NATIONAL TEAM - BELGIUM - 2014 WORLD CUP - Belgium welcome attack-minded foes

“The United States came out to win the match rather than avoid defeat. We were then able to take advantage of the extra space,” confirmed Kevin De Bruyne, who opened the scoring in the third minute of extra time and put in a fine all-round performance, linking well with Eden Hazard in particular. “It was a real pleasure to play such free-flowing football,” he added.

2 Jul 2014
NATIONAL TEAM - SWITZERLAND - 2014 WORLD CUP - Goodbye, Ottmar Hitzfeld. All the best and take care.

Hitzfeld has made a positive impression wherever he has been stationed and his name is still regularly chanted in the stands at Bayern Munich.

“He put together a really good team that will last for many years to come,” Granit Xhaka told FIFA.com, before Josip Drmic added: “He’s done a great job.” 

2 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 19 - LAST SIXTEEN - ARGENTINA VS SWITZERLAND 1:0

LAST SIXTEEN
1st July 2014

Argentina vs Switzerland 1:0

1 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 19 - LAST SIXTEEN - BELGIUM VS USA 2:1

LAST SIXTEEN
1st July 2014

Belgium vs USA 2:1

1 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - ARGENTINA - KEY PLAYER - ‪LIONEL MESSI - PROFILE

Lionel Andrés Messi; born 24 June 1987, is an Argentine footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team. He serves as the captain of his country's national football team.

By the age of 21, Messi had received Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations. The following year, in 2009, he won his first Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards. 

1 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - USA - KEY PLAYER - ‪JERMAINE JONES - PROFILE

Jermaine Junior Jones, born 3 November 1981, is a German-American footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Turkish club Beşiktaş. He has previously played for Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen, Blackburn Rovers and Schalke 04. He was born in Germany and represented them at U21 and senior level.

1 Jul 2014
NATIONAL TEAM - NIGERIA - COACH - STEPHEN KESHI RESIGNS AFTER EXIT

He becomes the sixth manager to leave his job during the World Cup, following the departures of Honduras's Luis Suarez, Iran's Carlos Queiroz, Japan's Alberto Zaccheroni, Italy's Cesare Prandelli and Ivory Coast's Sabri Lamouchi.

Keshi, who captained Nigeria at the 1994 World Cup finals, was previously in charge of Mali and Togo.

1 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 18 - LAST SIXTEEN - FRANCE vs NIGERIA 2:0

LAST SIXTEEN
30th June 2014

France vs Nigeria 2:0

30 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 18 - LAST SIXTEEN - GERMANY vs ALGERIA 2:1

LAST SIXTEEN
30th June 2014

Germany vs Algeria 2:1

30 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - GERMANY - KEY PLAYER - THOMAS MUELLER‬ - PROFILE

Müller's role can be described as an attacking all-rounder, a player able to play in a variety of forward positions. He can play in any of the attacking midfield roles but usually plays in the center for Bayern Munich, and on the right for Germany.

He has been used as an out-and-out striker on occasion. Müller has been praised for his maturity, pace, technique, awareness and positioning.

30 Jun 2014

2015 AFRICA CUP QUALIFIERS - GROUP STAGE - 3RD MATCHES - NIGERIA - SQUAD

AFRICA CUP 2015 QUALIFIERS GROUP A

Victor Moses has been recalled to the Nigeria squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations ties against Sudan in October.

The Stoke City winger's last Super Eagles appearance was in the 2:0 loss to France at the World Cup in Brazil.

Midfielders Raheem Lawal and Michael Babatunde are both recalled while there are maiden call-ups for Reading's Hope Akpan, Austria-based Sunday Emmanuel, Aaron Samuel from the Chinese Super League and Norway-based Ugonna Anyora.

Out-of-contract Nigeria coach, Stephen Keshi, has overlooked the in-form Seattle Sounders striker Obafemi Martins and has again omitted Villarreal's Ikechukwu Uche for the double-header.

The 52-year-old Keshi, whose contract was not renewed after the World Cup in Brazil, was temporarily put in charge following the intervention of Nigeria's sports minister.

But talks with the NFF stalled because of the body's leadership struggle that prompted a league boycott and led to Fifa threatening a ban from international competition.

"I just have to keep doing my best for my country by preparing the team until we can resume talks," Keshi told BBC Sport.

"It's not a secret that there is no NFF board in place to finalise a contract but we must continue our work and ensure qualification for Morocco."

Significantly, the Nigeria Football Federation has said it will not hold talks with any coaches until after the governing body appoints a new president on 30 September.

Under Keshi's supervision, Nigeria's qualifying campaign has suffered a faltering start, with a defeat by Congo and a draw with South Africa leaving them languishing in third place in Group A.

It places extra pressure on the African champions to win their match away to Sudan, which will take place on 11 October, and the return fixture four days later in Abuja.

 

Nigeria squad:


Goalkeepers: 

Vincent Enyeama 
(Lille, France)

Austin Ejide 
(Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Israel)

Chigozie Agbim 
(Gombe United).


Defenders: 

Elderson Echiejile 
(Monaco, France)

Juwon Oshaniwa 
(Ashdod FC, Israel)

Efe Ambrose 
(Celtic FC, Scotland)

Godfrey Oboabona 
(Rizespor FC, Turkey)

Azubuike Egwuekwe 
(Warri Wolves)

Kenneth Omeruo 
(Middlesbrough, England)


Midfielders: 

John Mikel Obi 
(Chelsea, England)

Ogenyi Onazi 
(Lazio, Italy)

Nosa Igiebor 
(Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel)

Sone Aluko 
(Hull City, England)

Hope Akpan 
(Reading, England)

Raheem Lawal 
(Eskişehirspor, Turkey)

Ugonna Anyora 
(FK Haugesund, Norway)

Babatunde Michael 
(Volyn Lutsk, Ukraine)


Forwards: 

Ahmed Musa 
(CSKA Moscow, Russia)

Emmanuel Emenike 
(Fenerbahce, Turkey)

Gbolahan Salami 
(Warri Wolves)

Osaguona Ighodaro 
(Enugu Rangers)

Victor Moses 
(Stoke City, England)

Aaron Samuel 
(Guangzhou R & F, China)

Sunday Emmanuel 
(SV Grödig, Austria)

 

27 Sep 2014
(BBC Sport, Lagos by Oluwashina Okeleji)

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