Nigeria vs Malawi by 4pm today

Reigning African champions, the Super Eagles of
Nigeria will today take on
the Flames of Malawi in the last round of group
F play. The Nigerians only need a draw to
advance to the playoff round of the African zone
of World Cup qualifying, whilst the Malawians
need to do the unthinkable-beat Nigeria in
Nigerian soil to achieve the same objective.
The Eagles are expected to be on the attack,
while the Flames wouldn't surprise football fans
by playing on the counter, or "parking the bus".
More info to come.
Venue: UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar
Referee: Hamada NAMPIANDRAZA (MAD)
Assistant Referee 1: Velomanana JINORO (MAD)
Assistant Referee 2: Jean DJAONIRINA (MAD)
Fourth official: Seth JAOVANONA (MAD)

Roberto Martinez wants new contract for Manchester United target Baines

After rejecting a bid from the Red Devils for the
29-year-old over the summer, the Everton manager
is now hoping to secure his star left-back's long-
term future at Goodison Park
Everton boss Roberto Martinez expects the club to
open up contract negotiations with Leighton Baines
following the closure of the transfer window.
The left-back was a target for former boss David
Moyes at Manchester United over the summer but,
unlike team-mate Marouane Fellaini, he remains at
Goodison Park after the club rejected all overtures.
With the window now closed until January, his
boss is hoping to tie up the defender's future
beyond the two years that currently remain on his
contract.
"When the window is open I think it's the wrong
time to speak about those things and so we hadn't
discussed it," Martinez told reporters.
"But, now the window is closed, we are going to
look into all the players in the squad and see
where their contracts are up to. Then, individually,
we will look to address that.
"It would just have created more instability if we
had done that while the window was open."
Everton rejected a "derisory and insulting" double
bid of £28 million for Baines and Fellaini in August,
with the latter eventually moving to Old Trafford for
£27.5 million on deadline day.

'I play football like I play chess' - Mkhitaryan

The 24-year-old has likened his style of play to
the famous board game, highlighting his measured
approach on the pitch
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan
has revealed he plays football in the same way he
treats a game of chess.
The Armenia international sealed a club record
€27.5 million move to Signal Iduna Park in the
summer, and the former Shakhtar Donetsk ace
says he is always thinking several steps in front of
his opponent.
"I play football like chess," he told reporters. "You
have to think a lot and anticipate what could
happen after you make your move.
"If you make a mistake, your opponent can punish
and you end up losing the game.
"The most dangerous area is the centre, which has
to be either attacked or defended in football and
it's the same in chess."
The 24-year-old, who netted twice in last week's
2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, went on to
reveal he has harboured an affection for the
German giants long before joining up with Jurgen
Klopp's men.
"I always knew the players, the coaches and the
stadium. I already followed the team when players
like [Tomas] Rosicky, [Jan] Koller and [Marcio]
Amoroso were here.
"This has always been a really interesting club and
there is a photo of me as a child wearing a BVB
shirt."
Mkhitaryan is currently on international duty ahead
of Friday's meeting with the Czech Republic.

Nani pens five-year Manchester United contract

Manchester United have announced that
Portuguese winger Nani has signed a new five-year
contract with the club.

Shaqiri: Everybody wants to beat treble- winning Bayern

The Switzerland international believes no team will
fear the reigning German champions, while praising
Pep Guardiola's personal approach
Xherdan Shaqiri believes Bayern Munich 's
successful 2012-13 campaign will only serve as
motivation for their rivals to attempt to beat the
Bavarians.
Bayern became the first German team in history to
win the treble last term, but Shaqiri does not think
their dominance will frighten any of the big teams
in Europe.
"Not a single big team out there fears another
team, so they will not fear Bayern either," Shaqiri
was quoted as saying by Bild .
"There's no room for fear in the minds of Europe's
best players. Every great player bans fear from his
mind.
"Nobody goes onto the pitch thinking 'Oh no, we're
playing against Bayern'. It's simply not like that. If
anything, they will be even more motivated to beat
the treble winners."
The Switzerland international then went on to
discuss his relationship with new coach Pep
Guardiola and hailed the Spaniard's approach.
"Pep knows exactly how to reach his players and
that's a great thing. He transmits to us that he
really believes in us and that's crucial.
"He's an incredible motivator and he's a lot of fun.
I have little doubt that we will have a great time
with him."

Carrick welcomes Fellaini competition at Manchester United

The England international is happy to see the
£25.7 million Belgian join the Red Devils, seeing
the move only as an incentive to work harder to
retain his first-team place
Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick
insists that he is not threatened by Marouane
Fellaini's £27.5 million move to Old Trafford from
Everton.
The 32-year-old could face direct competition for
his first-team spot from the versatile Belgium
international, who was reunited with former boss
David Moyes on deadline day, but believes that the
challenge will only serve to help him improve.
"The more top-quality players you have in your
squad, whether it's in my position or not, the better
it is for the team," Carrick told the press.
"It's not a case of me thinking: 'I might not be in
the team', I will still have to play well to be in it
regardless."
Carrick started in 34 of United's 38 Premier
League games last season as Sir Alex Ferguson
guided the club to the title before retiring in what
the former West Ham and Tottenham man dubbed
the "best" campaign of his career.
But the England international refuses to see
Fellaini's arrival as any sort of indication that his
time in the first team might be coming towards its
end.
"I can't deny last season probably was my best
one," he added.
"There's no reason why I would be thinking of
packing up any time soon.
"You never know what's around the corner but I
wouldn't say it was going to be my last one."

'Don't blame Mourinho for my Madrid form' - Kaka

The 31-year-old has refuted suggestions that the
Portuguese is culpable for his disappointing
displays throughout his four-year stay with los
Blancos
Kaka has denied claims that former coach Jose
Mourinho is to blame for his lack of success at
Real Madrid after he left the club on transfer
deadline day.
The former Ballon d'Or winner struggled to justify
his €65 million price tag throughout an indifferent
four-year spell with the Spanish giants and left los
Blancos on a free transfer to sign a two-year deal
with old club AC Milan on Monday.
But the former Brazil ace has denied suggestions
that Mourinho's coaching was a contributing factor
in his loss of form at the Santiago Bernabeu.
"It wasn’t Jose Mourinho’s fault that I left Real
Madrid. It wasn’t because of him – he actually
made me stronger," the 31-year-old reporters at a
told a press conference.
"I looked to give my best for him in these years,
making sure I was always at his disposal.
Unfortunately I wasn’t always fit and that didn’t
help.
"It was a good personal experience for me in
Madrid, less so professionally. But it was a spell
which helped me to grow, I matured a lot.
"I don’t regret the years in the Real shirt, but,
seeing how things went, I did lose a little desire to
play. The decision to leave was taken after
speaking with Carlo Ancelotti.
"I didn’t play with continuity, partly because of the
injuries, partly because of the competition for
places.
The Brazilian went on to claim he was relishing the
prospect of linking up with striker Mario Balotelli
for the Rossoneri .
"Mario Balotelli and I can work well together.
Mario is doing some great things here, as he has
for all the teams he has played for," he added.
"But there is not just Mario, we have Alessandro
Matri, Robinho, Giampaolo Pazzini, Stephan El
Shaarawy. They are all great players.
"I need to find some consistency again, but I’m
physically ready to play."