The Super Eagles of Nigeria have  landed at the Aéroport International Felix Houphouet Boigny d’Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations starting on Saturday, January 13, 2023.

The team was led by the captain, Ahmed Musa.

The national team departed for Cote D’Ivoire on Wednesday morning after being hosted to a dinner by the  Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday at the State House, Marina, Lagos.

The Atlas Lions of Morocco emerged the first team, other than the host nation, to touch down in Cote d’Ivoire for the tournament.

Other national teams that have arrived for the tournament are Egypt, Mozambique, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau, among others.

Former Barcelona defender, Gerard Pique has announced plans to return to professional football as a coach.

Pique revealed this via his Twitter account on Tuesday.

The 36-year old retired from playing in January 2023.

But in a tweet, Pique expressed his desire to return to football in a coaching role.

“After a lot of thought this new year, I’ve decided that I want to return to the sport I miss so much.

“This time, not as a player, but stepping into coaching. I will share more details at the end of the week,” Piqué wrote.

Pique made 616 appearances for Barcelona during his illustrious playing career, winning LaLiga nine times, the Copa del Rey seven times, the FIFA Club World Cup three times, and the UEFA Champions League three times, one of which was with Manchester United.

He was also part of the Spain team that won the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship.

Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has charged Nigerians not to lose trust in the team as they hope to win a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title at the 34th edition of the tournament, which holds from January 13 to February 11 in Ivory Coast.

The three-time champions are in Group A, which also has hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.

Musa’s wish is coming after the Eagles lacklustre pre-AFCON friendly, which they lost 2-0 to Guinea at the Bani Yas Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Monday.

The game marked the end of their one-week training camp in the Middle East and they will depart for Ivory Coast via Lagos on Wednesday (today).

Despite the defeat that overshadowed their preparations for the tournament, Musa insists that the squad are confident going into the AFCON.

“Everybody is excited and waiting to go to Abidjan. After the last game in Uyo, when the campaign started, we told ourselves about going there to shine. We can see all the quality in the squad and we can’t say otherwise. In football anything can happen but we have the confidence,” Musa told NFF TV.

“Even the coach has set a target of winning the AFCON for himself too. I just want Nigerians to believe in the team, with their support we can go far.”

Musa and Kenneth Omeruo are the only members of Nigeria’s last AFCON-winning team in South Africa 2013, who are part of the current team.

During the 2013 tournament, the 31-year-old scored in Nigeria’s 4-1 win over Mali in the semi-final and also came on as a substitute in the final against Burkina Faso.

Having won the tournament in 1980, 1994 and 2013, Nigeria will begin their quest for a fourth title in Ivory Coast against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday January 14 before filing out against the hosts four days later while they play Guinea Bissau in their last group game January 22.

Katsina Hisbah Board Confiscates 850 Bottles of Alcohol: The Katsina State Hisbah Board has seized approximately 850 bottles of various alcoholic beverages in Kankara Local Government Area.

The board’s commander, Aminu Usman, led the operation on Sunday in collaboration with government officials.

The confiscated alcoholic drinks were reportedly intercepted in a vehicle and from local vendors.

Usman, stressed the state government’s commitment to combating immoral activities and appealed to residents to assist in identifying locations where such acts occur.

He urged the public to support the Hisbah in creating a more ethical environment within the state.

Birmingham hired Tony Mowbray on Monday as their new manager to replace sacked Wayne Rooney.

Former Sunderland and West Brom boss Mowbray agreed a two-and-half-year deal with the Championship strugglers.

He is Birmingham’s third manager this season after the dismissals of John Eustace and Rooney.

“I am excited to be joining Birmingham at this time. I can’t wait to get back on the training pitch and start working with this talented group of players,” Mowbray said.

“I know from personal experience how passionate Bluenoses are, home and away, and I’m looking forward to having their full support for the team starting on Saturday at home to Swansea.”

Mowbray was sacked by Sunderland in December after 15 months in charge, despite guiding them to the play-offs last season.

Former Manchester United and England star Rooney was axed by Birmingham after just 83 days in charge, having replaced Eustace in October.

Rooney managed just two wins in 15 games as Birmingham slipped from sixth in the Championship to 20th.

The Super Eagles will play a friendly match against Guinea’s Syli Nationale in Abu Dhabi on Monday, according to a statement by Ademola Olajire, director of communications at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The statement, made available to journalists on Saturday in Abuja, indicated that the friendly match was part of the Super Eagles’ preparation ahead of a feast of Guinean attrition in the group phase at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Cote d’Ivoire.

“Head Coach José Peseiro has the opportunity to put to the crucible different patterns and tactics against quality opposition.

“The friendly game is coming only seven days before the three-time champions’ opening game against Equatorial Guinea’s Nzalang National inside Abidjan’s Stade Alassane Ouattara,” it said.

Super Eagles are in Group A of the four-week, 24-nation finals alongside host nation Cote d’Ivoire and Africa’s other two Guinean nations – Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau.

The Syli Nationale was one of Africa’s strongest teams in the 1970s and 1980s, winning the silver medals at the 1976 AFCON in Ethiopia.

They gave the so-called big teams a good run for their money at the Africa Cup and in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.

The Eagles pipped Syli Nationale 1-0 in a group phase encounter at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.

Far back in 1981, Syli Nationale held the Eagles to a 1-1 draw in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Conakry, and in Lagos, Nigeria won with a long-range Henry Nwosu strike to the far corner of Abdoulaye Keita’s goal.

“Monday’s encounter has been scheduled for the Bani Yas Stadium.

“It is sure to slightly open a window into the mind of Coach Peseiro and how he intends to line up his army when Africa’s flagship football championship begins next weekend,” it added.

The 2023 AFCON, which kicks off on Jan. 13, will end on Feb. 11.

Libyan outfit Al Hilal have acquired the services of Nigerian forward, Robert Mizo.

Mizo joined Al Hilal from Nigeria Premier Football League outfit, Bayelsa United.

The prolific striker signed a three-and-a-half year contract with the Libyan outfit.

The player has already scored 10 goals for Bayelsa United in the NPFL this season.

Mizo was second top scorer in the NPFL last season behind Enyimba’s Emeka Obioma.

His goals helped Bayelsa United escape relegation last season.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has increased the prize money for the 2023 Arica Cup of Nations, AFCON.

The winner of the biennial competition will go home with $7 million.

The runners-up will now get $4 million, while each of the two semi-finalists will receive $2,500,000Each of the four quarter-finalists will get $1,300,000.

“CAF has made significant progress over the past two years in increasing the Prize Money of the AFCON and all its other major competitions,” President of Africa’s soccer governing body, Patrice Motsepe, told CAFonline.

“We have increased the prize money of the AFCON Winner to USD 7 000 000 which is a 40% increase from the previous AFCON Prize Money. I am confident that a portion of the prize money will contribute to developing football and also benefit all the football stakeholders, as well as assist our Member Associations with their administrations.”

The 34th edition of the AFCON finals will start next week Saturday with the opening game between hosts Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau.

The competition will end on Sunday, February 11.

Serie A club, Juventus have announced the signing of Super Falcons midfielder, Jennifer Echegini.

Echegini joined the Old Lady from American outfit, Florida State Seminoles.

The 22-year-old signed a contract until June 30, 2026.

The Nigerian has been assigned jersey number 26.

Echegini was part of Super Falcons squad to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The talented midfielder was born in the Netherlands and raised in England.

She will join her new teammates as soon as the move is completed.

Charlie McNeill has returned to Manchester United, following his loan spell at Stevenage.

The 20-year-old striker joined the League One club last September, after appearing in Man United’s EFL Trophy game against Stockport County and scoring during the penalty shootout.

Manchester United disclosed this in a statement via its website on Wednesday.

“We’d like to welcome Charlie back to the fold again,” Man United’s statement partly read.

McNeill made his senior debut for Man United in the Europa League clash against Real Sociedad in September 2022.

Super Eagles midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has revealed that he almost signed for Chelsea at the early stage of his professional football career.

Onazi had a trial at Chelsea after impressing at the 2009 FIFA U17 World Cup where he helped Nigeria to a second-place finish.

However, he failed to sign a deal with the Premier League giants because he had not attained the age of majority.

Onazi eventually joined Serie A club Lazio in 2011 and initially featured for the youth sides of the club before he gained promotion to the first team.

“When I was young, I almost signed for Chelsea, but we were underage and couldn’t play.

“We had to wait until we were 18. There was a lot of process.

“That is why my manager decided that we would go to Italy at that time. So he could start in Lazio’s second team and then, when he developed, he could start in the first team,” Onazi told Ajansspor.

Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has said Liverpool players must stay in the Premier League title race in Mohamed Salah’s absence.

Salah is set to join up with his Egyptian teammates ahead of this month’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Before leaving, the forward scored twice as the Reds beat Newcastle 4-2 on Monday night.

The result saw Liverpool extend their lead at the summit by three points.

“You wonder what that’s going to be like without Salah, but they owe it to him to get through the next month still in the title, still at the top of the league and still ahead, so they can give Salah a chance to come back and have a real go at the title.

“I didn’t think Liverpool would be in a title race and I still don’t think they’ll do it,” he said.

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has made £80million rated Brentford striker Ivan Toney his top target for the January transfer window.

Toney is set to return to football action in January as soon as he serves his eight-month ban for breaching the Football Association’s rules on betting.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are open to strengthening Arteta’s squad in the January transfer window.

But Financial Fair Play, FFP, regulations could heavily restrict their activity.

However, according to The Independent, Arteta wants Arsenal’s hierarchy to prioritise a move for a new striker in January in a bid to improve the Gunners’ chances of winning their first Premier League title since 2004.

The report added that Brentford would want at least £80million for Toney, while Arteta has also considered signing two new full-backs and a new central midfielder.

National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) outfit, Utah Royals FC have announced the signing of Nigeria forward, Ifeoma Onumonu.

Onumonu linked up with Salt Lake City-based side from reigning NWSL champion, Gotham FC for $40,000.

The striker becomes the 15th player on the 2024 expansion of Utah side’s roster.

The 29-year-old is expected to join her new teammates for pre-season camping late next month.

Onumonu spent three seasons with Gotham FC.

“This is an amazing opportunity to be coached by one of the best who ever did it, tapping into Amy Rodriguez’s history with the NWSL and her being a former No. 9.

“Having the conversation with Amy and Sporting Director, Kelly Cousins was incredibly important to me, hearing their vision and understanding the commitment and investment in providing the best for the athletes is what persuaded me to play for the Royals,” she said.

She was part of Super Falcons squad to the 2023 Women’s World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

Manchester United manager, Erik Ten Hag has listed five players who are set to return from injury in January.

Ten Hag was giving a team news update ahead of their Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The Red Devils are currently seventh on the log and face big fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa in their next five top-flight games.

“It will be a similar squad [for the trip to Forest] as we had against Villa.

“Mid-January we expect many players back. Mason [Mount], Casemiro, [Lisandro] Martinez, [Tyrell] Malacia.

“We expect Harry Maguire, of course. We expect many players to return in January,” Ten Hag told reporters on Friday.

Bournemouth midfielder Hamed Traore will be out for “some time” after contracting malaria, says manager Andoni Iraola.The 23-year-old Ivory Coast international was treated in hospital after the November international break.He has not been named in the Ivory Coast squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on 13 January.”The past few weeks have been a tough situation for him personally,” said Iraola.”We have to make sure that he is OK and he recovers properly.”Traore is now recovering at home and will have further tests.A tropical disease spread by mosquitoes, malaria is not contagious. Symptoms usually appear seven to 18 days after infection.Traore joined Bournemouth in January on loan from Italian side Sassuolo before a permanent deal worth about £20m was agreed in the summer.He has made only 10 Premier League appearances and has not played for Bournemouth since 1 November.He featured in Ivory Coast’s victories over Seychelles and Gambia on 17 and 20 November respectively.Bournemouth, who are are 12th in the table, travel to Tottenham on Sunday.

Everton boss, Sean Dyche has reflected on his side’s 3-1 loss to Manchester City on Wednesday night.

The Toffees took the lead through Jack Harrison in the first half.But the Premier League champions fought back to take all three points, thanks to goals from Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez and Bernardo Silva.

Speaking to Amazon Prime after the game, Dyche said: “Manchester City came out in the second half and played much longer which we didn’t deal with.

“In the first half, we were very good tactically.

“We had a great chance to get back in it. The penalty changes the feel of the game but when they get their noses in front, they are a hard team to get back to.”

Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen was sent off as his team lost 2-0 to Roma on Saturday night.

Before then, the Super Eagles star was involved in a heated exchange with Roma manager, Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho also clashed with Osimhen’s team-mate Kvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Lorenzo Pellegrini and Romelu Lukaku scored to secure three points against the Italian champions.

Osimhen was the second Napoli player to be sent off, with Matteo Politano also seeing red in the second half.

Napoli have now conceded six goals in their last two appearances across all competitions as they find themselves seventh in the league with 27 points from 17 matches.

Roma, on the other hand, are now sixth after Saturday’s win.

Nigerian-born midfielder, Ashanti Akpan has signed a contract extension with Chelsea Ladies

Ashanti signed with the Blues until the summer of 2025, with the option to extend by a further year.

The 18-year-old joined Chelsea at the age of seven in August 2013.

The youngster made her first-team debut for Chelsea in March last season.

“It’s such a special and proud moment for me to sign my first professional contract at my childhood club. I’ve been here since I was seven years old, so it really has always been Chelsea for me,” she told the club’s official website.

“Being the place where I’ve grown up, it means so much more. I’m very grateful to my teammates, the staff and my family who have done so much on and off the pitch to make me the player I am today. I’m really excited for the future.”

Akpan was born in Warsaw to a Polish mother and Nigerian father.