Sixteen Super Eagles players have arrived in Uyo, venue of Friday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Cameroon. Among the players who are already in Uyo are skipper Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Daniel Akpeyi, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Dele Alampasu, Ola Aina, Mikel Agu, and Ahmed Musa. Others are Odion Ighalo, Tyronne Ebuehi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Elderson Echiejile, Chidozie Awaziem, Kelechi Iheanacho, William Troost-Ekong, and Wilfred Ndidi. Meanwhile the players who are yet to arrive Uyo for the game are Victor Moses, John Ogu, Anthony Nwakaeme, Leon Balogun, Aaron Samuel, Uche Agbo and Moses Simon. Arsenal youngster Alex Iwobi will miss both legs of the qualifiers due to injury. The Eagles will commence training on Tuesday which will be open, while the sessions for Wednesday and Thursday will be behind closed doors. Also there will be a pre-match press conference at the Le Meridien, Uyo on Wednesday from 11.15am.

Barcelona have completed a deal to sign Borussia Dortmund forward Ousmane Dembele for an initial £96.8m, potentially rising to £135.5m. The 20-year-old France international signed a five-year contract at the Nou Camp alongside the club's president Josep Maria Bartomeu on Monday. The deal is the second most expensive of all time, eclipsed only by  Neymar's recent £200m move to Paris St-Germain. Barca said Dembele's contract has a release clause of 400m euros (£369.6m). Dembele said: "I'm very happy to be here. It has always been my dream to be at Barcelona and now I'm here I'm very happy. "It is the best club in the world with the best players in the world." Dembele's last appearance for Dortmund came in the  German Super Cup  on 5 August. The Bundesliga side rejected a bid from Barca earlier in August, with the player then  suspended for missing training. Dortmund said they rejected Barca's approach because their offer

Plateau United’s hopes of clinching this season’s Nigeria Professional Football League title suffered a setback following their 2-0 matchday 35 away defeat to ABS in Ilorin on Sunday. A penalty from Samuel Adedeji and a striker from Akinbo Segun secured the win for ABS. Adedeji opened scoring from the penalty spot five minutes into the game before Segun scored the winner in the 65th minute. Despite the defeat, Plateau still lead the log on 62 points, but three points ahead of second placed MFM. At the Agege Stadium in Lagos, MFM pipped Gombe United 1-0 to put pressure on leaders Plateau United. Missing star duo Stephen Odey and Sikiru Olatunbosun who were on international duty with the home-based Eagles on Saturday, MFM’s goal was scored by Monsuru Bashiru in the 21st minute. The win took MFM’s points tally to 59 with just three games to go. In Nnewi, 10-man Akwa United who are chasing a top three spot lost 1-0 to FC IfeanyiUbah. Former junior international King O

The home based Super Eagles slated to play the CHAN and WAFU Cup are work in progress, chief coach of the team, Salisu Yusuf has told RMG SPORT BLOG. Speaking with  RMG SPORTS BLOG  in Kano after he led the Eagles to qualify for CHAN billed for Kenya next year, Yusuf said his team will continue to evolve until he gets it right before the tournament. “We set out to beat Benin in Kano and we succeeded in doing that without playing our best game. The boys can do far better than they played in Kano, but because of change in tactics, they did not entertain and did not impress the fans in Kano,” Yusuf stated. “This team is still work in progress and we shall continue to build until we get the right blend. It is not easy to build a team overnight, but we shall continue to try more players before CHAN. Luckily, we have WAFU tournament to prepare with.” He commended the Benin team for giving the home-based Super Eagles a good game, adding that the Squirrels showed they were better p

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has said that the experience of Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Odion Ighalo will be vital for Nigeria to beat Cameroon in their September 1 2018 World Cup qualifier in Uyo. “I am happy Mikel is back from injury and has played two games for his club since his return. This is positive news for the Eagles, and I have invited him because we need his style and experience to face Cameroun,” Rohr stated after watching the home-based Super Eagles book 2018 CHAN ticket with a 2-1 aggregate win against Benin Republic. “We shall use him if he is fit enough to face Cameroon because, he with Moses, and Ighalo are vital to our game plan against the Lions. Their presence with bring out the best of our youthful team” “The Super Eagles will be ready for Cameroon in Uyo, I don’t fear them because I know them and I have the players who are smart enough to outwit them. It is not going to be an easy game, we are not going to let go our lead in the group.” Rohr stat

Indomitable Lions of Cameroon head coach Hugu Broos will next week release a list of invited players for the back-to-back 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria in early September. Cameroonian outlet Camfoot reported that the Belgian coach will name 23 players at a press conference in Younde on Friday as Cameroun attempt to resurrect their fading World Cup qualifying campaign in which they are trailing Nigeria by four points in African Group B. Indomitable Lions team press officer Vincent de Paul Atangana told Camfoot that Broos will have a chat with the press on August 25 after which he is expected to divulge his plans for the encounters billed for Uyo on 1 September and 4 September in Yaoundé. The first leg, which was fixed for a week day to maximize television opportunities, will come up at 7pm Nigerian time. The Super Eagles top African qualifying Group B with six points after two games while Cameroon are second with two points. Zambia are third on one point wit

Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles fully deserve their spot at the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Kenya, one of Benin Republic’s coaches has admitted. The Eagles qualified for the tournament after defeating the Squirrels of Benin Republic 2-0 at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano on Saturday for a 2-1 aggregate win in the play-offs. Assistant coach of Benin Republic Bide Jolarise shared his feelings towards the game. “This is football but it’s a fairplay,” Benin Republic assistant coach Bide Jolarise said in his post-match reaction to broadcasters 

Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles have qualified for the 2018 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) in Kenya after defeating Benin Republic 2-0 in the second leg of the play-offs inside the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano to advance 2-1 on aggregate. Goals from homeboy Kano Pillars star Rabiu Ali and Kingsley Eduwo in the first half and second half respectively sealed the CHAN spot for Nigeria. Nigeria made their intentions known from the third minute as Osas Okoro drilled in a free-kick which was cleared away by the Benin defence. Benin were awarded a free-kick following an Ifeanyi Ifeanyi foul on Bah Yere but Degnon Koukpo could not finish off Seibou Mama’s set piece. In the 17th minute, Kingsley Eduwo connected with Okoro’s cross but his effort was too weak to trouble the Beninoise keeper. Nigeria continued to press and were close again in the 21st minute through Eduwo whose shot off Ali’s pass went off target. The breakthrough goal eventually came in the 22nd minute as Ali

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