Sports
FIFA rankings: Super Eagles slump to 44th position
Nigeria’s Super Eagles has been overtaken by eight national teams as it dropped eight places in the latest men’s ranking released by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA)
The three-time African champions, who were previously ranked 36th, now occupy 44th position. according to the latest ranking of men national teams released by FIFA on its official website on Thursday.
The Super Eagles also dropped from fourth to fifth position in Africa.
The West Africans drew one and lost one of their two outings in the month of November.
Morocco maintained top position in Africa, with Senegal, Algeria and Egypt in second, third and fourth positions, respectively.
Leicester City appoint Ruud van Nistelrooy as manager
Former Netherlands striker and Manchester United legend, Ruud van Nistelrooy, has been appointed as New manager of struggling English Premier League (EPL), Leicester City, following the dismissal of Steve Cooper.
The development comes just weeks after Van Nistelrooy’s brief stint as United’s interim boss ended.
Van Nistelrooy joined Erik ten Hag’s coaching staff at Manchester United during the summer but was announced as interim coach in October following Ten Hag’s sacking.
Despite leading United to three wins in four matches, including back-to-back victories over Leicester, he was relieved of his interim position following the arrival of Ruben Amorim as the club’s new head coach.
Leicester City sacked Cooper on Sunday after the former Nottingham Forest boss struggled to make an impact, earning 10 points from 12 Premier League games.
Cooper’s assistants, Alan Tate and Steve Rands, were also relieved of their duties, leaving first-team coach Ben Dawson to lead the team temporarily.
The Telegraph reported on Wednesday night that Van Nistelrooy has become the frontrunner for the Leicester job, with his appointment likely before the club’s weekend clash against Brentford.
The Telegraph said, “The Manchester United legend has held extensive talks with the Leicester hierarchy this week and is set to be confirmed as the replacement for Steve Cooper, who was sacked by the strugglers on Sunday afternoon.
“Van Nistelrooy is crucially available with no compensation after recently leaving United, following an interim spell of four matches in charge after the dismissal of Erik ten Hag.
“Leicester have discussed the post with the 48-year-old and, while the club’s hierarchy has been determined to explore a number of options, could appoint the former Netherlands international before the trip to Brentford on Saturday.”
This would mark Van Nistelrooy’s second stint as a senior manager, following an 11-month spell at PSV Eindhoven.
Despite expressing his desire to remain part of United’s coaching setup under Amorim, Van Nistelrooy was not retained.
Reports suggest that Amorim did not establish communication with Van Nistelrooy during his interim period.
“Other possible candidates, including former Chelsea manager Graham Potter, and ex-West Ham manager David Moyes, have both been ruled out by sources close to Leicester,” the report added.
Van Nistelrooy’s potential move to Leicester has sparked intrigue, given his recent success in stabilising Manchester United during a turbulent period.
Ruud van Nistelrooy will aim to rejuvenate the Foxes, who are looking to turn their season around under new leadership
Former Netherlands striker and Manchester United legend, Ruud van Nistelrooy, has been appointed as New manager of struggling English Premier League (EPL), Leicester City, following the dismissal of Steve Cooper.
The development comes just weeks after Van Nistelrooy’s brief stint as United’s interim boss ended.
Van Nistelrooy joined Erik ten Hag’s coaching staff at Manchester United during the summer but was announced as interim coach in October following Ten Hag’s sacking.
Despite leading United to three wins in four matches, including back-to-back victories over Leicester, he was relieved of his interim position following the arrival of Ruben Amorim as the club’s new head coach.
Leicester City sacked Cooper on Sunday after the former Nottingham Forest boss struggled to make an impact, earning 10 points from 12 Premier League games.
Cooper’s assistants, Alan Tate and Steve Rands, were also relieved of their duties, leaving first-team coach Ben Dawson to lead the team temporarily.
The Telegraph reported on Wednesday night that Van Nistelrooy has become the frontrunner for the Leicester job, with his appointment likely before the club’s weekend clash against Brentford.
The Telegraph said, “The Manchester United legend has held extensive talks with the Leicester hierarchy this week and is set to be confirmed as the replacement for Steve Cooper, who was sacked by the strugglers on Sunday afternoon.
“Van Nistelrooy is crucially available with no compensation after recently leaving United, following an interim spell of four matches in charge after the dismissal of Erik ten Hag.
“Leicester have discussed the post with the 48-year-old and, while the club’s hierarchy has been determined to explore a number of options, could appoint the former Netherlands international before the trip to Brentford on Saturday.”
This would mark Van Nistelrooy’s second stint as a senior manager, following an 11-month spell at PSV Eindhoven.
Despite expressing his desire to remain part of United’s coaching setup under Amorim, Van Nistelrooy was not retained.
Reports suggest that Amorim did not establish communication with Van Nistelrooy during his interim period.
“Other possible candidates, including former Chelsea manager Graham Potter, and ex-West Ham manager David Moyes, have both been ruled out by sources close to Leicester,” the report added.
Van Nistelrooy’s potential move to Leicester has sparked intrigue, given his recent success in stabilising Manchester United during a turbulent period.
Ruud van Nistelrooy will aim to rejuvenate the Foxes, who are looking to turn their season around under new leadership
The 2024/2025 Nigeria National League (NNL), season will begin on Saturday, November 30, with debutants, Abakiliki FC doing battle with Madiba FC of Lagos in the Southern Conference group B cracker at the Pa Ngele stadium at the Ebonyi state capital city
The games which has been dedicated as the Star Match of the new season by the organizers of the NNL league will however be the only match of the weekend, with the remaining matches fixed for next weekend.
Other teams in the group include Solution FC, Rovers FC, First Bank FC, Osun United, Gateway United, Kun Khalifat FC, ABS FC, and Sporting Lagos.
Madiba, which was among the team’s that finished top at the end of last season’s 2023/2024 NNL narrowly missed promotion to the elite NPFL league, after it failed to excel at the NNL Super 8 Champions promotional tournament in Enugu
The Star Match h hosts, Abakaliki FC was formed in October 2024 by the Ebonyi State Government, with former executive board member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and immediate past chairman of the NNL board, senator Obinna Ogba, as its chairman
The Confederation of African Football has listed Togo and Morocco officials to take charge of the double header 8th African Nations Championship qualifying match between the Super Eagles team B and their Ghanaian counterparts, which first leg is scheduled for the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, 22nd December 2024.
A statement issued Thursday by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) media office, indicates that the engagement is the first leg of the qualifying fixture between both teams, with the second and concluding leg to take place at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Saturday, 28th December.
Accordingly to the statement, “Aklesso Gnama will be in the role of referee, with compatriots Jonathan Ahonto Koffi, Wassiou Tchamolla Ourotou and Kossi Fabrice Senyo as assistant 1, assistant 2 and fourth official respectively.
“Ivan Gator Brown from Liberia will serve as commissioner while Beninoise official Hugues Alain Adjovi will be in the role of referee assessor.
“For the return leg in Uyo, Moroccans Hamza El Fariq, Abdessamad Abertoune, Zakaria Bouchtaoui and Hicham Temsamani will work as referee, assistant 1, assistant 2 and fourth official respectively, with Prince Kai Saquee from Sierra Leone as commissioner and Miboti Moise from the Democratic Republic of Congo as referee assessor.”
The game in Accra will commence at 4pm Ghana time (5pm in Nigeria) while the return leg will kick off at 5pm.
The winner on aggregate will qualify for the 8th African Nations Championship finals, to be hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania – which will use the event as dress rehearsal to test-run facilities and equipment for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals they have been selected to host. The tournament will hold 1st – 28th February, 2025.
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