Messi: Pedro deserves Super Cup winner

 

Lionel Messi says Barcelona team-mate Pedro merits his Uefa Super Cup winning goal against Sevilla for the contribution he has made to the Catalan outfit over the years.

The winger pounced on a rebound of a Messi free kick and slotted home deep into extra-time to make it 5-4 to Barca just hours after the club's technical secretary Robert Fernandez had said that the player wants to leave.

Pedro, though, has insisted he does not want to depart and Messi admits he does not know what lies in store for the 28-year-old. Nevertheless, he was happy to see the Spain international fire in the winning goal against Sevilla.

“He deserved it for everything he has given and continues to give to the club," he told reporters. "I don’t know what will happen with him - it’s a decision he has to take - but whatever he does, he deserves it."

Messi was not, however, content with the performance of his side as a whole. Having led 4-1, they were pegged back and required an additional 30 minutes to seal the first major honour of the season.

"We started very well and we took a significant lead but then we relaxed and a game that we had practically won became more difficult. We did everything to see the game out but we relaxed and ended up suffering in a game that we had all-but won," he said.

"The important thing was to win the Super Cup and to start the season well. Now we have another important title to go for against Athletic [in the Spanish Super Cup]."

Pedro: I don't want to leave Barcelona - but my situation is difficult

 

The 28-year-old, who came off the bench to score a late winner in Tuesday's Uefa Super Cup, says his discontent springs from a desire to play more regularly

Pedro has denied claims that he has asked to leave Barcelona but admits he remains in a "difficult situation".

The 28-year-old was omitted from the Catalan giants' starting XI for Tuesday's Uefa Super Cup clash with Sevilla in Tbilisi, with the club's technical secretary Robert Fernandez telling TV3 that the winger had asked to leave the club.

Despite coming off the bench to score a dramatic extra-time winner in a 5-4 Barca win, Pedro appeared reluctant to join the rest of Luis Enrique's squad in the trophy celebrations, fuelling speculation that he is set to complete a long-awaited move to Manchester United to fill the void left by Angel di Maria.

But when questioned on his situation after the match, Pedro rebuked Fernandez for commenting publicly and insisted that his feelings are more complicated than simply wanting to leave Camp Nou.

"I am not completely happy in the situation. Robert Fernandez said something he doesn't know. I spoke with the captains, the president, the coach... just a few seconds with him. I don't understand why he said I asked to leave using these words, he doesn't know how I feel in this team.

"I will always be a Barcelona supporter, no matter what finally happens.

"When there are rumours that I can leave it is not an easy situation for me. I have always tried to give my best to the club. I am ambitious and I want to play as much as possible.

"I was angry when I knew I had to stay on the bench, having had a chance with Neymar's illness.

"I don't want to leave Barcelona but it is a complicated situation. It is not a money question, but a continuity question. I want to play. Luis Enrique preferred other players and I have been waiting a lot of time."

When questioned about omitting Pedro from his starting XI after the match, Luis Enrique replied: "Pedro couldn't train two days ago for a muscular pain and we already know his situation.

"I chose what I thought was best and I would make the same decision again."

'Van Gaal is DESTROYING Manchester United'

   

Hristo Stoichkov has urged Barcelona winger Pedro against linking up with the "bad person" he says nearly ruined the Catalan club

Hristo Stoichkov has blasted Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal in an attempt to convince Pedro to remain at Barcelona, claiming that the "mediocre" Dutch coach is now "destroying" the Premier League club in the same way he "destroyed" the Catalan outfit.

The Spain international is poised to move to Old Trafford in search of more regular game time, with his first-team opportunities at Camp Nou having been restricted last season by the sensational form of the Blaugrana's front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Pedro is expected to link up with Van Gaal in Manchester after the Supercopa de Espana, with Neymar's contraction of the mumps leading to Barcelona asking the 28-year-old to delay his £22.3 million transfer in order to provide cover the double header with Athletic Bilbao.

However, Bulgarian icon Stoichkov, a five-time La Liga winner and European Cup champion with Barca who fell out out with Van Gaal in 1998, says that Pedro need only look at the way in which former Blaugrana goalkeeper Victor Valdes has been ostracised at Old Trafford to understand how perilous playing under the Dutchman can be.



"I would never be under the orders of Van Gaal," the 49-year-old told Spanish radio Onda Cero. "He's mediocre.

"He destroyed Barca and is destroying Manchester United.

"With what he has done to [Victor] Valdes he has shown he is a bad person. Hopefully Pedro listens to me and doesn't leave."

This is not the first time Stoichkov has taken aim at Van Gaal as he blames the ex-Barca boss for his Camp Nou exit 17 years ago, branding his former boss as "scum" in an interview with French newspaper L'Equipe in March.

"I have no respect for him," Stoichkov added.

"One day, when I was injured, I was with my wife at Camp Nou and Van Gaal went up to her.

"He asked her how it was possible that she married someone like me. She responded that I was a Ballon d'Or winner.

"My departure in 1998 was the fault of Van Gaal, for sure."

Odemwingie out with hamstring injury

 

The Nigerian, who came on for the last ten minutes as his side lost 1-0 to Liverpool last weekend, could be out for up to a month according to his manage

Peter Odemwingie will miss Stoke City's clash away to Tottenham Hotspurs at White Hart Lane on Saturday after sustaining a hamstring injury in training, manager Mark Hughes revealed in his pre-match press conference.

The Nigerian, who came on for the last ten minutes as his side lost 1-0 to Liverpool last weekend, could be out for up to a month according to his manager.

“Unfortunately Peter has got a hamstring strain and is likely to miss the next couple of weeks,” Hughes said.

“It’s disappointing for him because he has worked tremendously hard throughout pre-season.”

Meanwhile, Hughes is hoping to have winger Marko Arnautovic and defender Marc Wilson available for selection against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

The duo was absent from the squad in last Sunday’s curtain-raiser at the Britannia Stadium after suffering injury setbacks in the build-up to the fixture with Liverpool.

 

Michael Babatunde joins Dnipro

 

The Super Eagles midfielder has signed a deal with last season's Europa League finalists after quitting Volyn at the end of his contract

Nigeria midfielder Michael Babatunde has signed a three-year deal with last season’s Europa League finalists Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk after canceling his contract with Volyn.

The 22-year-old, who has spent five years in Ukraine, will wear the jersey No.9.

Babatunde who turned down top teams that failed to meet his valuation disclosed that the conversation he had with manager Bohgdanovych Markevych swung the decision for him.

“There were discussions with nearly all the top clubs,” Babatunde said.

“I have played against Dnipro in the past and he has wanted me ever since but the teams I played for (Krybass and Volyn) never wanted me to go,”

“Teams from France, Spain and Germany but none of them were ready to meet my valuation and in the end Dnipro came out on top.

“I spoke to Markevych and he totally convinced me. He gave me the feeling that I was very important for him. Not only as a player but also as a person – and then it was clear that I would sign for Dnipro.”

Babatunde, who is expected to make his official debut for the club in the Ukrainian League against Shaktar Donetsk, also admitted that the prospect of featuring in the Europa League was another reason he joined.

Emmanuel Emenike joins Al-Ain on loan

 

The 28-year-old attacker, who moved to Fenerbahçe from Spartak Moscow, has been shipped out to the Boss for a season
Nigeria striker Emmanuel Emenike has joined United Arab Emirates Pro League side Al-Ain on loan until the end of the season.

The forward made 27 appearances with four goals for the Yellow Canaries last season, and will replace Ghana’s skipper Asamoah Gyan.

He extended his contract with Vítor Pereira’s men by a year but is now looking for more first-team experience with the UAE based outfit.

Speaking about the deal, Emenike said: “Being a Fenerbahçe player is something I will cherish for the rest of my career. Now, I have to move because I need a new challenge in my career and leaving now is the best decision taken,” he told African Football.

“I am using this moment to express my gratitude to the club Fenerbahce and everybody who believes in me in one way or the other. Fenerbahçe is a great club and I wish them all the best in the new season.”

“I am looking forward to new challenge in UAE, as well as to get more playing time under my belt and score many goals. For every striker, it is important to score goals and I am already looking forward to that challenge,” he concluded.

NFF confirms Sunday Oliseh negotiations and unveiling next week

 

The former Super Eagles captain is expected to return as coach of the team when contract talks are concluded in a few days

The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed it is in talks with former Super Eagles’ captain Sunday Oliseh with regards to the vacant position of the team’s Head Coach.

At the weekend, the NFF terminated the appointment of another former captain, Stephen Keshi, over breaches of core terms of his contract.

Following the encouragement of a team of the NFF Technical and Development Committee that is working on filling the vacant position, Sunday Oliseh met with NFF President Amaju Pinnick in London on Tuesday.

“An offer has been made, and there is understanding, but we have to work out the final details of the agreement in a few days. Of course, the Executive Board has to give approval for his appointment based on the final terms to be agreed,” said Felix Anyansi-Agwu, chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee.

Thenff.com understands that Oliseh will come with a Foreign Technical Assistant, whose job description will centre around development programmes, and who will work with Clubs’ Youth Teams and certified Academies towards developing the game from the grassroots.

Current stand-in Coach Salisu Yusuf will also be in the new team, but with greater devotion to the home-based team, otherwise known as Super Eagles B, and will be the interface between the technical crew and the home boys.

Oliseh is expected to come up with a five –year developmental plan to fashion a unique playing and coaching philosophy for all the National Teams, and will for this purpose, interface regularly with coaches of those teams.

“We are also looking at how he will periodically organize clinics and seminars for coaches of Clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League, probably once in a month, so as to strengthen the playing philosophy across board. A robust youth development programme, elite player development strategy and performance programmes to drive higher standards, among other core sustainable development programmes, are also part of the proposal,” Anyansi-Agwu added.

NFF President Amaju Pinnick said: “Sunday Oliseh has vast experience and immense knowledge of the game, and will certainly add value to what we are doing. He has bought into our vision and objectives towards the development of Nigeria football. He will command the respect of the players and we trust he has the temperament to work harmoniously with the Technical and Development Committee, the Technical Directorate and the Technical Study Group.

“On our part at the NFF, we will give him all the support to succeed as we have been giving to all our coaches. Subject to the approval of the NFF Executive Committee, we will conclude negotiations by weekend and he will be unveiled next week.”

Oliseh, 40, is presently a FIFA instructor, and runs a consultancy that trains and assesses coaches worldwide. He is also member of FIFA Technical Study Group.

He was in the Nigeria squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia in 1994, and played in the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup final competitions, with the Super Eagles reaching the Round of 16 in both. He was also in the Nigeria U-23 side that won Africa’s first Olympic football gold in Atlanta 19 years ago.

Oliseh played for Reggiana, FC Cologne, Ajax Amsterdam, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, VFL Bochum and RC Genk in a magnificent professional career, during which he played under some of the best coaches in the universe.

He won 63 caps for Nigeria between 1993 and 2002, picking up Africa Cup of Nations gold, silver and bronze medals.

Oliseh holds a UEFA Pro License, and coached Belgian lower division club, Vervietois between 2008 and 2009.

Dolphins will turn things around in Port Harcourt, says Zikiye

 

The Pride of Rivers defender believes they are capable of reversing their deficit when they host Leones Vegetarianos in the Caf Confederation Cup

Dolphins defender Jonathan Zikiye has expressed confidence in his side's ability to overturn their 1-0 first leg deficit when they host Equatorial Guinea's Leones Vegetarianos in the Caf Confederation Cup.

Dolphins will host the Equatoguinean side in the second leg billed for Port Harcourt on February 28.

Zikiye, who made his debut in a continental competition for the first time, admitted responsibility in the lone goal conceded through a defensive error in Malabo as he laid the blame on loss of concentration.

"It was a good experience even though we lost the game. We went there with intentions to win but we lost. We hope to turn it around when they come to Nigeria," Zikiye said.

"It's true. That goal was scored after a little slip from our part as defenders and it started from my side.

"It was a moment of loss of concentration but in every football match there are bound to be mistakes but the important thing is to learn from these mistakes.

"We are working hard for the second leg and we believe we will be able to turn it around," he concluded.

Meanwhile, Dolphins will host top flight returnees Kwara United in their opening fixture of the 2014/15 NPFL season in Port Harcourt on March 7.
 

Figo proposes 48-team World Cup

The Fifa presidential candidate has launched his manifesto which includes a potential expansion of the game's biggest international competition

Luis Figo says the World Cup could be expanded to a 40 or 48-team event if he becomes Fifa president in May.
The Portuguese playing legend is one of three men challenging incumbent Sepp Blatter in this year’s election, and insists he wants Fifa to be more inclusive of countries outside of Europe.
Launching his manifesto at a press conference at Wembley Stadium on Thursday, Figo announced: “I believe we should consider proposals to expand the World Cup from its current 32-team structure to a 40 or even 48-team competition.
“Both these options are feasible with an extra three to four days of tournament play. If this expansion were to take place, I believe that additional teams should come from non-European nations.”
Figo will go up against Blatter, Michael van Praag and Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein in the May 29 poll, and the 42-year-old hopes to redistribute Fifa reserves to national associations if he lands the top job.
Such payments would account for 50 per cent of the organisation’s $2.5 billion revenues, with the aim to fund grassroots football development around the world.
“Fifa belongs to its member associations and it is only natural that Fifa’s revenues and reserves are distributed back to them directly,” he added. “The impact of my proposals would mean between $8-10m being distributed to each member association across a four-year period.”

The former Real Madrid star also noted several other key points to his campaign, including support for goal-line technology and the need for a structured debate regarding further use of technology within the sport.

Figo added his desire to eradicate the 'triple punishment rule' whereby clubs are punished three times for the same incident when a player is sent off after conceding a penalty, before being handed a suspension.

The former midfielder is also an advocate of sin-bins for unsporting behaviour towards referees and keen to reinstate the old offside rule, whereby a player is deemed offside regardless of whether or not he is involved directly in the play.

Messi: I had a lot of problems in 2014

The 27-year-old still managed to score 41 goals in 46 games in all competitions last term, but failed his own incredibly high standards as Barca ended the season without a trophy.
Messi has now acknowledged that injuries and his tax case hurt his form last campaign and he is desperate to show his true self again in 2015.
"The truth is that this year I tried to get to my best form as quickly as possible. I knew I was coming off the back of a not very good year, during which I went through a lot of problems on and off the field," the Argentina international told Mundo Leo.
"It was a challenge to change the image that I had given out last season and to be the player I had been in previous seasons again. That was my objective and that's how I came out at the start of this season, really up for it."
The four-time Ballon d'Or winner then went on to discuss Barcelona's form in 2014-15 and their upcoming Champions League tie with Manchester City, stressing the English champions will not be pushovers.
"The truth is that we're in good shape at the moment. Luckily, after the match against Real Sociedad everything changed. Now there is a different dynamic to the team, everything we do comes off.
"The team has a lot of confidence and we have changed the attitude and drive. That's why we're playing like we are at the moment, but there is still a long way to go.
"Manchester City they are a team made up of great players, so it will be a difficult tie. Their objective is to go through because they haven't done for a while.
"It will be an even match-up and the little details will be what makes the difference. It will be a great game. City have reinforced a lot [since last season]."
The first leg of the round-of-16 tie takes place in Manchester on February 24, with the return at Camp Nou scheduled for March 18.

Sakho hits back at critics over Senegal absence

The West Ham striker withdrew from Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations squad with a back injury but returned to hit the winner in the Irons' FA Cup victory over Bristol City

Following his withdrawal from Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations squad, West Ham striker Diafra Sakho has hit back at those who have questioned his desire to play for his country.

The Hammers declared that Sakho's persistent back problem rendered him unfit to travel to Equatorial Guinea for the tournament, which got underway earlier this month.

Senegal were less than happy with the decision and their ire may have been further exacerbated when Sakho, returning to action for the first time since New Year's Day, came off the bench to score the winner in West Ham's FA Cup fourth-round tie at Bristol City on Sunday.

Following that victory, Sakho took to social media to respond to those who have doubted him.

"Friends, supporters, Senegalese people," he wrote on Facebook.

"I took the time to browse all of your reactions on social networks. Very quickly the joy which lived in me after scoring and save (sic) my club today turned into great sorrow and great anger.

"Great sadness because some of your words have touched me in the depths of my person, my heart, and this, without knowing what really happened.

"Great wrath, because after all my tests passed, my fighting day after day, season after season to finally wear the jersey of my homeland, the jersey of my family, the only nation which has in my eyes, you doubt my love and my patriotism.

"My absence from this 2015 CAN, my first CAN, was not without penalty. The dream of helping my country win flew this year but is not dead!

"Don't ever doubt the lion who sleeps in me, as I never doubt the passion that burns in you."

Stoke keen to sign Adama Traore

Stoke are keen to bring Adama Traore to the Britannia Stadium from Barcelona. Mark Hughes watched the Barcelona B forward in action at the weekend.

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Roma & Tottenham discussing Destro

Tottenham are in talks with Roma over striker Mattia Destro. The Italian forward is desperate for playing time while the club want to bring in Luiz Adriano. Spurs centre-back Vlad Chiriches could be included as part of the deal.

DR Congo 1-1 Tunisia: Bokila steals draw as Ibenge's men scrape through

Ahmed Akaichi scored in the first half to give Tunisia the lead but a goal from Jeremy Bokila put his side through on goals scored

Tunisia and DR Congo both booked their places in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals with a 1-1 draw on Monday.
Group B leaders Tunisia controlled the vast majority of the clash in Bata, but could only muster one goal through Ahmed Akaichi.
Akaichi's improvised header capped a period of utter dominance for Georges Leekens' men that saw Yassine Chikhaoui cause all sorts of trouble for the DR Congo defence.
Tunisia looked destined to pile on the misery for the Democratic Republic and saw two goals disallowed for offside.
However, Jeremy Bokila popped up in the 66th minute to earn his side a place in the next round on goals scored with a record sixth Afcon draw in a row.
The result sees Tunisia set up a last-eight clash with hosts Equatorial Guinea in Ebebiyin, while DR Congo will face Congo in Bata.
Tunisia made three changes from their 2-1 win over Zambia last time out and should have taken the lead in the 10th minute as they looked good value for their status as group leaders in the early stages.
Akaichi picked up the ball on the right flank and drove into the area, although he arguably left it too late to square the ball to Ferjani Sassi.
The ball did eventually find its way to the midfielder around 12 yards out, but his low strike was blocked on the line by Joel Kimwaki, before Yassine Chikhaoui failed to turn Wahbi Khazri's follow-up effort in at the post.
Chikhaoui looked to be Tunisia's biggest attacking threat early on and forced a superb diving save from Robert Kidiaba after 20 minutes – cutting in on his right foot following a superb passing build-up before aiming a curling effort at the far corner.
DR Congo's first real chance came as Dieumerci Mbokani saw a curling free-kick tipped around the post by Aymen Mathlouthi, but Tunisia finally made their pressure pay in the 31st minute.
Another neat passing move saw Chikhaoui pick up the ball in the box and, after turning and squirming his way through a sea of blue shirts, he pulled the trigger, only for Akaichi to dive in with a header to deceive the goalkeeper and break the deadlock.
Chikhaoui looked to have added his own name to the scoresheet with a sublime volley two minutes later, but the linesman had already raised his flag for offside, before Ali Maaloul sent a long-range free-kick just over.
Tunisia had another goal chalked off shortly after the break when Akaichi strayed offside before sending an effort under Kidiaba, but the 2004 champions were less adventurous during the second half, choosing instead to protect their one-goal advantage.
Bokila dealt Tunisia a wake-up call when he headed narrowly over from a right-wing cross in the 63rd minute and had his side level soon after.
A long ball was headed into the path of Bokila by Dieumerci Mbokini, with the substitute sending a low effort beyond Mathlouthi.
Kidiaba tipped a Hamza Younes effort over the crossbar as Tunisia looked to regain the lead, but DR Congo held on to reach the knockout stages for the first time since 2006.

Nigerians Abroad: Ighalo hits four, Anichebe, Nwofor, Nwankwo , Uchebo on target

It was a harvest of goals for Nigerians in Europe over the weekend with former Flying Eagles skipper, Ighalo grabbing the headline with goals

ENGLAND
Victor Anichebe found the back of the net twice in West Bromwich Albion’s 2-1 win at Birmingham City to send them to the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon.
The game played at the St. Andrew’s saw Anichebe hit target in the 25th and 35th of the encounter which killed the dreams of their hosts of moving to the next round of the oldest football competition in the world.
Albion took a 25th-minute lead when Anichebe latched onto Saido Berahino's threaded pass before drilling a pinpoint strike in off Darren Randolph's near post.
Ten minutes later Anichebe had his second, once again receiving a Berahino pass before outmuscling ex-Baggies defender Paul Robinson and driving a shot beyond Randolph with the aid of an unfortunate ricochet off the Birmingham captain.
In London, things took a calamitous turn for John Obi Mikel as his side crumbled 4-2 to League One side, Bradford. The Catalyst was taken off the pitch with a head injury in the 70th minute and was replaced by Cesc Fabregas. Jose Mourinho’s men conceded thrice in the final 16 minutes of the game to bow out of the competition.
Middlesbrough pulled off one of the upsets of the round, eliminating Premier League champions Manchester City from the FA Cup at the Etihad. Goals from Patrick Bamford and Kike did for the citizens with Kenneth Omeruo not dressed as he was good enough for the bench - his fourth in succession.
Odion Ighalo was in scintillating form as he smashed an awe-inspiring four goals past Blackpool as Watford battered Blackpool 7-2 in an English Championship game played on Saturday evening at the Vicarage Stadium.

Carl Ikeme kept a clean sheet as Wolves were held to a goalless draw by Charlton at Molineux. This result leaves Kenny Jackett’s men outside the promotion playoff places in 7th.
 
SPAIN
Ikechukwu Uche played 64 minutes for Villarreal. A solitary strike from Luciano Vietto won the points for the Yellow Submarine, who occupy the final Europa League place in La Liga.
Elsewhere in Spain there was little joy for Ramon Azeez and Isaac Success; the former was an unused substitute as Almeria were trounced 3-0 by Espanyol, while the latter was not named in the squad for Granada’s 2-2 draw against Deportivo.
Both their clubs occupy the bottom two places in La Liga, and there is a real danger Azeez and Success could find themselves playing in the Segunda Division next season.

ITALY
Joel Obi made only his sixth start of the season for Inter in their 1-0 loss to Torino at San Siro. The 23-year-old featured in at left-back, and while it was not an unusual occurrence to see him feature at wing-back under previous manager Walter Mazzari, it is hardly his favoured position.
Lazio had no need for midfield strongman Ogenyi Onazi, as they completed controlled AC Milan at the Olimpico. The Eagles were deserved 3-1 winners, shrugging aside the disappointment of going behind in the 4th minute to rally in the second half and claim a win to move them into third in Serie A.

FRANCE
Vincent Enyeama was on from to finish for Lille OSC as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Monacowith Dimitar Berbatov getting the solitary strike. Elsewhere, Elderson Echiejile was on for 90 minutes, fulfilling his defensive responsibilities for the visitors impeccably and with minimum fuss.

NETHERLANDS
Cambuur made a good fist of their tie against league leaders PSV Eindhoven, but in the end superior quality won out. Philip Cocu’s men ran out 2-1 winners, leaving Bartholomew Ogbeche and his teammates to wonder what might have been had they been more clinical in front of goal.
Young defender Tyronne Ebuehi came on in the 65th minute as ADO Den Haag went down 1-0 to Go Ahead Eagles. The 19-year-old right-back was born in Haarlem, Netherlands but is eligible for Nigeria by parentage. He has made six Eredivisie appearances this term, five as a substitute.
Abiola Dauda could only watch on from the bench as Heerenveen demolished his Vitesse team 4-1 at Abe Lenstra Stadion. A ruthless display of clinical finishing started in the 4th minute and was rounded off in the 53rd, with centre-back Kenneth Otigba forming an almost impenetrable platform behind.
 
PORTUGAL
Forward Simeon ‘Simmy’ Nwankwo was on target for Gil Vicente in a 2-2 draw against Vitoria de Guimaraes on Saturday. The 22-year-old opened the scoring in the 26th minute, but his side’s hopes of a win were dashed by a 90th-minute penalty awarded to the hosts.
Simmy has five goals in 14 appearances for Gil Vicente this season.
Super Eagles forward Michael Uchebo was decisive in Boavista’s 1-0 victory over Braga. Uchebo struck with eight minutes to play, his third goal of the season, to secure a sixth league win in 18 attempts for Boavista.
The 24-year-old has made ten appearances to date for Boavista.
 
BELGIUM
Uche Nwofor was on target for Lierse as they drew 1-1 at home to Waasland-Beveren. The striker opened the scoring in the 13th minute, before Renaud Emond cancelled out the opener on the hour.
The Super Eagles striker has two goals in nine Jupiler League appearances for bottom-placed Lierse.

AC Milan must beat Lazio to save Inzaghi from the sack

AC Milan's Coppa Italia quarter-final against Lazio on Tuesday will be decisive in deciding the future of under-fire coach Pippo Inzaghi.

The former Italy striker only succeeded Clarence Seedorf as boss seven months ago but his job is hanging by a thread following a disappointing run of results.

Milan have taken just one point from their four league games in 2015 - including a 3-1 defeat at Lazio on Saturday that was far more convincing than the scoreline suggests - and Goal understands that the outcome of Tuesday’s Italian Cup game will be pivotal in resolving Inzaghi’s fate.

President Silvio Berlusconi is furious that Milan are currently in 10th position in Serie A with almost no chance of qualifying for Europe via the league.

The Milan players are fully in support of Inzaghi and do not believe he is to blame for the club’s current struggles – with Philippe Mexes and Jeremy Menez even offering the 41-year-old their backing publicly.

But Milan have already drawn up a list of possible replacements for Inzaghi, with long-term assistant coach Mauro Tassotti and former Roma boss Luciano Spalletti at the top of their initial shortlist.

Cape Verde 0-0 Zambia: Both teams crash out with draw

The 1-1 draw recorded by DR Congo was enough to send them through on goals scored and send Cape Verde out at the group stages

Cape Verde and Zambia crashed out of the Africa Cup of Nations following a goalless draw in their final Group B game at Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín on Monday.
A victory would have been enough for either nation to progress to the quarter-finals, but they lacked the quality to reach the last eight and Democratic Republic of Congo and Tunisia progressed following their 1-1 draw.
Cape Verde went into the game in second place, but bow out after drawing all three games, with Democratic Republic of Congo leapfrogging them on goals scored.
Zambia, the 2012 Afcon winners, entered the game knowing they had to win to have any chance of going through.
Evans Kangwa and Mukuka Mulenga had clear opportunities to hand Zambia victory late on, but both men were unable to finish.
Incessant torrential rain led to puddles developing on the pitch and it seemed the game could be postponed, but both sides persevered in vain as their tournament was cut short.
The onus was on Zambia to get on the front foot from the off, but neither side looked threatening in the opening stages.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha breathed a sigh of relief when he spilled Given Singuluma's long-range drive and Kangwa was wrongly adjudged to be offside as he followed it up.
Zambia captain Rainford Kalaba then had half a chance to open the scoring when he was given too much space in the penalty area 23 minutes in, but his tame shot was deflected wide.
Cape Verde's Garry Rodrigues showed a sharp turn of pace to get down the inside right 10 minutes before the break, then let himself down with a lack of composure by firing off target with a poor finish.
It was Cape Verde who finished the half strongly, though, with Zambia enduring two alarming moments just before the break.
Toni Varela got his header all wrong when he was left unmarked from a Rodrigues free-kick. Winger Rodrigues then delivered a side-footed set-piece which somehow evaded everybody and went out for a goal-kick.
Conditions deteriorated at the start of the second half, with standing water appearing on the pitch as the rain continued to lash down, preventing the ball from rolling in certain areas of the pitch.
The game was allowed to continue, though, and substitute Djaniny forced a save from Kennedy Mweene with a long-range drive that bounced awkwardly in front of the Zambia goalkeeper.
Kangwa resorted to desperate measures when he took a dive in the penalty area and was shown a yellow card 15 minutes from time.
The same player was unable to make contact with Chisamba Lungu's cross three minutes later as Zambia pressed for a winner, while Mulenga also spurned a golden opportunity when firing wide from close range in stoppage time.

Siasia absolves players of blame over Tunisia defeat

The Dream Team VI handler has refused to fault his players following their defeat to Tunisia U-23 side in an international friendly on Saturday

Nigeria U-23 coach, Samson Siasia has absolved his player of blame following their 5-3 defeat in the hands of their Tunisian counterpart in a friendly encounter played in Tunis.
A brace from Junior Ajayi and strike from Etim Emmanuel could not prevent the Dream Team from going down to their hosts in the eight-goal thriller played at the El Menzah Stadium.
According to ‘Siaone’, a lot of factors caused the defeat to the north African opponents, and is hoping to make up for the rout when both sides meet again on Wednesday.
"I don’t want to blame the players too much for the loss to the Tunisians in the first match on Saturday, said Siasia in a statement released by the Nigeria Football Federation.
"Without appearing to be making excuses for them, we arrived in Tunis on Friday afternoon and immediately went to training but the weather did not help matters.
"Most of them were traveling outside the country for the first time and you can’t wish that away,’’ Siasia said in a statement by the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) in Abuja on Sunday.
The coach also said the weather was a critical issue while thanking the NFF for the game which will help him and his assistants correct noticeable lapses.
"Weather was really a factor. However, in the first match, my assistants and I noticed a number of areas we need to improve on seriously before we can say we have a team.
"We thank the NFA for organising these matches because they will really help us prepare for the qualifiers against Gabon, and other matches in the race to the All-Africa Games and the 2016 Olympics,” he concluded.

Neymar: Ronaldo should be punished

Barcelona star Neymar says he understands Cristiano Ronaldo's frustration boiling over after he was shown a red card during Real Madrid's 2-1 win over Cordoba.

The Portuguese seemed rattled throughout the contest, with video footage appearing to show him throwing a punch at Jose Angel Crespo, which went unnoticed by the referee.

But Ronaldo was later punished for kicking out at Edimar Fraga in another moment of indiscipline, which resulted in him being sent off.

The three-time Ballon d'Or winner later apologised on social media for losing his temper, but he has received the support of Neymar.

"It is difficult because sometimes there is provocation," he said. "It happened to Zinedine Zidane, it happened to me. Nobody has the coolness to remain calm 100 per cent of the time.

"We must think with our heads. I think he should be punished.

"It is the referee's responsibility to protect players on the pitch, particularly when they are targeted by hard challenges. Hard tackles must be punished."

Neymar has been one of Barcelona's shining lights amid a turbulent campaign at Camp Nou, with boardroom upheaval followed by reports of a dispute between Lionel Messi and coach Luis Enrique.

The Brazil captain has scored 19 goals in 25 games in all competitions and eased the goalscoring burden on the Argentine.

The 22-year-old was asked whether the presence of his South American team-mate could hinder his own bid to become the best player in the world, but he says Messi's influence is only positive.

"I have no problem. I've shared a dressing room with Ronaldinho and I never had problems with him. I've played with many great players. Messi is the best player in the world and I'll always have huge respect for him."