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The House of Representatives Committee on Sports has said that as far as they were concerned, the Eagles could win the World Cup. They also pledged total support to the national team towards the Russia 2018 World Cup campaign. The committee also commended the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for its efforts towards transforming the country’s football. The committee during the 2018 budget defence with NFF officials in Abuja, yesterday said that with the way NFF handles matters related to the Super Eagles, the Nigerian national team can win next year’s World Cup to be hosted by Russia. The NFF’s team was led by its president, Amanju Pinnick, to the budget defence session. The chairman of the committee, Goni Bukar Lawan (APC, Yobe) said the panel would do all within its powers to support the NFF to realize its laudable programmes, including making the Eagles to perform well at the World Cup. “Mr President, you could see how everybody here is commending yo...

Former midfielder Mutiu Adepoju has called on Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, to open the door of his team for Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins. The ex-international believes the Shanghai Shenhua striker has done enough to make his return to the Nigerian team ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Martins, who joined Shenhua in 2016, has been in superb form recently as he helped Shenhua finish 11th in the Chinese Super League, scoring 13 goals in 21 appearances for the club. 33-year-old Martins, with 18 goals in 41 appearances, was part of Nigeria’s team to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and last wore the national colours in 2015 in a match against Swaziland. Adepoju said the Eagles could do with Martins’ experience and fitness to enhance competition in the attacking department of the team. “The coach can never be wrong with opening the door to all good players ahead of the World Cup. The World Cup is a competitive event and every coach wants to do well,...

The 2018 FIFA World Cup will kick off on June 14 until July 15 in Russia. The tournament would be returning to Europe since Germany hosted it in 2006. This is the first time Russia is hosting the 32-team competition. The draw to determine the groups and schedules took place on December 1.  Nigeria will face Argentina, Iceland and Croatia in the group stage of the competition as the four teams belong to group D.  The opening game and the final will take place in Moscow. That’s where the host nation will start things off against Saudi Arabia on June 14. Below you’ll find the complete schedule, scores and TV listings for each game: THURSDAY, JUNE 14 Russia vs. Saudi Arabia 4 p.m. Moscow FRIDAY, JUNE 15 Egypt vs. Uruguay 1 p.m. Yekaterinburg Morocco vs. Iran 4 p.m. Saint Petersburg Portugal vs. Spain 1 p.m. Sochi SATURDAY, JUNE 16 France vs. Australia 11 a.m. Kazan Argentina ...

Argentina coach, Jorge Sampaoli, has reacted to the 2018 World Cup draw, which will see his team facing Nigeria, Iceland and Croatia in the group stage of the competition. Recall that 17 days ago, the Super Eagles humiliated the two-time world champions 4-2 in a showcase international friendly in Krasnodar, Southern Russia. However, Sampaoli told Argentine TV channel, TyC Sports, on Friday, that “Argentina are rivals who come with few obligations and a lot of enthusiasm, the World Cup gives them a unique opportunity. ”Iceland will put up a fight like everyone. Croatia has an excellent midfield with Modric, Rakitic and Perisic, they are a very strong team. ”Nigeria are unpredictable, they are very quick in their play. We recently overcame them clearly in the first half but they got a result later. We have to beat them.” The Super Eagles willArgentina at the Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg on June 26, 2018 in both countries final group game.

England in Group G with Belgium, Tunisia & Panama England's first game against Tunisia in Volgograd Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Egypt. Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran Russia v Saudi Arabia is first game of World Cup Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark. Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia. Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan

.Draw scheduled to start at 15:22 GMT - BBC .Two coverage starts at 15:00 GMT .Watch online & on Red Button - listen on 5 live .Pot 1: Russia (hosts), Germany, Brazil, .Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland, France Pot 2: Spain, Peru, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Croatia Pot 3: Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Iran Pot 4: Serbia, Nigeria, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Panama, South Korea, Saudi Arabia Draw made at State Kremlin Palace in Moscow, conducted by Gary Lineker

Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr says he is calm ahead of Friday’s Final Draw for the 21st FIFA World Cup finals as his team has no fear of any team. According to a statement by the Communications Department of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Thursday, Mr. Rohr spoke from the Crowne Plaza World Trade Centre in Moscow. It quoted him as speaking in the morning after he landed in the Russian capital for the showpiece event. “There is no weak squad in the 32-team field, and anyone hoping to play so-called `average teams’ in the group phase is only guilty of wishful thinking. “All the teams that are in the Final Draw, except host nation Russia, played qualifying matches. They all emerged from tough encounters and, therefore, none can be tagged `weak’. “In the next 24 hours, we will enter the State Kremlin Palace for the Final Draw and a couple of hours later, everyone will know their opponents. “There is no apprehension. If you have to be listed among the ...

FIFA has moved to reassure football fans it will not manipulate the World Cup draw on Friday to favour certain teams. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter claimed last year that some European football draws have been fixed in the past with the use of hot and cold balls. UEFA called the claims “completely absurd” and Blatter stressed heated balls “didn’t exist” at FIFA draws. Russia was drawn against Peru in the only rehearsal filmed before the media on Wednesday. “There’s no truth to that,” said Chris Unger, FIFA director of competitions, in response to a question about heated balls. “They’re all the same; they don’t feel any different, they don’t look any different with the exception of the red balls, which are there for a purpose. It’s entirely random and by chance how the groups get formed at the end.” Former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan, who will help draw the groups, also attended a rehearsal. “South American teams are very strong,” said Forlan, who was...

Nigeria’s Super Eagles were the youngest team of the 32 teams who qualified for next year’s World Cup in Russia, according to statistics published by FIFA. The Eagles were also among the top 10 teams to play with the most foreign-based players in the qualifiers. CIES Football Observatory in conjunction with FIFA profiled the 32 World Cup qualifiers. Nigeria fielded the youngest players (with an average age of 24.9 years) in the qualifiers, followed by title-holders Germany (25.7) and by U-17 and U-20 world champions England (25.9), at the opposite end of the spectrum were two newcomers Panama (29.4 years) and Iceland (29.0), as well as 2014 FIFA World Cup quarter-finalists Costa Rica (29.0). Croatia, Sweden and Iceland lined up completely foreign-based pros for the qualifiers, while Nigeria used 91.4% foreign players to reach Russia 2018. Nigeria were also in the second half of the 32-team tournament in terms of average height of the players who featured in the qualifying ...

Images of the World Cup’s first ever deconstructable stadium have been revealed. The design shows plans for Ras Abu Aboud Stadium which will host matches up until the quarter-final stage of the 2022 Qatar tournament. The innovative arena is to be built using modified shipping containers, a nod to it’s position adjacent to Doha’s shoreline, and every material used can be removed after the tournament. Ras Abu Aboud will boast 40,000 seats on a 450,000 square-metre waterfront site and is the seventh stadium to be unveiled by organisers. Aerial images of the stadium show it to be in prime position, making it easily accessible for supporters with the Hamad International Airport 1.5km away. Many have criticised the decision to host a World Cup in Qatar due to the lack of existing footballing infrastructure but this design appears to provide a solution and can be reassembled as multiple sites elsewhere after the tournament. The sustainability is a key factor for Ras Ab...

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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.”