Etoile du Sahel striker Emeka Opara has turned down the chance to join top Egyptian club Ismaily after they insisted he undergo a trial, the player’s agent said.

Ghana qualified for their first FIFA World Cup four years ago, coming from behind in a group that included South Africa to snatch top place. For the 2010 finals, they qualified without any notable problems, much to the delight of highly-rated striker Asamoah Gyan.

The cold war between the Presidential Task Force, PTF, and the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, may have finally been buried as the PTF has cancelled the idea of chartering an aircraft with NFF chartering theirs, too.

Mozambican Mambas head coach, Maart Nooij, has urged the Super Eagles to defeat Kenya on Saturday, promising to repay them by beating the visiting Carthage Lions of Tunisia.

It is just two days to the end of 13th edition of the FIFA Under 17 World Cup but the storm is getting thicker for AIT, incidentally for the services the television company under Daar Communications provided for Nigeria.

Chief coach of the Golden Eaglets, John Obuh, has assured that the team will be returning to Abuja tomorrow with a ticket to the final of the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup by beating Spain in today’s semi-final showdown in Lagos.

Coach of the high riding national Under-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, John Obuh, has been recommended to take over the grooming of the national Under-21 team at the end of his present assignment in the on-going FIFA Under-17 World Cup. The recommendation is coming ahead of the Eaglets semi-final game against Spain even as the boys will all be elevated to same cadre with him.

When the draws for the final phase of the African qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup was announced pitting the Super Eagles against Tunisia, Mozambique and Kenya, most football followers in Nigeria heaved a sigh of relief.

FORMER Arsenal Vice Chairman, David Dean, would be among the dignitaries that would watch the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria when they tackle Spain in the second semi-final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup today at the Teslim Balogun Stadium. The former Arsenal boss was invited to Nigeria by FIFA and CAF member, Dr. Amos Adamu.

A MAJOR crisis yesterday hit the on-going FIFA U-17 World Cup when MTN cut off the optic fibre connection which transmits television signals from the producers to the rest of the world.

Globacom Limited, the Official Sponsor of the Golden Eaglets has concluded arrangement with the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) to mobilise residents of Lagos to cheer the team when they play in one of the semi-final matches.

GOLDEN Eaglets midfielder, Abdul Ajagun is looking forward to playing a key role in the fall of Spain, when the Nigerians clash with the Europeans in tonight’s FIFA Under-17 World Cup semifinal in Lagos.

The Nigerian star Stephen Worgu, who plays in Sudan, has been convicted of drinking alcohol, and has been sentenced to be flogged.

A play-off match will be held in Sudan on November 18 in the event that Egypt and Algeria cannot be separated at the top of Group C in the African zone after this weekend’s game. That eventuality depends on the outcome of their meeting this Saturday in Cairo.

Former captain of the 1985 gold-winning Nigeria U-17 team, Nduka Ugbade has adviced Golden Eaglets coach, John Obuh not to give the Spanniards space to play when the two teams clash in today’s semi final clash in Lagos.