then the player award was
a big surprise,” Giggs said.

“This is the culmination of around 25
years since my debut, so it’s a credit to
myself, my team-mates, staff, family
and friends. When you win each award
you look down the trophy and you see
the players who have won it before and
you realise what a great accolade it is.

“This is the same. I’ve been here on the
nights when people have won it and it’s
legends of the game. I’m fortunate to
win it and I’ll enjoy it.”

Now assistant manager to Louis van
Gaal at Old Trafford, Giggs said that
enjoyment was the key to a playing
career that brought up a club record 963
appearances and 64 caps for Wales.

“What Sir Alex always used to say was
enjoy it. It was the last thing he said
when you went out and played,” Giggs
said.

“Everything that comes with that
obviously – improve every day, practise,
listen, dedicate yourself – but most of all
enjoy your football. That went for
playing when I was 17 until when I was
40. It was a privilege to play at Old
Trafford and I tried to enjoy it.”

Vardy charged by FA

Leicester striker Jamie Vardy has been charged with improper conduct for his behaviour following his second-half dismissal against West Ham on Sunday.

The sanction relates to his reaction following his second-half dismissal in the Foxes' 2-2 Premier League draw with West Ham on Sunday.

Leicester have also been charged with failing to control their players after referee Jon Moss awarded the Hammers' an 83rd-minute penalty.

Former Real Madrid player Guti taunts Barcelona after defeat to Valencia

Former Real Madrid midfielder Guti wasted no time in taunting Barcelona after their 2-1 defeat to struggling

Valencia . Guti took to twitter saying, ”Ahora sí q (now it really is)” followed by a number of emoticons, in reference to a tweet he uploaded post Barcelona’s loss to Real Sociedad.
.
— GUTI (@GUTY14HAZ) April 9, 2016
     Ahora sí q .

— GUTI (@GUTY14HAZ) April 17, 2016

Guti followed up a tweet he had put up last week after FC Barcelona’s 1-0 loss to Real Sociedad. He had no words, only the “smiling poo” emoticon and the snoring emoticon had been used to describe Barcelona’s astonishing dip in form. He was referring to the belief in Spain that Barcelona go into crisis mode when results do not go their way.

The La Liga champions lost to strugglers Valencia in last night’s game at the Nou Camp. Down by two goals by the end of the first half, they struggled to get back in the game despite creating a number of chances in the second half.

Barcelona were unlucky not to have scored an equalising goal. They were victims of poor finishing along with a lack of composure in the final third. The later part of the second half became an ill-tempered affair with Brazilian superstar Neymar and Argentine Javier Mascherano losing their cool.

Valencia could have won by more goals as they broke on the counter a number of times, especially later in the second half as Barcelona threw caution to the wind and piled players forward. Paco Alcacer missed a golden chance to put the tie beyond doubt when he was faced with an open net but he couldn’t sort out his feet in time to score.

Starting with the loss to Real Madrid, they have lost four out of their last five games in all competitions. In a matter of a couple of weeks, Barcelona have managed to blow a 12 point lead over second placed Atletico Madrid.

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane had earlier claimed the title race was over but the same cannot be said now as Barcelona are equal on points with Atletico Madrid and lead the La Liga table only on account of a better head to head record. Real Madrid are also only one point behind in what is now a wide-open title race.

The aura of invincibility surrounding Barcelona has eroded over the past two weeks. They have also been knocked out of the Champions League by fellow Spanish club Atletico Madrid and it is difficult to see where the next win will come from.

Barcelona vs Valencia, 2016 La Liga: Final Score 1-2 as Barça's nightmare continues

Barcelona ’s terrible run of form hit a new low on Sunday after a 2-1 loss at Camp Nou against Valencia , thanks to an own goal by Ivan Rakitic and a strike by Santi Mina, with Lionel Messi getting Barça’s only score. Barça played well for the first time in weeks, but the defensive problems came to light again and the La Liga leaders are the least likely to win the title the way things are going.

FIRST HALF

The initial minutes of the first half featured the best football we've seen from Barça in quite a while.

There was great use of possession, good player movement and many opportunities created, butgoalkeeper Diego Alves, who always turns into a beast against the biggest teams in Spain, stopped all of them.

And then, in a rare counter-attack,
Valencia full-back Guilherme Siqueira played an innocent cross that somehow deflected off Ivan Rakitic and Claudio Bravo before finding the net for the opener. The goal clearly had an effect on Barça, who immediately started giving up the ball easily and offering plenty of space for the visitors to attack.

After a few shaky minutes, the Catalans showed improvement and Messi had another giant chance saved by Alves.

In the last minute of the half, another lapse in concentration from the Barça defense, and Santi Mina found himself alone in front of the goal. Two-nothing.

At halftime, a good offensive performance, but thanks to bad luck, bad defense and incredible goalkeeping, the Blaugranes were behind, and the mission to come back in the final period was nearly impossible.

SECOND HALF

Instead of going all out looking for at least one quick goal, Barça were slow and uninspired with their passing and had trouble until the best player in the world finally beat the keeper. A smart grounded cross
from Alba found the right foot of Lionel Messi who scored his 500th career goal to bring the Blaugrana back to the match.

With time running out, the Catalans
needed to step up the pressure to try and find a win. They did and found more good chances, but Diego Alves continued to stop everything.

When he didn't, his defenders did,
and even when Gerard Piqué found himself completely alone in front of the goal, he missed a really, really easy chance.
In the end, the equalizer never came, much less a game-winner.

Another loss, a very painful one.
What a nightmare.

                    ****

Barcelona : Bravo; Roberto, Piqué,
Mascherano, Alba; Busquets;
Rakitic, Iniesta; Messi, Suárez,
Neymar

Goals: Messi (63')

Valencia : Alves; Barragán, Mustafi,
Abdennour, Siqueira; Fuego;
Rodrigo (Gayá), Parejo, Pérez
(Cancelo), Gomes; Mina (Alcácer)

Goal: Rakitic (27' O.G.), Mina
(45'+1)

Chiefs dethroned after Ajax draw

Kaizer Chiefs’ reign as Absa Premiership champions is officially over after they were held to a goalless draw by Ajax Cape Town at FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday night.

The result – which sees the Amakhosi’s winless run in the league stretched to five matches – mathematically confirms that the Soweto side cannot catch log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns in what remains of the 2015/16 season.

That Chiefs will not defend their title is no surprise given their struggles this season, but the official confirmation of the fact still serves as a further body blow to beleaguered coach Steve Komphela.

The first half an hour of play saw little action, with Chiefs dominating possession but Ajax managed to crowd them out in midfield and ensure they had no real sight of Anssi Jaakkola’s goal. However, on 30 minutes the goalkeeper was finally called upon to keep out a long- range effort from Willard Katsande.

That signalled the start of a period of major pressure from Chiefs, with Siphiwe Tshabalala superbly denied by Jaakkola a few minutes later before Bernard Parker shot wide from a good opportunity as the Amakhosi’s speed of passing and running began to overwhelm the visitors.

Chiefs’ best chance arrived just before the break when Parker played a perfectly weighted pass to put William Twala in on goal, but the winger’s low shot was blocked by the legs of Jaakkola, who was easily the busier of the two goalkeepers.

Jay Z 'keen to sign Marcus Rashford'

Jay Z is reportedly hoping to sign Marcus Rashford to his sports management company following the teenager's breakout turn for Manchester United this season.

The American rapper's Roc Nation Sports company is thought to have got in touch with the 18-year-old about taking over his representation duties from his family.

Rashford has four goals in seven league appearances to his name since breaking into the first team at the end of February and was on target against Aston Villa today to hand his side all three points at Old Trafford.

According to The Sun , Roc Nation have held provisional talks with the Rashfords about adding him to a roster that includes Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng and American boxer Andre Ward.

Rashford is in line to sign a new deal with United this summer that will see his wages boosted to £15,000 a week.

PELLEGRINI: MAN CITY SUBS NOT DRIVEN BY REAL MADRID DATE

A busy run of games, not the Champions League clash against los Blancos, is the reasoning behind the Chilean's tactical decisions Manuel Pellegrini insists any changes he makes to Manchester City are unrelated to the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid .

A Sergio Aguero hat-trick saw City to a 3-0 win over Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday as Pellegrini's men, perhaps momentarily, moved into third.

City are still looking to seal a top-four finish and have a busy run of fixtures ahead of them late in the season.

However, Pellegrini said it would be down to the individual requirements of the games if he altered his side, not with an eye to Madrid ahead of the first leg

on April 26.
"If I will be refreshing maybe some positions in the next game, [it's] not because I'm thinking of Real Madrid," he told reporters.

"It's because between now and the end of May we need to play eight games in one month.

"It's important to make substitutions, but not thinking about Real Madrid."
Pablo Zabaleta was taken off midway through the second half at Stamford Bridge and was unhappy with Pellegrini's decision.

The Chilean, however, said he acted in the best interests of his team, adding: "Of course he was upset, it's my duty in the moment to do the right thing.

"He was on a yellow card and one more foul and all of the fans of Chelsea would be every time [trying] to pressure the referee to send him off.

"It was important to change."