Category: Sports

Benfica head coach, Jose Mourinho, has claimed he could say no to Real Madrid president, Florentino Perez, if asked to return as manager.

Mourinho welcomes the LaLiga giants on Tuesday, for a Champions League play-off round clash on Tuesday.

The second leg will be played at the Santiago Bernabeu next week.

Mourinho, who coached Madrid between 2010 and 2013, has a clause in his Benfica contract, which would allow him leave.

The 63-year-old led his side to a 4-2 victory over Madrid in the league phase of the Champions League in January.

“Can you say no? Yes,” Mourinho told reporters when asked if he could reject an approach from the Madrid.

“Yes you can.

“I gave everything to Real Madrid, everything that I had, I did good things, I did bad things, but I gave absolutely everything and that’s all.”

UCL: I can say no – Mourinho speaks on returning to Real Madrid as manager

Plateau United technical adviser, Gbenga Ogunbote, has described the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, Matchday 26 defeat to El-Kanemi Warriors as unfortunate.

The Peace Boys fell 1-0 to El-Kanemi Warriors in Maiduguri on Sunday, ending Plateau United’s six-game unbeaten run in the league.

Ogunbote attributed the defeat to a loss of concentration.

He assured that the team will return to winning ways in the future.

“It was an unfortunate situation as we thought we were going to go away with a point,” Ogunbote told Plateau United’s media team.

“Toward the end of the game, we lost due to a lapse in concentration, which cost us the goal, but nevertheless, we will still go back to winning ways.”

NPFL: Plateau United’s defeat to El-Kanemi unfortunate – Ogunbote

The draw for the fifth round of the FA Cup has been conducted on Monday evening.

The pick of the ties will see Newcastle United host Manchester City. Both teams faced off in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, with Pep Guardiola’s men qualifying for the final.

Arsenal travel to Manfield Yown, while Wolves host Liverpool.

The ties will be played on the weekend of March 7/8.

FA CUP FIFTH ROUND DRAW

Fulham vs Southampton

Port Vale/Bristol City vs Sunderland

Newcastle vs Manchester City

Leeds United vs Norwich City

Mansfield Town vs Arsenal

Wolves vs Liverpool

Wrexham vs Chelsea

West Ham vs Macclesfield/Brentford

FA Cup fifth round draw confirmed [Full fixtures]

Nigeria defender Olisa Ndah is expected to seal a move to South African club Stellenbosch FC before the end the week.

Ndah left Orlando Pirates last month after requesting for his contract to be terminated.

His representatives recently denied he has an agreement with a club in Libya.

The centre-back has been training with Stellenbosch since last week.

According to Soccerladuma, Ndah is in the final stages of his assessment under head coach Gavin Hunt.

He is expected to sign a contract in the next coming days.

Transfer: Super Eagles defender set for Stellenbosch FC move

Benfica manager, Jose Mourinho, has revealed how his team will approach their UEFA Champions League playoff first leg tie against Real Madrid on Tuesday night.

In his pre-match press conference, Mourinho said Benfica will tackle the game with intelligence, ambition and self-assurance.

The Portuguese, however, noted that Real Madrid, having faced recent setbacks, are a ‘wounded’ opponent.

“I say there is no definitive result. We will play the first leg with our heads, ambition, and confidence,” Mourinho said.

“We know what we did to the kings of the Champions League. They are wounded. And a wounded king is dangerous.”

Benfica secured a 4-2 victory over Real Madrid in the group stage.

The outcome of the two-legged play-off will determine which team advances to the Champions League last-16.

UCL: They’re wounded – Mourinho reveals how Benfica will approach Real Madrid

Victor Osimhen will be looking to make history by becoming Galatasaray’s highest goal scorer in a single UEFA Champions League campaign when the Yellow and Reds take on Juventus in their playoff tie.

Osimhen has scored six goals in six outings in the competition for Okan Buruk’s side this season.

The Nigeria international is two goals behind Burak Yilmaz, who holds the record with eight goals from nine games during the 2012/13 season.

The 27-year-old has also registered nine goals in 16 league outings this term.

Galatasaray will host Juventus in the first leg at the RAMs Park on Tuesday.

The reverse fixture is slated for Turin next week Wednesday.

UCL: Osimhen targets Galatasaray goal record

Wikki Tourists interim coach, Bashir Saleh, has blamed loss of concentration for his team’s defeat to Rangers.

The Bauchi Elephants lost by 2-0 to the Flying Antelopes in a matchday 26 encounter at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Sunday.

Wisdom Ebirim and Godwin Obaje’s strike was enough to give Rangers the maximum points in the game.

Wikki Tourists struggled to maintain composure in the opening half, allowing Rangers to seize the advantage with two clinical finishes.

Saleh said the team will get better with the lessons learnt from the game.

“We started well at kickoff but quickly lost concentration, which gave Rangers the advantage,” Saleh reacted in a post-match interview.

“It’s a lesson we are taking home for correction ahead of our next home game.”

NPFL: Wikki Tourists must move on from defeat to Rangers – Saleh

Former Manchester United midfielder, Owen Hargreaves, has given reasons Arsenal could win four trophies this season.

The Gunners are vying for glory across four competitions: the Premier League, Champions League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup.

Currently leading the English Premier League, EPL, table by four points over Manchester City, Mikel Arteta’s side has also progressed to the FA Cup Round of 16 stage after their win against Wigan Athletic on Sunday.

Arsenal have also reached the Carabao Cup final and are in the Champions League last-16 stage.

“Arsenal could win four trophies. They have built a brilliant team, so they’ve the depth, and they’ve the squad,” Hargreaves stated on TNT Sports.

“They have an opportunity to create something special. They’re the favourites in the Premier League, they were the best team in the Champions League [league phase].”

Owen Hargreaves gives reasons Arsenal could win four trophies this season

Shooting Stars technical adviser, Nurudeen Aweroro has commended his players for returning to winning ways in the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL.

The Oluyole Warriors defeated Warri Wolves 4-2 to put an end to their two-game winless streak in the NPFL.

Stephen Amos, Sodiq Ibrahim, Lucky Emmanuel and Desmond Ojietefian were on target for Shooting Stars, while Peter Ita and Othuke Egbo netted for Warri Wolves.

Aweroro said the players showed enough determination in the game.

“It wasn’t easy for us to go without a win in our previous two fixtures that’s why we resolved in ensuring to do our best to end the barren run,” Aweroro told 3SCfanstv.

“We really worked tirelessly in readiness for the game, the players played to instructions despite the goals conceded in the game.”

Shooting Stars moved up to seventh position on the league table with 38 points.

NPFL: Aweroro relieved as Shooting Stars end barren run

Umar Sadiq has thumbed up Valencia’s impressive away win over Levante, DAILY POST reports.

Carlos Corberán’s side claimed a 2-0 victory over their hosts at the Ciutat de València stadium on Sunday night.

It was the first time Valencia will beat their local rivals home and away in the same season.

Largie Ramazani opened scoring for Los Che in the 63rd minute .

Sadiq sealed the win with a sublime finish six minutes from time.

It was the Nigeria international’s first league goal in 10 months.

Valencia moved to 14th position on the table following the win.

Sadiq reflected on the important victory after the game.

“Yes, it was really important. We know the strength of the group, having a complete squad, and that’s what will give us the strength to keep growing,”the striker was quoted by Eldesmarque.

LaLiga: Sadiq lauds Valencia’s win over Levante