HEARTLAND BOOK EARLY EXIT IN FEDERATION CUP

Heartland of Owerri Wednesday crashed out the 2016 FA Cup losing on penalties to underdogs Top world. 

The 2012 champions played a barren draw at regulation time, scoring three of their penalties as against four converted by Top world.

The Nazi Millionaires who have recorded a number of goalless draws in the league recently, pushed out information confirming the result shortly after the final whistle, " Top World moves to the Round of 32 while its the end of the road for us in this year's FA Cup" the Alphonsus Dike tutored side dished out afterwards.

It was however pleasant outing for Rivers United who survived initial scare from hard fighting Papilo Fc to progress at the Umuahia township Stadium. 

Both teams had posted what some fans desribed as classical football but it was Stanley Eguma's Rivers United that survived leaving the score line at 4-3.

Fans at the venue had rooted for Papilo considered underdogs in the encounter and the team fought to the finish getting ovation despite defeat.  

Giwa Fc with a pending case over possible expulsion from the league however showed up for their tie against Sunshine Stars in Lokoja crashing out after a 2-0 defeat

UZOENYI SET FOR CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE

A surprise opportunity to play in the lucrative phase of the CAF Champions league has fallen on the laps of Super Eagles winger Ejike Uzoenyi, following the disqualification of Congolese side AS Vita and their replacement by Mamelodi Sundowns.

 The CAF Organizing Committee for Interclub Competitions at its meeting on Tuesday, 24 May 2016 reviewed a complaint by Stade Malien (Mali) on the eligibility of the player Idrissa Traore used by AS Vita (DR Congo) during the preliminary matches of the 2016 Orange CAF Champions League, and found the club guilty.

Traore played with the Malian club during the 2015 season. Whilst featuring for Stade Malien, the CAF Disciplinary Board handed him a four (4) match suspension. He served only one match and the remaining with three (3) matches suspension was carried over to the next competition in line with Articles 114.1 & 114.2 of the CAF Disciplinary Code” ‘the statement said

Uzoenyi who played for both Rangers and Enyimba before heading for South Africa will no doubt be useful to Mamelodi as they attempt to make an impact in the continental showpiece. Sundowns are defending champions of South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) after claiming their 7^th title

Sundowns will face Nigerian champions Enyimba, Zamalek and ES Setif . They can rightly be dubbed under dogs as they are the only team in the log  yet to win the title 

.While Zamalek have won the title five times, Setif and Enyimba have claimed it twice each .

Some who reacted to the draws Tuesday however say the South African side should not be underrated lest they spring a surprise. The first games of next stage  will be played on June 17.

RANGERS NO LONGER DWELLING ON THE PAST -AMAPAKABO

Rangers coach Imama Amapakabo says the era when technical crew and players of the coal city based team dwelled on the past are over for good.  Sing-song over the team's inability to win trophies in the past three decades he noted has been over flogged and the team and players have resolved to ignore it and forge ahead no matter what.

"We have a new spirit and a new attitude.  We have resolved to ignore the past and work hard for the future.  The players are told to put in their very best in every match and they have been doing that.  You will notice that we fight for every point and even when we lose we ensure that we put in our best that is the way it will continue, “He enthused

The six time league champions who have had a good run this season posting some impressive results both home and away in the bargain, are desperate to bounce back to reckoning not only in the local scene but also in the continent.

Fans who assessed the league so far this season hailed teams that have picked points away, describing it as commendable

Some of the results that have tickled the fancy of die-hard fans include Heartland’s recent goalless draw against Kano Pillars in Kano, Plateau United’s goalless draw against Heartland in Owerri and Warri Wolves 2-1 victory over 3SC and the Lekan Salami stadium among others 

EFE AMBROSE GETS NEW MANAGER

Super Eagles and Celtic defender Efe Ambrose will play under a new manager next season.  The Scottish champions announced Friday the signing of former Liverpool boss Bredan Rodgers as their new manager on a 12 month rolling contract.

Rodgers, 43, replaces Ronny Deila who stepped down at the end of a two-year spell which brought in two league titles and a League Cup crown but just frustration in Europe.

"Celtic Football Club is delighted today to announce Brendan Rodgers as the new Celtic manager. Brendan has agreed a 12-month rolling contract with the club," said a Celtic statement.

Rodgers was previously in charge at Swansea, Reading and Watford while he spent three years at Liverpool before being sacked in October.

"I am absolutely delighted to be named Celtic manager," said Rodgers.

"This is genuinely a huge honour for me. I have followed Celtic all my life and to be given this fantastic opportunity and to be part of such a truly great football club is a dream come true."

Rodgers will be the third manager Ambrose will be working with since joining the side from Israeli side Ashod in 2012. He joined while Neil Lennon who left in 2014 was in charge. 

ASISAT OSHOALA CLAIMS FIRST FA CUP WITH ARSENAL

Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala claimed her first laurel with Arsenal Ladies on Saturday as the Gunners defeated Chelsea ladies 1-0 to lift their 14th Women FA Cup in their 15th final appearance. The Blue ladies who are defending champions failed in their bid to retain the trophy as Oshoala and his teammates mounted pressure all the way that eventually paid off thanks to  Danielle Carter’s 18th-minute stunner.

The match which was played at Wembley had a record attendance of 32,912 even as some missed the kick off due to long ticket queues outside the ground.

Oshoala came close to registering her name in the score sheet in the 42nd minutes following a great move through the middle which was ignited when Kelly Smith but the Nigerian international however failed to make solid contact on the ball falling inside the penalty area instead . Although Oshoala was booked in the course of the match it did not remove anything from her impressive contribution with a rating of 7.5.

In the opposite side Nigerian born Eniola Aluko was full of spark winning a corner with 20 minutes remaining but teammates Ji who should have done better and probably sealed an equalizer failed to convert when the set piece fell to her feet but she sliced wide.  Oshoala joined Arsenal ladies from Liverpool in January this year.

ZIKA VIRUS THREATENS RIO OLYMPICS

As teams continue to prepare for the Rio Olympics billed for August, there are strong indications that the event may be postponed, cancelled or shifted to another venue if recommendations by professor Amir Attaran of the School of Public Health University of Ottawa, Canada is anything to go by.
Professor Attaran submitted in his commentary published in the Harvard Public Review, that the Zika infection is “more dangerous, and more extensive” than scientists had recently believed. So he advises postponing, relocating or canceling the games.
Brazil is typically considered Zika’s “ground zero,” and the disease causes cases of severe birth defects in infants, as well as high fever and muscle pain in adults.
Attaran’s study was published earlier this week even as the World Health Organization is expected to release a statement advising travel precautions related to the Olympic Games soon.
Dr. Richard E. Besser, ABC News's chief health and medical editor, highlighted five things that report author Amir Attaran identifies in defense of such a drastic recommendation: Rio's proximity to the disease; the dangers associated with this particular strain; the increase in tourism that will risk spreading the Zika virus to other countries; the short amount of time health officials will have to develop control measures; and, finally, what Attaran calls the irresponsibility in placing sports above public health.
Centre for Disease control and Prevention (CDC) listed Brazil among countries and Territories with Active Zika Virus Transmission. Cape Verde is the only African country in the list.
The Zika virus is spread by bites of infected mosquitoes in the Aedes genus. Zika virus was first discovered in 1947 and is named after the Zika Forest in Uganda

Former Super Eagles Captain Joseph Yobo has hailed the appointment of an African, Fatma Samoura as the first female Secretary General of world soccer Ruling body FIFA.
Yobo who is billed to savor his testimonial match May 27th in Port Harcourt River State, congratulated the Gianni Infantino led FIFA for the appointment while assuring Samoura who is a Senegalese that she will not lack support.
''Congrats to FIFA, on the appointment of an African and a woman as General Secretary. Welcome Fatma Samoura. We are behind you'' the former Everton and Fernabahce defender said, shortly after the announcement.
Aside from current Super Eagles Captain John Obi Mikel and his assistant Ahmed Musa, African football stars like Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, Alex Song and former Everton coach David Moyes have all been penciled down to be part of the testimonial game.
Prior to her appointment on Friday, Samoura was the most senior UN official in Nigeria.
After joining the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in 1995, she served as Country Director for WFP in Djibouti and Cameroon, and also worked at the WFP headquarters in Rome. She covered numerous complex emergencies, including Kosovo, Liberia, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, and Timor-Leste (East Timor)
Samoura who was born in 1962 is married with three children

ENYIMBA VS IFEANYIUBAH WILL BE TOUGH

Soccer fans in the country have been told to watch out for explosive encounter as Enyimba battle FC IfeanyiUbah today at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
IfeanyiUbah's forward Onyedikachi Bright predicted that there will be no dull moment  in the clash, adding that  both teams have infectious fighting spirit all of which will add up to take the tempo of the game to the zenith.
""When two elephants fight, it is the grass that will suffer.  In this case it is the pitch that will be burnt. It is going to be a very competitive match, “he enthused
The Super Eagles ace admitted that Enyimba have been doing pretty well recently, adding however that IfeanyiUbah have equally been impressive and are hungry for more wins.
""It is battle between two ambitious teams that are eager at all times to achieve result so it promises to be a handful," he submitted
Hosts Enyimba are heading into today's match fresh from a goalless draw against MFM at the Agege Township stadium while FC IfeanyiUbah are still in the euphoria of their  lone goal victory over Lobi Stars.

ENYIMBA HAPPY TO SHARE POINTS WITH MFM

Defending champions Enyimba posted yet another superlative performance away on Wednesday as they held MFM to a goalless draw at the Agege Township Stadium.

 The Peoples Elephant, who went into the match fresh from two previous impressive results, described the Wednesday's result as worth celebrating even though picking the entire three points would have been better.

 The sour point for the two time CAF Champions league heroes however was the red card handed Nzube Anaezemba after a second yellow card.

"Tense end to the game at the Agege Stadium, Lagos but we can celebrate a point on the road. Three certainly would have been better,"the Paul Aigbogun led team dished out shortly after the match.

The Aba landlords who are currently using the Umuahia Township Stadium as home ground pending the completion of renovation work at the Aba Stadium, were however not the only team that recorded impressive result in the midweek battle.

 Warri wolves, who have been seen 17 away matches without a win, put an end to the ugly run as they ran away with a 1-2 victory over 3SC.  It was however Niger Tornadoes that no doubt hit cloud nine after achieving a 2-1 victory over Heartland in Lokoja.

Incidentally it was by the same margin that tornadoes lost away to Enyimba at the weekend.  Tornadoes coach   Abdullahi Usman Biffo had prior to the match confirmed that his boys have put aside the defeat in Umuahia and looked forward to giving their fans something to cheer about in Lokoja.

It was a day a harvest for Ismaila Gata who grabbed the all important brace for the Minna side.

PILLARS TO INSTALL CCTV AT SANI ABACHA STADIUM

Following post match violence that erupted after Wednesday's league tie against Enyimba, Kano Pillars have revealed a plan to install CCTV cameras at the Sani Abacha Stadium.

The veteran club believes installation of the CCTV cameras will help monitor activities of the fans before during and after matches as the team is not only desirous of playing good football but is also bent on making their home ground Sani Abacha Stadium a comfortable venue for fans and non fans alike to come and enjoy football.

The 4-time Premier league champions dished out the information vide their twitter handle @pillarsfc, noting that the violence was regrettable

"CCTV cameras will soon be installed at different places of Sani Abacha Stadium to help prevent post-match violence" the club said

Pillars who will next tackle embattled Ikorodu United at the same venue today, threatened to ban any fan caught fomenting trouble, declaring

"Anyone caught in the violence will be permanently banned from watching any of our games at the stadium"

The Baba Ganaru tutored side who failed in their bid to progress in this year's CAF Champions league campaign had earlier apologized for the post match violence "We sincerely apologize and regret the post match violence that occurred during our last Match" the club submitted Saturday. Most soccer fans who engaged in unsolicited permutations over possible results of Sunday matches across the country opine that it will take a miracle for Ikorodu United to pick a point in the tie.  The Sam Okpodu led side some say will need to double effort if they wish to have a near good race this season.

TORNADOES ITCH CLOSER TO BASE RETURN

Niger Tornadoes will return to their original base Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium Minna earlier than envisaged state commissioner for youths and sports Mamman Musa has confirmed.

He made the submission during an unscheduled visit to the stadium to ascertain the pace of ongoing renovation work. 

           

The commissioner who was accompanied by some Directors in the ministry said he was happy that the contractor handling the job has been following specifications handed by the League Management Company (LMC)   

               

According to him, "the ministry is fully satisfied and impressed with the level of work done so far, and I urge them to continue in that spirit and government would continue to give its support to see to the quick completion of the renovation work at the stadium" 

                  

Hon Musa re-echoed his call for supporters of the club to be patient with government as everything is being done to fast track the club's return to base.  

           

“We are doing our best to make both the players and the technical crew feels the turf of our brand new stadium before the second round of the league and this will be pursued vigorously”. he maintained      

                

He then advised management to pick up their game and break even now that the government has thrown his weight behind them saying they should try and make the state proud in their campaign in the 2015/2016 NPFL season.

 

Tornadoes have been recording what some have described as average result in the matches played so far but others believe that there is still time for impressive run.

Tornadoes enjoyed a lone goal victory against hard fighting El kanemi on Sunday in Lokoja and have since intensified training ahead of their clash against Enyimba at the weekend.