Nigerian Sports Fiesta

Hatem Ben Arfa will finally return to the Newcastle side almost a year after suffering a double leg break against Manchester City. Ben Arfa enjoyed a fine start to life in the Premier League after arriving on loan from Marseille, scoring a superb goal in a 2-1 win at Everton. But a poor tackle from Nigel de Jong ended his season after just four Premier League appearances. Despite the injury, the Magpies chose to make his transfer permanent in January for a fee in the region of £10 million. The 24-year-old suffered a setback in his bid to return for the start of the new season when carried off in a game against Sporting Kansas City on the club's pre-season tour of the United States. Now he will pull on the black and white shirt on Wednesday night as Newcastle travel to struggling Championship side Nottingham Forest in the Carling Cup. Manager Alan Pardew , who has not had the chance to select the player after taking over from Chris Hughton, said: "He will bring a creati...

Didier Drogba is set to make his return to the Chelsea line-up for Wednesday's Carling Cup clash against Fulham after spending three weeks on the sidelines with a head injury. Drogba has missed recent action for his club following a nasty collision with Norwich City goalkeeper John Ruddy . The striker is likely to partner Romelu Lukaku up-front in a new-look Chelsea side, with manager Andre Villas-Boas stating his desire to adopt a new strategy in blooding young players. "It is a different approach," Villas-Boas said. "We want to win the most amount of trophies possible, but we have taken this approach to the League Cup to promote the youngsters. We have enough good players to try to win the trophy and we will try to give opportunities to players that have been used less. It's good for us that Fulham is the challenge because it's a Premier League team, so it gives us an idea of where we are and where we stand regarding the young players that we are t...

Former Nigeria International, Idah Peterside wants Vincent Enyeama dropped as Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper. Enyeama has endured an unhappy start to the season as he has yet to play competitively for the La Championnat side, Lille OSC Metropole. Mickael Landreau has consistently kept the Nigeria number one out all season with strong performances in La Championnat and the UEFA Champions’ League. Idaa who played in goal for Nigeria between 1997 and 1998 believes Super Eagles Coach, Samson Siasia would be making a smart decision if he drops Enyeama as the team’s first choice keeper. “Before Lille bought Enyeama, they knew his capabilities but if the other keeper is doing well, what can you do? “However the truth is that, if he (Enyeama) is not playing, it will affect his position in the national team. “And the truth is, if you are not playing in your club, you don’t play for the country,” Idaa went on to voice his sentiments on who he would select to start in goal for the Super...

African football legend, Abedi Ayew ´´Pelé´´ has been chosen as one of three football legends for this year´s prestigious Golden Foot award. The Golden Foot award is an international football award, given to players who stand out for their athletic achievements (both as individuals and team players) and for their personality. Abedi will leave his footprints on the Champions Promenade in Monte Carlo next October 10. Ten nominees are chosen by a panel of international journalists based on the criteria that they are at least 29 years of age and still playing. Out of this list, the winner is selected by an online poll, where anyone can vote. The winner of the award leaves a permanent mould of his footprints on "The Champions Promenade", on the seafront of the Principality of Monaco. Abedi will be remembered as one of the greatest footballers of all times. The former Ghana star was one of the best during the first part of the ´90s, when he also won the 1993 Champions League wi...

The Confederation of African Football President Issa Hayatou has been appointed as Chairman of the International Olympics Committee of Football Tournaments and Fifa Goal Bureau. The appointment from Fifa was confirmed by Caf in press statement and this will see him lead the body tasked with the organisation of football tournament at the Olympic Games. The next Olympics will be in London next year and this will be an acid test for the African soccer chief. He will also chair the Fifa Goal Bureau, which approves and supervises the Goal Programme that enables beneficiary member associations to implement projects designed to develop football in their countries. The Caf President was also Chairman of the Organising Committee for the first ever Fifa World Cup on African soil, South Africa 2010. He is also serving as a member of the IOC and also Vice Chairman of the Union of African Sports Confederations.

24TH SEPT Arsenal v Bolton Wanderers (kick off 15.00) Referee: M Clatternburg. Assistants: S Beck, S Child Fourth Official: A D' Urso Match Delegate: G Mackrell PGMO: W J Norbury Chelsea v Swansea City (kick off 15.00) Referee: M Dean. Assistants: C Breakspear, W Smallwood Fourth Official: M Oliver Match delegate: N Cusack PGMO: R Gifford Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers (kick off 15.00) Referee: K Friend. Assistants: S Bennett, S Burt Fourth Official: L Mason Match Delegate: D Smith PGMO: I Blanchard Manchester City v Everton (kick off 12.45) Referee: H Webb. Assistants: D Bond, D Cann Fourth Official: A Marriner Match Delegate: T Dolan PGMO: R Hart Newcastle United v Blackburn Rovers (kick off 15.00) Referee: M Atkinson. Assistants: P Kirkup, A Newbold Fourth Official: K A Woolmer Match Delegate: L Ashurst PGMO: D Laws Stoke City v Manchester United (kick off 17.30) Referee: P Walton. Assistants: M Mullarkey, D C Richards Fourth Official: C Foy Match Delegate: I Onuorah PGMO: ...

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas is interested in Everton youngster Ross Barkley midfielder and wants Roman Abramovich to back a big-money move for the 17-year-old in the January transfer window. The Portuguese boss has reportedly shown a great interest in the 17-year-old, with the club apparently ready to table a £20 million in the January transfer window. The midfielder, who turns 18 in December, has represented England at under-16 level before moving up to the under-17 side in 2009, and is rated as one of best youngsters in the country. The west London club made an approach for him in the summer, but Everton boss David Moyes requested that Chelsea stay away. However, they are seemingly set to make a bid in January and are prepared to offer serious money in an attempt to lure Barkley to Stamford Bridge. Everton will be reluctant to sell their starlet, who earned positive reviews for an energetic display in the 1-0 defeat to QPR in August which caught the eye of Chelsea s...