Guus Hiddink has returned to Chelsea as manager “until the end of the season” following the sacking of Jose Mourinho, the struggling Premier League champions announced on Saturday.

The experienced Dutch coach, 69, returns to a role he previously performed in 2009, when he led Chelsea to glory in the FA Cup. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/19/hiddink-named-chelsea-interim-manager/

Golden Eaglets star, Victor Osimhen may have settled for Wolfsburg of Germany in his pursuit for professional football in Europe.

Osimhen, won the golden boot award with his record nine goals at the 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup held in Chile. He became the subject of transfer speculation with various European clubs said to be interested. They include Sporting Lisbon, Anderlecht and Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/18/osimhen-heads-to-wolfsburg/

According to widespread reports, Jose Mourinho has been sacked by Chelsea following the club’s latest defeat, a 2-1 loss to Leicester City on Monday, capping off a poor start to the season that leaves the reigning Premier League champions 16th in the Premier League.

The Blues boss has been under increasing pressure in recent weeks as the club have slumped to nine defeats in sixteen league games, following a 2015-16 campaign in which the Blues swept to the title. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/17/jose-mourinho-sacked-by-chelsea/

Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick, including an exquisite second goal, as Barcelona strolled into the Club World Cup final with a 3-0 win over Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande on Thursday.
Guangzhou gave the European champions a couple of scares in the first half but the Chinese side were utterly outclassed by the end of a match that often resembled an attack-versus-defence training session. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/17/suarez-score-hat-trick-as-barca-trash-guangzhou/

Base on statistics it shows that Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas were the driving forces behind last season’s Premier League title charge, but all three have suffered a staggering dip in form.

Jose Mourinho twice hit out at his Chelsea players after the club’s ninth Premier League defeat of the season left them languishing near the relegation zone. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/17/stats-confirm-diego-costa-eden-hazard-cesc-fabregas-as-mourinhos-problem/

Jose Mourinho isn’t special any more. He can’t have any complaints if he is sacked because if he gets all the credit for winning the Premier League and hailed as the greatest manager there is when Chelsea win, then he has to face the consequences when they perform as badly as this. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/17/jose-mourinho-is-not-special-anymore-harry-redknapp/

Diego Costa made clear his frustration with his Chelsea team-mates during their match with Leicester, but his gesturing only gave pundit Jamie Carragher an excuse to criticise the striker.Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/15/diego-costa-criticises-chelsea-team-mates-during-their-match-with-leicester/

José Mourinho said his players had betrayed him and can no longer view themselves as superstars after Chelsea suffered a ninth league defeat of the season, at the hands of an excellent Leicester City side, to leave them only one point above the relegation zone and the manager under increasing pressure to hold on to his job. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/15/my-players-betrayed-me-in-defeat-to-leicester-jose-mourinho/

Manchester City striker Yaya Toure is laying claim to the goal, which secured a win against Swansea last Saturday.

Toure’s stoppage time effort bounced off the back of Kelechi Iheanacho into the net. Toure argued that the ball was heading straight into the net, and the deflection from Iheancho was immaterial. Majority of Manchester City fans back his claim for the goal. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/15/toure-disputes-iheanachos-goal/

Arsenal have been drawn against Barcelona while PSG will face Chelsea in the Champions League last 16.

The Gunners have been knocked out at the last 16 stage in the last five consecutive seasons and will have to overcome the holders, whom they lost to back in 2011 having held a 2-1 first-leg lead, if they are to break that trend.Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/14/champions-league-last-16-draw/

A couple of hours before kick-off the north-east received its first snowfall of winter. Only minutes into the first half Sam Allardyce must have wished it had been sufficiently severe to prompt the postponement of a game that would leave his side stuck in the bottom three and a thoroughly impressive Watford savouring the view from the heights of seventh. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/12/odion-ighalo-lifts-watford-to-seventh-and-leaves-sunderland-in-bottom-three/

Kelechi Iheanacho’s fortuitous stoppage-time goal gave Manchester City a 2-1 home win over managerless Swansea City on Saturday that provisionally sent Manuel Pellegrini’s side top in the Premier League.
Swansea, who sacked Garry Monk on Wednesday, looked to have earned a point when Bafetimbi Gomis scored a 90th-minute equaliser, only for Yaya Toure’s shot to hit team-mate Iheanacho and loop in two minutes later. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/12/iheanacho-sends-man-city-top-palace-up-to-sixth/

With gratitude to God, the family of Mr Stephen Okechukwu Keshi announces the death of our wife, mother, daughter and sister, Mrs Kate Keshi nee Abureme. She died in the United States of America. She has in the last three years battled with cancer. She gave a good fight until she finally succumbed yesterday,” the statement on Wednesday revealed. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/11/wife-of-nigerian-legend-keshi-dies/

Siasia, alongside an exciting cast of Super Eagles led by Stephen Keshi defeated Senegal 2-1 in the opening game of the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations which was ironically hosted by Senegal.

He opened scoring for Nigeria in the game that the Eagles needed a Stephen Keshi late goal to win the game after Jules Bocande had equalised for the home side. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/09/big-match-feature-nigeria-vs-senegal-u23/

Sunday Mba scored for Turkish 1. Lig (second division) club, Yeni Malatyaspor on Sunday in their 1-3 defeat to Adana Demirspor as the competition entered match day 14.

Mba netted in the eighth minute to give his side the lead at Malatya Inönü Stadyumu. Redamore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/06/mba-scores-in-malatyaspor-loss/

Nigeria striker Anthony Ujah scored his seventh goal of the season as his Werder Bremen side drew 1-1 away at VfB Stuttgart in the German Bundesliga on Sunday.

Ujah, who has not been in Sunday Oliseh’s plans for Nigeria in recent internationals, scored Werder Bremen’s equaliser in the 71st minute of the game to earn his side a share of the spoils at the Mercedes Benz Arena. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/06/ujah-saves-werder-the-blushes/

The Canaries fell well short of the standards they set last weekend against Arsenal as Troy Deeney and the rampant Odion Ighalo struck in either half to condemn Alex Neil’s men to defeat.

Neil included Declan Rudd for his first Premier League start since September 2011 at John Ruddy’s expense and the young keeper made a string of stops to deny Ighalo, but City could have few complaints at the final outcome. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/05/ighalo-score-as-norwich-city-slumped-against-watford/

Real Madrid have been expelled from the Copa del Rey after the suspended Denis Cheryshev was selected to take on Cadiz. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/04/real-madrid-expelled-from-copa-del-rey/

For the first time in the short life span of the African Players awards in the English Premier League, the preceding month’s award winner has appeared on the shortlist for the current month.
Odion Ighalo, won the award by an overwhelming majority in October, and, according to a release by New African Soccer, he seemed to “continue where he left off in October, playing well enough to earn him a place in the shortlist for November”.
The Nigerian international played every minute of Watford’s November fixtures, which was a difficult month for them given the home loss to Manchester United and the away loss to Leicester City. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/03/ighalo-three-others-for-epl-african-player-award/

Nigeria will have her sights on a place in the semi-final of the Caf Africa Under-23 Nations Cup when they lock wings with the Young Pharaohs of Egypt at the Stade Caroline Faye in M’bour, Senegal today

With 3 points in the bag after a nervy 3-2 win over Mali in their first group game, the Dream Team will seek another win to ensure a place in the semi-final and one step towards a ticket for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Egypt and Nigeria were in the same group at the All Africa Games in Congo in September, but the Pharaohs pulled out of the football event at the last minute. Nigeria went on to win the bronze medal at the Africa sports festival. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/02/big-match-feature-nigeria-vs-egypt/

Kevin De Bruyne scored two late goals to help Manchester City to a 4-1 victory over Hull City in the League Cup quarter-finals.

Wilfried Bony struck early in the first half at the Etihad Stadium and the Premier League leaders rarely looked like surrendering their advantage before substitutes Kelechi Iheanacho and De Bruyne clinched the victory in the closing stages. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/02/iheanacho-score-as-manchester-city-beat-hull-city-4-1/

Football’s world governing body, FIFA, has admitted its error in awarding Nigeria captain, Kelechi Nwakali, the bronze boot of the recently-concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup finals in Chile.
This was contained in a letter to the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, and signed by Mustapha Fahmy, the Director of the Football Division of the world body. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/12/01/fifa-admits-nwakali-bronze-boot-error-rewards-chukwueze/

National Under-23 team coach, Samson Siasia, says his team is ready for the Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which could secure the team’s ticket for the 2016 Olympic Games.
The Dream Team VI will face Mali on Sunday at the Caroline Faye Stadium, Mbour, in what could determine the winners of Group B. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/11/27/nigerias-under-23-team-prepare-for-mali-clash/

elechi Nwakali and three others in FIFA Under-17 world cup team will join Belgian club Standard Liege before moving to bigger European clubs.

Nwakali, Samuel Chukwueze, David Enogela and Joel Osikel have been signed by foremost players’ agents Stellar Group, who manage several top stars including Gareth Bale.

A top source informed: “The players have been invited to Europe by Standard Liege and it is from there that the players will be moved to other clubs in other leagues.” Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/11/26/eaglets-stars-head-for-belgium/

By contrast, Ronaldo’s contribution to Madrid can’t be questioned, at least until recent weeks. The Portuguese has become the club’s all-time leading scorer in just his seventh season and won the Ballon d’Or in each of the past two seasons.

Yet, by his own remarkable standards, Ronaldo’s form has dipped this season. A return of 13 goals in 15 games would be sensational for most players, but there has been a worrying trend of those strikes coming in batches against weaker opposition rather than when it matters most. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/11/20/ronaldo-and-bale-future-in-doubt/

Nigeria Football Federation has made a passionate appeal for the release of coach Samson Siasia’s mother.

72-year-old Ogere Siasia was abducted in Odoni, Bayelsa by three armed men on Tuesday.

Coach Siasia is currently with the Nigeria U23 team in Gambia preparing for this month’s African U23 Championship in Gambia.

“This is quite disturbing. We are just preparing for a crucial 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match, and the U-23 boys are already in Gambia for a pre-Cup of Nations training camp. Why this?,” said a down casted Amaju Pinnick. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/11/17/nff-begs-for-samson-siasias-mother-release/

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has pledged $20,000 per goal as he urged the Super Eagles to beat visiting Sihlangu of Swaziland in their 2018 World Cup qualifier in Port Harcourt.

The Super Eagles

laboured to a draw in the first leg in Lobamba. However, coach Sunday Oliseh is hopeful that his wards will be on top of their game this afternoon when they face the Swazi team at the Adokie Amesiemaka Stadium. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/11/17/score-a-goal-get-20000-wike-tells-eagles/

The country’s Olympic team cheated death on their way to Gambia for final preparation ahead African U23 Championship

Nigeria U23 team escaped plane crash on their way to Gambia on Sunday morning towards perfecting strategies for the African U23 Championship billed for Senegal.

The Dream Team VI opted for the west African country after their trip to Morocco was cancelled owing to visa issues. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/11/16/dream-team-vi-escape-plane-crash-stranded-in-accra/

Nigeria U23 coach Samson Siasia is considering drafting U-17 World Cup hotshot Victor Osimhen and MVP Kelechi Nwakali for the African U23 Nations Cup in Senegal, officials said. Osimhen set up a new goals record at the U17 World Cup in Chile, where he scored 10 goals, netting in all seven games as Nigeria won a fifth global crown.

It was further learnt that the two other players may be skipper Kelechi Nwakali, who was named the MVP of the U17 World Cup, and one of the team’s fullbacks. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/11/12/u-23-siasia-considers-nwakali-osimhen/

You heard it right. According to Spanish gossip site Don Balon, Louis van Gaal has told the 26-year-old (presumably after his side had lost 3-0 at the Emirates earlier this season) that he could be the ‘cornerstone’ of the United side.

Sanchez only moved to the Emirates from Barcelona in the summer of 2014 and is believed to be one of the club’s top earners on around £130,000 per week.

Crucially, he has also recently bought a new house in London so would presumably have no desire to leave it behind and move up north. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/11/11/man-united-are-preparing-to-sign-alexis-sanchez/

Head coach of Nigeria’s national team, Sunday Oliseh is yet to fully shake off the sickness which knocked him out a few weeks ago.

Oliseh’s recent health challenges stopped him from taking charge of Nigeria’s last round of internationals against Burkina Faso and the coach has revealed that he is yet to attain optimum fitness.

Looking noticeably emaciated, the trainer said he however decided to rouse himself because of Friday’s 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier against Swaziland which he described as “very important”. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/11/11/oliseh-still-facing-health-issues/

Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi and Manchester City starlet, Kelechi Iheanacho, have joined the Super Eagles training camp in Abuja ahead of Friday’s World Cup qualifier in Swaziland.

Mikel arrived Abuja early Tuesday morning on board a British Airways flight.

“I hope to win (against Swaziland) and I have been doing this from the first day,” africanFootball.com quoted the Chelsea star as saying on arrival.

Manchester City’s Iheanacho is honouring his first Super Eagles call-up. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/11/10/wcq-mikel-iheanacho-join-eagles-camp/