According to the footballer, the policemen gave him the response after he told him his face is his ID card.
Super Eagles striker, John Ogu has disclosed how he was told by a policeman that his gun is his ID card during a confrontation.
According to the footballer, the policemen gave him the response after he (John Ogu) told him his face is his ID card.
See John Ogu’s tweet below……………..
Juventus forward Paulo Dybala has reportedly come close to signing a new contract with the Turin club.
The 27-year-old’s current deal is set to expire this summer, triggering growing links to a departure from the Italian giants, but the two parties are now said to have agreed on terms.
Dybala, who arrived from Palermo ahead on the 2015-16 season, revealed that he was close to extending his stay last week, saying to reporters: “I think there will be a new meeting this week. The directors have changed, so we’ve started from the beginning. We hope to reach a happy conclusion, I hope there will be good news soon.”
According to Tuttosport, the forward is now set to sign the new deal, with an official announcement from the club expected next week.
The Argentine has made 257 appearances for I Bianconeri since his arrival, netting 102 goals and registering 42 assists, and he has kicked off the new campaign with a goal in their opening Champions League win over Malmo, and a goal and an assist in his first two Serie A appearances.
Lyon coach, Peter Bosz, knows that his team is in for a massive game in today’s Ligue 1 clash with home side, Paris Saint-Germain, at the Parc des Princes – a very important one for new signing, Lionel Messi, who will be playing in front of the the Parisians’ home fans for the first time, still raring to score his first goal for the club.
Messi has played two games for PSG – one in Ligue 1 and the other, a Champions League match. And manager Mauricio Pochettino may give him his first Ligue 1 start as the Argentina captain aims to score his first goal for the club and inspire a great win at home.
Messi played for only 24 minutes in his debut after he replaced Neymar in the 66th minute of PSG 2-0 away win against Reims at the Stade Auguste Delaune on August 29 before the last international break. He then featured for full 90 minutes in the club’s Champions League 1-1 draw with Club Brugge at Jan Breydel Stadium on September 15, the game in which he bagged his first yellow card as PSG player.
Lyon manager, Bosz, however refuses to be cowed by Messi’s somewhat quiet start for PSG, describing him as an extraordinary player that must be stopped from hurting his team with collective efforts.
Before Bosz’s arrival at Lyon in May 2021, Messi had severally hurt the club as Barcelona talisman. He scored five Champions League goals for Barca against Lyon during his time at the Spanish giants.
“I think that to counter him [Messi] you have to do it collectively. I have watched a lot of Messi’s games in the past. I’ve stayed home to watch him play and it was a pleasure,” Dutchman, Bosz, said during his Saturday’s pre-match press conference as published on Lyon official website.
“Tomorrow (Sunday) it will be a pleasure to face him and it will make me all the more happy if we win. He is a player with extraordinary quality. It’s only as a team that you can play against him. He must be respected, like all players.”
Bosz also insists that Lyon’s game plan will not focus on Kylian Mbappe who has scored crucial goals for PSG in the new campaign.
“Our tactics will have nothing to do with Mbappe. I’m focusing on my team, on our game,” Bosz said.
“There are a few players that we know of course. It’s not a test, it’s another match, an important one for us, and a very important match that we want to win. We have our own idea of how to play PSG but we don’t have the same players as Brugge.”
Ligue 1 leaders, PSG, are looking to maintain their winning streak in today’s match – five wins from five games so far in the new Ligue 1 season. Seventh-placed Lyon have won two, drew two and lost one, also from five games.
Former Premier League referee, Mark Clattenburg, says he almost quit referee due racially allegations leveled against him by former Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi.
During the Blues’ 3-2 defeat to Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, Mikel Obi’s teammate at the time, Ramires, claimed he heard a racist slur aimed at the Nigerian from Clattenburg.
Clattenburg had sent off two Chelsea players Branislav Ivanovic and Fernando Torres and the officials missed an offside for United’s winning goal.
In his new autobiography, Whistle-Blower, published in Dailymail, he wrote: “Chelsea made a formal complaint to the FA three days after the game. They were saying I had racially abused Mikel and for the first time, I was made aware of the specifics of their accusation, which was also leaked to the press.
“According to Chelsea, I had said to Mikel, ‘Shut up, you monkey.’ The language disgusted me, it was damaging and fictitious.
“Twenty-five days after the game, the FA dismissed the case. I was not guilty, something I had known all along.”
David Okereke was in action as Venezia lost 2-1 against Spezia in their Serie A clash at the Stadio Paolo Mazza on Sunday afternoon.
Okereke was replaced by Mattia Aramu in the 65th minute.
The forward has scored one goal in three league appearances for Venezia
His international teammate Tyronne Ebuehi was an unused substitute in the game.
Simone Bastoniq put Spezia ahead on 13 minutes, while Pietro Ceccaroni equalised for Venezia a minute before the hour mark.
Mehdi Bourabia netted the winning goal for the hosts deep into stoppage time.
Moses Simon provided two assists as Nantes thrashed Angers 4-1 away in Sunday’s Ligue 1 game, Completesports reports.
Simon has now taken his assists to five in five league games this season.
Simon set up Andrei Girotto for Nantes’ first goal as early as the third minute.
He then provided another assist this time for Kolo Muani in the 23rd minute to put Nantes 3-1 up.
The win saw Nantes end a run of three consecutive defeats after winning one and drawing one of the opening two league games.
Following the impressive win at Angers Nantes move to 10th place on seven points in the French topflight.
And in another French Ligue 1 game, Terem Moffi fired blanks in Lorient’s 0-0 draw at Reims.
Super Eagles duo of Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho were on the losing side as Brighton defeated Leicester 2-1 in Sunday’s Premier League game at The American Express Community Stadium.
Ndidi, who was making his 5th appearance in the colours of the Foxes this season, played all 90 minutes as he marshaled the midfield with so much confidence. He was issued a yellow card for pushing Danny Welbeck in the 44th minutes.
Neal Maupay netted the opening in the 35th minutes via a penalty before Danny Welbeck extended Brighton’s lead in the 50th minutes to send the home fans into frenzy.
However, Jamie Vardy reduced the scoreline when he netted for Leicester City in the 61st minutes.
In the 75th minutes, Iheanacho came on from the bench for Boubakary Soumare, to make his 5th appearance as Leicester coach, Brenda Rodgers went in search of the equalizing goal.
The Nigerian international could not change the result of the game as Brighton picked up a valuable three points to move second on the Premier League table on 12 points while Leicester sit 12th on six points.
At the London Stadium, Manchester United pipped home side, West Ham, 2-1 to keep their unbeaten run in the 2021/22 Premier League intact, with Cristiano Ronaldo maintaining his goal scoring form for the Red Devils.
The Portuguese international leveled scores for United, his third in EPL after West Ham had taken the lead in the 30th minutes through Said Benrahma.
However, Jesse Lingard redeemed his image after his poor back pass led to Young Boys winner in the Champions League, to net the winning goal in the 89th minutes.
Paul Onuachu was once again the hero as he netted a late goal in Genk’s 2-1 away win against Sint-Truiden, in the Belgian Jupiler on Sunday, Completesports reports.
Onuachu grabbed a 92nd minute goal to give Genk a 1-0 win at Austrian club Rapid Wien in Thursday’s Europa League group opener.
Against Sint-Truiden, the 27-year-old replaced Luca Oyen in the 61st minute and scored with seven minutes left in the game.
He has now scored a goal in each of Genk’s last three games.
He has found the back of the net three times after six appearances in the Belgian Jupiler this season.
The win means Genk are unbeaten in their last five games, winning four and drawing one.
They move up to third on 14 points, three points behind leaders Club Brugge, in the league table.
William Troost-Ekong has described Watford’s 3-1 win at Norwich City, in the Premier League on Saturday as massive for his team.
Going into the clash with Norwich, Watford had lost their last three league games.
But a brace from Ismaila Sarr and an Emmanuel Dennis opening strike, saw Watford return to winning ways.
It was Dennis’ second Premier League goal in five appearances this season.
In his reaction, Troost-Ekong wrote on Twitter:”Massive 3 points on the road!!! Top performance from the boys!”
The win helped move Watford to 11th position on six points in the league table.
Watch the highlights from Chelsea’s Premier League trip to Tottenham Hotspur.
Manchester United defender, Phil Jones has recounted some of the difficult moments he went through in the last couple of years.
Jones, who missed the entirety of last season with a knee issue and last played for United’s first team in January 2020 in the FA Cup third round, told the club’s website, that it was tough for him to handle.
Jones also said he was disappointed by criticism from former team-mate Rio Ferdinand, who last month called him “a waste of time”
Thankfully, I see the light at the end of the tunnel now, and I’ve been back training, played a few behind-closed-doors games and I’m feeling really good at the minute. It’s so good to be back out training with the lads and enjoying being a footballer again because for the last 15 months, it’s been all ‘daddy day care’ and not much football.
“I kept myself in great shape over lockdown and came back. But I remember just training out here [Carrington] and going into the doc and saying ‘enough is enough’. Unfortunately, there was going to be time off the pitch, which I knew was going to be difficult for me, but it was something that I had to do.
“Obviously, I’ve been through hell and back over the last couple of years. I struggled with my knee a little bit and [there] came a point after lockdown where I thought enough was enough.”
“It was the lowest I’ve ever been as a human being. I used to come back [from United’s training ground] and be in bits. My head was an absolute mess. I’d be in tears. I’d say to [wife] Kaya, ‘I don’t know what to do.’ I remember us both crying.”
Ronald Koeman has insisted that he has “no fear” about his long-term future as Barcelona manager.
Despite frequent speculation about his job after a turbulent 12 months at Camp Nou, the Dutchman kept the reins for the start of this campaign.
While the Catalan giants remain unbeaten in La Liga, they were comprehensively outplayed during last week’s Champions League fixture with Bayern Munich.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Monday’s fixture with Granada, Koeman has acknowledged that there are no guarantees about the length of his spell at the club.
The Dutchman said: “I don’t know if my position is at stake because they haven’t said anything. The only thing is to think about the game and the team.
“The rest is not in my hands and I am calm. We have seven points from three games. You have to get people back to have more players available, but you have to win. In the end the results count and nothing else. I have no fear of my future.”
Barcelona will return to the top four of the La Liga table with victory over Granada.
Manchester United forward, Cristiano Ronaldo has been scammed of a whooping sum of £250,000 by his travel agent, Maria Silva.
The 53-year-old, also scammed the football star’s super-agent Jorge Mendes out of more than £14,000 and former United winger Nani out of more than £1,500.
Her wrongdoing led to her getting a four-year suspended prison sentence at a court in Porto, respected Portuguese daily Jornal de Noticias reported on Sunday.
The newspaper revealed dad-of-four Cristiano, 36, was spared having to attend her trial after she made a full confession.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner gave a statement to police after flying to Porto by private jet and meeting up with his lawyer Carlos Osorio de Castro.
The previously-unreported scandal was laid bare by Jornal de Noticias in an expose about greedy Silva’s breach of the trust Cristiano placed in her by giving her his credit card details and pin codes.
The newspaper said the €288,000 she scammed him out of – £245,770 – corresponded to around 200 trips he never made between Portugal and other European countries as well as Europe and Africa and the US.
She reportedly carried out the fraud by getting clients to transfer cash for travel she arranged for them to her personal account instead of the business account of the travel agency she worked for.
She then billed those trips to the accounts of victims like Ronaldo, who had given her a ‘virtual’ credit card and pin code, to “fill the hole” in her company’s accounts, the report in Jornal de Noticias said.
The newspaper reported she used the same tactic to rip off the likes of Mendes, his sports agency Gestifute, Nani and former Portsmouth and Everton footballer Manuel Fernandes.
Mauricio Pochettino has played down Lionel Messi’s handshake snub during Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-1 win over Lyon on Sunday night in Ligue 1.
PSG kept up their 100 percent Ligue 1 record this season with a comeback victory at the Parc des Princes.
Lucas Paqueta gave Lyon the lead early in the second period, before Neymar levelled the scores from the penalty spot.
The game looked set to end in stalemate until substitute Mauro Icardi headed home a 93rd minute winner.
PSG’s perfect record sees them lead the Ligue 1 table, five points clear of bitter rivals Marseille.
However, with 15 minutes remaining in the game, Pochettino took off Messi who did little to hide his frustration, refusing to shake hands with the ex-Spurs boss as he trudged to the bench.
There, Messi did little to hide his unhappiness.
Speaking post-game, Pochettino insisted there were no problems with Messi, saying his compatriot understood his decision.
“I took the decision to take Leo off to protect him for possible injuries. We have important games coming up and we want to protect him.
“These are decisions that we make for the good of the team. Everyone knows we have great players.
“We have a very rich squad of 35 players. Then we have to make choices. With the 11 who must start and then we have to make decisions during the game.
“Sometimes these choices pay off and sometimes they don’t.
“But that’s why we’re standing in front of the bench thinking about what to do. And those decisions that you have to make, whether things go well or not. Whether you like it or not.
“Afterwards, Messi told me he was fine with the decision.”
The Super Falcons’ class of 1999 that reached the quarter finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup staged in the United States of America will be the star attraction of the 3rd NFF-Aiteo Football Awards holding at the Banquet Hall of Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Monday evening.
Ably led by Captain Florence Omagbemi, the Falcons defeated North Korea 2-1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena with goals from Mercy Akide and Rita Nwadike, before losing 1-7 to the USA despite taking a second-minute lead through Nkiru Okosieme. Defeat to the Americans in Chicago stirred something in Africa’s lone flag-bearer at the first FIFA Women’s World Cup to feature 16 teams.
In their next match, the Super Falcons flew past Denmark 2-0 at the Jack Kent Cooke Stadium near Washington DC, the goals coming from Mercy Akide and Nkiru Okosieme. In the quarter finals, at the same venue, the Nigerian girls stormed back from three goals down to Brazil in the first half to tie the game 3-3, with Prisca Emeafu, Nkiru Okosieme and Nkechi Egbe the scorers. Brazil won in extra-time, in what was the very first time a women’s competitive game was decided by the golden goal. This was after 104 minutes.
“The performance of the Super Falcons in that tournament remains etched in the memory and it is important that we honour them with a special recognition award,” said President of NFF and FIFA Council Member, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick.
Fifteen members of that 1999 squad, as well as Coach Ismaila Mabo, will be on hand at the Banquet Hall of Eko Hotels & Suites on Monday night. Eight of them are being flown down from the United States of America. Sadly, attacking midfielder Ifeanyi Chiejine died last year.
The 20-woman squad: Florence Omagbemi, Ann Chiejine, Yinka Kudaisi, Martha Tarhemba, Adanna Nwaneri, Eberechi Opara, Kikelomo Ajayi, Stella Mbachu, Rita Nwadike, Gloria Usieta, Marvis Ogun, Prisca Emeafu, Judith Chime, Nkiru Okosieme, Maureen Mmadu, Florence Iweta, Nkechi Egbe, Patience Avre, Mercy Akide, Ifeanyi Chiejine.
It would be recalled that at the first edition of the awards held in February 2018, and attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and then CAF President Ahmad (among a clutch of political and football juggernauts), the 1980 class of Green Eagles led by ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu which won Nigeria’s first AFCON title, was specially recognized. At the second edition in April 2019, also attended by notable football and political bigwigs, it was the turn of the 1994 class of Super Eagles, which won Nigeria’s second AFCON title and played at the FIFA World Cup for the first time, to be specially recognized.
Also to be honoured on Monday night, at an event to be attended by the Secretary General of FIFA, Ms Fatma Samoura, is Princess Bola Ngozi Jegede, a respected pioneer sponsor, promoter and galvanizer of women’s football. Princess Jegede, who is also a former Board Member of the Nigeria Football Federation, founded and funded the team, Jegede Babes.
Organizers announced on Sunday that award categories will include Best Performance of the Year (Men; Nigeria-based); Best Performance of the Nigeria (Men, Overseas-Based); Best Performance of the Year (Women; Nigeria-based); Best Performance of the Year (Women; Overseas-based); Club of the Year (Men); Club of the Year (Women); Coach of the Year (Men); Coach of the Year (Women); Referee of the Year (Men); Referee of the Year (Women); Memorable Performance of the Year; Host State of the Year; Best Supporter of Women’s Football; Inspirational Award; Lifetime Achievement Award and Award for Commitment to Women Football Excellence. There will also be post-humous awards for Prince Larry Eze and Ms Henrietta Ukaigwe (both of blessed memory) for their contributions to women football development.
Raphael Varane is the latest superstar to join Manchester United.
The 28-year-old France World Cup winner with four Champions League titles to his name has been announced as the new signing for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this summer.
A club statement read: “Manchester United is delighted to announce the club has reached agreement with Real Madrid for the transfer of French international defender and World Cup winner, Raphaël Varane, subject to a medical and to player terms being finalised.”
The deal is expected to be around £43 million. The centre back from Real Madrid arrives in Manchester after England’s Jadon Sancho was transferred from Borusssia Dortmund on a four year deal.
Varane will partner club captain Harry Maguire in the defence with Luke Shaw and Wan-Bissaka in the coming season.
The France International will fly to Manchester next week to undergo his medical a few days later. He will be unveiled later than expected because of enforced quarantine rules as a result of Covid-19.
Super Eagles of Nigeria legend, Victor Ikpeba has declared that Super Eagles skipper, Ahmed Musa is among Nigeria’s greatest strikers ever.
It would be recalled that Musa scored twice for Nigeria at the 2014 and 2018 World Cup tournaments to become the country’s top World Cup goalscorer.
Musa, 28, is currently Nigeria’s third most-capped player with 98 appearances behind Joseph Yobo and Vincent Enyeama with 101 and 100 caps respectively.
Musa recently signed a two-year deal with Turkish Super Lig side Fatih Karagumruk ending his time with Nigerian Professional Football League side Kano Pillars.
“It is good that Musa has finally secured a new club in Europe which fits his status as Super Eagles captain,” Ikpeba (pictured below) told Complete Sports .
“I think the move to Turkey is coming at a very good time for him ahead of next season and with the World Cup qualifiers and the AFCON finals coming up.
“Ahmed Musa has come of age in the Eagles and I ranked him among the greatest Nigerian strikers till date for scoring four goals for Nigeria in two World Cup outings.
“The goals were quality strikes too, you know. They were technically solid goals scored against top teams and at the biggest football event in the world.
“That is no mean feat because it is a record which other Nigerian strikers will be striving to break in the future,” said Ikpeba who himself scored a goal for Nigeria at the France ’98 World Cup.
Chelsea goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga has finally apologised to former manager Maurizio Sarri over the 2019 Carabao Cup final confusion.
Kepa became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper when he joined Chelsea for £71m from Atletico Madrid the previous summer and went on to win the Europa League in his debut season.
The 26-year-old Spaniard was involved in an incident when he refused to be substituted during extra-time of the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City in 2019.
The game had ended 0-0, and Sarri who was concerned Kepa was suffering from cramp, called for him to be substituted for Willy Caballero for the upcoming penalty shootout.
However, Kepa ignored his manager’s calls and remained on the field for the penalty, which Chelsea eventually lost 4-3 in the shoot-out.
Kepa, talking to The Players’ Tribune, described the incident as ‘a big misunderstanding’ and apologized to his former coach.
“I tried to signal that I was OK, that I wasn’t injured. But we were at Wembley in front of more than 80,000 people, so of course Sarri didn’t understand me,” Kepa explained.
“When the fourth official raised the board, clearly I should have come off, and I’m sorry I didn’t.
“I was wrong, and I am sorry for everyone who was involved: for Maurizio Sarri, who it seemed like I had undermined in public; for Willy (Caballero), a teammate and a great professional; and for all my teammates and Chelsea fans who had to put up with everything – all the noise that was generated during the game and then in the days after.”
Kepa went on to say both he and Sarri quickly cleared the air afterwards and that he still ‘has a fantastic relationship’ with the Italian coach but admits the pressure outside the dressing room was ‘out of control’.
“For the next three or four days it didn’t stop,” Kepa added. “It was overwhelming. And clearly, most people who saw the pictures thought that I had disrespected Maurizio (Sarri).
“I felt misunderstood, because it had never been my intention to snub the coach. I had only tried to tell him I was I tried to explain this to the press, but I couldn’t.”
New Juventus coach Max Allegri is set to hand over the captaincy hand band to Giorgio Chiellini ahead of the new Serie A season.
Chiellini, who played an integral role in Italy’s Euro 2020 triumph against England in the final, is still expected to sign a new contract with the Old Lady.
However, in a chat with TribalFootball, Allegri insists Chiellini will remain as captain as soon as he pens his new deal.
“In terms of his experience at Juve, Dybala can be the vice-captain because Bonucci left Juventus and then returned, so he had to start from scratch. I expect a lot from Dybala, I’ve spoken to him and he is very motivated,” said Allegri.
“The captain and vice-captain are decided depending on how long they’ve been playing in the team. So Chiellini is the most experienced one, followed by Dybala.
“Bonucci left for one season, he made that decision, so if he wants the captain’s armband he must buy it and play with it in the street. Leo is aware of that.”
Before 28 July 2021, no Nigerian woman had ever gone under a minute in the women’s 100m freestyle event. That is no longer the case after Abiola Ogunbanwo, on Wednesday at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, won Heat 1 of her favourite event in 59.74s.
Before Wednesday, Ngozi Monu’s longstanding Nigerian record of 1:00.50, which had stood since 2007, served as the benchmark, but Ogunbanwo has now set a new standard.
Competing in the very first heat of the women’s 100m freestyle event, Ogunbanwo finished ahead of Andela Antunovic of Montenegro (1:00.01), Nepal’s Gaurika Singh (1:00.11), and Mineri Gomez of Guam (1:04.00).
However, her finishing time was not good enough to take her through to the semis, as it was only the 50th best time in the event.
In the women’s 100m freestyle event, the time returned by competitors is all that matters in the heats, as only the fastest 16 swimmers get to advance to the semi-finals.
But Ogunbanwo can hold her head up high after adding the 100m national record to the 400m freestyle and 200m breaststroke national records she currently holds.
