News
Xavi faces sack at Barcelona
Published
6 months agoon
By
Ambrose IjehBarcelona are poised to sack coach Xavi Hernandez just weeks after he made a U-turn and decided to stay at the club, Spanish media has reported.
Catalan radio station RAC-1 said president Joan Laporta had decided to sack Xavi, with daily newspaper Sport confirming the news, while AS said Barcelona were already deciding who would replace the coach.
In January, Xavi said he would leave at the end of the season but, after a run of strong form, in April he and president Joan Laporta agreed the coach would stay for the next campaign, with his contract expiring in June 2025.
However, Laporta did not travel with the team for their 2-0 in at Almeria in La Liga on Thursday, with Spanish media reporting he was angry with Xavi’s pre-match comments.
The coach had highlighted Barcelona’s financial difficulties in comparison to the strength of new Spanish champions Real Madrid and other European giants.
“Barcelona fans have to understand, we’re not in the same situation (as those clubs),” said Xavi on Wednesday.
The coach stood by his words on Thursday when he was asked about Laporta not attending the Almeria match.
“They haven’t told me anything personally… We travelled with the sporting vice-president, more directors, all normally,” Xavi told reporters late Thursday. “I said what I think is real, that we will fight for all the trophies, with a lot of hope, with ambition, but that the situation is not easy.
“We are working very well, the club most of all, to change this situation.”
Barcelona won La Liga last season but were not able to defend the title. They went out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals to Paris Saint-Germain and will end the season trophy less.
Real Madrid thrashed Barca in the Spanish Super Cup final while Athletic Bilbao eliminated them in the Copa del Rey.
In April, Xavi, 44, said he was “full of hope” and that fans, players and “above all the confidence of the president and (sporting director) Deco” was what convinced him to stay.
Laporta said at the time that he was glad Xavi would remain at the helm and that it was good for the stability of the club.
“It’s great news that Xavi is staying,” the president told a news conference.
“The team we have, that is (still) consolidating, with very young players, needs that stability.
“Xavi is a reference for young players and we can see that – today I’m especially pleased, and the board have unanimously supported this decision.”
Laporta appointed Xavi, one of Barcelona’s greatest ever midfielders, to replace Ronald Koeman in November 2021.
As a player, Xavi made 767 appearances for Barcelona, winning four Champions Leagues and eight La Liga titles, as well as the World Cup with Spain.
During his time as Barcelona coach, he lifted the Spanish Super Cup last season, along with the league title.
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News
Shehu Dikko Visits Finance Minister, Discusses Building Nigerian Sports Economy
Published
4 days agoon
October 29, 2024By
Ambrose IjehBy Kola Daniel
The newly appointed chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, paid a courtesy visit on Monday to the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun.
During the meeting, Dikko and Edun discussed a range of initiatives focused on developing a sustainable sports economy in Nigeria, aligning with the strategic reform objectives of the NSC as directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Dikko emphasized the importance of sports as a viable economic driver and explored how to better harness Nigeria’s vast potential in the sector.
“We aim to transform Nigerian sports into a sustainable economic force,” he stated, adding that initiatives are in place to bring Nigerian sports up to international standards and attract greater investment.
The discussions are part of Dikko’s ongoing efforts to lay a solid foundation for Nigeria’s sports economy, leveraging partnerships with key government agencies and stakeholders.
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NIS/LSFA TRAINING COURSE: Falcons Captain, Ajibade Sponsors 11 Coaches For 3rd Batch Of Training
Published
5 days agoon
October 28, 2024By
Ambrose IjehSuper Falcons captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, through her foundation, Rasheedat Ajibade Foundation(RAF), is sponsoring 11 Lagos State Coaches For the 3rd batch of the NIS/LSFA Coaching Certification Course.
While she has paid for the training of the coaches, the Athletico Madrid of Spain star forward also pledged to continue to give back to society.
She enjoined the Lagos FA, to always provide adequate information concerning its future programmes, to enable her foundation to be part of it.
Responding to the philanthropic gesture of Ajibade, the Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, Hajji Gafar Liameed, expressed his gratitude to the former Robo star, for extending her love and support to the coaches, and allowing the lucky coaches to further improve their knowledge of the game and also get the necessary certification to operate as licensed coaches.
Gafar went ahead to rally well-meaning individuals and corporate organisations to key into the several programmes and activities of the LSFA, as it continues to rejig and develop football in the state.
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News
DISGRACE! CAF Humiliates Libya With $50,000 Fines, Awards Victory To Nigeria After AFCON Qualifying Disaster
Published
7 days agoon
October 26, 2024By
Ambrose IjehThe Disciplinary Committee of the Confederation of African Football has awarded the Super Eagles of Nigeria three points and three goals in their abandoned matchday 4, 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya, which was scheduled to be held in Benina on 15 October.
In its ruling on Saturday, signed by chairman Ousmane Kane, the Disciplinary Board determined that the Libyan Football Federation was in breach of Article 31 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations and Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
“The Libyan Football Federation is found to have breached Article 31 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations, as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
“The match No. 87, Libya v Nigeria, of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025 (scheduled to be played on 15 October 2024 in Benghazi), is declared lost by forfeit by Libya (with a record of 3-0),” the ruling read in part.
The LFF was also ordered to pay a fine of USD 50,000, with payment due within 60 days of notification of the present decision.
The outcome of the Disciplinary Committee means that Nigeria is close to qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with two matches to spare.
As a result, the Super Eagles are now on 10 points from four matches, four points ahead of second-placed Benin Republic, while Rwanda has five points. Bottom-placed Libya has only one point and is out of the running for qualification.
A win or draw against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Abidjan on Thursday, 14 November (a matchday 5 encounter) will secure the Super Eagles a ticket to the finals in Morocco, scheduled for December 2025/January 2026.
The Nigerian team had boycotted the match citing safety concerns, after being left stranded at the remote Al-Abraq airport on the outskirts of Benghazi for over 22 hours.
The LFF, in response, accused the Nigeria Football Federation of not cooperating with it regarding the travel itinerary.
It also alleged that the Libyan national team had suffered the same fate in Nigeria during the reverse fixture a week earlier, claiming the team was left stranded at the Port Harcourt Airport by Nigerian authorities.