Nigeria Drew With Scotland In Friendly

Nigeria played a 2 - 2 draw with Scotland at the Craven Cottage on Wednesday, in London, in the first of the three friendlies, the country is scheduled to play, in preparation for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, that will be starting next month, (June 12).

In the 10th minute of the match, James Morrison shot was skillfully diverted into the Nigerian net by Charlie Mulgrew. But about five minutes to half time, Michael Uchebo equalized for Nigeria, (1 - 1.

The scoreline did not stay like that for long, seven minutes into the second half, the Nigeria defender, Azubuike Egwuekwe scored an own goal. A gift which the Scotish team was happy to accept.

Peter Odemwingie

The match remained like that until almost stoppage time, when Uche Nwofor who substituted Michael Uchebo, struck from the right hand side of the box, to equalise for Nigeria.

Stephen Keshi, the Nigeria coach may have gotten an idea of which players, he will drop from the 30-man provisional squad, to reduce the number that will be going to the World Cup to 23 players.

But only one match is not enough to asses the players. As I mentioned earlier on in this article, Nigeria still has two matches to play in USA before moving to Brazil.

On the 3rd of June, they will play another friendly match, against Greece in the Philadelphia Union Stadium in USA. And on the 7th of June, they will play their last friendly preparation match, against USA in Jacksonvill.

Keshi is not likely to wait until the next two matches, to drop the seven players that will not make it to Brazil. This is because all the 32 World Cup teams, must submit the names of their 23 players to FIFA by June 2.
Read also: africanfootie.blogspot.com

Williams Sisters Crashed Out Of French Open

The French Open defending champion, Serena Williams (32), suffered a shocking defeat in round two against Spanish Garbine Muguruza, 6 - 2, 6 - 2.
Before the tournament began, Serena was the favourite to win the title again and retain the title she won last year, 2013. But as the match progressed, it became obvious that with so many faults, she was not her usual feisty and determined self.

Serena had previously won the tournament twice, in 2002 and 2013. All credit to her opponent, Garbine Muguruza, who saw that the defending champion was struggling in the match, so she took the opportunity that she had and won the match, which was the biggest victory in her career.

Serena Williams

The senior sister, Venus was also defeated in the second round by the Slovakian, Anna Schmiedlova, 2 - 6, 6 - 3, 6 - 4. Both sisters could have meet in the third round, had it been that they won their second round matches. Instead, they were both shown an early exit doors.

After the match, the very elated Venezuelan born Spanish resident, said,
''I was thinking I have a chance. I have to play really good to win,'' Muguruza said.

''There was a momment in the past games of the match, I was like, 'Oh. my God, I'm winning the set and then 4 - 1 or something like this.

''I was nervous, but I said, Ok, be calm. She's also nervous. I have the opportunity, so I have to continue like this to win,'' Muguruza added.

Serena said that she couldn't serve or play well in the tournament even though she didn't last long in it. That it was one of those days that one could not do things right or have ones own way.

''It was one of those days. You can't be on every day and gosh, I hate to be off during a Grand Slam. It happens, you know. It's not the end of the world. It is what it is,'' Serena said.

She said that Garbine played really well and smart. ''I think she played really well and she played really smart.''

''I just can't serve. I mean, my serve hasn't been good yet. I can't say this whole tournament, because my tournament didn't last long, but just in general,'' she said. Read also: africanfootie.blogspot.com

''You know, it's great, because I'm going to go home and work five times as hard, to make sure I never lose again,'' Serena added.

The big sister Venus who has won 7 Grand Slams to Serena's 17 said after the match, that she felt during the match that she was going to win.
''I felt like this was a match that I was most likely going to win,'' Venus said.

''I don't know how Serena felt, but I'm sure she feels like that every time she goes on the court. So I think our expectation was to play in the next round,'' Venus added.

Tenth Champions League Cup For Real Madrid

Real Madrid came back from a goal down, to beat city rival Atletico Madrid 4 - 1, in the Champions League final on Saturday, at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon.

Atletico Madrid were very unfortunate, they were less than two minutes from lifting the trophy for the first time in their history. But all credit to Real Madrid, who forced a 1 - 1 draw through Sergio Ramos.

Champions League Trophy

In the 30 minutes extra time that ensured, Real showed that they knew how to win, when it mattered most. While Real grew in confidence, Atletico seemed like they lost energy and will to fight on, when Gareth Bale - the €100m man from Tottenham scored Real's second goal.

But it was game over, when Marcelo scored Real's third goal. Then to make matter worse Cristiano Ronaldo, was brought down in the box and the referee Mr Kuipers pointed to the Penalty spot.

Ronaldo, who did not perform at 100% maybe due to the fact, that he was coming back from injury (and lacked match fitness), which he sustained in the quater final against Schalke, stepped up and calmly scored the penalty.

 Bale and Modric with Coppa del Rey

The party for the 10th Champions League title, had already started by the fans, after Marcelo scored the third goal.

Real Madrid remains the most successful club, in the history of the Uefa Champions League. The second highest winner is AC Milan, which has won it seven times (7), while Liverpool and Bayern shares third position at five times (5) each.

The Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, is the only man who has won the title five times both as a player and coach. Two times as a player and three times as a coach. The previous four he wan was with AC Milan.

But the current coach of AC Milan, Clarence Seedorf, remains the only man who won it four times as a player. Read also: africanfootie.blogspot.com

It was a very successful season for Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti won two trophies with the team in his first season in charge as the coach. It would have been a treble had it been that the team did not stumble at the last weeks of La Liga.

But I think that if you ask the players many of them would rather win Champions League than La Liga. So all is well then. Cheers.

Claude Makelele Appointed Bastia Coach

Claude Makelele (41), the former Real Madrid and Chelsea midfielder, has been appointed as the head coach of the French Ligue 1 club SC Bastia. He will be signing a two years contract early next week.

The former France international will be replacing Frederic Hantz (47), who resigned his post, after leading the team to 10th position, in the just concluded French Ligue 1 season.

Until this new appointment, Mr makelele has been the assistant coach at the PSG, to his former national team-mate Laurent Blanc. Before then, he was the assistant to the former coach of PSG, Carlo Ancelotti, who is now in charge of Real Madrid as the head coach.



Claude Makelele

Makelele who joined Chelsea as a player in 2003 from Real Madrid, left the London club in 2008 for PSG, where he played until his retirement in 2011.
After he hanged up his boots, he became an assistant coach there until now.

The former coach of the Corsican club, Mr Frederic Hantz, resigned as coach, because according to him, he has ''failed to take the club to the next level.''

The task for Claude Makelele then, will be to improve on the record of Mr Hantz, and lead his new team to a higher position on the League table, and maybe qualify them next season to the Europa League.

Makelele, who was regarded during his playing years as a midfield marshall, because of the manner he controlled and marshalled ball in the midfield, won many titles as a player.

Among the titles he won as a player were:

Real Madrid: Two La Liga Cups in 2000/01 and 2002/03
One Champions League in 2001/02
One Uefa Super Cup in 2002
One Intercontinental Cup 2002

Chelsea FC: Two Premier League Cups in 2004/05 and 2005/06
Two League Cups in 2004/05 and 2006/07
One FA Cup in 2006/07

He has also won the French Ligue 1 titles in the last two seasons as assistant coach of Paris St. Germain. Read also: africanfootie.blogspot.com

Louis van Gaal Is Man United New Manager

The English Premier League club, Manchester United, has finally made the much anticipated appointment of Louis van Gaal, as the next manager of the club official. The successful Dutch coach signed a three year contract with the club, which he recently called '' the biggest club in the world.''

The 62 years old man, is currently the Dutch national team coach, and will be leading the orange (De Oranje) team, to the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil starting next month.



Louis van Gaal

He will take over rebuilding Man United, which had a terrible season, even though they were the defending champions, the team finished 7th on the league table, which was a shock to many football fans.

Because of the disappointing season, they are not qualified to play in either Champions League or Europa cup. No Europe competitions for a club that was used to winning titles, under the retired manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Van Gaal has his work cut out for him.

The club legend Ryan Giggs (40), who was the care-taker manager after the coach, David Moyes (51) was sacked, will be the assistant manager to the Dutch coach.

Giggs has just announced his retirement as a player, after a very long successful playing career, to take up a coaching career. He was delighted to be named an assistant coach to Louis van Gaal.

''Today is a fantastic day for Manchester United. Louis van Gaal is a great appointment and I am delighted to be working with someone of his calibre,'' he said.

''His credentials are second to none and I'm positive the club will thrive under his leadership over the coming years,'' he added.

As a legend of the club, the mangement of the club is grooming Ryan Giggs, to take over the mangerial functions of the team in a few years time, with the hope and belief, that he will be able to replicate his successful achievements as a player in coaching. Read also: africanfootie.blogspot.com.

Luis Enrique Is The New Barcelona Coach

The former Barcelona attacking midfielder Luis Enrique (44), has been appointed the new Barcelona head coach, on a two year contract, after the Spanish giants finished the season without winning any trophy.

Mr Enrique will be taking over from the Argentine, Mr Gerardo Martino (51), who had a very disappointing first season in charge of the Catalan team. Martino resigned after the club's worst season in six years.

Barcelona's chance of winning a title this season was dependent on them winning their last match, while their opponents - the league leader Atletico Madrid, needed just a draw to clinch the title.

Luis Enrique

The game which was played last Saturday ended in a 1 - 1 draw, and Atletico Madrid clinched the Spanish La Liga trophy.

The task of Luis Enrique is to rejuvenate the team, and bring it back to winning titles for the fans.

As a player, he played for the two Spanish giants and rivals - Real Madrid and Barcelona and he won trophies with them. He won three La Liga titles, and one Uefa Cup winners Cup and retired in 2004. He joined Barcelona from Real Madrid in 1996.

After retiring, Mr Enrique took over the coaching of Barcelona B team from his former team-mate Pep Guardiola in 2008. He left after a successful three seasons tenure.

In 2011 he became the head coach of AS Roma, but left after just one season as the team did not qualify for European competitions.

Then in 2013 he became the head coach of Celta de Vigo, and now he has gone back to the club, which he captained as a player, after a season at Celta Vigo. Read also. africanfootie.blogspot.com

Arsenal Ends Nine Years Of Trophy Drought

Arsenal has finally ended their nine years of trophy drought by beating Hull City 3 - 2 in the FA Cup final on Saturday at the Wembley Stadium.

The North London club which before the match kicked off was rated as the over-whelming favourite by many football pundits and fans.

Arsenal began the duel sluggishly, may be due to nervousness or over confidence, because they beat Hull City in the Premier League at home 2 - 0 and away 3 - 0 this season.

Arsenal Players celebrating their victory

Well whatever the reason was, Hull City which has never won FA Cup before, showed that they were hungry to lift the cup by scoring two goals in the first 8 minutes of the game, through James Chester and Curtis Davies. This came as a shock to not only the Arsenal players and their long suffering fans, but also to many fans of the beautiful game, who had no doubt, that Arsenal was about to end their trophy drought.

The North London team fight back started, when the energetic and talented Santi Carzola pulled a goal back, through free-kick before the end of the first half.

Many football fans, including myself were disappointed with the fact, that Arsenal did not take full control of the match earlier on. Their fans and manger, Mr Wenger, were very nervous that another opportunity was about
to slip through their fingers.

There was so much nail biting and anxious moment by the fans. It seem like their players knew what the fans were going through, coupled with the fact that they may not like that, Jose Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, called Arsene Wenger, 'a specialist in failure' because he has not win any trophy for the past nine years.

So the players kept on pushing harder, with a resolved resilience for an equalizer as Hull City resorted to mass defence to maintain their 2 - 1 lead, but 20 minutes to stoppage time, Arsenal's persistence yielded the much needed equalizer, through central defender Laurent Koscielny. The scoreline stood 2 - 2 at full time.

The match went into 30 minutes extra time and it stayed at 2 - 2, until 11 minutes to stoppage time when Aaron Ramsey scored the winning goal.
Read also: africanfootie.blogspot.com The long wait without trophy was over. The fans were happy with the trophy and the fourth place Champions League qualification.

Man City Clinches the EPL Title

Manchester City has just clinched the English Premier League (EPL) title, on this last day of the football season, after beating West Ham United 2 - 0 at home, which created an eruption of euphoric celebration, at the Etihad Stadium.

This is their second Premier League title, in the last three season. The goals were scored by Samir Nasri at the 39th minute, and the captain of the team Vincent Kompany, scored the second goal in the 49th minute of the encounter.

Manuel Pellegrini men knew that they needed a draw to win the trophy, but a win would be more preferable, because nobody will then say they won it on goal difference to Liverpool. Read also: africanfootie.blogspot.com

Man City's Coach Pellegrini and Captain Kompany

Before today's matches, Man City was on top of the league table with 83 points, and Liverpool was on second position with 81 points.

Had it been that Man City lost their match, and Liverpool wins theirs, then Liverpool could've been the champions.

Liverpool won Newcastle United today at home 2 - 1, but unfortunately for them, Manchester City also won their match.

Liverpool could've ended their 24 years of not winning the Premier League title today, had it been that Man City lost to West Ham United.

The Citizens (Man City) ended the season with 86 points on top of the table,
followed by Liverpool in the second position with 84 points.

Chelsea finished third with 82 points while Arsenal finished fourth with 79 points. Read also: africanfootie.blogspot.com

Three teams from the Premier League were relegated today to the Championship. They are Norwich City, Fulham and Cardiff City.

'' I would Love The Job,'' Says Louis van Gaal

The Dutch national football coach Louis van Gaal, who has been touted as the favourite manager to replace David Moyes, the Manchester United manager who was sacked last month, said that he would like to have the job.

''I would love the job. I hope that I shall be the one. It's the biggest club in the world and it's a fantastic challenge,'' he said.

He said that he will like to coach the club, and that the media were also speculating that he is the man, who has got the job of managing '' the biggest club in the world,'' but the important thing is what the management of the club thinks. So it is a question of wait and see, what will happen.

Louis van Gaal

''You have to wait and see what the club decides. It's always a process and you have to wait for the process. The press are always too fast.''

As aforementioned in this article, Mr van Gaal is the coach of Holland, he will be taking the team to the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil, starting June 12 to July 13. After the tournament his contract with KNVB will end. He will then be free to join any club he likes.

So he is focusing his attention now on the World Cup, which eluded him during his first term with the team, when he failed to qualify his country to the 2002 World Cup.

''I have to focus on my job,'' he said. '' I am the coach of the national team.''

''I have waited a long time to be in a World Cup, so that's very important.''

''This doesn't affect me. I have always had offers. I know what the football world is and what it means,'' he added.

Louis van Gaal is a very successful coach, and has won titles in all the clubs that he has coached, His achievements in club football are there to be seen.

Honours:
He won won three league titles with Ajax, one Champions League, one Uefa Cup and one Uefa Super Cup.

Barcelona: Two league titles, Copa del Ray and Uefa Super Cup.
AZ Alkmaar: One Dutch league titel.
Bayern Munich: One league title and one DFB Pokal cup.

Read also: africanfootie.blogspot.com