Dennerby yet to get N72million accumulated Salary

Super Falcons coach Thomas Dennerby may have been captured on camera smiling away and exchanging banters following the team's qualification for the World cup in France, but that is not to say that he is a very happy man.

 The Swede Sportinglife.ng gathered is still full of grudges as a result of his 8 months unpaid salaries amounting to $200,000 (about N72million). The coach is on a monthly salary of $25,000.

Dernneby who will be winning his first trophy with the Super Falcons should he succeed in flying past South Africa at the AWCON final on Saturday, has forced  divided opinions among Nigerians and Super Falcons fans alike.

While some believe that the former Sweden national women Coach has made some input into the team others say he has been more like an observer or better put a scout just watching proceedings from a quiet corner.

Some others not satisfied with the team's performance despite their qualification for the world cup, however blamed the unimpressive performance on age, insisting that some of girls have lost the agility for which they were known.  

The moribund women league in the country was further blamed as it should have been a source of identifying younger players that can easily replace aging ones.

While the chicken and egg argument continues, close pals of the coach reveal he is losing patience over his unpaid entitlements, hoping that his salaries can be paid on one hand, and that quality friendly matches can be arranged for the team ahead of the World cup billed for France in June. 

Falcons take on Bayana Bayana in the finals of Ghana 2018, the second time both teams will be meeting in this this edition.  

The South Africans had defeated the Falcons by a lone goal in the group stage and will be hoping to re-enact that feat in the final while the Falcons will be hoping to prove that the first defeat was a slight slip.

Mo Salah joins anti animal export campaign in Egypt

If you think Liverpool goal machine Mo Salah is only concerned about scoring goals for the Reds and thinking about winning laurels, you are wrong.

 On the contrary, the former Roma and Chelsea ace is equally paying blow by blow attention to things happening at home, Egypt. 

Following recent report that the Egyptian government is planning to round up stray cats and dogs for export, Salah has joined in the campaign against the move, insisting that such a policy will not be allowed to take place in the land of the Pharaohs.

Salah Tuesday took to the social media to pose for a picture with his two pet cats in order to protest the proposed move against cat and dogs.  

Those campaigning against the move expressed fears that if the animals are exported they might be shipped to places where they will be butchered and eaten.

The Liverpool star posted a snap on Twitter with his two pet Siamese cats, along with the caption: 'Cats and dogs will not be exported anywhere. That's not going to happen.'

According to news agency Al-Araby, the Egyptian government has authorised the rounding-up and export of 4,100 stray cats and dogs to other countries, leading to concern they could be sent to places where they would be eaten as food.

A spokesman for the Egyptian Agriculture Ministry has however been quoted denying these claims as 'baseless'.

However that has not stopped Salah, Egypt's best-known footballer, from confirming his status as an animal lover and supporting his feline friends.

Salah in the post was seen relaxed with his pets ahead of Liverpool's return to Champions League action Wednesday against Paris Saint-Germain.

A win would all but confirm their place in the last 16 but defeat would leave them staring at early elimination.

Amokachi identifies with future stars in Badarawa

Former international Daniel Amokachi tickled the fancy of students and future stars at a local school in the Badarawa District of Kaduna state Tuesday. 

In what could pass for 'going back to the roots' outing, the former Everton star revealed how delighted he was to see smiles on the faces of the students after he handed them Educational Backpack. 

The Bull as he is fondly called took to his twitter handle to upload a video of the said visit sealing the post with #KeepingItReal, #1girl1pen.

"Visited A School Inn Badarawa District Kaduna State Were I Was Born & Handed Out Educational Backpack,Very Nice To See Smiles On Our Leaders Of Tomorrow... #1girl1pen #Eduplus #TheBlackBull #KeepingItReal"

The effort of the former Super Eagles Assistant coach did not go unnoticed as former Arsenal great Nwankwo Kanu was among the first set of viewers to like the initiative. 

The Bull's effort is coming just few days after Super Eagles Captain

John Obi Mikel launched his catch them young foundation aimed at discovering young players to be nurtured into world beaters in future.

Amokachi,was discovered while playing for Ranchers Bees by Nigerian national team coach Clemens Westerhof ahead of the 1990 African Nations Cup. 

He subsequently headed for Club Brugge in Belgium. He competed in the Champions League and became the first player to score in the competition, after his goal secured a 1–0 win in the opening match in the group stage against CSKA Moscow.

Amokachi made over 44 appearances for the national team with 13 goals to his credit. His famous dance at the 1994 World cup in USA has remains nostalgic among his fans.

Carl Ikeme's illness my biggest regret- Gernot Rohr

If there is one thing that Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr regrets while taking stock of his Super Eagles job so far, it is sickness that knocked former number one goalie Carl Ikeme off the national team.

Speaking on Monday Night football the German Tactician who has already pocketed a ticket to the 2019 Nations Cup in Cameroon with a match against Seychelles to spare, described the experience and quite painful and heart breaking.

"If there is one thing I would say gave me the greatest headache, it was the sickness of Carl Ikeme, it was very disappointing" he confessed.

The former Niger and Burkina Faso coach apparently reflecting on all that has transpired both off and on the pitch, since his arrival to the country, joined the football house and other stakeholders to learn to the principle of working hand in hand as that is the best way of achieving set goals. 

He warned against allowing politics over shadow efforts aimed at taking the nation's football to the greater heights.

It will be recalled that former Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Carl Ikeme contributed in no small measure to Nigeria's qualification for the last World Cup in Russia, putting up impressive performance in the qualifiers leading to the world cup.

 Unfortunately the 32 year old was diagnosed with acute leukaemia just before the start of the World cup, forcing out of both national and club assignments. Wolverhampton new goalkeeper Rui Patrício left the number 1 jersey vacant in Ikeme's honour, choosing the 11 instead.

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.