Manager Maurizio Sarri has held clear-the-air talks with his Chelsea squad in an attempt to avoid a player revolt.
Super Eagles midfielder, Ugochukwu John Ogu who plays for Hapoel Be’er Sheva has used Barcelona’s shock signing of the January transfer window Kevin-Prince Boateng as a point of contact for a big move out of Isreal.
Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin will miss the rest of the season after scans confirmed he has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.
The Spain right-back, 23, was carried off on a stretcher in the 72nd minute of Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Bellerin is expected to be out for between six and nine months.
The injury occurred in his first start for five weeks after picking up a calf injury against Southampton in December.
The most surprising transfer of the January window so far has happened with Spanish Giants Barcelona signing of former Ac milan Star Kevin Prince Boateng.
The 31-year-old has moved to the Nou Camp from Serie A outfit Sassuolo as the La Liga giants aim to strengthen the squad amid their battle for silverware.
Prior to the Boateng speculation, many expected Barcelona to fork out for either Chelsea flop Alvaro Morata or Middlesbrough reject Christian Stuani. Both men were previously under consideration.
Boateng, however, now looks set to be Barcelona’s latest forward addition.
And Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo have revealed the three ways the Ghana international fits the Barcelona profile.
The Catalan giants needed a new striker, having allowed Paco Alcacer to leave for Borussia Dortmund during the summer.
Barcelona reportedly wanted a player with La Liga experience.
And Boateng fits the bill, having previously played in the Spanish top flight with Las Palmas.
They also wanted a player who has the stomach for the fight.
Boateng is a divine character but wears his heart on his sleeve, having always established himself at whatever club he is at.
Barcelona needed someone with the thirst to tackle Luis Suarez, who is their undisputed No 9 for now.
And Boateng is seen as somebody who could force Suarez to up his game.
Reports also say Barcelona also wanted somebody with experience of playing for a top side.
And, though Boateng has spent the last couple of years drifting, he has experience of playing at the highest level.
The 31-year-old previously flourished for AC Milan in Italy.
And he has also played for German side Schalke.
Remo Stars football club has identified the fans who assaulted referees in Sunday’s Nigeria professional football league game with Bendel Insurance of Benin at Gateway stadium in Sagam.
The fan asseaulted the referees and left one of the with a cut on the after the final whistle of the game after it appeared that the official wrongfully ruled out the home side’s winning goal for an offside.
In a statement made available to Brila.net by the Club’s media Manager Dimeji Oshonde, the Club regretted some unlawful fans rubbished the efforts of club who had early display a banner showing support for Nigeria referees.
“It is so unfortunate we find ourselves in this kind of situation but the truth is Remo Stars FC does everything possible to ensure that there isn’t any violence or sort at the Stadium.
Before the commencement of our game against Brendel Insurance, we put up a campaign that says ‘Beat a referee, kill the game’ we won’t therefore now encourage such act.
Also there are outcries that the fans of our club was involved in the act but we are sure that none of our supporters would do such an act before, during and after the game.
“It’s good news for us that the individuals that committed the offense has been identified and he will be arrested as soon as possible.“ The statement reads.
Remo Stars which will be hoping to avoid a stadium banishment from the League Management Company will visits Niger Tornadoes on Wednesday for their second league game of the season.
Coach of Nigeria’s U20 national team Paul Aigbogun has admitted been under pressure ahead of the fast approaching CAF Africa U20 cup of nations after submitting his list of 21 players to the Nigeria Football Federation.
Aigbogun in a chat with www.brila.net revealed his personal desire to win the tournament in Niger republic next month apart from the team’s resolve to also achieve similar objective.
He added that the tournament also presents the opportunity for Nigerians to see what the players coming through from the youth set up in Nigeria look like.
The Flying Eagles will next week Tuesday leave for the tournament ahead of their opener against Burundi on Saturday next week.
Enugu Rangers Boss Gbenga Ogunbote has stated unequivocally that his side will rise up to the big challenge of playing against the well established order of top African clubs after been drawn in a group that has Tunisian duo of Etoile du Sahel, CS Sfaxien and Burkina Faso side Salitas.
Ogunbote speaking in a chat with www.brila.netsaid the task becomes bigger now that they are in the group stage of the competition and believes it will only demand more hard work from his team to be competitive enough to scale through the hurdle of progressing beyond the group stage.
Ogunbote thereafter declared that now is the start of the real test and that his side will not disappoint.
The Flying Antelopes now shift focus to action in the Nigeria Professional Football League as they get their league campaign underway with an away tie against MFM FC of Lagos having seen their opening three games postponed due to continental engagements.
Nasarawa Amazons head coach Chris Danjuma believes Anam Imo and Amarachi Okoronkwo will set European football alight but expressed concerns their biggest fight will be weather.
Both Anam and Amarachi were snapped up by top Hungarian side Ferencvarios Torna ahead of the new season, and Danjuma told brila.net that he expects the players to fit right in their new club.
He however voiced a little concern over the cold climate in Hungary, citing it as perhaps the biggest challenge the ladies could face and also expects them to overcome quickly.
The Nigeria Football Federation and its official kit sponsors, NIKE on Thursday met in Abuja to review activities for year 2018 and plan for the new year.
Top on the agenda was the activation of the new, robust contract signed by the two parties in Asaba, Delta State in November 2018, especially in the distribution of NIKE merchandise to ensure the products are available to consumers through several platforms across the country.
Opening of more NIKE outlets in Nigeria to deepen the market, preparation of new designs scheduled to be launched in the summer of next year and the exploration of severally mutually beneficial strategies to take advantage of the enhanced contract were also discussed.
“We had a very good meeting and we hope to learn from the successes of last season to build new strategies to deepen the relationship going forward, for the benefit of the NFF, NIKE, football fans and other stakeholders.
“The NFF is very happy with the relationship with NIKE and we are willing to help in every area that they want to activate the contract,” NFF 2nd Vice President Shehu Dikko told thenff.com.
Also at the meeting were NIKE’s Tina Salminen (Director, Sports Marketing, African Football) and Indrek Heinmets (Commercial Director, Sports Division of Hudson Holdings, NIKE’s official distributors), as well as Mr. Alizor Chuks, NFF’s Head of Marketing.
Mr. Sean Harris (GM, NIKE) and Wouter van Olm (NIKE’s Strategic Account Manager, Africa) were part of the meeting from NIKE’s Netherland’s headquarters via video call.