The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been ranked the most valuable squad in Africa.

This was disclosed in an infographic shared on the team’s official X page on Saturday.

The Eagles are also ranked 10th most valuable squad in the world.

The countries ahead of the Eagles are England, France, Portugal, Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Italy, and Netherlands.

The three-time African champions are valued at €451.60 million.

Jose Peseiro’s men dropped one place in the September monthly FIFA rankings but retained their sixth spot on the continent.

[NewsEye]

Mohamed Salah was the Merseyside derby match-winner with a second-half double as Liverpool edged past 10-man Everton in the Premier League.

Salah’s confident penalty in front of the Kop End following Michael Keane’s handball ended a frustrating 75 minutes for the home side and he added a late second as the Reds went top of the table on Saturday lunchtime.

It took the Egypt international’s tally to 201 career league goals and victory maintained Liverpool’s recent dominance over their neighbours in this fixture.

Jurgen Klopp’s side searched for a way to break the deadlock in the second period after Ashley Young was sent off for two bookable offences, with both fouls coming on Luis Diaz.

The hosts had been finding it difficult to make in-roads despite having a man advantage, with many of their efforts from long range comfortable for Jordan Pickford to deal with.

The England international smothered Alexis Mac Allister’s rasping effort and Darwin Nunez’s strike, while dipping drives from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai both dropped narrowly over.

Everton maybe should have gone ahead in the opening couple of minutes but Dominic Calvert-Lewin could only divert his header straight at Alisson.

Dwight McNeil’s curling effort was also deflected over the crossbar, but they were finally breached with 15 minutes to go and again in injury time, leaving Sean Dyche’s side with only two wins in nine league games this season.

[Nation]

The Nigerian Premier Football League, NPFL, match between Lobi Stars and Abia Warriors slated to hold today, Saturday 21st October 2023, at the Lafia township stadium has been postponed.

The postponement of the match which was slated to kick off at 4pm in Lafia town is said to be in honour those who lost their lives in Otukpo, Benue State during the deadly attacks on four banks yesterday afternoon by armed robbers in the area.

DAILY POST reports that armed robbers invaded several banks in Otukpo at about 3 pm on Friday, shooting sporadically.

Dominic Iorfa, Vice Chairman and CEO of Lobi Stars FC, announced the postponement on Saturday.

Iorfa, in a statement made available to DAILY POST said the postponement is to sympathize with the immediate families of those who were killed in the deadly attack.

The statement read: “We regret to inform you that, Lobi Stars NPFL matchday 4 tie against Abia Warriors has been postponed.

“The reason for the postponement is to sympathize with the immediate families who lost their loved ones in a deadly robbery attack on four banks in Otukpo, Benue State, yesterday.

“Otukpo, venue of the deadly incident is the Local Government of the Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Barr. Sam Ode, who is also the Chairman of Lobi Stars Football Club.

“Following this ugly incident, the Management of Lobi Stars approached the league authorities and requested for a shift in date so as to mourn with the bereaved.

“Consequently, the league authorities have approved their request and shifted Lobi Stars’ encounter against visiting Abia Warriors to Sunday, 22nd October 2023 at the same venue in Lafia, Nasarawa State. Time remains 4pm.

“May God grant those who lost their lives during the incident eternal rest and console their families.”

[DailyPost]

• Competition: Premier League
• Date: 21.10.2023
• Kickoff: 17:30 UK / 18:30 CEST
• Venue: Stamford Bridge (London)

Chelsea vs Arsenal: ARSENAL TO WIN WITH AH 0 

Chelsea seem to be finally starting to find their footing in the last couple of weeks, during one of their worst starts to a season in 20+ years. After a long time, Chelsea scored 4 goals against any opponent, like in the previous visit to Burnley. Wins against Fulham and Brighton and the EFL Cup could herald better days ahead. Poketino is a little calmer now, but the placement for the club from West London is still very bad, because the 11th position in the Premier League is a real debacle for a club like this.

Arsenal has been playing consistently well since the beginning of the season in the Premier League, and in some rounds they copied very good performances from the previous season. In doing so, they silenced many analysts who predicted that they would not be able to be in the race for the title this season alongside the superior Manchester City. If Arsenal wins this match, it is very likely that they will remain in 1st place together with city rival Tottenham. This is an opportunity to write history as well because this match is an opportunity for the 4th consecutive clean sheet on the road and the "Gunners" have never opened the season in this way.

This is a huge London derby that almost always brought matches full of intensity and energy. Chelsea will especially need that fighting spirit and team chemistry to get a positive result. This is an expensive team that still doesn't seem as homogeneous as Arsenal. Arteta has gradually brought this team up the ladder and now it is definitely a finished product. This could be the season that launches this squad very high.

The just mentioned excellent defensive record of Arsenal can decide in this match. Chelsea has problems gaining possession of the ball against superior teams, and it will be especially difficult against this rival against whom they have lost in the last 3 matches at Stamford Bridge. In our opinion, Arsenal to win with AH 0 seems like a smart option. In case of a draw, we get the stake back.

• Competition: Spain - LaLiga
• Date: Saturday, 21st, October 2023
• Kickoff: 17:30 UTC +1 / 18.30 CEST
• Venue: Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan (Sevilla)

 Betting Tips: Real Madrid to Win | OVER 2.5 | DC X2 | FT 2

Sevilla is gearing up to kick off a new chapter under the leadership of their new head coach, Diego Alonso, and what better way to do it than against the current La Liga leader, Real Madrid, at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in Matchday 10 of La Liga.

Just three and a half months after leading Sevilla to their record seventh title in UEFA's second-tier competition, the UEFA Europa League, defeating Roma in the final in Budapest on penalties with a score of 4-1, and also saving them from relegation from La Liga, Jose Luis Mendilibar has been relieved of his duties as the head coach. The decision was made due to the fact that the Andalusians had little reason to celebrate in the current top flight season. With just two victorious outings and a meager eight points from as many rounds, Los Nervionenses find themselves a mere two points above the red zone.

This weekend, Andalusia will play host to one of the top contenders for the LaLiga title at the end of the season, the Real Madrid squad. So far, Carlo Ancelotti's chosen ones have shown the most among the teams in the Spanish top-tier, rightfully perched atop the table with 24 accumulated points, two ahead of LaLiga sensation Girona and three more than their fierce rivals, Barcelona, who currently stand third. Motivated by their exceptional recent results, Jude Bellingham and his campanions are resolute in their determination to secure the maximum from their visit this Saturday, ensuring they enter the next weekend's El Clasico from a leading position.

Sevilla's newly appointed coach, Diego Alonso, who is taking on his first European managerial role after previous stints with clubs like Penarol, Pachuca, Monterrey, and Inter Miami, among others, is in for a baptism of fire this Saturday, as his debut match will be none other than against Real Madrid. The unveiling of the Uruguayan coach has arrived at a particularly difficult moment, as his team finds itself in the midst of a significant downturn, having won only one of their previous six matches across various competitions. Another cause for concern is the defense, which was once the "trademark" of the Andalusian outfit but now appears porous, as evidenced by just two clean sheets from the beginning of the season.

In contrast, Los Blancos are entering Matchday 10 of LaLiga in superb form because, with the exception of the 1-3 loss to Atletico, they have solved all their fixtures in the current season in their favor. Moreover, Carlo Ancelotti's squad has displayed an exceptional reaction after the defeat in the Madrid derby, clinching four consecutive wins and scoring a remarkable 12 goals during this run - an average of exactly three per match. Real Madrid, with a steadfast goal of heading into El Clasico as the league leaders, will strive to claim all three points this weekend, which shouldn't pose much of a problem given their recent dominance over Sevilla - securing eight triumphs from the previous nine top-flight encounters. Weighing up all these elements, in addition to Diego Alonso's lack of experience in European club management, we foresee Real Madrid, with superstar Belingem leading the charge, to capture their fifth consecutive triumph.

A YOUTH football coach from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jonathan Bukabakwa, has been handed a lengthy ban for sexually abusing a minor, FIFA announced today.

“The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has banned Mr Jonathan Bukabakwa, former youth coach at clubs of the Urban Football Agreement of the regions of Lipopo and Malebo in Congo DR, from all football-related activities for 20 years, after having found him guilty of sexually abusing a minor football player,” FIFA stated today.

“In addition, the adjudicatory chamber imposed a fine amounting to 100,000 Swiss francs on Mr Bukabakwa.

“This case arose following serious allegations related to the sexual abuse of minors in the Congo DR Football Association (FECOFA) that were made on several media platforms.

“In particular, various football coaches of different regions and leagues in Congo DR were accused of having abused minor players, leading to Mr Bukabakwa being provisionally suspended for a period of five months earlier this year.”

The world football governing body explained that in deciding the case, the adjudicatory chamber took into account the evidence collected during the investigations and was comfortably satisfied that Bukabakwa had breached article 24 (Protection of physical and mental integrity) of the Code of Ethics.

The terms of the decision were notified to Bukabakwa today, the date on which the ban comes into force, and will be followed by the notification of the grounds within the next 60 days in accordance with the FIFA Code of Ethics, the body explained further.

“The decision taken by the adjudicatory chamber is in line with FIFA’s zero tolerance approach to all forms of abuse in football. World football’s governing body has regularly updated its regulatory framework in recent years to provide greater protection to victims of discrimination and sexual abuse or harassment,” FIFA noted.

“FIFA also provides a confidential, dedicated, highly secure and web-based whistleblowing system so that individuals can report any safeguarding concerns.”

[NaijaTimes]

Jose Peseiro, the Super Eagles head coach, has revealed that his players pushed him to accept a pay cut from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The Portuguese agreed a reduction to his salary this summer so that he could remain in charge of the Super Eagles.

The 63-year-old will lead the West Africans to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire in January.

The former Saudi Arabia and Venezuela gaffer claimed his players begged him to stay so they can win the tournament.

“The players pushed me to stay because they believe we can win (the AFCON),” he told Sky Sports.

“We can win it. The players know it. They come with the same energy, the same belief, to fight for the Super Eagles.”

The Super Eagles are drawn in Group A with hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.

Inter Milan are eyeing a possible free transfer move for Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho next summer, according to reports in Italy.

The Nigerian striker is one of the players who is due to be out of contract with the club at the end of the season, meaning that he will be available on a free transfer should he not sign a new deal with the club. That is said to have alerted Inter to his availability.

According to FC Inter News, the Italian side have “registered” their interest in the striker, but are still not fully sure if they will make a move. It is said that the club are looking to make “various assessments” on the player before making a firm decision as they plan early for which free agents to move for in just under a year.

It’s not the first time that Inter have been linked with an interest in Iheanacho. The 27-year-old was said to have been identified as a possible option for the Serie A club before the start of the summer transfer window, although no move ever materialised.

Iheanacho remained at City beyond the summer, despite his contract situation. He has shared the lone striker role with Jamie Vardy this season, with Iheanacho scoring four times in the Championship, with three of those goals coming in his last three games.

The striker has been with City since joining from Manchester City in the summer of 2017. He opened up about links away from the City in the summer last month.

[Nation]

The Super Eagles recorded their first win in a friendly game in five years following a 3-2 victory over 10-man Mozambique in Portimäo, Portugal, yesterday.

Goals from Terem Moffi, Frank Onyeka and Moses Simon steered Coach Jose Peseiro’s team to victory in a thrilling encounter.

Mozambique had taken the lead seven minutes into the game via Geny Catamo, raising fresh fears that Nigeria’s winless run in a friendly game may continue.

But OGC Nice’s Terem Moffi shot from close range 13 minutes later to restore parity for the Super Eagles at the Estádio Municipal de Albufeira, Albufeira in Portugal.

While Nigeria continued to dictate most of the play, it was no surprise as they took the lead through Brentford star, Frank Onyeka, who bounced on a loose ball at the half-hour mark – just at the edge of the box – and fired home to make it 2-1 for the Eagles!

Although Mozambique were reduced to ten men after a shirt pull on goal-bound Joe Aribo in the 37th minute, it took Nigeria a few more minutes before scoring their third goal when the irrepressible Moses Simon netted from the penalty spot in added time of the first half.

The southern Africans were bullish in the second period, unhindered by the numerical disadvantage, and got a second goal through Bangal with 10 minutes into the closing half.

Nigeria later made some changes in the latter stages of the tie with Sadiq Umar among them. The Real Sociedad striker made an immediate impact.

He thought he had scored in the 70th and 84th minutes of the game but his goals were flagged offside.

With four minutes added time after 90 minutes, the Super Eagles held off the East Africans to earn their first victory in a friendly match since a 1-0 win over Egypt in March 2019.
Victory means the Eagles have established a winning mentality ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches starting in November as well as the 34th Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Cote d’Ivoire.

[Leadership]