Super Falcons to know world cup opponents December 8

Can anything stop the Super Falcons from picking a ticket for the 8th FIFA Women World Cup in France? I don't think so, thus it would be safe to say that Nigeria will know her World cup opponents in France on December 8.

A release from World soccer ruling body FIFA indicates that the draw for the 8th Women world cup which will hold between June 7 and July 7 in France will hold on December 8 with France world cup winning coach and former France international Didier Deschamps as Draw Assistant.

Four countries Nigeria, South Africa, Mali and Cameroon are chasing the three tickets available to represent the continent

After showing hosts Ghana, Algeria, Equatorial Guinea and Zambia the exit door following completion of the group stage of the African Women Nations Cup, Nigeria will Tuesday face Cameroon in the semifinals while South Africa will confront Mali.

The finalists and third place winner will qualify for the battle of Paris. 

The falcons have been part of every edition of the tournament since inception in 1991.

The team's best outing was at the 1999 edition in USA where the girls made it all the way to the Quarterfinals before kissing the exit door following a 4-3 defeat by Brazil after Extra time.

 Interestingly only Nigeria and Ghana represented the continent at that edition with the Black Queens crashing out in the group stage losing two matches and drawing one.

Enyimba settles down in Kigali set for Nyamirambo clash

After settling down comfortably on arrival in Kigali, Confederation cup campaigners Enyimba early Saturday held a press conference ahead of the first leg quarter final clash against Rayon sports on Sunday. 

The Aba side sounding very confident said they are ready for the match expected to attract fans in full to the 22,000 capacity Nyamirambo Stadium.

"After landing and settling in Kigali, today's pre-match meeting and press conference have been concluded. All eyes now firmly focused on the action tomorrow. #TOTALCAFCC" the team confirmed on social media Saturday.

Meanwhile Rayon sports defender ABDUL Rwatubyaye may have indirectly warned Enyimba not to expect a tea party when action takes the centre stage on Sunday. The 23 year old has reportedly told his teammates to hold their nerves and step up performance against visiting Peoples Elephant.

Describing Enyimba as one of the best clubs in the continent, Rwatubyaye said it would be a mistake to treat the team with kid gloves, adding that Rayon must adopt a fight to the finish approach.

“We have to fight and make the most of home advantage, “he was quoted telling his teammates by The New Times of Rwanda Rayon sports by all standard cannot be said to be a soft nut to crack and playing in front of their vociferous supporters will pose a huge challenge for Enyimba who are hoping to get at worst a draw in the game before the return leg September 23.

The 8- time Rwanda National Football League Champions have 9 Rwandan Cup in the kitty, a Rwandan Super cup and a CECAFA clubs cup to their credit among other laurels, an indication that they can on a good day give any opponent a run for their strength and skill.

FA cup: Gov Udom doles out N70m for Akwa Utd

These are happy times for premier league side Akwa United as the state governor has made good his promise of naira rain on the team for winning last year FA cup.  

Governor Udom Emmanuel Wednesday put smiles on the faces of team with a Cheque of N70million.  

The club apparently impressed by the feat at a time when some clubs are singing lamentation songs over unpaid wages and fees took to their twitter handle @AkwaUnited_fc to announce the windfall while thanking the Governor for keeping to his promise.

His Excellency @MrUdomEmmanuel has reward us @Akwaunitedfc for winning the 2017 Aiteo Cup competition with a cash sum of 70Million Naira.  Thank you Governor Udom Emmanuel

Recall that Akwa united claimed the title decided at the Agege Township Stadium otherwise called the temple after defeating equally hard fighting and ambitious Niger Tornadoes 3-2 on penalty.

 Last year's victory marked the second time the Uyo based side will be clinching the title after winning it in 2015 after a 2-1 defeat of Lobi stars.  

The Agege Stadium encounter which drew creme dela creme to the temple ended goalless at regulation time and headed straight into penalty. 

The team had earlier pocketed N25 million for their effort while runners up Tornadoes got N10million.

Akwa United it will equally be recalled put up spirited effort in the Confederation Cup but failed to go beyond the group stage.

Mikel in full action as Guangzou downs Tiajin Teda 2-0

Succor is yet to come the way of Chinese Super League side Tiajin Teda as the John Obi Mikel captained side went down 2-0 away to Guangzou R&F at the Yuexiushan Stadium on Saturday.  

The Super Eagles captain and his Tiajin Teda teammates found their hosts a hard nut to crack conceding the first goal in the 27th minute and the second in the 76th minute.

The club has not been able to sing victory song in the last four matches, with the last win dating back to 10th August against Henan Jianye at home.

 The four last matches have ended in two draws and two defeats including a 5-2 demolition by Beijing Guoan.

Ghanaian import Frank Acheampong was in aciton for 73 minutes but found the Guangzou R&F defence difficult to rattle .

Tiajin Teda will have to wait till 14th September to see if they will earn three points from visiting Shanghai SIPG.

Mikel who will be missing Super Eagles Afcon 2019 qualifier against Seychelles next Saturday in Victoria after pulling out of the tie, has nonetheless expressed optimism that the Eagles will achieve a good result. 

While Mikel will be missing in action in Victoria, China based Odion Ighalo will be action against the Pirates. 

Ighalo was on target August 26th as Changchun Yatai avoided home defeat holding Hebei CFFC to a 2-2 draw. 

Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr believes Victoria tie will afford Ighalo ample opportunity to rediscover his scoring skills for the team.

Europa League: Iwobi, Moses get Sporting, PAOK Challenge

Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi and his Arsenal teammates will open their Europa league campaign against Portugal side Sporting CP following the draw which was dished out on Friday. The Nigerian international who has been in great shape for the Emirates landlords will be looking forward to help the side compete for title after missing a place in the Champions league finishing in the 6th place last season with 70 points. Compatriot Victor Moses who recently announced a decision to retire from the national team and concentrate on club assignment will be facing Greek side PAOK with his Chelsea teammates.  

The 27 year old who reportedly is being approached by the Super Eagles coaching crew to have  a rethink into what has been dubbed his 'shocking and early retirement from international football'was left out in the Blues 2-1 away victory over Newcastle last week prompting some of his mischievous critics to predict that it will be hard for him to get the required playing time under new coach Maurizio Sarri.  

He was equally an unused substitute earlier when Chelsea hosted Arsenal in a tie that ended 3-2 in favour of Chelsea with Iwobi enjoying 75 minutes action garnished with a 41st minute goal to his credit. In other Europa league fixtures AC Milan face a more difficult campaign against Olympiacos, Real Betis and Dudelange in Group F.

Steven Gerrard's Rangers are also facing a difficult group stage, having been pitted against Villarreal, Rapid Vienna and Spartak Moscow in Group G.

Last season's semi-finalists Marseille will meet Lazio, Eintracht Frankfurt and Apollon in a competitive Group H

Below is the full picture of the groups.

Group A: Bayer Leverkusen, Ludogorets, FC Zurich, AEK Larnaca

Group B: Salzburg, Celtic, RB Leipzig, Rosenborg

Group C: Zenit St Petersburg, Copenhagen, Bordeaux, Slavia Prague

Group D: Anderlecht, Fenerbahce, Dinamo Zagreb, Spartak Trnava

Group E: Arsenal, Sporting CP, Qarabag, Vorskla

Group F: Olympiacos, AC Milan, Real Betis, Dudelange

Group G: Villarreal, Rapid Vienna, Spartak Moscow, Rangers

Group H: Lazio, Marseille, Eintracht Frankfurt, Apollon Limassol

Group I: Besiktas, Genk, Malmo, Sarpsborg

Group J: Sevilla, Krasnodar, Standard Liege, Akhisar

Group K: Dinamo Kiev, Astana, Rennes, Jablonec

Group L: Chelsea, PAOK, BATE, Vidi

Enyeama, Ligue 1 side LOSC end 7-year romance

Former Super Eagles number one goalie Vincent Enyeama has ended his seven year romance with French Ligue 1 side LOSC

Lille, the club confirmed on Friday. The parting according to the club was on mutual consent in a no victor no vanquished agreement.

In a brief statement on the club's website, Les Dogues confirmed that the 36-year-old's contract had been terminated by mutual consent.

"Beyond his performances, LOSC and its supporters will remember Vincent's smile and his enthusiasm," the statement read.

"The club wishes him the best from now on in his future projects."

The Nigeria international joined the club from Hapoel Tel Aviv in 2011, but hasn't featured for the Northern side since April 2017.

He was deemed surplus to requirements by previous coach Marcelo Bielsa, and was overlooked by his successor Christophe

Galtier.

The stopper played 164 games for Lille, and came close to breaking Gaetan Huard's record for consecutive Ligue 1 minutes without conceding in the 2013-14 season.

The former Bnei Yehuda ace , who won the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria in 2013, was part of the side that were

defeated by Paris Saint-Germain in the 2016 League Cup final.

Enyeama in what could pass as confirmation of frictionless departure, shared a message of thanks to the LOSC LilleSupporters

"The adventure has ended," Enyeama began, writing on his @Vinpee Twitter handle. "I thank the Lille supporters for their incredible support during these seven years, which were, for me, years of happiness and joy.

"Thank you, a thousand times, thank you, for this love that you've given me."

Enyeama arrived at Lille from Hapoel Tel Aviv in 2011, and would go onto make 164 appearances for the club. The highlight perhaps came in the 2013-14 season, when he went within 114 minutes of equaling Gaetan Huard's record for consecutive Ligue 1 minutes without conceding.

"You will always have a special place in my heart," Enyeama added. "Your songs and your cheers will stay engraved forever. Love you guys!

"Thank you also to all of the staff of LOSC, the medical staff, with a particular mention to all of the reserve team in N2 [The French Championnat National 2], and their medical staff." submitted Enyeama who has been to three world cups 2002, 2010 and 2014 with the Super Eagles but exited the national team under controversial circumstances under former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh.

Davido to Nigerian youths: Tie up every loose ends!

*signs up for National Youth service Corps

Nigeria's music sensation David Adeleke otherwise called Davido may have sent a direct advise to Nigerian youths to put their records right as they undertake the journey of life.  The Music graduate who has made a huge career of his passion registered for the mandatory one year National Youth Service corps on Tuesday while indirectly urging the Nigerian youth not to take anything for granted. Otondo OBO ... 🇳🇬 #Nysc .. Tying up  every loose end!" The 25 year old dished out on his twitter handle @iam_Davido

The twit was followed by a picture of the musical idol in NYSC Uniform as he sat on one of his eye popping rides.

Davido who only recently celebrated the arrival of his private jet will no doubt inspire many academically inclined youths in the country with his decision to key into the mandatory one year service three years after bagging a bachelors degree in Music.

Davido graduated from Babcock University, Ilisan- Remo, Ogun State, in 2015 after completing his course in music. His graduation ceremony it will be recalled attracted crème dela crème of the society including respected producer of popular track ‘Doro buchi’ done in collaboration with high flying female artist Tiwa Savage.

Davido who has been hailed by some of his fans for taking the step will expectedly partake in all the known sporting activities in camp viz endurance trek,inter platoon football competition, tug of war to mention just  few.  There are strong indications that while in camp Davido may be drafted to play a role in the Orientation Broadcasting Service (OBS) which aside from passing information/announcement to corps members in camp also conducts live interviews and request shows.

The compulsory one year National Service for graduates in the country was introduced in 1973 under the regime of under General Yakubu Gowon.

Recall that Davido featured in the World Cup theme song for Super Eagles ahead of the last world cup in Russia in the form of video with commercial soft drink company pepsi.  The video which became instant hit also featured other pop stars like Wizkid and Tiwa Savage alongside midfield maestro Jay Jay Okocha and Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi.