Author: Brila

Akwa United head coach, Abdul Maikaba, insists his team has what it takes to beat Enugu Rangers in Wednesday’s Aiteo Federation Cup quarter-final clash at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano. The current Champions finished second in Group D behind Nasarawa United who beat them 2-0 in the final group game last Friday. But Maikaba is confident they can scale through the hurdle despite the quality of their opposition. “The Aiteo Cup is an interesting competition, that is why we are taking it one game at a time. The quarterfinal match with Rangers is an important game for…

Former Brazil international Kaka is set for a shock return to football with Silvio Berlusconi-owned Italian Serie C side, Monza. The 36-year-old retired a year ago after a glittering career but is being lined up by former AC Milan owner Berlusconi – who is looking to make his mark after buying the Serie C club. According to Spanish publication Marca, Berlusconi admires Kaka from their time working together at Milan and wants his former charge to head Monza’s push for promotion this season. Kaka is thought to be keen on the switch after working under Berlusconi at the San Siro, where he…

Deontay Wilder says Tyson Fury will beat Anthony Joshua if the two ever meet up inside the ring, and he sees him as a tougher fight for him. Wilder says Joshua is robotic, stiff and fails to move his head. In other words, he’s the opposite of Fury, who is a master boxer and has been around boxing his entire life. It’s hard to argue in favor of Joshua (22-0, 21 KOs) beating Fury if you go by how he looked in his last four fights against Alexander Povetkin, Joseph Parker, Carlos Takam and Wladimir Klitschko. Those are all…

Barcelona MANAGER Ernesto Valverde is coming under increasing pressure at the Camp Nou and could be relieved of his position before the end of 2018. Despite leading Barca to the La Liga title last season, Valverde’s position is in doubt after a disappointing start to the new campaign. Indeed, there are claims his future could come under serious threat if results do not improve in the coming week. Okdiario’s chief pundit Eduardo Inda, speaking on El Chiringuito de Jugones, revealed: “If there are more bad results against Valencia and Tottenham, Valverde could leave before Christmas. “The board are saying the team’s…

Super Eagles Captain John Mikel Obi has been “excused” from Nigeria’s latest squad because he needs time to recover from injury, according to the country’s football federation, the NFF. He was the most notable absentee from the Super Eagles squad for back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with Libya this month. The 31-year-old, who plays for Chinese side Tianjin TEDA, has not played for his country since the summer’s World Cup, leading to speculation about his international future. But he is set to return to the camp for next month’s match with South Africa. “Mikel has…

Ahead of the upcoming first leg semifinal game of the CAF Confederations Cup, the advance team of Enyimba’s opponent, Raja Casablanca arrived Nigeria in the early hours of Monday. Raja Casablanca qualified to face the people’s elephant in the semi-final after they edged CARRA Brazzaville 3-1 aggregate. Enyimba on their part defeated Rayon Sports 5-1 aggregate. The advance team touched down in Lagos on Monday and the rest of the team is expected before they will depart for Aba, the venue of the match. Enyimba FC will take on Raja Casablanca at the Enyimba International Stadium on…

Former Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte could be the man to replace Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford, according to reports in Italy.

Cristiano Ronaldo is being sued by a Nevada woman who said he raped her in the penthouse suite of a Las Vegas hotel in 2009 and then dispatched a team of “fixers” to obstruct the criminal investigation and trick her into keeping quiet for $375,000. Las Vegas police on Monday confirmed to the Associated Press that they have reopened a sexual assault case from 2009 brought by the woman named in the lawsuit. The suit says the woman asked police last month to reopen the criminal case. The AP does not identify those who say they have been sexually…

Former Coach of the Super Eagles Christian Chukwu has predicted that the Libyan National team will give the Eagles a tough time when both sides meet later in October. According to Chukwu, he believes that the Libyan’s have a higher team spirit than Nigeria considering the fact that they’ve been consistent with the groups’ leadership. Speaking to www.brila.net’s Pius Idoko shortly after the Technical Adviser Rohr announced the list, Chukwu warned that despite their resurgence, Nigeria should not take it low with them. Coach Gernot Rohr had on Monday, October 1st re#leased the list of players to…

Super Eagles Captain, John Obi Mikel will not be playing for Nigeria in the African Nations Cup qualifying series following the national team handlers’ decision to accept his exemption plea. Mikel was excused from the last match against Seychelles in Mahe as he pleaded to be given time to recuperate fully from the injury he copped at the Russia 2018 World Cup. In the squad released by Rohr, yesterday are Moses Simon, who has not played for Nigeria since injury ruled him out of June’s World Cup, William Troost-Ekong, Alex Iwobi, and Ola Aina, who missed the match against Seychelles…