Martins’ brother dies of heart problem

Ladi Martins

Ladi Martins, the older brother of Nigeria international Obafemi Martins, died Monday in Lagos suspected to be of a heart problem.

MTNFootball.com learnt that Martins has struggled to eat normally for the past few days and when he finally had a meal Sunday morning, he began complaining of heart problem by evening.

He would give up the ghost at Doren Hospital in Ajah on the outskirts of Lagos the following day.

Obafemi Martins confirmed the shock passing away of his 27-year-old brother who also played professionally in Europe for some time.

Family member Otunba Kay David Lawson announced that Ladi will be buried at Victoria Garden Cemetery in Ajah, outskirts of Lagos, later Tuesday.

This is yet another personal tragedy for ‘Oba-goal’, whose mother was killed in a horrific car accident in Lagos a few years ago.


Source: MTNFOOTBALL

Nigeria, Ghana game cancelled

Taye Taiwo & Andre Ayew

Tuesday's international friendly between Nigeria and Ghana has been called off on the advice of the Watford police. 

The game was due to be played on Tuesday night at Watfotd's Vicarage Road, but Hertfordshire Constabulary advised the club that, following well-publicised outbreaks of civil unrest across pockets of London and other cities, they will not be able to police the fixture. 


The game has been called off following widespread unrest in certain parts of London and England.

Due to concerns regarding policing, the organisers of the game have advised that the fixture cannot be hosted.

WYC - second round fixtures, date and time (Nigeria Time)

Date   Time         Venue           Team
10/08   02:00     Pereira             Cameroon - Mexico
 
09/08   23:00      Cali                 Portugal - Guatemela

10/08   02:00     Bogota             Colombia - Costa Rica

09/08   23:00     Medellin          Argentina - Egypt

10/08   23:00    Armenia         Nigeria - England

10/08   23:00    Manizales         Spain - Korea Republic

11/08   02:00   Barranquilla      Brazil - Saudi Arabia

11/08   02:00   Cartagena         France - Ecuador

Nigeria sink Saudis to finish perfect

Nigeria needed only draw to take first place in the Group D, but not diverging from their typical attacking displays beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 to stamp authority on their fine group campaign and set up a Round of 16 encounter with England. The Saudis, on the other hand, will meet Brazil.

The Africans in standard form committed numbers forward, but it was Saudi Arabia who had the first chance. With just two minutes gone, Saudi defender Salam Aldawsari tested Nigerian goalkeeper Dami Paul, but the keeper was threatened little by the attempt. 

There was little in the way of goalmouth action, despite a dangerous shot from Uche Nwofor in the 18th minute. The striker’s effort deflected off a Saudi defender and nearly found its way into the back of the net.

Saudi Arabia settled into a counter attacking approach, and on 30 minutes Ali Alzubaldi sent in a fine cross from the right wing, but Yahya Dagriri narrowly missed the chance to tap home. And after a free-kick opportunity for Nigeria, Dagriri received the clearance to counter with pace. Nearly surprising Paul, the No7 tried his luck with shot from the left side.

Dagriri was then left cursing his efforts as he missed what could and should have been a goal for Saudi Arabia. Salem Aldawsari found the forward unmarked in the area, but he ballooned his golden opportunity over the crossbar.

Nigeria quickly punished Dagriri for the miss too, as Omoh Ojabu passed behind to Ahmed Musa from inside the area, and the No7 fired a rocket past Abdullah Alsdairy to take a one-goal lead into the break.

Saudi Arabia searched for an equaliser at the start of the second half, but a dangerous free-kick from Abdullah Otayf was denied by Paul.  Omoh Ojabu was pressing at the other end, troubling the Saudi defence, although was unable to get a powerful shot off.

On 80 minutes, Saudi Arabia nearly had the equaliser they desperately needed when Nigeria keeper Paul mishandled a simple back pass. The keeper scrambled and ultimately saved himself from the tragic fate of scoring an owl goal.

In the final ten minutes, Nigeria pushed to double their lead and ensure a first place finish atop of the group. Olarenwaju Kayode put the game out of reach, pushing a fine volley pass from Nwofor into the back of Alsdairy’s net.

Arsenal face Udinese in Champions League play-off

Arsenal have been drawn against Udinese in the play-off to reach the group stage of the Champions League.

The Gunners will be at home for the first leg of the tie against the Italians on Tuesday 16 August, with the return leg seven days later.

Germany's Bayern Munich face FC Zurich of Switzerland, Dutch side FC Twente take on Portugal's Benfica and French side Lyon take on Russia's Rubin Kazan.

The draw for the Europa League is scheduled to take place at 1230 BST.

Arsenal face the qualifying tie to reach the group stage of the Champions League for a 14th consecutive season because they finished fourth in last season's Premier League.

ARSENAL'S CL RECORD

Continue reading the main story

• Finalists - 2006
• Semi-finalists - 2009
• Quarter-finalists - 2001, 2004, 2008, 2010

Boss Arsene Wenger will serve a one-match touchline ban, which is hanging over from last season's second-round exit to Barcelona in the Nou Camp.

Wenger was charged with using "inapproriate language" towards match official Massimo Busacca after he showed Robin van Persie a second yellow card for shooting at goal after he had blown his whistle for offside.

Van Persie's dismissal means he will sit out the first leg against Udinese, while midfielder Samir Nasri is also banned after been reprimanded by Uefa for his outburst at Busacca.

The first leg of their tie with Udinese is sandwiched between the first Premier League game of the season at Newcastle and the visit of Liverpool to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday 20 August.

The second leg, in Italy on 23 August, precedes their Premier League trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

Champions League play-off draw:

Wisla Krakow v Apoel Nicosia

Maccabi Haifa v Genk

Dinamo Zagreb v Malmo FF

FC Copenhagen v Plzen

BATE v SK Sturm Graz

Odense BK v Villarreal

FC Twente v Benfica

Arsenal v Udinese

Bayern Munich v FC Zurich

Lyon v Rubin Kazan

Ties to be played 16/17 and 23/24 August

Source: BBC

Odemwingie doubtful for Nigeria V Ghana Friendly

Osaze Odemwingie is a doubt for Nigeria's friendly against Ghana in London.  

Odemwingie, recently recalled after a two-match suspension by Nigeria, took an ankle hit in his club's pre-season game against Bristol City on Saturday, and was among several first team regulars left out of the West Brom squad that travelled to Greece to face Olympiakos.

"I still have a bit of pain around my ankle and although it is recovering well, I will have to be 100 percent fit before I can play," Odemwingie tells KickOffNigeria.com.

"Our next pre-season game is against Parma, and I dont think I will be ready for that.

"But I am doing my best and the medical team are working really hard to get me back and fully fit again.

"I'm hoping I can be ready on time for the game on Tuesday, but if I am not 100 percent fit, I don’t think I will risk it."

Nigeria play Ghana on Tuesday, August 9, at Watford's Vicarage Road ground. 

Source: kickoffnigeria.com

Nigeria Flying Eagles progress beaten Croatia 5-2

Nigeria won their way into the knockout stage of the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup with a storming 5-2 victory over Croatia.

A heavy pitch didn’t thwart the Africans who held a 2-1 half-time lead and, after extending their advantage just past the hour mark, substitute Uche Nwofor bagged a double to end Croatia’s hopes of a top-two finish.

Both teams enjoyed early openings, notably with a back-heel from Mario Ticinovic finding Andrej Kramaric, whose shot from inside the penalty area hit the side netting.

However, it was Nigeria that opened the scoring, with a neat pass from Abdul Ajagun finding Olarenwaju Kayode, who fired home with a low shot past the exposed goalkeeper.

There were further openings for Nigeria from Edafe Egbedi and Ahmed Musa, before they extended the advantage with a wonder goal from Terna Suswan who fired a powerful drive from 30 yards.

Croatia, however, pulled a much needed goal back three before the interval with Zvonko Pamic’s free-kick headed home by Ivan Lendric.

Nigeria defeat Guatemala 5-0 at the U20 World Cup

Nigeria made a perfect start at the Under-20 World Cup on Sunday, thrashing Guatemala 5-0 in their Group D opener in the Colombian city Armenia.

Two Edafe Egbedi first-half goals and second-half strikes by Abdul Ajagun, Olarenwaju Kayode and Ahmed Musa were enough to sink the Central Americans.

The Flying Eagles now top the group on goal difference, after Saudi Arabia beat Croatia 2-0 on Sunday.

Coach John Obuh's side next face Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

It only took two minutes for the Nigerians' power to be felt as Ramon Azeez fired a powerful shot over the crossbar.

Six minutes later, Musa edged past Jose Andrade down the left flank and slotted back to Egbedi, who fired home from close range.

This is Nigeria's eighth appearance in the tournament, but the west Africans are yet to win their first title despite having reached the final twice.

On Saturday, other African representatives Cameroon drew 1-1 against New Zealand in Group B, with Mali losing 2-0 to South Korea in Group A.

Egypt, who started on a good note when holding two-time champions Brazil to a 1-1 draw, play Panama later on Monday while Brazil faces Austria in the other group match.