NFF's Fails ToTurn Up Leaves Keshi’s Fate Hanging

The highly publicized unveiling of a new coach for the Super Eagles was not done on Friday as the federation seems to be waiting for the final change in government

Friday has come and gone with the Super Eagles still without a coach. Angry media left the Abuja office of the Nigeria Football Federation on Friday evening feeling that they had been taken for a ride.

The much anticipated unveiling of the coach of the Super Eagles by the NFF was not done leaving many to question the future of the Nigeria job.

Stephen Keshi, 53, a former captain and coach of the Super Eagles, was expected to sign a new contract to handle the team that he led to Africa Cup of Nations victory in 2013 at the Glass House after months of negotiations.

However, the ceremony was a non-affair as only three members of the NFF executive showed up at its headquarters.

Even though Keshi was said to be holed up in a hotel close to the Wuse Zone 7 office of the federation waiting to be summoned over, it seemed that the NFF had no plans for him.

Federation president Amaju Pinnick has traveled abroad to finalize a deal with a potential sportswear manufacturing partner while vice president Seyi Akinwumi was also not anywhere near Abuja.

“I’m in Lagos and the president is not in the country,” Akinwumi told Goal. “When we are unveiling we will let you know.”

While rumours are rife that the NFF is holding out for the change in government on May 29 before announcing a new coach, time is fast running out on the Super Eagles who begin their qualification campaign for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in June against Chad in Abuja.

Memory of their failure to qualify for this year’s edition still haunts many in Africa’s most populous country.

If Keshi, who has had highly publicized battles with the NFF in the past, will be given the job once more is not yet known considering opposition to his return among members of the powerful technical committee.

The politics in the Glass House continues to keep Nigeria’s football in the doldrums.

Nigerians’ long wait for a new coach continues. 

Van Gaal: Injury Crises Is The Worst Scenerio

Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and stand-in full-back Daley Blind are ruled out, alongside Michael Carrick, leaving Chris Smalling and Paddy McNair as the only fit first-team centre-backs

Manchester United are facing a defensive crisis for Saturday's trip to Chelsea, with Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Michael Carrick all missing through injury.

Jonny Evans is still suspended for the crunch clash at Stamford Bridge meaning Chris Smalling and youngster Paddy McNair are the only recognisable first-team centre-backs available to Louis van Gaal.

Fit again Luke Shaw is likely to replace Blind at left-back while Van Gaal has admitted he could utilise Wayne Rooney in a holding midfield role as he shuffles the pack to cope with the absence of Carrick.

"It is the worst scenario," Van Gaal told MUTV. "Marcos and Phil can both play left central defender, and Jonny Evans is also suspended so I do not have many choices.

"Daley Blind and Michael Carrick could playing holding midfield player and I do not have another option. It is a puzzle."

He added: "Shaw I think is training for a lot of weeks already so he can play. Van Persie is another story - this is the first week he has trained with us, with the first team, but maybe we have to think about him."

The England midfielder has been one of the club's stand out performers in the 2014-15 campaign although was forced off towards the end of United's derby win over Manchester City with a calf injury.

Van Gaal insists the disruption his planning for the meeting with Jose Mourinho's league leaders are "all part of life in football" but will come as a bitter blow as the Red Devils looked to cut the gap at the top.

"They are all from the game against City," the manager added. "Blind played on because he always wants to, but the tackle from Kompany was the reason. Jones injured himself in the second half.

"Rojo, he was complaining [of a knock] after the match, and Carrick was also off. We had a big hope that Blind and Jones could reach this game but they can't."

Higgingbotham Tells Stoke To Sign Victor Moses

The former Potters’ defender has asked the club to ensure the Nigerian winger does not return to Chelsea at season’s end

Former Stoke City defender Danny Higgingbotham has asked the club to buy Victor Moses from Chelsea at the end of his loan deal.

The Nigerian has seen his fortunes rise this season, a year after he failed to shine on loan at Liverpool.

Even though injured and out for the rest of the season, Moses is going to become a hot property in the summer.

"What a shame Victor Moses won't be available against Southampton tomorrow after an injury that may even have ended his season,” Higgingbotham wrote in his column in the Stoke Sentinel.

“Regular readers know my feelings on him and so, finance permitting, I would sign him from Chelsea this summer.”

Having contributed to the safety of the Potters so far with some eye-catching performances, Higgingbotham believes Stoke should have placed a clause in his loan contract that would ensure his price didn’t increase at season’s end.

“It would be interesting to know if Stoke were clever enough to insert a clause with a fixed purchasing price when he first joined at the start of the season,” he wrote.

“Back then I reckon you could have shaken hands with Chelsea on around £5m, but his success at Stoke now means that figure will be nearer £10m.

“Stoke's game is increasingly pace orientated and that's what he provides, especially on the break and especially in one-v-one situations, so if they don't sign Moses they will surely be looking for someone similar.”

Mourinho: Why Are Chelsea Disliked? Because We're 'Boring'

A study by Kick It Out found the Premier League leaders to be the most targeted club for online abuse, while the Blues coach spoke about possible destinations for Jurgen Klopp

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says the reason his team are disliked and targeted on social media is because they are boring.

A study by anti-discrimination group Kick It Out detailed the Blues as the most abused Premier League team, being the subject of around 20,000 of an estimated 134,400 negative posts made between August and March.

Of all posts directed at teams, 28 per cent are race-based while 26% centre around gender but when asked by reporters why he thought his team were targeted, Mourinho had other findings.

"I think it is because we are boring - we have been top of the league since day one," Mourinho told reporters. "That is something people in this country don't like.

"Everyone would love the Premier League to be like the Championship where four teams are separated by a couple of points.

"I know that would be the ideal scenario in the Premier League, but we are trying not to allow that to happen."

One of the biggest stories during the week was Jurgen Klopp announcing he will leave Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season, prompting much speculation over the manager's next destination.

Mourinho added: "The only thing I know is he's not coming to Chelsea and he told me that personally."

Di Maria Red Card Saved Manchester United's Season - Scholes

The winger was given his marching orders in the FA Cup sixth round and the Red Devils have since gone on to win their next four league matches

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes believes the Red Devils' season has been saved by Angel Di Maria's red card against Arsenal.

The British-record signing was dismissed in the FA Cup sixth-round tie after pulling referee Michael Oliver, with United having won all four of their matches since including impressive victories over Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City.

Louis van Gaal has left Di Maria on the bench despite serving his suspension, with the Dutch coach able to pick a settled starting XI for the first time in his tenure at Old Trafford.

And Scholes feels the Argentina international being given his marching orders against the Gunners has turned the club's season around.

"I have been critical of my old club Manchester United under Louis van Gaal this season and I have to say that I did not see this change in fortunes coming," he wrote in his column for the Evening Standard. "To the extent that when they go to Chelsea on Saturday, I think they have a good chance of winning the game.

"When I look back on the key changes, I still feel that Angel Di Maria’s red card against Arsenal was critical in allowing Van Gaal to build this new-look team."

The likes of Ashley Young and Marouane Fellaini - who many tipped to leave the club at the start of the season - have played a key role in United's good form, with the 20-time English champions on course to qualify for the Champions League.

But Scholes feels another man who struggled for a starting place in Van Gaal's early days at the club - Juan Mata - has been the most important member of the team in recent weeks.

"When I look at the side it seems to me to be a triumph of the underdog - Juan Mata, Marouane Fellaini, Ashley Young. All of whom looked like they could be out the picture at the start of the season and are now having a big impact.

"For all the attention after the derby win over Manchester City on Fellaini and Young, a lot of the credit has to go to Mata.

"He has given United such composure. He is not a winger, in the conventional sense, but he comes inside and gets involved in the game. He always passes to a red shirt and he is so cool, as you saw with his finish against City."

Pele: I'd Pick Messi Over Ronaldo

The Brazil icon maintains that it's difficult to compare the two players but feels the Argentina star has the edge because of his added ability to create from deep

Brazil legend Pele says he would pick Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo because of his ability to do more than just score goals.

The Portuguese forward currently tops the Liga goalscoring charts with 38 strikes and 12 assists, while Messi has netted 34 and set up a further 15.

Pele says he does not like to choose between the two when asked who is better, but feels the Barcelona star edges it slightly.

"It's not that I like one of Messi or Cristiano more, when people ask me, I always say that you cannot compare them," he told Al Primer Toque.

"Cristiano is a great player, more forward, more of a scorer.

"Messi is a player who makes goals but also creates chances as a weapon in behind.

"The two would be very important, but if I had to choose one it would be Messi."

The three-time World Cup winner also spoke highly of Neymar and feels he is moving ever closer to the level of Messi and Ronaldo.

"Neymar is reaching the level of the best. He does not have the same experience as Messi or Cristiano. Sometimes people forget players like [Andres Iniesta. It is very easy to play on a team with great players. It is an excellent school for Neymar."

The 74-year-old is often regarded as the best player in the history of the game alongside Diego Maradona, but he says Real Madrid icon Zinedine Zidane also deserves to be mentioned in the same bracket.

"He was one of the best midfielders we've had in football. Zidane had more courage than I did, he was of the level of Maradona and Messi.

"People who saw Zidane with the ball at his feet knew that his head was complete too."

Ancelotti: Madrid Might Not Want Me

Carlo Ancelotti has admitted Real Madrid may decide not to offer him a new contract and added he is in no hurry to sign an extension.

Speculation around the Italian coach's future has been increasing in recent weeks, with his side sitting second behind Barcelona in La Liga.

However, with his contract running until June 2016, the 55-year-old maintains there is plenty of time to work out the details over a renewal - if both parties want one.

"There is no rush," he told esRadio. "I have another year of my contract to see whether or not I want to renew.

"We talked about sitting down to discuss a new deal, but we never worked out a day to sit.

"If the club don't call on me to renew today, they might call me in September, or perhaps not call me at all."

Madrid were held to a 0-0 draw by city rivals Atletico in their Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday, despite the Blancos dominating the match.

Ancelotti's side had 17 shots on goal, compared to the eight mustered by Diego Simeone's side, but the Italian insisted he was content with the result and performance.

"The team played well. It's hard to play better than that in a field as complicated as Atletico's. In the first hour we did very well. But of course we are not happy with the result. Although it gives us confidence for the second leg on Wednesday."