May-May Nwa' Africa

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper and captain, Vincent Enyeama, is one of 11 players who has been told they are no longer required by new Lille coach, Marcelo Bielsa, BBC Sport reports.

The French club's new Argentine boss has also sent messages to the players saying they are not part of his plans.

Enyeama, who played 101 times for the Super Eagles, only signed a new deal last season.

Ivory Coast's Junior Tallo who was among those sent the sacking text message saying they are not part of the coach's plans, said; "As for me, I'm under contract. I will respect the two years I have left. I'm in no hurry.

"I want to establish myself at Lille. It's the club that wants me to leave. We'll see if they find a solution between now and the end of the transfer window. I'm calm. It's a bit bizarre, but I'm handling it OK.
"I was informed like the others, by text. We're under contract, the club does what it wants. We would have liked to have had a discussion. But it's a business choice made by the bosses," the Ivorian told French Newspaper L'Equipe.

Enyeama among the other African players in the team including former captain, Rio Mavuba, Eder, Julian Palmieri, Marko Basa, Éric Bauthéac, Lenny Nangis and Marvin Martin, have been ordered to stay away from the rest of the squad as pre-season started on 3 July.

Enyeama, who joined Lille in June 2011 and has made 164 appearances, welcomed the signing of Koffi last month.

On Monday, Enyeama tweeted a photo with some of his fellow outcasts, who also include Montenegro international Marko Basa, France international Marvin Martin and , stating: "Always a pleasure to be back with the team."

Striker Lionel Messi will extend his contract with Barcelona until June 30, 2021, the Spanish top club announced Wednesday.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, 30, has spent his entire professional career at Camp Nou after moving to Spain from his native Argentina at the age of 13.

Barcelona in a statement, said: “the club is very happy with both the renewal and the commitment of Messi, the best player in history, who has played his full professional career at Barca and has led the team to an era of extraordinary success, the likes of which has never been seen in world football.

“The Argentinian is in one of the best moments of his career and still has a lot more left to give, which is music to the ears of all Barça fans who will get to continue marvelling at his greatness for at least another four years.”
Messi is expected to sign the new contract after he returns from holiday for the start of pre-season training.

Manchester United Coach, Jose Mourinho, known for fighting football managers who he perceive to be competitors, is pushing that aside to pen down a tribute to sacked Leicester City Coach, Claudio Ranieri.

"I am the only one responsible." That is what Barcelona boss Luis Enrique told Jordi Grau, a journalist with Catalan station TV3, in the flash interview on Tuesday night after he was handed the worst defeat of his reign at the Catalan club.

Few witnesses were present, but those there claim the coach had to be separated from the reporter following the interview, in which he complained of the tone of the questions. Tensions were running high at the Parc des Princes and the 4-0 humiliation leaves the Asturian very much on the brink after a forgettable night in Paris.

Luis Enrique is out of contract in the summer and has put aside all talk of a possible renewal up until now. It already looked likely he would walk away following this, his third season as coach at Camp Nou. Now his chances of staying appear even slimmer than before.

Because Barca were completely lost out on the pitch in Paris. There was no sign of a plan, let alone of a positive result, as PSG were superior in absolutely every aspect.

Lionel Messi disappeared from action as Barca were outrun and overrun, their only tactic to get the ball to a willing but far too isolated Neymar.

Luis Enrique again benched Ivan Rakitic and for many, that was one of the key factors in this game. The Croat is not at his best right now, but his replacement Andre Gomes endured a frustrating night and left the pitch visibly disappointed with his performance.

Summer signings such as Gomes, Lucas Digne and Paco Alcacer have struggled badly and it is no longer a question of adaptation for these players, but a lack of a clear model under Luis Enrique.

Last season, the Asturian coach complained of the small squad at his disposal as he refused to trust his fringe players. But at the start of the current campaign, he claimed that "a priori, this is the best squad I have ever had".

However, that group was unable to compete in Paris and were soundly beaten by a team with far more passion. And that, from a Luis Enrique side, is unheard of. As a footballer, the current Barca boss was characterised by his unbreakable spirit and winning mentality, something that was not in evidence at all at the Parc des Princes.

The MSN, unlike the others have hardly been rotated at all, and the only obvious plan is to send balls up top to those three, without caring about the route and that, right now, is the biggest problem for a Barca side that has never been comfortable going after a result. Traditionally, this club has always had to play well to win matches.

But in Paris, Barca did not play at all and the future of their coach is now very much up in the air. None of the players spoke about Luis Enrique in the mixed zone after the game, while he did not give any tactical explanation either in his press conference following the debacle. "I have to watch the match again," he insisted when asked by journalists.

His situation at Camp Nou right now is more fragile than ever before.

Chinese club Dalian Quanjian has confirmed the signing of Super Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala.

The reigning Africa women player of the year had earlier denied links to the club but yesterday it emerged that she has put pen to paper to follow in the footsteps of the Nigeria players like John Obi Mikel, Chinedu Obasi, Odion Ighalo and John Owoeri who all signed for various Chinese clubs in January.

The former Liverpool and Arsenal ladies striker resumed training with the Chinese clubs yesterday. We say congrats to her.

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon have emerged champions of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after beating Egypt 2-1 in the final played tonight.

Goals from Nicolas N’Koulou and Vincent Aboubakar sealed a remarkable comeback victory for Cameroon after Mohamed El Nenny put Egypt ahead in the 22nd minute.

Cameroon have now won the Africa Cup of Nations for a fifth time and it is the first Africa Cup of Nations final in which both teams have scored since 2004.


The Pharaohs have not conceded two goals in any match since November 19, 2014 and have been unbeaten for 13 years.

The Indomitable Lions defeated the Black Stars of Ghana 2-0 while Egypt defeated third place winners, Burkina Faso to reach the final of the competition.

Former Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard has retired, bringing to an end a 21-year professional career.

The 38-year-old, who spent last year with New York City in Major League Soccer in the US, announced his decision on social media on Thursday.

Lampard made 649 appearances for Chelsea and won 106 England caps.

"Whilst I have received a number of exciting offers to continue playing, at 38 I feel now is the time to begin the next chapter in my life," said Lampard.



"I'm grateful to the Football Association for the opportunity to study for my coaching qualifications and I look forward to pursuing the off-field opportunities that this decision opens."

Ryan Mason has been discharged from hospital, Hull City have announced.

"The Club is delighted to report that Ryan Mason has been discharged from St Mary’s Hospital in London," a statement from the club said.

"Ryan will now continue his recovery and early stages of rehabilitation at home and the Club would once again like to place on record its thanks to everybody who has been involved in Ryan’s care so far.

Mason needed emergency surgery after fracturing his skull in a head clash with Chelsea's Gary Cahill just over a week ago.

Italian attacker, Sebastian Giovinco, has said he rejected a loan move to Barcelona last season because he did not want to be a “ball boy” for their strikers.

The former Juventus forward admitted that he was offered a loan move to Camp Nou, but said there would have been “no point” going there to waste his time.

The Italian frontman joined Major League Soccer, MLS, side Toronto FC in 2015, and had the chance of a short-term loan deal during the MLS off-season period.

However, the 29-year-old said he had no interest in being a back-up player to Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez at Camp Nou.

He told Sky Sports Italia, “It’s true, in the past there was interest from Barcelona, but I’d have been a ball boy there. With those three stars in attack, I wouldn’t play at all.

“I wasn’t interested because I wanted to play. Neymar, Leo Messi and Luis Suarez would’ve played even with one leg and still made the difference, so there was no point in me being there.”

The striker has been linked with a possible move to the Chinese Super League, CSL, and he admits that the speculation interests him, but for the moment, he is happy with Toronto.

He added, “The market is really hotting up over there. They told me there is interest, so we’ll talk it over with Toronto and see. I am happy here, but we’ll see what the club wants to do.

“My agent told me there is an offer, but did not tell me which club. I certainly don’t miss Italy, as I am happy in Canada and have no intention of returning.

“Since I left Juventus, which remains the strongest team in Italy, I never thought about playing for another Italian club. I’m just not thinking about it.

“What still stings is losing the MLS Final last season.”

I'll be ready!! #AllWilliamsFinal in 2017 They were suppose to retire years ago! 💅🏾💅🏾💅🏾 God laughing at the critics.

A video posted by maynaija (@maynaijablog) on Jan 26, 2017 at 1:10pm PST

Venus and Serena Williams will meet in a Grand Slam final for the ninth time after the American sisters came through their semi-finals in Melbourne.

Thirteenth seed Venus, 36, beat fellow American Coco Vandeweghe 6-7 (3-7) 6-2 6-3 to reach her first major final since 2009.

World number two Serena, 35, saw off unseeded Croat Mirjana Lucic-Baroni 6-2 6-1 in the second semi-final.

Serena is attempting to win an Open-era record 23rd Grand Slam singles title.

It would also be a seventh Australian Open victory for the younger Williams sister, while Venus hopes to win an eighth major title, first in Melbourne and first since Wimbledon in 2008.

"It is unbelievable to watch Serena play tennis - the way she hits the ball and the competitor she is," Venus Williams said after the first semi-final.

"It would be a dream to see her on the opposite side of the net on Saturday."

Speaking after her win, Serena said: "I am really proud of Venus - she is a total inspiration. I am really happy for her and to be in the final together is a dream for us.

"She is my toughest opponent, no-one has ever beaten me as much as Venus.

"I feel no matter what that we have both won after all we have been through. I know a Williams is going to win this tournament."

Usain Bolt and the 2008 Jamaica 4x100m relay team have been stripped of their Olympic gold medals. It comes after teammate re-analysis of a drug sample offered by teammate Nesta Carter was found to have tested positive. Carter, now 31, tested positive for the prohibited substance methylhexaneamine. .
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A statement released by the IOC disciplinary commission declared:
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. "The Athlete, Nesta Carter is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008. “[Carter] is disqualified from the men’s 4x100m relay event in which he participated upon the occasion of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. "The Jamaican team is disqualified from the men’s 4x100m relay event. The corresponding medals, medallist pins and diplomas are withdrawn and shall be returned." Carter was on a on the list of 31 athletes who failed retests, which took place using the latest scientific techniques, in a bid to catch out drug cheats ahead of last year’s Olympics in Rio.