Villarreal stumbled to a 2-1 home defeat by relegation-battling Real Valladolid on Saturday in La Liga, denting their ambitions of qualifying for the Champions League.

Quique Setien’s side, fifth, could have moved within a point of fourth place Real Sociedad, who visit Athletic Bilbao later Saturday in a Basque derby.

Selim Amallah struck for the visitors in the second minute and Jawad El Yamiq doubled their lead after Villarreal’s Samu Chukwueze had a goal disallowed for offside.

Etienne Capoue pulled one back for the Yellow Submarine but it was Valladolid, provisionally 14th and five points above the relegation zone, who came closer to scoring in the final stages.

Villarreal goalkeeper Pepe Reina made some fine saves to keep Valladolid at bay, after their new coach Paulo Pezzolano was sent off for complaining about Capoue’s strike.

The hosts, who beat champions Real Madrid 3-2 last weekend in a thriller at the Santiago Bernabeu, felt they deserved more.

Villarreal goalkeeper Pepe Reina made some fine saves to keep Valladolid at bay, after their new coach Paulo Pezzolano was sent off for complaining about Capoue’s strike.

The hosts, who beat champions Real Madrid 3-2 last weekend in a thriller at the Santiago Bernabeu, felt they deserved more.

“The result does not show what happened in the 90 minutes, I think Villarreal were superior in every aspect to Valladolid,” said Villarreal’s Dani Parejo.

“We leave sad and disappointed with the result, but we feel football has been unjust to us.”

The Draw Ceremony for the national competition of this year’s Federation Cup has now been fixed for Wednesday, 19^th April. It will hold at the Conference Room of the NFF/FIFA Goal Project, inside the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

A total of eight matches will be played on Tuesday, 18^th April in the framework of the National Playoff, while the Round of 64 – the first round in the national competition – will hold on Wednesday, 26^th April.

The Round of 32 matches have been scheduled for Wednesday, 3^rd May, with the Round of 16 slated for Wednesday, 10^th May and the quarter finals to take place on Wednesday, 17^th May.

The semi-finals will come up on Wednesday, 24^th May with the grand finale on Saturday, 27^th May.    

National Playoff Fixtures:

Novia FC (Adamawa) Vs Ashana FC (Taraba) – Pantami Stadium, Gombe

Katukan Tsafe FC (Zamfara) Vs Yelwa United (Kebbi) – Giginya Memorial Stadium, Sokoto

Smart City Feeders (Lagos) Vs Bendel Insurance Feeders (Edo) – Ilorin Township Stadium

Kogi United Feeders (Kogi) Vs Lautai FC (Jigawa) – Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna

FR Ebunuju (Imo) Vs PCM FC (Ebonyi) – Awka Township Stadium

Osevan FC (Delta) Vs Ahudiya FC (Abia) – Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo

Red & Black FC (Benue) Vs Edel FC (Anambra) – Akanu Ibiam Stadium, Owerri

ABJ FC (Bauchi) Vs Nya-Sa Gwang FC (Taraba) – Fufure Stadium, Yola 

Head Coach Isah Ladan Bosso has invited 39 players to the camp of Nigeria’s U20 boys ahead of final preparations for this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals taking place in Argentina.

Penultimate week, world football-governing body FIFA withdrew the hosting rights from Indonesia and handed the same over to Argentina, with assurances that the period scheduled for the championship, 20 May – 11 June, would remain unchanged.

The Flying Eagles, who finished third at the Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt last month, are one of four teams that will fly Africa’s flag at the finals, with the others being Senegal, The Gambia and Tunisia.

All the invited players have been told to report at the Chida Hotel, Abuja on Sunday, 16^th April. Training sessions will commence on Monday.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Nathaniel Nwosu (Water FC); Chijioke Aniagboso (Giant Brillars); Saheed Jimoh (B. E. Arena Academy); John Otomblon (Mavlon FC)

Defenders: Augustine Njoku (Abia Warriors); Ezekiel Bala; Muhammad Abdulsalam (Rising Stars); Solomon Agbalaka (Broad City FC); Israel Domingo (Family Worship FC): Benjamin Frederick (Nasarawa United); Femi Abubakar (Madiba FC); Daniel Bameyi (Yum Yum FC); Wisdom Udoh (Akwa United); Akinwale Akanbi (Lionheart FC) 

Midfielders: Caleb Uchedikwu (Mavlon FC); Ogbelu Onuche (Nasarawa United); Daniel Daga (Dakkada FC): Samson Lawal (Pro-Success Academy); Bilyaminu Musa (Mailafia FC); Hitler Eniye (36 Lion FC); Muhammad Aminu (Gombe United); John Joshua (Nasarawa United); Musa Usman (Mailantarki FC); Ibrahim Abdullahi (Samba FC) 

Forwards: Haliru Sarki (Mahaniam FC); Kehinde Ibrahim (Green Light FC): Shettima Abubakar (Central Academy); Jude Sunday (Real Sapphire FC): Obiaku Ifesinachi (36 Lion FC); Abdullahi Usman (Samba FC); Salem Fago (Mavlon FC); Godwin Ositgbami (Kwara United); Babangida Abubakar (Mailantarki FC); Nurudeen Bala (Maikunkele FC); Olaitan Fabode (3SC); Adams Olubi; Adamu Aliyu (Nasarawa United); Ibrahim Beji (Cartegina FC); Ayatollah Usman (Niger Tornadoes)  

Cristiano Ronaldo has recommended former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane to Al-Nassr.

Ronaldo wants the Saudi Arabian club to bring in Zidane as a replacement for Rudi Garcia who was sacked on Thursday.

The Saudi Arabian side sacked Garcia on Thursday and have since shortlisted some marquee managerial candidates.

CBS Sports reports that Al-Nassr are looking to bring either the former France international or Jose Mourinho.

According to the report, the Saudi side has made headway in the negotiations with Zidane.

They have sent the Frenchman a verbal offer already.

Ronaldo played under both managers and has some say in the hiring and firing of managers at Al-Nassr.

The Portugal international is involved in discussions over Zidane’s potential appointment.

The report, though, has noted that there’s no certainty that Zidane would want to manage the Saudi Pro League outfit.

Eberechi Eze struck twice as Crystal Palace won their third consecutive game and left wasteful Southampton rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.

Eze was the catalyst for Palace as he scored from a rebound after Jordan Ayew’s strike was palmed into his path by home keeper Gavin Bazunu.

His second goal saw him turn away from his defender and arrow a precise finish into the bottom corner.

Southampton were lively in the first half, with Kamaldeen Sulemana heading over, but were unable to make their chances count.

Just like in their 5-1 win over Leeds last weekend, Crystal Palace were off the pace in the first half.

Cheick Doucoure fired over the bar after two minutes, but the away side did not have a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.

However, the Eagles held firm defensively and went on to produce a clinical display in the second half.

Eze has now scored seven Premier League goals this season, more than any other Crystal Palace player.

Palace remain 12th, and their fears of relegation are fading after another impressive performance on the road.

Tottenham Hotspur blew a gilt-edged chance to boost their hopes of finishing in the Premier League’s top four as relegation battlers Bournemouth snatched a last-gasp 3-2 away win on Saturday.

Dango Ouattara’s superb finish in the fifth minute of stoppage time sent the south coast club’s fans into raptures and Tottenham’s heading for the exits.

Third-placed Newcastle United’s defeat at Aston Villa opened the door for Tottenham and they duly went ahead in the 14th minute when Son Heung-min fired them into the lead.

Son was soon denied a second by a great save from Bournemouth’s Neto but fifth-placed Tottenham lost their way and a mistake at the back by Pedro Porro was punished as Matias Vina equalised for the south coast side in the 38th minute.

Bournemouth then sent the visiting fans into raptures when Dominic Solanke dinked a close-range finish past Hugo Lloris six minutes after the interval.

Tottenham, who could have gone above fourth-placed Manchester United for 24 hours at least with a win, raised their intensity level and Danjuma’s left-footed effort set up a frantic finale.

But with the hosts searching for a winner, Bournemouth broke away and the ball reached Ouattara who cut in from the left before arrowing a right-foot finish beyond Lloris.

Tottenham remain in fifth place with 53 points from 31 games, three behind Manchester United and Newcastle United who have played 29 and 30 games respectively.

Bouurnemouth’s survival prospects are now looking much rosier as they have 33 points, six points better off than third-from-bottom Nottingham Forest.

Brighton & Hove Albion ruined Chelsea boss Frank Lampard’s return to Stamford Bridge with a 2-1 comeback win on Saturday as substitutes Danny Welbeck and Julio Enciso condemned the Blues to a third defeat in three games under their interim coach.

Lampard, who rested several first-choice starters before Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid, at least saw the Blues score the first goal of his second spell in charge when Conor Gallagher’s deflected shot beat Robert Sanchez in the Brighton goal in the 13th minute.

But the visitors, under coach Roberto De Zerbi, were the better side for long spells, forcing Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga into fine saves and hitting the bar before they drew level when Welbeck squeezed between two defenders to head in off the post in the 42nd minute, shortly after coming on.

The Seagulls got the second goal that they deserved when Paraguayan Enciso scored with an unstoppable shot from 25 yards in the 69th minute, bolstering Brighton’s hopes of European football for the first time in their history next season.

“It’s important we try to pick up as many points as we can,” Welbeck told the BBC. “With the confidence in the team we know we can go anywhere and cause problems.”

Brighton hammered Chelsea 4-1 in October, a result which set in train a slump in form for the London side that led to the dismissal this month of Graham Potter as coach, six months after the Blues had poached him — and four other backroom staff — from the south-coast side to replace Thomas Tuchel.

Brighton’s fans revelled in the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs, greeting Chelsea’s expensively assembled players with chants of “What a waste of money” before kick-off as Chelsea’s American co-owner Todd Boehly looked on from the stands.

The result left Brighton seventh in the Premier League, five points ahead of Liverpool. They are also in the FA Cup semi-finals, facing Manchester United next weekend.

Chelsea remain marooned in 11th position with their only hope of any silverware this season dependent on their ability to turn around a 2-0 deficit against reigning European champions Real Madrid at home on Tuesday.

Saturday’s defeat followed a 1-0 loss away to Wolverhampton Wanderers in Lampard’s first game back as caretaker coach last weekend and the unsuccessful visit to the Spanish capital in midweek.

Some teams may suffer disqualification when the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in Algeria in few days’ time.

The CAF Executive Committee has modified Article 27 of the competition’s regulations following the recommendations made by the Youth Organizing Committee and the Medical Organizing Committee.

In that respect, it has been decided that eligibility test will be compulsory performed for all the participating teams before the start of the matches.

 The test will be performed according to CAF Protocol in a health facility duly accredited centre where there is an Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) apparatus.

If after performing the MRI test for a participating team and four or more of its players are found ineligible, the participating team will be disqualified.

The modification of the Article 27 runs thus:

27.1 For the qualifying phase, an eligibility test will be compulsory performed for all the participating teams before the start of the matches.

27.2 The test will be performed according to CAF Protocol in a health facility duly accredited centre where there is an MRI apparatus (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).

27.3 CAF reserve the right to make the eligibility test (MRI) as well during the final phase for the twelve teams qualified to the tournament. The cost of the MRI test that will be covered by CAF.

27.4. If after performing the eligibility test (MRI) for a participating team and

four (4) or more of its players are found ineligible, the participating team will be disqualified.

27.5. If after performing an MRI test for a participating team and one (1), two (2) or three (3) of its players are found ineligible, the said player(s) will not be allowed to participate in the competition. The concerned team will be allowed to participate in the competition but is not authorized to replace the ineligible player(s).

27.6. The following procedures shall be followed:

(i) All participating teams are expected to arrive five (5) days before the start of the competition. The host association shall cover the related costs.

(ii) The participating teams may be subjected to MRI tests, to be conducted at the earliest five (5) days before the start of the competition. CAF reserves the right to conduct an MRI Test at any time before or during the competition.

(iii) Any request for a second reading for a player found to be ineligible shall be addressed to CAF by email no later than 3 hours following notification of the outcome of the first reading.’’

This modification comes into effect from the date of notification of this decision and will be applied in the final tournament of the U17 Africa Cup of Nations, Algeria 2023.

With less than 100 days to go until the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off in Australia and New Zealand, Nigeria’s Captain Onome Ebi speaks on how the Super Falcons are preparing for their record ninth appearance at the global extravaganza.

The multiple African champions have been drawn in Group B where they will battle out against Canada, Ireland and hosts Australia, and the ambitious Nigerians are slowly folding their sleeves and getting ready to work for a good performance down under.

Q: We are 100 days away from the start of the World Cup. How is Nigeria getting ready?

Our preparation is going on okay and we are focusing on improving on all fronts; from defense to attack. We are adjusting everything to be ready for the World Cup which is fast approaching. We are focusing on the small details which we don’t want to miss and also, we don’t want to repeat mistakes that we have had in the past.

Q. What are your ambitions for this World Cup?

Our ambition, definitely, is to do our best. We approach this World Cup with the mindset of performing to our utmost best and conquering. We had some disappointments at the last TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations where we did not put the best performance.

We have the opportunity at the World Cup where we do not want to disappoint again. I have faith in my team and I like our current state of mind. The team is united and I believe we will be able to do great things at the World Cup. We are motivated and we want to hoist Nigeria’s flag to the highest point.

The ball is in our court as players and we have to do everything to be on fire physically and mentally for this opportunity.

Q. A word about Asisat Oshoala who is having an excellent season. She was injured during the last Cup of Nations. What can we expect from her at the World Cup?

It’s a blessing to have her in this team. She is a great professional and an example for the whole team. Her performance at club level is incredible. Many people forget that few months ago she was injured and today she is up on the pitch putting up huge performances both in the local league and the Champions League.

She is one of the best players in the World and speaking to her, she is also hugely waiting for the World Cup and has already set her targets for the tournament. She is doing everything she can to be on top form.

Q. Nigeria are in Group B with Canada, Ireland and Australia. What do you think of this group?

We are aware that we are in a difficult pool. We have the reigning champions Canada who we have faced twice before, losing one and drawing one. Then we have Ireland and Australia who we have not played against.

We know it will also be very tough against Australia because they will be playing at home. We are under no pressure however and we are calm about these matches.

All of these teams have qualified and earned their right to be at the World Cup. We have to be ready to face them.