By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have dropped by one spot in the January Ranking by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) to now occupy the 36th position in the world.

In the ranking table released by the world football governing body on Thursday, the Nigerian team retained the 1474 points it had in the month of December.

The ranking which is the first in 2021 saw Nigeria retaining it’s fifth spot on the continent behind Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco respectively.

On the global scene, a total of 43 full internationals (including one played in December 2020) were taken into account.

The standout tournament in recent weeks has been the African Nations Championship (CHAN), where a total of 32 games took place.

These fixtures as well as the other 11 games played have been classified as friendlies, because only players competing in the national championships of the participating countries are eligible to take part in the CHAN.

In the standings, CHAN winners Morocco (33rd, +2), and runners-up Mali (54th, +3) have made the most progress.

Third-placed Guinea (72nd, +1) and quarter-finalists Congo (90th, +1) have also advanced.

Other teams moving in the right direction include Costa Rica (50th,+1), currently back in the Top 50 after an absence of several months, Cape Verde (80th, +1), Oman (81st, +1), Benin (82nd, +1), Azerbaijan (108th, +1), Estonia (108th, +1), Thailand (110th, +1), Guinea-Bissau (119th, +1), Tajikistan (120th, +1) and Guatemala (130th, +1).

Those teams aside, no other country has enhanced its position since December, and the Top 32 places in the standings remain unchanged since the end of 2020.

Belgium, France, Brazil, England and Portugal continue to occupy the top spots, with the leading trio of Belgium, France and Brazil only separated by 37 points.

The fight for top spot promises to be an exciting one this year with a string of major tournaments scheduled (Copa America, UEFA EURO and CONCACAF Gold Cup) as well as the resumption of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. (NAN)

Manchester United lost ground in the 2020/2021 English Premier League (EPL) title race as they dropped points in a 1-1 draw at relegation-threatened West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

Bruno Fernandes equalised Mbaye Diagne’s early goal for second-bottom West Brom, but the home side held on for a draw.

Manchester United are second, above Leicester City on goal difference but still seven points behind Manchester City, who beat Tottenham on Saturday, and having played a game more.

West Brom remain second-bottom, 12 points from safety.

“We should play better but we gave ourselves a tough start,” Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said.

“You have 90 minutes to make amends, but we didn’t build that momentum until late in the first half.”

Diagne gave West Brom the lead on two minutes and Fernandes volleyed the equaliser just before half-time.

Harry Maguire thought he had won a penalty kick for Manchester United but it was overturned after video review.

West Brom then hung on for a point to give their slim survival hopes a boost.

Solskjaer said any talk of Manchester United being in the title race was misplaced.

“I said we shouldn’t be talked about,” he said. “A compliment for the boys we got into position we are now.

“We won’t let them run away with it —— we’re playing them soon. We’re not giving it away early. No, we’re not.”

In another match, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a hat-trick as Arsenal beat Leeds United 4-2 to go 10th.

Aubemayang grabbed two goals in the first half and after Hector Bellerin added a third on half-time, he completed his hat-trick to make it 4-0 two minutes into the second half.

Though Pascal Struijk and Helder Costa scored in the second half for Leeds United, it was too little too late and they are now one place behind the Gunners.

Southampton suffered a sixth straight league defeat as Wolverhampton Wanderers came from behind to win 2-1 at St Mary’s.

Danny Ings put Southampton ahead with a brilliant volley on 25 minutes, but Ruben Neves levelled from the penalty kick spot after a controversial handball soon after half-time.

Pedro Neto then fired in a superb winner on 66 minutes.

Wolves are now 12th, one point and one place above Southampton.

“We are insisting on getting back to playing good football,” Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo said.

“It’s a process we are chasing and it’s a daily one. I’m pleased for today because it’s a step in the right direction.”

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuettl said Wolves’ first goal should not have happened.

“It’s hard to take,” he said. “It was a good game from our side but I cannot understand it (the penalty decision).

“There was no chance for the opponents up to then. My team was shocked at that moment because of the decision. We can discuss about everything but at the moment I cannot think about anything else.

“The rest of the story, let others discuss it. I don’t want to. I’ve seen it two or three times. I cannot understand.” (dpa/NAN)

Tokyo 2020 organising committee president, Yoshiro Mori, has announced his resignation on Friday due to protests over his sexist remarks about women last week.

The 83-year-old former Japanese prime minister made the announcement at a special meeting of its executive members.

He told the meeting that his inappropriate remarks have caused chaos and wish to “resign as president as of today’’.

Mori, who was appointed to head the Olympic organising committee in January 2014, said on Feb. 3, at a meeting of the Japanese Olympic Committee, that “Women have a strong sense of rivalry… if one female member raises her hand to speak, everyone will think they need to say something too’’.

He made an apology at a news conference afterwards but protests over these remarks have shown no sign of abating in the past week.

The former head of Japanese Football Association, Kaburo Kawabuchi, has been reported to take over but the 84-year-old is considering not accepting the offer in what would be a sharp turnaround from his comments the previous day, the Kyodo news agency said. (Xinhua/NAN)

Egypt’s Al Ahly equalled their best-ever finish at the FIFA Club World Cup when they defeated South American champions, Palmeiras, after their third-place play-off ended goalless on Thursday in Qatar.

Egyptian Captain and goalkeeper, Mohamed El Shenawy, was Al Ahly’s hero in the shootout, saving Felipe Melo’s penalty to ensure that the African champions won 3-2 in Qatar.

El Shenawy had earlier saved Rony’s tame effort while Luiz Adriano missed the target, with Ahly also missing through Amr El-Sulaya and Marwan Mohsen.

Junior Ajayi thought he had made the breakthrough in the second half only for his goal to be narrowly ruled out for offside, while El-Sulaya could have done better with a first-half effort dragged wide.

There was no extra-time at the end of the game, meaning the match went straight to penalties.

“From the start of the tournament, we all promised that every player will give his maximum effort in order to achieve a good position,” El Shenawy said after the game. “Thankfully, all our efforts paid off and we managed to win the bronze medal.”

“We had a great game and we fought very hard to win the bronze medal. Our coaching staff analysed Palmeiras very well. Every player in the team only focuses on doing what is best for the whole team. Everyone fought very hard to win the bronze medal.”

Al Ahly, who performed creditably in their semi-final against Germany’s Bayern Munich to earn widespread praise, enjoyed great support from the stands, thanks to Egypt’s sizeable expatriate community in Qatar.

“The players’ spirit and determination to please our fans are the secrets behind the bronze medal,” added El Shenawy.

The record nine-time African champions’ previous best performance at the Club World Cup came in 2006, when they also finished third.

Al Ahly’s display is Africa’s best at the tournament since 2013 when Morocco’s Raja Casablanca – one of only two teams from the continent to finish runners-up, along with DR Congo’s TP Mazembe in 2010 – reached the final on home soil.

Later In the day, a 59th-minute Benjamin Pavard goal earned dominant FC Bayern München a 1-0 victory over Tigres UANL of Mexico in the final and their second FIFA Club World Cup™ triumph.

It also completed a magnificent outing for the Bavarian behemoths, emulating the achievement of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in 2009/10. (PANA/NAN)

Nigeria’s Kelechi Iheanacho struck deep into stoppage time to send Leicester City into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, on Wednesday.

Extra time loomed when Ihenacho was picked out at the far post from a corner and he headed home.

Both sides had goals ruled out within the space of a minute in the second half, Andi Zeqiri for Brighton and Cengiz Under for the hosts.

Leicester also suffered a blow when James Justin was carried off on a stretcher after jarring his knee.

Iheanacho’s late intervention, however, made sure it was Leicester who moved through and they were joined in the last eight by the Premier League’s bottom club Sheffield United who beat Championship side Bristol City 1-0. (Reuters/NAN)

By Nicholas Obisike

Rangers International Football Club of Enugu on Wednesday defeated Dakkada FC of Uyo 3-0 in a Match Day 8 fixture in the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

Isreal Abia had put Rangers ahead just before half-time at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, while Christian Nnaji made it 2-0 in the 73rd minute.

Nnaji completed his brace in the 89th minute to bring the scores to 3-0.

An elated Rangers coach, Salisu Yusuf, said the tactics his team applied helped them to win the match.

He noted that he made two quick changes before the interval for tactical reasons which gave his team the edge.

Speaking on the performance of goalkeeper Femi Thomas, Yusuf said he would continue in goal for Rangers as Nana Bonsu was still trying to get over his challenges.

”Bonsu lost a family member and he needs to get over his psychological challenges and, after that, he may come back into the match line-up.

Yusuf however hailed Nnaji who scored two goals in the match, saying he would keep growing with every match and gain confidence that is deserving of regular game time.

Speaking also, Nnaji said he was happy to have scored two goals in the match.

”Though that was what the coach wants me to do for the team and I am happy to have delivered.

”I hope we continue to win matches in the league with goals because continental ticket is our first target.

”From the look of things, Rangers may win the league if we keep fighting for every point the way we did today,” Nani said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rangers have now moved up to the fifth position in the league with 14 points, while Dakkada FC occupy the 12th position with 11 points. (NAN)

By Emmanuel Afonne

Patrick Ngwaogu, the Sporting Director of Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia, says the ultimatum served the club’s players and coaching crew is a wake-up call.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the team had no reason to lose four straight matches going by the support it enjoyed from the club’s management.

“The ultimatum is a wake-up call, and it has been purposeful because there is a lot of improvement in the three matches played so far since then,” Ngwaogu said.

NAN reports that the players and coaching crew led by Imama Amapakabo were told two weeks ago by the club management to improve their style of play in the league or face sanctions.

This came after the club lost four games in the opening weeks of the 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The club lost 0-1 to Enyimba International in Aba, 0-1 at home to Rivers United, 1-2 to Akwa United in Uyo and 1-3 at home to Jigawa Golden Stars.

Ngwaogu, however, said the draws recorded by the club in their last three matches signified an improvement.

”Things can only get better if they can record a victory in the midweek game against Sunshine Stars of Akure.

“After the three-match ultimatum, we played 1-1 with FC IfeanyiUbah in Nnewi, drew goalless with MFM FC and Lobi Stars respectively and I know the team will do better in their next match.

“However, it is the responsibility of the club management to take whatever decision it deems fit, but since we have a match on Wednesday against Sunshine Stars, that should be our focus now.”

The official assured that the club would continue to strive until they got the best.

”There is no cause for alarm because the players, officials and management of the club are all committed to a common cause of making Abia Warriors compete well with the other teams in the league,” Ngwaogu said.

NAN reports that Abia Warriors are currently placed 19th on the NPFL table with three points from seven matches.

The club returned to its training camp in Okigwe on Monday after Sunday’s league encounter with Lobi Stars in Makurdi. (NAN)

By Emmanuel Afonne

A former FIFA/CAF Instructor, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, has identified lack of proper Football Development Programme (FDP) as major factor hindering soccer development in the country.

Onigbinde said this on Tuesday in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, following the 2-3 defeat of the Golden Eaglets by Cote d’ Ivoire, in the final of WAFU B Under-17 Championship.

He said that football would continue to suffer setback in the country until the NFF leadership developed a master plan for identifying and nurturing talents.

Onigbinde commended the Golden Eaglets for their display at the under-17 championship in Togo, but noted that their best wasn’t good enough to remain on top.

“Did the team deliberately allow three goals to be scored against them before coming from behind to score their two goals?

“We are talking about football. Some few months ago, we (Super Eagles) were leading a team (Sierra Leone) 4-0 and the team came and levelled up.

“We have a major problem in the country and it is lack of proper football development programme.

“This is a country greatly endowed with football talents but we are not even identifying the talents, not to talk of developing them.

“So, how can you build something on nothing? What is our national strategy on football system? What system are we playing? If none, then it means we are not serious with football.

“For this reason, we have to accept any result that comes our way because we are going into matches and competitions with open chances rather than deliberate efforts to make a mark,” Onigbinde said.

According to him, the continuous losses recorded in the country’s football means that all is not well with the system, especially the inability to have grassroots sport programmes.

He explained that the country was able to conquer the world, even when there was no MRI testing for players.

“Scrutiny at those times we won under-17 championships was not as serious as it is now; there was no MRI then.

“We know the type of players we were fielding those days. The systems we had then were completely different from what we have now,” Onigbinde said.

He stated that he had visited more than 40 African countries analyzing and developing football with FIFA and CAF but that he had not seen a country well-endowed like Nigeria.

Onigbinde, therefore, urged football administrators in the country to wake up and re-strategise to avoid making mockery of our football system, which had produced quality players in the past.

“If a team in position one before suddenly moved to position three, such a team is definitely down.

“There is nothing bad for someone to be down; what matters is how determined you are to come up again. This is what I have been talking about for decades now,” Onigbinde added. (NAN)

By Emmanuel Afonne

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has pledged  to handsomely reward  the Golden Eaglets if they win the ongoing WAFU Zone B Under-17 championship in Togo, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Lawan, who spoke to NAN through his Special Adviser (SA) on Sports, Sani Fema, on Sunday night, stated that the team deserved to be rewarded for not crashing out at the group stages.

The Golden Eaglets would face Cote d’ Ivoire, on Monday, at the Stade de Kegue, in the final of the championship, having defeated Group A winners Burkina Faso 1-0 in the semi-finals, while the Ivorian team overpowered Niger Republic 1-0.

It would be recalled that the Golden Eaglets lost 0-1 to Cote d’Ivoire in their opening Group B match, and later drew 1-1 with Ghana in their second encounter, after they took the lead through Joseph Arumala.

The Fatai Amoo-tutored team eventually squeaked into the semi-finals after the Ivorian team whipped their Ghanaian counterparts 3-1 in the last group game played at the Stade Municipal, Lome.

The senate president said that having cruised into the finals, the team needed to lift the trophy to prove they are the best under-17 team in the world, after a record five world titles.

“The National Assembly and the office of the Senate President are supporting the Golden Eaglets 100 per cent, and the team will be invited, on arrival after they must have lifted the trophy.

“The team should remember that Nigeria is the most decorated under-17 football team in the world and anything short of the championship trophy will not be good for a world champion.

“In spite of not recording fantastic results in the group stage, the team was able to move into the final, that is the spirit of a champion and I want them to exhibit that on Monday.

“They should not lower the standard, during their time. because football unites Nigerians,” Lawan said. (NAN)

Napoli pummelled Fiorentina 6-0 on Sunday to take third place in Italy’s Serie A as their inspired captain Lorenzo Insigne hit a brace and provided an assist.

The fast, diminutive Insigne struck clinically on five minutes and was unstoppable when he raced on the left flank to square for the third goal from Hirving Lozano.

Napoli’s other striker Andrea Petagna set up Insigne’s opener and also crossed for the second goal scored by Diego Demme.

Piotr Zielinski fired in off the left post to effectively wrap up matters by half time.

Insigne then converted a penalty kick, before a late effort from substitute Matteo Politano.

Napoli have a game in hand and sit six points behind leaders AC Milan, who close matchday 18 at Cagliari on Monday.

Second-placed Inter Milan and fifth-place champions Juventus meet for a league classic later Sunday.(dpa/NAN)