Smart Views: Sports.

Toure dismayed by Fifa racism task force axe

<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Yaya-Toure-kicks-160919G300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="middle" border="0" src="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Yaya-Toure-kicks-160919G300.jpg" style="display: block;" /></a><i><b>Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure on Tuesday expressed deep 
disappointment over Fifa's decision to disband its anti-racism task 
force, saying it "makes no sense".</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
The Fifa Task Force Against Racism and Discrimination, founded in 2013, 
was discontinued on Sunday, with the world governing body explaining it 
had achieved its stated objectives.</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
Toure was a consultant to the task force and he cited fears about the 
risk of racism at the 2018 World Cup in Russia as a reason for Fifa to 
remain vigilant.</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
"When I received the letter telling me the Fifa task force was to be 
discontinued I was very disappointed," the Ivorian midfielder said in a 
statement on his personal website.</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
"The letter listed the good work that had been carried out as a result of the task force's advice and recommendations.</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
"So my question is, after failing to deal with racism sufficiently for 
decades – why stop when something is beginning to work? Are Fifa being 
complacent ahead of a World Cup in Russia? This makes no sense."</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
He added: "The task force brought together the expertise of campaigners,
 football administrators and players. It was a resource that gave Fifa 
the expertise they clearly did not have before.</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
"My only hope is that Fifa have thought this through. The letter I 
received does not fill me with confidence. It will be the fans and 
players that suffer if Fifa do not get this right."</b></i></div>

Toure dismayed by Fifa racism task force axe

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure on Tuesday expressed deep disappointment over Fifa's decision to disband its anti-racism task f...

Big Match Feature: BVB v Real

<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>Borussia Dortmund go in search of a fourth straight home victory over
 Real Madrid when they host the reigning European champions on matchday 
two. Catch the action live on SS3 and Maximo from 8pm.</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
The clubs' record from five previous meetings on German soil is three wins for Dortmund, none for Madrid and two draws. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
They last met in the 2013/14 Champions League quarter-finals, Madrid 
prevailing 3-2 on aggregate en route to lifting the trophy. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> 
Gareth Bale, Isco and Cristiano Ronaldo earned Carlo Ancelotti's Madrid a
 3-0 first-leg lead before Dortmund, managed by Jürgen Klopp, narrowed 
the deficit with a 2-0 victory in Germany through two Marco Reus 
strikes. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 
<i><strong>The line-ups for that second leg on 8 April 2014 were:</strong></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 
<i><strong>Dortmund: Weidenfeller, Piszczek (Aubameyang 81), Friedrich, Hummels, Durm, Kirch, Mkhitaryan, Jojic, Reus, Grosskreutz, Lewandowski. </strong></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 
<i><strong>Madrid: Casillas, Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Fábio 
Coentrão, Alonso, Illarramendi (Isco 46), Modric, Di María (Casemiro 
73), Bale, Benzema (Varane 90+1). </strong></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

The teams met in the group stage of the 2012/13 competition when 
Dortmund finished above Madrid with the help of a 2-1 home win – Robert 
Lewandowski and Marcel Schmelzer scoring either side of Ronaldo – and a 
2-2 draw in Madrid where Pepe and Marco Reus featured on the scoresheet.
 </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> 
The clubs were reunited in the semi-finals that season and Dortmund won 
the first leg 4-1 at home, Lewandowski getting all four goals and 
sending his side through despite a 2-0 reverse in Madrid where Karim 
Benzema and Sergio Ramos scored. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 
<i><strong>The line-ups for the semi-final first leg at the BVB Stadion on 24 April 2013 were:</strong></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
 
Dortmund: Weidenfeller, Piszczek (Grosskreutz 83), Subotic, Hummels, 
Schmelzer, Blaszczykowski (Kehl 82), Bender, Gündogan (Schieber 90), 
Götze, Reus, Lewandowski. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> 
Madrid: López, Pepe, Varane, Ramos, Fábio Coentrão, Alonso (Kaká 80), 
Khedira, Modric (Di María 68), Ronaldo, Özil, Higuaín (Benzema 68). </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
 
Roman Weidenfeller is the solitary survivor of the sides' meetings in 
the 2002/03 second group stage, when Madrid won 2-1 at the Santiago 
Bernabéu and then drew 1-1 in Dortmund. Zinédine Zidane played in both 
matches too. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> 
Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc and youth-team coordinator Lars 
Ricken played in Dortmund's 1997/98 UEFA Champions League semi-final 
loss to Madrid (0-2 a, 0-0 h). </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 
<i><strong>MATCH BACKGROUND</strong></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><strong>
Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund began Group F with a 6-0 win at Legia Warszawa – their biggest away victory in Uefa competition. </strong></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><strong>
Dortmund averaged three goals a game at home in the 2015/16 Europa League. Their record was P8 W6 D1 L1 F24 A5.</strong></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><strong>
 
The Bundesliga side have won their last four home matches against 
Spanish visitors. Their overall record at home against Liga opposition 
is W7 D3 L2.</strong></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><strong>Real Madrid</strong></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> 
Madrid left it late to snatch three points from Sporting Clube de 
Portugal on matchday one, winning 2-1 through goals from Ronaldo (89) 
and Álvaro Morata (90+4) </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><strong> 
Their record on the road in last season's competition was W3 D2 L1.
 That solitary defeat was a 2-0 reverse at a VfL Wolfsburg team 
containing André Schürrle in the quarter-finals. Madrid recovered to 
beat the Bundesliga club 3-0 back at the Bernabéu.</strong></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><strong>
Madrid's overall record away to German sides is P29 W4 D6 L19. </strong></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><strong>

Coach and player links</strong></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> 
Zidane was in the Juventus team defeated 3-1 by Dortmund in the 1996/97 Champions League final. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
Nuri Sahin spent 2011/12 with Madrid, making 12 appearances. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> 
Lukasz Piszczek's Poland suffered a EURO 2016 quarter-final defeat on penalties against Ronaldo and Pepe's Portugal. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> v
Nuri Sahin was in the Turkey team beaten 3-0 by the Spain of Sergio Ramos and the two-goal Morata in the EURO 2016 group stage. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
Schürrle and Toni Kroos each scored twice as Germany beat a Brazil side 
containing Marcelo 7-1 in the 2014 World Cup semifinals. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
Kroos played 17 times against Dortmund for Leverkusen and Bayern, scoring one goal (W5 D3 L9). </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
Marc Bartra's only outing for FC Barcelona against Madrid came in their 2-1 Copa del Rey final defeat in 2014. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Borussia_Dortmund_celebrate20160927G300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="middle" border="0" src="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Borussia_Dortmund_celebrate20160927G300.jpg" style="display: block;" /></a><i><b>Mario Götze was in the FC Bayern München side beaten by Madrid in the 2013/14 Champions League semifinals. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
As a Bayer 04 Leverkusen player in 2012/13, Carvajal lost home (2-3) and away (0-3) to Dortmund. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 
<i><strong>International team-mates (non-Germany/Spain): Raphaël 
Guerreiro & Cristiano Ronaldo & Pepe (Portugal) Adrián Ramos 
& James Rodríguez (Colombia) Ousmane Dembélé & Raphaël Varane 
(France) </strong></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><strong>MATCH FACTS</strong></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><strong>
Borussia Dortmund</strong></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> 
Dortmund have scored 20 goals – distributed between 12 players – in their last four games. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
 
Thomas Tuchel's men followed up their 6-0 win at Legia with an identical
 victory at home to SV Darmstadt 98 on 17 September. They then prevailed
 5-1 against a VfL Wolfsburg side that had hitherto not conceded a goal 
in the Bundesliga this season and on Friday overcame SC Freiburg 3-1. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
 
By beating Freiburg, Dortmund matched their club record of 24 home 
Bundesliga fixtures without defeat, set between January 1965 and April 
1966 and equalled from November 2001 to March 2003. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> 
Sebastian Rode and Emre Mor registered their first Dortmund goals in the
 defeat of Darmstadt; Dembélé did likewise away to Wolfsburg, where 
Piszczek was on target for the first time in the Bundesliga since 3 May 
2014. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> 
Bartra was substituted early on in Wolfsburg due to an adductor strain and missed the visit of Freiburg. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
 
Schürrle has sat out Dortmund's last four encounters with the knee 
injury he sustained in the 1-0 loss at RB Leipzig on 10 September. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
 
Sven Bender has not played for Dortmund this season due to the ankle 
injury he suffered at the Olympic Games, where he and Matthias Ginter 
won silver medals. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> 
Reus (adductors), Neven Subotic (ribs) and Erik Durm (knee) are long-term injury absentees. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 
<i><strong>Real Madrid</strong></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> 
Zidane's men are unbeaten in 19 in all competitions, dating back to 
their 2-0 loss at Wolfsburg in the first leg of the 2015/16 Champions 
League quarter-finals. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> 
The Merengues twice surrendered the lead in drawing 2-2 away to UD Las 
Palmas on Saturday. Ronaldo was withdrawn with 18 minutes remaining. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>
 
Villarreal CF denied Madrid what would have been a Liga record 17th 
consecutive victory when they drew 1-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu on 21 
September. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> 
Ramos headed the equaliser against Villarreal, his second Liga goal of 
the campaign and third overall, equalling his tally from last term.</b></i></div>

Big Match Feature: BVB v Real

Borussia Dortmund go in search of a fourth straight home victory over Real Madrid when they host the reigning European champions on matchd...

Ibrahim says Caf ticket possible

<a href="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Mustapha%20Ibrahim-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="middle" border="0" src="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Mustapha%20Ibrahim-05.jpg" style="display: block;" /></a>Wikki Tourists captain and right back, Mustapha Ibrahim has said his 
side have shifted whole attention on top-flight matchday 38 clash 
against Sunshine Stars aimed at making the continental numbers.<br />

The Bauchi outfit lost their concerted fight for the league crown 
with a 0-1 loss at 3SC in matchday 37 tie in Ibadan now must beat the 
Owena Waves to chance winning a ticket to Africa.<br />

Ibrahim said the painful loss at Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) 
completely killed off their hope to land the league title in the 
on-going top-flight.<br />

“Of course, we are no more in contention for the league crown as the 
loss at 3SC has made nonsense of our dream to be champions in the 
on-going top-flight.<br />

“Right now we have shifted our whole attention on winning one of the tickets to the continent.<br />

“We believe the task is achievable with a game to spare against Sunshine Stars on Sunday in Bauchi.<br />

“We are thinking of nothing else but the clash against Sunshine Stars and how to earn the whole points at stake.<br />

“Victory against Sunshine Stars will put us on strong footing to challenge for the ticket to the continent.<br />

“We have strong goals to help our course if we are to tie on points 
with other frontrunners like Rivers, FC IfeanyiUbah, among others.<br />

“We are not expecting Sunshine Stars to come cheap as they, too stand a chance to nip a ticket to Africa.<br />

“That’s why we are giving the clash an undivided attention and 
preparing adequately to ensure we win convincingly,” said the former 
Golden Eaglets strongman to supersport.com.<br />

Wikki Tourists are fourth on the Nigerian top-flight log on 54 points six behind league leaders, Enugu Rangers.

Ibrahim says Caf ticket possible

Wikki Tourists captain and right back, Mustapha Ibrahim has said his side have shifted whole attention on top-flight matchday 38 clash aga...

Bayern out to settle Spanish score in Madrid

<a href="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Carlo-Ancelotti-lookson-160919G300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="middle" border="0" src="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Carlo-Ancelotti-lookson-160919G300.jpg" style="display: block;" /></a>After three consecutive semifinal defeats against Spanish clubs in the 
Champions League, Bayern Munich head to Atletico Madrid for Wednesday's 
group match with a point to prove.<br />

"We want to show that we can do better than in the last few semifinals. 
We certainly have a score to settle there," said Bayern forward Thomas 
Mueller before the team jetted off to Madrid.<br />

After the highs of beating Borussia Dortmund in the 2013 Champions 
League final came Bayern's lows of semifinal exits to Real Madrid, 
Barcelona and then Atletico in each of the last three seasons under Pep 
Guardiola.<br />

Atletico have won 25 of their last 30 home European games making the Estadio Vicente Calderon something of a cauldron.<br />

Last season's semifinal exit at the hands of Diego Simeone's Atletico 
was particularly painful for Bayern, who won the return leg 2-1 in 
Munich after losing 1-0 in Madrid as the Spanish side reached the final 
on away goals.<br />

"In the last three years, we played three times against Spanish teams 
and always lost there," said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.<br />

"We saw how strong Atletico are last season and you can't get much more of a tougher test.<br />

"Now we have the chance to show with Carlo (Ancelotti) that we can get at least a point there – or even three."<br />

After Guardiola failed to steer Bayern to the Champions League final, 
his successor Ancelotti is the Bavarian giants' not-so-secret weapon.<br />

Two years ago, Ancelotti's Real Madrid won the 2014 Champions League final with a 4-1 extra-time win over Atletico.<br />

"I really like Madrid and I'm looking forward to going back, I had two wonderful years there," said Ancelotti.<br />

Sightseeing will be the last thing on the Italian's programme, with 
Ancelotti more concerned about French forward Antoine Griezmann, whose 
goals knocked Bayern out of Europe last May.<br />

"He could play at any big club in Europe," said Ancelotti.<br />

Bayern smashed Russian side Rostov 5-0 in Munich in their opening Group D
 match, the same night Atletico won 1-0 at PSV Eindhoven.<br />

But the German team's players know they will be in for a much sterner challenge on Wednesday.<br />

"It will be a difficult fight in Madrid and we have to at least get a few goals," said Bayern captain Philipp Lahm.<br />

Bayern defender Mats Hummels, who trained on Monday after limping out of
 Saturday's 1-0 win at Hamburg with a knee injury, says the Bundesliga 
leaders have a "pretty tricky task against one of the top favourites to 
win the Champions League".

Bayern out to settle Spanish score in Madrid

After three consecutive semifinal defeats against Spanish clubs in the Champions League, Bayern Munich head to Atletico Madrid for Wednesd...

why can't we rid ourselves of the England manager's disease? - Eriksson, Hoddle

<div class="article-text" itemprop="articleBody" style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="leading">
<b><i>The former West Ham boss could face the sack for 
comments made in a secret recording but for decades England managers 
have been the architects of their own downfall</i></b></div>
<div class="">
<div class="module module-ad fresh8-inline-leaderboar">
 </div>
</div>
<hr style="background: rgb(0, 172, 119) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: 0px none; color: #00ac77; height: 3px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; width: 100%;" />
 <b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <strong> COMMENT </strong> </span></i></b>

<b><i>One game into the job, Sam Allardyce’s future as England manager is 
already under threat. Yet anyone expressing surprise at the ability of a
 Three Lions boss to shoot himself in the foot so dramatically only need
 look at recent history to realise this is a disease that the national 
coach simply cannot shake off no matter what his identity.</i></b><br />

<b><i><strong><a href="http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2995/betting/2016/09/27/27924802/allardyce-on-the-brink-pardew-and-bruce-lead-market-to-be?ICID=HP_BN_2" target="_blank">Allardyce on the brink?</a></strong></i></b><br />

<b><i>Allardyce’s decision to outline methods of circumventing restrictions
 on Third-Party Ownership to new acquaintances was ridiculously naïve. 
It was foolhardy. It was akin to schoolkids attempting to impress 
contemporaries in the playground with a nugget of information they know 
will widen the eyes of their audience. And all this in conversation with
 people he was meeting for the very first time.</i></b><br />

<a href="http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/goal_uk/fb/2a/former-england-manager-glenn-hoddle_17o293te21ae11tl4whc7trzg4.jpg?t=-1277847516" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/goal_uk/fb/2a/former-england-manager-glenn-hoddle_17o293te21ae11tl4whc7trzg4.jpg?t=-1277847516" style="width: 100%;" /></a><b><i>But we have been here before far too often. In 1999, Glenn Hoddle 
thought it a good idea to speak out on issues of faith in an interview 
with The Times newspaper, and his claim that disabled people were paying
 the price for sins in a former life brought an avalanche of criticism 
from the general public which backed the FA into a corner. His 
subsequent sacking appeared the only way out at the time.</i></b><br />

<b><i>Sven-Goran Eriksson’s England reign also ended early after an 
embarrassing sting, with the Swede meeting a ‘Fake Sheikh’ employed by 
the News of the World who presented himself as a potential investor in 
Aston Villa. Eriksson said he’d be open to leaving the national job 
should England be successful in the 2006 World Cup, and there was an 
outcry regarding his loyalty which ultimately led to him departing two 
years before the expiry of his contract.</i></b><br />

<b><i><strong><a href="http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4055/serie-a/2016/09/27/27923002/happy-40th-birthday-gladiatore-francesco-totti-is-greater" target="_blank">Francesco Totti at 40 - Rome's favourite son</a></strong></i></b><br />

<b><i>There have been other England bosses who have ended up walking away 
over matters away from the field of play too. Terry Venables quit in 
1996 to focus on clearing his name against a string of allegations which
 had led his bosses to cool in their support of their manager. In one 
court case, the judge had called Venables’ evidence “not entirely 
reliable to put it at its most charitable.”</i></b><br />

<b><i>Rewind a couple of decades and there is the story of Don Revie, who 
responded to a difficult relationship with the FA and a string of poor 
results by negotiating a deal to become manager of the United Arab 
Emirates while he was meant to be completing a scouting mission, missing
 an England friendly for the cause. After quitting his home nation, the 
FA banned him for 10 years and while Revie managed to overturn the 
decision in court his reputation at home was permanently scarred by his 
so-called ‘desertion’.</i></b><br />

<b><i>Allardyce’s folly could well see him added to the list of England 
bosses whose spell in charge have ended on the back of unwise and 
embarrassing issues away from the actual football. Whereas others had 
been in the job long enough to provide enough misgivings over their 
record too, Big Sam’s case would surely be the most dramatic following 
his single game in charge against Slovakia earlier in September.</i></b><br />

<b><i><strong><a href="http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2914/champions-league/2016/09/26/27899162/barcelonas-champions-league-win-percentage-is-higher-without?ICID=HP_HN_HP_RI_1_3" target="_blank">Are Barca better off without Messi?</a></strong></i></b><br />

<b><i>But would that really achieve anything? And what did he actually do 
wrong? He was silly and has caused embarrassment, both in taking a 
childish swipe at his predecessor ‘Woy’ Hodgson and explaining how to 
side-step TPO restrictions. Yet he has not endorsed the breaking of any 
FIFA rules and regulations, and even flatly refused to talk about the 
very practice of handing bungs to players, managers or agents.</i></b><br />

<b><i>Allardyce should be allowed to live to fight another day. And he 
should be judged on his success or otherwise as the manager of the 
pilloried group of England players he admitted had let down Hodgson. But
 he would be very wise to learn from this lesson and keep his nose clean
 in future.</i></b><br />

<b><i>The foot-in-mouth disease of the England football manager just will 
not go away, and the FA once more finds itself having to decide whether 
it would be more humiliating to back or sack their man.</i></b><br />
<div class="module module-ad fresh8-footer-widget">
 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>

</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><img alt="Eriksson, Hoddle, now Allardyce - why can't we rid ourselves of the England manager's disease?" class="article-image" height="430" itemprop="image" src="http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/goal_korea/27/5/sam-allardyce-england_1tpf63n6azn1h1m5suts3ub9pz.jpg?t=565776598&w=620&h=430" width="620" /></i></b></div>

why can't we rid ourselves of the England manager's disease? - Eriksson, Hoddle

The former West Ham boss could face the sack for comments made in a secret recording but for decades England managers have been the arc...

Flamingoes arrive Jordan for Fifa U17 Women's World Cup

<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="leading">
<a href="http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/Goal_Nigeria/fd/3d/nigeria-u17-women-2016_5sg8znmv4vmw1229fddmutiex.jpg?t=812218162&w=620&h=430" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flamingoes arrive Jordan for Fifa U17 Women's World Cup" border="0" class="article-image" height="430" itemprop="image" src="http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/Goal_Nigeria/fd/3d/nigeria-u17-women-2016_5sg8znmv4vmw1229fddmutiex.jpg?t=812218162&w=620&h=430" width="620" /></a>Bala Nikyu's side have landed in the Western Asia 
nation for the youth tournament ahead of their opening preliminary 
showdown against Brazil this weekend</div>
<div class="">
<div class="module module-ad fresh8-inline-leaderboar">
 </div>
</div>
Nigeria U17 women team have landed in Amman, Jordan on Tuesday 
morning for the Fifa U17 Women's World Cup ahead of Saturday's 
opening Group C clash with Brazil.<br />

The Flamingoes who defeated Namibia and South Africa to secure their 
fifth appearance, had left the country on Monday for the competition 
scheduled to hold from September 30 to October 21.<br />

The team will resume their training activities on Tuesday evening 
ahead of their preliminary round campaign on October 1 at the King 
Abdullah II International Stadium.<br />

Bala Nikyu's girls, who were quarter-finalists last term, will be hoping to secure a winning start against Brazil.<br />

Flamingoes arrive Jordan for Fifa U17 Women's World Cup

Bala Nikyu's side have landed in the Western Asia nation for the youth tournament ahead of their opening preliminary showdown aga...

Five things we learnt in the PL

<a href="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Wayne-Rooney-160924-WarmUp-G-300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Wayne-Rooney-160924-WarmUp-G-300.jpg" border="0" src="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Wayne-Rooney-160924-WarmUp-G-300.jpg" /></a><b><i>Premier League leaders Manchester City maintained their perfect start
 under Pep Guardiola as Manchester United returned to winning ways 
against champions Leicester City.
</i></b><br />
<b><i>
Here are five things we learnt this weekend.
</i></b><br />

<strong>NO ROONEY, NO PROBLEM FOR MAN UNITED</strong> <br />

The Manchester United team sheet for Saturday's home game with Leicester
 City caused a stir after manager Jose Mourinho elected to drop captain 
Wayne Rooney, who has been struggling for form. The outcome did not make
 pleasant viewing for United's number 10, who looked on from the bench 
as his team-mates produced their most convincing display of the season 
with a classy 4-1 victory over the champions. 
<br />

Juan Mata slotted in for Rooney in the number 10 role and proved a far 
livelier presence, slamming home United's second goal after a delightful
 team move involving a chipped pass from Paul Pogba and a volleyed 
lay-off from Jesse Lingard. Pogba seemed to relish the greater space 
afforded him by Rooney's absence and turned in his best United 
performance to date, opening his account for the club with a 42nd-minute
 header. With Marcus Rashford and Zlatan Ibrahimovic also impressing in 
attack and Ander Herrera setting the tempo in midfield, Rooney has a 
fight on his hands to get his place back.<br />

<strong>CONTE HAS PRESSING ISSUES IN DEFENCE </strong><br />

Chelsea produced a defensive horror show in their 3-0 defeat at Arsenal 
as Arsene Wenger's men ended a six-game league scoring drought against 
their London rivals with three goals in the first 40 minutes. Chelsea's 
back four seemed uncomfortable with manager Antonio Conte's high 
defensive line and struggled to play the ball through Arsenal's press.<br />

Gary Cahill was particularly poor, gifting the ball to Alexis Sanchez 
prior to Arsenal's first goal, and right-back Branislav Ivanovic endured
 a torrid evening. Captain John Terry and young centre-back Kurt Zouma 
are expected to return to fitness next month and having seen his team 
concede nine goals in their last four league and cup outings, Conte will
 be eager to get them back.
<br />

<strong>AGUERO STILL THEN MAN</strong> <br />

As if anyone was in any doubt, Sergio Aguero took just nine minutes to 
underline why he remains Manchester City's most valuable player.<br />

Returning from a three-match suspension for elbowing West Ham’s Winston 
Reid, Aguero was a constant menace for the Swansea defence at the 
Liberty Stadium on Saturday.<br />

He opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a typically predatory 
finish, turning inside the penalty area and driving his shot under 
Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.<br />

After Swansea equalised,Aguero scored again, cheekily sending Fabianski the wrong way with a clipped penalty in the 65th minute.<br />

Aguero’s 11th goal in all competitions this season ensured City would 
remain on top of the Premier League and extended Guardiola’s perfect 
start.<br />

<strong>REDS UNDERLINE TITLE BID </strong><br />

Liverpool have not been crowned champions of England since 1990 and a 
match against Hull was exactly the kind of fixture that has often proved
 their undoing in recent title bids. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had 
written in his programme notes that describing Hull as "just hard to 
beat" was doing them a disservice but that didn't stop his side winning 
5-1, with playmaker Philipp Coutinho impressive again.<br />

<strong>HAMMERS' DEFENSIVE WOES</strong><br />

Just when Slaven Bilic thought things couldn’t get any worse for West 
Ham’s creaky defence, the Croatian coach had to watch Southampton run 
his back-four ragged in Sunday’s 3-0 victory for the visitors at the 
London Stadium.
<br />

After a promising first season in charge of the Hammers, Bilic appears 
stuck in a recurring nightmare this term as every Premier League match 
brings a fresh set of indignities for his beleaguered rearguard.<br />

Conceding three at table-topping Manchester City is understandable, but 
in the following two matches, West Ham shipped four goals in defeats 
against the less star-studded attacks of Watford and West Bromwich 
Albion.
<br />

Charlie Austin opened the scoring for Southampton before half-time and 
further goals from Dusan Tadic and James Ward-Prowse left West Ham 
captain Mark Noble admitting his side could easily have lost by six.

Five things we learnt in the PL

Premier League leaders Manchester City maintained their perfect start under Pep Guardiola as Manchester United returned to winning ways ag...

Aubameyang marks 100th cap with goal

<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Pierre-EmerickAubameyang160920CelebratesG300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Pierre-EmerickAubameyang160920CelebratesG300.jpg" border="0" src="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Pierre-EmerickAubameyang160920CelebratesG300.jpg" /></a><b><i>Reigning African Footballer of the Year Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 
celebrated his 100th Bundesliga appearance at the weekend with a goal 
for Borussia Dortmund. </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
The 27-year-old Gabon striker got the first in a 3-1 victory over 
Freiburg and his fifth of the season, making him co-leading league 
scorer with Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
Senegalese goal poacher Sadio Mane was another African on target in 
Europe, scoring the third for Liverpool in a 5-1 English Premier League 
romp against 10-man Hull.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>ENGLAND</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
SADIO MANE (Liverpool)</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
The Senegal star was on target as Liverpool beat Hull 5-1, scoring the 
Reds' third goal with a low shot past David Marshall for his third goal 
of the season. Mane also saw a deflected shot hit the bar.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>AHMED ELMOHAMADY (Hull)</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
The Hull defender's match lasted just half an hour, with the Egyptian 
sent off after he blocked a shot from Philippe Coutinho on the line with
 his arm. He did legitimately clear a Coutinho shot off the line before 
his red card.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>RIYAD MAHREZ (Leicester)</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
The Algeria winger endured a frustrating afternoon as English champions 
Leicester were thrashed 4-1 by Manchester United at Old Trafford. With 
United 4-0 up, Mahrez and England striker Jamie Vardy were withdrawn at 
halftime ahead of the Champions League meeting with FC Porto on Tuesday.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>CHEIKHOU KOUYATE (West Ham)</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
One of several Hammers players who had a match to forget in a 3-0 home 
defeat by Southampton. When he lost possession in the 62nd minute it led
 Charlie Austin to release Dusan Tadic for the visitors' second goal.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>SPAIN</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
FAYCAL FAJR (Deportivo la Coruna)</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
The Moroccan winger had an afternoon to forget as he saw two quickfire 
yellow cards just before halftime to leave Deportivo la Coruna down to 
10 men for the whole second half against Atletico Madrid. Antoine 
Griezmann eventually scored the only goal of the game for Atletico as 
Deportivo slid to 16th with a third defeat in four games.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>ITALY</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
KHOUMA BABACAR (Fiorentina)</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
Babacar endeared himself to fans last week by hitting Fiorentina's 
opener in a 2-2 draw at Udinese, but at home against AC Milan the big 
Senegal forward started on the bench as coach Paulo Sousa opted for 
Josip Ilicic. Ilicic missed a penalty for the hosts and by the time 
Babacar finally made an appearance, eight minutes from the end, it was 
too late to make an impact. The match finished scoreless.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>MOHAMED SALAH (Roma)</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
Salah is usually a threat for opposition defences and midfielders, who 
have to curb his energetic runs, but at Torino the Egyptian found his 
match in Antonio Barecca. The Italian full-back was tasked with keeping 
tabs on Salah and did a great job as Roma huffed and puffed their way to
 a chastening 3-1 defeat that was marked by club icon Francesco Totti's 
250th goal for the club.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>KWADWO ASAMOAH (Juventus)</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
Asamoah has been starting regularly for Juventus this season, but must 
have regretted having come off the bench to help the champions on their 
way to a 1-0 win at Palermo. The Ghanaian replaced Miralem Pjanic on 68 
minutes but lasted barely 20 minutes before crumbling to the ground with
 a knee ligament injury that will keep him out of action for up to six 
weeks.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>FRANCE</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
SERGE AURIER (Paris Saint-Germain)</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
The Ivory Coast defender was sent off for a second yellow card after 
conceding the penalty that set Toulouse up for a shock 2-0 win over 
stumbling champions Paris Saint-Germain. The 23-year-old was also due in
 court on Monday to answer a charge of elbowing a police officer in 
Paris in May.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>DICKSON NWAKAEME (Angers)</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
The 30-year-old journeyman Nigerian striker came off the bench to make 
just his third appearance for Angers in Monaco and scored an unfortunate
 own-goal that proved decisive in a 2-1 defeat for his team. He played 
in Malaysia before moving to France in the close season.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>CLINTON NJIE (Marseille)</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
The Cameroon international forward was handed his first start since 
joining Marseille on loan from English Premier League side Tottenham 
Hotspur and marked the occasion with the equaliser at home to Nantes 
before OM went on to win 2-1.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>GERMANY</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (Borussia Dortmund)</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
The Gabon striker netted his fifth goal in the four league games he has 
played this season on his 100th Bundesliga appearance in Borussia 
Dortmund's 3-1 win over Freiburg. Aubameyang is neck-and-neck with 
Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski, who also has five goals, but has 
played in five Bundesliga matches this season.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>OUSMAN MANNEH (Werder Bremen)</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
The 19-year-old Gambia-born striker made his Bundesliga debut in last 
Wednesday's defeat at Mainz and started in the 2-1 win at home to 
Wolfsburg which saw Werder escape the bottom three. Having had a couple 
of chances, Manneh made way for Lennart Thy, who equalised for Bremen in
 the 86th minute before Czech Theodor Gebre Selassie won the game with a
 bullet header.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>ERIC CHOUPO-MOTING (Schalke 04)</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>
The Cameroon striker gave Schalke the lead in a 2-1 defeat at Hoffenheim
 which is the Royal Blues fifth straight league loss – the worst start 
to a season in the club's history. Choupo-Moting netted his first goal 
of the season when he met Breel Embolo's cross at the far post.</i></b></div>

Aubameyang marks 100th cap with goal

Reigning African Footballer of the Year Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrated his 100th Bundesliga appearance at the weekend with a goal f...

One new face in Russian squad for friendly

<a href="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Ilya-Kutepov-160912-Training-G300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="middle" border="0" src="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Ilya-Kutepov-160912-Training-G300.jpg" style="display: block;" /></a>Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov announced an entirely domestic-based 
23-man squad on Monday for a friendly against Costa Rica in the southern
 city of Krasnodar on October 9.<br />

Uncapped Spartak Moscow fullback Ilya Kutepov received his first call.<br />

Cherchesov, appointed to the position last month, is now facing the 
daunting task of rejuvenating the team ahead of the 2018 World Cup in 
Russia. <br />

Last month he named a rookie-filled roster for Russia's friendlies against Ghana, a 1-0 victory, and Turkey, a 0-0 draw.<br />

Midfielder Pavel Mamayev and forward Alexander Kokorin, who were 
punished by their clubs after a video of them at a champagne-fuelled 
party in Monaco after Russia's early exit from Euro 2016, were once 
again left out of Cherchesov's squad. <br />

<b>SQUAD</b><br />

<b>Goalkeepers:</b> Igor Akinfeyev (CSKA Moscow), Soslan Dzhanayev (Rostov), Stanislav Kritsyuk (Krasnodar)<br />

<b>Defenders:</b> Vasily Berezutsky (CSKA Moscow), Yury Zhirkov, Ivan 
Novoseltsev, Igor Smolnikov (all Zenit St Petersburg), Fedor Kudryashov 
(Rostov), Ilya Kutepov (Spartak Moscow), Sergei Petrov (Krasnodar), 
Andrei Semenov (Terek Grozny), Roman Shishkin (Lokomotiv Moscow)<br />

<b>Midfielders:</b> Yury Gazinsky (Krasnodar), Alan Dzagoev (CSKA 
Moscow), Alexander Yerokhin (Rostov), Roman Zobnin (Spartak Moscow), 
Magomed Ozdoyev (Rubin Kazan), Alexei Miranchuk, Alexander Samedov (both
 Lokomotiv Moscow), Oleg Shatov (Zenit St Petersburg)<br />

<b>Forwards: Artem Dzyuba (Zenit St Petersburg), Maxim Kanunnikov (Rubin Kazan), Fedor Smolov (Krasnodar)</b>

One new face in Russian squad for friendly

Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov announced an entirely domestic-based 23-man squad on Monday for a friendly against Costa Rica in the sou...

‘Burnley spirit reminiscent of Iceland’

Burnley winger Johann Gudmundsson has drawn parallels between the team 
spirit at the promoted Premier League club and 2016 European 
Championship surprise packages Iceland.<br />

Gudmundsson started every game in Euro 2016 as Iceland, the smallest 
nation to qualify, pulled off the upset of tournament when they stunned 
England to reach the quarterfinals in France.<br />

"It was easy for me to slot into this dressing room, it is similar to Iceland," the 25-year-old told British media.<br />

<a href="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/JohannGudmundsson-action160925G300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="middle" border="0" src="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/JohannGudmundsson-action160925G300.jpg" style="display: block;" /></a>
"We're talking about the spirit. Everybody gets along, everybody's mates and set for the same goal. That's important in a team.<br />

"Everybody has to be on the same ball in a team you can say are labelled
 underdogs. Everybody has to know their role in the team - and that's 
definitely true in both cases."<br />

Gudmundsson, who joined Burnley from Charlton Athletic in the transfer 
window, said Iceland had their sights set on qualifying for the 2018 
World Cup.<br />

"We want to go to Russia as well, but we're in a tough group, the only 
group that has four teams from the Euros. There's a bit more respect for
 us," he said.<br />

"Teams will look at what we can do, but we will play the same, we won't 
change. It will be hard to top the Euros, but you have to have a goal to
 reach for, because if you're happy with that, then you won't go 
anywhere."<br />

Burnley, who have won just one of their five league games this season, host Watford on Monday.

‘Burnley spirit reminiscent of Iceland’

Burnley winger Johann Gudmundsson has drawn parallels between the team spirit at the promoted Premier League club and 2016 European Champi...

'Leicester need to adapt to clampdown'

<a href="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Danny-Simpson-160924-Passing-G-300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Danny-Simpson-160924-Passing-G-300.jpg" border="0" src="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Danny-Simpson-160924-Passing-G-300.jpg" /></a>Defender Danny Simpson says Leicester City need to adapt quickly to a
 clampdown by referees on pushing and holding in the penalty area after 
Saturday's 4-1 defeat by Manchester United.
<br />

Last season, centre backs Wes Morgan and Robert Huth provided Leicester 
with great defensive solidity and they conceded only 36 goals on their 
fairytale run to the title.

They have already conceded 11 in six games this campaign, including the 
four at Old Trafford at the weekend - three of which came from corners.<br />

Simpson said the new interpretation of the rules could be contributing to the club's defensive frailty.<br />

"Err, I have to be careful what I say," Simpson told British media.<br />

"It is in your mind, yes, we have seen a few decisions this season. It 
is in your mind. It is something we have to learn to adapt to as 
players. They have changed the rules.<br />

"The way it was last season, I thought we were very good at defending set-pieces and we made it tough for the opponents.<br />

"You have been doing that for all your career and suddenly you have got 
to change it, but it's the same for everyone, it's something we have got
 to work on and look at."<br />

Leicester, who are 12th in the league standings, host Southampton on Sunday.

'Leicester need to adapt to clampdown'

Defender Danny Simpson says Leicester City need to adapt quickly to a clampdown by referees on pushing and holding in the penalty area afte...

'I’m hale and hearty' - Ezenw

<a href="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Ikechukwu%20Ezenwa-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="middle" border="0" src="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Ikechukwu%20Ezenwa-01.jpg" style="display: block;" /></a>FC IfeanyiUbah goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa has dispelled fears that 
he is badly injured in the top-flight oriental clash against champions, 
Enyimba.<br />

The Super Eagles shot stopper suffered a minor muscle cramp in the 
70th minute and was subsequently replaced by Uche Okafor in the 
top-flight matchday 37 tie 1-0 win against the People’s Elephant in 
Nnewi.<br />

The former Sunshine Stars goalie is among the 23 Eagles invited by 
manager, Gernot Rohr for the crucial 2018 World Cup qualifying match 
against the Zambian opposite, the Chipolopolo in Ndola on Sunday, 
October 09.<br />
 
Ezenwa said he is 100% fit and will be on duty in his side last day 
NPFL make or mar clash at Mountain of Fire Miracles Ministries (MFM) FC.<br />

“I merely picked a little muscle cramp in the 70th minute in the NPFL matchday 37 clash against Enyimba in Nnewi.<br />

“The decision to replace me by substitute goalkeeper, Uche Okafor was mainly precautionary.<br />

“I’m perfectly 100% okay and will be in Lagos for the crucial last day match at MFM FC.<br />

“The report is not correct that I’m injured and doubtful for the 
Super Eagles World Cup assignment against Zambia in Ndola on Sunday, 
October 09,” said Ezenwa to supersport.com.<br />

Ezenwa said his side are poised to win one of the continental tickets in the on-going top-flight.<br />

“The mood in camp is perfect but not celebration time yet after the win against Enyimba.<br />

“The players know what is at stake both in the Federation Cup as well as the NPFL as it concerns the continental ambition.<br />

“Right now the players involved in the Federation Cup are about 
heading off to kaduna for the semifinals clash against NNL side, Crown 
FC on Wednesday.<br />

“Some of us not involved will be preparing to storm Lagos for the NPFL last day clash at MFM FC.<br />

“Firstly, we want to secure a continental ticket at MFM FC with a win before redirecting the focus on Federation Cup.<br />

“We are ready to battle MFM FC for the whole three points at stake as
 the outcome will change virtually everything,” said Ezenwa.<br />

FC IfeanyiUbah are third on the Nigerian top-flight log on 56 points four behind leaders and oriental neighbours, Enugu Rangers.

'I’m hale and hearty' - Ezenw

FC IfeanyiUbah goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa has dispelled fears that he is badly injured in the top-flight oriental clash against champions...

Liverpool 5-1 Hull City

<div class="leading">
<img alt="Liverpool 5-1 Hull City: Milner grabs double as Reds run riot" class="article-image" height="430" itemprop="image" src="http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/goal_uk/94/6c/james-milner-premier-league-liverpool-v-hull-city-240916_fctlkdl92jb51a329v2hrwz4a.jpg?t=1556210303&w=620&h=430" width="620" />Jurgen Klopp's side continued their run of fine form 
with a rampant display at the KC Stadium against a side reduced to 10 
men after Ahmed Elmohamady saw red in the first half</div>
<div class="">
</div>
Liverpool made it four wins in a row in all competitions with a 
comfortable 5-1 Premier League victory over 10-man Hull City on 
Saturday.<br />

Goals from Adam Lallana, James Milner and Sadio Mane and a stunning 
Philippe Coutinho strike were enough to see off Mike Phelan's side, who 
played for more than an hour at Anfield with depleted ranks after Ahmed 
Elmohamady was dismissed.<br />

Liverpool, who followed up their 2-1 win at Chelsea with a 3-0 EFL 
Cup victory at Derby County this week, made their most of some early 
dominance when Lallana steered in Coutinho's pass after 17 minutes.<br />

Hull suffered a 4-1 loss to Arsenal in their last league game, in 
which Jake Livermore was sent off for a handball, and it was a painful 
case of deja vu when referee Andre Marriner issued Elmohamady a straight
 red card for blocking Coutinho's shot near the goalline with his arm.<br />

Milner tucked away the penalty before Mane's crisp finish made it 
3-0, and though David Meyler grabbed a lifeline early in the second 
half, Coutinho struck almost immediately afterwards to restore 
Liverpool's three-goal advantage.<br />

Jurgen Klopp's side capped a dominant display after Daniel Sturridge 
won a dubious penalty, allowing Milner to dispatch his second spot-kick 
of the match and move Liverpool above rivals Everton in the top four on 
goal difference.<br />

The hosts were in charge from the off and got the goal they deserved 
after 17 minutes. Coutinho surged into space and fed Lallana in the 
penalty area, who showed clever control to steady himself before 
dragging a low shot back across goal and into the bottom-right corner.<br />

Any hope of a Hull recovery looked to be lost when Elmohamady was 
sent off after blocking Coutinho's goal-bound shot with his arm just in 
front of the line, allowing Milner to sweep his penalty low past David 
Marshall's despairing dive.<br />

Mane's deflected shot rattled the top of Hull's crossbar before he 
steered an effort narrowly over from the middle of the box, and 
Georginio Wijnaldum was denied from distance by Marshall as Liverpool's 
pressure showed no sign of abating.<br />

But Marshall could do nothing to stop Mane making it 3-0, as Hull's 
defence allowed the former Southampton man to control Lallana's pass and
 turn before firing into the bottom corner from 18 yards.<br />

Hull fans sensed a miraculous comeback when Meyler - with his side's 
first shot of the match - drilled low past league debutant Loris Karius 
after Liverpool failed to clear a corner six minutes into the second 
half.<br />

That hope lasted barely 60 seconds, however, as Coutinho worked some 
space 25 yards from goal before rifling a shot beyond the reach of 
Marshall and into the top corner.<br />

Klopp brought on Sturridge and he made a quick impact, skipping into 
the Hull box before going to ground under minimal contact from Andrew 
Robertson, allowing Milner to slot home his second penalty of the day 
and seal another emphatic victory.

Liverpool 5-1 Hull City

Jurgen Klopp's side continued their run of fine form with a rampant display at the KC Stadium against a side reduced to 10 men after ...

Sunderland 2-3 Crystal Palace: Benteke wins it late to complete fightback

<a href="http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/goal_uk/99/cc/hd-crystal-palace-celebrate-premier-league-24092016_cq6ovzzmjr2g1m1b19gtltrv0.jpg?t=1558210479&w=620&h=430" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sunderland 2-3 Crystal Palace: Benteke wins it late to complete fightback" border="0" class="article-image" height="430" itemprop="image" src="http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/goal_uk/99/cc/hd-crystal-palace-celebrate-premier-league-24092016_cq6ovzzmjr2g1m1b19gtltrv0.jpg?t=1558210479&w=620&h=430" width="620" /></a>Crystal Palace fought back from two goals down to beat struggling 
Sunderland as Christian Benteke netted the winner in stoppage time.<br />

Jermain Defoe scored either side of half-time to seemingly make the 
game safe for the home side at the Stadium of Light, only for Joe Ledley
 to pull one back.<br />

James McCarthur then equlaised before Benteke netted the winner as 
David Moyes's wait for a Premier League win in charge of the Black Cats 
goes on.<br />

Sunderland 2-3 Crystal Palace: Benteke wins it late to complete fightback

Crystal Palace fought back from two goals down to beat struggling Sunderland as Christian Benteke netted the winner in stoppage time. Je...

Bournemouth 1-0 Everton: Stanislas ends Toffees' unbeaten start

<header class="article-header default">
<img alt="Bournemouth 1-0 Everton: Stanislas ends Toffees' unbeaten start" class="article-image" height="430" itemprop="image" src="http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/goal_uk/a0/5e/junior-stanislas-adam-smith-bournemouth-everton-24092016_7gsliubxu9gl1r72knn9a9wva.jpg?t=1558148143&w=620&h=430" width="620" />
<div class="headlines">
<h1 itemprop="headline">
<i><span><span>Bournemouth 1-0 Everton: Stanislas ends Toffees' unbeaten start</span></span></i></h1>
</div>
<time datetime="2016-09-24T16:57:20+01:00" itemprop="datePublished"></time></header><div class="leading" style="text-align: justify;">
Junior Stanislas was the match winner as the Cherries
 picked up their second win of the season, inflicting the first defeat 
on Ronald Koeman's side</div>
<div class="" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Junior Stanislas once again proved the scourge of Everton as his 
superb first-half strike secured a 1-0 victory for Bournemouth and ended
 the Toffees' unbeaten Premier League start under Ronald Koeman.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Stanislas - who netted twice in the thrilling 3-3 draw in the 
corresponding fixture last term, including a dramatic 
98th-minute leveller - put Eddie Howe's side ahead midway through a 
first-half that they dominated at the Vitality Stadium.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Both Jack Wilshere, on his full home debut, and Harry Arter had 
rattled the woodwork in the early stages, before Stanislas's sublime 
long-range effort did the damage for the hosts.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Koeman's side pressed hard for a leveller in a less eventful 
second-half with Ross Barkley particularly wasteful in front of goal.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But Bournemouth frustrated their visitors and held on to seal their 
first win in six attempts against Everton, bringing the Merseysiders' 
run of four successive league victories to an end.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In a lively opening, Callum Wilson flashed a header wide for 
Bournemouth in the second minute, while Artur Boruc reacted 
instinctively to prevent Romelu Lukaku nodding Everton ahead.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Bournemouth were soon in the ascendency, though, and Seamus Coleman 
did well to deflect Wilshere's effort onto the crossbar after Everton 
were carved open by a swift counter-attack.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Howe's side continued to grow in confidence and Arter was next to 
test Everton's defence as he drove into the area before hammering a low 
strike against the right-hand upright.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The hosts were finally rewarded in the 23rd minute when <strong>Stanislas</strong>' thumping 25-yard effort nestled in the top-left corner.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Cherries almost went further ahead 10 minutes before the interval
 when Charlie Daniels latched onto Phil Jagielka's miscued clearance, 
but the defender's header was off target.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Surprisingly, Koeman decided against making changes at the break, and
 though Bournemouth continued to build on their momentum, Everton 
managed to open up their defence 10 minutes after the restart – Barkley 
heading wide despite being unmarked from Coleman's cross.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Koeman introduced Tom Cleverley and Gerard Deulofeu as the hour-mark 
approached, and the latter almost had an immediate impact as his looping
 cross was clawed off the line by Boruc.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Everton looked brighter following the changes, but Bournemouth's 
defence remained solid, though Yannick Bolasie, following good 
combination play with Lukaku, did power a strike just over the bar.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Enner Valencia was brought on in the closing stages, and the West Ham
 loanee should have levelled it in the 89th minute, but he could only 
skew wide from close-range as Everton slumped to their second straight 
defeat following the EFL Cup loss to Norwich City.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Bournemouth's victory was, however, marred slightly in stoppage time -
 Adam Smith picking up a painful blow to his face following a collision 
with Ashley Williams.</div>

Bournemouth 1-0 Everton: Stanislas ends Toffees' unbeaten start

Bournemouth 1-0 Everton: Stanislas ends Toffees' unbeaten start Junior Stanislas was the match winner as the Cherries picked up ...

Man Utd face Leicester & Arsenal tackle Chelsea - all of Saturday's Premier League action LIVE!

A busy week of football continues with a London derby, plus a number of vital matches in La Liga and the Bundesliga. Follow it all with Goa...

Mourinho stands by axed Rooney

<a href="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Jose-Mourinho-160924-Shouts-G300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="middle" border="0" src="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Jose-Mourinho-160924-Shouts-G300.jpg" style="display: block;" /></a>
Jose Mourinho insists Wayne Rooney can still be a key figure for 
Manchester United despite dropping the England striker for Saturday's 
4-1 win against Leicester.<br />

Mourinho left Rooney on the bench after a series of underwhelming 
performances from the United captain and he wasn't missed as the Premier
 League champions were crushed at Old Trafford.<br />

Juan Mata, who stepped into Rooney's number 10 role, was among the 
scorers, but United manager Mourinho is adamant his axed star remains an
 important member of the team and is not sulking about the decision to 
leave him out.<br />

"Wayne Rooney is a big player for me, United and this country. He is my 
man, I trust him completely. He is happy," Mourinho told Sky Sports 
after Rooney was limited to a seven-minute substitute appearance at the 
end of the second half.<br />

After United were beaten in their previous two league games, Mourinho 
couldn't afford his Rooney gamble to backfire and he delighted with the 
way his team blitzed Leicester with a four-goal first half.<br />
<br />

Mourinho stands by axed Rooney

Jose Mourinho insists Wayne Rooney can still be a key figure for Manchester United despite dropping the England striker for Saturday's...

Bayern's Hummels limps off at Humburg

<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Mats-Hummels-160924-KimpsOff-G300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="middle" border="0" src="http://images.supersport.com/2016/9/Mats-Hummels-160924-KimpsOff-G300.jpg" style="display: block;" /></a><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Bayern Munich suffered an injury scare ahead of their midweek Champions 
League clash at Atletico Madrid when Germany defender Mats Hummels 
picked up a knee injury against Hamburg on Saturday.</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;">
Hummels was hurt in the first half of Saturday's Bundesliga encounter 
after landing awkwardly on his right knee having challenged for the ball
 with Hamburg's US international striker Bobby Wood.</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;">
After receiving treatment on the pitch, Hummels finished the first half 
but sat on the turf early in the second, indicating to the Bayern bench,
 and was replaced by Jerome Boateng on 51 minutes.</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;">
Atletico host Bayern on Wednesday in Champions League Group D with both 
sides having won their opening matches. Last season's finalists Atletico
 beat PSV Eindhoven 1-0 away a fortnight ago while Bayern trounced 
Russia's Rostov 5-0 in Munich.</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;">
Atletico knocked Bayern out in the semifinals of the Champions League last season.</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>

Bayern's Hummels limps off at Humburg

Bayern Munich suffered an injury scare ahead of their midweek Champions League clash at Atletico Madrid when Germany defender Mats Hummels...

Bayern without Muller, Alaba and Lahm against Ingolstadt as Robben and Boateng return

<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Die Roten will be without a number of key players for their game against
 Ingolstadt, but Arjen Robben and Jerome Boateng are back in contention..</span></i></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i><img alt="Bayern without Muller, Alaba and Lahm against Ingolstadt as Robben and Boateng return" class="article-image" height="430" itemprop="image" src="http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/omnisport/2b/d5/thomas-muller-david-alaba-cropped_voqi3pdb4eoy1cqtzyf9k68hx.jpg?t=849074303&w=620&h=430" width="620" /></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bayern Munich will be without Thomas Muller, David Alaba and Philipp 
Lahm for Saturday's Bundesliga encounter with Ingolstadt due to illness,
 but Arjen Robben and Jerome Boateng return to the squad.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Robben and Boateng recently resumed training after a spell on the 
sidelines due to injury, but both are ready to make their comebacks and 
will start from the bench at the weekend.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Alaba, Muller and Lahm will not play due to illness. Robben and 
Boateng are in the squad and will be on the bench," Ancelotti told a 
news conference.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"[Kingsley] Coman is fit again, too. He has trained very well and will play. Mats [Hummels] is also fit and will play."</span></div>

Bayern without Muller, Alaba and Lahm against Ingolstadt as Robben and Boateng return

Die Roten will be without a number of key players for their game against Ingolstadt, but Arjen Robben and Jerome Boateng are back in conte...

Why does Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium smell of garlic?

<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Any supporters who had hung around the Premier League club's stadium 
after their game in midweek would have been left wondering where the 
strong smell had come from.............</i></span></h3>
<h3>
<i></i></h3>
<h3>
<i></i></h3>
<h3>
<i></i></h3>
<h3>
<i></i></h3>
<h3>
<i></i></h3>
<h3>
<i></i></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/goal_uk/b4/f0/etihad-stadium_1mgpbp00qtnv71ek3fyp56ovg7.jpg?t=416609368&w=620&h=430" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Why does Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium smell of garlic?" border="0" class="article-image" height="430" itemprop="image" src="http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/goal_uk/b4/f0/etihad-stadium_1mgpbp00qtnv71ek3fyp56ovg7.jpg?t=416609368&w=620&h=430" width="620" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Manchester City keep the Etihad Stadium pitch in top condition by covering it in garlic.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>

</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>The club’s ground staff get through tonnes of garlic in a bid to ward
 off microscopic parasites that eat away at grass roots and damage the 
playing surface.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>

</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Etihad is regularly treated - most recently after Wednesday’s 
Champions League clash with Borussia Monchengladbach - and the club’s 
City Football Academy training ground is also coated.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>

</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>A strong smell of garlic was noticeable around the grounds of the 
Etihad two hours after full-time on Wednesday, when most fans and 
employees had gone home. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>

</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>But City staff at the CFA are regularly forced to put up with the pungent aroma during the working week.</i></span></div>
<h3>
<i> </i></h3>

Why does Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium smell of garlic?

Any supporters who had hung around the Premier League club's stadium after their game in midweek would have been left wondering where ...