I’m not the player I was -Messi

Barcelona star Lionel Messi admits he is a very different player to the one who burst on to the scene a decade ago.

The four-time Ballon d’Or winner has reached 300 games in La Liga for the Camp Nou club and has earned 95 caps for Argentina, despite still being only 27.

Having enjoyed a largely injury-free start to his senior career, the forward has struggled in the past 18 months with some muscular problems and he concedes he must now manage his body differently.

Speaking at a sponsor’s event, he said: “I am not 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21 years old any more, when your body doesn’t feel the strain.

“You get older and you feel it. Now I make more of an effort to look after myself at half-time and be careful about what I eat.

“I have changed a lot since I first started out. I’m more mature and I have learned things both on and off the pitch. Some of the old Messi is still here, but not much.”

Messi’s future was shrouded in doubt at the turn of the year but the forward is adamant he is now happy once more with life at Camp Nou.

“I feel fine,” he added. “I’m happy with the way things are going.

“I want to keep helping this team. Last year was not a good one for us. There were too many problems on and off the pitch. But I hope all that changes this year.

Eaglets battle Guinea for World Cup ticket

The Golden Eaglets will engage Guinea in a tough Group A encounter at the 11th African Junior Championship holding in Niger as both teams seek to secure a World Cup berth.

Both teams won their respective first games and a victory today at the 30,000 capacity Stade Général Seyni Kountché (SGSK) will mean a semi-final berth and a ticket to the 2015 U-17 World Cup in Chile.

The Guineans will seek to avenge their twin loss to their Nigerian counterparts on the road to the last championship in Morocco following a 3-0 and 4-0 win in Calabar and Conakry respectively.

“I don’t want you to have the erroneous belief that we are the world champions as most commentators always say,” Coach Emmanuel Amuneke said as he warned his wards against complacence ahead of the crucial encounter.

“Nigeria are the world champions at this level but we have to create our own history by winning something; the past is gone.” Amuneke said.

The former international was an assistant coach the last time in Morocco, has every reason to be wary after the Golden Eaglets stumbled and lost 1-0 to Cote d’Ivoire in their second game despite a 6-1 massacre of Ghana earlier.

“We are not getting carried away after the victory against Niger because we know Guinea can be tricky after watching them against Zambia,” Amuneke said.

“We came here with one objective: to qualify for the World Cup in Chile and after that we can begin to talk about other things. You can see that if you allow them, they can play but if you follow our instructions, we will all have reason to celebrate after the game.”

Meanwhile, Samuel Chukwueze is hoping to be among the goals for Nigeria in their game against Guinea.

Chukwueze, who has scored a cumulative 13 goals in 37 matches, including a beauty in the 4-0 win over Congo Democratic Republic in the qualifiers, missed out on the first game against Niger on Sunday after a freak injury but has since returned to full fitness.

“It was hard to sit on the bench watching others play against Niger on Sunday because I wanted to showcase what I have but what was most important was the victory,” said Chukwueze who adores Dutch star, Arjen Robben.

“I’m very fine and ready to go,” said the self-assured lad. “I’m ready to mark and push the attack more if I’m fielded and by the grace of God, we shall win the match against Guinea on Wednesday.

Keep winning, Kanu tells Eaglets

Former Nigeria international Nwankwo Kanu has congratulated the Golden Eaglets for winning their opening match at the Africa Under-17 Championship against hosts Niger, urging them to put in their best in order to win the tournament.

Goals scored by Victor Osimhen in the 19th minute and Kelechi Nwakali in the 33th minute gave the Eaglets a 2-0 victory over the Niger Under-17 team 2-0 at the General Seyni Kountche Stadium in Niamey on Sunday.

Kanu, who was prominent in the Nigerian team that won the Japan 1993 FIFA Under-17 World Cup, also congratulated the team’s coach, Emmanuel Amuneke.

“Congratulations our Golden Eaglets. Congrats Amuneke and your crew. Congrats boys, keep it going and make sure you keep winning,” the two-time African Footballer of the Year, tweeted on Sunday.

Coach Amuneke said they would not take anything for granted despite their victory over the hosts on Sunday as the team resumed intensive training on Monday in preparation for their next match against Guinea on Wednesday.

The Eaglets, who were drawn in Group A, will also face Zambia on Sunday.

Flying Eagles, Ghana U20 match postponed to Monday

The Flying Eagles’ friendly match against Ghana U20 initially slated for today will now hold on Monday at the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra.

Both teams are preparing for the 2015 African Youth Championship that will take place in Senegal in March.

The second match initially slated for Wednesday has also been shifted to Thursday, February 19, and would be played at the Tema Astroturf Stadium.

A top official of Ghana Football Federation attached to the Nigerian team made comprehensive explanations to that effect.

“Ohene Djan Stadium will host a Caf Champions League game next weekend and so the place won’t be available for the second friendly match between the Satellites and the Flying Eagles.

“Also some of the matches in Senegal for the Africa Youth Championship will also be played in stadiums with Astroturf pitches. So it will be good to play one of the two friendlies on Astroturf pitch to prepare the two teams for such situations”, the official explained.

The Nigerian team is expected to train at the Accra Sports Stadium today in readiness for Monday’s first friendly match.

Abdulrahman tasks Afonja Warriors

 

Tunde Abdurahman, the newly appointed head coach of Kwara United, has said discipline and hard work will be the watchword throughout his reign.

The former Wikki Tourists coach met with the players for the first time on Thursday at their training ground in llorin.

Abdulrahman said any player who will not work on the path of discipline and hard work may as well seek greener pastures elsewhere as laziness will not be tolerated.

“You will enjoy working with me but you need to be disciplined and hard working.

“I am a goal-getter and my ambition here in Kwara United is not different from the past even as I plan to achieve more here.

“If you ask anyone who had worked with me in the past they will tell you there are no rooms for laziness.

“I want to seek your cooperation to take this club to a greater height together,” said Abdulrahman to the players.

The Kwara state government on Monday approved the appointment of the former Wikki Tourists’ gaffer as the head coach of Afonja Warriors.

Other members of the technical crew include Babatunde Sanni as the chief coach, former Nigeria international Jimoh Balogun as assistant coach while Kareem Elemosho joined the side as goalkeeper trainer.

Mustapha Ganiyu was appointed as a trainer for the newly promoted llorin-based side.

Kwara United are joined to the Nigerian top flight campaign by Wikki Tourists, 3SC and Gabros FC.

Afcon 2015: Andre Ayew Explains Tears

Black Stars vice captain and 2015 Afcon top scorer Andre Ayew told reporters upon the team’s arrival in Accra on Monday.

“The feeling of losing a second Afcon final got me very emotional and I couldn’t control it. It was really difficult for me to take.

“I thought we just deserved the trophy. We played well and put in a lot of effort,” the pain of a second loss after Sunday’s encounter against Cote d’Ivoire was too much all Ghanaians especially the players who put in more than 100%!….“It was very difficult to accept the loss, but that is football. We are hoping that we win it next time,” Asamoah Gyan

Many including the Minister of Youth and Sports Mahama Ayariga, Cote d’Ivoire coach Herve Renard, his junior brother Jordan Ayew tried in vain to console the talismanic midfielder.

Cote d’Ivoire  beat Ghana under the same circumstances in 1992 when his father Abedi Pele was captain of the Black Stars “When again are we going to come this close? It is very unfortunate.

Am sure Ghana will take home the Afcon cup next time.

AFCON 2015: Massive Welcome for Black Stars__11/02/2015_GHANA

Cavani back on target in PSG Cup win

 

 Urugayan striker Edinson Cavani's first goal in five games helped Paris Saint Germain to a 2-0 win over Nantes on Wednesday and a place in the French Cup quarterfinals.

Cavani, criticised for a poor performance in front of goal for the two-time defending champions against league leaders Lyon in Sunday's 1-1 draw, struck in the 19th minute with French international midfielder Yohan Cabaye adding a second in the 34th minute.

Cavani, who PSG coach Laurent Blanc had said needed to be helped to get him back on form again, headed home after he ran on to David Luiz' freekick.

The hosts went into cruise mode 15 minutes later when, after a poor punch by Nantes 'keeper Maxime Dupe, the ball fell to Yohan Cabaye.

Cabaye needed no second invitation with the goalkeeper on the ground and fired into the net.

Holders Guingamp came within seconds of an embarrassing defeat to fourth-tier Yzeure.

However, Christophe Mandanne saved their honour with an equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time to take it into extra time.

Mandanne then popped up to add a second in the 97th minute and Jeremy Pied, who had been instrumental in the build-up to the second goal, added a third three minutes later.

For Yzeure it was the second time in as many seasons they had let a 1-0 lead slip against Ligue 1 opponents, having led Lyon 1-0 in the round of 32 last term only to lose by the same 3-1 scoreline.

Monaco bounced back from two defeats, bowing out in the League Cup semifinals to Bastia last week and then a 1-0 defeat by Guingamp in the league last weekend, with a confortable 3-1 win over Ligue 1 rivals Rennes.

Despite being affected by injuries to several key players, Monaco never looked in trouble from the moment young debutant Almamy Toure put them ahead with a header in the 10th minute – Brazilian Wallace added a second a minute later to leave the visitors reeling.

Pedro Henrique reduced the deficit with just over 10 minutes to go to halftime but the hosts restored their two goal advantage through a penalty by another of their youngsters, 19-year-old Anthony Martial, and held on with ease.

Monaco's Portuguese coach Leonardo Jardim shrugged off the part played by the youngsters.

"It is normal the young players score because that is what our team is, young," said Jardim.

However, Jardim said that Toure's performance could well have gained the 18-year-old Malian defender a place in the side to play Arsenal in their Champions League last 16 clash next month, which pits the Ligue 1 side against one of their former managers, Arsene Wenger.

"It was his first start as a professional and he had a difficult task in trying to stop Paul-Georges Ntep from playing.

"He is an answer for both Ligue 1 and the Champions League."

Blues sink Everton, Aguero fires City

 

A late Willian strike snatched a 1-0 home win for Chelsea over a stubborn Everton side to maintain their seven-point lead over Manchester City who won 4-1 at Stoke City in the Premier League on Wednesday.

Chelsea were frustrated before Willian struck from 20 metres in the 89th minute to break the resistance of Everton whose midfielder Gareth Barry had been sent off just before the goal.

City kept pace with the leaders as striker Sergio Aguero scored twice, his first goals in over two months, to help the champions to their first league win in five matches at mid-table Stoke, who briefly made it 1-1 through Peter Crouch.

England midfielder James Milner and Samir Nasri also struck for City.

An unlikely brace from substitute defender Chris Smalling and a late Robin van Persie penalty lifted Manchester United to an unconvincing 3-1 home win over struggling Burnley who had equalised through Danny Ings.

United leapfrogged Arsenal and Southampton into third in the table after the latter drew 0-0 at home to West Ham United, who had goalkeeper Adrian sent off.

Egyptian league suspended indefinitely

The Egyptian council of ministers has decided to put on hold the league season to an unnamed date, supersport.com can report.

At least 22 people have been officially confirmed dead following clashes between the supporters of Zamalek and Egyptian police in Cairo before a Premier League match on Sunday.

The Egyptian Football Association has decided to play the rest of the league season behind closed doors but the council of ministers after its meeting on Sunday night ordered the suspension of the league till further notice.

"We held a meeting with the Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb and Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim and recommended to the EFA to put the league on hold and we will decide when the league will start again," the Egyptian council of ministers spokesman Hossam Qawish said.

"We send our condolence to the families of the victims and promise to open investigation into the accident."

In 2012, at least 74 persons were killed when violence broke out in Port Said following a league game between Al Masry and Al Ahly. The incident led to the Egyptian top flight being suspended for more than one year.

In that same year, the Egyptian FA offices were also burned down by angry fans protesting the decision of the football body to resume league matches when the offenders of the Port Said incident had not been brought to book.

Egypt FA bars fans from league games

 

The Egyptian Football Association has announced that it has taken the decision to close the stadium to the fans for the rest of 2014/15 league season.

The decision comes in the wake of the death of 22 people before the Zamalek and ENPPI match due to clashes between Zamalek fans and policemen.

The Egyptian football governing body allowed fans to attend matches starting from the second round of the Egyptian league last week after months of behind-closed door matches due to the violence that led to the death of at least 74 people, mostly Al Ahly fans, in Port Said in 2012.

After an extraordinary meeting held on Sunday night, the Egypt FA decided that all league matches be played behind closed doors for the rest of this season.

"We held a meeting and decided no more fans in the Egyptian competitions after the sad events," EFA board member Mahmoud Al Shami said.

The Egypt FA is still awaiting a decision from the country's government on the latest football violence that has claimed 22 lives.

Man City cannot afford any more slip-ups

 

Manchester City's chances of winning the Premier League title for the third time in four seasons will almost certainly end if they lose at Stoke City and Chelsea beat Everton on Wednesday.

The gap between the leaders and the champions widened to seven points on Saturday when Chelsea won 2-1 at Aston Villa and City drew at home with Hull City, needing a stoppage-time free kick from James Milner to grab a point from a 1-1 draw.

With 14 matches to play, Chelsea have 56 points and City 49, followed by Southampton on 45, Manchester United on 44 and Tottenham Hotspur on 43.

Spurs are at Liverpool on Tuesday while Southampton host West Ham United and Manchester United face Burnley at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Southampton and Spurs maintained their challenges for Champions League football by winning on Saturday, with Saints needing a stoppage-time goal from Sadio Mane to beat Queens Park Rangers 1-0. Two goals from Harry Kane gave Spurs a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in a thrilling north London derby.

United also scored in stoppage time, Dutchman Daley Blind emulating Milner by salvaging a late point for his team in a 1-1 draw.

"We can't really afford too many more slip-ups if any. Chelsea have a big lead now, but we know, more than anyone, you have to keep going to the death and anything can happen," Milner told reporters.

"But I think we have got to be pretty much faultless between now and he end of the season to get close."

Stoke stunned City when they won 1-0 at the Etihad in August and although the last four league matches between the two at the Britannia have been drawn, City must win and hope Chelsea slip up to stay in the title hunt.

Arsenal will be hoping to bounce back from their loss at Spurs with a win over bottom-placed Leicester City who will have Nigel Pearson in charge despite widespread speculation he had been sacked as manager on Sunday.

Leicester have not won at Arsenal for nearly 42 years and been beaten there on their last seven league visits.

Managerless QPR, one place and two points above Leicester, will be seeking to avoid a 12th successive away league defeat at Sunderland, while Alan Pardew, who left Newcastle United six weeks ago, will be looking to continue Crystal Palace's revival when his old team visit Selhurst Park on Wednesday.

Liverpool confident they can cope with Kane

 

Liverpool's Martin Skrtel is relying on the Reds’ defensive improvement to help them nullify the attacking threat of Tottenham Hotspur when the two rivals for a top four place meet at Anfield on Tuesday.

Tottenham head to Merseyside on the back of a 2-1 North London derby win over Arsenal which lifted them to fifth place in the Premier League table.

In-form striker Harry Kane scored twice to take his season's total to 22 goals as Spurs extended their advantage over Liverpool, who are seventh, to four points in the race for a Champions League place.

Liverpool were held to a goalless draw in their own derby last weekend as they took only a point from a visit to Everton.

But Brendan Rodgers' side, who've lost just one of their last 14 games, kept a fourth successive clean sheet in the league to underline their recent form at the back.

And central defender Skrtel is looking for more of the same as Liverpool look to repeat their victory at Tottenham last August to enhance their prospects of Champions League qualification.

"We have changed the system to a back three and it is working for us," said the Slovakian international.

"We are defending much better. It suits us. I hope we can carry on this way in the future.

"I'm happy for the team because we have improved our defending. There was a lot of criticism. Since New Year, we have only conceded one goal from open play – that's great and I'm happy about that."

Skrtel described Tottenham's visit to Anfield as a "big game", with Liverpool facing little margin for error as they continue to recover from a poor start to the season which saw them win just four of their first 12 league games.

He added: "Tottenham are a few points in front of us. It's going to be a big game.

"I believe and hope we can beat them and get three points. But every single game is important for us.

"We'll go game by game, try to get as many points as we can and try to finish in the top four."

SPURS ON THE UP

Liverpool will be without midfielder Lucas Leiva after he suffered the recurrence of an abductor muscle strain in Saturday's game at Everton, where 19-year-old winger Jordon Ibe impressed on only his second league start.

Ibe hopes to have done enough to stay in the side to face Tottenham and help Liverpool finish in the top four after returning from a loan spell at Championship side Derby County.

Meanwhile, Kane is enjoying an unforgettable season and his performance against Arsenal prompted more calls for the forward to be fast-tracked into Roy Hodgson's England squad.

The 21-year-old's form has strengthened Tottenham's belief they can force their way into the top four, although goalkeeper Hugo Lloris said credit for Spurs' recent progress should be shared throughout Mauricio Pochettino's side.

"We've worked hard since the beginning of the season and we feel that we are improving individually and collectively, which is very important," said the France international after the victory over Arsenal.

"We must remember we are only talking about one game. There are a lot of games until the end of the season so we need to be focused and calm.

"It was a great feeling after the (Arsenal) game to share the joy with all our fans and I think we can be proud of our performance.

"Now we have to think about the next game at Liverpool, which is coming really quickly."

Kane keen to build on derby success

 Tottenham Hotspur hero Harry Kane wants his side to carry on from where left off against bitter rivals Arsenal when they face Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old was the star turn as he scored two goals in Tottenham's come-from-behind win over Arsenal in last weekend's North London derby at White Hart Lane.

Now fifth-placed Spurs are a point and a place in front of Arsenal, one of their rivals for a top four spot – and the Champions League football that goes with it – along with Liverpool, currently seventh.

Yet not since 1995 have Spurs finished above perennial Champions League qualifiers Arsenal.

"If we finish above Arsenal, of course we've got a great chance of finishing in the top four because Arsenal have been up there for so many years now," said Kane.

"You'd like to think if you're above Arsenal then you'd be in the top four but the Premier League is a strange league sometimes and you never know what's going to happen. We've got to focus and do what we can do."

Kane is the English top-flight's leading scorer with 22 goals in all competitions, including an impressive run of 11 in his last 14 matches.

"He is doing well, scoring goals and we have to look after him," Liverpool central defender Martin Skrtel said of Kane.

"But it is not only him, Tottenham are doing well as a team. They are playing much better than they played before so we have to be ready for them."

- Arsenal response -

Saturday's goalless draw in the Merseyside derby represented Liverpool's fourth successive match without conceding and Skrtel added: "We are happy for our clean sheets because from the beginning of the season there was a lot of criticism of the defending."

Arsenal, who had won five successive matches before losing to Spurs, have the seemingly ideal chance to bounce straight back when they face bottom-of-the-table Leicester at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

However, Gunners manager Arsene Wenger insisted the Foxes would be no push-overs.

"We play at home against Leicester, a team who fight not to go down," said Wenger. "We have to recover from the disappointment and be ready to respond very quickly."

Leicester, who lost 1-0 at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday, were forced to issue a statement late Sunday insisting Nigel Pearson was still their manager following a report he had been sacked.

Meanwhile relegation-threatened QPR, still without a permanent manager following Harry Redknapp's resignation last week, will go in search of their first away league win of the season against Sunderland.

Chelsea could find themselves 10 points clear at the top of the table come fulltime on Wednesday if they win at home to Everton and second-placed Manchester City, the defending champions, lose away to Stoke.

As if to emphasise their goal threat, it was right-back Branislav Ivanovic who scored Chelsea's winner against Aston Villa and Blues manager Jose Mourinho said: "He is a competitive animal. A big heart.

"A team is an artist like (Eden) Hazard, it is a defender like Branislav. The mix and combination of talent makes a team."

Meanwhile City manager Manuel Pellegrini insisted his side's recent slump could not be blamed on the absence of key midfielder Yaya Toure, who helped the Ivory Coast win the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.

City, who drew 1-1 with lowly Hull last weekend, have now gone four games without a league win while Toure has been on international duty.

"You can't have any doubt how important Yaya Toure is for us," said Pellegrini. "But we feel that every game without Yaya we could win.

"It is not just about one player."

Wednesday also sees third-placed Southampton at home to West Ham and Manchester United, currently fourth, welcome Burnley to Old Trafford.

Van Gaal defends United's 'long-ball' tactics

 

Manchester United's under-performing forwards forced manager Louis van Gaal into adopting long-ball tactics, the Dutchman said after his side snatched a 1-1 draw at West Ham.

United started with Radamel Falcao, Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Angel di Maria and Adnan Januzaj at Upton Park on Sunday, but it took a stoppage-time volley from Daley Blind to earn the visitors a point after Cheikhou Kouyate had given West Ham a deserved 49th-minute lead.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said United's strategy was "thump it forward and see what happens", and Van Gaal admitted that the introduction of gangly Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini as a 72nd-minute substitute had heralded a change of tack.

"I've done that already a lot of times with Fellaini, so that is not new," said Van Gaal, who lost Luke Shaw to a late red card after the United left-back received a second booking for a lunge at Stewart Downing.

"West Ham United should know that. But with him we have more power. With Adnan and Di Maria, we have more creative players.

"And that's why the second ball, you cannot always win with these players, but you have to win (it). Otherwise I have to line up always players like Fellaini."

Van Gaal claimed that United's failure to win the second ball had been their major failing, but the visitors also looked bereft of ideas when they did have possession.

Falcao squandered a good opportunity when he stabbed wide with only Adrian to beat, but aside from a couple of saves to deny Van Persie, the West Ham goalkeeper was scarcely troubled until Blind struck in the 92nd minute.

The Dutch utility player's goal was his second last-gasp equaliser of the season, after another late strike at West Bromwich Albion in October.

But while it preserved a run of unbeaten away matches stretching back to November 2, the draw represented a missed opportunity for United, who could have closed to within three points of second-place Manchester City in the Premier League table.

TERRIFIC SKILL

Asked if his side had squandered a chance to put pressure on City, who drew 1-1 with Hull City on Saturday, Van Gaal replied: "Yes. I'm agreeing with that before the game.

"You know what it is. They have lost points, then you can make a gap with your competitors. Now you don't make this gap, so it is a missed chance."

While United will expect to return to winning ways at home to struggling Burnley on Wednesday, West Ham face a trip to Southampton, who held on to third place thanks to Sunday's result at Upton Park.

West Ham will also face Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal before the middle of March, but Allardyce said his players could take heart from their display against United.

"It's not the result we deserved or wanted, but we're back to a level we know we can play at, which has been difficult to get to over that Christmas/New Year period with injuries, the African Nations Cup and so on," he told his post-match press conference.

Allardyce said that striker Andy Carroll had a chance of facing Southampton after missing Sunday's game with an ankle problem.

Injuries to James Collins and Winston Reid saw midfielder Kouyate pressed into action at centre-back and Allardyce was full of praise for the Senegal international's performance, which he crowned with a delightful goal that saw him juggle the ball twice before volleying home.

"We know he played there for Anderlecht and Senegal, but what we didn't now was, can he play with the right tactical awareness and discipline you need as a central defender in the Premier League? And of course he proved he could," Allardyce said.

"The icing on the cake was the quality of his goal. In such a tight area, to flick it round and volley it in was a terrific piece of skill and at that time it was nothing more than we deserved."

AFCON 2015 Winners To Earn US 1.5 million…

The 16 finalists of this year’s AFCON in Equatorial Guinea will share a total of 10 million dollars with the eventual champions on February 8 in Bata earning $1.5 million.

According to a special CAF media guide for Equatorial 2015, beaten finalists will cash in a million dollars with the other two semi-finalists carting home $750,000 each.

A further breakdown of the prize will see quarterfinalists each guaranteed $600,000.

The third-placed teams in each of the first round groups will pocket $500,000 while the bottom teams get $400,000 each.

Nigeria won the 2013 AFCON in South Africa after they pipped fellow West Africans Burkina Faso 1-0 in the final.

Ivory Coast win the Africa Cup of Nations on penalties

Congratulations! Les Elephants of Ivory Coast has won the 2015 African Cup Of Nations! Ivory Coast defeated Ghana 9-8 in a penalty shootout at the end of a dramatic evening in Bata.  Goalkeeper Boubacar Barry saved them from loosing after a very tough game! 

Both teams played extremely well!

Ivory Coast’s won the Africa Cup of Nations  in 1992, when they also played Ghana in the final and beat them on penalties. This must be heartbreaking for the Ghana Black stars because they are very good players as well…

What an awesome game!

Bayern's Boateng suspended until Donetsk clash

Berlin - Germany defender Jerome Boateng has been banned for three Bundesliga matches, ruling him out of action until Bayern Munich's Champions League last 16, first-leg clash at Shakhtar Donetsk

The 26-year-old was shown a straight red card for fouling Schalke's Sidney Sam in the 17th-minute of Bayern's 1-1 home draw at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.

The sport court of the German Football Association (DFB) took a dim view of his challenge and found him guilty of unsporting conduct.

Bayern have 24 hours to request a hearing to appeal the decision which means Boateng is suspended for their forthcoming league matches at VfB Stuttgart, Hamburg and Paderborn.

The centre-back will next be available for Bayern's Champions League clash on February 17 against Donetsk, which has been moved to Lviv due to the political situation in Ukraine.

AFCON2015: GHANA DEFEATS EQUATORIAL ‪GUINEA‬

Angry Equatorial ‪Guinea‬ fans delayed African semi between Ghana and Equatorial ‪Guinea‬, they rained bottles on Ghana‬ians after Ghana defeated them. The game had to be stopped whilst officials decided whether to continue or abandoned the game… What an AWFUL, AWFUL, AWFUL thing to do Equatorial Guinea raining bottles on Ghanaians because they were winning. .. Equatorial Guinea fans were waiting outside to attack the Ghanaians, they had to be escorted by police…. Very Shameful…!

Asamoah Gyan couldn’t play today, due to an injury. Gyan suffered an abdominal injury after Naby Yattara the Guinean goalkeeper stamped him in stoppage time of the quarter-finals between the two sides last week.

Ghana line-up today:

Razak Brimah, Harrison Afful, Baba Rahman, Jonathan Mensah, John Boye, Mubarak Wakaso, Afriyie Acquah, Andre Ayew, Christian Atsu, Jordan Ayew, Kwesi Appiah

FT: Ghana‬ 3 - 0 Equatorial ‪ Guinea‬.

Well done Ghana!

Equatorial ‪Guinea‬ Rains Bottles on Ghana‬ians After Ghana Scored 3

Equatorial ‪Guinea‬ Rains Bottles on Ghana‬ians After Ghana Scored 3

Everton will be glad to see the back of Gerrard - Rodgers

London - Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will follow his 700th club appearance with his final outing in a Merseyside derby on Saturday and manager Brendan Rodgers says Everton will be glad to see the back of him.

Gerrard became the third player in the club's history to reach the 700-game mark, behind Ian Callaghan (857) and Jamie Carragher (737), in Liverpool's last gasp 2-1 win at Bolton Wanderers in an FA Cup fourth round replay on Wednesday.

It was another in a long line of remarkable achievements for the midfielder who joined the club as an eight-year-old schoolboy and went on to become the heartbeat of the team for more than a decade.

Though Gerrard has never won a league title, he has guaranteed his place in the Anfield club's folklore alongside the likes of Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness and Ian Rush by helping the side win a Champions League, two FA Cups and three League Cups.

The midfielder has always enjoyed making a big impact against fierce local rivals Everton, scoring in the 1-1 draw between the sides at Anfield in September and orchestrating many victories during frenetic derby battles since making his debut in 1998.

Asked if the Everton fans will be happy to bid farewell to the 34-year-old on his final visit to Goodison Park on Saturday ahead of his move to LA Galaxy in July, Rodgers replied: "I'm sure they will.

"He has been incredible for the club and been outstanding in so many derby games. He'll want to win, like he does every time," the Northern Irish manager told a news conference on Thursday.

"How will he deal with the emotion of it being his last? Like he has all the others by being focused on the team getting a result."

Liverpool go into the derby in fine form, unbeaten in seven league matches and having won their previous three.

They are seventh in the table and four points adrift of the top four and a Champions League qualification place.

Rodgers says his side could welcome back Mario Balotelli and defender Dejan Lovren from injury, while fit-again Daniel Sturridge has a chance to make his first Liverpool start since August in what the manager expects to be a special game.

"Derby games are very exciting," Rodgers explained. "They are wonderful games to be involved in, full of emotion and they go so fast."