Iwobi signs new Arsenal deal, vows to do more

Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi has signed a new "long-term" contract with Arsenal, the Gunners announced Friday

Head coach Unai Emery hinted last month Iwobi was close to agreeing new terms and the Nigeria international has now put pen to paper.

Iwobi's new contract is reported to be a five-year deal that will commit the 22-year-old to the club through to 2023.

"I'm very pleased Alex has signed a new contract with us," said Emery.

"He is a great example of a player who can succeed from the academy through hard work and I look forward to working with him and our other talented young players in the squad."

Iwobi who put up a good show at the World Cup in Russia despite the Eagles inability to go beyond the first round, expressed satisfaction with his new deal adding that it is yet an opportunity to do more for a club that has always been after his heart from childhood.

"It's always been my childhood dream to represent Arsenal," Iwobi told Arsenal's official website.

"To get an extended contract is an amazing feeling and I hope I'm doing the Arsenal family proud, as well as my family.

"The first kit that I had was Arsenal and long may I continue to represent them.

"I always realise that I have to be representing the team and giving 100 per cent at all times. It’s not just myself or my family I'm representing, I also represent the people and the younger generation as well."

Iwobi who had an excellent bond with former Gunners coach Arsene Wenger has already made his way into good books of the new coach Unai Emery, an indication that the Nigerian international will equally have an impressive atmosphere to showcase his talent .

Saudi Side Al-Nassr celebrates Ahmed Musa capture

Super Eagles forward Ahmed Musa has signed for Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr FC. The 25 year old who was in superlative form at the World cup in Russia despite Eagles early exit from the championship became has been on the radar of the Saudi Club even before the World cup. 

His exploits at the Mundial further fired the desire to have him in the fold.  The club on Friday released a video welcoming the Nigerian international whose exploits with Russian side CSKA Moscow received a lot of the commendation from the club and its fans.

Musa, who  was Leicester City’s  record signing when he moved to the King Power for £16.6million in 2016,  failed to hold down a place and was loaned back to his old club CSKA Moscow for part of last season.

Interestingly former VVV Venlo and Kano Pillars ace found the net six times in 10 appearances at the Russian club, three times as many as he managed in his 21 Premier League appearances.

Al-Nassr said he had signed a four-year contract but did not disclose the transfer fee. The announcement was also accompanied by a bizarre video that did not even feature their new signing — only highlights of his playing career to date.

The clip consisted of a flight taking off from London directly to Al-Nassr, with an unidentified man making his way through security.

On board, highlights of the striker playing for Leicester, Nigeria and CSKA Moscow could be seen out of the cabin

windows, including on of his World Cup strikes, and his International Champions Cup goal for the Foxes against Barcelona.

Rather than the video ending in the more traditional fashion, an image of the new signing in a shirt, or perhaps even just a scarf, the short feature ends with the plane flying perilously close to the main stand at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, the plane only just clearing it as the captain announced their arrival.

Al-Nassr finished third in the Saudi-Arabian professional league last season, qualifying for the Asian Champions League play-offs in the process.

A check conducted on the current squad of the club indicate that Musa has already been included an indication that the club is eager to have the Nigerian get into action in the new season.

Chelsea vs Man City : Moses eyes community shield title

Super Eagles winger Victor Moses is on the verge of adding Community Shield title to his collections as Chelsea file out against Manchester City at the wembley Stadium on Sunday. Moses has premier league, FA Cup and Europa titles in the kitty and victory at the Wembley on Sunday will be another feather

The former Wigan Athletic ace who converted a penalty for the Super Eagles at the World cup in Russia is being tipped to lift the Blues even as new coach Maurizio Sarri is hoping to win a title even before his first season at the Stamford Bridge.

The Italian took over from compatriot Antonio Conte last month after nearly wrestling the Serie A title from Juventus with old club Napoli last season.

He could become the first Premier League manager since David Moyes in 2013 in the same competition to win a trophy in his first game.

Sarri said: "First of all I'm looking forward to playing at Wembley, because it's my first time. The match will be very difficult for us.

"I want to win, because it's very important to have a trophy immediately.

City manager Pep Guardiola is looking forward to starting a new rivalry with Sarri, and says his style will adapt quickly

to the Premier League - having himself struggled with implementing his own style of play before City cruised to the title last season.

Chelsea are looking to win the Community Shield for the first time since 2009, when they beat Manchester United 4-1 on penalties. They've failed to win any of their last four appearances in the Community Shield.

Manchester City on the other hand last lifted the Community Shield in 2012, interestingly defeating Chelsea 3-2 in a fixture that was played at Villa Park.

This will be the third meeting between Chelsea and Manchester City at Wembley, with City winning the most recent one in April 2013 (2-1 in the FA Cup semi-final).

Chelsea have lost each of their last two games against Manchester City - they haven't lost three in succession against them since September 2010.

Assisat buys Multi Million Naira house for parents

* thanks God for good fortune

Super Falcons ace and African footballer of the year Assisat Oshoala is in thanks giving mood after successfully acquiring a two story building for her parents in the Costrain Area of Lagos state.  The Dalian Quanjian F.C.of China ace who described herself as a "Small Girl with a big God" thanked God for the feat achieved; a gift which a close pal said has taken the parents of the former Arsenal ace to cloud 9. 

Assisat who was reported to have demanded that the fashionable jersey lunched at the Russia 2018 World cup be equally showcased by the Super Falcons had captioned his post announcing the purchase of the house thus;

"Small girl Big God ��…Alhamdulilah, parent first"

Oshoala found success as a forward for Nigeria's youth teams but made most of her early appearances for the senior national team as an attacking midfielder. She was nicknamed "Seedorf" after male footballer Clarence Seedorf and has also been referred to as "Superzee" by her teammates.

She was named best player and with seven goals was also the top goal scorer at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. She was named best player and second top goalscorer with the Super Falcons team who won the 2014 African Women's Championship claiming  BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2015.

In September 2014 Oshoala was made a Member of the Order of the Niger by President of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan. On 8 June 2015 in Winnipeg, Canada, Oshoala opened her senior FIFA Women's World Cup account by scoring Nigeria's second goal in a 3–3 draw with Sweden.  The former Robo Fc and Rivers Angels star made a surprise move to Chinese club Dalian Quanjian F.C. in February 2017 from Arsenal Ladies. Some die-hard female football lovers who spoke to Sportinglife.ng on her achievements so far said she has a lot of prospect adding that her case should ginger parents to encourage and support their female children in whatever career they chose in life as "you never can say where the needed liberation from poverty will come from"

Oshoala can be said to be completely af home in China with Nigerian legion led by Super Eagles Captain John Obi Mikel also China based. Others plying their trade in China include Odion Ighalo who was tongue lashed by many fans for wasting begging chances in the tie against Argentina at the world cup, Obafemi Martins ( Shanghai Shenhua).Anthony Ujah (Liaoning Whowin),Brown Ideye (Tianjin Teda).

Carl Ikeme retires from football

Super Eagles number one goalkeeper Carl Ikeme has retired from football. Ikeme who missed the world cup after being diagnosed of leukemia,made his decision to quit the round leather game public on Friday, while expressing satisfaction with his effort while his romance with the game lasted.  He also thanked everyone who has contributed in one way or the other to his past exploits in the game. 

The Wolves star who gave the Super Eagles moral support all through the effort in Russia through constant prayer contributed in no small measure to Nigeria's qualification for the world cup especially during the qualifiers where he turned into a stumbling block to opponents who had done everything within their powers to stop Ngeria from qualifying for the Mundial.

"Thank you for the support over the years . My last day as a footballer. But one I am happy and great full for !!! Thanks to everyone to do with @wolves and everyone in football I have met," he submitted Friday via @Carl_Ikeme

Carl Onora Ikeme spent his entire career at Wolverhampton Wanderers, making 207 appearances across all competitions. He was part of their teams that won the Championship in 2009 and League One in 2014, and he made one Premier League appearance in 2012. Throughout his time at Wolves, he was loaned to eight other clubs. Born and raised in England, Ikeme chose to represent Nigeria at international level, earning ten caps between 2015 and 2016.

He was first called up to the "Super Eagles" squad in March 2007 by new manager Berti Vogts, who named a 37-man provisional squad for a 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Uganda that introduced other foreign-born players such as Gabriel Agbonlahor and Toto Tamuz.

He made his international debut for Nigeria on 5 September 2015 against Tanzania in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification game.Ikeme made three appearances early on in Nigeria's successful qualification campaign for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but could not go to the final tournament due to his cancer treatment, which manager Gernot Rohr called his greatest regret.

On 6 July 2017, Wolverhampton Wanderers announced that Ikeme had been diagnosed with acute leukaemia after returning abnormal blood tests during a routine pre-season check-up. On 23 June 2018, he told the public that he was in "complete remission" after "a tough year and intense chemotherapy". He announced his retirement on medical grounds on 27 July.

OSaze Happy with 2018 World Cup role

Former Super Eagles forward Osaze Odemwingie says he truly enjoyed the just ended World cup in Russia despite Nigeria's unimpressive outing. The former Stoke striker, whose 37th birthday coincided with the World cup final between Croatia and eventual winners France on July 15, had earlier described both teams as worthy finalists.

Odemwingie who was among ex-internationals that had one opportunity or the other to run analysis on the world cup matches believes that the month long event that put Russia in the front burner  lived up to expectations.

The Madura United of Indonesia forward ensured that there was no dull moment for his teeming fans as he updated them regularly on his activities on social media all through the world cup including his live analysis with local and international media.

The former Lokomotiv Moscow ace captured it all including meeting with former Chelsea great and Ivorian international Didier Drogba.

 Odemwingie who last played for the Super Eagles in 2014, made 63 appearances for the national team with 10 goals to his credit.

 He joined Indonesian side Madura United on 3rd April 2017 and has since made over 22 appearances for the Liga 1 side scoring 15 goals.

Other former Nigeria internationals that got world cup analysis roles and made good show of it include former Super Eagles captain Austin Jay Jay Okocha who was recently offered a coaching job by his former club Bolton Wanderers; and former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia

Nigeria's outing in Russia 2018 many say failed very much below par.

The Coach Gernot Rohr tutored side had hit Russia capturing the headlines across the globe after showcasing what was dubbed the most impressive jersey of the tournament.

Performance on the pitch however failed to measure up to the popularity level set by the jersey bug.  The team won only a match against Iceland losing both to Croatia and Argentina thus failing to make it to the round of 16 achieved in the 2014 edition in Brazil.

Confusion trails court judgment on NFF leadership tussle

There is no end in sight for the confusion trailing leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) even with the Nation still leaking her wounds following early exit of the Super Eagles from the ongoing World cup in Russia.

The power tussle between incumbent President of the Federation Amaju Pinnick and Ambassador Chris Giwa which has continued to swing like a pendulum in the courts, took a new dimension on Monday when the Sports Minister Barrister Solomon Dalung directed Pinnick and his Executives to obey the court order of June 5th 2018 delivered by Honorable Justice M. H. Kurya sitting at the Federal High Court Jos.

The minister said the directive became necessary after he received a written notification signed for the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice requesting the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports to ensure compliance.

The notification according to the Minister states thus;

‘I have been directed to notify you of the Orders dated June 5th 2018 made by Honorable Justice M. H. Kurya sitting at the Federal High Court Jos in respect of the above mentioned suit between Yahaya Adama Vs Alhaji Aminu Maigari which states that the election of the NFF held on August 26, 2014 under the leadership of Amb Chris Giwa be given recognition pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed in this case and that  the purported ban of the Executive Committee elected on August 26, 2014 from football activities of the NFF is unconstitutional, null and void.

‘It is trite law that court orders are sacrosanct and any act of disobedience to it constitutes threat to the rule of law. Consequent upon the above, you are hereby advised to comply with the orders of court made therein which for now, is the valid and binding order of court, in the absence of any other subsisting order or judgment to the contrary’.

Consequently, Barrister Dalung has however directed the parties involved to comply with the court order.

“This is a court order and not from Dalung. I will not want to go to Kuje prison because of disobedience of court orders.

Therefore, I hereby comply with the court orders of June 5th 2018, while Mr Amaju Pinnick and others are also directed to comply with same." the minister's statement said

Dalung who prior to his appointment as Minister of sports was working with the Prisons washed his hands off the consequences of non compliance with the court order saying" “This is a court order and not from Dalung. I will not want to go to Kuje prison because of disobedience of court orders. Therefore, I hereby comply with the court orders of June 5th 2018, while Mr Amaju Pinnick and others are also directed to comply with same.”

Giwa reportedly addressed staff of the Glass House on Monday with Amaju Pinnick still in Russia as an Executive member of the World Soccer Ruling body FIFA.  While Giwa supporters insist the ruling means immediate vacation of office by the Amaju Pinnick group, others say continuing the legal battle is almost unnecessary as a new election is due in September with no guarantees that the incumbent will return.