Zidane expects Real to suffer in Paris after first-leg win

Zinedine Zidane warned his Real Madrid players that they can expect to suffer in the return leg of their Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain despite seeing Cristiano Ronaldo inspire a 3-1 comeback victory on Wednesday.
The reigning European champions stunned the PSG of Neymar in the last 16, first-leg showdown with two goals in the final seven minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu from Ronaldo and Marcelo.
Ronaldo had earlier drawn Madrid level with his 100th Champions League goal for the club from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time, cancelling out Adrien Rabiot’s opener for the French side.
“We can afford to have a bit of euphoria tonight. We have to be satisfied, and enjoy this,” said Zidane.
“But there is a second leg to come where we will need to play with a lot of intensity. We know we are going to suffer.”
Real had already suffered for large spells of Wednesday’s match, before PSG collapsed defensively in the closing stages, unable to adjust after Zidane sent on Marco Asensio.
Striker Asensio set up the two late goals, and Zidane will take plenty of credit for the impact his substitutions had on the game just when it looked as though PSG would leave the Spanish capital with the edge in the tie.
Zidane, under pressure because of Real’s indifferent domestic form, again saw the Champions League bring the best out of his team and Ronaldo.
“With Ronaldo it’s difficult to always say the same thing. He has shown once again that he always turns up in the big games,” said Zidane, after the Portuguese became the first player to score 100 Champions League goals for the same club.
He has scored 11 this season in Europe in just seven matches, and he won the battle of the superstars at the Bernabeu with PSG’s Neymar.
“Real Madrid love the Champions League and as players we can feel that on the pitch,” Ronaldo said after collecting his man of the match prize.
“Today things worked out for me, scoring two goals and helping the team win, but we know the tie is not finished yet.”

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– Soft penalty, say PSG –
While Real are looking to win the European Cup for the third year running — something no club has done since Bayern Munich in 1976 — and the 13th time overall, PSG risk seeing their wait for a first Champions League crown go on.
A year after they fell apart in historic fashion to lose 6-1 in Barcelona at the same stage of the competition after winning 4-0 at home, here was another late collapse on Spanish soil.
Coach Unai Emery surely needs to win this tie to remain in the job, but he took big decisions that backfired.
Captain Thiago Silva was left out, 21-year-old Giovani Lo Celso started in midfield and Angel Di Maria stayed on the bench even when Edinson Cavani came off in the second half.
“The team played well and deserved better. We have to be optimistic and positive for the match in Paris. We still have a good chance of getting through,” claimed Emery, who has drawn once and lost 10 times in 11 visits to the Bernabeu as a coach.
Emery tried to turn the focus on Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi, saying the penalty the hosts got for a Lo Celso challenge on Toni Kroos was soft. He also felt his side should have had a spot-kick for a Sergio Ramos handball.
“When we play against a big team, it’s the same, always,” bemoaned PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi.
“Last year against Barcelona, this year against Real Madrid. OK, Real Madrid are a big club, but that’s enough now. UEFA have to do something.”
AFP

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Mane hits hat-trick as Liverpool crush toothless Porto

SADIO MANE

Sadio Mane scored a brilliant treble as Liverpool romped to a 5-0 thrashing of Porto at the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday to march towards the Champions League quarter-finals.
Mane fired the away side ahead in the first leg of the last-16 clash, before Mohamed Salah’s audacious finish for his 30th goal of the season quickly made it two.
The Senegalese forward slotted in his second as Liverpool completely outclassed their opponents, with Roberto Firmino adding his name to the scoresheet with 20 minutes to play, before Mane’s searing strike completed his first European hat-trick.
“It was important to play as a team and we did, we played great football from the beginning,” Mane told BT Sport.
“We created so many chances and we scored five. It was well deserved.”
Playing in the last 16 of the competition for the first time in nine years, Liverpool are now all but certain to reach the quarter-finals ahead of the second leg at Anfield on March 6.
Jurgen Klopp’s men had scored 23 goals in the group stage and continued that scintillating form in Portugal to become the top-scorers in this season’s competition, while the defensive frailties that have plagued them at times this season never resurfaced as Dejan Lovren and Virgil van Dijk put in accomplished displays at the back.
“I saw a lot of fantastic performances tonight. The result is only possible if they are all spot on,” said Klopp.
“Of course, Sadio is man of the match, three fantastic goals, but they all did well and that is the only way to be successful.”
Sergio Conceicao’s deflated Porto will now turn their attentions back to domestic matters, where they hold a two-point lead in the league and are in the Cup semi-finals.
Roared on by the home fans, Porto started brightly and Brazilian midfielder Otavio was denied an early goal by a last-ditch tackle from Lovren.
But it didn’t take Liverpool long to grow into the game, as left-back Andrew Robertson fired over on his Champions League debut and Ivan Marcano’s brave block prevented Firmino from heading in.
But the five-time European champions were gifted the lead in the 25th minute as Porto goalkeeper Jose Sa, who has replaced former Real Madrid great Iker Casillas this season, allowed Mane’s tame strike to squirm underneath his body and into the net.
Mane has been overshadowed so far this term by the blistering performances of Firmino and Salah, but the Senegalese forward’s first goal in six games was his fourth in the Champions League.
– Salah’s delightful skill –
Liverpool took total control of the tie just four minutes later as Salah scored in style.
James Milner’s strike crashed into the post, but the Egyptian star was on hand to flick the ball over the onrushing Sa with a magnificent piece of skill and slot into the net.
The visitors were utterly dominant, but Tiquinho Soares, playing in place of the injured Vincent Aboubakar, fired narrowly wide for Porto on the stroke of half-time.
Porto had plenty of the ball but were always vulnerable to Liverpool’s waves of rapid counter-attacks, and Mane made it three shortly after the restart.
The away side cut the Portuguese league leaders to shreds with a series of first-time flicks and passes, and after Firmino was denied by Sa, Mane was on hand to tap in the rebound.
The visitors’ relentless pressure meant another goal was almost inevitable, and it arrived when Milner picked out Firmino from a posse of unmarked Liverpool shirts in the centre to slot home his seventh Champions League goal of the campaign.
The English outfit still weren’t finished, though, as Mane’s long-range effort flew past Sa with five minutes remaining to round off the procession in fine fashion.
AFP

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Australian Open: Cilic, Edmund in semis as Nadal retires

MarinCilic booked an Australian Open semi-final meeting against Britain's Kyle Edmund after world No 1 Rafael Nadal was forced to retire injured early in the fifth set of a gruelling encounter. The Spaniard, chasing a first Australian Open title since 2009, was forced to take a medical timeout midway through the fourth set after falling a break behind. Cilic, who had matched the 16-time Grand Slam champion all the way, sensed his opportunity to force a decider and despite the obvious discomfort, Nadal began the fifth set only to be broken in his opening service game before bringing an end to the match, trailing 2-0 in the deciding set. The Croatian world No 6 won 3-6 6-3 6-7(5) 6-2 6-0 in three hours and 47 minutes on Rod Laver Arena to reach only his second semi-final at Melbourne Park and claim the first victory over Nadal since 2009.

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Napoli, best team I faced in my career – Guardiola

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola described his side’s 2-1 victory over Napoli in the Champions League group phase as one of the proudest moments of his storied career.
City took a quick-fire 2-0 lead in Tuesday’s game through Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus, but Amadou Diawara’s penalty — after Dries Mertens had squandered an earlier spot-kick — made for a nervy finale.
Prior to the game, Guardiola had lavished praise on Maurizio Sarri’s Napoli, who are top of Serie A with eight wins from eight games, and afterwards, he made the surprising claim they were the best opponent he had ever faced.
“I think it was an extraordinary game from both sides. We faced one of the best sides I faced in my career, probably the best,” said Guardiola, who previously led Barcelona to two Champions League titles.
“It is one of the wins I am most proud of in my career.
“Today we won against an incredible team. To do that you have to do an incredible performance.”
Sterling and Jesus struck in the first 13 minutes at the Etihad Stadium, at which point Premier League leaders City looked set for a victory comparable to Saturday’s 7-2 demolition of Stoke City.
But the home side’s commitment to building play up from the back gifted Napoli opportunities that the visitors eventually exploited.
Although Mertens squandered their first penalty in the first half, drilling his spot-kick at Ederson’s legs, Diawara made no such mistake in the 73rd minute after Fernandinho was penalised for felling Faouzi Ghoulam.
However, when asked if City’s tactics had invited pressure from Napoli, Guardiola said the solution was not less passing out from the back, but more.
“We have to do it more,” said Guardiola, whose team are now three points clear of Shakhtar Donetsk at the top of Group F.
“You play long balls against that team, in two seconds they are attacking. In football, how fast the ball goes, how fast it comes back.
“You have to play better build-up, to contact with Kevin (De Bruyne) and (David) Silva. If you play long balls, (Kalidou) Koulibaly and (Raul) Albiol are stronger than our strikers. You spend 90 minutes running.
“Instead, they run after the ball. That is the point. There’s a risk, but you score goals because after that you can create chances. You have to play as much as possible.”
– ‘Huge step forward’ –
Sarri said his side’s performance compared favourably with their last trip to a European heavyweight when they lost 3-1 away to Real Madrid in the last 16 of last season’s competition.
“Even after missing a penalty, we managed to come back fighting,” said Sarri, whose side trail Shakhtar by three points.
“After this match, we must feel reassured and even more confident. I’ve seen a huge step forward compared to the match in Madrid last year.
“We were lucky enough to score first there. Here we had to come back into the game after a very difficult first 25 minutes. I think we’ve definitely taken a step forward.”
With half an eye on Saturday’s Serie A summit clash with Inter Milan, Sarri started with Allan and Jorginho on the bench.
Lorenzo Insigne hobbled off late on, but Sarri said he was hopeful about the winger’s fitness.
“For Lorenzo, I hope there’s nothing wrong with him,” Sarri said. “He had some muscular problems. It’s probably just a bit of fatigue.”
Madrid went on to win the Champions League after disposing of Napoli last season and Sarri was sufficiently impressed by City’s display to suggest Guardiola’s men could do the same.
“They’re a great team. They have everything,” he said. “They’re very quick, tactically very savvy.
“If they stay in good physical and mental shape, as they are now, I believe they could really go all the way.”
AFP

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Jupp Heynckes to replace Ancelotti at Bayern

Legendary German coach Jupp Heynckes will replace sacked Carlo Ancelotti as Bayern Munich’s manager until the end of the season, according to Sport Bild newspaper.
The interim appointment would see 72-year-old Heynckes return to his beloved Bayern which he famously led in 2013 to win the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup treble — the only German club to achieve the feat.
“Bayern is pulling Jupp Heynckes out of retirement,” wrote Sport Bild.
The club has not confirmed the report.
According to Bild, the unexpected choice carries a certain logic.
With the team in disarray currently, an authoritative character who knows the club intimately is necessary, it said.
Bayern is lagging in third place on the Bundesliga tables, five points off leaders Borussia Dortmund.
Its stinging 3-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League had led the club to sack Ancelotti last week.
Two German coaches believed to be in the running to manage Bayern — former Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel and Hoffenheim boss Julian Nagelsmann — have no prior experience with the club.
According to Bild, Heynckes has agreed to take on the mission until the end of the season, giving time for the club to find a longer-term solution.
Heynckes coached Bayern over three periods — from 1987 to 1991, briefly in 2009 and then between 2011 and 2013.
AFP

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Super Eagles aim for three points against Zambia – Spokesman

The Super Eagles spokesman, Toyin Ibitoye, on Wednesday debunked the news that the team would be satisfied with a draw against Zambia, saying instead that the team would be going for an outright win.
Ibitoye told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the team would be aiming at defeating the Chipolopolo of Zambia in the crucial encounter in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
Nigeria is on the brink qualifying for the 2018 Mundial in Russia with an emphatic win over the African champions 4-0 and the reverse fixture in Yaoundé which ended1-1.
Nigeria will play Zambia on Saturday at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Nigeria got the first goal in Yaoundé after 30 minutes play through Moses Simon while Cameroun got their equaliser 15 minutes to go through a Vincent Aboubakar penalty.
Nigeria had started the campaign in what many soccer pundits predicted to be the group of death in a blistering form with a defeat 2-1of Zambia in Ndola to pick their first ever away win.
Goals from the premier league hotshots, Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho in the 33rd and 43rd minutes, ensured the much needed bright start, while Zambia's Mbesuma scored in the 70th minute.
Nigeria maintained the record when they defeated the highest ranked team in Africa, the Desert Warriors of Algeria in Uyo 3-1, courtesy of a brace from Victor Moses and a goal from Mikel Obi.
However, the Gernot Rohr's men can take a watertight lead on the summit of the Group B if they defeat Zambia on Sunday.
A win means they will be on 13 points as against Zambia who will be rooted with seven points.
On the importance of the match against the Wedson Nyirenda-tutored team from the Southern part of Africa, Ibitoye said the team's management was leaving no stone unturned.
He said that the Super Eagles Camp at the Le Meriden Hotel was complete save the absence of Victor Moses who is been expected on Wednesday morning.
"The camp is bubbling with the influx of the players, they all arrived early enough and they are training well. We are expecting the last person, Moses, who will arrive this (Wednesday) morning.
"It is not true that we are contented with a draw according to some stories circulating around and which was attributed to the coach. All we want is an outright win.
"At present, there is no injury concern in the team, Iwobi trained with others and he is 100 per cent fit as well as other players. The fitness level is perfect.
"What we are saying is that the match against Zambia may not necessarily be a whitewash as we did against Cameroun.''
"The scoreline may or may not be the same but the points are what we need. Three full points will make us qualify in style,'' he said.

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Arsenal hit by food poisoning in China

Arsenal were ravaged by food poisoning in Shanghai that ruled several key players out of their pre-season friendly with Bayern Munich on Wednesday, manager Arsene Wenger said.
Wenger’s ailing men were outplayed for long periods by Bayern before salvaging a last-gasp 1-1 draw and then winning 3-2 on penalties.
But the Frenchman said that the sickness that had swept the Arsenal camp, coupled with the severe heat in China and long flights, made for far-from-ideal preparations for another taxing campaign.
Wenger was shorn of Olivier Giroud because of food poisoning, then captain Per Mertesacker pulled out of the game just moments before kick-off because he too fell ill with the same problem.
New signing Sead Kolasinac had to come off before the break, while substitutes Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott both also felt unwell.
Arsenal were particularly poor in the first half in the 36 degrees Celsius (97F) heat and Wenger admitted that the extreme conditions in Shanghai were “a shock” after flying in from Australia, which is in its winter.
“We worked very hard on Monday and Tuesday so I was a bit scared that tonight we could have big problems and in fact in the first half we suffered a bit,” said Wenger, under pressure to get Arsenal back in the Champions League this season.
“Ramsey finished the game (feeling) bad and Walcott, Kolasinac, Mertesacker, Giroud, they all had a little food poisoning.”
Wenger said the Premier League club — who next travel to Beijing to face Chelsea on Saturday — did not know what caused the food poisoning.
Wenger added of the punishing pre-season schedule that many top European clubs now undertake to far-flung destinations for commercial reasons: “If you ask me is it ideal physically to prepare? I’d say certainly not.
“Has it got other advantages? Yes because we can meet fans all over the world so that is very positive and the team bonding is easier as well because we live together for two weeks.”
– ‘Nightmare’ –
Reserve goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was the unlikely hero for Wenger and Arsenal, saving Juan Bernat’s soft spot kick after Gunners substitute Alex Iwobi nodded in the leveller right at the end of normal time.
Robert Lewandowski had needed just nine minutes to fire German champions Bayern ahead from the penalty spot as they swept through Arsenal, before Iwobi’s late intervention meant the game went straight to penalties.
Both sides fielded a mixture of first-team regulars and reserves, with new Bayern signing James Rodriguez and new Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette starting.
Wenger’s team were thrashed 10-2 on aggregate by Bayern last season in the Champions League and the manager said his players were still hurting.
“I don’t think this kind of game wipes out what happened last season,” said the Arsenal boss.
“We will always remember that. We had a nightmare last season in the second half.
“But it’s still good to win against a team like Bayern.”
Bayern play AC Milan in Shenzhen, southern China, in their next warm-up game on Saturday.
AFP

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Ghanaian footballer kills mum, sister

Ghanaian footballer, Solomon Nyantakyi, has confessed to the murder of his mother and 11-year-old sister.
The former Parma of Italy player admitted to the crime on Wednesday after being stopped by police at Milan train station, having fled his home upon killing his 43-year-old mother, Nfum Patience, and sister, Magdalene Nyantakyi on Tuesday night.
His brother, Raymond Nyantakyi, discovered their bodies stabbed to death after returning home from work.
The 21-year-old midfielder was a very promising prospect in the Parma youth academy until their bankruptcy in 2015.
"I remember Solomon, he trained with us at Parma and I had him on the bench more than once during Serie A games," said former Parma Coach Roberto Donadoni, who now coach Bologna, in a Football Italia report.
"I remember he was very calm, even taciturn. If it really was him who did this, I can't think what went through his mind. He was a midfielder in the Parma youth academy, then I don't know what path he took after the bankruptcy.


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Man City accept £25m Leicester bid for Iheanacho

LEICESTER CITY have had an offer of £25m accepted by Manchester City for striker Kelechi Iheanacho, The Sun reports.
The 20-year-old has fell down the pecking order under Citizens boss Pep Guardiola, paving the way for the Foxes to lure him to the King Power Stadium.
According to Sky Sports news, a deal in principle to bring the Nigeria international to the 2015/16 Premier League champions has been agreed.
However, there are still contractual issues to sort out before Craig Shakespeare can show his major coup.
Leicester have beaten West Ham in the race to acquire his services, with the Hammers hopeful that former City star Pablo Zabaleta could persuade him to move to London.
Shakespeare believes Iheanacho will form a formidable partnership with Jamie Vardy upfront, with both forwards blessed with blistering pace and deadly finishing.
The 2015/16 League Cup winner started just once in 2017 under the former Barcelona boss last season, with Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero preferred ahead of him.
Still, he managed to bag seven goals in 29 games in all competitions – a decent return for a player who featured sporadically throughout the whole campaign.
In his breakthrough season the year before, he netted eight Premier League goals in 26 games – 14 in all competitions, as he established himself as one of the most  exciting prospects in the top-flight.

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Real Madrid’s Rodriguez joins Bayern on two-year loan deal

Colombian international James Rodriguez has joined Bayern Munich on a two-year loan from Real Madrid, the Bundesliga club announced Wednesday.
The two clubs have agreed on a two-year deal until June 30, 2019, with the option for Bayern to buy the 25-year-old midfielder who was the top scorer at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with six goals.
“We’re delighted we’ve been able to complete this transfer,” said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
“Signing James Rodriguez was our coach Carlo Ancelotti’s biggest wish, following their successful spell working together in Madrid.
“James is a very versatile player. He's a goalscorer himself, he sets up a lot of goals and on top of that he's great from set-pieces. There's no question that this transfer further increases the quality in our team.”
AFP

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Olu Jacobs, as he turns 75

A veteran actor, Olu Jacobs is 75-years–old today, he was born July 11, 1942.
In a post on her Instagram page, his wife, Joke Silva was full of praises for the man she fondly calls ‘gorgeous’ and thanked God for preserving him thus far.
Joke wrote, Happy Birthday gorgeous….75 is not beans !!!
“Thank you for all you do for me and the kids…the sacrifices.With you, we are always first.
“Thank you for all you have done for the industry…theatre …film…television. Here is to many more years of impact. Happy Birthday.”
The couple got married in 1989 and are blessed with children. The two veteran actors have won a respectable place in the movie Industry both home and abroad.
However, he allowed Joke Silva to keep her maiden name.
He said, "She is her own individual. When I met her, she was an actress known as Joke Silva so why should marrying me now deny her and her audience her name.
"She is Miss Joke Silva who is Mrs. Joke Jacobs. It is as simple as that. People now begin to say what they like.
"They have even written that we are separated and all sort of kinds of stuff. When she is working, she is Joke Silva but she is Mrs. Joke Jacobs at home.
See her Instagram post:

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Conte eyes Morata to cure Lukaku hangover

Spanish striker Alvaro Morata is now the focus of frustrated Chelsea manager Antonio Conte’s attentions after Romelu Lukaku slipped through his fingers and signed for Manchester United, according to media reports.

Chelsea have tabled a £62 million (70m euros, $80m) bid for the 24-year-old Morata but Real Madrid are holding out for around £80m, the reports say.
Chelsea have offered Morata wages of £150,000 a week on a five year contract, according to London’s Evening Standard.
Morata is keen to play for the manager and told The Guardian Conte had given him self belief.
Morata came close to playing for Conte at Juventus in 2014 when the latter played a pivotal role in persuading him to join Juventus…only for the coach to jump ship and take over the national side.
“I feel indebted to him because he’s the coach that most trusted in me, most wanted me, who made me feel I could perform at the highest level,” Morata told the newspaper in April.
“Yet I’ve never had the fortune to actually work with him. I’m sure sooner or later I will.”
Morata would replace fellow Spanish international Diego Costa, whom Conte told at the end of last season he no longer figured in his plans despite his 20 Premier League goals spurring on Chelsea to the title.
Costa endured a fractious relationship with Conte last season leading to rumours of him moving to China and then having to apologise to coaching staff after a training ground bust-up.
He is linked to a move back to Atletico Madrid even though they cannot register new players until January because of a blanket FIFA transfer ban.
Several newspapers say Chelsea have rejected an initial bid of £22m for the 28-year-old Brazil-born marksman — whose febrile temperament also played a role in Chelsea’s alarming slide in the 2015/16 campaign and to Jose Mourinho’s sacking — and would like to recoup at least the £32m they paid for him in 2014.
Regardless of whether the deal is done this week it is considered highly unlikely Costa will be taken on the club’s pre-season tour of Asia.

– ‘Further disappointment’ –

Morata had been thought to be Manchester United’s principal striker target until they swung towards 24-year-old Lukaku and spectacularly stymied Conte’s well-laid plans.
Conte, who has yet to sign along with his backroom staff the new contracts they were offered at the end of last season, is thought to favour another Spaniard , the veteran Fernando Llorente, as a fallback option should they fail to land Morata.
Llorente, who was signed by Conte when he was at Juventus in 2013, performed well for Swansea last season but at 32 would be a relatively cheap short term replacement for Costa.
Thusfar Chelsea’s recruitment for a season that will throw up the extra challenge on the squad of Champions League football has seen experienced Argentinian goalkeeper Willy Caballero join for free and German international defender Antonio Rudiger sign for £29m on Sunday.
There could also be further disappointment for Conte with regard to his pursuit of midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko as several newspapers suggest United are ready to launch another commando raid to hijack the deal.
The Times and The Daily Mail say United are willing to offer £40m — matching Monaco’s valuation — rather than the £35m Chelsea bid for the 22-year-old.
Chelsea are loath to better the offer because of concern about Bakayoko having undergone keyhole surgery on a knee in the close season.
United had originally been keen to bring Nemanja Matic from Chelsea but The Times says the Lukaku affair has endangered that deal in souring the two clubs’ relations.

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Mikel causes a stir

Nigeria captain Mikel Obi has  set tongues wagging after he deleted all  pictures where  his Russian  girlfriend Olga Diyachenko  appeared on his Instagram account.
The pair welcomed their twins in 2015 after reportedly dating for two years when Mikel was playing for Chelsea.
Mikel, who joined Chinese club Tianjin TEDA in a reported  £140,000-a-week  deal in January, allegedly has a secret son and daughter by two different women  in the UK.
It was not clear why the 30-year-old South Africa 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner decided to take down  the pictures, but  there are feelers  that the duo  have endured a frosty relationship in recent times.
Olga copped a lot flak from  some Nigerian girls in March after she posted the  picture  of herself and her boyfriend on Instagram.
The Russian's critics, in their various comments, insisted  that Mikel could have made  a better  choice in Nigeria.


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Football, showbiz stars gather for Messi’s wedding

Football and showbiz stars gathered in Argentina for Latin America’s celebrity wedding bash of the decade as Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi prepared to marry his childhood sweetheart Antonella Roccuzzo on Friday.
Pop star Shakira and her husband, Messi’s teammate Gerard Pique, were expected among the 260 guests, according to media and locals close to the event.
They will join old friends of the couple and footballers, including his Barcelona strike partners Neymar and Luis Suarez, in Messi’s northern hometown, Rosario.
Suarez and other soccer stars were watched by curious locals as they stepped off private jets on Thursday at Rosario’s airport.
The party will be a respite for Messi from his legal woes. A Spanish court last month rejected his appeal against a conviction for tax fraud.

– All-star guest list –

Brunette bride Roccuzzo, 29, will wear a dress by Rosa Clara — a Spanish designer who has dressed actress Eva Longoria and Spain’s Queen Letizia.
From 2200 GMT the guests will pack into the Hotel City-Center Casino, which stands right next to a crime-ridden slum run by drug gangs.
This city of 1.2 million people is also a cradle of footballing talent, however.
“Rosario lives and breathes football. That is another reason Lionel feels so comfortable here,” the city’s mayor, Monica Fein, told AFP.
“I think he is excited that through his wedding his friends (from abroad) will be able to get to know the city he loves so much.”

– Roast gizzards –

The civil wedding ceremony and party will all take place inside the venue, and the guests will be lodged there too.
Messi, 30, has reportedly asked chefs to cook local delicacies such as “locro” stew and “empanada” pasties for the feast.
The star dish is a typical Argentine beef roast including chitterlings, gizzards and kidneys.
Uruguayan pop bands Rombai and Marama plus singer Karina, wife of Argentina footballer Sergio Aguero, will perform at the dance.
It is not known whether the guests will also get a song from Shakira, the Colombian diva famous for “Whenever, Wherever.”

– Guards and reporters –

Organizers say 157 journalists have been accredited to cover the bash, but have been warned they will have no access to the guests.
Security will be handled by a private team of Israeli specialists used by Messi for all his excursions.
Messi and Roccuzzo live in Barcelona where he plays, but still return regularly to Rosario on holiday.
The couple met as children. He moved to Spain when he was 13 to join FC Barcelona, but they kept in touch.
“They are the love of each other’s lives,” Messi’s childhood friend Diego Vallejos told AFP.

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Villas-Boas, Hulk banned over Oscar protests

Shanghai SIPG coach Andre Villas-Boas and Brazilian striker Hulk were suspended for two Chinese Super League games on Friday after they protested against the eight-match ban handed to midfielder Oscar over a mass brawl.
Extending what has been a rocky season for China’s newly imported football talent, Villas-Boas was banned for making an “irresponsible comment” on social media, while Hulk was suspended for wearing a T-shirt backing Oscar.
Chinese international Wu Lei was also hit with a two-match ban for wearing a similar T-shirt to Hulk’s, which bore the words, ‘NOTHING TO DO, NOTHING TO SAY’, after SIPG’s 4-1 defeat of Henan Jianye on Sunday.
The phrase has become a rallying cry after Oscar wore a T-shirt with the same wording before his eight-match for triggering an all-in brawl during SIPG’s recent game against Guangzhou R&F.
The Chinese Football Association also fined Hulk and Wu 50,000 yuan ($7,500) each, while SIPG received a 100,000 yuan fine and a warning over the controversy.
“Victory is the result every participant pursues but it can never be at the cost of sacrificing football order and disrupting football rules,” the Chinese Football Association (CFA) said in a statement.
“Respect the rules, referees, fans, opponents and the game.
“The CFA will keep strictly punishing all violations of rules and discipline and hope that all clubs, officials and players can maintain order.”
The CFA did not say what Villas-Boas’s remark was, but after Oscar’s ban he wrote on Instagram: “355 career games; 5 years in the English Premier League; 47 appearances for Brazil; 70 goals. ZERO RED CARDS!!! 8 games suspended.”
Portugal’s Villas-Boas, the former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager, joins a growing list of well-paid foreign stars getting into strife with China’s football authorities.
Gianluca Zambrotta, assistant coach to Fabio Capello at Jiangsu Suning, was also banned for two games following a melee at the end of Monday’s 0-0 draw at Beijing Guoan.
Hulk was earlier investigated over claims that he punched a rival coach, an allegation that he and SIPG deny.

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BREAKING: Ronaldo accused of 14.7 euro tax evasion – official

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo was on Tuesday accused of a 14.7 million euro tax evasion through offshore companies, the public prosecutor’s office in Madrid announced.
The Portuguese footballer was accused of “four crimes against the public treasury between 2011-14… which involves tax fraud of 14,768,897 euros ($16.5m, £12.9m)”, the office said in a statement.
afp

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La Liga seals Nigerian deal

La Liga on Tuesday in Lagos sealed a partnership deal with a Nigerian firm, Legacy Sports, as part of their efforts to bring the world's foremost football league closer to Nigerian fans.
At the ceremony to unveil the partnership, La Liga's Managing Director, International Development, Vicente Casado, described Nigerian football as one of the best, saying La Liga was happy to identify with it.
He said, "To grow in this wonderful country, we need a  partner, we need the tools. We have a partnership with the Nigerian Professional Football League, but we need more local knowledge of La Liga and this is the reason we have Legacy Sports, a strong company, which wants to invest in football with La Liga to grow the game in Nigeria.
President, Legacy Sports, Philip Dawin, said, "Legacy Sports has taken the full rights of La Liga, so we own the marketing rights of the league, we also own an academy, which would be partners with La Liga, as well as event planning. In marketing division, we are catering for clients in Nigeria, helping them to push the La Liga brand."
Former Nigeria midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, who is the Country Manager, La Liga, Nigeria, said the new deal is one amongst several innovations by the Spanish topflight league.

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We will hurt Eagles in Uyo – Bafana

Despite the  injury cloud hanging over  his team, South Africa coach  Stuart Baxter insists Bafana Bafana will be looking to pull off another terrific result in their Cameroon 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Super Eagles  at the Godswill Akpabio  Stadium in Uyo on Saturday.
Key players Aubrey Ngoma, Tiyani Mabunda, Lebogang Manyama, Tokelo Rantie, Andile Jali, Rivaldo Coetzee and Eric Mathoho are nursing  injuries and look doubtful for the clash.
Englishman Baxter, 63,  is desperate to end Bafana's  25-year-old winless run against the Eagles to prove his coaching credentials.
The Southern Africans have never won  in their 11  competitive games  against Nigeria  since  their 4-0 pounding by the  three-time  African champions  in their USA '94 World Cup qualifier in Lagos on October 10, 1992.
Nigeria progressed to win six other competitive  fixtures against South Africa, with both sides settling for draws in four meetings. South Africa only defeated the Eagles 2-1 in a friendly affair in Johannesburg on November 17, 2004, with Baxter, who was their coach,     dishing out instructions from the dugout.
In both teams' last meeting in a competitive affair, Bafana grabbed  a 2-2 draw  at the Godswill Akpabio  Stadium on  November 19,  2014  to end the Eagles' Equatorial Guinea  2015 Africa Cup of Nations' qualification dreams.
Baxter, who admitted  that  Saturday's match would be a tough one for his side,  is backing the players for the game   to step up to the plate, in spite of the Eagles' good run of form under their German manager Gernot Rohr.
"We need a positive result in Nigeria and we have capabilities to hurt them," Baxter, who is expected to arrive in Uyo with  his troops on Wednesday, was quoted by the South Africa Football Association's official website as saying on Tuesday.
"When we get there, we should be ready. There is no perfect world but I have positive belief. I would have loved to have a full fit squad ahead of travelling to Nigeria but you don't get a perfect situation in football."
He added, "We  are going to be a big nuisance to them (Nigeria); we want to be a nightmare they don't want."
Rohr also admitted that  the  match would  be a difficult game for  his team.
The former Gabon coach told reporters in Uyo on Tuesday,  "The game will be difficult. It will be a big challenge to beat the South Africans. It will be difficult with the young players that we have.
"Our captain Mikel Obi and our first choice goalkeeper (Carl Ikeme) are out of the match."

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Manchester attack probe: 10 people in detention

A total of 10 people are in detention in Britain and Libya over Monday’s suicide bombing on a pop concert in the northwestern English city of Manchester by a British-born man of Libyan origin.
A teenage boy and a woman arrested by British police this week have since been released without charge, leaving eight in custody on UK soil who were arrested “on suspicion of offences contrary to the terrorism act”.
In Libya, killer Salman Abedi’s father and brother are in detention.
Abedi reportedly returned from Libya only a few days before the attack which killed 22 people, including several children, but police are still trying to pin down his movements as well as determine whether he was part of a wider network.
Here are the details of the arrests so far:
Tuesday, May 23:
– Masked police arrest a 24-year-old man in the Chorlton area of south Manchester near where Abedi is believed to have lived. Police had earlier given the man’s age as 23.
An eyewitness told AFP that police shouted at the man to lie on the ground before taking him away. British media indicated that this man is highly likely to be Abedi’s older brother Ismael.
The brother was described in media reports as “outgoing” compared to Salman, who was “very quiet.”
Wednesday, May 24:
– Police arrest three more men in south Manchester aged 18, 21 and 24, a short walk from the house where Abedi lived.
Omar Alfaqhuri, a neighbour who lives just in front of a house that was raided, said he saw “a massive deployment of police forces” during the arrest in the night and a man he named as “Adel” taken away.
“They blocked the whole street,” he said, adding that he saw the man handcuffed and taken away in a car.
He said his neighbours were a “nice quiet family”.
– An 18-year-old man, who police said was carrying a suspect package, is arrested in Wigan, a town near Manchester. No further details were given about him.
– Another man, 22, is arrested in the town of Nuneaton in central England, widening the British police probe beyond areas in and around Manchester.
– Libya’s Deterrence Force, which acts as the police of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord, arrests Abedi’s father Ramadan, saying it had already arrested his brother Hashem on Tuesday.
A spokesman said the brother was aware of Abedi’s attack plan and both belonged to the Islamic State group, which claimed responsibility for the attack.
Abedi’s father reportedly protested his son’s innocence in the hours before his arrest.
– In Manchester, a 34-year-old woman is arrested in an apartment block in Blackley, an area north of the city centre by armed police. She is later released without charge.
Thursday, May 25:
– A 16-year-old boy is arrested in Withington, a suburb of south Manchester. The boy is later released without charge.
– A 38-year-old man is arrested in Blackley.
Friday, May 26
– A 30-year-old man is arrested in Moss Side, an area of Manchester which has been associated with social deprivation and gangs.

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Mourinho restores Man Utd’s winning feeling

Judgement was reserved until the final game of his maiden campaign, but in guiding his club to Europa League glory Jose Mourinho has restored the winning feeling at Manchester United.
There was little sparkling football at Old Trafford this season and despite a 25-game unbeaten run, Mourinho could do no better than a sixth-place finish in the Premier League.
Yet by leading United to victory in the League Cup and Europa League, and with the latter success yielding a Champions League place, he has brought back some of the swagger that vanished when Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
“Who cares who finished second, third or fourth in the Premier League? Manchester United have won two trophies,” said former Leicester City midfielder Robbie Savage, who began his career at United, on BBC radio.
“The ‘Special One’ has delivered.”
Mourinho, who described his first United campaign as “my most difficult season as a manager”, has appeared tetchy and grouchy in recent weeks, a glum, unsmiling figure constantly at war with the world.
But he seemed reborn when the final whistle sounded at Stockholm’s Friends Arena following United’s 2-0 victory over Ajax in Wednesday’s Europa League final.
A broad smile on his face, he gambolled on the pitch with his son, was thrown into the air by his coaching staff and made some typically provocative gestures.
To the United fans he raised four fingers — one for each of the four major European titles he has now won.
To the press he lifted his index finger, as if to say: “I’m still the number one.”
There was a familiar curl to Mourinho’s lip in the post-match press conference as well as he hailed a “victory of pragmatism” and hit out at the “poets” who vaunt style over substance.
Mourinho was once Public Enemy Number One to United fans, but after the miseries of the David Moyes and Louis van Gaal eras they have taken him to their hearts.
On a poignant night in Stockholm, coloured by vivid thoughts of Monday’s fatal terror attack in Manchester, United’s supporters sang tributes to their grieving city, but also to their manager.
Mourinho, 54, said he was looking forward to taking a break from football, but he will not be able to keep his mind off United matters for long.
Goalkeeper David de Gea is once again being linked with Real Madrid, Mourinho’s former club, while veteran midfielder Michael Carrick and club captain Wayne Rooney may have played their final games for United.
Rooney made a late substitute appearance against Ajax and Mourinho says he would be “very happy” for him to stay, but United’s record goal-scorer has made no secret of his frustrations over his lack of playing time.
With injury having prematurely curtailed Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s season, United seem likely to move for a new striker and Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann continues to flutter his eyelashes in their direction.
“Ed Woodward (United executive vice-chairman) has my list, what I want, what I would like for more than two months,” Mourinho said.
“So now it’s up to him and the owners.”
Mourinho generally hits his stride in his second seasons at clubs and he will set his sights no lower in 2017-18 than winning a fourth Premier League title and third Champions League trophy.
United finished 24 points adrift of champions Chelsea this season, but defender Chris Smalling says the club’s first Europa League success has fired their ambitions.
“We’re teeing ourselves up for a good pre-season and who knows next year?” he said.
“The fact that we can make history for the club, but the fact that we can line up in the Champions League with that music, I think there’s no better feeling.”
Next season United’s fans will sing the Herman’s Hermits song that they have turned into an ode to Mourinho with even greater conviction.
“Something tells me I’m into something good.”

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