We must beat Nigeria — Benzema

France top striker, Karim Benzema has warned his French squad to get serious for a tough encounter with the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the second round of the World Cup insisting that they must do everything to beat the African champions.

Bonus standoff won't affect players - Yobo

Joseph Yobo says Thursday's bonus standoff will not distract the Super Eagles when they play France on Monday.

The Nigeria players boycotted training as they demanded advance payment of the graduated appearance they had agreed with the NFF.

Super Eagles Boycott Training In Money Row

The Nigeria squad at the World Cup have missed a scheduled training session in a row over bonus money.

BBC Sport understands the players believe they are each $15,000 (£8,800) short of what they were expecting for reaching the last 16 in Brazil.

They refused to train in Campinas on Thursday and officials later confirmed the session had been cancelled.

Boy breaks into Ronaldo's hotel room, he lets him stay

 

A 15-year-old Brazilian boy successfully breached security to get into Cristiano Ronaldo’s hotel room at the World Cup.

According to Globo, the youngster, named Yago Leal, met the Portugal star after climbing the hotel in Brasilia where Portugal stayed for their clash with Ghana.

Stephen Keshi confirms Babatunde is Out due to Injury

Stephen Keshi, head coach of the Nigerian football team – Super Eagles, has confirmed in a post match interview that Michael Babatunde will likely not participate in the remaining matches at the ongoing FIFA World Cup .

Keshi said the midfielder will be undergoing surgery and may not be feature in the rest of Nigeria’s 2014 World Cup matches. Nigeria will meet France in the next match.

Babatunde sustained an injury on his hand after blocking a shot by Ogenyi Onazi which was goal bound, and he twisted his arm.

“It is sad that we may not see him play again in the World Cup. He is going for surgery. It is bad.” said Keshi.

Kevin Prince Boateng & Sulley Muntari SACKED From Camp GC Staff

Ghanaian footballers-Sulley Muntari and Kevin Prince Boateng has been SACKED from Black Stars camp. The two were asked to leave by 8am… This comes ahead of Ghana’s match with Portugal tonight. We are not certain if the two will play tonight following the SACK.

Ghana President, Mahama Begs Black Stars Not To Boycott Portugal Game

It seems all is not well in the Black Stars of Ghana camp in Brazil... Despite an earlier refutal of reports that members of the playing body of the Ghanaian national football team, currently in Brazil, were contemplating a boycott of the much anticipated match with Portugal in protest of unpaid bonuses, it has now been revealed that President John Dramani Mahama has had to call the captain of the Black Stars to urge them not to go on with their threat.

Stephen Keshi Super Eagles Coach Replies Nigerians Who Insulted Him

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi is angry at Nigerian fans for insulting him and his family over the team’s performance at the on-going World Cup in Brazil.

Torres and Mata score as Spain win at last

Even Fernando Torres managed to get in on the act as former world champions Spain ended their World Cup campaign on a winning note against hapless Australia.

The Chelsea striker kept a level head as his team sprang the Socceroos offside trap, allowing him to poke the ball under the keeper, although the total lack of any celebration suggested the goal did not bring a huge amount of consolation after the team’s previous failings.

Fan Celebrating World Cup Jumps to his Death from Cruise Ship

A Mexican football who had been toasting the success of his team at the World Cup jumped to his doom from a cruise liner as he tried to impress a fellow female passenger.He reportedly cried out 'Look at me!' before jumping to his death. 

World Cup hit by 'match fix' storm as Ghana Police probe alleged rigging after sting

 

Ghana's football association has called in police after being caught up in an alleged match-fixing sting.

An undercover probe reportedly filmed a FIFA agent and a senior figure in the Ghanaian FA claiming they could hire officials to fix friendlies involving Ghana.

England fan 'caught chatting up Brazilian woman on TV'

 

A football fan pictured apparently swapping numbers with a Brazilian woman at the World Cup has denied he was chatting her up.

Carl Wenz, who was watching England’s opening match with Italy on Saturday, was caught by television cameras holding a mobile phone and speaking to a female Brazilian.

Man machetes Ghanaian for mocking Super Eagles in Lagos

A mild drama unfolded Monday night at Ilasan area of Lekki, Lagos, during the barren World Cup match between Nigeria and Iran, after a drunk went berserk and macheted some viewers for mocking the Super Eagles.

One of the viewers, a Ghanaian, was said to have sustained deep cuts while others managed to escape from the viewing centre.

We didn’t play badly — Keshi

Nigerian boss Stephen Keshi, admitted his side lacked the patience to break down Iran’s stubborn ranks of defence after their plan to get an early goal never transpired.

“There was a lot of anxiety. My players tried to finish the game in the first 25 minutes, but when the goal didn’t come I think we pushed a bit too hard and frustrations starting to come in,” he said.

Tension in Eagles camp as players demand N12m each

AS the Super Eagles step out on Monday for their first World Cup match against Iran, there are fears that the deficit in agreement for the appearance fee of the players may dash whatever hope Nigerians have for the national team to do well in Brazil 2014.
The Super Eagles tabled their grievances to the Senate President, David Mark when he came visiting them on Friday. The players said that they will not accept anything less than the $75,000 about N12.2m appearance fee  paid to each of their Ghanaian counterparts by the Ghana Football Association.
Also, the Eagles requested that the NFF relocate them from their Victoria Concept hotel in Campinas, which they described as isolated and it makes them look like prisoners unlike other World Cup teams whose Federations lodged them in better and more ideal places.
Sports Vanguard gathered that Senate President David Mark who listened with rapt attention as the players reeled out their grievances thereafter berated the NFF for not promptly settling the issue of appearance fees as was the case with other Federations like the Ghana Football Association.
The Senate President thereafter appealed to the coaches and the players to put aside anything that would constitute a distraction to them in the World Cup and focused on winning the World Cup reassuring them of the determination of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to give them the necessary support in the tournament to make Nigeria proud.
NFF President Aminu Maigari we gathered had to sign an agreement with the team promising that they will not get anything less than the Black Stars of Ghana.
Sports Minister, Dr Tammy Danagogo who was in attendance at the no-holds-barred meeting urged the team to do everything possible to make an impressive outing in the tournament.
Present at the meeting were Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State; Dr. Danagogo; Senator Bala Mohammed, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); Chief Edem Duke, minister of culture and tourism; Mr. Boni Haruna, minister of youths and social development; Senator Gumba, Chairman Senate Committee on Sports; Hon. Godfrey Gaiya, Chairman House Committee on Sports, Alhaji Maigari, and other executive members of the NFF.
Nigeria will earn over $9 million about (N1.4b) or qualification and participation in the first round of the Brazil World Cup. If the Eagles fly into the second round more money would also be paid.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/06/tension-in-eagles-camp-as-players-demand-n12m-each-or/#sthash.8VEDUYZH.dpufAS the Super Eagles step out on Monday for their first World Cup match against Iran, there are fears that the deficit in agreement for the appearance fee of the players may dash whatever hope Nigerians have for the national team to do well AS the Super Eagles step out on Monday for their first World Cup match against Iran, there are fears that the deficit in agreement for the appearance fee of the players may dash whatever hope Nigerians have for the national team to do well in Brazil 2014.

The Super Eagles tabled their grievances to the Senate President, David Mark when he came visiting them on Friday. The players said that they will not accept anything less than the $75,000 about N12.2m appearance fee  paid to each of their Ghanaian counterparts by the Ghana Football Association.

Also, the Eagles requested that the NFF relocate them from their Victoria Concept hotel in Campinas, which they described as isolated and it makes them look like prisoners unlike other World Cup teams whose Federations lodged them in better and more ideal places.

Sports Vanguard gathered that Senate President David Mark who listened with rapt attention as the players reeled out their grievances thereafter berated the NFF for not promptly settling the issue of appearance fees as was the case with other Federations like the Ghana Football Association.

The Senate President thereafter appealed to the coaches and the players to put aside anything that would constitute a distraction to them in the World Cup and focused on winning the World Cup reassuring them of the determination of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to give them the necessary support in the tournament to make Nigeria proud.

NFF President Aminu Maigari we gathered had to sign an agreement with the team promising that they will not get anything less than the Black Stars of Ghana.

Sports Minister, Dr Tammy Danagogo who was in attendance at the no-holds-barred meeting urged the team to do everything possible to make an impressive outing in the tournament.

Present at the meeting were Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State; Dr. Danagogo; Senator Bala Mohammed, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); Chief Edem Duke, minister of culture and tourism; Mr. Boni Haruna, minister of youths and social development; Senator Gumba, Chairman Senate Committee on Sports; Hon. Godfrey Gaiya, Chairman House Committee on Sports, Alhaji Maigari, and other executive members of the NFF.

Nigeria will earn over $9 million about (N1.4b) or qualification and participation in the first round of the Brazil World Cup. If the Eagles fly into the second round more money would also be paid.

n Brazil 2014.AS the Super Eagles step out on Monday for their first World Cup match against Iran, there are fears that the deficit in agreement for the appearance fee of the players may dash whatever hope Nigerians have for the national team to do well in Brazil 2014.

The Super Eagles tabled their grievances to the Senate President, David Mark when he came visiting them on Friday. The players said that they will not accept anything less than the $75,000 about N12.2m appearance fee  paid to each of their Ghanaian counterparts by the Ghana Football Association.

Also, the Eagles requested that the NFF relocate them from their Victoria Concept hotel in Campinas, which they described as isolated and it makes them look like prisoners unlike other World Cup teams whose Federations lodged them in better and more ideal places.

Sports Vanguard gathered that Senate President David Mark who listened with rapt attention as the players reeled out their grievances thereafter berated the NFF for not promptly settling the issue of appearance fees as was the case with other Federations like the Ghana Football Association.

The Senate President thereafter appealed to the coaches and the players to put aside anything that would constitute a distraction to them in the World Cup and focused on winning the World Cup reassuring them of the determination of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to give them the necessary support in the tournament to make Nigeria proud.

NFF President Aminu Maigari we gathered had to sign an agreement with the team promising that they will not get anything less than the Black Stars of Ghana.

Sports Minister, Dr Tammy Danagogo who was in attendance at the no-holds-barred meeting urged the team to do everything possible to make an impressive outing in the tournament.

Present at the meeting were Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State; Dr. Danagogo; Senator Bala Mohammed, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); Chief Edem Duke, minister of culture and tourism; Mr. Boni Haruna, minister of youths and social development; Senator Gumba, Chairman Senate Committee on Sports; Hon. Godfrey Gaiya, Chairman House Committee on Sports, Alhaji Maigari, and other executive members of the NFF.

Nigeria will earn over $9 million about (N1.4b) or qualification and participation in the first round of the Brazil World Cup. If the Eagles fly into the second round more money would also be paid.

AS the Super Eagles step out on Monday for their first World Cup match against Iran, there are fears that the deficit in agreement for the appearance fee of the players may dash whatever hope Nigerians have for the national team to do well in Brazil 2014.

The Super Eagles tabled their grievances to the Senate President, David Mark when he came visiting them on Friday. The players said that they will not accept anything less than the $75,000 about N12.2m appearance fee  paid to each of their Ghanaian counterparts by the Ghana Football Association.

Cote d’Ivoire record Africa’s first win at World Cup

Ivory Coast left captain Didier Drogba out of the starting line-up but it was his arrival off the bench after an hour that coincided with the their breakthrough in front of goal.

Headers by Wilfried Bony and Gervinho just 98 seconds apart took Ivory Coast to a winning start at the World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Japan in Recife.

World cup news : Ghana, Nigeria have youngest squad

With an average age of 25.44, Ghana’s Black Stars have been credited with the most youthful squad in Brazil.

The average age of Ghanaian and Nigerian players at the 2014 World Cup are the smallest in the competition, official data provided show.

Super Eagles arrive Brazil for 2014 World Cup

The African champions touched down for the World Cup as scheduled in Sao Paulo on Tuesday night from their pre-tournament camp in the United States.

A year ago, Nigeria arrived three days late for the Confederations Cup in Brazil and in disarray after a player strike over bonuses caused delays and threatened to throw the World Cup warm-up tournament into chaos.

Cameroon miss World Cup flight to Brazil

 

Cameroon sensationally missed their scheduled World Cup flight to Brazil after striking over bonus payments.

The Africans were due to fly to Brazil on a 9am flight from Yaounde on Sunday morning, but refused to board until they received promised payment for participating at the World Cup.

Keshi orders Eagles to meet in London

 

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has told his Europe-based players that they must converge in London on Sunday, as he will only travel with the domestic league players from Nigeria.

Most of Nigeria's foreign contingent have returned home to spend time with their families before a hectic summer that will see them train in Europe, then USA ahead of the World Cup.

Keshi says although the players have kept him abreast of their whereabouts, he has made it clear that London is the muster point.

“I have received calls from some of the foreign-based players that they are in Nigeria," Keshi told The Nation. "I have told them in clear terms that our camp opens in London by Sunday, and that we are not travelling with any foreign players from here.

"We are only travelling to London with the home-based players and the back room staff.

“The foreign-based players would meet us in London, any one of them that comes back home, he would also return to London after attending to some of their family issues that brought them here in Nigeria.”

Nigeria play Scotland on May 28 in the first of three build up matches before their opening World Cup game against Iran on June 16.