Geremi Njitap set to Champion The Match in Lagos

All is set for the Heineken ‘Champion The Match’ session in Lagos tomorrow. To lead the session at the Heineken House, Lagos will be ex-Real Madrid and Cameroonian international, Geremi Sorele Njitap better known as Geremi. Remembered for his power, agility and free kick ability, Geremi is a two-time UCL winner with Spanish giant, Real Madrid FC.

Like other football Legends who have visited different cities of the world in recent past to Champion The Match, Geremi will be in Lagos to interact with football fans and reporters during a wonderful night of football that will be laced with unique and unforgettable experiences for fans in Lagos and across the globe.

During his international career, Geremi earned 116 caps for Cameroon between 1996 and 2010, scoring 13 goals. He was a member of their squad for 7 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, winning in 2000 and 2002, as well as the World Cup in 2002 and 2010 and a gold medal at the2000 Olympics.

Born in 1978, Geremi Njitap also had a glowing professional career during his active days playing for English sides- Middlesbrough FC, Chelsea FC and Newcastle FC.

Football fans in Nigeria and across the globe have the opportunity to chat live with Geremi during the Barcelona versus PSG game tomorrow on twitter: @Heineken using the hashtag #Championthematch.

Pellegrini mum on Yaya agent row

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini refused to be drawn into a war of words with Yaya Toure's outspoken agent after a 2-0 win over West Ham kept his side on course for a Champions League place.

However, Sunday's victory at Eastlands was marred by an injury to David Silva, who was taken to hospital with a suspected fractured cheekbone and injured collar bone.

But before kick-off there was another headache for under-pressure City boss Pellegrini following incendiary comments from Dimitri Seluk.

Toure's agent branded Pellegrini a "weak manager" and accused the club's Spanish executives Ferran Sorriano and Txiki Begiristain of failing to take responsibility and blaming his client for City's problems this season.

Pellegrini, when asked to respond to Seluk's claims, would only say "no comment".

But the latest potential disagreement with Toure will only cast more uncertainty on the the Ivory Coast international's City future.

Pellegrini was more forthcoming about the injury to Silva, who was taken off on a stretcher in the 75th minute after being caught by an elbow from Cheikhou Kouyate, who was booked for the incident.

"It looks serious but we must wait," said Pellegrini. "He (Silva) is in hospital now having checks on his cheekbone to see what happened with him.

"I always think that a player doesn't want to make damage to another player and the referee was so near and decided it was unintentional. I always think these things are unintentional. I don't think a player wants to cause more damage to another player.

"I don't know if he was unconscious. At the moment, the doctor has some doubts about that. After that, he recovered well," the Chilean added.

'PRETTY INNOCUOUS' -

City officials later insisted the visit to hospital was precautionary, with Silva having injured his collar bone after falling awkwardly.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce was also at pains to clear Kouyate of any deliberate wrong-doing in the incident.

"It was accidental, pretty innocuous," Allardyce said. "In fact I didn't even think it was a free-kick. I've just had a look on video and it doesn't look deliberate at all to me.

"He (Kouyate) has no idea what happened because it happened behind him, he doesn't think he's done anything."

Victory for reigning English champions City – coupled with defeats 24 hours earlier for Southampton and Manchester United – certainly improved Pellegrini's hopes of a top four finish.

West Ham were beaten thanks to a James Collins own-goal and City forward Sergio Aguero's 20th goal of the season as Pellegrini's men bounced back from the previous weekend's 4-2 derby defeat by United.

"We're not depending on what Manchester United or anyone else did yesterday," said Pellegrini.

"It was very important for our team to win because we are coming off two defeats in a row and always when it's a derby defeat, it's worse."

Meanwhile, Allardyce was angry at the manner of the two first-half goals conceded by his defence but also infuriated by a late incident in which Eliaquim Mangala took a swipe at West Ham winger Downing, who remained on his feet but saw the ball run out of play, breaking up a late attack by the visitors.

"Everybody goes on about simulation and cheating," said Allardyce who berated the fourth official after the incident. "But Mangala tried to clean out Downing who stayed on his feet and, because of that, the ball runs out and we lose possession.

"The assistant is one yard away but didn't give it so what am I going to say to Stewart? 'Dive on the floor, get him booked and get us a free-kick'?"

Fabregas desperate to end wait for title

Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas said on Monday he wanted to win the Premier League title as "soon as possible" as he gave an indication of why he'd returned to English football with the Blues rather than Arsenal.

The 27-year-old Spanish international midfielder made more than 300 appearances for Arsenal in eight years with the club before leaving for Barcelona with just a solitary FA Cup-winners medal after a string of near-misses, including a defeat in the 2006 Champions League final.

Arsenal had the option of buying back Fabregas when he left Barcelona but chose not to take it up and he opted to join London rivals Chelsea instead.

The table-topping Blues travel to Fabregas's former club on Sunday with Chelsea currently 10 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal in the Premier League.

Victory this coming weekend would all but seal a first Chelsea title since 2010 and Fabregas told the club's website: "We just want to win it (the Premier League). The sooner, the better."

Fabregas, a World Cup and European Championship winner with Spain and is nearing a century of caps, added: "We want to give satisfaction to the supporters. It's been five years for them without winning the Premier League title; for me it's been 27 years so I'd love to win it as soon as possible."

Last Saturday's 1-0 win over Manchester United saw Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho deploy Fabregas further forward than normal in a bid to accommodate Kurt Zouma, who man-marked Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini.

"If I played there normally I would struggle a bit more to deal with long balls and the physical aspect of the game," Fabregas added.

"We had to put someone on Fellaini, especially for the long balls, so yes our style changed. I thought Zouma did extremely well.

"I think his future is as a centre-back but he can do the job very well in central midfield when it's needed. He's a top, top boy. He wants to learn, he wants to play.

"That's why Mourinho is who he is and has won what he has won. The plan worked very well."

Nigeria U20 official inspects New Zealand ahead of 2015 World Youth Championship

An official of the Flying Eagles has departed for the Oceania nation in order to have a good look at the venues that will host the Nigeria U20 games

Nigeria U20 team secretary, Ibrahim Aliyu Auwal, has departed for New Zealand, where he will inspect facilities at the team’s venue for next month’s Fifa  U20 World Cup.

The Flying Eagles will play Hungary, Brazil and North Korea in Group E at the Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth.

The facilities will cover such aspects as hotel boarding, stadium, training and medical.

Nigeria U20 team will play their first game on June 1 at the 46,000-capacity Yarrow Stadium, formerly known as Stadium Taranaki, in New Plymouth.

Mexes: I want new AC Milan deal

Philippe Mexes has indicated that he wants to sign a new contract at AC Milan.

The defender's current deal expires in June but he has endured a difficult campaign for the Rossoneri, who lie ninth in Serie A.

Mexes admits that he has no idea if he will be offered an extension but says he would love to remain at San Siro.

"I hope I can sign a new deal." he said at a charity event. "It's important for my family to know what is going on. That’s the only thing that irritates me slightly about the uncertainty.

“Otherwise, I’ll just give my best until the end of the season.”

Filippo Inzaghi's men drew 0-0 with Inter on Sunday and Mexes, who scored an own goal that was ultimately ruled out, has confessed that he was disappointed his side failed to claim the victory.

“The important thing is that we didn’t lose. Now we have try to get as many points as possible in the final weeks.

“There’s a bit of disappointment, we could have done better. It’s a shame - you need personality in the derby.

“It’s in the past now and we must look ahead.”

Messi Can Stay At Barcelona Until He Retires - Bartomeu

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has said he would like Lionel Messi to stay at the club until he retires.

The Argentine has been at the Blaugrana since he was 13, making his way through the youth system to win six Liga titles, three Champions Leagues and two Club World Cups with the team, plus four Ballon d'Or individually. He is also their top all-time scorer.

Messi was linked with a move away from Camp Nou earlier this season, but Bartomeu insists he will always be welcome to stay put.

"We work with a leader like Messi, who is the best in the world, but also in history." he told RMC. "He has a place here until he decides to quit football."

The club chief was asked about the likelihood of the Blaugrana making a move to sign Paul Pogba from Juventus, but he says they are not thinking about it.

"Pogba is a great player, but in this moment we are not thinking about additions. It’s true that we have a sanction that prevents us from signing players until January 2016. We are working so that some will players arrive, and others can leave.

“We are preparing for next season, but we will not provide the names here. Pogba is a good player, one who has a contract with an Italian team that I respect a lot.

“For the moment, it is not expected that we will sign anyone, but everyone wants to have the great players. Also, we have players that the others clubs would like to have."