SALISU YUSUF CONFIRMED AS KESHI’S NEW ASSISTANT
El Kanemi coach, Salisu Yusuf, has been confirmed as the new assistant coach of the Super Eagles who will work with Stephen Keshi in his second spell as coach.
It means that Daniel Amokachi will no longer be part of the team, in fulfillment of speculations that have held sway for the past month when Keshi signed his contract. Though the Nigeria Football Federation declined to announce the new change, it subtly put it out when it released the list of players from the Nigeria Professional Football League called up to camp in preparation for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad next month.
Yusuf’s choice stems from his deep knowledge of the domestic scene where he has had spells at the biggest clubs including winning the league with Kano Pillars.
Meanwhile, former international, Ike Shorunmu, remains as goalkeeper trainer.
Nigeria will play their first AFCON 2017 qualifier against Chad in Kaduna on June 13.
ANCELLOTTI TO MISS TWO GAMES
Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, will miss the remainder of the Liga season after being handed a two-match suspension by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
The sanction was related to the ironic applause Ancelotti is alleged to have directed at officials during his side’s 2-2 draw with Valencia on Saturday.
Ancelotti was found by the RFEF to have violated Article 117 of the Disciplinary Code, which states that those who “address referees, managers or officials in terms or attitudes of contempt or disregard … are punishable by suspension”. The 55-year-old is now set to miss his side’s remaining Liga fixtures against Espanyol and Getafe, in which the reigning European champions will attempt to overhaul Barcelona’s four-point lead at the top of the table.
BENTEKE SHOULD STAY PUT- SHERWOOD
Tim Sherwood has warned Christian Benteke that it would be a “gamble” for him to leave Aston Villa this summer.
According to Goal, Chelsea are keen on a move for the the 24-year-old, although Liverpool also remain in the running for the striker who has scored 11 goals in his last 10 appearances.
The Villa manager believes Benteke should consider the amount of playing time he would be given at another club and how that could have an impact on his place in the Belgium national team ahead of Euro 2016 next summer.
“I believe it is a very poor time to leave just before a Euro Championship or World Cup,” Sherwood told reporters.
“He could go to another club and be a bit-part player and then fall out of the squad for Belgium who will be favourites to win it. By playing for Aston Villa it is not keeping him out of that squad is it? Where is he going to go that is bigger than Aston Villa? Is he guaranteed to play there? Is he guaranteed to play anywhere he goes? You look at strikers at all of those clubs – Radamel Falcao, Mario Balotelli, all big-money strikers in a new environment, it is hard and it takes time to settle. It would be crucial for us for Christian to stay next season and beyond that.
I think it is a gamble for anyone to leave before a Championship, I honestly believe that.” He concluded.
US STRIPPED OF LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC RELAY MEDALS
The entire United States 4x100m relay team have been stripped of their London 2012 Olympic silver medals as a consequence of Tyson Gay’s drugs ban.
Former 100m and 200m world champion Gay was banned for a year after testing positive for a banned anabolic steroid.
The 32-year-old returned his London 2012 medal when his suspension was announced in May 2014. Now the International Olympic Committee has told US Olympic bosses that the whole team must return their medals.
The IOC wrote to the US Olympic Committee on Wednesday, telling them to collect the medals from Trell Kimmons, Justin Gatlin, Ryan Bailey, Jeffery Demps and Darvis Patton.
“We will begin efforts to have the medals returned and support all measures to protect clean athletes,” said a US Olympic Committee statement.
If the medals are reallocated, Trinidad and Tobago – who finished third in 38.12 seconds – would be awarded silver. Fourth-placed France would take the bronze instead.
