Yaya Toure Tells Why He Won the African Player of the Year Award

Newly crowned African player of the Year, Yaya Toure has pointed at the consistent good outings for his country as the reason behind his success.

The Manchester City midfielder edged Nigeria's John Obi Mikel and country man Didier Drogba to clinch his third straight title as the continent's best footballer in a ceremony in Lagos, on Thursday evening.

Speaking to Ghanaian radio station Citi FM after the ceremony, Toure revealed that churning out top performances on a regular basis for one's national team was behind his rise to become the top player he is at the moment.

"I think the award was given based on one's work with his national team and we, the contenders were judged based on that."

Vincent Enyeama Named Europe’s Best Goalkeeper

Super Eagles vice-captain and Lille of France safe hands, Vincent Enyeama has been picked as the best goalkeeper in the major leagues across Europe in the 2013/14 football season.

Research by supersport.com showed that the ratio of saves made to goals conceded by the Nigerian is by far and away the most impressive, compared to any goalkeeper at any football club in any of Europe’s top leagues this season.

The 31-year-old conceded eight goals in 19 league appearances for Lille OSC this season and was voted best player in Ligue 1 on two consecutive occasions ahead of stellar individuals like Thiago Silva, Edinson Cavani, Mathieu Valbuena, Radamel Falcao and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Keshi picks Alampasu, Egwuekwe, 21 others for CHAN

Super Eagles’ Head Coach Stephen Keshi on Tuesday in Abuja released the list of 23 players who will represent Nigeria at the third edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CHAN event is billed for Jan. 11 to Feb. 1, 2014 in three South African cities.

The list has three goalkeepers, eight defenders, six midfielders and six forwards, with 2013 Golden Eaglets’ star goalkeeper Dele Alampasu making the cut.

The team’s first-choice goalkeeper and skipper, Chigozie Agbim, as well as team regulars such as defenders Azubuike Egwuekwe, Solomon Kwambe and Francis Benjamin also made the list.

“Get ready for me” – Ibrahimovic warns Enyeama ahead of Sunday’s Ligue 1 clash

Paris Saint-Germain striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, has warned Vincent Enyeama to be prepared to face the force of his attacking partnership with Edinson cavani, when PSG plays Lille on Sunday.

The Parisians are currently top of Ligue 1 and will play Lille, who are in third position this weekend. The Swede admitted that he has been impressed with the form of the Nigerian goalkeeper, who went 11 consecutive top-flight games without letting in a goal.

Lille has also conceded six goals in 18 minutes, but Ibrahimovic was in bullish move ahead of the crunch tie at Parc de Princes.

“I think it is a very important game,” the 32-year-old told reporters.

“Lille have been very good so far. Their goalkeeper Enyeama has produced some amazing games so far as well, but at the same time I have to say he has not played against Zlatan and Cavani.

Manchester United Fan Commits Suicide after 1-0 Defeat to Newcastle [VIDEO]

A Kenyan football fan unable to cope with Manchester United’s loss to Newcastle United committed suicide over the weekend, a senior Kenyan police official said on Monday.

John Macharia, 28, plunged to his death from a multi-storey apartment block in Nairobi after David Moyes’ men suffered a second home defeat in four days, denting the champions’ chance of retaining their Premier League title.

'Macharia jumped from seventh floor of an apartment at Pipeline Estate after realising that his team Manchester United lost 1-0 to Newcastle at Old Trafford and committed suicide,' Nairobi’s County Police Commander Benson Kibui told Reuters.

“I am not sure our group is easy” – Keshi + “We'll compete with Nigeria for second place” – Bosnian midfielder

Contrary to the views of many people that Nigeria have been drawn in an easy group at the 2014 World Cup, Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi thinks otherwise.

The Super Eagles are in group F where they would come up against Argentina, Bosnia Herzegovina and Iran.

Keshi speaking after the draws were made in Brazil, hinged on the importance to win their first game of the tournament against Iran.

"We have to prepare for the first game to make sure we win," Keshi said.

But the Super Eagles gaffer refuted suggestions that Nigeria have been drawn in an easy group.

"I'm not sure it's an easy group. It all depends on how well you prepare and plan for the games" he added.

FIFA 2014 W/C Draw: Nigeria in Group F with Argentina, Bosnia and Iran

Check out the draw in full;

Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon

Group B: Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia

Group C: Colombia, Greece, Cote d'Ivoire, Japan

Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy

Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras

Group F: Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria

Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA

Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, Korea Republic

Yaya Toure Beat Mikel Obi, Victor Moses To Win 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year

Yaya Toure has won the 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year award.

The Ivory Coast and Manchester City midfielder, who had been nominated in each of the past four years, beat Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Victor Moses, John Mikel Obi and Jonathan Pitroipa to this year's crown.

The 30-year-old told BBC Sport: "I think I've been nominated for five years in a row and finally winning the award is amazing.

"It's a fantastic achievement because I don't think there has ever been as many quality African players in top-level international football as there are now: Aubameyang, Pitroipa, Mikel, Moses, Salomon Kalou, Gervinho... we have fantastic players.

"I also think African football is improving and that means a lot to us. And as an African, I'm very happy."

Manchester City has signed Nigeria U17 Striker, Kelechi Iheanacho, says father

Manchester City has completed a deal for 17-year-old wonder kid Kelechi Iheanacho, according to the player's father.

Kelechi caught the eye of clubs across Europe with his performances at the Under-17 World Cup, where his six goals helped Nigeria claim victory in the United Arab Emirates.

Previous reports have suggested Manchester United, Chelsea and Porto wanted to land the young forward, but now according to his father it is Manchester City who have secured his services.

Kelechi Iheanacho’s father says his son is missing

James Iheanacho, the father of Golden Eaglets star player, Kelechi Iheanacho, has declared his son missing.

The 17-year-old forward, has been the subject of in-fighting and tussle between agents, ever since he was adjudged the Most Valuable Player at the just concluded U-17 World in UAE.

“I don’t know the whereabouts of my son. I have not been able to reach him for the past three days,” the older Iheanacho told Hot FM Owerri on Friday.

It is believed that one of such agents has travelled to Europe with the teenager, with the lure of landing him a lucrative deal with a big club.

Vincent Enyeama beats Ibrahimovic to Clinch France Player of the Month

The French National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) unveiled its monthly award on Friday, to be given to Vincent Enyeama on Sunday at the Lille-Toulouse game.

Enyeama topped the poll at 71 percent of votes, beating Sweden and PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic who had only 19 percent, and his Uruguayan teammate Edinson Cavani on 10 percent.

The 31-year-old shot-stopper produced an impressive performance in October, helping Lille claim three consecutive league games. With the addition of two other wins in November, they were able to climb to second place in the Ligue 1 table.

Barcelona’s Striker, Lionel Mess receives third record Golden Boot [VIDEO]

Argentina international and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was presented with a record third Golden Boot trophy on Wednesday after finishing Europe top scorer last season.

Messi dedicated the trophy to his family and his teammates, calling it a team award.

“This is a beautiful award that goes to the entire squad for what it has done,” Messi said. “It is a group award more than an individual one because those are a lot of goals. I wouldn’t have won it without them, this one or the previous ones.”

The 26-year-old becomes the first player to receive the award three times, has won four consecutive World Player of the Year awards, three Champions League, six Spanish Super Cups, two Copas del Rey and two European Super Cups.

“The referee was against us and helped Nigeria to win” – Ethiopia’s Coach

Coach of Ethiopia’s national team, Sewnet Bishaw, has blamed poor officiating for his side’s defeat to Nigeria.

The Super Eagles defeated the Walya Antelopes 2-1 in Addis Ababa and 2-0 in Calabar and Sewnet is of the opinion that the referee helped the hosts qualify.

“It wasn’t the best of officiate, the referee was against us and helped Nigeria to win,” he said.

In reaction to Bishaw’s comments, Keshi said: “We defeated them in their country, was that the referee’s help too? Ethiopia is a good side but we are just better”.

FIFA invites Iheanacho and Alampasu To 2014 Ballon d’Or in Zurich

Golden Eaglets stars Kelechi Iheanacho and Dele Alampasu have been invited by FIFA to the annual Ballon d'Or in Zurich next year.

FIFA noted that the duo, who emerged on top of the honours' rack at the just concluded FIFA U17 World Cup in the UAE, have been chosen to be part of the select crowd that would witness the gala after for winning the Adidas Golden Ball Award and Golden Gloves Award on the wings of Nigeria's record fourth World Cup trophy.

"On behalf of FIFA, I would like to congratulate you once again on winning the Adidas Golden Ball Award(Iheanacho); Golden Gloves(Alampasu) at this year's FIFA's U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates for the best player of the tournament," wrote Sandra Marfurt, head of special events and guest management.

Golden Eaglets Get ₦2million Cash Reward From President Jonathan [PHOTOS]

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday announced a cash gift of ₦2m each for all the players of the nation’s Under-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, who won the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Soccer Championship on Friday in Abu Dhabi, United Emirates.

The players, their handlers and key members of the Nigerian Supporters’ Club, according to the President, will also be honoured with national honours during the next award ceremony.

Jonathan announced the rewards at a reception he held in honour of the players at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Nigeria wins FIFA U-17 World Cup, Check out Highlight of Goals Scored [VIDEO]

Nigeria’s under 17 National Team, the Golden Eaglets, thrashed Mexican side, El Tri 3-0 to lift the trophy this evening. With this victory; the Golden Eaglets became the first country to win the FIFA Under-17 World Cup for a record four times.

Nigeria also holds the record for most goals scored by a team in a single tournament with 26 goals in all.

Congrats to the Golden Eaglets

Check out a highlight of the match below;

16-yr-old Girl Does 44 Backflips in a row, Breaks Guinness World Record [VIDEO]

An Atlanta high school cheerleader set a new Guinness World Record for consecutive back handsprings, or backflips, with 44 straight recently!

Mikayla Clark, 16, cheers for Westlake High School. She's been cheering since age four and it shows, based on her athletic ability in the video above.

She has been practicing since the beginning of the football season to beat the record, and also cheers with the Georgia All Stars Competition Squad.

"I'm very proud of her," said her coach, Ashley Clark.

Mikayla, a junior, expects to receive her official Guinness World Records certificate this week for breaking the previous record of 36 back handsprings.

I believe the Golden Eaglets are the world champions – Sweden Coach

After his boys lost 3-0 to the Golden Eaglets in the semifinal of the FIFA U-17 World Cup on Tuesday, Sweden Coach, Roland Larsson, stated that the Golden Eaglets were the tournament’s favourite.

Speaking after the match, he said, “Yes, I think they are the favourites to win the trophy. They have been so unbelievable here. Playing some good attacking football. They are my favourites to win the final and hope they achieve all the success they can get because they deserve it”.

“I believe the Nigerians are the world champions already and expect them to justify it having defeated Mexico once in the group stage.

It is going to be an exciting final to watch and I am backing the Nigerians to win because of their strong team play and individual talents, which make it very difficult for others to find their range”, added Larsson.

Yakubu Adesokan breaks powerlifting world record in Kuala Lumpur [PHOTOS]

Paralympic champion Yakubu Adesokan demonstrated his prowess once again by setting a world record mark of 176 kilogrammes to take the men's under 49kg title at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Powerlifting Asian Open Championships in Kuala Lumpur.

The 34-year-old, who took gold in the ExCel arena at London 2012, setting a world record of 180kg in the under 48kg class, repeated the feat in the Malaysian capital by eclipsing Egyptian Taha Abdelmagid's record of 165kg in the under 49kg category.

Ghanaian Star, Asamoah Gyan Backs Nigeria to win UAE U17 World Cup

Ghana and Al Ain star Asamoah Gyan has praised the quality on show at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup and tipped the Golden Eagle to emerge triumphant.

The top scorer in UAE domestic football for the past two seasons has been taking a keen interest in the games taking place in the Garden City.

“Nigeria and Ghana are very close,” he explained “Of course, we’re rivals in football but we’re brothers in every other way. “Any time I meet up with Nigerians it’s like meeting up with family. We’re like the same people really. I’m rooting for them. “There’s some good talent out there. You can see it plain as day,” Gyan added. “You can see that we’re improving in Africa. We’ve got so much talent, and these kids can be stars one day. “They’re just 16 and 17, trying to build their careers and by what I’ve seen so far, some of these players can go places.”

Nigerias Golden Eaglet will on Tuesday take on the Blågult of Sweden.