Tottenham striker Harry Kane broke the record for the most Premier League goals in a calendar year by heading his 37th of 2017 against Southampton.
| NIR 04:00 PM Glenavon VS Warrenpoint Town |
| ENG NAT SOUTH 04:00 PM Bath City VS Weston Super Mare |
| ENG NAT SOUTH 04:00 PM Whitehawk VS Eastbourne Borough |
| ENG NAT SOUTH 02:00 PM St.Albans VS Hemel Hempstead |
| NAT NORTH 02:30 PM Bradford PA VS Curzon |
| ENG CHA 04:00 PM Cardiff City VS Fulham |
| BELG 02:30 PM Eupen VS Waasland-Beveren |
| TUR 04:30 PM Konyaspor VS Trabzonspor |
| UAE 01:55 PM Al Jazira VS Hatta 1x |
| NIR 04:00 PM Crusaders VS Cliftonville 1x |
| NIR 04:00 PM Ards VS Carrick Rangers 1x |
| NIR 04:00 PM Coleraine VS Ballymena 1x |
| ITA CUP 09:00 PM Lazio VS Fiorentina 1x |
| ENG NAT SOUTH 04:00 PM Hampton & Richmond VS Wealdstone 1x |
| ENG NAT 04:00 PM Chester FC VS Guiseley 1x |
| ENG NAT 04:00 PM Eastleigh VS Torquay United 1x |
| ENG NAT 04:00 PM Boreham Wood VS Sutton United 1x |
| ENG CHA 04:00 PM Middlesborough VS Bolton 1x |
| ENG CHA 04:00 PM Ipswich Town VS QPR 1x |
| EGY 06:00 PM El Zamalek VS Al Mokawloon Al Arab 1x |
| BELG 02:30 PM Lokeren VS KV Mechelen 1x |
Iceland midfield maestro Gylfi Sigurdsson has said his side are drawn in a tough World Cup group but he is not wary of Iceland’s qualification for knockout stages.
The Strákarnir Okkar, Iceland are drawn in Group D alongside Nigeria, Argentina and Croatia in the 2018 World Cup taking place across various cities in Russia.
The 2016 European Championship Cinderella Iceland qualified to the World Cup from a tough group that included Croatia, Turkey, Ukraine, Finland and Kosovo in the qualification stages, coming as leaders with 22 points.
Nigeria also led their qualifier group in Africa slot with 11 points ahead of African champions Cameroon, Zambia and Algeria.
Argentina, however, had to leave it late until the final game of their qualification series to earn their place in the World Cup, as they beat Ecuador 3-1 in October to be able to make it to the biggest global football event.
However, the four teams are now in a group ahead of the tournament that will kick off in June 14 and end in July 15 next year.
Iceland have been a surprise team in Europe in the last couple of years, making a shock quarter-final berth in the Euro 2016 tournament and Sigurðsson believes the Nordic nation has all it takes to make it out of the group.
Iceland could be eliminated from the competition as early as in the group stage should they lose to Argentina and Nigeria in their opening two games, but the 28-year-old Everton attacking midfielder is upbeat his side could make another shock surprise.
”As a kid you dream about it. But, at the back of your mind, you remember you come from Iceland and think it will never happen. Now we have qualified for two tournaments in a row and it’s incredible,” Sigurðsson stated.
”It’s a tough draw, of course it is. But there are two ways to look at it: you either want a good group or the worst one possible.
”It’s a tough group, I tell you. Croatia are fantastic, Nigeria have a great squad. Then first there is Messi. It will be tough. But why not think we can get a good result?”
Iceland’s match with Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup will be played on June 22 at the Volgograd Arena.
Croatia national team coach Tomislav Obradovic has boasted his side are far ahead and better than their Nigeria counterparts ahead of World Cup clash next year.
Croatia are paired in the same Group D alongside Nigeria, Iceland and Argentina in the 2018 World Cup to be staged in Russia from June 14 to July 15 next year.
Although this is the first time the two sides will be drawn together at the group stage of the biggest global football event, Obradovic insists the Super Eagles of Nigeria lack the quality to overcome his side.
The two sides clash in the World Cup at the Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad on June 16, 2018 for their tournament-opening clash.
The former Rwandan Under 20 National team manager admits that there are several individual quality players in the Nigeria team, but he believes they lack all-round team characteristics that will be enough to subdue his side.
The manager acknowledges that Nigeria could be deadly in counterattack and says he troops must be wary of that tactics when they play against Nigeria.
Speaking to Sportske Novosti, Obradovic boasts: “Compare all of them with their characteristics? Everyone is similar and quick, good within a group. But where are the world-class players?
“It’s probably quite enough, but as a team I do not think they have world-class quality. Why do I say that? They have too many players with the same characteristics.
“They cannot beat Croatia. Not in one segment of the game. Neither technical, tactical, nor organisational, nor in any sense.”
“The only way they can outsmart us is if they threaten us from the counterattack because they have such players, quick, fast.
“We have to hold the ball, wait and play our organised football because we are better, disciplined, stronger on the ball, better one on one,” Obradovic boasted.
Obradovic who managed the Rwandan national U-20 team for two and a half years, failed to qualify the country for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup before he was relieved of his duty in early January, 2008.
Victor Moses has tagged 2017 as ‘a great year’ following his English Premier League triumph with Chelsea and Nigeria’s 2018 World Cup qualification.
The 27-year-old had embarked on loan spells at Liverpool, Stoke City and West Ham prior to the 2016-17 campaign.
But the former Wigan man hit an incredible form that coincided with an unprecedented transformation – as he transitioned into a wing-back under Antonio Conte – last season.
And he has revealed the challenges adapting while being grateful to Conte for his career revival at Stamford Bridge.
“It’s a bit crazy and shows how far I’ve come,” Moses told Daily Star.
“Becoming a wing back is not an easy transition. It’s not an easy job and you need the stamina to play there.
“The manager works me on the training ground, and it’s been really good. When you have someone who is really backing you it gives you confidence.
“It’s been a great year for me. I’ve really enjoyed it, but want to keep it going.
However, despite missing out on the final shortlist for the African Player of the Year, behind Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Senegal’s Sadio Mane, the Super Eagle is impressed at being nominated.
Meanwhile, former Flying Eagles striker, Salisu Abdullahi “Alhaji” Gero has been linked with a move to Iranian football club Esteghlal.
The 24-year-old striker could join Esteghlal after the end of Allsvenskan (Swedish professional league).
Esteghlal coach Winfried Schafer is looking for a striker and it seems the German coach has found his man.
Salisu Abdullahi “Alhaji” Gero is Iran international striker Saman Ghoddos’s team-mate in the Swedish club.
Gero made his debut for the Nigeria national under-20 football team at the eight-nation tournament in South Africa.
Esteghlal sits sixth in Iran Professional League but is 14 points behind Iran league pacesetter Persepolis.
The President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) Habu Gumel has called on potential sponsors to help Nigerian teams in their preparations for next year’s sporting events.
Appearing at the NOC’s 2017 Annual General Meeting in Lagos, Gumel said: “We will be participating in various international competitions in 2018.
“Apart from the Commonwealth Games, there is the Youth Olympics and for the first time, Nigeria will be at the Winter Olympic Games.
“I am therefore making a passionate appeal to the corporate entities in the country to rally round the Government in ensuring we get the needed support through their contribution.”
The NOC President also urged national sports federations whose sports are participating in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, to channel resources towards the preparation of athletes.
“We are all aware that preparations for participation in the 2018 Commonwealth Games have started in earnest and we expect sports federations to play their own part in preparing their athletes,” he said.
“On our own part, we will continue to collaborate with the Government to ensure that funds are made available on time.
“The Commonwealth Games has remained our point of strength over the decades and the Gold Coast 2018 edition should not be different.”
The President also said that the NOC, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Games Federation, had secured training scholarships for 10 Nigerian elite athletes.
However, Gumel also confirmed that the organisation was struggling to secure accommodation for their athletes in Gold Coast.
The Nigerian Wrestling Federation had problems paying for accommodation at the recent Commonwealth Wrestling Championships.
Solomon Dalung, minister of youth and sports, was also at the meeting and said that his department would continue to collaborate with the NOC.
He also assured those present that the Government would ensure there would be adequate pre-Games planning and training to ensure Nigeria has a good outing at the Commonwealth Games.
Over the weekend, the football world was distressed to hear about the current plight of former Arsenal, Galatasaray and Ivory Coast full back Emmanuel Eboue.
Darren Lewis of Daily Mail interviewed Eboue and revealed that that former professional football is broke and his life is in trumoil.
Eboue is “skint”, “hides from bailiffs” is “sleeping on a friend’s floor” and “cannot afford a washing machine”.
Eboue “on the brink of suicide”
The former Arsenal defender says he is “on the brink of suicide”. Lewis points out that this is a stunning fall from grace for a player that appeared in the Champions League and Africa Cup of Nations finals.
The 34-year-old cannot play professional football now due to ill health and is struggling financially due to losing a bitter divorce battle.
The current plight of the Ivorian is heart wrenching and many football fans have reacted with support for the former Ivory Coast defender.
Galatasaray’s awesome gesture
Fittingly, on Christmas Day, some positive news has arrived for Eboue from Turkey and former club Galatasaray.
CNN Turkey report that returning Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim has offered Eboue a job at the Turkish giants to be the assistant coach of their Under-14 side.
Terim returned to Galatasaray last week for a fourth stint as manager of the club.
“I love him very much”
When Eboue’s plight became clear to those in Turkey, Galatasaray fans started a social media campaign to get their club to support their former player.
This was supported by former Galatasaray players, including Hasan Sas and Necato Ates.
After Galatasaray’s Turkish Super Lig win over Gotzepe on Sunday, Terim told the media: “We heard news about Eboue in the dressing room, and there I was informed.”
Emmanuel Eboue is also quoted in the CNN article saying: “I would be very happy if Galatasaray gave me this duty, and Fatih Terim is my father, I love him very much, I do everything for him because I love him very much.”