Suarez set for Chiellini, Evra reunion

Luis Suarez

The Champions League final between Barcelona and Juventus on June 6 in Berlin will see the controversial Luis Suarez come up against two old enemies, AFP reports.

The Barcelona and Uruguay striker will be in direct opposition to Giorgio Chiellini and Patrice Evra in the Juve defence as the clubs battle it out to win the greatest prize in European club football.

Suarez was banned from football for four months after biting Italy’s Chiellini during the World Cup in Brazil last year, meaning he was unable to make his debut for Barcelona until the end of October following his summer move from Liverpool.

His controversial spell with Liverpool included being found guilty by an FA panel of racially abusing Evra during a match at Anfield in 2011 when the French defender was at Manchester United.

Suarez was later handed an eight-match ban and fined £40,000 ($63,000) but then refused to shake hands with Evra when they met again at Old Trafford later that season.-

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Falcons not listed in best goal award Falcons not listed in best goal award

Super Falcons celebrating after a victory at the 2011 African Women’s Championship in South Africa

No goal by Super Falcons made it to the final 15 goals nominated for the award of the best goal in the 24-year history of the FIFA Women World Cup.

However, two of the 15 nominated goals were conceded by the Nigeria female national team against Brazil and USA at the 1999 World Cup in the US.

The goals, scored by Sissi of Brazil and Cindy Parlow stand the chance of winning the award of the best goal so far in the history of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Falcons scored eight goals at that 1999 World Cup. Nkiru Okosieme scored three, Mercy Akide scored two, while Nkechi Egbe, Prisca Emeafu and Rita Nwadike got one each.

The 15 nominated goals were chosen form 625 goals scored so far in the history of the Women’s World Cup. The goals were scored by players like Marta of Brazil, Jin Pyol Hui of Korea, Hege Riise of Norway, Janni Johansen of Sweden, Alberta Sackey of Ghana and Abby Wambach of USA.

Fans are expected to cast their votes for their favourite goal on FIFA.com between May 11 and June 5, the eve of the kick off the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup billed to hold in Canada.

Copyright PUNCH.

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Manchester United want all Arsenal’s targets – Wenger

Arsene Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits he is fearful that Premier League rivals Manchester United will splash the cash on his potential targets this summer.

United, who have already announced the addition of PSV winger Memphis Depay for a fee of €27.5 million ahead of next season, spent heavily at the same stage last year, bringing in Angel Di Maria, Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind for a combined fee of close to €200m.

And Wenger believes Louis van Gaal’s side will adopt a similarly big-spending approach this time around.

“I expect Manchester United to be active in the transfer market,” he told reporters. “Every player I am offered, Man Utd are already on his case!”

Arsenal travel to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United on Sunday, with the Gunners two points ahead of the Red Devils in third place.

Van Gaal endured a difficult start to life at Old Trafford but has now all but secured United’s return to the Champions League, and Wenger believes the Dutchman will help the club attract big names in the coming months.

“He has shown that he has the personality to be at a club of that size. We expect them to buy some strong players.”

A win for the Gunners on Sunday will secure a top-three finish, therefore seeing them avoid the Champions League playoffs in August, and Wenger admits he is keen to seal an automatic spot.

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Barca Legend Xavi Has Becomes First Player To Appear 150 Times in Champions League-UCL

Barcelona’s Xavi Hernandez has become the first ever footballer to reach 150 Champions League appearances, after a cameo display against Bayern Munich on Tuesday. He is now ahead of Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas, who is currently on 149 appearances, but can level up if he plays against Juventus on Wednesday. The former Spain international replaced fellow midfielder Andres Iniesta in the second half, as Luis Enrique’s men lost 3-2 at the Allianz Arena. However, the Catalans are through to June’s final in Berlin, after they won the first leg 3-0 at the Nou Camp. Xavi has lifted the Champions League trophy three times and will have the chance to make it four next month

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Bayern, Barcelona Do-Or-Die Battle Tonight

There is no doubt that Bayern Munich need a performance of extraordinary measures if they are to overcome Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tonight.

Barcelona were 3-0 winners in the first leg last week, with a brace from Lionel Messi and late Neymar effort leaving the Spanish side as the strong favourites to make an eighth European Cup final.

Injuries have hit Bayern hard in the last couple of months and they will again be without a number of key players in Munich. David Alaba, Holger Badstuber, Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben are all still on the sidelines, but Robert Lewandowski is expected to play once again with a facial mask.

Mehdi Benatia, Xabi Alonso, Rafinha and Manuel Neuer all started the Augsburg match on the bench and should return, while Mario Gotze will be hoping for a spot in the XI.

•Bayern coach, Guardiola (left) and Barca Manager, Enrique go to war tonight in Munich

Notwithstanding this tough duel, David Olatokunbo Alaba is optimistic that the German champions can overturn a 3 – 0 first leg defeat.

The Austria international sat out the tie at the Camp Nou, and will miss tomorrow’s game at Allianz-Arena even though he has resumed light training with the Bavarians.

“In the second leg, we’ll win 4-0 and I hope I’m fit to play the final in Berlin,” said David Alaba.

Josep Guardiola, Bayern coach is very positive going into the match, he said: “We are happy we are in the semi-finals. We are 3-0 down and we are up against the best team of the last 15 years. We have to defend well first and foremost and then see how the game goes. You never know what might happen – for 77 minutes it was 0-0 in Barcelona.”

Thomas Muller believes Munich can make a statement to the footballing world by surmounting their three-goal deficit to beat Barcelona, saying “I wouldn’t say that we need a miracle. Since we left the Camp Nou we have wanted to make up for it.

“If we go through, it will be a statement which the football world didn’t expect. Whether or not that could be classed as a miracle is up to you, but in football, many things are possible.

“That’s why there’s still hope and we still believe in ourselves. We’re in a similar position to when we were sat here two weeks ago. We can’t expect things to go like they did against Porto, but that’s what we need.”

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NFF Boss, Pinnick, Back after Surgery in UK

,Amaju Pinnick

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, will return to the country tuesday after a four-week medical trip to the United Kingdom.

A domestic accident four years ago has compelled the Delta State-born administrator to undergo regular ear surgery and the recent exercise has been as successful as previous ones.

“I want to commend the 1st Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi, who has been acting in my stead, and other members of the NFF Executive Committee who have been working very hard, as well as the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, who has been brilliant as head of the secretariat.

“I also want to commend the media for its wonderful support for the NFF administration and Nigeria football generally. I have always said that we cannot do it alone, and the support of the media and other stakeholders has been very important to whatever we have achieved in the past seven months,” observed the NFF boss.

Pinnick’s passion and commitment to Nigeria football development meant that even while on medical visit, he maintained the tempo of meetings, consultations and development initiatives at a pace allowed by doctors’ advice.

“I am shocked that at this age and with the global awareness that sport plays a principal role in unity, co-operation and integration among nations, some persons could be wondering why I had to meet with the FIFA President and the Chairman of The Football Association.

“I had a very useful meeting with the FIFA President and another with the Chairman of The FA, Mr Greg Dyke. The key points from both meetings have been well -reported. I have said several times that Nigeria is a very important nation and can no longer afford to be a silent player in international football. Similarly, we have a lot to learn from England and co-operation between our two national associations is key to our capacity-enhancing programmes and desire to replicate the enviable football culture that obtains in England in our own country.”

Going to the home of FIFA in Zurich, Pinnick had to travel all the way and back to London by train as medical advice forbade air travel.
“I was told by doctors that I must not, under any circumstances, travel by air within four weeks after the operation. That would have been risking permanent damage to my ears. It is not like I didn’t want to return to the country all along.

“In any event, we are in an e-world and nothing has been left undone by my medical trip. I was not in the United Kingdom for jamboree. We are on auto-pilot with our vision and mission and I have absolutely no doubt that we are on the right path with all our plans to take Nigeria football to heights never attained before,” concludes Pinnick.   

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