Former Nigeria footballer Jonathan Akpoborie has blamed UNICEF for the scandal that has tainted his image, ruined his Maritime business and the eventual fallout with his then German Bundesliga club, Wolfsburg.

Akpoborie, made the revelation on Brila FM’s “No holds barred show” anchored by ex Super Eagles defender Ifeanyi Udeze on Monday.

It would be recalled that Akpoborie, ventured into the maritime industry during his playing days and together with his family, ran a shipping agency with two Nigerian-registered ships named MV Etireno and Xmas Day.

Jonathan Akpoborie, bought both ship from Denmark in 1998 and each of them worth more than $500,000 according to reports.

However things took a dramatic turn in April 2001 when the United Nations’ children’s agency said Akpoborie’s MV Etireno was used to move up to 250 child slaves from Benin to Gabon, an accusation the former goal poacher strongly denies till date.

Nigeria international Victor Osimhen was identified as a possible replacement for Luis Suarez at Spanish giants FC Barcelona.

This has been revealed by Roberto Calenda, who is a member of Osimhen’s management team, DW Sports Management.

Osimhen was linked with Barcelona before he joined top Italian club SSC Napoli from French side OSC Lille two months ago.

Barca are reportedly looking to sell Uruguayan superstar Suarez, who is one of the best strikers in the world.

Calenda explained that Napoli were more serious about signing Osimhen hence he joined the club ahead of the new 2020/21 Serie A season.

“I usually never talk about these things, out of respect for professionalism and the club. It is right that Napoli say things as they went, they are the main players,” Calenda said on Goal.

“I can say that it was a well-conducted negotiation by the parties, we started from a distance. The signing took place with constant communication and we were good at keeping track of it.

“[It was a] difficult operation, Tottenham and Liverpool wanted Osimhen until the end, even Barcelona initially wanted him instead of Suarez. Napoli, however, did everything. They wanted him and took him.”

Osimhen joined Napoli for a club-record fee of €70 million potentially rising to €80 million with add-ons.

The 21-yer-old marksman has netted four times in nine international matches for Nigeria.

New FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, has told the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick, about his intention to visit the country very soon.

Infantino held talks with Pinnick at the ongoing FIFA congress in Mexico on Friday.

The Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, disclosed this during a television programme on Friday.

Dikko said the FIFA supremo is happy with the development of soccer in Nigeria and most especially the partnership with La Liga.

“I want to let Nigerians know that the NFF president had a chat with Infantino during the ongoing FIFA Congress in Mexico and he praised the development of football in Nigeria and also commended the federation for attracting the La Liga to partner with our league,” Goal quoted the LMC chairman as saying during the TV programme.

“The FIFA president immediately told the NFF boss that he would like to come to Nigeria so that he can also see areas in which he could be of assistance to Nigerian football. He said he would come very soon.”

The FIFA Council today appointed Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura of Senegal as FIFA Secretary General (SG). Ms Samoura is a 21-year veteran of United Nations programmes who is currently the UN’s Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria. The announcement was made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the 66th FIFA Congress in Mexico City.

“Fatma is a woman with international experience and vision who has worked on some of the most challenging issues of our time,” President Infantino said. “She has a proven ability to build and lead teams, and improve the way organisations perform. Importantly for FIFA, she also understands that transparency and accountability are at the heart of any well-run and responsible organisation.”

As required under FIFA statutes, Ms Samoura will undergo an eligibility check administered by the independent Review Committee, per Article 37 of the FIFA Statutes. Ms Samoura will assume the role of FIFA Secretary General before mid-June.

President Infantino praised Ms Samoura’s integrity, and said the Council was particularly impressed with her operational experience, as well as her expertise in governance and working in multi-cultural environments. He said her expertise will complement the long-standing and deep knowledge of world football within the FIFA leadership team and administration.

“It is essential for FIFA to incorporate fresh perspectives – from outside the traditional pool of football executives – as we continue to restore and rebuild our organisation," President Infantino said. "No one exemplifies what we need more than Fatma does, and we are thrilled that she has joined our team.”

Since starting her UN career as a senior logistics officer with the World Food Programme in Rome in 1995, Ms Samoura has served as country representative or director in six countries: Republic of Djibouti, Cameroon, Chad, Guinea, Madagascar and Nigeria. She speaks French (her mother tongue), English, Spanish and Italian.

“Today is a wonderful day for me, and I am honoured to take on the role of FIFA’s Secretary General,” Ms Samoura said. “I believe this role is a perfect fit for my skills and experience – strategic, high impact team building in international settings – which I will use to help grow the game of football all over the world.

"I also look forward to bringing my experience in governance and compliance to bear on the important reform work that is already underway at FIFA. FIFA is taking a fresh approach to its work – and I am eager to play a role in making that approach as effective and lasting as possible.”

In her current UN role in Nigeria, Ms Samoura has wide-ranging responsibilities including budgeting, human resources, and procurement, among others. She coordinates the activities of approximately 2,000 staff members, and monitors and evaluates the security, political and socio-economic situation and trends in Africa’s most populous country.

Prior to joining the UN, Ms Samoura spent eight years in the private sector, working in the fertiliser trading sector for Senchim, a subsidiary of Industries Chimiques du Senegal. Her areas of responsibility included product export and import programmes, tenders, and the establishment of a national distribution network.

Ms Samoura earned her Masters Degree in English and Spanish at the University of Lyon; and a Post-Masters Degree in international relations/international trade from the Institut d’Etudes Supérieures Spécialisées (IECS)- Strasbourg-France.

Former Portsmouth, Tottenham and Queens Park Rangers manager, Harry Redknapp is in line to be named the next national team coach of Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles.

Redknapp has been approached to take over the national side full time.

A source close to the team revealed also he could be named as the next permanent manager within a few days.

The role is widely seen as the biggest job in African football.

Redknapp is largely untested at international level after narrowly missing out on the England job to Roy Hodgson.

The Super Eagles coaching marbles seems to have popped up another name as a potential candidate for the job.

Nigeria Football Federation chief, Amaju Pinnick has not hidden his desire to get a foreign coach for the team since Nigeria’s inability to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

Several coaches have been touted to replace interim coach Samson Siasia who was in charge for the two games against Egypt last month after Sunday Oliseh resigned from the post.

Former Nigeria coach Clemence Westerhof has already thrown his hat into the ring for the job and the latest in line is former Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth coach Harry Redknapp.

According to UK tabloid, The Sun, Redknapp is wanted by the Nigeria Federation to manage the Super Eagles.

The 69-year-old is currently in charge of the Jordanian national side but might be tempted with a move to Africa.

He is two games into his interim coaching capacity in Jordan. He led the side to beat Bangladesh 8-0 before losing 5-1 to Australia.

Nigeria has had three coaching changes in the past one year with Stephen Keshi, Sunday Oliseh, and Samson Siasia all seeing time with the Eagles.

The Super Eagles inability to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations means the side haven’t been to the biennial tournament since winning it in 2013 in South Africa

CSKA Moscow striker Aaron Samuel is the latest injury worry for Nigeria after he limped out of a tactical training session Thursday evening in Kaduna.

However, it is left to be seen if the big striker could shrug off this knock in time for the match against Egypt Friday evening.

Nigeria have already lost defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Leon Balogun to injuries leading to Friday’s AFCON qualifier against Egypt in Kaduna.

Reports in Germany say Balogun has resumed training for his club Mainz 05, but it still looks very much like he has missed out on both legs of the qualifiers.

The England international was also linked with a move to Chelsea earlier this season, and now ESPN are claiming that the Reds are interested in signing him.

Liverpool are expected to make a host of signings in the summer transfer window, as Jurgen Klopp is looking forward to overhauling his squad ahead of next season. According to the report, he has made Oxlade-Chamberlain a top priority signing and is ready to test Arsenal’s resolve of holding on to their player.

Chamberlain’s progress has been disrupted by a number of injuries since his £15 million transfer from Southampton in 2011, but Wenger still believes in his abilities and will not be eager to let him leave the club.

His current deal with the North London club will enter into its final two years in the summer, and the club are eager to tie him down to a new deal. The 22-year-old has made only nine league starts for the Gunners this season.

 Former Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh is to face sports committee of the country's House of Representatives to state his own side of his shock resignation, officials have disclosed.

Oliseh quit as Nigeria coach just a month to two crucial AFCON qualifiers against Egypt, citing lack of support from his employers, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), as well as several violations of the contract he signed in July 2015.

He will most certainly restate his very difficult working conditions while he was in charge of the Super Eagles.

NFF officials are unhappy with Oliseh's appearance before the country's law makers, saying it is a major distraction as they are preparing to face Egypt later this month.

The former Sunshine Stars midfielder recently penned a year and half deal with the finnish top division side, but has yet to feature for the club  due to the non issuance of the work permit.

A reliable source close to the player informed nigerias0ccernet.com that the work permit issue  has been resolved and the player will make his debut for the club anytime soon.

"Paul has been cleared to play for KUPS. He has been issued his work permit and he will make his debut in Finland very soon," the source revealed tonigeriasoccernet.com.

"He is eager to start playing  and get into the national team once again."

Onobi is the third Nigerian who recently joined KUPS following the capture of Azubuike Egwuekwe and Gbolahan Salami.

Watford striker, Odion Ighalo, has dispelled rumours he copped an injury in Sunday’s 2-1 FA Cup win against Arsenal and says he's looking forward to the crucial Super Eagles match with Egypt

The Nigerian international who ended his brief goal drought of six games with the opener in the encounter was replaced by Nordin Amrabat with eight minutes to full time.

Ighalo who has bagged 16 goals in all competitions for the Hornets this term is however confident about the chances of the Super Eagles in next weekend's 2017 AFCON clash against Egypt in Kaduna.

"We know what is at stake and we will not disappoint. We have to win to brighten our chances and personally, I believe  to qualify for the Nations Cup is top priority for us."                "It's not true that I was injured. I was taken off as a precautionary measure by the coach who didnt't want to risk anything.? There’s nothing to be worried about as I'm fit,” Ighalo

A survey ran by Spanish newspaper AS found that 79 percent of Los Blancos supporters want the Costa Rican international to remain as the club's No. 1 ahead of former transfer target David De Gea.

The Spaniard has been on top form for Manchester Unitedonce again this season and was impressive on Thursday night despite the 2-0 UEFA Europa League defeat at Liverpool.

However, Navas has arguably been even better, keeping eight straight clean sheets in the Champions League and conceding just 0.88 goals per game in La Liga, per AS.

That form has clearly influenced the supporters at the Santiago Bernabeu, and it's Navas who now has their backing.

Striker Diego Costa is a doubt with a hip injury, while playmaker Eden Hazard is carrying a hip and groin problem but should be fit to feature.

Alexandre Pato could make his long-awaited debut, but defender Kurt Zouma (knee) is out for the season.

Blues boss Guus Hiddink said: "[Terry] He worked rather well in the past days and will be included for the team. He hasn't practised a lot in recent weeks but he trained intensively and today I will see if he has a big reaction to yesterday. I would like him to travel to Liverpool.

After the 4-0 FA Cup win over Hull City, both Olivier Giroud andTheo Walcott will feel they have a strong claim to be Arsenal’s starting centre-forward. They grabbed a brace apiece as Arsenal secured their passage into the quarter-final.

However, they may be in for a nasty surprise. Despite their goalscoring antics, it is Danny Welbeck who deserves to be the Gunners’ main man.

Welbeck’s impact since returning from injury has been surprising. It started with that dramatic late winner against Leicester, and continued with a number of convincing cameos. Eventually, he earned himself a start in the north London derby against Spurs, and his performance that day was a terrific demonstration of centre-forward play.

The 23-year-old's deal expires next summer and the Reds have been linked with a move for the German international, although Juventus and Manchester United are also said to be keen, according to various reports.

Elsewhere, rumoured target Caner Erkin is now also a target for Manchester United and Chelsea.

Turkish reports linked the Fenerbahce left back with a move to Anfield, but now Sabsh - a Turkish website - have suggested other Premier League teams are now in the race.

The 26-year-old will be available on a free this summer, if the Reds wanted to pursue him.

And finally, two Nigerian players could be set for Anfield, according to reports there.

Jacob Njoku will undergo a trial at Liverpool next month when his contract expires at Al Orooba, according to the youngster’s agent, along with fellow teenager Chidera Ejike.

“Jacob Njoku will travel to the United Kingdom next month along with Chidera Ejike for trials with Liverpool,” his agent Babawo Mohammed told website AllNigeriaSoccer.

“He is with Al Orooba and his contract will expire next month, so he is travelling after his contract expires.”

Mohammed said yesterday on Ejike: “We waited for Manchester City and they did not get back to us. He is going to Liverpool next month for trials.”

Rafa Benitez is set to meet with Newcastle United officials on Thursday before his appointment as manager.

Sportsmail revealed on Wednesday night that the Spaniard was set to take over from Steve McClaren, who will now be sacked after just nine months in charge.

Club sources have told us that Benitez could now be installed ahead of Monday’s trip to Leicester City.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3485471/Newcastle-United-meet-Rafa-Benitez-ahead-appointment-Steve-McClaren-s-sacking-imminent.html#ixzz42Wlk0E3J

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Kelechi Nwakali has confirmed that he has signed a five-year contract with arsenal

Nwakali has not been quiet about this move at all since it was announced at the end of January he was on a ‘waiting list’ to get a visa.

He’s already posed for photos with Arsene Wenger and spoken of his delight to sign for the Gunners where he wants to wear the #25 shirt in honour of his hero, Kanu.

Here’s what he had to say in his latest interview:

“I just came back from London; I have signed a five-year contract with Arsenal, ” Nwakali told nigeriasoccernet.com .                                                                                                                      The 17-year-old is the Nigeria youth captain and was voted the Most Valuable Player at the u17 World Cup in Chile. There, he captained his side to glory and allegedly caught the attentions of Manchester City and Bayern Munich.

DIEGO COSTA is a shock transfer target for Paris St-Germain.

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By David Woods, Chief Football Writer / Published 7th March 2016

GETTYEXIT: Will Costa leave Chelsea?The French giants have already been linked with a raid for Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard.

But now the club, who aim to dump Chelsea out of the Champions League for the second year running on Wednesday, have also turned their attention to star striker Costa.

Atletico Madrid are also interested in re-signing the Spain international, who Chelsea bought for £32m in 2014.

But super-rich PSG are easily able to outbid them and could use Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani as part of the deal.

Cavani came off the bench to score the winner against Chelsea in a 2-1 first leg victory in their Champions League last 16 tie three weeks ago.

And he is understood to be a target for Chelsea’s manager-in-waiting Antonio Conte.

PSG will definitely need to boost their strikeforce for next season.

Superstar Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic is out of contract in the summer and dropping heavy hints he wants a move to the Premier League.

Rumours persist that Costa is unsettled at Stamford Bridge, despite winning the title last season and finishing the campaign as the club’s top scorer.

Costa was poor in the first half of the season, but since Guus Hiddink replaced Jose Mourinho as boss in December he has rediscovered his form, scoring 10 goals in 14 appearances.

The pair worked together at Inter Milan and the Portuguese is keen on a reunion at Old Trafford.

The ex-Chelsea boss is expected to replace Louis van Gaal at the end of the campaign.

Ibrahimovic could also be on the move with his contract at Paris St-Germain up in the summer.

And according to French outlet Le Ten Sport, Mourinho has spoken to the player about a switch when he takes the reigns in Manchester.