Category: Football

The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be the 21st FIFA World Cup, a quadrennial international football tournament contested by the men’s national teams of the member associations of FIFA.

It is scheduled to take place in Russia from 14 June to 15 July 2018, after the country was awarded the hosting rights on 2 December 2010.

The Anticipation for the Worlds most prestigious tournament is soon to be short-lived. A global event, in its 21st edition, guides us to Eastern Europe, where in the Summer of 2018, all eyes will be on Russia.

32 countries. 64 matches. 12 Venues. 11 Cities.

This will be the first World Cup held in Europe since the 2006 tournament in Germany, and the first ever to be held in Eastern Europe. All of the stadium venues are in European Russia, to keep travel time manageable.

The final tournament will involve 32 national teams, which include 31 teams determined through qualifying competitions and the automatically qualified host team.

Of the 32 teams, 20 will be making back-to-back appearances following the last tournament in 2014, including defending champions Germany, while Iceland and Panama will both be making their first appearances at a FIFA World Cup.

A total of 64 matches will be played in 12 venues located in 11 cities. The final will take place on 15 July at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

The winners of the World Cup will qualify for the 2021 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Teams

Africa (5)
Egypt
Morocco
Nigeria
Senegal
Tunisia

Asia (5)
Australia
Iran
Japan
Korea Republic
Saudi Arabia

Europe (14)
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
England
France
Germany
Iceland
Poland
Portugal
Russia
Serbia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland

North, Central America and Caribbean (3)
Costa Rica
Mexico
Panama

South America(5)
Argentina
Brazil
Colombia
Peru
Uruguay

First Timers

Euro 2016 Cinderella and fan favorite Iceland, will be making its first appearance in a World Cup. “Our Boys” stole the spotlight in The Euro 2016 competition, much imputed to their followers and their representation as a whole in that tournament. It’s reported that 10% of …

Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, has called up team captain Mikel Obi, midfielder Ogenyi Onazi and Victor Moses in a 28-man squad for the Poland and Serbia friendly matches. Gernot Rohr Newsmen report that the friendly matches are in preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup to be hosted by Russia.

Home-based goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, who stood between the sticks for the very crucial last four 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying games, leads the goalkeeping section.

He will be joined by Spain-based Francis Uzoho and South Africa-based Daniel Akpeyi. Former junior international Kenneth Omeruo is also back among the defenders, as well as Joel Obi among the midfielders. Eagles’ Team B regulars such as defender Stephen Eze and forward Gabriel Okechukwu were also handed opportunities.

Russia-based Brian Idowu, who scored against Argentina on his debut in a friendly in Krasnodar in November, has also got another call-up. Junior Ajayi of Egyptian side Al Ahly, who earned an Olympic bronze in Brazil in 2016, also made the list.

Nigeria will trade tackles with Poland at the 43,000-capacity Stadium Wroclaw on March 23. Four days later, the Eagles will take to the pitch against Serbia at The Hive in London, the home ground of Barnet FC and London Bees.

The matches are the first two in a list of six friendly games planned for the Super Eagles by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) ahead of the World Cup in Russia.

THE FULL LIST Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC) and Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa).

Defenders: Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (Ado Den Haag, The Netherlands); Olaoluwa Aina (Hull City, England); Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge KSV, Belgium) and Brian Idowu (Amkar Perm, Russia). Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); William Ekong (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey) and Stephen Eze (Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Bulgaria).

Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Tianjin Teda, China); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas, Spain); John …

FIFA World Cup winner Christian Karembeu has tipped the Super Eagles to be one of the standout teams at the 21st FIFA World Cup finals taking place in Russia this summer.

President Muhammadu Buhari receiving the FIFA/Cocacola World Cup Trophy from FIFA Representative, Christian Kerenbeu during a reception at the Presidential Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja.

Photo by Abayomi Adeshida 07/03/2018 The Les Bleus legend, a member of France’s 1998 World Cup –winning squad, made this assertion at a world press conference held in Abuja yesterday to welcome the original World Cup trophy to Nigeria. He is the FIFA Representative accompanying sport world’s most recognizable diadem on the fourth Coca-Cola FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour.

“Yes, we know there are a number of strong African countries in the game but Nigeria has always been a great footballing nation, and they have an exciting team heading to the FIFA World Cup in Russia. I have played alongside and against so many Nigerian players and I can attest to their strength and ambition. I believe the present Super Eagles squad is capable of great things,” said Karembeu, as he congratulated the President of NFF, Mr. Amaju Pinnick on the Super Eagles’ berth in Russia 2018.…

Man City have sealed their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals with a 5-2 aggregate score, despite losing 2-1 to Basel in the second leg.

Pep Guardiola’s side held a 4-0 advantage from the first tie in Switzerland three weeks ago, and it took Gabriel Jesus just seven minutes to open the scoring as he made his first start since New Year’s Day.

But 10 minutes later, Mohamed Elyounoussi equalised for Basel on the night before Michael Lang added the second in the 71st minute.

It ended a run of 12 successive Champions League wins at the Etihad Stadium for City, although they will still be in next Friday’s quarter-final draw thanks to the aggregate victory.…

Tottenham were knocked out of the Champions League after Juventus scored twice in three minutes to win the second leg of their last-16 clash 2-1 at Wembley and secure a 4-3 aggregate victory.

Heung-min Son’s 39th-minute opener looked to have put Spurs on track for the quarter-finals.

But, having created little in the first hour of the match and looking to be on the ropes, Juve stunned the hosts with a quickfire double from Gonzalo Higuain (64) and Paulo Dybala (67).

Harry Kane came agonisingly close to a late equaliser but saw his header roll along the goal-line after hitting the post.

As Juventus celebrated wildly at the final whistle, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino headed straight down the tunnel, having seen his side blow a golden chance to make the last eight for the first time since 2010/11.

B’mouth vs Tottenham
March 11, 2018, 3:30pm

Unlike in Turin, where Juventus scored twice in the opening 10 minutes, this time it was Spurs who made the fast start, as they set a pace that the visitors struggled to cope with in the first half.

Son forced Gianluigi Buffon into an early save with a shot across goal before Kane rounded the Juventus goalkeeper but could only hit the side-netting from a tight angle.

Juventus were rightly aggrieved in the 17th minute when they were not awarded a penalty after Jan Vertonghen slid in and caught Douglas Costa from behind.

Gonzalo Higuain equalises at Wembley
Gonzalo Higuain equalises at Wembley
However, that was a rare positive moment for the visitors, as Buffon punched away a header from Son and Dele Alli and Kane also had shots before the deadlock was broken in the 39th minute.

Alli was denied by a sliding challenge as he was set to pull the trigger but the ball broke for Kieran Trippier to square for Son to finish with a scuffed effort.

Miralem Pjanic almost replied quickly with a shot that went narrowly wide, but otherwise Juventus offered little, with Spurs continuing to look the dominant side …