All sports stories from Naija – Latest from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Nigerian Super Eagles and Super Falcons preparations for the FIFA World Cups, and the Nigeria athletes compete at the Commonwealth Games, Olympics and the IAAF World Championships.
3 March 2011 Manchester City's Ivory Coast international defender Kolo Toure has been suspended after failing a drugs test, his club announced on Thursday. A statement on City's official website read: "Manchester City confirm that the FA has informed Kolo Toure that an 'A-sample' provided by him has tested positive for a specified substance. "As result of this, he has…
2 March 2011 Argentine sensation Lionel Messi scored his 27th league goal of the season as champions Barcelona defeated Valencia 1-0 at the Mestalla stadium on Wednesday to move ten points clear of rivals Real Madrid at the Spanish first division summit. Messi netted a 76th minute winner as Barcelona continued their unbeaten away run and put Real under extra…
2 March 2011 Orlando Pirates grabbed a couple of late goals to defeat Maritzburg United 3-1 on Wednesday and take a three-point lead in the South African Premiership title race. Midfielders Tlou Segolela and Zambian Isaac Chansa rescued the 'Buccaneers' after relegation-threatened Maritzburg had weathered an onslaught to equalise soon after half-time via Namibian Rudolph Bester. Ajax Cape Town, level…
3 March 2011 It will be bottom hosting top when JUTH tackle Dolphin this weekend as the Nigeria Premier League gathers more steam. JUTH are rooted to the foot of the 20-team table with 12 points from 17 matches, while Dolphin are 25 points clear of the Jos team. JUTH are battling to stay up after they won promotion from…
November 18, 2010 MTNFootball.com recently introduced a new rankings system for African nations whereby we take into account only the teams' most recent matches to determine who is the best on the continent! Unlike the FIFA World Rankings, we take current form into account and position the countries based on their performances in recent months, compiling a list of our…
2 March 2011 Nigeria skipper Joseph Yobo talks to MTNFootball.com on his new life in Turkey, new Nigeria coach Samson Siasia as well as the Eagles charge for a ticket to the 2012 Nations Cup. MTNFootball.com: How is Joseph Yobo faring in the Turkish league with Fenerbache? Joseph Yobo: I think its been great so far although there are ups…
2 March 2011 Absa Premiership leaders Orlando Pirates and Ajax Cape Town have the chance to put daylight between themselves and the rest of the chasing pack when they play key midweek fixtures on Wednesday. With third-placed Kaizer Chiefs having missed out on the chance to go top of the log last night when they were held to a goalless…
1 March 2011 We continue our series in the search to find the greatest African XI ever and now we focus on the strikers. You have sent in your nominations and together with our panel of experts, we have come up with the following eight players who will compete for two places in our African XI. So have a look…
1 March 2011 Wayne Rooney plans to make amends for the worst season of his life by firing Manchester United to a crucial victory against fading champions Chelsea on Tuesday. By his own admission Rooney has been well below his best as he struggles to cope with a distracting combination of issues in his private life, recurring injuries and the…
1 March 2011 Three Fifth Round games of the FA Cup will be played this midweek, with six teams competing for the three remaining places in the Sixth Round (quarterfinals). All eyes will be on Arsenal on Wednesday evening when they host minnows Lleyton Orient in a replay at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners surprisingly failed to defeat their fellow…
28 February 2011 Football returned to Egypt on Sunday against a backdrop of both celebration and mourning but the continuing tensions elsewhere in North Africa sees the African under-20 championship likely to be moved from Libya and the planned restart of leagues in Tunisia called off. Zamalek, one of Egypts top two clubs, wore black armbands and held a minutes…
27 February 2011 African Football Confederation (CAF) chairman Issa Hayatou says he is stressed out and wants to stand down from his job. "I want to stop because it's (his post) restricting, it's not easy," he told French radio station RFI on Sunday. "I'ver had 37 years in football, that's a lot, and what's more I am a member of…
28 February 2011 Table-topping Dolphin recorded their first draw this season in the Nigeria Premier League, but it could have been worse for the Port Harcourt side had hosts Shooting Stars taken their chances especially in the first half. Pillars also held back title-chasing Warri Wolves with a lone goal home win, just as Kwara United pulled off the biggest…
28 February 2011 The Absa Premiership title race took yet another intriguing turn this past weekend and the top three teams in South Africas top flight are now separated by just two points. Ajax Cape Town moved into first place with a 1-0 win over Free State Stars on Friday evening, but they were leapfrogged by Orlando Pirates, who returned…
25 February 2011 Tunisia ended a seven-year trophy drought Friday when they outclassed Angola 3-0 in Sudan to lift the African Nations Championship. Midfielder Mejdi Traoui put the North Africans ahead just after half-time in hot and humid Omdurman, striker Zouhaier Dhaouiadi struck the second and substitute Oussama Darragi completed the scoring 10 minutes from full-time. The teams drew 1-1…