WCQ: Very difficult for Ghana to qualify – Stephen Appiah

Stephen Appiah, a former Black Stars captain, says Ghana have little hope of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Ghana find themselves in third place in Group E of the qualifiers, having lost a key match to Egypt on Sunday evening. Their first result was a goalless draw at home to Uganda last month.

Enyimba skipper Udoji confirms Kano Pillars switch

Chinedu Udoji has confirmed he has opted for a fresh challenge at Kano Pillars after seven years at Enyimba.
The Enyimba skipper revealed he has been a long-term target of Pillars.
“It’s 90% certain that I will be joining Kano Pillars,” Udoji revealed.

Juventus chief hints Donnarumma may succeed Buffon

Juventus general manager Beppe Marotta has dropped a hint that the club could be lining up AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma as a successor to Gianluigi Buffon.
Buffon has declared his intention to retire from international football with Italy after the 2018 World Cup, when he will be 40. He has not announced whether that will also be the end of his club career, but Juve know they will have to start looking for a new No. 1 sooner or later.
Donnarumma, 17, is Buffon’s understudy for Italy and while Marotta insists they are not interested in the Milan keeper right now, his comments on life after Juve’s No. 1 steps aside suggested otherwise.
“In the last 20 years, the Italy national team goalkeeper has always come from Juventus,” Marotta said at a news conference. “I say this just to make it clear to you — there has been [Dino] Zoff, Buffon and… the history of Juventus is made up of champions and talented Italians.

Andre Marriner appointed to referee Manchester United-Arsenal clash

Manchester United’s match against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday will be officiated by Andre Marriner, the Premier League has confirmed.
Marriner has yet to referee an Arsenal game this season, but was in the middle for Jose Mourinho’s first match as United boss when they won at Bournemouth on the opening weekend of the season.
Mourinho will return to the touchline after serving a one-match ban for confronting referee Mark Clattenburg in the Red Devils’ last home match, a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Burnley.
And the Portuguese has previously had a run-in with Saturday’s referee. In January 2015 Mourinho

NFF okays composition of new boards of leagues

The Nigeria Football Federation has received the report of the Selection Committee for the Boards of the Leagues, through the Ad-hoc Governing Committees that have been managing the various Leagues.
After receiving the report on Monday, the NFF gave its ‘no objection’ to the composition of the new Boards.
As contained in the submission of the Selection Committee, the new Boards are composed thus:
NIGERIA NATIONAL LEAGUE:
Chidi Ofor Okenwa (Independent Chairman); Magaji Abdulkadir Kapaka (Independent Vice Chairman); Sunday Longbap (Independent Director); Oladimeji Ladi Thompson (Director); Dodo Isah (Director); Farouk Yarma (Director); Tunji Onatolu (Director); Ifeanyi Onyibe (Director); Amos Nworie (Director); Bukola Olopade (CEO).
NIGERIA WOMEN FOOTBALL LEAGUE:

Nigeria-Egypt friendly good for battles against Cameroun – Rohr

Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Gernot Rohr, believes Nigeria’s January friendly match against Egypt would give him the opportunity to get to know more players before next year’s World Cup qualifier against Cameroun.
Speaking through the team’s Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye, yesterday, Rohr said he wants to play more quality friendlies to maintain the momentum of the team, adding that he would invite more players to join the fight for shirts in the team.
He affirmed that the victory over Algeria was a pointer that the Eagles meant business in their quest to be at the Russia 2018 World Cup.
“We have lined up other matches for the team in March. The players are happy over the defeat of Algeria and they have assured that they will continue to fight hard for the 2018 World Cup ticket,’’ he said.
Rohr revealed that his dream is that defender, William Troost-Ekong, would move to a bigger club than Gent