Breaking :Neymar arrives hospital for leg surgery

Neymar just arrives hospital for leg sugery in Brasil. 

Former Super Eagles Striker Jay Jay Okocha Has Been Inducted As A Bundesliga Legend

Former Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder, Jay-Jay Okocha has been inducted as one of the Bundesliga legends.

     

The Super Eagles legend joins former Ghana international, Anthony Baffoe in the 11-man legends network.
Okocha joined Frankfurt from FC Saarbrucken in December 1991, and went on to produce 13 assists and 18 goals, and several Bundesliga moments, before his move to Fenerbache in 1996, as Frankfurt were relegated.
In 1993, the 1996 Olympic Gold medalist produced a moment of brilliance, as he dribbled the whole Karlsruhe defence and Oliver Kahn, before he scored.
Okocha who announced retirement from the game in 2008 will join other legends in promoting the Bundesliga values and features in target markets which include Nigeria.

44 year old Essam El Hadary’s save sends Egypt to #AFCON2017 Final

Essam Kamal Tawfik El Hadary of Egypt celebrates victory during the African Nations Cup Semi Final match between Burkina Faso and Egypt at Stade de L’Amitie on February 1, 2017 in Libreville, Gabon.


Egypt’s goalkeeper and captain Essam El Hadary on Wednesday emerged the shooting range hero to send the Pharaohs through to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final match.
Egypt went through to the AFCON final in Gabon after beating Burkina Faso 4-3 on penalty kicks in the semi-finals.
El Hadary, who turned 44 this month, is already the oldest footballer to play at a Nations Cup and he showed he was not just there for the record.
The match itself was an epic, with neither team having tasted defeat in Gabon, and seven-time champions Egypt were yet to concede a goal.
The match in Libreville ended 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra time, with Mohamed Salah ’s 66th minute opener for Egypt cancelled out by Aristide Bance seven minutes later.
A sumptuous strike by Salah in the 66th minute looked to have record seven-time champions Egypt heading into Sunday’s final.
But Burkina Faso were level just seven minutes later, the first conceded by the Egyptians at this Cup of Nations, and there was no further scoring.
With no further scoring it went to a shoot-out where Essam El Hadary’s save from Bertrand Traore ’s last kick for Burkina Faso gave Egypt the victory.
They will now play against either Ghana or Cameroon in Sunday’s final.
Photo Credit: Ulrik Pedersen/Icon Sport/Getty Images

FIFA approves 48 team World Cup for 2026 - official

Zurich - FIFA's ruling council on Tuesday unanimously approved an expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams in 2026, with a format of 16 groups of three nations.
"The FIFA Council unanimously decided on a 48-team #WorldCup as of 2026: 16 groups of 3 teams," a tweet from FIFA's official account said.
The decision marks a major coup for the body's president Gianni Infantino who has made enlarging football's showcase event the centrepiece of his young administration.
The controversial proposal has faced criticism from some of the sport's most powerful voices, including warnings that it would dilute the quality of play and overburden already exhausted players.
But Infantino had in recent weeks voiced confidence that his flagship project would be approved.
Also read: FIFA set to approve bigger, richer World Cup on Tuesday
While noting that a bigger tournament would bring in more money, the FIFA chief has also argued that more World Cup berths would help drive football's global growth.
Africa and Asia could be the big winners in a larger format with a rise in their number of places, currently at 5 and 4.5 respectively.
But in order to smooth over scepticism about World Cup reform within UEFA, it is likely that Europe will also see its allotments rise above the current 13 places.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Georgina Rodriguez & Son At Fifa Award(Photos)

Cristiano Ronaldo attended Fifa awards alongside Georgina Rodriguez, his new girlfriend and his son. This is the couple's official public appearance since rumors emerge of their relationship.

Also in attendance were Sir Alex Ferguson and others

11 Years, 11 Trophies – 11 Things Chelsea Fans Will Never Forget About Mikel

Nigeria’s midfielder, John Mikel Obi today announced his move to Chinese club, Tianjin Teda. The Nigerian midfielder who spent 11 years at Chelsea have had what could be called a remarkable career at Chelsea.
Below are 10 things Chelsea fans will not forget about him.

1. Transfer saga
Mikel joined Chelsea in 2006 after a controversial transfer from Norwegian side Lyn Oslo. After Manchester United had announced the capture of Mikel on its website, Chelsea came at the last hour to sign the then promising talent.
2. Trophies
The midfielder has made 374 appearances for Chelsea, winning 11 trophies along the way. Premier League: 2009–10, 2014–15, FA Cup: 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12, League Cup: 2006-07, 2014-15, FA Community Shield: 2009, UEFA Champions League: 2011–12, UEFA Europa League: 2012–13.
3. Pass accuracy
In his first three years at Chelsea, he had the highest pass completion in the Premier League, boasting an impressive 89.93%. That’s even better than the likes of Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard or Man United’s Paul Scholes.
4. Loyalty
Mikel, before departure is the second-longest serving player at Stamford Bridge. Mikel made just 18 appearances for Chelsea last season and has been used in a substitute role increasingly over the last few years.
5. Red cards
Chelsea fans will not also forget quickly the times Mikel has been sent off the pitch of play. In 2007, Mikel was sent-off for the third time in his one year Chelsea career when referee Mike Dean dismissed him for a tackle on Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.
6. 2011-2012 season opener
Before the start of their league campaign, Mikel's father was abducted in his native Nigeria on 10 August; despite this, Mikel started in the club's opening fixture against Stoke City at Britannia Stadium.
7. Threat to referee
In 2012, Mikel was charged with misconduct by the Football Association (FA) on 22 November 2012. He was given a three-match ban and fined £60,000 for threatening referee Mark Clattenburg during a 3–2 defeat to Manchester United.
8. Dreadlock
Just like his African counterpart, Michael Essien, Mikel had been on dreadlocks for a very long time at Chelea.
9. 2016 summer Olympics
This many believed to be the major cause of his inability to break into Antonio Conte’s side. Mikel opted to play for his country Nigeria ahead of playing for Chelsea.
10. On 19th May 2012, in the final in Munich on 19 May, Mikel played the full 120 minutes in a tough defensive battle as Chelsea won its first ever Champions League trophy.
11. As a fan of football, what exactly do you remember about his playing career at Chelsea?

Glo Caf Awards 2016: Full List Of Winners

The 2016 CAF awards gala held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja on January 5, 2017, to celebrate Africa’s best.
Algeria and Leicester City forward Riyad Mahrez won the biggest prize on the night as he was crowned the best player on the continent for the year 2016, edging Algeria’s Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Senegal’s Sadio Mane.
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari was also honoured with the CAF Platinum award, while Kelechi Iheanacho and Iheanacho were among other winners on the night.

Here is the full list of award winners
1. Uganda: National team of the year
2. Super Falcons: Women’s national team of the year
Mamelodi Sundowns: Club of the year
1. Kelechi Iheanacho: Most promising talent
2. Alex Iwobi: Youth player of the year
3. Pitso Mosimane: Coach of the year
4. Asisat Oshoala: Women’s player of the year
5. Bakary Papa Gassama: Referee of the year
6. Laurent Pokou and Emilienne Mbango: Legend awards
7. Denis ONYANGO: Player of the year based in Africa
8. Team of the year: Goalkeeper: Denis ONYANGO (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)
Defenders: Serge AURIER (Cote d’Ivoire & Paris Saint-Germain), Aymen ABDENNOUR (Tunisia & Valencia), Eric BAILLY (Cote d’Ivoire & Manchester United), Joyce LOMALISA (DR Congo & AS Vita)
Midfielders: Khama BILLIAT (Zimbabwe & Mamelodi Sundowns), Rainford KALABA (Zambia & TP Mazembe), Keegan DOLLY (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns),
Forwards: Pierre-Emerick AUBAMEYANG (Gabon & Borussia Dortmund), Sadio MANE (Senegal & Liverpool), Riyad MAHREZ (Algeria & Leicester City)
1. Football Leader award: Manuel Lopes Nasciment the President of Guinea Bissau Football Federation
2. CAF Platinum award: Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari
3. African Player of the year: Riyad Mahrez

“I tried to kill myself several times”: Former Boxing

Former world boxing champion Ricky Hatton tried to kill himself when he suffered from depression after quitting the ring, the Briton said on Thursday.
Hatton, who won titles at light-welterweight and welterweight, retired in 2012 but had already been struggling with depression, drink and drugs.
“I tried to kill myself several times,” the 38-year-old said. “I used to go to the pub, come back, take the knife out and sit there in the dark crying hysterically. In the end I thought I’ll end up drinking myself to death because I was so miserable.’’
Hatton, who registered 45 wins in 48 bouts, said that even if he did not always drink he still could not cope with depression and that led to cocaine use.
“I was coming off the rails with my drinking and that led to drugs. It was like a runaway train,’’ he explained.
Hatton, who now works as a trainer and agent, said fighters needed a support system like footballers, especially after retirement when many found life tough outside sports.
He added that the poverty from which most boxers emerge does not prepare them for life after boxing.
“The thing is… with boxers… we come from council estates. So, it’s very, very hard,” said Hatton.
“It’s an individual sport. So, you get in the ring on your own and then when you retire you tend to spend the rest of your life on your own.’’
Hatton’s best performance came in 2005 when he stopped Australian Kostya Tszyu .
The victory added the IBF light-welterweight title to the WBU belt he already held.
He had a perfect 43-0 record until he was floored by Floyd Mayweather Jr in Las Vegas in 2007 and was never the same again.
Photo Credit: Alex Livesey/Getty Images.
NAN

World Cup 2022:Qatar to give World Cup workers hats that reduce body temperature

World Cup 2022 labourers in Qatar are to be given “cooling” hard hats which reduce their body temperature as they build football stadiums in the fierce desert heat.
The innovative technology uses a solar-powered fan to reduce the skin temperature by up to 10 degrees, said the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the body overseeing the controversial tournament’s organisation.
“We are confident that this technology will create more comfortable and safer working conditions,” said Saud Abdul-Aziz Abdul-Ghani, an engineering professor at Qatar University, where the hat has been developed.
The cooling hat scheme could be rolled out by next summer, officials said.
Summertime temperatures in Qatar regularly approach 50C (122F).
“Our objective was to reduce heat stress and heat strokes for workers in Qatar and the region during the summer months,” said Abdul-Ghani.
“Our concept is to use a solar-powered fan to blow air over a cooled material at the top of the helmet, which will then come down over the front of the person’s face and provide a cooler micro-climate for the worker.”
It would provide “cooling in hot conditions for up to four hours straight”, he added and could “revolutionise” the construction industry in the hottest parts of the world.
Workers in Qatar will be the first to use the helmet, which has been two years in the making, said Hilal Jeham al-Kuwari, an engineer with the supreme committee.
Since 2007, labourers have been banned from working outside in Qatar for several hours during the day at the height of the summer, due to temperatures.
There are currently more than 5,000 construction workers helping build World Cup stadiums in Qatar. That number is set to increase to 36,000 within the next two years.
Qatar has come under huge international criticism for the treatment of its migrant labour force ever since being chosen to host the 2022 World Cup.
Earlier this year, Amnesty International accused Qatar of using “forced labour” at a World Cup site, the Khalifa International Stadium.
In October, it was revealed that Anil Kumar Pasman, a 29-year-old Nepalese labourer, had died after being struck by a lorry at Al-Wakrah stadium, the first “work-related” fatality announced by Qatar’s World Cup organisers.

Saidu Ayorinde is Africa’s No. 1 Scrabble Player | Eight Other Nigerians win Top Positions

 Nigeria on Sunday emerged the 13th Africa Scrabble Champion winning 23 games of 32 in Tema, Ghana.
Ayorinde dethroned his Nigeria counterpart, Nsikakabasi Etim , the immediate past Africa Scrabble Champion, when he finished first in a 32-game scrabble marathon to become the best in the duel.
Ayorinde was ranked 16th at the 2015 World Scrabble championship.
Some Nigerians, Eta Karo, Umebiye Cyril, Nsikakabasi Etim and Rex Ogbakpa emerged in the second, third, fourth and fifth positions respectively.
A Kenyan, Gitonga Nberitou , broke Nigerian line up to take the sixth position.
Other Nigerians in the listing are: Ogbogu Azubuike , seventh;
Dennis Ikekeregor, eight; and Anthony Ikolo , the National Scrabble Coach of the Senior Team, ninth. John Curtis Ebomah came tenth.
Nigeria won nine of the ten positions in the championship and consolidated its position as the best team of the championship since nine of its representatives finished in top positions.
Ikolo told NAN in an interview that the victory was due to hard work and dedication.
“It is a testimony to the potential of Nigeria as a country and the sacrifice and hard work of the players,” he said.

Juventus Again!!!

Juventus are Italy's winter champions after a 1-0 defeat of Roma took them seven points clear of the capital club

HAPPY BIRTHDAY :Victor Moses

We celebrate you today the 12th day of December, as you celebrate your 26th birthday ! You have ended up on the winning side in all 9 Premier League games he’s started this season.

Sports Leicester City vs Man City Result: Pep Guardiola's Comments After 4-2 Thrashing

Manchester City on Saturday evening were thrashed by Premier League defending champions Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
Jamie Vardy opened the scoring in the 3rd minute before Andy King doubled it two minutes later. Jamie Vardy got his second goal by rounding off Man City keeper Bravo after receiving a sublime pass from Mahrez.
Vardy got his hat trick in the second half by rounding Bravo off for the second time and slotting home.
Kolarov pulled one back via a freekick and set up Nolito who made it two with less than 5 minutes to go. City piled on the pressure towards the end of the game but didn't score more goals.
Speaking after the game, Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola said:
"Four minutes 2-0, it is not easy. England is very good on the counter-attack and second balls. They are tough on the counter defend so well. we tried until the end but there are good things in every game. it is difficult after 2-0 and 3-0.
"They would play long balls, we knew that. with the second balls, they were looking to our back four and did well.
"It is not about the system.
Do you need more defenders? "No. we defended well with these players at the start of the season and during the season, we have to stand up and analyse and players to step forward.
"All managers need time."
When asked why Manchester City started the game so badly, Pep Guardiola said: "Long balls, second balls, they won the second balls and scored fantastic goals.
"Football is a game with mistakes, especially today. I would never complain to my players and I will look inside myself and analyse the reason why we have problems with the second balls when they arrive.
"Our game is not bad but in the box we have a lot of problems."
When asked how long it is going to take his players to adapt to the "Pep way":
"I don't know. In the beginning it was quickly, now it will be a little bit longer," he said.
"To change the mentality, to change what we want, maybe it will take a little more time."