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Mixed Reactions Trail FIFA Ban

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Following the recent
ban placed on Nigeria by World Football governing body, FIFA, over what it sees as government’s interference, which will bar the country from participating in any international games, Nigeria are sharply divided over its propriety and impact.
While some see it as an ill-wind that would take the country several years back in the game, some said that it would be a blessing in disguise.
FIFA had in a letter dated July 4, 2014 demanded for the immediate reinstatement of the ousted Aminu Maigari-led board of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, which was removed in line with an order from a High Court in Jos.
The world body insisted that the ban will only be lifted once the court action is withdrawn and the ousted executive committee members reinstated.
According to a coach with Rivers State Sport Council, who did not want is name in print, the ban is a huge setback for the country and underlines the many problems trailing the organization and administration of football in Nigeria. He called on the authorities to do the right thing that would lead to the lifting of the ban.
Former Super Eagles Coach, Christian Chukwu expressed disappointment over the ban and feared for the future of the game. “I am sad to hear that FIFA has banned us. From all indications, if things are not done according to FIFA, we will miss out of the 2015 African Cup of Nations, our U-20 girls won’t play in Canada and lots more. Our football will suffer a lot as this can only take us backwards,” Chukwu said.
Coach Justin Jenger said it was a shame that we have to do the right thing by FIFA. “This is the saddest thing ever to happen to Nigerian football, where are we heading now?” he queried rhetorically.
But the Assistant Coach of Rivers Angels FC, Port Harcourt, Whyte Ogbonda threw his support behind the sacking of the NFF board and said that if the FIFA ban is the price the country has to pay to reorganize the administration of football in Nigeria, let it be so.
Ogbonda said that the ban would turn out to be a good omen that may help Nigeria. He urged the authorities in Nigeria not to placate FIFA by reinstating the ousted NFF board, describing the NFF as a very corrupt institution that has been running the game aground.
When reminded that the ban would affect even club-sides on continental assignments, the coach said that such clubs should persevere and see it as a sacrifice or the rebirth of the sector in Nigeria. He however urged that the period of the ban should be used to restructure football administration.
Meanwhile, former FIFA Adviser and member of FIFA Study Group, Festus Onigbinde has urged Nigeria to call the bluff of the world body, while he wants Nigeria to obey FIFA, he wants government to hands off football sponsorship.
According to Onigbinde, he who pays the piper dictates the tune and if FIFA doesn’t consider Nigerian government’s sponsorship and investment in football as interference but intervention as a result of court order to ensure peace and order as interference, then my advice is that the government of Nigeria should hands off entirely the financing and sponsorship of the game in the country. Let the administrators removed by the NFF congress be reinstated and start sponsoring football all alone without the support of the government of Nigeria.
“If FIFA says we should bring them back, let’s do so but they must look for their own money to run their affairs because giving them money will also amount to interference. What the nation should do now is to sit down and restructure our football physically and technically.”

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Inter Best Juventus To Maintain Serie  A Lead

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Andrea Cambiaso scored at both ends during the first half of Saturday’s Derby d’Italia, before Pierre Kalulu’s red card forced Juventus to play the entire second half a man light.

Substitute Francesco Pio Esposito got Inter back in front with a bullet header, then Manuel Locatelli’s pinpoint finish looked to have salvaged a point for the Bianconeri, before Zielinski struck on the cusp of stoppage time.

Juventus made the brighter start, but they were masters of their own downfall in the 17th minute, when Cambiaso deflected Luis Henrique’s cross beyond Michele Di Gregorio.

Cambiaso atoned within nine minutes, catching Henrique on his heels when Weston McKennie’s cross squirmed through to the back post and applying a side-footed finish.

But after Bremer cleared Zielinski’s dinked effort off the line, Juve’s hopes were damaged when Kalulu received his second yellow card for a 42nd-minute pull on Alessandro Bastoni, though the Inter centre-back appeared to go down theatrically.

Di Gregorio made a remarkable stop to thwart Hakan Calhanoglu, but as Juventus dropped ever deeper, they were punished when substitute Esposito guided Federico Dimarco’s searching cross into the far corner with 76 minutes on the clock.

It looked like Inter would have to settle for a point when Locatelli whipped a wonderful finish into the bottom-left corner in the 83rd minute, but Zielinski had the final say as his 20-yard drive fizzed through Locatelli’s legs and beat Di Gregorio.

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Szoboszlai’s Real Madrid Dream Sparks Concern At Liverpool 

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A cloud of uncertainty has settled over Liverpool after comments from Hungary head coach Marco Rossi reignited speculation about Dominik Szoboszlai and Real Madrid.

Rossi, who has worked closely with Szoboszlai since his teenage years, revealed that the midfielder’s lifelong ambition is to play for the Spanish giants.

“Because of the very close and direct relationship I’ve had with Dominik since he was a child, Real Madrid has always been his dream,” Rossi said.

For a Liverpool side building around Szoboszlai as a centerpiece of Arne Slot’s project, those words landed hard.

Within hours of Rossi’s remarks, Szoboszlai interacted on social media with two Real Madrid players, applauding posts from Vinicius Junior and Trent Alexander-Arnold following Madrid’s win over Real Sociedad.

His reaction to Vinicius’ post drew particular attention. The exchange with Alexander-Arnold, his former Liverpool teammate, was seen as less surprising.

Still, in the hyper-connected world of elite soccer, even a digital thumbs-up can carry weight. On Merseyside, fans and pundits quickly began dissecting the meaning behind the interactions.

Szoboszlai, Hungary’s captain, has become one of Liverpool’s most influential players. That status is precisely why Rossi’s comments triggered such an intense reaction in England.

The midfielder had just delivered on the field as well, scoring in Liverpool’s 3-0 FA Cup fourth-round victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield.

After the match, Mohamed Salah heaped praise on his teammate, calling Szoboszlai “the best player in the world.” Slot struck a slightly more measured tone but echoed the sentiment.

“I think there are many elite players in the world, but I definitely agree with Mo that he is one of them,” Slot said. “He is very important for us.”

Szoboszlai is under contract at Liverpool through 2028. However, the club is reportedly eager to open extension talks in the coming months to secure his long-term future.

The player himself addressed the situation recently with notable candor.

“There’s nothing yet, to be honest. Nothing from now on. It’s not in my hands. That’s how it works,” he said. “There’s no progress, but if the right offer comes, we’ll see.”

He was equally clear about his affection for Liverpool.

“We’ll see what happens. Hopefully everyone will be happy in the end. Of course I want to stay. I like the city, I like the club, I like playing with these guys. I love Anfield, I love the fans. Let’s see what the future brings. It’s not my fault. I’d love to stay. We’ll see.”

 

Inter’s dramatic victory boosted their lead over rivals AC Milan to eight points, ahead of the Rossoneri hosting Como on Wednesday. Juventus, meanwhile, could drop out of the top four as Roma visited Napoli last night.

The last four Serie A matches between Inter and Juventus have produced a total of 21 goals (an average of 5.25 per game), compared to just nine in the previous six (1.5 per game).

Cambiaso became the first player in Derby d’Italia history to score and put through his own net in the same match between these old rivals, but it was Zielinski’s fifth Serie A goal of the season that proved decisive.

Inter will argue they were deserved victors after amassing 21 shots and 1.88 expected goals (xG), while Luciano Spalletti’s visitors mustered 10 shots and 0.92 xG – though the Bianconeri actually attempted six of their shots while down a man in the second half.

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Wolves Beat Man Utd Conquerors

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Premier League strugglers Wolves overcame resolute Grimsby Town in challenging conditions at Blundell Park to reach the FA Cup fifth round at the expense of the side that eliminated Manchester United in the last round.

Santiago Bueno scored from Wolves’ only shot on target with an hour played, diverting Joao Gomes’ cross past goalkeeper Jackson Smith with his thigh to end the League Two club’s resistance.

Unrelenting rainfall caused heavy ground underfoot and one penalty area in particular- that of Grimsby’s Smith in the first half – was already a quagmire before kick-off.

Charles Vernam shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box with just 43 seconds on the clock as Grimsby sought to catch their top-flight visitors cold.

Wolves had to wait until the 17th minute for their first opportunity of note, forward Tolu Arokodare firing over with a first-time attempt.

The white paint of the pitch markings soon blended and blurred with the mud as the surface rapidly deteriorated, and both sides struggled to stitch together cohesive attacks as passes travelled unpredictably across the sodden ground.

 

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