Mexico have offered to replace Nigeria as host of next year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup if Nigeria is eventually stripped of the right.
This is the submission of Fifa executive committee member Chuck Blazer who represents the Concacaf region.
Blazer said Mexico is ready if FIFA decide to look beyond the African continent for the new host of the competition.
“They have offered themselves and we are very proud of the fact,” Blazer said. “They have a very good and ready infrastructure.”
Mexico is scheduled to host the 24-team tournament in 2011. FIFA had earlier confirmed that Nigeria wants to pull out of hosting the event.
The world body must now decide whether to help finance the Nigeria or look elsewhere. Blazer says their leader Sepp Blatter is committed to holding the youth World Cup in Africa.
“I think he (Blatter) is going to continue to work to see whether they can find an appropriate alternative there first,” Blazer said.
Fifa said in a statement that Nigeria “is no longer in a position to provide its support for the organization of the tournament.”
The Nigerian government and football officials were at the Fifa headquarters in Zurich this week to explain their situation.
Nigeria President Umaru Yar’Adua had already said that funding the $30 million budget was not a priority. Six cities are in line to stage matches but all need work to upgrade stadiums and infrastructure.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
MORINHO WINS OFF-THE PITCH WAR IN ITALY
Catania sporting director Pietro Lo Monaco has been fined and suspended for comments made during his war of words with Inter boss Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho and Lo Monaco became embroiled in a spat after Inter squeezed past Catania 2-1 in Week 2.The Special One antagonised the Etnei by claiming the score could have been 5-0 and that he could have played in goal for Inter.
Lo Monaco hit back and stated that Mourinho “needed a smack in the mouth.”Although the Catania man apologised and stressed that he wasn’t trying to incite violence, the Italian Football Federation has taken action against him.
The Rossazzurri man will be banned from his role for 40 days and has received a fine of just under £12,000
Mourinho and Lo Monaco became embroiled in a spat after Inter squeezed past Catania 2-1 in Week 2.The Special One antagonised the Etnei by claiming the score could have been 5-0 and that he could have played in goal for Inter.
Lo Monaco hit back and stated that Mourinho “needed a smack in the mouth.”Although the Catania man apologised and stressed that he wasn’t trying to incite violence, the Italian Football Federation has taken action against him.
The Rossazzurri man will be banned from his role for 40 days and has received a fine of just under £12,000
Friday, October 3, 2008
USA BASED S/LEONE STAR WARNS EAGLES
Leone Stars and United State based Houston Dynamo striker , Kei Kamara has warned the Super Eagles of Nigeria defenders that they would face a goal thirsty striker on October 11 in Abuja .
The striker who scored twice for Dynamo in their Tuesday night CONCACAF Champions League clash against Pumas UNAM said he was confident of accomplishing a similar action against the Nigerians.
With Leone Stars preparing to face the group four leaders in Abuja for their final 2010 Nations Cup/World Cup qualifiers, Kamara said his goals scoring form could edge the Super Eagles.
He said: “I missed our 2:1 home victory against Equatorial Guinea due to suspension. I want my comeback to be felt and I believe the only way is to get my first goal for my country.”
“The match is important for us to qualify as one of the eight best loosers in the qualifying series. We must go all out to win the match.”
Despite the striker scored twice for his club, they were held to a 4: 4 draw as their CONCACAF Champions League campaign still continues.
Kamara’s teammate, Craig Waibel headed Dynamo’s opener in the fourth minutes from a corner kick and 4 minutes latter, Kamara got his first goal of the day from a 12 yards rocket striker in the six-yard box to give Dynamo’s a 2-0 lead.
Dante Lopez and Efrain Juarez gave Pumas the equalizer before Kamara converted a penalty as Dynamo regained a 3-2 lead. Waibel again scored for Dynamo before Pumas got their equalizer.
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The striker who scored twice for Dynamo in their Tuesday night CONCACAF Champions League clash against Pumas UNAM said he was confident of accomplishing a similar action against the Nigerians.
With Leone Stars preparing to face the group four leaders in Abuja for their final 2010 Nations Cup/World Cup qualifiers, Kamara said his goals scoring form could edge the Super Eagles.
He said: “I missed our 2:1 home victory against Equatorial Guinea due to suspension. I want my comeback to be felt and I believe the only way is to get my first goal for my country.”
“The match is important for us to qualify as one of the eight best loosers in the qualifying series. We must go all out to win the match.”
Despite the striker scored twice for his club, they were held to a 4: 4 draw as their CONCACAF Champions League campaign still continues.
Kamara’s teammate, Craig Waibel headed Dynamo’s opener in the fourth minutes from a corner kick and 4 minutes latter, Kamara got his first goal of the day from a 12 yards rocket striker in the six-yard box to give Dynamo’s a 2-0 lead.
Dante Lopez and Efrain Juarez gave Pumas the equalizer before Kamara converted a penalty as Dynamo regained a 3-2 lead. Waibel again scored for Dynamo before Pumas got their equalizer.
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Tuesday, September 30, 2008
MIKEL LEADS IN THE CHELSEA PLAYER OF THE SEASON POLL
The rating Nigerian midfielder John Mikel Obi enjoys among fans of English clubside Chelsea continues to soar by the day as he is presently in the forefront in the club’s ‘Player of the Season’ polls.
The former FC Lyn of Norway player, when fit, has been a regular feature in the Blues’ line-up and is the catalyst behind the London side’s impressive start to the 2008-09 league campaign.
Last weekend the Nigeria international was yet again in the heart of the Chelsea midfield dictating play to the delight of manager Luiz Felipe Scolari and the club’s band of traveling supporters as they handed Stoke City a 2-0 thumping at the Britannia Stadium.
Mikel’s performance against the Potters however only earned him third spot among Chelsea fans who voted the duo of Florent Malouda and Jose Bosingwa respectively as their top two performers last weekend.
Voting took place on a website dedicated to supporters of the Blues,and Mikel grabbed a respectable 12 percent of the vote against Bosingwa’s 27 percent and Malouda’s 38 percent.
Any player who emerges man of the match after every game earns five points while three points and a point are on offer for the second and third-placed player, and Mikel for his effort against Stoke picked up the solitary point on offer.
The point was however enough to push Mikel to the top of the leader board as he now has nine points in the overall table, a point ahead of the duo of Deco and goalkeeper Petr Cech.
In fourth place is Frank Lampard with six points followed by the quartet of Michael Essien, Ricardo Carvalho, Alex and Malouda, who are all on five points.
Meanwhile, Mikel has confirmed that everything went according to plan for the Blues last weekend against Stoke.
Chelsea won yet again on the road against a Potters side expected to take a direct and an athletic approach.
And Mikel believes the homework paid off just as he insists nothing caught his side by surprise at the Britannia.“We knew the game would be physical and we knew their game was about chipping the ball and running. We talked about it a lot before the game. We did exactly what we were told,” said Mikel.
The former FC Lyn of Norway player, when fit, has been a regular feature in the Blues’ line-up and is the catalyst behind the London side’s impressive start to the 2008-09 league campaign.
Last weekend the Nigeria international was yet again in the heart of the Chelsea midfield dictating play to the delight of manager Luiz Felipe Scolari and the club’s band of traveling supporters as they handed Stoke City a 2-0 thumping at the Britannia Stadium.
Mikel’s performance against the Potters however only earned him third spot among Chelsea fans who voted the duo of Florent Malouda and Jose Bosingwa respectively as their top two performers last weekend.
Voting took place on a website dedicated to supporters of the Blues,and Mikel grabbed a respectable 12 percent of the vote against Bosingwa’s 27 percent and Malouda’s 38 percent.
Any player who emerges man of the match after every game earns five points while three points and a point are on offer for the second and third-placed player, and Mikel for his effort against Stoke picked up the solitary point on offer.
The point was however enough to push Mikel to the top of the leader board as he now has nine points in the overall table, a point ahead of the duo of Deco and goalkeeper Petr Cech.
In fourth place is Frank Lampard with six points followed by the quartet of Michael Essien, Ricardo Carvalho, Alex and Malouda, who are all on five points.
Meanwhile, Mikel has confirmed that everything went according to plan for the Blues last weekend against Stoke.
Chelsea won yet again on the road against a Potters side expected to take a direct and an athletic approach.
And Mikel believes the homework paid off just as he insists nothing caught his side by surprise at the Britannia.“We knew the game would be physical and we knew their game was about chipping the ball and running. We talked about it a lot before the game. We did exactly what we were told,” said Mikel.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
MAN-CITY DENIES RONALDO,FABREGAS HIJACK PLAN
Manchester City’s new owners have played down a megabucks January spending spree.
The Abu Dhabi United Group, headed by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan, will take full control of the Eastlands club today.
City had been linked with moves for Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas on the final day of the transfer window last month.
But Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim, who made the audacious claims, has since been sidelined by the new owners.
And new City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak insisted: “Nothing rash is going to happen, we are not going to do crazy stuff. “We are genuine people and we want to develop this club in a sustainable manner.
“We want to hear from the fans and the community. We want to bring this club back to the community and to the fans. “We are here as long-term investors and it makes sense for us to build a dynasty.
“With our backing, with the commitment we are going to make to the academy in the next 10 years there is going to be a tremendous period for Manchester City and for us.
“And I think we are going to have a blast doing it!” Al Mubarak reiterated that boss Mark Hughes will have the final say on transfer dealings.
He said: “One thing I have made very clear to Mark is that any player he wants comes from him.
“I am not an expert. It is Mark who runs the club and Mark who makes the football decisions. “We are here to support and make financial decisions, but we are not here to teach Mark or Garry what to do.
“They are the professionals, we trust them, we have confidence in them and we are going to support them. “Mark is an honest man, he’s a leader, he’s tough and he is everything you would want in a head coach.
“We trust him, he’s one of the gems we saw in this club once we came here. “He will put a plan together to win trophies, but we will be patient.
“As long as it is being managed properly and the players are doing what they need to do, then it will take whatever it takes.”
The Abu Dhabi United Group, headed by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan, will take full control of the Eastlands club today.
City had been linked with moves for Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas on the final day of the transfer window last month.
But Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim, who made the audacious claims, has since been sidelined by the new owners.
And new City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak insisted: “Nothing rash is going to happen, we are not going to do crazy stuff. “We are genuine people and we want to develop this club in a sustainable manner.
“We want to hear from the fans and the community. We want to bring this club back to the community and to the fans. “We are here as long-term investors and it makes sense for us to build a dynasty.
“With our backing, with the commitment we are going to make to the academy in the next 10 years there is going to be a tremendous period for Manchester City and for us.
“And I think we are going to have a blast doing it!” Al Mubarak reiterated that boss Mark Hughes will have the final say on transfer dealings.
He said: “One thing I have made very clear to Mark is that any player he wants comes from him.
“I am not an expert. It is Mark who runs the club and Mark who makes the football decisions. “We are here to support and make financial decisions, but we are not here to teach Mark or Garry what to do.
“They are the professionals, we trust them, we have confidence in them and we are going to support them. “Mark is an honest man, he’s a leader, he’s tough and he is everything you would want in a head coach.
“We trust him, he’s one of the gems we saw in this club once we came here. “He will put a plan together to win trophies, but we will be patient.
“As long as it is being managed properly and the players are doing what they need to do, then it will take whatever it takes.”
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
KANU:WENGER CHANGED MY LIFE
Nigeria's Super Eagles captain,Nwankwo Kanu has hailed Arsene Wenger for offering him the chance to revive his career after his heart operation.
The Nigeria legend is grateful to Arsenal manager Wenger, who signed him from Inter in 1998 and helped him bounce back to form and continue his career at the highest level.
The 32-year-old Kanu feels the Frenchman is the reason why he is still a Premier League star.
“I owe him a lot because he believed in me,” Kanu told Canal+. “He gave me self confidence and faith. And I think I paid him back because I did very well with Arsenal.
“We were all together, like a family during this period, and I scored special goals, especially against Chelsea, three in 15 minutes.
“He gave me the chance to have fun playing football and permitted me to dream on.” Kanu added that his current club Portsmouth have a united group that can be compared to the one he was part of at Highbury.
“I feel great because I have found the same atmosphere than at Arsenal here,” he said. “This state of mind resembles Arsenal’s and helped us win things.”
The Nigeria legend is grateful to Arsenal manager Wenger, who signed him from Inter in 1998 and helped him bounce back to form and continue his career at the highest level.
The 32-year-old Kanu feels the Frenchman is the reason why he is still a Premier League star.
“I owe him a lot because he believed in me,” Kanu told Canal+. “He gave me self confidence and faith. And I think I paid him back because I did very well with Arsenal.
“We were all together, like a family during this period, and I scored special goals, especially against Chelsea, three in 15 minutes.
“He gave me the chance to have fun playing football and permitted me to dream on.” Kanu added that his current club Portsmouth have a united group that can be compared to the one he was part of at Highbury.
“I feel great because I have found the same atmosphere than at Arsenal here,” he said. “This state of mind resembles Arsenal’s and helped us win things.”
Monday, September 15, 2008
SCOLARI HAILS MIKEL OBI
Chelsea boss,Felipe Scolari has hailed come-backing Nigerian Super Eagles midfielder,John Mikel Obi courageous after the Nigerian stayed on for over 90 minutes in the Blues of London’s 3-1 win over the Blues of Manchester (Manchester City) last Saturday at the City of Manchester Stadium. Mikel made a 90 minutes return to action after staying on the sidelines for nearly a month following the injury he copped in the 4-0 rout of Portsmouth on the opening day of the on-going season last month. Scolari admitted he was not sure if the former Lyn Oslo youngster would last for that long and actually pencilled him down for a 60 to 70 minutes appearance. Mikel not only lasted the whole match,his impressive showing especially in the second half delighted his Brazilian boss . ‘My players want to play. They have confidence. They like each other. On Tuesday I will say to [Michael] Ballack you can play 45, 60, 70 minutes but we saw today with Mikel, I say before that he play 60 minutes and he played 93 minutes. All the players when they come in play very well.’said Scolari
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