Roger Federer defeats Stan Wawrinka to win fifth Indian Wells title

Two months after winning the Australian Open, 35-year-old Roger Federer beat compatriot Stan Wawrinka 6-4 7-5 to become the oldest champion in the tournament's history, overtaking Jimmy Connors who was 31 when he won in 1984.


The Indian Wells is considered by many professionals to be the biggest tournament outside the majors and Federer said he had defied even his own expectations.


In his words,
'for me, the dream run continues. I'm not as surprised as I was in Australia, but still this comes as a big, big surprise to me, nevertheless, to win here again and beating the players that I did and the way I did. I couldn't be more happy. It's an absolutely huge start to the year for me. Last year I didn't win any titles. I don't think I was in any finals except Brisbane. The change is dramatic, and it feels great.'

RONALDO SETS RECORD AS HE SCORES AN HATTRICK HELPING REAL MADRID WIN FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP

Cristiano Ronaldo on Sunday set a new record as he became the first

player ever to score a hat-trick in a FIFA Club World Cup final match.
Ronaldo fired a hat trick as Real Madrid came from behind before securing an extra time comeback win in the final match of the FIFA Club World Cup. .

It almost went bad for the 11-time UEFA Champions League winners as Gaku Shibasaki cancelled out Karim Benzema’s opener and put the Japanese side in front as they headed for an unlikely upset.

But Ronaldo stepped up and netted a hat-trick, his 40th Real Madrid hat-trick, in remarkable fashion to secure a 4-2 win and the Club World Cup for the Zinedine Zidane tutored side. .

Ronaldo has had a remarkable week – won Ballon D’Or on Monday, scored his 500th club goal on Thursday and won the Golden Ball of the World Club Cup with a record hat-trick in the final. .

It has equally been an outstanding year as the Portuguese won the Champions League, European Championship and Ballon d’Or in 2016 and ended the year with yet more glory now with FIFA Club World Cup.

Lewis Hamilton reacts to Nico Rosberg's Shock retirement from Formula One

British Sportsman, Lewis Hamilton, who lost his previously held formula one title to his childhood friend and Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg on Sunday, has reacted to the German's shock retirement from the game , just days after winning his very first title.
Speaking in Vienna, where Rosberg was handed the champion's trophy during a gala dinner on Friday night, Hamilton said:

'I was not surprised. But that's because I've known him for a long time. 'This is the first time he has won in our rivalry in 18 years, hence why I am not shocked. But it will be strange not having him there in the team next year.'

Hamilton said he doesn't care who Mercedes will announce as his partner for next season :

"It doesn't matter who they put alongside me. I'll race them. I'm here to race. The focus is on next year and hoping for a better season."He has a family he wants to focus on and F1 takes so much from you. never needed a team-mate to be able to push me," he said.

"The better the driver, the better it is for me when I finish ahead of them.
"You need someone with good values coming in and representing the team in a positive way, good work ethic and consistency, obviously, so we can those win constructors' championships. "So, in terms of challenging for constructors' titles, which is obviously the team's first goal, we need to make sure we have someone equally as consistent as what we had before."

NIGERIA’S SUPER FALCONS STRIKER ASISAT OSHOALA POSES WITH THE AFRICA WOMEN CUP OF NATIONS TROPHY AND HER TROPHY FOR BEING THE HIGHEST GOAL SCORER

She captioned it:

superzeee; All I do is WIN …..win no matter what!!!  #TopScorer #Champion #ProudMoment

'I want Vincent Enyeama back, he's the kind of player we need - Gernot Rohr reveals

New Super Eagles technical adviser Gernot Rohr has revealed that he wants former Super Eagles goalkeeper and current Lille Osc goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama back with the national team.


Enyeama, 34, unceremoniously called time on his Super Eagles career on October 8, 2015 after a feud with former coach, Sunday Oliseh that eventually led to his captaincy being taken away from him and given to Ahmed Musa.


But Rohr, while speaking to journalists during his maiden pre-match press conference at Le Meridien hotel, Uyo said he knows Enyeama's quality having seen him shine for Lille in the last two seasons and wants him back in the squad.
“I asked about Enyeama when I signed because I know his qualities,” Rohr told media ahead of Tanzania’s game. I also spoke with the goalkeepers’ coach Alloy Agu and he spoke highly of him. I’ve called and spoken with Enyeama since my resumption but nothing is settled yet. I will see him after the Tanzania game because I saw him play in France and he’s the kind of player we need to help us move forward.”

Rio 2016: Star player Oghenekaro Etebo picks up injury as Colombia outclass Nigeria with 2-0 win

Colombia defeated Nigeria 2-0 in Sao Paulo on Wednesday night/Thursday morning to reach the quarter–finals of the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Rio 2016, but the result didn't matter much to Samson Siasia's men who already had booked a place in the quarter-final prior to kick off.



In just four minutes into the match, Captain of the Colombian team, Teofilo Gutierrez netted the first goal following a haphazard and unmethodical play by the Nigerian side.


Pabon scored for the South Americans in the 62nd minute to gain all three points for the South American nation who have now finished second on five points behind Nigeria on six.
Nigeria had to play with ten men for the last eight minutes of the game as the highest goalscorer of the dream team Oghenekaro Etebo picked up an injury.

Nigeria will play the second placed team in Group A in Salvador in the quarter–finals, while the Colombians will play Group A’s best team in Sao Paulo.

Rio Olympics: Umar Sadiq scores to ensure Nigeria qualify for quarterfinals after beating Sweden 1-0

It only took a goal from Umar Sadiq in the 40th minute to ensure Nigeria's Olympic football team at Rio 2016 qualified for the quarter-final stage of the competition in a Group B match at the Arena Amazonia on Monday morning..



Samson Siasia started with the same starting eleven that played the match against Japan but Umar Aminu had to start from the bench.

Nigeria passed the ball with a lot of confidence and swagger in the opening exchanges of the keenly contested battle and fans were surprised that they couldn't score so early on in the game.



Umar Sadiq was denied by the goalkeeper after he broke free, Oghenekaro Etebo followed up from the rebound shot but the goal didn’t arrive after nine minutes.



Despite Nigeria's heavy presence on the ball and dictatorship of play, they didn't pose much of a goal threat and were almost pegged back when Mikael Ishak fired at goal from a long ball which exposed the Nigeria defence but goalkeeper Emmanuel saved the ball.



Highest goalscorer Etebo was denied time and time again by goalkeeper Andreas Linde but Umar Sadiq gave Nigerians the much needed joy when Umar headed the ball into the net from Stanley Amuzie’s left footed cross past goalkeeper goalkeeper Linde.





Mikel Obi, who had a wonderful performance as a number 10 had a rocketing shot saved by goalkeeper Linde. Sweden tried to pile the pressure towards the end of the match and almost got an equalizer in the 90th minute, but Siasia's men held on for the win which will send them to the quarterfinal of the

Euro 2016 last 16 draw: See who plays who in the next round

With shocks aplenty in the group stages, the draw for the knockout stages is somewhat lopsided with England, Germany, Spain, Italy and hosts France all with similar routes to the final.
Iceland, Hungary, Switzerland and Poland are just some of the teams bidding to make their mark on a major tournament for the first time in many years.

Read the full schedule and fixtures for the next round and quarter finals after the cut.

1. Poland vs Switzerland - Saturday June 25, 2pm, Saint-Etienne

2. Wales vs Northern Ireland- Saturday June 25, 5pm, Paris

3. Croatia vs Portugal- Saturday June 25, 8pm, Lens

4. France vs Republic of Ireland- Sunday June 26, 2pm, Lyon

5. Germany vs Slovakia- Sunday June 26, 5pm, Lille

6. Hungary vs Belgium- Sunday June 26, 8pm, Toulouse

7. Italy vs Spain- Monday June 27, 5pm, Saint-Denis

8. England vs Iceland- Monday June 27, 8pm, Nice

Euro 2016 quarter-finals

1. Switzerland/Poland vs Croatia/Portugal- Thursday June 30, 8pm, Marseille

2. Wales/Northern Ireland vs Hungary/Belgium- Friday July 1, 8pm, Lille

3. Germany/Slovakia vs Italy/Spain- Saturday July 2, 8pm, Bordeaux

4. France/Republic of Ireland vs England/Iceland- Sunday July 3, 8pm, Saint-Denis

Singer Simi Visits The Ooni Of Ife (Photo)

Simi shared the photo on her Instagram and said:-

“Your gift will make way for you before Kings…” #OoniOfIfe

Man U shares photo of José Mourinho holding the club's jersey as they confirm he's the new manager

Former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho has officially been confirmed as the new Manchester United coach by the club this morning. He has signed a 3year deal worth £45m and is immediately tasked with winning the premier league. Announcing the appointment on Manutd.com, Man U Executive vice chairman Ed Woodward said:



"José is quite simply the best manager in the game today. He has won trophies and inspired players in countries across Europe and, of course, he knows the Premier League very well, having won three titles here. I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome him to Manchester United. His track record of success is ideal to take the club forward."Speaking about his new appointment, José Mourinho said:

"To become Manchester United manager is a special honour in the game. It is a club known and admired throughout the world. There is a mystique and a romance about it which no other club can match. I have always felt an affinity with Old Trafford; it has hosted some important memories for me in my career and I have always enjoyed a rapport with the United fans. I’m looking forward to being their manager and enjoying their magnificent support in the coming years."

Man U sacks Louis Van Gaal, to appoint Jose Mourinho in coming days

The club officially announced the news this afternoon after private meetings between club Chief Executive Ed Woodward and Louis Van Gaal and both parties agreed that he had to go after missing out on the season's target of Champions League qualification, despite winning the FA Cup on Saturday.




Albert Stuivenberg, Franz Hoek, Max Reckers and other Dutch members of his backroom team have also been dismissed with Jose Mourinho and his own backroom team set to assume duties this week.



Van Gaal arrived at Carrington training complex at around 8.45am this morning with his entire coaching staff present as they learned of their fate.


Mourinho expects to have more talks on Tuesday ahead of signing a three-year deal with his long-term assistant Rui Faria and goalkeeping coach Silvino Louro expected to follow.


Ryan Giggs' future at United is up in the air despite Mourinho's wish to keep the Welshman at the club.


Executive vice chairman Ed Woodward said on the club's official website manutd.com : "I would like to thank Louis and his staff for their excellent work in the past two years culminating in winning a record-equalling 12th FA Cup for the club (and securing him a title in four different countries). He has behaved with great professionalism and dignity throughout his time here. He leaves us with a legacy of having given several young players the confidence to show their ability on the highest stage. Everyone at the club wishes him all the best in the future.

Chelsea FC congratulates Mikel Obi on his emergence as new Super Eagles captain

Congrats to Mikel

Egypt arrive Nigeria today as coach Samson Siasia insists 'I don't fear them'

The Pharaohs of Egypt will fly direct into Kaduna on Wednesday from Cairo, two days before the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Nigeria on Friday, March 25, according to a report by ThisDay.

The first of the two Group G fixtures between the Nigeria and Egypt will take place at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on Friday.



Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) sources revealed Monday that the Egyptians have already informed the Glass House in Abuja that they will be flying in aboard their national carrier, Egypt Air.

Egypt possesses European football stars like Mohamed Salah of AS Roma, Arsenal's Mohamed Elneny, Mahmoud Trezeguet of Anderlecht, Ahmed Hassan Kouka of Sporting Braga Portugal but Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia believes his players have what it takes to defeat the Pharaohs on Friday.

"Trust me, there will be no sentiment in selecting the team against Egypt on Friday. We have about seven training sessions for every player to show their readiness to play the game. I have invited them based on their current form in their clubs, now is the time for them to show Nigerians that what we see them do in Europe is real," Siasia told Completesportsnigeria.com
"I am thrilled by their various club performance and if they reproduce such forms here in Nigeria colour, I see no reason why Egypt will not be beaten soundly on Friday. The job demands total commitment from every player and official and with God on our side, we shall triumph over the two legs." "The response of players to camp, I must say was encouraging and it gives me the confidence that we are going to have a very good game on Friday. We don't fear Egypt. In fact, they should fear us because we won't give them any breathing space in Kaduna and Alexandria,

Samson Siasia & Amodu Shuaibu front-runners for Super Eagles job as NFF technical committee meet today

The NFF Technical Committee will meet today in Abuja to discuss an immediate replacement for Sunday Oliseh after the Delta born coach tendered his resignation in the early hours of Friday morning.

The coach who as at yesterday told Nigerians he was working hard and scouting players to ensure Nigeria beat Egypt in the double header AFCON qualifiers next month, shocked Nigerians by going on Twitter to tender his resignation citing 'unfavourable working conditions' and 'contract violations' as reasons for quitting the job.

In his letter sent to the NFF General secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, and dated February 25, 2016, he said.

“Your contractual violations and the interest of the nation necessitates that I tender my resignation and recourse to the termination of our working agreement,”Former Super Eagles coach and technical director Shuaibu Amodu and Olympic team coach Samson Siasia have been reportedly penciled as temporary replacements to take over for the must win match against Egypt next month.

Siasia posted a short stint as Eagles coach between 2010 and 2011. He was fired after he failed to qualify the country to the 2012 AFCON in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea while Amodu has twice helped Nigeria qualify for the World Cup in 2002 and 2014.

How my Arsenal spell opened doors for African talents - Kanu Nwankwo

Kanu Nwankwo says his success at Arsenal 'opened the doors' for more Africa
n footballers to play in the Premier League. Today Thursday, February 18,
 marks the 17th anniversary of Kanu signing for the club, and the
39-year-old has fond memories of his time in north London.

The former Nigeria striker joined the Gunners in 1999 and went on to score
 44 goals in 198 appearances, helping the Gunners lift two Premier League
trophies and two FA Cups during his five years at the club.




"I believe I was the first African person who came to England and did very
 well," he told Arsenal Player. "After that the doors opened for African talent
so, with Arsenal behind me and what we did with Arsenal, everybody now tends

 to follow the English league.

"When I came over I saw a good coach who saw the best in me. I was a
 good player because he made it easier for me to play.

"Everybody believes that English football is all about playing the ball up, not
 keeping it on the ground, but Arsène has his own idea of football and it made
it easier for us. He wanted us to play football the right way, he wanted us to
enjoy it by passing the ball around and that’s what we did
"It was very easy to adjust when you saw the fans. The supporters are behind
and they love you and what you are doing and that means you have to do more.
If you keep doing more, they keep loving you and it was very easy for them to
adopt me.

"I had the skills and the tricks the fans really love. When I left Arsenal I still had
 the fans on my mind and since then I’ve been supporting the club."

Credit: The Arsenal Football Club

Chelsea releases statement on John Terry, suggests contract situation could change

On Sunday, John Terry announced to the media that he would be leaving Chelsea at the end of the season. Terry’s contract is up at Stamford Bridge come the end of 2015/2016 season and the Chelsea captain announced that he would not be receiving a new one from the club, which surprised Chelsea fans. But reports coming from Chelsea Football Club indicate they never at anytime made it clear to him he won't be receiving a new contract. They only told him that nothing is on the table at the moment. So maybe Terry made his emotional statement on Sunday with the hope that Chelsea will give him a new contract after the club is castigated by fans. See Chelsea’s statement

Crystal Palace sign footballer Emmanuel Adebayor on 6-month deal

Crystal Palace football club of England signed Togolese footballer Emmanuel Adebayor on a free transfer yesterday Jan. 26th. The former Real Madrid, Man City, Arsenal and Tottenham striker had been a free agent ever since he and Tottenham parted ways last year.

Crystal Palace signed him on an initial six month deal with the option of an extra year if the player does well.






The club will pay him £70,000 per week while Tottenham will be paying him £30,000 till his contract with Tottenham ends this June.



Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish took to his Instagram page to welcome his new addition and posted a picture of the duo and Pardew.


He said: 'Real pleasure to welcome @e_adebayor to #cpfc

SPORT:Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge sparks fears latest injury IS serious as medics struggle to diagnose issue

Daniel Sturridge is becoming a major concern for Liverpool after the striker suffered an unusual reaction to his latest knee injury.

Initially the knock was supposed to be a minor one – but the club’s medics are considering their options because identifying the problem is proving a tricky one.

Sturridge was ruled out of last week’s opening game of Jurgen Klopp’s reign at White Hart Lane after picking up a problem in the build-up to the clash against Tottenham.

He has no chance of involvement in this afternoon’s game against Southampton.

y

What a crock: Sturridge has a history of injury problems

The usual procedure is to send the player for a scan. However, the swelling has not subsided.

This has increased fears that the England striker may be suffering from something more serious, writes Neil Moxley in the Sunday People.

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Sturridge, who signed a lengthy deal when Brendan Rodgers was in charge the Anfield club, was the subject of frustration during Klopp’s pre-match press conference on Friday.

The club’s new boss answered truthfully: “I don’t know,” when quizzed about the forward’s state of fitness.

However, it appears that on this occasion the Anfield ace may need further recuperation before the full extent of his injury can be confirmed.

In pictures - Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Rubin Kazan: