Julen Lopetegui sacked by Real Madrid

Real Madrid have sacked Julen Lopetegui as manager of the club after four and a half months in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu.
It is the second time Lopetegui has been sacked this year having been dismissed by Spain two days before the World Cup.

The Spaniard succeeded Zinedine Zidane in June but the crushing 5-1 El-Clasico defeat by Barcelona on Sunday - their fifth loss in six games - put the final nail on the coffin.

They have amassed a meagre 14 out of a possible 30 points in the league this season and have taken only one from their past five matches - their worst run since they went pointless in the final five games of 2008-09 season under Juande Ramos.

They are currently six points above the relegation places in La Liga and seven behind leaders Barcelona.
The three-times back-to-back Champions League winners are ninth on the La Liga table, and enduring their worst start to a league season since 2001-02.

The 52-year-old is provisionally replaced by former Argentina and Real's player, Santiago Solari who is the coach of the Castilla.

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT | 2018-10-29

The Real Madrid C.F. board of directors, which met today, 29 October 2018, has made the decision to terminate Julen Lopetegui's contract as the club's coach.

This decision, which was taken with the utmost responsibility, seeks to bring about a turnaround in the first-team's fortunes at a time when all of this season's targets are still achievable.
 
The board considers there to be a large disparity between the quality within the Real Madrid squad, which boasts eight nominees for the next Ballon d'Or award - an unprecedented number in the club's history - and the team's results to date.
 
The club places on record its thanks to Julen Lopetegui and all of his coaching staff for their efforts and work and wishes them all the best in their future careers.
 
Santiago Solari will take temporary charge of the team, assuming his role as first-team coach from tomorrow (today) , Tuesday.

Gernot Rohr Unveils the Eagles that will fly over South Africa in AFCON 2019 Qualifier

Nigeria football national team Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr has called up 23 players for next month’s crucial 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in Johannesburg.
The same set of players will prosecute the friendly encounter against the Cranes of Uganda few days later.

Former U-17 World Cup star forward Victor Osimhen returns after a long time out, with another U-17 World Cup left-footed dazzler Samuel Chukwueze earning his first call-up to the senior squad.
Midfielder Mikel Agu, also gets a recall as well as a surprise call-up for home-based defender Adeleye Olamilekan Aniyikaye.

Nigeria tops her group with nine points, one ahead of second –placed South Africa, their foe in the upcoming game at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg on Saturday, 17th November.

The Super Eagles will fly from Johannesburg to Asaba on 18th November for the friendly with the Cranes on 20th November.

All the invited players are expected to report directly to Asaba, Delta state from Monday, 12th of November.

THE 23-MAN LIST IN FULL:

GOALKEEPERS
Francis Uzoho (Elche FC, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)

DEFENDERS
Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Adeleye Aniyikaye (FC IfeanyiUbah); Semi Ajayi (Rotherham United, England); Bryan Idowu (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany)

MIDFIELDERS
Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Mikel Agu (Vitoria Setubal FC, Portugal)

FORWARDS
Ahmed Musa (Al Nasr FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Royal Charleroi SC, Belgium); Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux FC, France); Isaac Success (Watford FC, England); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain)

STANDBY
Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal); Nyima Nwagua (Kano Pillars FC); Sunday Adetunji (Enyimba FC); Junior Lokosa (Kano Pillars FC)

AWCON CAMP UPDATE: Thomas Dennerby cut out some players from the Super Falcons Camp

Super Falcons’ Head Coach, Thomas Dennerby has cut the number of home-based professionals who have been training at the impressive Jubilee Chalets & Resort Epe, Lagos for the 11^th Women Africa Cup of Nations finals holding in Ghana.

The Swede, who graciously allowed the players to feature for their respective clubs in the Nigeria Women's Football League (NWFL) at the weekend recalled a handful of those he feels can give the invited overseas-based professional players good fight for places in the final squad.

Among those retained in camp for the second phase camping which will commence immediately are four goalkeepers- Toochukwu Oluehi, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Christy Ohiaeriaku and Onyinyechukwu Okeke.

Others are Anam Imo, Rasheedat Ajibade, Peace Efih, Glory Ogbonna, Chioma Wogu, Alice Ogebe, Amarachi Okoronkwo and Chidinma Okeke. Also retained are Ugochi Emenayo, Sarah Nnodim and Nneka Julius.

The Super Falcons are the defending champion of the Africa Women Nations Cup, a tournament they have won for a record eight times.

Accreditation for 2018 AITEO Cup Grand Finale

NFF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

This is to respectfully call on Editors/Managers of the nation’s sporting media to send in requests for media accreditation for the 2018 AITEO Cup Men’s Final holding at the Stephen Keshi Stadium on Wednesday, 24th October 2018.

The Men’s Final will see Rangers International FC of Enugu tackle Kano Pillars FC.

Also, please be informed that the 2018 AITEO Cup Women’s Final will hold at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa on Tuesday, 23rd October 2018. Applicants should indicate which of the two venues they intend to be, or if they intend to attend both matches.

Please be informed that in consideration of the size of the Media Gallery at the venue, no media organization shall be accorded more than one slot for Press and Photo –Journalist.

Media organizations are to send in their request to this email between 5pm on Friday, 19th October and 5pm on Sunday, 21st October 2018. No request will be entertained after 5pm on Sunday, 21st October 2018.

Accreditation cards will be issued at each of the venues four hours before each match.

Kindly accept the very warm sporting regards of the leadership of Nigeria Football Federation, and sincere appreciation for your usual support, understanding and co-operation.

Send your accreditation here ademola.olajire68@gmail.com

SportBetting: How to win football bets across the four major leagues

Tobi Adesina

Unlike casino & virtual bets; football or soccer (like the Americans call it) comes with some level of certainty. To a higher degree, risk could be measured via antecedents leading up to the game.

98% of my bet money goes into football. Within a calendar year; i spend a little above 500ground in staking bets. For someone who stakes that high on sportbetting, it is important you monitor 'your teams' week in week out so as to keep tabs on their form and performance.
Note: "Your teams" are those clubsides whose present form is consistently yielding profit.

For that reason alone, i select games ONLY from the four major leagues (EPL, LaLIGA, SERIE A, Bundesliga). Every sunday night, i make sure to get replays, highlights & stats of 'my teams' regardless of the outcome.

STEPS...
1. Bet early.
2. Don't select games through your bookmakers platform.
3. Have numerous bet account with various Bet companies.

Bet early: Always bet 3-4days before the game KO. Odds drop as KO time approaches. This act by bookmakers lure Punters into ACCUMULATING several games in a single ticket.
Remember, "the longer your ticket -the farther your pay-day".

Don't select games through your bookmaker's platform: This is where psychology come to play in betting. The Bet companies will always try to mess with your thinking by projecting "funny" cheap odds. If you fall prey, all your selection will be based on odds and third-party opinion. Instead, you select games from livescore portals and other fixture portal you have. Afterwards, login to your preferred Bet portal/Bet shop and play the games regardless of the odds.

Have numerous bet account with various Bet companies: With this, you can easily compare and contrast which bet company is offering you the highest return for the exact same event.

Bet Advice: Don't accumulate more than 2event, each of 2odds[max]. Total shouldn't be more than 4-5 odds combined. Revise your bet slip if you have more than.