Football

9 May 2011 Nigerian clubs Enyimba and Sunshine Stars at the weekend shot to the next round of the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, respectively. Enyimba pipped hard-fighting Al-Ittihad of Libya 1-0 courtesy of a victor Barnabas penalty goal after 70 minutes to qualify for the money-spinning stage of the Champions League. The two-time African champions thus joined defending…

5 May 2011 Unheralded Sporting Braga edged domestic rivals Benfica 1-0 in a nerve-jangling semi-final second leg on Thursday to set up an all-Portuguese Europa League final with league champions FC Porto. Braga's success saw the club from northern Portugal advance on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate draw and thwarted neutrals' hopes of a clash between traditional rivals Porto…

6 May 2011 Despite training just once on Wednesday evening, Nigeria B team still managed to beat their Liberian counterparts 1-0 to get the defence of the WAFU Cup in Abeokuta off to a winning start. Eagles drew the first blood in the 20th minute when Ekhigo Ehiosun fired in the opener which drew wide jubilation from the fair crowd…

6 May 2011 Manchester United will go on to secure a record 19th title if they defeat Chelsea in this weekend's Premier League shoot-out, Alex Ferguson said Friday. Speaking at a press conference ahead of United's showdown with Chelsea on Sunday, Ferguson said he was convinced that a win against the reigning champions would guarantee the title. United, who lead…

2 May 2011 Two separate investigations opened on Monday into reports of a controversial alleged plan to introduce quotas for dual-nationality players in the France national football team. France's sports ministry and the French football federation (FFF) will be carrying out separate enquires with their findings expected in the next week, said Patrick Braouezec, president of the Football Foundation, who…

3 May 2011 Newly crowned African youth champions Nigeria's Flying Eagles, received a rousing welcome on their return to the country Monday. A big crowd of supporters and reporters was on hand at the Murtala International Airport in Lagos to receive the Nigeria U20s, who Sunday beat bogey team Cameroon 3-2 in the final of the African Youth Championship in…

2 May 2011 Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola hit back at accusations of cheating from Real Madrid ahead of the Champions League semi-final second leg match at the Nou Camp by describing his players as exemplary. In the press conference ahead of the game, Real assistant coach Aitor Karanka claimed that UEFA's decision not to sanction Barcelona over their action in…

30 April 2011 Barcelona missed a glorious chance to close in on the Spanish league title after falling to a shock 2-1 defeat at Real Sociedad on Saturday as their 32-match unbeaten league run came to an end. Pep Guardiola's side could have moved to within one point of a third successive league crown with victory after rivals Real Madrid…

01 May 2011 Nigerias Flying Eagles are united they will beat bogey team Cameroon to win a sixth African Youth Championship (AYC) on Sunday. Both teams clashed in the group stage of the tournament in South Africa with Cameroon deserved 1-0 winners, but the Nigerians have vowed to take their pound of flesh in Sundays final at the Dobsonville Stadium…

29 April 2011 Barcelona look to build on their morale-boosting 2-0 Champions League semi-final win over rivals Real Madrid by moving a step closer to their third consecutive league title with victory at promoted Real Sociedad on Saturday. Two goals from Lionel Messi helped Barcelona put one foot in the Champions League final with the triumph over Madrid on Wednesday…

30 April 2011 Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, has tipped the Flying Eagles to win this years African Youth Championship in South Africa on Sunday. (John) Obuh is a disciplined and very determined coach and I see him inspiring the team to win the cup at the expense of Cameroon on Sunday, predicted Siasia. We have the players who can…

28 April 2011 A stunning four goal show by Colombian striker Falcao saw Portuguese champions Porto come from a goal down to overwhelm Spanish side Villarreal 5-1 on Thursday in their Europa League semi-final first leg clash in Oporto. Falcao's goals took him to a record 16 in the competition, beating Jurgen Klinsmann's total of 15 for Bayern Munich in…

29 April 2011 President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari, has said Nigeria would reclaim the African Youth Championship for West Africa after defending champions Ghana made an early exit from the tournament in South Africa. Nigerias Flying Eagles defeated the Junior Eagles of Mali 2-0 at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto in the first semi-final of the AYC…

29 April 2011 Sir Alex Ferguson believes the winning mentality ingrained in his Manchester United players will play a vital role in any end-of-season charge for silverware. Over the last two decades, United have dominated English football and have rarely buckled under the pressure as they fight on more than one front to lift further trophies. United are once again…

28 April 2011 Flying Eagles of Nigeria coach, John Sam Obuh, has declared his team will make history by winning the 2011 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Colombia. Ghana became the first African team to win the FIFA Under-20 World Cup two years ago in Egypt and Obuh said he believes his team could follow in the footsteps of the…