'Keshi re-appointment not a mistake'

The Nigeria Football Federation boss has defended the choice of Stephen Keshi as Super Eagles handler despite his failure to land the country 2015 Africa Cup of Nations ticket.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick has stated that Stephen Keshi’s re-appointment as gaffer of the country’s senior national team was not a mistake.

The former Togo and Mali handler got a two-year contract after ten months of uncertainty over his future with the Super Eagles.

Keshi’s previous contract ended after the World Cup in Brazil, where he took Nigeria to the second round as they lost to France in Brasilia.

Pinnick said that a Stephen Keshi with enhanced capacity, working together with a Technical Study Group and with the benefit of the world –renowned ProZone match preparation software would, in aggregate, is better than any foreign coach. 

“We made no mistake in re-appointing Keshi. In his first term, Keshi did a lot to encourage the boys in the domestic League, and the boy who scored our winning goal at the Africa Cup of Nations, Sunday Mba, was playing in the domestic scene,” Pinnick said on BBC’sFocus on Africa. 

“We don’t live in the clouds. If we wanted a foreign coach, we would probably go for someone in the class of Jose Mourinho or Arsene Wenger. We don’t have that money presently and we don’t want to be owing our coach.

“Our vision is to see the Super Eagles reach the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia. We are very positive and we will work hard towards that,” he concluded.

Read More »

Southampton give Clyne 10 days to decide future

The 24-year-old's contract expires at the end of next season and Ronald Koeman hints the club could cash in on the defender if he decides not to sign a new deal.

Nathaniel Clyne has been given 10 days to decide whether he wants to sign a new contract withSouthampton.

United have ramped up their interest in the 24-year-old and are willing to use Javier Hernandez as part of a potential deal in the summer window.

Clyne’s current contract expires at the end of next season and Southampton manager Ronald Koeman admits the club are keen to resolve the right-back’s future.

"We’re still speaking with Clyne and his agent, but of course we have to know in 10 days," the Dutchman told reporters.

"The club is doing an offer the maximum what we can do and then we expect the player’s answer.

"I’ve spoken to Clyne, he’s very happy and of course there is some interest but nobody has really bid for the player. All the players are happy with how the team is doing.

"But it’s football, you never know. In football if you go in your last season of contract, we don’t like that."

Read More »

Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus agree €80 million fee for Pogba

EXCLUSIVE: The Ligue 1 champions have made the first move in the race to sign the in-demand midfielder.

Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus have agreed an €80million fee for France international Paul Pogba .

Goal understands PSG’s offer has been accepted by Juve, for whom the 22-year-old has emerged as a key player since leaving Manchester United in 2012.

But even though the Ligue 1 champions appear to have jumped the queue in the race to sign Pogba there remains no guarantee he will swap Turin for his native Paris.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi met with Pogba and his representatives in Monte Carlo earlier this week but a financial package for the player was not agreed.

And it is understood Pogba is willing to bide his time and evaluate other offers which he believes will come his way this summer.
Al-Khelaifi confirmed on Tuesday he had spoken to the player but admitted they would face competition for his signature. He told the French media: “Why did I talk with Pogba? Because he’s a great talent, he’s French, from Paris even. That said all the big clubs want him.”

Juve sporting director Giuseppe Marotta responded following Wednesday night’s game with Fiorentina by saying: “It was an occasional meeting. They spoke about football. We don't want to sell Paul.”

Despite Marotta's stance, Juve accept every player has a price although the deal could hinge on the involvement of Pogba's agent Mino Raiola. The representative is known to have a strong relationship with the boards of both clubs and helped broker a new five-year deal for his client in October 2014.

He is also the agent of a number of PSG players, most notably Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

It is not thought Financial Fair Play will hinder a move should Pogba opt to join PSG as the club are expected to sell several squad members to balance the books, with the likes of Yohan Cabaye and Ezequiel Lavezzi under threat.

Should they beat off the competition to sign Pogba, it would represent a major coup for PSG and their owners, Qatar Sports Investments.

Although dominant domestically, PSG have failed to make the breakthrough in the Champions League and were knocked out at the quarter-final stage to Barcelona this season.

Read More »

Messi: I'm going to be a father again

The Argentine revealed over Facebook that he and girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo are expecting another child.

Lionel Messi has revealed that he will become a father for the second time.
The Barcelona star and girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo celebrated the birth of Thiago, their first child, in November 2012, and revealed on Facebook that they will become parents once more.
The 27-year-old posted a picture of the pair's son kissing his mother's stomach, with the Argentine adding the message: "Can't wait to welcome you into our world!!! We love you! Thiagui, mum and dad," to the post.
He also posted the same picture on Instagram, saying "Waiting for you baby! We love you".
There has been no announcement as to when the child is expected or how far along Roccuzzo is in her pregnancy.

Sponsored Links

Read More »

Midfielder Grosskreutz to miss rest of Dortmund campaign

 Borussia Dortmund will be without midfielder Kevin Grosskreutz for the final month of the season with a knee injury, Jurgen Klopp has confirmed.

 The 26-year-old has not featured for Dortmund since February due to a thigh problem, but had been an unused substitute on two occasions in recent weeks.

 However, he will not feature in the final games of the campaign due to problems with an old knee injury, meaning he is likely to miss the DFB-Pokal final on May 30.

 "Kevin has further problems with his knee," said Klopp. "A fold of mucus membrane was removed this morning. He is expected to be out for four weeks."

 Dortmund faces Hoffenheim on Saturday as it looks to boost its hopes of finishing in the European places, and Klopp insists his players are fully focused on the challenge ahead rather than Tuesday's cup win over Bayern Munich.

 He added: "It's a six-point game. This opponent demands full concentration, we saw an extraordinary game on Tuesday but as of today we are in Hoffenheim mode."

Read More »