Algeria anxious to name new coach, as targets turn down job

Algeria may meet Nigeria in a crucial Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier in Uyo next month without a substantive coach.
The North Africans parted ways with Rajevan Milovan following a players’ unrest after the team’s 1-1 draw with Cameroun in their opening Russia 2018 qualifier at home.
Since then, Africa’s top ranked nation have been in search of a coach to lead them to the November clash with the Super Eagles in Uyo.
Reports in Italy indicate that former Roma Coach, Rudi Garcia, who is among the coaches penciled for the job, turned down the chance to lead the Brazil 2014 World Cup participants.
According to l’equipe, the French tactician was named as one of the candidates for the role along with Alain Perrin, Paul Le Guen, Rolland Courbis and Marc Wilmots.
Garcia has been unemployed since Roma fired him in January to make way for Luciano Spalletti.
Another coach linked with the North African job is Hubert Fournier, who last coached Olympique Lyon in France.

Liverpool’s Klopp unmoved by Manchester United’s financial muscle for big players

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will not allow Manchester United’s greater financial muscle to become a plotline behind today’s heavyweight Premier League clash.
Jose Mourinho was afforded over £150 million to bring United’s squad into shape ahead of the campaign, funding a world-record move for Paul Pogba and a costly ‘free’ transfer for top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Liverpool’s spending was modest in comparison, with big-money moves for Sadio Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum being financed in part by the departures of Christian Benteke, Jordon Ibe and Joe Allen.
Klopp attracted Mourinho’s trademark invective when he questioned the prospective signing of Pogba in pre-season, saying: “If you bring one player in for £100m and he gets injured, then it all goes through the chimney.”

Serena withdraws from WTA Finals

US superstar Serena Williams has withdrawn from the elite WTA Finals in Singapore, saying she’s still working to recover from the shoulder troubles that hindered her in 2016.
The WTA announced Williams’ withdrawal from the event that starts on October 23 on their Twitter feed, posting a video of Williams explaining the decision.
It will be the second straight year that Williams is skipping the season finale in Singapore due to injury.
“Hey everyone in Singapore,” Williams said. “I’m really, really bummed that I won’t be able to come compete this year.
“It’s been a really tough year for me just dealing so much with these shoulder injuries. My doctor insists that I stay home and heal it every single day.”
The 22-time Grand Slam champion earlier pulled out of two tournaments in China after being knocked out of the semi-finals of the US Open.

Ogbeide’s experience will help us – Sunshine

Premier League club Sunshine Stars have said they decided to retain Solomon Ogbeide as their coach for another season due to his experience.
The former Bayelsa United coach, who returned to the Akure club in March, led Sunshine to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League in the just-concluded season.
Sunshine, who proceeded on a break after the season, said they had decided to emulate league champions Enugu Rangers, who had agreed a new deal with coach Imama Amapakabo, who led them to glory after 32 years.
Spokesman for the club, Wahab Bankole, told our correspondent that Sunshine would aim for

Agu points the way to Nigeria’s victory over Algeria

Super Eagles goalkeepers’ trainer, Aloy Agu, has declared that Nigeria would approach the forthcoming 2018 World Cup qualifier against Algeria with zeal and steadfastness, saying the recent sack of the North African team’s coach was a reminder that the Algerians were not taking chances in their bid to be in Russia.
Agu promised that the Eagles would work hard to give Algeria a big fight, acknowledging that the North Africans would not take chances in their remaining group games, especially the matches against the Super Eagles.
He believes that the Eagles’ victory over Zambia has given Nigeria the edge, which can only be retained through hard work, saying that the team have collectively agreed to go all out to pick every point available in the group.