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AYC: Flying Eagles Coach Still Hopeful On Iheanacho

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Flying Eagles’ Head
Coach Manu Garba has expressed optimism that striker Kelechi Iheanacho could still join the team ahead of the 2015 African Youth Championship (AYC).
Garba told newsmen in Abuja on the sidelines of the 2014/2015 Glo Premier Super 4 Invitational Tournament that if Iheanacho’s injury healed on time, he could join the team.
“Iheanacho can still add value to this team with his performance, but he is being held back by an ankle injury.
“But once he is fit again, we will try to make him join the team ahead of the AYC because he is a valuable player,” the coach said.
Iheanacho is one of the foreign-based players invited to the Flying Eagles camp ahead of preparations for the 2015 AYC.
However, he was not released by his English clubside, Manchester City, due to the ankle injury.
Garba who was the player’s coach during his time with the Golden Eaglets two years ago said however that his optimism did not suggest that he would get an automatic shirt.
He said the player, who was the toast of the national under-17 team then, said Iheanacho would have to fight his way in.
“Although we still hope he will join us, this does not mean he will get an automatic shirt when he comes.
“There is no automatic shirt in Flying Eagles. So, when he comes, he will have to show us that we still need him in the team,” Garba said.
The Flying Eagles’ coach however said there were other substitutes for him in the team if Iheanacho was not able to make it at the end of the day.
“We do not rely on any player in the team because we have a pool of players to select from.
“So, if Iheanacho is not able to meet up with us eventually, we have other players in the team that can give us what we want.
“At the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the UAE when Isaac Success was injured, everyone was doubtful of the team. But Taiwo Awoniyi stood up to the task and even did more than many people expected.
“So, that is exactly what we are doing at the under-20 level and we are sure it will lead us to success,” Garba said.
NAN reports that the Flying Eagles have been in camp in preparation for the AYC scheduled for Senegal from March 8 to March 22.
They are also participating in the ongoing 2014/2015 Glo Premier League Super 4 Invitational Tournament as part of their preparations.

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Kenya Keeper Under Investigation For Match-Fixing

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The Kenya Football Federation (FKF) has launched an investigation into allegations that goalkeeper Patrick Matasi has been involved in match manipulation.
The 37-year-old, who plays for Kenyan Premier League club Kakamega Homeboyz, has won over 30 international caps.
His most recent appearance for the Harambee Stars came in October last year, in a qualifier for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
An undated video posted online appears to show Matasi agreeing a deal to influence the outcome of a league game.
“I have spoken to him. He was also shocked at what he was seeing in the video and he told me he doesn’t know about match-fixing,” Homeboyz owner Cleophas Shimanyula told Tidesports source .
The FKF said it would work with world governing body Fifa, the Confederation of African Football and other “relevant authorities” during its investigation.
“We reaffirm our zero-tolerance policy on match manipulation and are committed to safeguarding the credibility of our competitions,” a statement added.
“This investigation will adhere to FKF’s anti-match manipulation regulations and Fifa guidelines, ensuring a fair, transparent, and thorough process.
“The rights of the player and his club will be respected, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings.”
Shimanyula backed Matasi, pointing to the fact the veteran has kept three clean sheets in as many games since joining the club a month ago.
“When we watched this video, we found that Matasi has not wronged the club,” he said.
“In a video there can misinterpretations and false narratives and we cannot trust everything.
“He will keep playing for us because there’s no wrongdoing on his part as far as we are concerned – unless there’s evidence or the FKF writes to us to say they are suspecting the player of some wrongdoing.
“He is innocent until proven guilty and then we will act.”
The FKF has called on anyone with credible information to assist its investigation, with any reports to be handled with strict confidentiality.
Shimanyula also challenged the Kenyan footballing community to provide evidence against Matasi.
“Kakamega Homeboyz is against any form of match manipulation,” he said.

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UEFA Probes Real Players Over Indecent Conduct

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Uefa has opened an investigation into allegations of indecent conduct by four Real Madrid players during their Champions League last-16 win against Atletico Madrid.
Antonio Rudiger, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Dani Ceballos allegedly made gestures towards the home fans after Real Madrid beat their city rivals on penalties to book their place in the quarter-finals.
TV pictures showed German defender Rudiger appearing to make a throat-slitting motion, apparently towards the crowd after the shootout victory, while Mbappe was shown seemingly making a crotch-grabbing gesture.
Spanish media said Atletico reported the actions to Uefa last week.
The players could be at risk of suspension but there is no guarantee the case will be heard before their quarter-final with Arsenal. The first leg for that tie is at Emirates Stadium on 8 April and the return leg a week later.
In a statement, Uefa said: “[An] ethics and disciplinary inspector has been appointed to investigate allegations of indecent conduct” made by the four Real Madrid players.
“Further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course.”

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EPL To Have Two Transfer Windows

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The Premier League has announced it will have two transfer windows this summer to allow Manchester City and Chelsea to sign players before the Club World Cup.
The window will open between Sunday, 1 June and Tuesday, 10 June, then close for five days before running again from Monday, 16 June until Monday, 1 September.
This summer features the first expanded Fifa Club World Cup, which involves 32 teams and adopts the format of the regular World Cup of the past few years.
Chelsea and Manchester City are the Premier League teams in the tournament which takes place in the United States from Sunday, 15 June.
But the Premier League can only have 12 weeks of a summer window – hence the five-day break in order to run it until 1 September.
Fifa has allowed new players to be registered for the Club World Cup from 1-10 June, and again from 27 June-3 July for the knockout stage.
This is happening firstly, to bring order to the global registration system, world governing body Fifa only permits the transfer window in any individual country to be open for 16 weeks in any calendar year.
In Europe, precedent dictates four of those weeks are for the winter window, leaving 12 in the summer. In 2024, the Premier League transfer window opened on 14 June and closed on 30 August.

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