Sylvia Ikeji's Blog

Ahead of the kick off of the first round of the AITEO Cup Competition (Federation Cup) which resumes today, the Nigeria Football  Federation has read the riot act to its match officials. This was necessary following concerns about the win-at-home-at-all-costs attitude that has ridiculed Nigerian football as well as to maintain the integrity of Nigeria's oldest football competition, having finally secured a sponsor after years of trying.

Coach of Super Eagles B team, Salisu Yusuf through the communications deprtmnet of the NFF, has announced his final 20-man squad to face the Squirrels of Benin Republic on Sunday in the African Nations Championship qualifying match away.

The League Management Company has today announced the postponement of the date for the final game of the NPFL season.

The Governor of Gombe States, Hassan Dankwambo, on Wednesday approved the dissolution of the Gombe United management board with immediate effect. Only Technical Adviser Manu Garba has been retained. Nineteenth place Gombe United have been heavily tipped to make the drop to the NNL after just one season in the top flight. They are five points behind Kastina United in the nearest safest place, 17th, with just 5 games to go. Next, they host 7th place Kano Pillars.

The draws for the group stage of this year's Sports Writers Association of Nigeria football championship has been made. The event took place on Tuesday at the SWAN Secretariat, National Stadium Complex, Surulere. The usually very exciting tournament kicks off on Friday, 11th August 2017. Full group lists below... GROUP A Sports Vision Inspiration Crest News Nigeria Silverbird Sports Sportsville.com GROUP B Voice of Nigeria Complete Sports Poola Nations Newspaper 104.7 SMA FM GROUP C New Telegraph Goal.com Nigeria Else.com Community Watch FRCN Channels TV *6 teams in Group C to compete for two tickets Group D TV Continental Unilag FM Top Radio Cool FM Sun Newspaper

The LMC have announced drastic measures that have been taken against some thugs for assaulting officials and violently disrupting a match in Bauchi over the weekend.

After Match Day 33 over the weekend, and with just five games left to the end of what has been a very competitive and dramatic season so far, here is the current Nigeria Professional Football League standings.

He scored 27 goals and 19 assists during his 2yrs in Italy.

Good intentions but I don't believe that's the right way. The marketability of a brand is paramount, its not just about throwing cash around. Anyways, read for yourself below...

Until he joined Chelsea, it was no secret that he hated them. And who more than John Terry represents Chelsea?

Real Madrid confirmed on Wednesday evening that they had agreed terns with Chelsea for the sale of striker, Alvaro Morata pending medicals and agreement of personal terms between the London club and the player.

Current African Women Footballer of the Year and Super Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala has donated a brand new branded 18-seater bus to her Lagos based women's youth club, FC Robo who play in the Nigeria Women Premier League. FC Robo have their home stadium at the 3,000 capacity National stadium. Well done to her for giving back to her root, more of such, please!

Germany international, Antonio Rudiger has completed his move to Chelsea in what would be the Blues first major signing this dramatic summer.

The Belgium striker who is Manchester United bound, took to Instagram to document the journey of his medical which took place in LA where he has been vacationing with friend and new teammate, Paul Pogba.

Manchester United legend and record goalscorer Wayne Rooney, has completed his return to his boyhood club Everton having left leaving the club 13-years ago, for the Old Trafford for a fee of £27m in 2004.

Throwback, way back to 2005. An 18-year old Mikel John Obi had been announced by Manchester United, that they had agreed a deal with his then club, Lyn to sign him.

Manchester United have announced an agreement has been reached between them and Everton for the transfer of longtime Chelsea target, Romelu Lukaku.

FIFA has suspended the Sudan Football Association (SFA) starting July 6.

The League Management Company has announced its plans to honour veteran Nigerian coach, Kelechi Emeteole who passed on in the early hours of Wednesday, June 21 in an Indian hospital after suffering from throat cancer.

Three years after he turned down a move to the Merseyside club, Mohamed Salah has joined Liverpool from AS Roma.

Yusuf Mistura, is only 12 years and 295 days old but is already a first team player for Lagos based football club, FC Robo, after making the 18-man list for the trip to Akure ahead of their Nigeria Women Football League game yesterday against Sunshine Queens of Akure. The promising teenager will be wearing the number 28 jersey.

He just broke the news on Instagram...congrats and good luck to Mr and Mrs Xhaka!

Even the kids are obviously very aware of the trio's bromance. Lol...

In the 4pm kick-off yesterday, Cristiano Ronaldo scored an early header as Portugal defeated host nation Russia, 1-0.

With 25 games played and 13 more to go, here are results and the league standings after the weekend clashes.

Barron The Gooner! The youngest child of US President, Donald Trump has shown where his allegiance lies by flying the Arsenal colour.

​Manchester United fans would be hoping next season doesn't turn out to be another disappointing one as last's for young striker Anthony Martial, who was once touted as the future of the club.

​Arsenal have made a move away from tradition with their third kit if these leaked images for the upcoming 2017-18 season are anything to go by.

According to this twitter user that obtained the receipt...

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) which comprises of world football's governing body, FIFA, and the four British home football associations, has outlined a list of high profile proposed changes to the rules of the game in new strategy document titled Play Fair!.

​Chelsea's debut Nike kits appear to have been leaked ahead of the 2017/18 season if images leaked ​online​ by the Mirror  are anything to go by.

The usually much anticipated clash against South Africa has not been helped by the war of words between both footballing nations as they get ready to lock horns for a place in the 32nd edition of AFCON to he hosted by Cameroon in 2019.

It is their first league title since the 1999/2000 season, 17 years ago!👏

With his 367th goal, Madrid's first tonight, Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed Jimmy Greaves' (ex-Tottenham, Chelsea, AC Milan and West Ham forward in the 50s-60s) 46-year old record since 1971 to become the all-time leading scorer across Europe's top five leagues.

Full Time. Celta 1:4 Real Madrid! Two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo. One from Karim Benzema. One from Toni Kross, but the score line does not do justice to the very entertaining performances on the pitch by both teams.

Its long been anticipated and the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) have finally released their shortlist for the 2016/17 Players' Player & Young Player of the Year Awards.

I wonder what he was telling Walcott here. Maybe he went to deliver a message from their Naija fans 😂😂. Another photo after the cut...

Prior to last Sunday's CAF Confederation Cup game, the last time Zesco United were in Nigeria was in 2009/2010 to face Warri Wolves.

Ibadan. Just like every other city in Nigeria, I had heard lots of stories about the ancient city. Stories ranging from the weird to the historic to the ever hilarious social media memes.

What are your thoughts on Messi's 4-match FIFA ban for verbally abusing a referee and how do you think it would affect Argentina's race to Russia? Here is my brief on the whole thing...

Nigeria's Super Eagles played out a 1-all draw with Senegal on Thursday night. They were set to continue their international break with another friendly against AFCON third place winners, Burkina Faso later tonight, Monday, at The Hive Stadium in London, however, this game which was highly anticipated although it wasn't going to be televised has been cancelled. According to a statement by the NFF on Saturday, the game was called off due to visa issues affecting traveling players. Thankfully, it wasn't some form of incompetence on the part of the Nigerians as we have become used to seeing. All seven players affected were Burkinabe players. Unfortunately, Burkina Faso officials were told of the challenge late on Friday. NFF official Chis Green said the cancellation was 'no fault of either the organisers or the Nigeria Football Federation'. 'We will announce further plans for the Super Eagles' preparation for these two important qualifying campaigns i

Ex-Arsenal star, Lucas Poldoski, 31, featured in his last international game last night against England and boy, what a way to draw down the curtain it was!

Had this game been staged in Kano, the Sani Abacha Stadium would be strewn with thousands of eager Super Eagles fans. After all it is a clash between a side so convincing some months ago that they were tipped to win the AFCON until they were surprisingly halted at the quarterfinal stage by the eventual winners, Cameroon, thanks to a saved Sadio Mane penalty kick VERSUS an African power house, Nigeria who although are hardly consistent, are yet to NOT win a game under technical adviser Gernot Rohr.

You will hardly find any football fan who has followed the game closely for at least the past 10years that won't complain about the "balls" of majority of the current crop of what I like to call "new generation" players.

It has been described as 'hard and threadbare' and increases the possibility of players getting injured. Something Jose Mourinho and his squad will be hoping does not happen with their current busy run of fixtures as the only Premier League team still involved in four competitions.

All seems to be going well with Chelsea even in their Cobham trianing ground located in Surrey, London. Cesc Fabregas has taken it upon himself to update his followers on the behind the scenes happenings on the ground.

Arsenal football club have been very much in the news recently but for all the unpleasant reasons - both on and off the pitch.

Lol. It's not only rival fans that have been having a field day with Arsenal's embarrassing Champions League outing. Oh, what a laughing stock Arsenal FC must be in Germany and who knows, the Premier League too.

Mission Impossible??? Most fans seen to think so ahead of tonight's second leg round of 16 tie between Barcelona and PSG.

Adidas have been the kit sponsor for Chelsea for some time now, and many of the league leaders fans will know little different to the famous three stripes on their team's strips.