Iheanachor nets hat-trick for Columbus Crew

Manchester City  youth -  teamer Kelechi Iheanacho bagged a hat – trick for Columbus Crew in their 5 – 1 defeat of Dayton Dutch Lions FC on Wednesday afternoon.

The attacker is not a candidate to be acquired or loaned by the MLS outfit as he is only keeping fit there until mid – October before he rejoins Manchester City, subject to the approval of the Home Office.

But if the Citizens fail get a green – light from the authorities,the Flying Eagles star will be farmed out on loan to another team to continue his development.

That said, the transfer window in most parts of the world would have been shut, meaning the earliest time Kelechi Iheanacho can start playing professionally is January 2015.

The Golden Ball winner at the 2013 FIFA Under 17s is strongly being linked with a shift to New York City FC.

Odemwingie Excluded from Stoke's Squad

Peter Osaze Odemwingie was a shock omission from the Stoke City 25-man list expected to prosecute the Potters game from now till the January transfer window.

Each Premier League team has had to submit a list of which 25 players it plans to use between now and the January registration window.

Any player not registered will be unable to play for their team during that period, which rules Odemwingie out for at least the next four months.

Players under the age of 21 on January 1, 2014 don’t have to register under Premier League rules on squad size.

The 33-year-old confirmed he will require surgery on the cruciate knee ligament injury that has de-railed his season and with no time frame fixed for his return the club opted to leave him out of their squad with some reports saying he is out for the season.

However, his recent non-inclusion in Stoke City means he is definitely out for the next four months.

Enyimba Now Super 4 Champions

Enyimba of Aba recently beat rivals kano pillars to claim the pre-season super 4 championship with a 1-0 win. Scoring six goals and conceded non in the tournament. They had earlier won the Super cup and federation cup, bringing it to 3 trophies won in a roll.

Nigeria 2 Vs Ethiopia 0- How it happened

Highlight of the game

0- The teams have lined up for the national anthems: first is Ethiopia. Now it's time for the the Nigeria anthem. 

0- Keshi has set his team up with a 4-3-3 formation, Liverpool's Victor Moses on the left in the front trio
2 min- Ambrose has the first shot at goal for Nigeria, he cannons the ball over the posts after collecting the ball just outside the Ethiopian goal. 
5 min- The match has started with a quick pace, Ethiopia look dangerous on the counter and they have the first corner of the match.
6 min- Eminike with a chance , but he couldn't get a proper shot in on goal. Nigeria are controlling the ball well, putting the Antelopes defence under enormous pressure.
13 min- Said has the Antelopes first opportunity of the match, he bundles past a few defenders and manages to shoot at Enyeama's goal, but the ball slides past the post. The Ethiopians won't sit back. 
17 min- Musa goes down after a challenge, he seems to have had his wind knocked out, after ball struck his stomach. He's up and running now. 
18 min- Nigeria are handed a penalty after Butako was judged to have handled the ball in the box.
20 min- Victor Moses scores from the penalty spot! GOAL! GOAL! Goal!!!
23 min- Nigeria can now relax , they have a 2-goal cushion over the Antelopes now. It's just what Stephen Keshi would have wanted. Ethiopia need to chase the game.

26 min- Ethiopia receive another corner, cleared at the front post by Nigeria though. The Super Eagles are playing very tightly in midfield. 
29 min- Free-kick for Ethiopia, floated in, but Enyeama collects easily. 
30 min- Victor Moses almost scores his second goal of the match, he fires a powerful shot at Tasew, who can't hold onto the ball. Moses looks to be in good form and very dangerous.
32 min -Oduamadi has an amazing chance at the back post, but he can't find the target from 3 yards out. He might rue that chance later. 
45 min - 2 mins of added time indicated. Free-kick to Ethiopia, punched away by Enyeama. 

HALF TIME. SCORE- 2: 0


45 min - The teams are back out for the second period.
46 min - Musa is up in an attacking position, and forces a corner which he takes. 
47 min - Obi-Mikel concedes a free-kick, and gives Ethiopia some welcome respite.
50 min - Musa somehow finds Moses on the edge of the box with a delightful cross, but the Liverpool forward can't get a shot away. 
52 min - Adane Girma gets a yellow card after hacking down Obi-Mikel. 
56 min - Sunday Mba replaces Ideye. 
58th min - Ethiopia once again on the attack.
60th min - Assefa comes on for Ethiopia.
64th min - Free-kick for Ethiopia on the edge of Enyeama's box. Blasted into the wall.
68th min - Said goes down in the box, but the referee has given the big striker a yellow card for simulation. 
69th min- Moses gets close to Tasew's goals but the angles becomes too acute to play the ball square.
70th min - Musa looks to be in at the far post after the ball gets lofted in, but Tasew flings himself into the air and snatches the ball. 
78th min - Goal-scorer Victor Moses is replaced by Nsofor. 
80th min - Eminike goes down, looks bad. He has stayed down after being close-lined by a Ethiopian defender.

82nd min - GOAL!!!!!!!!! by NSOFOR
82nd min - The substitute punishes Ethiopia by delivering a hammer-blow. He powered in a free-kick, that had enough dip and swerve on it to evade Tasew. 

FULL TIME. Nigeria 2- Ethiopia 0

Mikel, Emenike, Musa and others, Make CAF's list of African Player of the Year. [SEE]

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), has released the nominees for the 2013 African Player of the year and the african player of the year (Based in Africa).

Five Nigerian players, including: Ahmed musa (CSKA moscow), emmanuel Emenike (Fernabahce), John Mikel Obi (Chelsea), Sunday mba (warri wolves), Vincent Enyema (Lille), made the list.

Sunday Mba also made list of the African Player of the year, Based in Africa category.

Reigning African Player of the Year, Yaya Toure (Manchester City), also made the list.

The winners will be announced at the GLO-CAF Awards Gala scheduled for Thursday, January 9, 2014 in Lagos, Nigeria.

For full list, click here.

Players Flood camp, As Nigeria Takes on Ethiopia This Weekend

The Nigeria's Super Eagles, are battle ready to face Ethiopia in this weekend's world cup qualifiers at the U.G Usene stadium, Calabar. The eagles training session which kick-started on Wednesday, recorded poor turn-out earlier with just few players present. The odd seems to be changing as more players report in camp for the big name.
Players currently available for the game are: Mikel Obi, Victor moses, Vincent Enyeama, John Ogu, James Okwuosa, Austine Ejide, Sunday Mba, Elderson Echiejile, Solomon Kwambe, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Chidozie Agbim and many more.