Nigeria Shakes Off Japan Defeat, Beats Canada 3-1

The Nigeria Under-20 team, Super Falcons on Wednesday defeated their Canadian counterpart at the ongoing FIFA Under-20 World Cup.

Goals from Uchendu 45+1', Bokiri 46' and Ihezuo 73' were enough to claim the maximum three points for the Nigeria ladies.
The Falconets who lost their first match against Japan will now seek to get three points when they take on Spain.

Messi travels in Neymar’s private jet

Their rivalry is among the most stories in world football but it seems the once icy relationship between Argentina and Brazil has thawed.
At least, for Barcelona teammates-Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano and Neymar.
After flying together from Barcelona to Sao Paulo the trio boarded Neymar’s private jet on Tuesday for a flight to Belo Horizonte, where their national teams will meet in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday.

Messi and other Barca players

 Local media reported that Mascherano and Messi asked for permission from Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza to accept Neymar’s offer of a ride in his nine million US-dollar Cessna Citation 680.
Upon touching down in Belo Horizonte, the players were whisked off in private cars to their respective teams’ training bases without speaking to waiting media.
The clash will be Brazil’s first fixture at the Mineirao stadium since their calamitous 7-1 semifinal defeat to Germany at the 2014 World Cup.
Brazil are currently top of the South American zone World Cup qualifying standings with 21 points, one point ahead of second-placed Uruguay. Argentina are sixth, five points behind the Selecao.
The last time the neighbors met was in a World Cup qualifier last November, when they drew 1-1 at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.
The top four teams at the end of the South American qualifying tournament will advance directly to the 2018 World Cup in Russia while the fifth-ranked side will earn a playoff spot.

Mourinho issues Rashford with England Under-21 warning

Manchester United’s English striker Marcus Rashford (R) makes a rash tackle on Liverpool’s English midfielder James Milner early in the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on October 17, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Paul ELLIS /

Jose Mourinho does not want Marcus Rashford to be selected for next year’s European Under-21 Championships if the Manchester United striker is a regular in the senior England squad.

The United manager was responding to stories that England’s governing Football Association were keen to include Premier League stars, such as Rashford, in their Under-21 squad for the tournament in Poland in June.

Mourinho in Trouble For Comments on Referee Appointed For Man U Vs Liv Match

The Football Association is set to look into Jose Mourinho’s comments, about the appointment of referee Anthony Taylor, for Manchester United game against Liverpool on Monday.

Former head of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited body, Keith Hackett, had criticized the decision to appoint Manchester-based Taylor.
Mourinho told Sunday newspapers that Taylor had been put under pressure ahead of the match.
“I think Mr Taylor is a very good referee but I think somebody with intention is putting such a pressure on him that I feel it will be difficult for him to have a very good performance,” Mourinho said.
“I have my view but I understood and I learned a lesson by being punished so many times for some words so I don’t want to say anything [more] about it.”
In 2009, new rules were introduced, in an attempt to crack down on pre-match comments about officials, which could be viewed as intimidatory or influential.
In its statement at the time, the FA said: “Clubs are being advised that any media comments by managers, players or any other club officials relating to appointed match officials prior to a fixture will no longer be allowed – such prematch comments will be deemed improper and dealt with accordingly.”

Rooney 'confused' by Mourinho, claims Giggs

Wayne Rooney has lost his place in both Manchester United and England's starting XIs, and Ryan Giggs blames confusion over his position.

In a week where Wayne Rooney's stock plummeted even further, the out-of-favour Manchester United and England captain received the backing of Ryan Giggs, who feels his former team-mate has been left confused by club manager Jose Mourinho.

How Iwobi, Iheanacho gave Nigeria victory

Iwobi and Iheanacho

Nigeria opened their 2018 World Cup group-phase qualifying campaign with a 2-1 victory in Zambia on Sunday thanks to goals from English Premier League duo Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho The 20-year-old strikers scored in the opening half before a capacity 40,000 crowd at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in central city Ndola that included President Edgar Lungu.

Zambia dominated the second half and veteran striker Collins Mbesuma set up a tense finish by halving the deficit 19 minutes from time. But an equaliser eluded the Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets), who are seeking a first World Cup appearance while the Super Eagles have already been to the finals five times.

Russia 2018: Eagles gunning for 11 points to top group -Rohr *Iwobi, Iheanacho scared us -Zambia captain

GERNOT ROHR

Coach Gernot Rohr has revealed that 11 points from the ‘Group of Death’ will qualify Nigeria to a sixth World Cup final.

On Sunday, the Super Eagles won three valuable points on the road in Zambia and welcome Algeria to Uyo next month.

They lead their qualifying group after Algeria were forced to a 1-1 draw by Cameroon in Blida.

“I think we need 11 points to be first of the group, but all the teams have a good chance to qualify (for the World Cup),” the experienced Rohr said at a press briefing.

“We all know that it is very difficult to win a game in the qualifiers especially away in the first game. But we did it.”

The Franco-German further said that despite the Eagles winning start, they need to improve before a November 12 clash against Algeria in Uyo.

“We have a lot of work to do. We have some problems and we have to be better in some situations defensively and even offensively we tried too much to play (vs Zambia). We did not shoot but we got the three points and welcome Algeria in a month in Uyo,” he said.


Rohr said Sunday’s game was one of two halves with Nigeria dominating in the first 45 minutes, while the home team took charge after the interval.

“It was a good game of football, both teams wanted to win. In the first half we got what we hoped for, we played well and we scored,” he remarked.

“In second half, Zambia were the better team and that reflected in this match – first half for us, second half for them.

“We were a bit tired in the second half because of a lot of physical effort in the first half. The players ran very much, hot weather, 2.30pm in the afternoon, it’s not easy to play in the sun and in the second half, the wind blew in favour of the home team.

“They pushed, pushed and they scored and could have been 2-2, but we defended well because spirit of the team is very good, we supported each other.”Meanwhile, Zambia skipper Rainford Kalaba has admitted some of the players were intimidated by the several Nigeria stars who play in the Premier League in England and this caused their loss Sunday.

Zambia lost for the first time in Ndola with Premier League stars Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho scoring for Nigeria in the first half.

The other Premier League stars on the squad were Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa from Leicester City and Brown Ideye, who has previously featured for West Bromwich Albion.

Kalaba revealed these stars scared some of his colleagues.

“Playing against experienced players based in Europe, some of the guys were scared of playing against them because they always watch them every weekend in the Premier league and when they see them live, it is often difficult for them to concentrate on the game,” reasoned the TP Mazembe star who posted a short-lived stint in Portugal many years ago.

“In the first half some of the guys were a bit scared, but in the second half we all saw how things went and we controlled the game.

“There are even more stars in Algeria and Cameroon, so this must be big lesson for us.”

Kalaba further said of his impression of Nigeria,” We respect Nigeria because they have some good players.

“They have some experienced players in the midfield and they were well organised.”

Rohr and his Assistants

The exciting forward said the pressure will now be on the Chipolopolo to get their qualifying campaign back on track.

“Losing our first game has brought more pressure on us, but we hope to improve,” he admitted.

“We are all very disappointed we lost at home because it was important to start (this competition) well.

“We still have time to work together with the coach so that we that we could rectify the mistake we have made.”