Category: Front News

The League Management Company (LMC) has expressed concern over the underwhelming performances of Nigerian sides in Caf club competitions.
Enyimba failed to progress past the group stages of the 2016 Caf Champions League while Warri Wolves were eliminated in the first round after they came up against Sudanese club, Al Merreikh.
The story in this year’s Caf Confederation Cup, Africa’s second-tier club competition, was not much better as the country’s two flag bearers, Akwa United and Nasarawa United bowed out at the preliminary and first rounds respectively.
Chairman of the LMC, ShehuDikko is eager to see things change for the better in 2017.
“The issue of continental performance of Nigerian clubs is something of huge concern and as usual what we (LMC) are working on to change this tide is to look at the matter from the root cause to see what can be done to change the situation.
“There are always no quick fixes, so we’re working to bring change and institutionalise it to ensure we don’t go back to the dark ages,” Dikko told supersport.com.
The LMC chief added that Nigerian clubs must strive to attain stability by ensuring that they hold on to the majority of their playing personnel at the end of each season.
“The first step is to ensure we bring stability to the clubs by ensuring the usual wholesale change of squad players every season, which invariably affects the competitive edge of the clubs, is controlled. We have achieved this and now the clubs are more stable and maintain a good identity.
“Secondly, we are now working to ensure we start our league in time so our clubs can play as much matches as possible to gel before they start the continental campaign in the second week of February.
“This would improve their ability to compete. Hopefully, this 2017 season, we will achieve this.
“Thirdly, we have always been supporting our continental clubs both morally and financially to do well on the continent and we will continue to do this,” he explained.
HARD WORK & EXPECTATIONS FOR THE QUARTET OF 2017
Enugu Rangers and Rivers United will represent Nigeria in the 2017 Caf Champions League while FC Ifeanyiubah and Wikki Tourists will campaign in the Confederation Cup.
Dikko says the four clubs must prepare well if they are to compete favourably with the elite on the continent.
The LMC boss singled out Rivers United for their painstaking and detailed approach to their pre-season preparations, tipping them to do well on the continent.
“However, we must all understand that this issue is not within the justification of the league as it’s the duty of the clubs to ensure they prepare well to be able to compete on the continent.
“Ours is to provide a level playing field and ensure the best club gets the opportunity and we have been doing this.
“Also, we must know that performance on the continent is certainly not a reflection of the league quality, competitiveness, and or commercial success.
“Many clubs doing well on the continent are coming from a league where only one team or two, max three are the only strong clubs in the league.
“Ours is totally different. Our focus here is to build a very successful and commercially viable football league rather than just focus on Caf competition.
“When we get our league right, our clubs will surely be more competitive on the continent and anything can happen.
“But we do hope this coming season our clubs will do well and Rivers United pre-season preparation can testify to their seriousness, likewise the ability of Rangers, FC Ifeanyiubah and Wikki to keep core of the team has shown they are serious,” he said.

Richi struck an opportunistic goal, deep into second half added time to rescue a share of the spoils for Spanish club, CD Roda in a cracking pre-season friendly match against Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club, Rivers United on Monday night. The rip-roaring contest which finished 3-3 at Estadio Ciudad DeportivoPamesa was United’s second in their fifth and final phase of pre-season in Spain. EmekaOgbugh had given United a deserved lead inside the opening 10 minutes but the hosts battled back and equalized moments later after Festus Austine, under pressure, bundled the ball past AbiodunAkande in goal for United. The Spaniards began the second half on the front foot and got due reward when Charly Garcia smashed home to put them 2-1 up, six minutes after the break. Stung into action, the Pride of Rivers reacted gamely and turned the game on its head following excellent goals from GodblessAsamoah and NzubeAnaezemba. With United seemingly cruising to a second successive win in Spain, Richi popped up late to plunder a barely-deserved equalizer for the home side. Scorer of United’s second goal, Asamoah spoke about his goal-scoring contribution which temporarily pegged the scores at 2-2. “We started well by getting an early goal which set the tone for our third goal. “I was happy to score because as a striker, I always want to score as it helps with confidence. “For me and the team, it was never about the result but about the performance and the lessons to be learnt,” the attacker told www.riversunitedfc.com.ng. Another United striker, Elvis Wike however refused to be crestfallen and outlined the positives of the game and the club’s tour to Spain. “The game against Villarreal was a lot slower in terms of the pace and intensity as opposed to the game against CD Roda which was also very physical. “But we gave as good as we got and almost won in the end. “We have learned a lot so far in Spain and we know the lessons will serve us well in the coming days,” Wike explained. Rivers United beat Villarreal B 1-0 in their first pre-season game in Spain last week.

Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has provided update about the future of three Nigerian players, who have all been linked with possible move away from their present clubs.
The manager first gave an update on the situation of captain John Obi Mikel who is yet to play a competitive game for Chelsea under coach Antonio Conte.
” I saw Obi Mikel in London”, Rohr told Europe 1. ” He is in advanced discussions with Olympique Marseille. ” He will leave Chelsea for free, this is a serious option”.
On OghenekaroEtebo, the Franco-German coach of the Super Eagles said, it’s best for the talented 20 year old to complete the season with CD Feirense before thinking of a move in the summer.
” Etebo is fine where he is now. He is playing games which is very important for his development, moving in January is not ideal at least for now” Rohr, told Owngoalnigeria.com.
He also passed a vote of confidence on Leicester City bound Wilfred Ndidi, describing him as a player who can play multiple roles on the pitch above average level.
” Ndidi can play anywhere across the back four and also in the midfield. He has a bright future ahead of him, from what have seen of him, he can play more than five roles with less trouble, he will do well in any club”.

After over a decade and multiple managers, John Obi Mikel’s time at Chelsea is gradually drawing to a close.
There has been no shortage of suitors for him, with interest ranging from England to cash-rich China. His team are tight-lipped about his next destination although sources within the camp have told ESPN FC they are considering all the options. While the China offer looks good from a financial point of view, it may not be the right move at this time.
Here are three reasons why Mikel must stay in Europe …
1. The quality of football
Mikel may not be the best paid player in the Premier League, and could earn a boatload of money taking his skills to China. In fact, dizzying figures of around £170,000-a-week have been mentioned with respect to a potential China move. That is not quite in the same range as the £400,000-a-week figure some players earn in the same league, but is still a mighty big pull for any player.
However, at 29, Mikel still has more than a few good years of top level football left in him, and a move to China would signal a final winding down of his career.
2. Nigeria need their captain in Europe
It has been less than a year since Mikel was named Nigeria captain. In that time, he has shown exemplary leadership qualities, leading the team to Olympic bronze and guiding them to the top of a very difficult World Cup qualifying group that includes Algeria and Cameroon.
His off-field leadership aside, his on-pitch role is critical to Nigeria. Despite not playing for Chelsea, his performances with his country have been phenomenal and the major driving force behind the Super Eagles’ good results.
That role could be compromised by the long distance flying time from China and back. Mikel at less than hundred percent when he shows up for Nigeria could prove detrimental to their 2018 World Cup qualification hopes.
3. Family
What the last year has shown is that Mikel is committed to family and that also appears to have helped his game, at least based on what he has shown with Nigeria.
He has recently become a father to twin children and it is hard to see him uprooting his young family to China.
Sources have told ESPN FC that will be a priority consideration in any potential move, which makes such a significant change highly improbable.
Mikel is Chelsea’s current second longest serving player and he won’t be leaving Chelsea on loan this January.
The Nigerian has been frozen out of the first team set up at Chelsea by coach Antonio Conte, but even though he will most definitely leave the team in January, a loan move won’t be the case.
Per FIFA regulations a player in the final six months of his deal can’t leave on loan to another team, and Mikel is in the final six months of his contact at Chelsea after 11 years at the club.
Mikel can only leave on a permanent transfer which best explains the reason why the Super Eagles captain is weighing up offers properly before committing to any of the clubs interested in his services.
Inter-Milan, Marseille and three teams in China namely Shanghai SIPG, Hebei Fortune and Shanghai Shenhua have all enquire about his availability this winter, when the transfer window opens.
It is however believed that Mikel wants to remain in Europe, due to family reasons instead of a move to China where he will definitely earn more.