Gist Coven

Super Eagles of Nigeria shared N17.3 million after the international friendly win over South American giants, Argentina in Russia on Tuesday. The Super Eagles beat Argentina 4-2 in the grade A friendly played in Russia. According to Sportinglife, the players received $2,000 each for the win as that is the flat rate agreed with them as match bonus in friendly games. According to the report, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, are already considering organising more high profile international friendly games before the World Cup in Russia to boost their financial powers. The NFF have also sent the World Cup bonus agreement they reached with the players to the Federal Government of Nigeria. This is to notify the Government of their plans to ensure that the perennial row over bonus which has distracted the team during major competitions in time past does not happen again in Russia come 2018.

Chelsea have held initial talks with Carlo Ancelotti about a surprise return to Stamford Bridge, according to reports in Italy. Ancelotti was sacked by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich at the end of the 2010-11 campaign after finishing his second season in charge without a trophy. Antonio Conte’s future at Stamford Bridge has been in doubt since the summer following reports of a fractured relationship with Chelsea’s hierarchy. Conte is understood to be unhappy with several decisions made regarding transfers during his time at the club, including the call to sell Nemanja Matic to Manchester United and the club’s failure to sign Radja Nainggolan and Fernando Llorente. Earlier this month, reports claimed that Conte regrets not quitting Chelsea in the summer and is already planning to leave at the end of the season. On Wednesday, La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Ancelotti’s main desire is to return to the Premier League and he has already been appro...

Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero was rushed to a local hospital in Krasnodar after he fainted in Argentina’s dressing room during half-time of Tuesday’s friendly with Nigeria, local media reported. Aguero, who scored the winner in Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Russia on Saturday, netted his team’s second goal against Nigeria in the 36th minute in Krasnodar before he was replaced at the break. Sport Express daily reported that Argentina’s team doctor took the decision to transport Aguero to hospital as a precaution and to undergo medical tests. Nigeria battled back from two goals down to beat Argentina 4-2.

Super Eagles star, Alex Iwobi has explained the reasons he snubbed England for Nigeria after scoring a brace in the win over Argentina on Tuesday. The 21-year-old made the choice to play international football for Nigeria in 2015 despite featuring in England’s youth teams. Iwobi admitted his family, including his uncle and former Bolton star, Jay-Jay Okocha, played a pivotal role in the decision. “I was growing up in England and England was the only national team I knew, so I was actually very pleased to play at national level,” Iwobi told Soccer Laduma. “However, my family are all from Nigeria, I was born in Nigeria, my uncle (Jay-Jay Okocha) is a legend in Nigeria. “That’s why I thought I would give it a chance. That’s why I went to the U23s and somehow felt more welcome, and I thought it’s where I belong, so I made the decision to switch.”

Jan Andersson's charges started firing on all cylinders in the opening 10 minutes as they pressurised the Azzurri. However, Daniele De Rossi had the first big chance of the match after going through in the 21st minute but his strike from the edge of the box sailed over the crossbar. There was a lot of intensity after half-an-hour but both sides were guilty of wasting chances in the final third. The Blue and Yellows were raiding the Azzurri on the wings but lacked the killer instinct to get on the score-sheet after 40 minutes. The last five minutes of action saw Andersson's troops still probing but the visitors kept it tight and the first stanza ended goalless. Jakob Johansson broke the deadlock for the hosts on the hour following a throw in into the box. The midfielder had space to angle a shot that took a massive deflection and wrong footed goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and into the back of the net, 1-0. Matteo Darmian hit the post in the 70th minute but Gian V...

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have finished their World Cup qualifier with no defeat as they played out a 1-1 draw against Algeria on Friday night in Constantine. John Ogu, with a wonder strike, gave Nigeria the lead in the 62nd minute, before Algeria pulled level late from the penalty spot. The Eagles had 14 points from six games during the qualifiers; winning four and drawing two. With the qualifiers now done and dusted, next stop for the Eagles is Tuesday’s international friendly against Argentina in Russia.