Flying Eagles coach Manu Garba has disowned a Facebook account, which carries his names and the impostor has allegedly been duping unsuspecting players and teams.
“My attention has been drawn to stories that I have defrauded players and teams through Facebook by demanding cash from them before they are picked by me,” stated Manu.
“To begin with, I do not have a Facebook page and I have directed my lawyers to take action against the media outfit that published a story alleging such malicious lies against my person.
“I am not aware of these allegations and have never met those people who are now coming up with these stories.
“It was also most unprofessional of the media not to double check such a story with me even when I have always left an open door to the media, first when I was a player and now as a coach.”
Manu further said he has lived above board with merit being the main yardstick in his selection of players.
“I know there are many interests when it comes to player selection, but I can beat my chest and say I have always picked players who deserve to be on the team.
“This was why we won in style the U17 World Cup in United Arab Emirates in 2013 and then the African Youth Championship this year in Senegal.
“Nobody made those allegations then and so when such things are coming through now, you can clearly see that some people are malicious and just wish to draw undue attention to themselves and nothing more.”
Newly Crowned African U-20 champions Nigeria have been drawn in group E of the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015.
The Nigerians who this weekend defeated host Senegal In Dakar to lift the AYC trophy will battle football power house Brazil, Asian reps Korea DPR and European representatives Hungary.
Ghana’s Black Satellites were drawn in Group B alongside Argentina, Panama and Austria; ‘Les Lionceaux’ of Senegal in Group C with Qatar, Colombia and Portugal whilst the Eaglets of Mali will battle it with Mexico, Uruguay and Serbia in Group D.
The FIFA U-20 World Cup will kick-off on the 30th of May through to the 20th of June 2015 in New Zealand
From Tennis, to formula1 from basketball to Golf and football here is the Newfanzone World Sports Update please follow us on twitter @newfanzone, like us on Facebook and circle us on google+ to keep the conversation going you can send us your Original Sport Stories and Sport Press releases to fanzone.fans@gmail.com
Andy Murray sealed a Davis Cup quarter-final place for Great Britain with a straight-sets win over American John Isner in Glasgow.
Playing without stars Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka, defending champion Switzerland slumped to a first-round loss to Belgium in the Davis Cup on Sunday,
WTA & ATP Rankings
There were no movements in the WTA top 10 while in the ATP Top ten Andy Murray Slipped from 3 to 5th as Rafael Nadal and Kei Nishikori both moved up to 3rd and 4th place respectively.
FORMULA1
Formula1 Champion has Spoken of his headache at having to sort out his new Mercedes deal after quitting Simon Fuller’s management company XIX last year.
Hamilton is on the verge of signing a new three year deal with Champions Mercedes as his current deal is due to expire at the end of this current season.
Formula1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone says he as spoken of his frustration as his plans to cut down on spending in formula1 has met with a brick wall.
It is Believed that the teams rejected Ecclestone’s proposal saying that this would “cheapen the value of the sport”
NBA
The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed forward Michael Beasley to a second 10-day contract. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed
RESULTS
Oklahoma City Thunder 108
Toronto Raptors 104
Los Angeles Lakers 93
Dallas Mavericks 100
GOLF
Johnson wins at Doral
Dustin Johnson has won the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral this is his ninth Tour victory and its coming immediately after he returned to the tour after to some time out to sort out some personal issues.
Johnson beat 2 (Bubba Watson) and 3 (J.B. Holmes) in driving distance for the week.
Inbee Park claims 13th career LPGA title.
Inbee Park claimed her 13th career LPGA title by winning the HSBC Women’s Champions on Sunday, shooting a 2-under 70 in the final round to win by two strokes.
Park, who started the day with the same two-stroke lead, had birdies on Nos. 7 and 11 at Sentosa Golf Club to finish the tournament at 15-under 273, clear of 17-year-old Lydia Ko, who also shot a 70.
FOOTBALL
ITALY
Embattled Serie A side Parma yesterday played a one all draw versus Atalanta
Parma 0-0 Atalanta
Champions Juventus will today play host to Sassuolo as the Italian Powerhouse look to extend their lead of the Italian SerieA
Juventus vs Sassuolo 4:00 PM
SPAIN
Barcelona 6-1 Rayo Vallecano
Barcelona turned on the style to go top of the Liga a day after Real Madrid fumbled in the title race.
a goal from Pique, a brace from Suarez and a Messi Hat trick was all it took for FCB to attain the top of the Spanish Liga.
Lionel Messi Breaks Barcelona, La Liga Hat-Trick Records
Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi added another record to his already extraordinary resume with his 24th career La Liga hat-trick on Sunday.
Messi is also level with Cristiano Ronaldo on the goalscorer’s chart with 30 goals
Germany
Paderborn 0-3 Bayer Leverkusen
a Brace by Son and another goal from Papadopolous secured an all important away victory to keep Bayer Leverkusen in the race for champions league qualification.
FC Koln 4-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
FC Koln hammered Eintracht Frankfurt by four goals to two, (FC Koln 4-2 Eintracht Frankfurt) but in what seems to have become a regular feature every time he scores at home FC Koln’s Anthony Ujah ran to the clubs’ mascot ‘Hennes’ the Goat to celebrate.
AFRICA
Senegal 2015
RESULTS
AFRICAN YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP, SENEGAL 2015 DAILY RESULTS AND FIXTURES
9 March 2015
Time: 16:30
Ghana v South Africa
Venue: Stade Caroline Faye, M’Bour
9 March 2015
Time: 19:30
Mali v Zambia
Venue: Stade Caroline Faye, M’Bour
NIGERIA:
Supersand Eagles grab bronze in Durban
The Beach Soccer National Team, also known as Supersand Eagles, ran riot on the beach of Durban, South Africa’s city by the Indian Ocean, on Sunday, whipping the host nation 9-3 to claim the bronze medal at the Power Horse Invitational Tournament.
Flying Eagles coach Manu Garba has said he hopes for a convincing win over hosts Senegal in Sunday’s opening match at the 2015 AYC in Dakar.
“We want to win convincingly because in any tournament your opening match is very crucial. It will boost your confidence,” said Manu.
“With the U17s (2013 CAF U17 Championship), we started very well by beating Ghana 6-1 before we went all the way to the final.
“We also trounced Mexico 5-1 in our opening match at the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup and then went on to win the tournament.
“This is how we wish to start the competition in Senegal, even though we respect and do not underrate our opponents, who will be playing at home in front of their fans.”
The coach added: “We want to win all our matches and by implication it means we want to be champions in Senegal and go to the World Cup in New Zealand as African champions.”
The Flying Eagles will be one of the youngest squads at this year’s tournament after promoting as many as eight players from the U17 team who won the U17 World Cup in United Arab Emirates two years ago.
FLYING EAGLES GOALKEEPERS IN SENEGAL – Dele Alampasu (far left), Olorunleke Ojo and Joshua Enaholo
Striker Taiwo Awoniyi scored four goals and provided as many assists on the way to Nigeria’s fourth U17 World Cup triumph.
He said his personal target is to score in all the matches in Senegal 2015.
“I will always play for the team but I wish to score in every match at this tournament,” said the lanky top striker.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria U20 team will train at the 45,000-capacity Leopold Sedar Senghor, the venue for Sunday’s match against the host country, by 4.30pm local time later Friday.
The training will be for an hour.
They will round up their training for the match on Saturday morning at the Stade Iba Mar Diop in Dakar.
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have had their first training in Senegal ahead of their opening AYC clash against the host country.
The Nigeria U20 team trained Thursday evening at the Stade Iba Mar Diop in Dakar.
The training lasted an hour and a half and all 21 players trained fully.
The Flying Eagles will have a feel of the pitch at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium in Dakar, venue of their opening AYC match against hosts Senegal, Friday evening by 4.30pm local time, which is 5.30 pm Nigerian time.
Flying Eagles at Thursday evening training in Dakar
Their last training before the Sunday showdown will be Saturday at the Stade Iba Mar Diop, which at a time was the country’s national stadium and is named after a foremost physician cum politician.
Team arrival meeting with CAF officials will be by 10am at the Junior Eagles Alafifa Hotel during which the players and officials will be given their accreditation as well as put through the competition guidelines.
Flying Eagles doctor Ozi Salami will also attend a seminar for the eight team doctors at the AYC Friday morning.
FC Porto forward Chidera Ezeh has been ruled out of the Flying Eagles second match against the Black Satellites of Ghana on Wednesday after he suffered a mild concussion in the first match.
Ezeh scored in a 2-2 draw with the Black Satellites on Monday at the Accra Sports Stadium, but he had to be replaced soon after when he was involved in a head clash and suffered a mild concussion.
He was replaced for the second half by Wikki Tourists striker Usman Hassan.
“Chidera Ezeh is okay now but he will not be involved in the second game against Ghana after he suffered a mild concussion as a precautionary measure,” said Flying Eagles team doctor Ozi Salami.
Defender Zaharadeen Bello will also be rested to ensure he does not further hurt his leg injury.
The Flying Eagles second warm-up against their Ghanaian counterparts will be played in Tema, on the outskirts of Accra, by 3pm local time, which is 4pm Nigerian time.
Flying Eagles
The match will be played on astro turf.
Both the Flying Eagles and Black Satellites are preparing for next month’s African Youth Championship in Senegal.
The Flying Eagles are in Group A, while Ghana, world champions in 2009 and third at the 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey, are in Group B.
Flying Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP)of the pre-season invitational tournament Super 4.
The award carries a prize money of 200,000 Naira.
Awoniyi, who has a pre-contract with Swedish club Kalmar, scored two goals for the Flying Eagles and his all-round play was exceptional.
He is expected to sign a professional contract with the Swedish club in August, when he turns 18.
He featured at the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup, which Nigeria won in style.
The Nigeria U20s, who are preparing for the 2015 African Youth Championship in Senegal in March, won the six-team tournament in style with 13 points from five matches.
They won the competition with a round of games to spare, scored the highest number of goals (12) and were unbeaten throughout the tournament.
Kano Pillars new signing and Nigeria ‘B’ international Christian Obiozor finished as top scorer of the Super 4 with four goals.
Taiwo Awoniyi celebrates with Flying Eagles after winning the Super 4 in Abuja Sunday
Flying Eagles at 2015 Super 4
Day 1: January 24:
Enyimba 0 Flying Eagles 2
Day 2: Monday, January 26
Pillars 1 Flying Eagles 2
Day 3: Wednesday, January 28
Flying Eagles 1 Warri Wolves 0
Day 4: Friday, January 30
Flying Eagles 4 Dolphins 1
Day 5: Sunday February 1
Dream Team 3 Flying Eagles 3
English Premier League champions Manchester City have informed Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) they will not release Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali for the 2015 African Youth Championship in March in Senegal.
Both players were among nine foreign-based pros called up by the Flying Eagles for the AYC.
They were given a Thursday deadline to join up with the country’s U20s in their training camp in Kaduna.
But in a mail signed by City scouting and recruitment operations manager, Fergal Harkin, the EPL side said Iheanacho is injured and may not be fit till mid-March, while Nwakali is about to be loaned out to a club in Europe.
“With regards Kelechi Iheanacho, he is currently injured. We believe he will be fit around the middle of March but can keep in contract regarding his recovery,” read Tuesday’s mail in part.
“For Chidiebere Nwakali, we are currently in the process of agreeing his loan deal to Europe and he will not be available to meet up with the national team until further notice.
“At this moment in time, we feel it is best for his development that he cements his place in the club side.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have promised the Flying Eagles they will be fully prepared for the 2015 African Youth Championship in Senegal.
NFF director of competitions, Sanusi Mohammed, assured the team of adequate preparations when he visited them on New Year’s day at their African Continental Hotel training camp in Kaduna.
“We plan to ensure you get top quality friendly matches before the AYC and thereafter you proceed on a training tour of a country with a similar weather condition to that of Senegal,” declared Sanusi.
“We believe in this team and are very much encouraged by the unity and sense of purpose you have displayed all this while.”
It is believed that NFF are now exploring the possibilities of getting the country’s U20 team to train for at least a month in Gambia before they hit Senegal of the AYC.
They are drawn against hosts Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and Congo in Group A of the competition, which kicks off on March 8 in Dakar.
Nduka Ugbade
Ugbade – We will win AYC in style
Flying Eagles assistant coach Nduka Ugbade has predicted his team will a seventh AYC title by winning all their matches in Senegal in March.
The Nigeria U20s are pitched in Group A alongside host country Senegal, Congo and Cote d’Ivoire.
They begin their campaign on March 8 against Senegal.
“We will win all our matches in Senegal on our way to winning the AYC in style,” said Ugbade, who has represented Nigeria at U17, U20 and full international levels.
“We have quality in the team and will continue to work hard until we have achieved our targets in Senegal before we set new targets for the World Cup in New Zealand.”
The semi-finalists of the 2015 AYC will qualify to represent Africa at the 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup in New Zealand beginning in May.
Tottenham Hotspur youngster Musa Yahaya and Chidera Eze from Portuguese club FC Porto have promised to join up with the Flying Eagles squad by the January 15 deadline handed them.
“We have been following up on the release of the foreign pros called up for the African Youth Championship and so far the signals have been very encouraging,” said team secretary Auwal Aliyu Ibrahim.
“For instance, Musa Yahaya is off to Malaysia for an invitational tournament with the Spurs youth team and he has called to say he will join us as soon as he returns.
“Chidera Eze has also assured he will come in before the January 15 deadline set by the coach for all overseas-based players to report to the training camp in Kaduna.”
Sweden-based Taiwo Awoniyi and Musa Muhammed are so far the only pros now training with the AYC-bound squad.
The other foreign pros called up include Moses Simon, Kingsley Madu, Isaac Success, Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali.
Flying Eagles
…Flying Eagles celebrate New Year’s day with endurance drill
The Flying Eagles will open 2015 with an endurance drill in the morning of New Year’s day.
“We will begin 2015 with hard work,” said Flying Eagles assistant coach Nduka Ugbade.
“There is still a lot of work to be done before our first match at the AYC and so we cannot afford to relax even for a day.
“All celebrations therefore have to be put on hold until we have met some of our targets.
“Our New Year’s day will be when we would have qualified for the World Cup in New Zealand.”
The African Continental Hotel in Kaduna, which has severally been home to the Nigeria U20s, plans a special treat for the squad thereafter.
Swedish club Kalmar have released striker Taiwo Awoniyi for the 2015 African Youth Championship (AYC) in Senegal.
Awoniyi, 18 in August 2015, is one of nine foreign-based professionals called up by Nigeria’s Flying Eagles for the AYC, which kicks off on March 8 in Dakar.
Awoniyi has since joined the Flying Eagles, who resumed training camp in Kaduna at the weekend.
The other foreign-based pro already with the Junior Eagles is skipper Musa Muhammed.
AWONIYI TUSSLES WITH TANZANIA DEFENDERS
Flying Eagles team secretary, Auwal Aliyu Ibrahim, further disclosed he has also been in constant contact with English Premier League champions Manchester City over the release of Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali.
The other overseas stars invited by the Nigeria U20 team are Isaac Success, Musa Yahaya, Moses Simon, Kingsley Madu and Chidera Eze.
Meanwhile, the Flying Eagles now train twice daily at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.
They are billed to feature in an invitational tournament later in January as part of their build-up for the AYC.
The Flying Eagles will begin their AYC campaign on March 8 against hosts Senegal in Dakar.
They are also drawn in Group A along with Cote d’Ivoire and Congo.
Nigeria U20 team, the Flying Eagles, have called up nine foreign-based professionals and 21 other players based locally for a training camp in Kaduna from Saturday.
This followed a screening exercise earlier this month also in Kaduna.
The pros include Granada CF striker Isaac Success, Taiwo Awoniyi from Kalmar of Sweden as well as Manchester City pair of Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali.
The Flying Eagles have been drawn in a tough Group A of the 2015 African Youth Championship along with hosts Senegal, Congo and Cote d’Ivoire.
They open their AYC campaign on March 8 against Senegal in Dakar.
They then battle Congo On March 11, before their final group game against Cote d’Ivoire on March 14 in M’bour, which is 80 kilometres south of Dakar.
Flying Eagles
The full squad:
Goalkeepers:Joshua Enaholo, Dele Alampasu, Olorunleke Ojo, Adamu Abubakar
Defenders: Kingsley Madu, Musa Muhammed, Mustapha Abdullahi, Wilfred Ndidi, Zaharadeen Bello, Prince Izu Omego
newfanzone 