Will Barcelona Be The Best Club For Wenger?

Uncertainty in Arsenal as Wenger future at the club seems to be coming to an end.

With fans divided over their loyalty, as some fans believed Wenger had to leave for the club to break the title winning jinx. Although, Wenger had come out to pledge his unfading loyalty to Arsenal, with Barcelona keenly knocking at the door after Enrique decision to leave at the end of the season. It is believed that Wenger needs Barcelona as well as Barcelona needs him.

Barcelona needs Wenger as he will understand and function well in their style of football and youth development. As well as Wenger needs Barcelona to cement his legendary status as a manager, as he will have high chances of winning trophies with the club.

Wenger had never been known for flinching on his decision, thus his chances of leaving Arsenal remains very slim. But will the opportunity of managing Barcelona, especially at this point of his Arsenal career be tempting enough?

Watford To Force Ighalo Move to China

Watford had forced Nigeria striker Odion Ighalo move to China.

Odion Ighalo had earlier stated earlier that he would remain in the premier league after turning down lucrative offers from the Chinese on three occasions.

Watford had possibly left the striker with no other choice as they made it clear they will allow him to move only to China. The club had earlier frustrated effort by West Brom to obtain the services of Ighalo, with their eyes on China club £21 million offer.

This will put Ighalo in a unusual situation as he might lose his place in the Super Eagles, as the coach had earlier warned him against moving to the less competitive China league.

LIST OF PAST WINNERS OF AFCON

The Africa Cup of Nation, AFCON is a football tournament competition that sees Africa nations compete for who will be King of Africa Football.

The first tournament in 1957 was hosted in Sudan and won by the Pharaoh of Egypt and the Egyptians remain the team to have won the AFCON tournament more with six titles to their name and have qualified for the tournament a record 22 times.

Nigeria has won the AFCON three times and have qualified 17 times for the tournament and have the third best records in terms of games won in Africa cup of Nations.

Below is the list of past winners:

YEAR      Winner

1957         Egypt

1959         United Arab Republic

1962         Ethiopia

1963         Ghana

1965         Ghana

1968         Congo DR

1970         Sudan

1972         Congo

1974         Zaire

1976         Morocco

1978         Ghana

1980          Nigeria

1982          Ghana

1984          Cameroon

1986          Egypt

1988          Cameroon

1990          Algeria

1992          Ivory coast

1994          Nigeria

1996          South Africa

1998           Egypt

2000           Cameroon

2002           Cameroon

2004           Tunisia

2006            Egypt

2008            Egypt

2010            Egypt

2012            Zambia

2013            Nigeria

2015            Ivory Coast

Gernot Rohr To Be Unveiled As Super Eagles New Technical Adviser

Gernot Rohr will be unveiled as Nigeria Super eagles new technical adviser, according to NFF president, Pinnick Amaju.

This the NFF president clarify in an interview with Punch newspaper where he gave an interview. Pinnick said the German has accepted the position and will be in the country by Saturday.

Gernot Rohr untill recently was coach to Burkina Faso and has managed Gabon national team. He will take the Super Eagles as he will try to qualify them to the world cup in Russia.

The NFF has been having it difficult replacing Sunday Oliseh after he left the position owing to irreconcilable issues.And failed in meeting an agreement for Frenchman Le Guen to take the position.

IOC LIFT BAN ON RUSSIAN FOR RIO 2016

The International Olympic Committee has lift the ban on all Russian athletes for Rio 2016. The ban was issued early as Russian Federation was accused of state sponsoring doping of athletes after their athlete were tested positive to banned substances.

Russian athletes will now be allowed to competite  though they may have to pass some strict conditions set up by the IOC.

Some athlete had voiced their  disapproval of what they see as the IOC bowing to a mighty power, that is the Russian government.

The Russian goverment is one of the major supporter of the IOC and this is seen by many as a favor to the Russian government for his long time support.

Henry Leaves Arsenal Over Row With Wenger

Henry has left his position as Arsenal youth coach over row with Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger. It was reported that Wenger asked the Arsenal Legend to leave his position at Sky Sport as a pundit and focus on his Arsenal job.  

Henry joined Arsenal as a youth coach for free after he turned down a paid offer for the job. He works four days a week at Arsenal. He earns €4 million a year for his pundit job at sky sport.

Wenger wanting Henry to leave Sky Sport may be related to Henry comments on Arsenal and Arsenal senior players which Wenger felt uncomfortable with. Henry had criticized Arsenal approach of recent and mostly some of his players especially Giroud and Wenger had been uncomfortable with these criticism and believe they are too harsh on his team.

Other sources believe that Wenger is uncomfortable with Henry presence around as Henry has made his intention to take over someday as manager and with a year left on Wenger contract, they felt he is uncomfortable with Henry around.

With Henry passion for the club even opting to work for free, is it right for Wenger to make such demand on Henry?

Juan Mata, The Unappreciated One

Juan Mata is most likely to be on the move again under no other than the special one Jose Mourinho once again. Juan Mata, a player who may have been getting used to disappointment of recent after missing out on being selected for Spanish squad in the ongoing Euro2016 is being chased away once more from a place where he thought as home.

Juan Mata who many people will testify as a player who is loved by his fellow players and fans alike, may be feeling much less appreciated for a player with his skills and ability as he is being sieved out as unwanted shaft in Manchester United as he seems supplus to Jose Mourinho. This is not the first time Juan Mata will be facing such predicament in his career. He was dished out of Chelsea by same Mourinho on his second return to Chelsea, after he, Mata has been the outstanding player for the club the previous two seasons. What may seems so unjustifiable was the way some fans quickly turn against him that he was not needed him the club and Mourinho did prove them right by going on to win the title. Unfortunately the same circumstances might repeat itself at Man Utd as some fans are already pitching that Mata should make way to make room for stars that are coming.

The issue is the way Mata is being unceremoniously put away with by club that don't want to appreciate his ability, sportsmanship and support he brings to a team where ever he plays. If rumors are true, maybe a small club like Everton might make Mata feel at home and appreciate him more as a player of his ability and dedication deserves.

Messi's Self Centered Move To Quit Argentina

Messi has lost his fourth final for Argentina national team after their lost to Chile in a penalty shootout at the Copa America final played in United State. This is a very agonizing for any player and for a player with Messi’s statue, a national team honor will surely be a icing in the cake in standing shoulders to shoulders with the greats in the world, the likes of Pele, Madonna, Zidane, Ronaldo (Brazil), Rivaldo, who have helped their national side to glory and are immortalized in the heart of the fans of their nation.

No doubt, Messi’s legendary statue is in place and no one can take that away for him but I think him calling it quit on the international scene is kind of selfish of Messi. It’s like he considers the hurt he feels alone and not that of the fans. And the timing proves it right; he just felt that he can’t win anything with Argentina, so why continue?

Messi still have years in him to play good football and not providing that service to his nation is selfish of him. The great legends of football, played for their nation when called upon till age begin to tell on them. The likes of Figo, Zidane, Pele, Madonna played for their nation with so much passion till they were not able to continue due to age, injury or some sort of controversy as in the case with Madonna.

But Messi denying his nation that service is just a selfish gesture on his part, assuming he cannot win honors with Argentina, so what’s the point?

Player Sent Off For Farting

A Swedish footballer has hit out after being sent off for breaking wind during a match – with the referee accusing him of “deliberate provocation” and “unsportsmanlike behaviour”.


Adam Lindin Ljungkvist, who was playing at left-back in the match between Järna SK’s reserve team and Pershagen SK, was shown a second yellow card late on in what local media called “bizarre circumstances”.


“I had a bad stomach, so I simply let go,” the 25-year-old told Länstidningen Södertälje. “Then I received two yellow cards and then red. Yes, I was shocked, it’s the strangest thing I have ever experienced in football.


“I asked the referee, ‘What, am I not allowed to break wind a little?’ ‘No,’ he replied … I don’t get it but maybe he thought I farted in my hand and threw the fart at him. But I did not.”


Opposition striker Kristoffer Linde told the paper: “I was standing a good distance away but I heard the fart loud and clear. It’s the strangest thing I’ve seen on a pitch, and I’ve been playing football since I was eight years old.”




The referee, Dany Kako, confirmed that Ljungkvist had received the second yellow card for breaking wind, explaining: “I perceived it as deliberate provocation. He did it on purpose and it was inappropriate. Therefore, he received a yellow card.”


Ljungkvist told Aftonbladet: “To provoke anyone with a fart is not particularly smart or normal. It’s nonsense – I just broke wind and got a red card. I spoke to the referee afterwards, I was annoyed, but there were no bad words. I just said he was a buffoon.”


Kako said he had experienced similar incidents before. “Once there was a player who stood and peed next to the pitch. I showed him a yellow card, too.”



Source: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jun/22/swedish-footballer-sent-off-for-farting-during-match

Vardy Too Good For Arsenal?

Jamie Vardy had turned down a move to Arsenal as Leicester City have come out to admit that the player has agreed to a four years contract extension at the club. Leicester City made this known at the club website in a statement:

“Leicester City have today (Thursday) agreed with the representatives of Jamie Vardy to extend the England international’s contract with the Premier League champions for a further four years,” said the statement. “Both parties hope that this announcement will end recent speculation regarding Jamie’s future and confirm his long term commitment to Leicester City Football Club. “Jamie will continue to focus all of his efforts on trying to achieve success with the England team at the European Championships in France. There will be no further comment from either the Club or the player on this matter until the conclusion of the tournament.”


It seems Vardy feels he is just too good for Arsenal or has Arsenal lost its lustre to attract players because even with Leicester City as a champion, many will not see a player like Vardy turning down a chance to play for a club like Arsenal.

Mourinho Set Eyes On Bonucci

Jose Mourinho is set to sign Juventus and Italian center back, Leonardo Bonucci to further strengthened his defence line.

It will be recalled that Manchester United just concluded a deal for 22 years old Villareal defender Eric Bailly and with a formidable defence line left by Jose predecessor, its obvious Jose Mourinho is taking no chances by wanting to add the 29 years old experienced defender from Juventus.

Its is believed that the deal might cost Manchester United about £50 million as Bonucci just sign a new contract of £70 000 a week till 2020 and with other major clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City making a move for the player, which will further increase his value.

It is believed that Bonucci will likely end up at Chelsea with Conte influenced. Conte is believed to have close relationship with the player, having been his manager in Juventus for years and presently his coach in Italian national team at the ongoing Europe tournament in France.

England Names Squad For Europe 2016

The three lions has name their 23 man squad for France 2016. Roy Hugson the coach of England made the announcement yesterday which was the deadline to submit names of players for the competition.

The major surprise to the list was Manchester United new kid on the block, Marcus Rasford. The kid who scored his first England goal on his first game for his country has been on blazing form and is believe to be Hugson hidden weapon at the tournament.

Also Daniel Sturridge made the team after suffering injuries prior to the tournament and did not feature in any of England recent friendly and missed most training session for England due to injury.

Jamie Vardy also made the team after a brilliant season with Leicester City where he was key to them winning the premier league with his goals. He is most likely to play with Harry Keane, premier league top goal scorer, upfront if Rooney is to play a deeper playmaker role as he has been doing of late.

England squad are very young and inexperienced with few national caps to their name with an exception of few like Rooney, Joe Hart and Milner. Roy will mostly work on using pace and strength of the youth to overcome.