Iheanacho, Obaje, others shortlisted for 2016 Nigerian Sports Award

Orgnaisers of the annual Nigerian Sports Award (NSA) have shortlisted Super Eagles and Manchester City striker, Kelechi Iheanacho, as well as Godwin Obaje of Wikki Tourists and Chisom Egbuchulam of Rangers of Enugu for the Footballer of the Year award.
Unlike past editions of the Award, 11 categories will be contested for this time.
Speaking in Lagos yesterday, the chairman of the panel, Mr. Ikeddy Isiguzo, said the award is about performance and not mere attempt or participation.
He noted that not much achievement had come from the Nigerian sports scene this year.
For the Coach of the year 2016, Coach Imama Amapakabo of Rangers, Samson Siasia of the U-23 Dream team and Are Feyisetan of Nigeria Powerlifting are the contestants, just as special sports

Brazil respect Lionel Messi, but don’t fear the Argentine – Dani Alves

Dani Alves and his fellow Brazil players have made it clear they will not fear Argentina’s Lionel Messi when the two sides meet for their high-profile World Cup qualifier on Thursday.
Messi’s return from injury prompted an exchange between the two sides on Tuesday after Argentina striker Lucas Pratto, who plays for Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro, said the hosts were frightened of the five-time world player of the year.
“They know that Leo is very tough. They are a little scared,” Pratto told Argentine newspaper Ole. “Or maybe more than a little.”
His claim was flatly denied by Brazil captain Dani Alves, one of the Argentina star’s closest friends and a former teammate at Barcelona.
“There is no such thing as being scared in football. There is respect for Messi and for Argentina. And they feel the same about our players, our team,” the right back said after Tuesday’s training session at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte.
Winger Douglas Costa also kept a sense of perspective, saying: “[Brazil] has to do what it has

Mikel, Musa, 18 others participate in Eagles’ first training session

Captain Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa and 18 others on Tuesday took part in the Super Eagles’ first training session at the National Stadium, Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mikel and Musa were among the latest arrivals at the team’s camp on Monday night.
The team was separated into three groups and began with a light walk-out and head-tennis training under the watchful eyes of Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr and Coach Salisu Yusuf.
Mikel, Odion Ighalo, Ogenyi Onazi, William Troost-Ekong, Moses Simon and John Ogu made up the first group.
The second group had Victor Moses, Musa, Kenneth Omeruo, Kingsley Madu and Uche Agbo.

Deniz Naki’s terrorist propaganda charges dropped by Turkish court

Proceedings against former Germany under-21 international Deniz Naki over terrorist propaganda charges have been closed by a Turkish court.
Naki, a Kurd currently playing for Turkish third-tier outfit Amed SK, had been awaiting trial in the Kurdish city of Diybarkir.
The 27-year-old had been charged with seven counts of terrorist propaganda on social networks following investigations by Diyarbakir’s chief public prosecutor.
However, on Tuesday the judge at the court in Diyarbakir closed proceedings following the public prosecutor’s line of argument, which, according to trial observer and German politician Jan van

Foot fracture rules Kroos out for Germany

Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos is the latest Germany star ruled out of Friday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier away to San Marino with a fractured foot.
The 26-year-old misses the qualifier, four days before Germany’s friendly against Italy in Milan, with a hairline fracture of the metatarsal bone.
Spanish sports daily Marca say the German international may need surgery and claims Kroos could be ruled out for up to three months.

Manchester is the best city I have lived in so far – Ibrahimovic

He has played for clubs in Paris, Milan and Barcelona, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said Manchester is the best city he has lived in during his playing career.
The Manchester United striker, 35, has played for eight different clubs in six countries, including spells at AC Milan, Inter Milan, Barca and Paris St-Germain.
The Swede, who was a free signing from PSG this summer, told Inside United that there was room for improvement in his performances on the pitch, but added he and his family were happy in Manchester.
“I heard a lot of things that the city [Manchester] is this, the city is that, the weather is like this and the weather is like that but, so far, everything has been good,” said Ibrahimovic.
“The city is the best city so far. I come from Sweden, I don’t have big expectations when it comes to outside football.
“I’m pretty simple, I’m a family guy. For example, when I was living in Paris, in four years I didn’t go to see the Eiffel Tower once – I wanted them to change the Eiffel for my statue but they didn’t

Robert Pires eyeing up new role as Arsenal’s sporting director

Robert Pires says he is hoping to be appointed sporting director by former club Arsenal.
Pires, who spent six years at the Gunners between 2000 and 2006, is currently the club’s ambassador.
Bu the ex-France international feels that he would be better suited to the role of sporting director given that he knows the club well and has a positive relationship with manager Arsene Wenger.
“Yes, that is my objective [to become Arsenal’s sporting director],” Pires is quoted as saying by The Sun.
“I don’t know what will happen in the future, but I need to talk about it with the owners and Arsene Wenger. I’d love this job, I love to talk with the players. If I’m given this job one day, I can stay in contact with football, especially with Arsenal.
“I have a good relationship with the manager, that’s important. I can work with the players, I can

I apologised to David Luiz after World Cup thrashing – Ozil

Mesut Ozil was so surprised with Germany’s 7-1 thrashing of Brazil in the 2014 World Cup that he felt obliged to apologise to an emotional David Luiz after the game.
Brazil were favourites going into the semi-final with Joachim Low’s side, and were widely expected to go on to lift the trophy on home soil.

Hazard up there with Ronaldo and Bale – Nevin

Eden Hazard can be rated amongst the world’s top footballers, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, according to Chelsea legend Pat Nevin.
The Belgium international has stunned Blues fans with his performances this season following a lacklustre campaign in 2015-16.
Hazard has already bettered his goal tally from last season in just 11 appearances, scoring seven goals, with his display in Saturday’s 5-0 win over Everton on Saturday coming in for particularly high praise.
The 23-year-old scored twice and was instrumental in Antonio Conte’s side climbing to the top of the Premier League table, before being ousted by Liverpool, and Nevin believes the diminutive playmaker is at the top of his game.
“There were stunning performances throughout, with Eden Hazard showing precisely why it is not silly to ask whether he is capable of consideration alongside the likes of Gareth Bale and [Cristiano] Ronaldo.