Ivory Coast Advertise For New Coach

The Ivory Coast Football Federation (FIF) has advertised the national team coaching job as they look for a replacement for Herve Renard, an official source revealed on Thursday.

The FIF will give candidates until June 15 to put their names forward before a committee puts a five-man shortlist to the federation's executive committee to decide on who the chosen coach will be.

In the meantime, Ibrahim Kamara will take interim charge of the team until the end of June.

Frenchman Renard left the Elephants to take charge of Ligue 1 club Lille last month, with the FIF allowing him to end his contract early.

Renard, 46, had signed a renewable two-year deal last August and led the Ivory Coast to glory at the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea in February, their first continental title since 1992.

Renard also won the Cup of Nations as coach of Zambia in 2012.

The Ivory Coast are due to begin their campaign to qualify for the 2017 Cup of Nations against Sierra Leone in early September.

They were drawn in qualifying Group I alongside their west African neighbours and Sudan.

Messi Back On Top Of The World

By Lionel Messi's exceptional standards 2014 was a year to forget. For the first time in six years he went trophyless at club level with Barcelona, while arguably his best ever chance to win a World Cup with Argentina came and went.

His listless performances particularly in the latter stages of the World Cup, despite being controversially named player of the tournament, led many to believe he could never return to the level that dazzled as he became the first man to win four consecutive World Player of the Year awards between 2008 and 2012.

Fast-forward a year and Messi's displays in the past six months may even have eclipsed anything that came before.

After a brief stand off with coach Luis Enrique when Messi was left out of the opening game of the year after returning later than his teammates from their winter break, Messi has dragged Barcelona from the verge of institutional crisis to within one game of a treble when they face Juventus in the Champions League final on Saturday.

"Last year I had an inconsistent season. I was out for a long time due to injuries and I missed a lot of matches. When I returned to the field I never felt right," Messi admitted recently.

"It was a year I tried to forget quickly and recover my best form thanks to the joy, hard work and effort that I have always had and thankfully now I feel very good."

Messi's change in physical state has come about thanks to a radical change in diet. The 27-year-old has lost a reported 3.5 kilograms (7.7 pounds) since starting to work with Italian dietician Giuliano Poser at the start of the season.

A noticeably more slimline Messi has not only got to the end of the season in prime physical condition despite playing all but 70 minutes of Barca's full La Liga and Champions League campaigns, he has recovered the pace in short bursts that makes him practically impossible to stop.

In last weekend's Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao he scored one of the most memorable of his 412 Barcelona goals by showing a combination of strength, speed and incredible skill to burst past four Athletic defenders before firing in at the near post.

Even the coach that arguably knows Messi best of all was powerless to stop him. On the eve of Pep Guardiola's return to the Camp Nou as Bayern Munich boss, he declared that Messi's current form meant that "there is not a system or coach to stop talent of his magnitude."

A day later and Guardiola learned how it felt to be on the other side od Messi's genius as a two-goal salvo in three minutes took the tie away from Bayern.

"He is back, he is there where I had the privilege to train him," Guardiola said after the tie.

"He is definitely back at his best."

Juventus have defied the odds to get back to the top of the European game, but the task of not just stopping Messi but also Neymar and Luis Suarez may prove one too far.

The star South American triumvirate have combined for 120 goals this season, while the whole Juventus squad has managed 103.

Moreover, after a dry spell, Barca are in no mood to let the chance of becoming the first team to ever win the treble slip away.

"We came from a time when we won everything, every year we would win a title and maybe the fans like us didn't give it the value it deserved," Messi added.

"We went through a year where we didn't win anything and now when the success arrives we give it the importance it deserves and enjoy it more because we know how hard it is to achieve."

Messi may have dropped his weight, but his hunger for titles remains undiminished.

Onazi, Ighalo & Five Others Arrive Super Eagles Camp

The Super Eagles camp in Abuja is gradually bubbling to life as invited foreign based professionals trickle in. First to arrive the base of the national team was England-based forward, Odion Ighalo.
Ighalo helped Watford secure promotion to the English Premier League and also finished the season as club’s top scorer.

Also in camp are Ogenyi Onazi, John Ogu, Babatunde Michael, Steven Ukoh, Anderson Esiti and William Troost Ekong.

According to Keshi, all the foreign based players to be in camp on or before midnight on Wednesday, June 3 except Aaron Samuel who was granted permission by the ‘Big Boss’.

Nigeria will take on the Chad at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna on June 13 as the race for Gabon 2017 begins across Africa.

Warner: I Will Reveal An Avalanche Of Evidence Against Fifa And Blatter

Jack Warner says he has passed on evidence that implicates Fifa and Sepp Blatter in involvement in the Trinidad and Tobago elections in 2010.

The former Fifa vice-president was one of 14 people indicted by the United States Department of Justice last week in a move that preceded Friday's Fifa elections in Zurich - which later proved futile when re-elected Blatter revealed his decision to quit four days later.

Warner has said he has evidence of "a link between Fifa, its funding and me, the link between Fifa, its funding and the United National Congress and The People's Partnership Government in general election 2010", while the 72-year-old also indicated his documents directly implicate Blatter.

"It also deals with my knowledge of international transactions at Fifa, including its president Mr Sepp Blatter and, lastly, other matters involving the nation's current prime minister," Warner said in an address televised on TV6.

The ex-Fifa official then claimed he has protected Fifa from his allegations for now, but he is ready to turn on his former employer now that he is implicated in corrupt activity.

"I have, in these circumstances, decided that I will no longer keep secrets for them who now seek to actively destroy this country in which I live, who seek to destroy this country's hard-won international image, this country's fate," he continued.

"I have no intention of allowing them to deprive me of my freedom.

"I reasonably and surely fear for my life.

"I have, as promised, compiled a comprehensive and detailed series of documents, including cheques and corroborated statements, and placed them in different and respected hands.

"I have, in effect, placed the outcome of those matters beyond even my own reach. Retracting them is now an impossibility. There can be no turning back.

"Not even death will stop the avalanche that is coming. The die is cast. There can be no turning back. Let the chips fall where they fall."

Shooting Stars Turn To Ogunbote

Struggling Premier League side, Shooting Stars Sports Club have turned to Sharks gaffer, Gbenga Ogunbote to safe their season following the exit of Franklin Howard after 10 matches.

supersport.com learnt Ogunbote's contract is for the rest of the season.

Howard led the team to the elite class, but struggled to earn decent results and was eventually sacked last week.

Interestingly, Ogunbote continued from where he stopped last season with the Port-Harcourt side, but couldn't turn down the approach from 3SC.

Ogunbote's bitter experience with some fans of the club contributed to his decision to seek fortunes elsewhere and Shooting Stars capitalized on his availability.

"Ogunbote arrived at Ibadan on Wednesday and will watch the team for the first time on Thursday. He has been engaged as the club's new gaffer", a source at the club informed superrsport.com.

It's the first time Ogunbote will coach the famous Shooting Stars.

Transfer Rumours And Paper Review – Wednesday, June 3

Here's the top transfer-related stories in Wednesday's newspapers...

Real Madrid are convinced they have finally won the battle to land David De Gea for £30million. Sources close to the player claim the deal for him to leave Manchester United is now virtually done. It is the news Manchester United fans have been dreading and is the latest twist in the summer’s biggest transfer saga. (The Sun)

De Gea has already said his goodbyes to United staff and told the Spanish giants he will be coming to the Bernabeu this summer. (Daily Star)

Real, meanwhile, have rejected a £110m offer from Manchester United for Gareth Bale and Raphael Varane. (Daily Express)

Robin van Persie has admitted he is at a crossroads in his Manchester United career.  Speaking for the first time about his frustrations at United, Van Persie claimed he wants to play every week next season. Van Persie, 31, has just one year left on his United deal and his admission will alert Juventus and Fenerbahce, who are interested in the Holland striker. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester City want £32million-rated Real Madrid midfielder Isco as they plan their summer revamp. The 23-year-old Bernabeu star is seen as a natural heir to the Blues' current playmaker David Silva, 29. (Daily Mirror)

Chelsea have entered the race for Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain. Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United have all been linked with mega-money moves for the Argentine. Now the Blues have joined the chase and are ready to launch a £30million move. (Daily Star)

Tottenham want Marseille's £12million-rated midfield enforcer Giannelli Imbula  and are ready to offer Benjamin Stambouli to the French club as part of a deal. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester City have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Kevin de Bruyne after Wolfsburg warned the winger won't be sold. City are keen to bring the £35million-rated Belgian back to the Premier League following a miserable time in England with Chelsea. However, Wolfsburg's chairman Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz insists the 23-year-old, or any of his teammates, are not for sale. (Daily Mirror)

Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette has effectively ruled out a move to Liverpool this summer. (Daily Mirror)

Paul Clement is launching a £2million move for Aston Villa outcast Andreas Weimann. Clement, the new Derby County head coach, is ready to make an offer for the Austrian attacker after he was told he can leave Villa by manager Tim Sherwood. (Daily Telegraph)

Mascherano Wary Of Old Friend Tevez

Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano will line up against a friend turned rival in the Champions League final on Saturday as compatriot Carlos Tevez attempts to fire Juventus to their first European Cup in 19 years.

Mascherano and Tevez moved to Europe together to join English side West Ham United from Corinthians in 2006.

After an inauspicious start at Upton Park, both went onto enjoy successful careers in England as Mascherano joined Liverpool before moving to Barcelona in 2010, while Tevez won Premier League titles with Manchester United and Manchester City.

However, it is at Juventus where Tevez has shown his best form in European football.

The 31-year-old has scored 29 goals this season to guide Juventus to the brink of their first ever treble of Serie A, Italian Cup and Champions League.

"Carlos's career is there for everyone to see. It is formidable," said Mascherano.

"He is one of the best players I have ever shared a pitch with and has an incredible winning mentality.

"He has left a mark at all the teams he has played with. Obviously, if you are faced with playing him you have to be very careful.

"He is a player that likes to play these type of games and clearly is one of the most important players in the Juventus team."

At the other end of the field the clash between the Spanish and Italian champions brings Luis Suarez face-to-face with old foes Patrice Evra and Giorgio Chiellini.

Suarez was banned for eight matches after being found guilty of racially abusing Evra in 2011 during their time at Liverpool and Manchester United respectively.

The fiery Uruguayan then received a four-month ban for biting Chiellini at last summer's World Cup.

However, Mascherano believes Suarez has shown this season he has the right temperament to concentrate solely on winning the Champions League for the first time.

"For Luis that is already in the past," added Mascherano.

"It is a special game for him because it is his first Champions League final and these games are special, but not because of the players he will face.

"Luis is of an age now and has shown that we don't need to say anything. He is responsible for his actions."

Mascherano has already tasted victory in a Champions League final during his first season at Barca, but also lost one while at Liverpool in 2007.

However, he insisted that even winning the treble would not wipe away the pain of losing the World Cup final to Germany in extra time last July despite his heroics throughout the tournament.

"The worst feeling is to lose a World Cup final.

"Apart from that the feeling of winning any title is very gratifying because it is the reward of all the work done during the year.

"The Champions League has that feeling but also an added prestige. As a footballer that prestige is also something that we play for."

Fifa Suspends Two Congolese Officials

Fifa have announced the temporary suspension of Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas and Badji Mombo Wantete, respectively the vice president and secretary general of the Republic of Congo football federation (Fecofoot).

The world’s football governing body said the two officials are under investigation on the breach of code of ethics.

At the request of Cornel Borbély, President of the Ethics Commission of the investigating chamber of Fifa, Hans-Joachim Eckert, the chairman of the trial chamber, temporarily suspended both men from any activity related to football at national and international levels.

The suspension follows a request for "various offences under the Ethics Code of Fifa”, according to a statement.

The Ethic Code prohibits corruption, conflicts of interest, accepting gifts and committing discrimination. It also obliges Fifa officials to observe the principle of neutrality.

Soccer-United Striker Van Persie Keeping Options Open

AMSTERDAM, June 3 (Reuters) - Robin van Persie is keeping his options open over his future at Manchester United as he enters a final season of his contract with the club, Dutch media reported on Wednesday.

"The club must do its homework and so must I. It's a new situation," he told reporters in an interview with several Dutch newspapers ahead of Friday's friendly international between the Netherlands and the U.S. in Amsterdam.

"I'm going to calmly and relaxed sit down and consider everything.

"I still have ambitions of playing every week. I feel top fit and I think I can still go on for several years. Take note of my words," said the 31-year-old, who moved to Old Trafford from Arsenal in 2012.

Van Persie said he should have had six or seven more goals than the tally of 10 he netted for the club last season.

"People don't accept that I just scored 10. Actually that's a compliment because they expect more of me on the basis of what I can do. I was the club's second highest goal scorer together with Juan Mata and behind Wayne Rooney (14 goals).

"It's not good that a top club like Manchester United does not have a scorer with 20 or more goals behind his name each season and that is why we only finished fourth."

Van Persie struggled with an ankle injury through the season, blaming a hectic pre-World Cup training programme, as he battled to get fit for Brazil, and then a lack of a break after the tournament last summer.

"After I came back from injury I realised that I would not automatically get back in the starting line-up," he said. "But I didn't have a problem with that because they were playing well at the time.

"These things happen. We are living in an adult world. Louis van Gaal is not the coach of Robin van Persie but of Manchester United with 25 in the squad." (Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Sudipto Ganguly)

Swiss Attorney General: Blatter Not Under Investigation

The Swiss Attorney General (OAG) has stated Sepp Blatter is not part of their investigations into alleged corruption concerning Fifa officials following the president's resignation.

Blatter confirmed his intention to step down on Tuesday, having been re-elected for a fifth term on Friday.

The organisation has been rocked by allegations of corruption in recent weeks but the OAG confirmed Blatter was not under investigation.

"The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland has taken note of the announced resignation of Joseph S. Blatter as President of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (Fifa)," read an OAG statement.

"The OAG has opened criminal proceedings against persons unknown on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and of money laundering.

"Therefore, Joseph S. Blatter is not under investigation by the OAG. His announced resignation will have no influence on the ongoing criminal proceedings. The OAG will not release any further information."

Last week's Fifa Congress at which Blatter was re-elected had been preceded by the arrest of seven senior officials at a hotel in Zurich, with a total of 14 people then indicted by the US Department of Justice under charges of racketeering, fraud and money laundering.

On the same day, Swiss authorities announced an investigation into corrupt practices by unnamed persons during the bidding process for the hugely controversial 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Russia and Qatar respectively.