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Glo League: The Stars Who Will Light Up the Season

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Several stars shone in the 2013/2014 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season to make a name for themselves.
Some of the players who hit headlines last season like Emem Eduok, Peter Ebimobowei and Osaguona Ighodalo have since sought greener pastures.
Eduok is enjoying a new life in Tunisia with Esperance where he has been dazzling.
The forward scored 20 goals for Dolphins last season to emerge as the second top scorer and equaled Jude Aneke’s record of 20 goals in a season.
Bayelsa United lost Peter Ebimobowei to Al Ahly. Ebimobowei scored 18 goals for Bayelsa United who managed to stay up in the premier league, but the striker’s qualities did not go unnoticed as he was snapped up in Egypt.
Osaguona Ighodalo is another player who the league has lost after a superb season with Enugu Rangers.
The big striker, who featured for the Super Eagles, is now a key figure with Raja Casablanca of Morocco.
Warri Wolves ace, Stanley Dimgba deserved a mention as he dazzled for his new club in the last campaign.
Giwa FC goalkeeper Ojo Olorunleke was one of the major reasons why the league debutants did so well in the league. It was a form that earned him a place in the national U20 team.
Chisome Chikatara (Abia Warriors), Christian Pyagbara (Sharks), Ocheme Udoh (Giwa FC) all did well for their teams last season.
As the 2014/15 football season seeks to gather momentum. Tidesports source takes a look at the players who have the potentials to excel in the league and become big stars for people to adore.
Etebo Oghenekaro: Warri Wolves forward is a quality player who can take the league by storm once again, but only if he stayed fit.
Injury was his bane last season when he managed three goals in few games.
Oghenekaro was an instant hit in his first season 2011/2012 for Warri Wolves where he scored 15 goals to attract interest from Serie A side Udinese, but injury messed the deal up.
He is fit again and has been dazzling for the national U23 team. He could well be the star of the new season.
Christian Pyagbara: The U20 star has crossed from Sharks to city rivals Dolphins and he is poised to be a replacement for departed Emem Eduok.
Pyagbara is a lethal forward just as Eduok and Dolphins coach has tagged him as the replacement for the Esperance of Tunisia forward.
His switch from the wings to top striker has produced more goals from his boots.
Pyagbara did well for Sharks scoring 12 goals for them last season.
Peter Onyekachi: This is another striker who has potential to be the best in the new season following his exploits so far with Enyimba.
Last season with Abia Warriors, he netted 12 goals.
He is currently with the Nigeria U23 team where he is doing well. He is a good buy and time will tell what he can do with the two-time African kings.
Christian Obiozor: Kano Pillars new striker is one of the strikers to watch out for when the season commences. The lanky striker is skillful and good goal getter.
He has shown what he has in stock during the expanded Super 4, where he scored four goals and also in the CAF Champions League.
The striker who helped Nigeria win bronze at CHAN 2014 in South Africa scored 8 goals last season for Rangers and he is a striker to watch out for in 2015 season.
Mfon Udoh: The All-time top scorer in Nigeria league will play for Enyimba this season and he is the man to beat as every striker will fight to break his record which he set last season.
Udoh is a consistent goal scorer as he has proved in his first two season in the top flight.
In 2012/2013, the striker scored 15 goals for Akwa United. For the 2013/2014 season, Mfon Udoh was the most talked about player in Nigeria league as he set a new goals’ record after he netted 23 goals for ‘The People’s Elephant’ as they finished runners-up.
Surprisingly to majority of Nigeria football fans and lovers, Udoh did not seal a deal to play abroad as expected following his achievement in the Nigeria league. A last minute deal to join Ismaily of Egypt collapsed.
The nippy striker told newsmen that he is looking forward for a good season with Enyimba.
”I have put behind me the transfer issue. I am back in Enyimba and ready to do my best for the team and look forward to a summer deal,” Mfon said.
Others who deserve a mention are: Shuaibu Ibrahim: He did well for Giwa FC last season where he scored 14 goals and will still play for the Giwa in 2015 season.
3SC new signing Emmanuel Onuwa: The diminutive midfielder is a bundle of skills and may be the main man in 3SC midfield as they returned to NPFL.
Bobby Clement: The striker was a delight to watch for Heartland last season, he may hit it big this time at new club Rangers.
Kingsley Sokari: Enyimba midfielder was one of the best last season for Enymba and may do better this season. He has enjoyed more exposure having played for the Nigeria U23 team.

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Tottenham Fight Back To Hold Brighton

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Tottenham fought back from two-goals down to secure a deserved point against Brighton.

The Seagulls were second best for much of the match but found themselves 2-0 up after 31 minutes thanks to Yankuba Minteh’s early strike and Yasin Ayari’s powerful drive.

However, Richarlison halved the deficit just before half-time when he stopped a shot by Mohammed Kudus before slotting in.

Spurs dominated the second half but their finishing let them down as Richarlison and substitute Xavi Simons were both unable to make the most of promising opportunities.

But the equaliser came eight minutes from time when Jan Paul van Hecke turned Kudus’ cross into his own net.

Spurs then pushed for a winner as they looked to continue their impressive start to the season, but Brighton held on for the point.

Bundesliga: Kane Continues Goal Harvest (5)

Harry Kane scored his second hat-trick of the season as Bayern Munich overcame a shaky start to win at Hoffenheim and continue their 100% start.

The England captain, 32, broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time with a clinical first-time finish from a cleverly worked low corner, and doubled Bayern’s lead from the spot after Albian Hajdari was harshly penalised for a handball.

That broke Hoffenheim’s resistance and Kane completed his ninth Bundesliga hat-trick with another penalty, given for a foul on substitute Michael Olise after a video assistant referee (VAR) check.

This time Kane sent home keeper Oliver Baumann the wrong way for his 13th Bayern goal in seven matches across all competitions this season, adding to his Champions League double against Chelsea last Wednesday.

“Hat-trick Harry is what they called me in school,” Kane told Tidesports source after the match. “That one kind of stuck when I was younger.”

“Any ball in the box, whether penalty or not, I back myself to hit the target.”

Hoffenheim had the better of the first 45 minutes, Fisnik Asllani only able to hit the post after goalkeeper Manuel Neuer passed straight to the Kosovan.

They eventually got some reward for their efforts, former West Ham full-back Vladimir Coufal’s deflected free-kick beating Neuer to earn the Czech his first goal for the club.

Ex-Liverpool winger Luis Diaz hit the top of the bar late on as he failed to continue his record of scoring in every Bundesliga game this season, but Serge Gnabry added a fourth for Bayern with the last kick, converting a rebound from a tight angle after Baumann saved from Joshua Kimmich.

Nicolas Jackson made his first start since joining Bayern on an initial loan deal from Chelsea, but the Senegal striker had a very quiet game before being replaced in the 62nd minute.

In Italy, Lorenzo Pellegrini fired Roma into the Serie A top four as Lazio had two players sent off in a fiery derby.

The midfielder found the bottom corner in the 38th minute as Roma extended their unbeaten run to four games against their city rivals.

Lazio have lost three of their opening games of the season and had Reda Belahyane and former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi dismissed in late drama.

Roma started well and Rome-born Pellegrini claimed the vital goal – his fourth in a Rome derby after being available for transfer in the summer – following good work down the right by Matias Soule.

But the hosts will rue missed opportunities as Boulaye Dia, Mattia Zaccagni and Alessio Romagnoli all had openings.

With four minutes left substitute Belahyane was shown a red card for a late studs-up challenge on Manu Kone.

Danilo Cataldi struck the outside of the post for Lazio in a last-gasp effort to snatch a point, while team-mate Guendouzi was sent off for dissent after the final whistle.

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Zidane’s Son Switches Allegiance To Algeria

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Luca Zidane, the son of France’s World Cup-winning playmaker Zinedine, has switched his international allegiance from France to Algeria.

Born just outside Marseille, the 27-year-old goalkeeper had appeared for France at various youth levels.

The move, which was approved by Fifa, may enable Zidane to follow in his father’s footsteps by appearing at a World Cup, with Algeria expected to secure a place at the 2026 finals in North America in their qualifier against Somalia next month.

Zidane, who is the second of four brothers, all of whom came through the Real Madrid academy, currently plays for Spanish second tier side Granada.

He played two matches for Madrid and has La Liga experience at Rayo Vallecano, but dropped a level in 2022 to play for Eibar before heading to Andalusia in 2024.

Zidane qualifies for the North African country through his father, whose parents hailed from the Kabylie region of Algeria.

Zinedine Zidane, who is regarded as one of the games greatest players scored twice for France in their 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil, but was famously sent-off in the 2006 final, which was won by Italy after a penalty shootout.

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Man Utd Beat Chelsea To Ease Pressure 

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Manchester United capitalised on Robert Sanchez’s fifth-minute red card to secure a crucial victory over Chelsea in torrential rain at Old Trafford.

The first match in Premier League history to see two or more goals, red cards and substitutions in the first half was settled by goals from United skipper Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, who was the other player sent off before the break.

It was Sanchez’s dismissal that set the course of the game though.

The Spain international raced from his goal to meet Bryan Mbeumo as the striker ran beyond the Chelsea defence.

Sanchez then upended the forward outside his area rather than allow him past to tap the ball into an empty net.

Enzo Maresca’s response to the red card was to take off both Pedro Neto and Estevao Willian and, as Cole Palmer had to be replaced after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury, Chelsea had lost three attacking players in the space of 20 minutes.

Trevor Chalobah pulled one back for Chelsea with a header 10 minutes from time but United kept their nerves at bay to make it to the final whistle with their lead intact.

The victory was United’s second of the season and came in front of minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who gave head coach Ruben Amorim assurances over his future 48 hours earlier.

It also means Chelsea have still not won at Old Trafford since 2013, when Sir Alex Ferguson was United manager.

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