Super Eagles And Lille Goal Keeper Vincent Enyeama Wins Marc Vivien Foe Award For The Best African Player In Lique 1

Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has won the RFI - FRANCE 24 Marc-Vivien Foé Award for the best African player in the French Ligue 1 football championship for the 2013-14 season, it has been announced.

The Lille goalkeeper won out over Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier (Toulouse FC) and Cameroon international player Henri Bedimo (Olympique Lyonnais).

Enyeama, 31, was picked by a jury composed of French football journalists after each member selected three names from a list of 10 players previously drawn up by the RFI and France 24 sports departments.

FOOTBALL : France Goalkeeper Landreau To Retire

France goalkeeper Mickael Landreau, who holds the record for the most appearances in the French top flight, announced on Sunday that he will retire in the summer.

Landreau, who will turn 35 on Wednesday, revealed his intention to step down during an awards ceremony broadcast live on television.

The former Nantes, Paris Saint-Germain and Lille goalkeeper, now with Bastia, has been capped 11 times by France and hopes to feature in Didier Deschamps' squad for the World Cup, with a provisional squad announcement due on Tuesday.

FOOTBALL : Ibra Named France's Player Of The Year

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain was named France's players' player of the year for the second season running on Sunday.

With a game of the season still to go, Swedish striker Ibrahimovic is the French top flight's leading scorer with 25 goals and has netted 40 in all competitions, beating the all-time club record of 39, set by the Argentine Carlos Bianchi in 1978.

WORLD CUP : Brazil Ready For Ronaldo And Messi

One month from the start of the World Cup, Brazil is scrambling to get the stage ready for Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi while dousing lingering anger at the multi-billion dollar price tag.

As championships around the world draw to a close, Ronaldo and Messi are bracing to headline a galaxy of stars at the four-week showpiece which kicks off on June 12 in Sao Paulo.

Organisers hope Brazil's opening game against Croatia at the futuristic Corinthians Arena will draw a line under the pre-tournament chaos, allowing football to finally take centre-stage.

FOOTBALL : Atletico, Barca to play title decider

Atletico Madrid and Barcelona will play a La Liga title decider at the Nou Camp stadium next weekend after the front runners drew on Sunday to set up one of the most dramatic finishes in Spain's top flight for more than 60 years.

On a day of nerve-jangling tension, when leaders Atletico came desperately close to a late goal that would have clinched the championship, the Madrid club had to come from behind to rescue a 1-1 draw at home to Malaga while second-placed Barca were held to a 0-0 stalemate at Elche.

Real Madrid dropped out of the title race when they suffered a surprise 2-0 loss at Celta Vigo that left them five points behind their city rivals with one game remaining.

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE : City Crowned BPL Champions

Manchester City calmly overpowered West Ham United 2-0 to secure their second Premier League title in three seasons in a party atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Liverpool beat Newcastle United 2-1 at Anfield to finish two points behind the champions but goals by Samir Nasri and Vincent Kompany sparked wild celebrations at City whose heavyweight squad came out on top at the end of a thrilling and fluctuating title race.

Nasri calmed City nerves with a fierce strike in the 39th minute and captain Kompany's neat finish four minutes after halftime put the hosts in cruise control, rounding off a superb debut season for manager Manuel Pellegrini.

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE : Suarez undeserving of award - Mou

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has claimed that Liverpool striker Luis Suarez is an unworthy choice as this season's Premier League player of the year.

"Luis Suarez is a very good player. They're not voting for a player who has no quality," Mourinho said, in comments carried by several British newspapers on Sunday.

"(But) the profile of player who wins the player of the year is not the profile of player who used to win in English football 10, eight, six years ago."

FOOTBALL : Kovac to the rescue for Croatia

Former Croatia captain Niko Kovac came to his country's rescue last October, his lack of managerial experience offset by skills on the pitch to see Croatia through to the World Cup finals.

Berlin-born Kovac carved a reputation in his playing days for hard work and discipline, attributes he used to good effect to guide a struggling side past Iceland in the qualifying play-offs.

The 42-year-old inherited from previous coach Igor Stimac a Croatian side that had come under pressure for trailing a distant second behind Belgium in their qualifying group.

FOOTBALL : Brazil bruised by stadium woes

With time pressing, the Sao Paulo stadium to be used for the World Cup's opening game between Brazil and Croatia on 12 June has still not held a test game in front of a major crowd.

It is one of four of the 12 World Cup stadiums that have still not been finished.

Fifa originally demanded the stadiums be ready for 31 December but deadline after deadline has passed and eight workers have been killed in construction accidents.

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE : Carroll out to crown Liverpool by scoring against Manchester City

Former Liverpool striker Andy Carroll hopes to do his old team a favour by scoring for West Ham against Manchester City to open up the Premier League title race on the final day.

Manuel Pellegrini's side would guarantee the trophy if they beat the Hammers at the Etihad Stadium, leaving the Reds needing to beat Newcastle and hope that their rivals slip up.

Carroll, who was sold by Brendan Rodgers to the Hammers last summer after not fitting into the manager's plans at Anfield, believes that his former club "deserve" to be champions and is out to crown them with a goalscoring performance on Sunday.

LA LIGA : Ike Uche scores 13th La Liga goal

Nigeria striker Ikechukwu Uche scored his 13th goal in La Liga on Saturday evening as his club won 4-0 over visiting Rayo Vallecano at the Estadio El Madrigal.
A 22nd minute goal from the Nigerian put the Yellow Submarine ahead before goals from Bruno Soriano, Jonathan Pereira and Jaume Costa sealed victory for the hosts.

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE : Team news and permutations - Liverpool and City at full strength for final day

All games on the final weekend of the season will kick-off at 3pm BST on Sunday

Cardiff City v Chelsea

Cardiff are already relegated. Chelsea could move up from third to second with a win if Liverpool lose.
With Cardiff relegated following last Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Newcastle, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks set to make changes as the club target a winning send-off before returning to the Championship. Frank Lampard is ill and is expected to miss a potential farewell appearance for Chelsea. Lampard, Ashley Cole and captain John Terry, who has a knock, are all out of contract at the end of the season, as is striker Samuel Eto'o, who recently had a knee injury, and is doubtful after being injured in training on Thursday.

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE : SILVA WARNS CITY AGAINST LAST-DAY COMPLACENCY

With Liverpool ready to pounce in case of a misstep, Manchester City will look to seize the Premier League title by beating West Ham United on Sunday's final day.

After a campaign that has seen Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool all spend time as front-runners, City are now only a point from a second title in three years thanks to a run of four successive victories.

Although City lead second-place Liverpool by only two points, their vastly superior goal difference – +63 to +50 – means that a draw against West Ham will suffice.

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE : There's still room for improvement - Wenger

Arsene Wenger admits he still has more work to do in the close-season before Arsenal will be at the level required to win the Premier League again.

Wenger's side led the table for long periods of the season, but faded badly as the pressure mounted and injuries began to take their toll.

In the end, Arsenal were relieved to seal a top-four finish and Champions League qualification for the 17th successive year.

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE : Mourinho plans overhaul after vexing finale

Jose Mourinho's thoughts are already turning to next season after Chelsea's interest in the Premier League title race was ended before their final-day trip to Cardiff City.

Mourinho's team will face Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's relegated side at the Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday knowing they are almost certain to finish the season in third position.

But while qualification for the Champions League has been assured, Blues boss Mourinho is clearly frustrated there will be no silverware at Stamford Bridge this season.

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE : Ten questions for BPL final day

The 2013-14 Premier League season concludes on Sunday with a number of issues, including the destination of the title, still to be decided.

Here, AFP Sports poses 10 questions that will be answered on the final day:

1. Can Manchester City hold their nerve?

After overwhelming Aston Villa 4-0 on Wednesday, Manchester City effectively require only a point at home to West Ham United to claim a second title in three years. If City draw, Liverpool would need to win at home to Newcastle United by at least 13 goals to take the title. But if City lose, Liverpool will be crowned champions for the first time since 1990 if they beat Newcastle.

2. Will City or Liverpool break the scoring record?

KESHI: Why I Invited Yobo & Osaze To Eagles

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi is a legend of Nigerian football. With playing spells at ACB, New Nigeria Bank, Africa Sports, Lokeren, Anderlecht, Strasbourg, Molenbeek and Sacramento Scorpions, he is clearly a dyed-in-the wool professional.

On Tuesday, Keshi named a list of 30 players that will represent Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil. Joseph Yobo and Odemwingie, two senior players who infamously previously fell out publicly with Keshi were handed recalls while trusted no thrills-no frills stalwart, Brown Ideye was surprisingly left out.

Keshi spoke exclusively with supersport.com on the reasons behind his decisions.
The list is finally out. A lot of Nigerians thought it would be released on 22 April after your meeting with members of the technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation. What was responsible for the delay?

TENNIS: Ruthless Nadal Brushes Berdych Aside In Madrid Masters

Defending champion Rafa Nadal showed flashes of brilliance as he brushed Tomas Berdych aside 6-4 6-2 to reach the Madrid Masters semi-finals.

Nadal was moving around the clay with ease and quickly established an advantage in the second set when he thrashed a marvellous forehand down the line for a 2-1 lead.

That shot seemingly ended Berdych’s resistance as the Spaniard tore through the remaining games to wrap up victory in one hour and 27 minutes.

Laurent Koscielny Extends Arsenal Contract

Arsenal have confirmed that defender Laurent Koscielny has signed a new long-term contract at the club.
In a press conference on Thursday, Arsene Wenger revealed he was close to tying his star centre-back to an extension, and the France international has now put pen to paper on a new deal.

Koscielny has made 48 appearances for Arsenal this season, cultivating a formidable partnership with Per Mertesacker and reportedly attracting the attentions of Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

"I am very proud to have reached agreement with the club on a new contract," he told the club's official website.

NIGERIA : Samson Siasia gives reasons for not coaching NPFL clubs

Former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia’s coaching competence has been questioned again for the umpteenth time after turning down offers to manage in the Nigeria professional league.
However, the AFCON 1994 winner has given reasons why he isn’t working in the league after turning down offers to manage both Kano Pillars and Enyimba.
“It’s not a difficult job; it’s just that the clubs here in Nigeria are not serious and I cannot coach a team doesn’t pay salaries of players, a team that travels by road and at night. I want to see my children grow”
In 2005, Samson Siasia coached the under 20 team (Flying Eagles), taking them to the finals of both the 2005 Under-20 World Cup and the U-20 African Youth Championship. He won the African Youth Championship and advanced all the way to the world final before losing to Argentina 2–1.