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The shortlist of five candidates for the 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year award has been announced by the BBC Today, November 11, 2013, Monday. Nigerian Footballers Victor Moses (Liverpool, on loan from Chelsea) and John Mikel Obi (Chelsea) are joined by Burkina Faso's Jonathan Pitroipa (Rennes) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon (Borussia Dortmund). The list also includes Ivory Coast's Yaya Toure (Manchester City), who has made his fifth consecutive appearance in it. The winner will be decided by African football fans, who have an opportunity to vote for their choice until 18:00 GMT on November 25, Monday. The winner will be announced on December 2, Monday, at 17:35 GMT on the BBC's Focus on Africa radio and television programmes. No player on this year's shortlist, drawn up from votes by 44 journalists across Africa, has won the BBC award before and two – Pitroipa and Aubameyang – are the first nominees from their respective count...

Jonathan made the announcement at a special reception in honour of the victorious Golden Eaglets, held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The President announced a cash reward of N2 million to each of the team’s 19 players. Jonathan also gave N3 million to the head coach, Manu Garba, and N2.5 million each to the two assistant coaches, Nduka Ugbade and Emmanuel Amunike . The team’s doctor, physiotherapist, secretary, and the Chief Technical Officer were rewarded with N500,000 each. Also, the Team Co-ordinator, Media Officer and Curator were given N300,000 each. The President also said that the players, all their handlers and some key officials of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club would be given national honours at a later date. Jonathan, who described the cash rewards as ”very very little tokens” from the federal government, urged state governments, the private sector and public-spirited individuals to follow th...

The Super Eagles are expected to stay in Calabar for the final match of their World Cup qualifying series despite the re- opening of the National Stadium, Abuja. Over the last two years, with the Abuja Stadium pitch in disrepair and overgrown by weeds, the Cross River State capital has hosted the majority of Nigeria’s international fixtures, including cadet games. But the freshly-regressed National Stadium was re-opened on Tuesday and there have been suggestions that the NFF might move the Super Eagles back there in November when they host Ethiopia. A top official of the NFF said that that scenario was very unlikely. “As far as the federation is concerned at this moment, there is no reason to change the venue,” the official said. “If the NFF decides to bring the team to Abuja and anything goes wrong, people will say it is because the venue has changed. “In any case, it will be the height of ingratitude to the government and people o...

Man of the moment: Bale scored in his first game for Real The restoration of Ronaldo as Real’s most lucrative property could help Bale in his battle for acceptance in the Real Madrid dressing room. Ronaldo’s reaction to the new signing has been mixed ever since Bale’s move was first mooted in July. When asked what he thought about the potential signing of Bale, Ronaldo said: ‘I have my opinion but I am not going to give it publicly. I think the players we have signed already are very good. They are Spanish and know the league.’ There was a warm, if slightly staged, welcome on Wednesday when Bale trained for the first time with his new team-mates. Ronaldo met Bale in the club’s car-park, shook him by the hand and asked how he was. On Friday, however, there was another reminder of who is boss when Ronaldo was pictured going in late and studs-up on Bale in a training drill. The two men both scored in their first game as team-mate...

The Technical Adviser of the Flames of Malawi, Tom Scientfiet, on Saturday commended Nigeria’s Super Eagles for qualifying for the play-off series of the 2014 World Cup. Scientfiet told newsmen in Calabar, shortly after his side lost 0-2 to Nigeria in the World Cup match, that the Eagles played well and deserved to win. “We came with a game plan to make the first half goalless. But when Nigeria scored in the 45th minute, we knew it was over. “Our plan was to come out and attack the Eagles in the second half but Nigeria took the game to us in the second half,” he said. Scientfiet said that in spite of the loss, his players did well and deserved to be praised. “Actually as a coach, I came here to win the match but Nigeria carried the day afterwards. I wish Nigeria well in the final qualifying matches and pray that they qualify for the World Cup,’’ he said. The Flames Captain, Banda Davie, said they were disappointed at th...

Chelsea were hit with an injury scare on Tuesday afternoon when Eden Hazard was forced out of training with the Belgium squad with an achilles problem. The forward had told his national team’s doctors that he had been struggling with pain in his achilles for the past two to three weeks. Silverware is the goal: Hazard is a key player for Chelsea's title chase this season Sweat: Mourinho knows Hazard's absence will be a big blow for Chelsea They set him running, but after an initial assessment decided that he should pull out of the rest of training. Belgian officials still expect him to play a part of their World Cup qualifier against Scotland on Friday but are carefully managing the injury. With Belgium sat top of their group and in a good place to qualify for Rio next summer it is unlikely they will unduly risk him. A serious achilles tear would end his season. Short-term: Midfielder Moses joined Liverpool on loan on deadline day Meanwhile, Jose Mouri...

.. Guinness promises $2,000 for each goal After a dull Monday afternoon, the Super Eagles camp at the Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel came alive on Tuesday afternoon with almost all the top actors already in town, though only 12 of them trained in the evening session at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar. Among early trainers for the African champions are stand-in skipper, Vincent Enyeama, Chelsea superstar, John Mikel Obi, goalkeepers Ausin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim. New Turkey recruit, Godfrey Oboabona, James Okwuosa, who was the first player to arrive camp on Monday morning, Brown Ideye, Solomon Kwambe, Benjamin Francis, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Lazio midfield anchor, Ogenyi Onazi, Uche Nwofor, who scored two beautiful goals against Bafana Bafana in the Mandela Challenge. SUPER EAGLES MIDFIELDER, MIKEL OBI (M), LEADING A TRAINING SESSION When the team arrived its hotel, other players who came in through Abuja were already waiting. Among them, Efe Ambrose, Sunday Mba, ...

EVERTON SIGNS LUKAKU & BARRY Everton have won the tussle with West Brom for Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku on a season-long loan deal. The Belgium international has agreed a season-long deal with the Toffees despite a late bid by West Brom to take him back to the Hawthorns after a successful spell last season The 20-year-old striker was expected to be a part of Jose Mourinho's first team squad this season but the arrival of Samuel Eto'o on a free transfer saw his first-team opportunities limited. Lukaku will bolster Roberto Martinez's attacking options after Marouane Fellaini completed a late move to Manchester United and Victor Anichebe went to West Brom. He scored 17 goals for WBA last season, becoming the highest-scoring teenager in the Premier League since Michael Owen in 1998/99. England international midfielder Gareth Barry has also joined the Goodison c outfit for the season, arriving on a temporary deal from Manchester City. Barry, in the last year of his £100,0...

Transfer Deadline Day update MEZUT OZIL UNDERGOING MEDICAL @ AFC. Mesut Ozil is undergoing an Arsenal medical in Germany after agreeing personal terms with the club, Goal can reveal. The Germany international will become the Gunners' club-record signing when the formalities of the £40 million deal are completed later on Monday. Goal understands Ozil has been given the green light by Arsenal to take his medical tests in Germany, as he is with the national team ahead of their World Cup qualifiers this weekend. Sources have said that Arsenal’s record-breaking transfer has now been agreed following detailed negotiations with the player's representatives over the terms of the contract. Goal exclusively revealed on Sunday that the London club were in advanced talks with Real to capture Ozil for £40m and that the deal hinged upon convincing the player to move to north London. The breakthrough in talks late on Monday morning means Ozil will now join Arsenal in a deal that...

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL HEADLINES ***Gareth Bale has described his world record £86million move to Real Madrid as a “dream come true”. The 24-year-old winger will sign a stunning, six-year deal worth a staggering £90million to quit Tottenham for Spain after finally been confirmed as the most expensive player on the planet. (The Mirror) ***Championship side Wigan have rejected a bid from Everton for midfielder James McCarthy. ***Henrikh Mkhitaryan believes Borussia Dortmund can continue to improve after making it four wins from four in the Bundesliga on Sunday. Jurgen Klopp's men are top after extending their 100 per cent record thanks to a 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, with Mkhitaryan scoring his first two goals for the club. ***Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino said almost giving up a three-goal lead at Valencia was just part of the game after the champions' 3-2 win. ***AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri has revealed Milan have "made an agreement with Real...

By Salman Femi Ahmed TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY- DONE DEAL: Liverpool sign Tiago Ilori: Liverpool have confirm the signing of Sporting Lisbon defender Tiago Ilori. Ilori, 20, was born in London but has represented Portugal at youth level. The fee and the length of contract signed are yet to be made known. TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY-Arsenal are stepping up their efforts to sign Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Ozil. Arsene Wenger said yesterday after his side victory over north London rival Tottenham: "I only wants "super quality" and had one or two surprises up his sleeve. The Germany international Mezut Ozil is certainly one player who would fit Arsenal's style of football

Tottenham and Real Madrid have confirmed that a deal has been completed for the transfer of Gareth Bale to the Spanish side for a world record fee. Madrid say the 24-year-old Welsh winger will sign a six-year contract, pending the completion of a medical, and it is believed he will cost them 100m euros (£85.3m). He will be presented as a Real player at noon on Monday, in front of 80,000 fans at the Club’s Bernabeu Stadium

Tottenham and Real Madrid have confirmed that a deal has been completed for the transfer of Gareth Bale to the Spanish side for a world record fee. Madrid say the 24-year-old Welsh winger will sign a six-year contract, pending the completion of a medical, and it is believed he will cost them 100m euros (£85.3m). He will be presented as a Real player at noon on Monday, in front of 80,000 fans at the Club’s Bernabeu Stadium

President of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria, Solomon Ogba, reveals to KAZEEM BUSARI Nigeria's plans to be among the best in the sport Will there be any official reception for Blessing Okagbare after her feat at the IAAF World Championships? I'm not sure if the Ministry of Sport has any plan to honour Okagbare. I don't know if there's any plan for a reception. It could be that the ministry wants to wait for her to finish with the IAAF Diamond League in Zurich and in Brussels next week. She's competing in two finals, that is, the long jump and the 100m; she has technically pulled out of the 200m contest. I know the Delta State Government is planning an official reception for Okagbare and Regina George and a few of them. But Delta will not do anything until the Federal Government has officially received the athletes. It appears there's a special concentration of funds on Okagbare It's not true that there is more concentration on Ok...

Pep Guardiola has won his first trophy as Bayern Munich manager courtesy of an incredible penalty-shootout win over Chelsea in the Super Cup in Prague. Fernando Torres put the Europa League winners in-front early on, before Frank Ribery replied for the European champions shortly after the break. Ramires was sent off for the Blues before the start of extra time, during which Eden Hazard, with the aid of a Manuel Neuer mistake, scored to give Chelsea the lead for a second time. The Blues withstood severe Munich pressure until the final kick of the action when Javi Martinez equalised to force spot kicks, and Romelu Lukaku was the only player to miss as Bayern won 5-4 to give Guardiola victory over his old foe Jose Mourinho. Restored to the starting lineup after being dropped for the Premier League meeting with Manchester United, Torres began and finished a wonderfully-crafted team move that saw the Blues take an eighth-minute advantage. Eden Hazard collected t...

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi "does not see anything bad" about his recent comments towards Malawi counterpart Tom Saintfiet. The Football Association of Malawi has reported Keshi to FIFA after he called Saintfiet "a white dude who should go back to Belgium". Keshi's remarks, which FAM and Saintfiet have called "racist", came in response to their request to move September's World Cup qualifier against Nigeria from Calabar on security grounds. "I only gave a strong reaction that it was wrong to insult the same country that Saintfiet was ready to work in. I really don't see anything bad about defending my country," Keshi told BBC Sport. "I honestly have nothing against Saintfiet, I met him when he was in Nigeria for his interview for the job of Nigeria Technical Director here and we spoke at length on football subjects. "Apparently, a harmless slang remark of 'white dude' was obviously misconst...

Roma signing Gervinho feels former manager Arsene Wenger did not give him the chance to reach his full potential at Arsenal. The 26-year-old Ivorian forward said he did not always have the confidence of his French boss but is looking forward to a new challenge in the Serie A, after being moved on from the Emirates earlier in August. "(Arsene) Wenger, well, I think he's one of the great coaches," he said. "He's someone I have great respect for and I'm also very happy to have been able to play for his club. Overall I just think it's his opinion. "After five years, that's it, I'm gone. That's his opinion. I think forwards need to feed on the confidence of their managers, I would have preferred to have that chance. "But that wasn't the case and the page had already turned. "But now I'm totally focused on Roma and working with Rudi Garcia – for me that's the most important thing right now." ...

LONDON (AFP) – African superstar Samuel Eto’o will test himself in English football after Chelsea announced on Thursday that he has joined the Premier League giants on a one-year contract. The 32-year-old Cameroon striker arrives from Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala on a free transfer, in a move that may signal the end of Chelsea’s pursuit of Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney. Chelsea have had two bids for Rooney rejected and manager Jose Mourinho recently admitted that he had a “Plan B” in case their pursuit of the England international did not come off. “I am very happy to be here, but also anxious because I want to get playing as soon as possible,” said Eto’o, who was pictured brandishing a Chelsea shirt on the club website. “It wasn’t a hard decision. I saw the qualities Chelsea have, and I was very happy with Jose Mourinho before, so when the opportunity came, I was very happy to take it.”...

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL HEADLINES ***Napoli are believe to be preparing a €14m (£12m) bid for Maxime Gonalons in the wake of Lyon's Champions League exit to Real Sociedad. The Partenopei have already had one bid rejected for the French international this summer, but the club have not given up hope. (TuttoNapoli) ***Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton has revealed that he has turned down an offer to sign for Crystal Palace. ***Barcelona on Wednesday night won the Spanish Super Cup on away goals after an incident- packed match at the Camp Nou that finished 0-0. Lionel Messi had a chance to put the result beyond doubt in the 89th minute but fired his penalty off the crossbar to finish a forgettable night for the Argentinian. ***Tottenham Hotspurs manager Andre Villas- Boas has disclosed that winger Gareth Bale's move to Real Madrid could happen "very soon" - but Spurs may fine him for failing to turn up to training. (SkySports) ***AC Milan vic...

Malawi might be unable to prosecute their final Group F 2014 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria on September 7 due to lack of  funds. The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) told media that the Flames require about $121, 212 to travel to Nigeria . FAM had spent most of its annual allocation on participating in the regional Cosafa Cup held in Zambia as well as World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Namibia. “We don’t have the required amount of money. Government has indicated the funds that were used during World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Namibia were part of the 2013/14 national budget,” FAM general secretary Suzyo Nyirenda was quoted by Nyasatimes.com. “We were not aware of this arrangement, we have been taken unawares because, to us, expenses that were incurred prior and after Kenya and Namibia games were settled with funds allocated within the 2012/13 financial year which ended on June 31, 2013.” He, however, point...