Two-time African champions, Enyimba, have departed Lagos for Kigali today for their CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinal fixture against Rwandan side Rayon Sports billed Sunday.
World Boxing Council Ambassador, Dr. Larry Izamoje has submitted his verdict ahead of tomorrow’s big fight between Tripple G and Canelo.
In a chat with Brila FM’s Babafemi Raji, The veteran Journalist gave different instances on what to expect in the much-anticipated encounter between the two boxers.
“There will be bomb! Says Dr. Larry
In his words, the fight will be exceptional, and boxing fans should expect power shots, bombs from either side.
Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin vs Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. A rematch between two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in world boxing sees Mexico’s ‘Canelo’ face off against Kazakhstan’s GGG in what is expected to be one of the fights of the year.
TIME
Saturday, September 15, 2018 – ie tomorrow. But Sunday morning UK time.
Where is it?
The same venue as their last encounter: the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick has charged the U17 National Team, Golden Eaglets to keep level heads and stay focused in order to conquer Ghana’s Black Starlets in Niamey on Saturday and qualify for the finals of the 2019 Africa U17 Cup of Nations.
Both West African giants of world cadet football clash in the final of the CAF U17 Cup of Nations WAFU B Tournament at the Stade General Seyni Kountche on Saturday evening, with the lone ticket to the Africa U17 Cup of Nations Tanzania 2019 to serve as the spur for an explosive encounter.
The atmosphere will be further charged by a 67 – year rivalry between both nations, with crucial wins for either country over the decades. But the Eaglets are encouraged that Ghana’s semi-final victims Cote d’Ivoire, suffered a 5-1 hiding when both teams met at the same venue last week.
Nigeria would be further buoyed by the maturity that comes with a plurality of experience, having come from a shaky start to the tournament to reach the final battle.
They fell behind 0-2 to Burkina Faso in their opening match before drawing level, only to lose the tie by conceding late in the game.
Against the Ivorians, they fired from all cylinders from the beginning and led 5-0, and against the Niger Republic on Wednesday, created a hatful of chances and led 2-0 before conceding a late consolation to the hosts.
Pinnick, who is also 1st Vice President of the Confederation of African Football, is in no doubt that the Nigerian boys possess the quality to defeat the Black Starlets and also do the nation proud at the final tournament in Tanzania.
“First, I want to congratulate you on a job well done so far; you have done very well including exhibiting the never-say-die spirit that is peculiar to Nigerians. This was visible in the manner you bounced back after the loss to the Burkinabes to dismiss the Ivorians 5-1, and also beat the host nation in the semifinals.
“But I want you to know that the job is not done yet. You must stay focused and listen to your coaches. I believe in their leadership because they are very knowledgeable and experienced and have discovered so many talented players that have excelled in recent years,” Pinnick said.
Speaking further, the NFF supremo advised the young lads to avoid distractions from agents, who according to him, will deceive and hurry them into signing for clubs that would not aid their proper development.
“The youth tournaments are basically developmental, so you have to follow instructions from your coaches and don’t allow agents to deceive you and make you sign for clubs in obscure countries. Players like Nwankwo Kanu and Mikel John Obi, just to mention two, started properly and so were properly developed to stay longer in the game.”
Pinnick then promised to take the team for a training tour in either Qatar or Jordan ahead of the U17 AFCON in Tanzania to further help their development, once they qualify.
Enyimba International have announced they have suspended till further notice captain and new Super Eagles forward Mfon Udoh for “gross misconduct’.
In a letter dated September 7 addressed to Udoh and signed by club chairman Felix Anyansi-Agwu, Enyimba said the captain has been axed till further notice and without pay.
“This is to formally notify you that due to your gross misconduct and indiscipline, you have been suspended indefinitely and without pay till further notice,” the letter read in part.
“Your actions were severe breaches of your expected and entrusted role as captain and ambassador of Enyimba Football Club.
“They also demonstrated your significant disregard for the established authority and governing laws of Enyimba FC.”
Udoh had earlier confirmed via Brila FM that he has quit the club after five seasons, saying his contract with them has ended and he now wishes to take up a new challenge.
He also ruled himself out of Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinal at Rayon Sports of Rwanda.
The 26-year-old Udoh is the all-time leading scorer in the NPFL with 23 goals scored in 2014.
Former France International William Gallas revealed how Senderos literally used to have panic attacks before coming up against Ivorian forward, Didier Drogba.
“I knew Philippe Senderos, before a match he would need to speak a lot, you could see that he was sweating, that he did not feel good,” Gallas told RMC.
“And unfortunately, when you saw him on the pitch, he lost his playing abilities, he didn’t play well. But against his own team-mates, he played better.”
Didier Drogba just loved playing against Arsenal.
For Chelsea, the striker played 15 times against the Gunners, losing just once and scoring 13 times.
He just enjoyed bullying that Arsenal defense.
And it seems Arsenal defenders just hated playing against him.
Well, one man did anyway – Philippe Senderos.
The Swiss defender was at Arsenal for seven seasons, playing more than 100 times.
But he failed to ever convince Gooners of his ability and comments from his former defensive partner William Gallas won’t do anything for his reputation amongst Arsenal fans.
Super Eagles World Cup goalkeeper Francis Uzoho played his first match for his new side Elche against Granada in the Copa Del Rey.
The 19-year-old goalkeeper recently moved to the Segunda division side in Spain just before the international break.
Uzoho has earlier been told he will remain the third choice goalkeeper at Deportivo despite his great performance in the world cup,
In the sense that moving to Elche will help him keep his spot as the Super Eagles number one keeper ahead of the 2019 African Cup of nations.
Uzoho made a total of 69 appearances for Deportivo La Coruna in a goal last season and is expected to build on his success last season.
The Nigerian goalkeeper is set to make his debut for Elche in the Segunda division against Real CD Mallorca on Sunday, September 16.
Captain Mfon Udoh has ended his romance with Enyimba as he would not be renewing his contract which ended when Lobi Stars FC were crowned Champions of the 2017/2018 NPFL season.
Speaking via Brila Fm, the former CAF Champions League highest goalscorer with 9 goals said, “My contract with Enyimba International of Aba ended when Lobi Stars have crowned Champions of the 2017/2018 NPFL Season and it’s been an amazing five years with the People’s Elephant.”
Mfon Udoh went on to say he felt really honored to have led the army of the People’s Elephant for one season.
On what happens after his contract ended with Enyimba International of Aba, he said, “As at now I am a free player who could join any team and as at now several offers have been pouring in, is left for the manager to study the one that will good for me.
He went on to use the medium to thank the entire Enyimba International family, the Abia State Governor, His Excellency Okezie Ikpaezu, the Chairman of Enyimba International, Mr. Felix Anyansi, The sporting director of Enyimba int Mr. Jude Anyadufu, the Enyimba medical team, his colleagues and finally the fans.
On why he will not renew his contract with the NPFL Giants, Udoh said, “My decision had nothing to do with the club but this is a new chapter in my career and I would like to take up another challenge.”
He concluded by giving glory to God for his return to the Super Eagles in the friendly encounter against the Lone Stars of Liberia and went on to described the experience as awesome.
The EPL action will return this weekend, and will see exciting games as Tottenham Hotspur host Liverpool, Manchester City go against Fulham, and Arsenal takes on Newcastle.
Arsenal travels to St. James Park after a 3-2 victory against Cardiff City before the break. Newcastle on the other hand, head to the game following a 2-1 defeat against Manchester City.
The most likely change of hand incoming for Arsenal is Lucas Torreira, who has made four substitute appearances in all four Premier League games so far and is yet to start for the North London side.
Emery has favoured fellow newbie Matteo Guendouzi, and Granit Xhaka as the defensive midfield duo instead.
The Uruguayan midfielder has been impressive during his brief moments on the pitch, and it is high time for Emery to give the man a starting chance.
As Emery does not look likely to take away Xhaka’s position in the midfield for want of a more experienced figure in the area, Having shrugged off an injury scare, Torreira may likely start in place of wonder-kid Matteo Guendouzi.
PROBABLE LINE UP:
Petr Cech, Hector Bellerin, Sokratis, Shkrodan Mustafi, Nacho Monreal, Xhaka, Lucas Torreira, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, Alexander Lacazette
D’Tigers returnee, Stanley Okoye says it feels good to be back in the team after being away since 2015. He said he is back on a mission to prove his worth and importance to the team.
Speaking after their team’s final training session on Thursday before their opening game against Cote d’Ivoire on Friday, Stanley said his mission is to prove a point and show how important he is to the team.
“For me, it’s important personally to show how much I deserve it, how much I can help this team and how important I can be as a player.
“It feels good, it’s a great honour to be back. It’s been a few years since I played for this team. It feels good to see a lot of new faces.”
As a team, he said they have a lot to prove to their fans at home and show the African continent that Nigeria’s time is now.
“We have a lot to prove. I think we are a team that everybody wants to beat. In the last couple of years, we have dominated Africa and it’s time for us to show that not only can we compete in Africa but also be one of the best teams in the world.”
According to him, having gone 6 games unbeaten and leading the group with 12 points, every team will be out to defeat them.
“Ivory Coast is a great team, Central African Republic is a great team, Senegal is a great team but right now we are going to focus on Ivory Coast because that is the first game. But I think as long as we do our thing, work on our game plan, play our defence, play to our strength, I think we will be very successful in this tournament.”
Portland Trailblazers’ star, Al Farouq Aminu confirmed that camping and preparation has gone well so far and they are looking forward to a flawless qualifier.
On whether the team can continue their 6 games unbeaten runs, Al Farouq said, “We will continue to do what we know how to do. We are going to make sure we put our best foot forward.”
Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr has dropped the biggest hint that Victor Moses may not have an easy in road back to the team.
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