Kotoko on rampage, AshGold held

Defending champions Asante Kotoko put up their best performance so far with a romp over Heart of Lions in Kumasi on match day 15.

On the back of successive defeats to their visitors last season, the porcupine warriors ensured writing all the wrongs by putting four goals past goalkeeper Mozart Adjetey on Wednesday.

Hitman Ahmed Toure began the rampage by converting a penalty in the 21st minute. Kotoko went on to increase the lead through Prince Baffoe two minutes later. In the second half, lanky forward Abdul Latif Amadu and Emmanuel Asante both scored to give Kotoko a 4-0 win at full time. The morale lifting win moves the porcupine warriors to 5th place on 22 points at the end of the FCPPL first round.

Leaders AshantiGold failed to make their dominance count as their 30th minute lead was cancelled out an Emmanuel Sabah Laryea long drive five minutes from full time. Ivorian midfielder Didier Kore had given the Miners the lead.

Aduana Stars lost by a solitary goal away to Liberty Professionals at the Carl Reindorf Park. Charles Dwamena caught Aduana’s backline sleeping and punished them with his 10th minute strike.

Aduana have been displaced from second position by Wafa who were held to a goalless draw by Wa All Stars at the Academy grounds in Sogakope. They however tie on 25 points but Wafa have a better goal advantage.

With these results, AshantiGold have ended the first round of the season with a four-point lead atop the league table on 29 points.

Medeama secured 4th position after beating B.A United 3-1 at the T&A Park. Top scorer Nathaniel Asamoah extended his lead to 12 goals with a brace while Kwame Boahen added the third. Moses Owusu scored the consolation for B.A United.

At the Golden City Park, two goals from Richard Adjei and Kofi Owusu ensured saw Berekum Chelsea complete a comeback and defeated Inter Allies 2-1. Niare Benogo had given the ‘Eleven Is To One’ side a first half lead.

Yaw Arnol scored a brace for Bechem United to beat Sekondi Hasaacas 2-0 at the Fosu Gyeabour Park on Wednesday. They move to 12th position.

Gt. Olympics and New Edubiase United fought out a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Accra Stadium. Bernard Ofori broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute, bringing to an end, veteran goalkeeper Richard Kingson’s run without concession on 5th attempt – 402 minutes.

Emmanuel Amartey equalized by hitting the roof of the net from a cross which found him unmarked. Nuhu Alhassan restored the lead for Edubiase in a counter-attacking move and he finished well by placing the ball through Kingson’s legs. The lead was however short-lived by a Kwame Boateng strike.

FCPPL match day 15 Results

Gt. Olympics 2-2 New Edubiase United

Scorers: Emmanuel Amartey, Kwame Boateng; Bernard Ofori, Nuhu Alhassan

AshantiGold 1-1 Hearts of Oak

Scorers: Didier Kore; Emmanuel Sarbah Laryea

Berekum Chelsea 2-1 Inter Allies

Scorers: Richard Adjei, Kofi Owusu; Niare Benogo

Kotoko 4-0 Heart of Lions

Scorers: Ahmed Toure, Prince Baffoe, Abdul Latif Amadu, Emmanuel Asante

Medeama SC 3-1 B.A United

Scorers: Nathaniel Asamoah - *2, Kwame Boahen; Moses Owusu

Bechem United 2-0 Hasaacas

Scorer: Yaw Arnol - *2

Liberty Professionals 1-0 Aduana Stars

Scorer: Charles Dwamena

Wafa 0-0 All Stars

AshGold were superior to Hearts – Addo

Hearts coach Herbert Addo has admitted his side were outplayed by AshantiGold in their 1-1 stalemate on Wednesday.

However, he has praised his lads for their continued fight till they were rewarded with a goal five minutes from full time.

The Miners dominated play till end after an even opening fifteen minutes and scored the match opener on 30 minutes through Ivorian Didier Kore.

AshGold wasted many chances and were later punished for their profligacy. In the 85th minute, Hearts had a corner which was headed out but midfielder Emmanuel Laryea found the ball from outside the area and bang, his long drive went past goalkeeper Fatau Dauda in post.

”The first fifteen minutes we had many chances to score, empty nets but we managed to squander all,” coach Herbert Addo told supersport.com.

”They turned things and were playing all the football. In fact, their goal was a beautiful goal. Halftime we talked to the boys but still AshGold were superior. Our boys didn’t plays as we hoped. They had the determination, they were fighting but did not play the football we know them to have been playing in the last few games.

“Because of our determination, we were pushing, taking risks. We didn’t sit behind, we had to push. We brought on another striker and were pushing. Luckily for us, we had a corner and one of our midfielders picked on the second ball and scored. We just hard to defend.

“We were even lucky. Our goalkeeper had to make a world class save a minute to the end. The ball was going in and he managed to get the ball out – which was fantastic. If it was boxing, maybe we could have conceded the fight but if we had knocked them out in the first round, maybe it would not have gone to that extent. That is football. It was a good game, a good lesson. All in all, I think the result is fair,” he ended.

AshantiGold end the first round as league leaders with 29 points – four better than Wafa and Aduana Stars while Hearts maintain their 10th position with 20 points.

Nat Asamoah revels in top scoring form

Medeama SC striker Nathaniel Asamoah ended the first half of this season’s FCPPL as top scorer on Wednesday.

He took his tally to twelve goals with a brace in Medeama’s 3-1 victory over B.A United at the T&A Park in Tarkwa – a result which placed his club fourth on the league table.

The 25-year-old marksman has put his rich form down to “hard work and determination” after returning from an unsuccessful sojourn in Europe last season.

It will be recalled that Asamoah left Asante Kotoko after five games in his second season to sign for Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade in a four-year deal worth. He however endured a torrid time with the European outfit and cancelled his contract after one year over unpaid wages.

Asamoah returned to Ghana and signed a two-year deal with Medeama SC. He reveals he was short of confidence in his return to the local league last year.

“It’s all about hard work and determination,” says the goal getter.

“When you go to Europe and return [to local football], you struggle to play. First and foremost, you feel you have failed and disappointed yourself. It is there you need to psyche yourself.”

“It is one of the reasons I struggled to shine last season but this term, I have been so determined that come what may, what I know how to do best – that is, playing well and scoring, I will do it and it has come to pass.”

The local Black Stars forward believes his exceptional ability in applying the basics in scoring are paying off as he concedes most teams are tactically better now than the previous seasons.

“These days the teams are more tactical especially in defending and I think that has accounted for the less goals in some of the matches,” he opined.

“Most of the teams are tactically good but sometimes, it needs intelligent minds to open up defences and score. I think I have that quality to take on defenders and move at the right time and that is paying off.”

His closest shot at the goalking title was during his first season at Asante Kotoko four years ago. He was the leading scorer until he was displaced by then Berekum Chelsea striker Emmanuel Clottey at the latter stages of the 2011 season.

This term, Asamoah is widening the gap as early as possible by scoring four more than his closest peers. Gilbert Fiamenyo, Nuhu Fuseini, Noah Martey and Stephen Baffour Asare lag behind with 8 goals each at the end of the first round.

Asamoah’s 12 first round goals chronicled

Nathaniel Asamoah grabbed a brace four times with the rest being single goals in the eight games in which he found the back of the net during the first round of the 2015 First Capital Plus Premier League.

Match day 4 – Medeama 2-0 AshGold - Brace

Match day 6 - Medeama 1-0 Chelsea – One goal

Match day 8 - Bechem United 2-1 Medeama – One goal

Match day 9 – Medeama 1-1 Liberty – One goal

Match day 11 – Medeama 3-0 Edubiase – Brace

Match day 13 – Medeama 2-0 Aduana – Brace

Match day 14 – Hasaacas 2-2 Medeama – One goal

Match day 15 – Medeama 3-1 Aduana – Brace

Gicumbi, APR settle for stalemate

Jean Paul Kayigamba scored in the 87th minute to secure a point for Gicumbi in the 1-1 draw with table leaders APR on Wednesday at Byumba Stadium.

Kayigamba punished APR’s sloppy defending in this National Football League (NFL) encounter when he pounced on a loose ball to send a superb shot from 20 yards past goalkeeper Olivier Kwizera to equalize for the home side.

“Honestly, it was a great goal and that is what annoys me because we did not defend well. The manner in which he got the ball and scored was shocking on our side,” admitted APR head coach Dusan Suljagic.

Midfielder Hegman Ngomirakiza had given APR the lead with an impressive header in the 23rd minute from a well taken Jean Claude Iranzi corner kick.

Suljagic was, however, satisfied with his players’ performance. “They played well and followed my game plan. We scored a good goal and early enough.”

“Today’s result does not affect our title bid. I believe in my players and I know that they have what it takes to win the title,” explained the optimistic Suljagic.

APR have 48 points from 23 games and with three games to the end of the season, the army side need two wins to retain the league title.

Second-placed AS Kigali hasve 44 points from the same number of games. Gicumbi maintained fifth position and have 34 points.

Meanwhile, Sunrise held Rayon Sports to a goalless draw at the Muhanga Stadium to maintain seventh position on the NFL table standings.

The Rwamagana-based side have 31 points from 23 games and coach Thierry Nzungu is contented with his side’s performance in their first season in the topflight league.

“We did well today and I am proud of the players. We fought hard and got an equalizer late in the game and we walked away with a point. That is important to us,” explained Nzungu.

Rayon Sports sit in fourth position with 34 points and with their league title ambitions up in the air, head coach Jean Baptiste Kayiranga wants his side to finish as high up as possible on the table standings.

Meanwhile, the Rubavu derby between Marines and Etincelles was postponed to Thursday afternoon at the Muhanga Stadium following the unavailability of the Tam Tam Stadium.

Vipers, Villa look to tear away

Leaders Vipers and second-placed SC Villa will tear away from the chasing pack with victories over Police and Entebbe respectively in the Uganda Premier League (UPL) on Friday.

With closest chasers KCC not in action on the day, coach Edward Golola’s Vipers and Ibrahim Kirya’s Villa could open a nine and seven-point gap respectively on the soon-to-be deposed champions.

Vipers top standings with 56 points, two more than Villa in second, and six and a massive 14 ahead of KCC and fourth-placed URA respectively.

Even more worrying for the supposed defending champions, KCC, who have lost at home to Vipers and Express in their last two matches, they have played one game more than Vipers and two more than Villa.

KCC have four games left to while Vipers and Villa have five and six more matches to go.

Vipers will again look to the industry of forward Farouk Miya, who has shouldered most of the responsibility for the 2010 winners this campaign, scoring eight goals along the way.

But they will be wary of Police’s talisman and league’s joint leading scorer with 13 goals, Umar Kasumba. The law enforcers are sixth with 37 points.

Villa will again look to Erisa Ssekisambu’s pace, skipper Stephen Bengo’s craft and Victor Emenayo’s scoring boots when they come up against the demotivated Entebbe, who are almost certain to be relegated.

Entebbe, who have endured a season of coach changes and unpaid salaries, occupy the root of the 16-team table with just 14 points from 24 games.

The other two games see Bright Stars entertain Lweza in Matugga while SCVU host Simba at Namboole.

UPL, FRIDAY, MAY 1

Bright Stars vs Lweza

SC Villa vs Entebbe

SCVU vs Simba

Vipers vs Police

Leopards follow Muhammad Ali's footsteps

Swaziland police football team Royal Leopards go to the stadium where Muhammad Ali won the 'Rumble in the Jungle', seeking to create CAF Confederation Cup history this weekend.

Ali knocked out George Foreman 41 years ago during the eighth round of a world heavyweight title bout at Stade Tata Raphael in Democratic Republic of Congo capital Kinshasa.

And at the same 30,000-seat venue this Sunday, Leopards defend a 1-0 first-leg lead over Congolese AS Vita Club, the hot favourites to win the last-16 tie.

No Swazi club has advanced beyond this stage of the second-tier African club competition, but 29-year-old Leopards coach Sifiso Ntibane says Kinshasa holds no fears for him or his side.

The stadium where Ali and Foreman boxed ranks among the most intimidating in Africa for visiting footballers.

"We are prepared for any situation," the former Swaziland winger told AFP, ahead of the clash with the 2014 CAF Champions League runners-up.

"My boys are ready for war. They have been to hostile venues before and know what to expect."

What Leopards, composed exclusively of full-time police constables, can expect is an onslaught from Vita, probably spearheaded by Firmin Mubele.

V. Club trounced Mozambicans Ferroviario da Beira 3-0 in the round-of-32 at Stade Tata Raphael with national team striker Mubele bagging a brace.

The Swazis had mixed results in previous away games this season, slumping 3-0 to South Africans Wits in Johannesburg and shocking Angolans Petro Atletico 1-0 in Luanda.

V. Club coach Florent Ibenge blamed poor ball control for the first-leg loss in Swaziland.

"Difficulty in controlling the ball allowed our opponents to press us," said the handler who guided DR Congo to third at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

The eight-fixture Confederation Cup schedule begins Friday with another match at Stade Tata Raphael and another Congolese club with a one-goal deficit to overcome.

MK Etancheite are better placed than compatriots AS Vita having scored an away goal in a 2-1 loss to Nigerians Warri Wolves.

The Congolese also trailed 2-1 after the first leg in the previous round, then banged five goals past Sudanese Al Ahly Shendy in Kinshasa.

Kadima Kabangu could pose the biggest threat to the Wolves as his four goals makes him the second highest Confederation Cup scorer this season.

Leading scorer Georges Ambourouet, who has struck six goals, will be in South Africa with his team-mates from Gabonese club Mounana.

They were held 2-2 at home by former African champions Orlando Pirates after surrendering a two-goal advantage.

Ghanaians Hearts of Oak and Ivorians ASEC Mimosas are well placed having won first legs in Mali two weeks ago.

Hearts lead Djoliba 2-1 and ASEC lead Onze Createurs 1-0 and it would be a shock if either hosts failed to progress.

Egyptians Zamalek and newly crowned Tanzanian champions Young Africans are in trouble having been held at home.

Moroccans FUS Rabat forced a 0-0 stalemate with Zamalek in Cairo and Tunisians Etoile Sahel came from behind to draw 1-1 with Young Africans in Dar es Salaam.

Pearson calls reporter an 'ostrich'

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson accused a journalist of being "an ostrich" during a peculiar tirade following his side's 3-1 Premier League loss at home to Chelsea.

Ian Baker, who was covering Wednesday's match at the King Power Stadium for AFP, asked Pearson to elaborate after he told his post-match press conference that his players had had to deal with "criticism and negativity".

"Have you been on holiday for six months? Have you been away for six months?" responded Pearson, whose side are a point above the relegation zone with four matches of the season remaining.

"I think you must have either your head in the clouds, or been away on holiday, or reporting on a different team, because if you don't know the answer to that question...

"Your question is absolutely unbelievable, the fact you do not understand where I am coming from. If you don't know the answer to that question then I think you are an ostrich.

"Your head must be in the sand. Is your head in the sand? Are you flexible enough to get your head in the sand? My suspicion would be no. I can, you can't."

Pearson, 51, also mockingly mimicked Baker's voice and described him as "daft" and "very stupid" before cutting the press conference short and leaving the room.

The incident created a stir on social media, while a YouTube video of Pearson's outburst had been watched 56 000 times by Thursday morning.

It is not the first time that Pearson, who steered Leicester to promotion from the Championship in 2014, has found himself in the headlines this season.

He was fined £10 000 ($15 470, 13 780 euros) and given a one-match touchline ban by the Football Association for swearing at a Leicester fan during a loss to Liverpool in December and also swore at a journalist last month.

In February he was involved in a curious touchline tussle with Crystal Palace's James McArthur that saw him playfully grab the midfielder by the neck and then prevent him from returning to the pitch by holding his shirt.

Baker maintained a sense of humour over the press conference incident, writing on Twitter: "If getting called an ostrich by Nigel Pearson is not a career highlight I don't know what is."

Cooreman, Eguavoen top NNL big guns

It is not strange to find big names working in the less prestigious lower division and that will be the picture when Nigeria’s second tier football league, known as the Nigeria National League begins, in May.

There will be several popular names shouting from the sidelines to ensure their clubs gain promotion to the top flight.

Supersport.com profiles the big names who will be working in the NNL this term.

Austin Eguavoen: Gombe United

Nigeria’s USA ’94 and France ’98 World Cup star, Austin Eguavoen, will be the biggest name in the dug-out when the 2014/15 Nigeria National League season begins.

Back in 1994, Eguavoen was match day captain when the Super Eagles lifted the Afcon, in Tunisia.

Add his role as a former Super Eagles coach, who was in charge during the Egypt 2006 Afcon, then you’ll understand why he will light up Nigeria’s second division.

Eguavoen joined Gombe United after the exit of Maurice Cooreman, but his effort was not enough to stop the club from going down.

At club level, he has managed Bendel Insurance, Enyimba, Sharks and COD United, but this assignment at Gombe United will turn out to be his biggest test at club level.

Gombe United will have to contend with life in the lower class for the first time since their promotion to the defunct Professional League Division I in 1994 and Eguavoen has the unenviable task of returning the club to the top flight.

Maurice Cooreman: Ikorodu United

The much-travelled Cooreman has coached everywhere in Nigeria and steps down to the lower division for the first time since he started his career in the Nigerian league with Gabros International, in 2003.

Ikorodu United may be new in the league, but certainly not Cooreman.

Apart from Gabros, Cooreman has coached Lobi, NPA, Bendel Insurance, Ocean Boys, Enyimba, Kaduna United and Gombe United all in the top flight.

Cooreman won the league with Ocean Boys, in 2006 as well as Enyimba, in 2007 and led Kaduna United to Federation Cup glory for the first time, in 2010.

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A year later, he took the club to the group stage of the Caf Confederation Cup.

Today, his job is to mid-wife debutants, Ikorodu United into Premier League material.

Roland Ewere: Bendel Insurance

Fondly called 'Chief' at defunct Glamour Boys, Julius Berger, Ewere made his name at Bendel Insurance when he led the club to win the defunct Caf Cup in 1994 as well as feature in three Wafu Club Cup finals (1993, 1994 and 1995).

Times have changed and the famous Insurance have since become a struggling side.

Ironically, the club’s dwindling fortunes forced Eguavoen to seek for greener pastures at Gombe United.

However, Ewere continues to patch up the remains of the club hoping for light at the end of the tunnel.

Lukman Oshun: First Bank

Lukman Oshun will continue from where he stopped with First Bank, last term.

It was a close call for the Bankers but they lost the ticket on the last day at Go Round.

Oshun made his name in the old division one league and is a former international.

Abdullahi Biffor: Niger Tornadoes

Biffor might be the odd man amongst the lot, but earns his place for coaching Giwa FC in the top flight, last term.

Interestingly, he brought Giwa FC from the lower division to the top flight before returning to the lower cadre to coach Kogi United, all in 2014.

Today, he is the man in charge of Niger Tornadoes and the task is to return the club to the big league.

“My target is to gain promotion to the Premier League,”

No plan to sack Garrido

Al Ahly chairman, Mahmoud Taher, has assured that they have no plans to sack their head coach, Juan Carlos Garrido.

Rumours have been going the round that Al Ahly will end the contract of their Spanish coach after their 1-0 defeat against Arab Contractors on Monday in Egyptian Premier League.

Egyptian reports suggested that former Al Ahly player, Mokhtar Mokhtar, is in line to take charge of the team. Also, the club's former manager, Fathi Mabrouk, has been reportedly linked to the coaching job at Al Ahly which is not vacant.

"The entire board has decided to renew their trust in Garrido. We all trust in him and will support him, and we ask the fans to support the head coach and the team to do a good job," the Al Ahly chairman said.

"We held a meeting and the board members assured they don't want to break the contract with Garrido even if we lose the chance to win the league."

The Egyptian Premier League title-holders are now in third place in the log with 46 points, 11 behind leaders, Zamalek.

Garrido has already admitted that Al Ahly will not win the league title this season considering the points difference between them and table-topping Zamalek.

The Spaniard also thinks they have a mathematical chance if Al Ahly can win all of their remaining league matches and Zamalek stumble in the run-in to the title race.

"I think we will not win the title. There are many points between us and Zamalek. Now we need to win all our matches and wait for Zamalek to lose. I think it's difficult. I want to stay with the team. We have a lot of work to do," Garrido said.

Wow, what a goal

Fans have been treated to some truly breathtaking goals over the course of the season but Menzi Masuku’s rocket will certainly wow you.

With Orlando Pirates leading SuperSport United 2-1, Masuku won the ball in the Bucs’ half and made a daunting run towards the goals before unleashing a pile driver that gave Ronwen Williams no chance.

The ball was struck with such power, precision and finesse that SuperSport TV commentator Sizwe Mabena was in hysterics.

Pirates won the five-goal show 4-1 over Matsantsantsa. If you don’t say ‘wow’ after seeing this goal then you need help.

The goal has been touted as a strong contender for the Goal of the Season Award.

Algeria put aside 2017 Afcon snub

The Algeria Football Federation president, Mohamed Raouraoua, has declared that his country has closed the chapter of missing out of playing host to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Algerians were furious with Caf's decision to hand Gabon the host rights for the 2017 edition of the Afcon amid claims that the African football governing body should make the voting process that picked the Central African nation as winner public.

Gabon beat Algeria and Ghana during the bidding process, but Raouraoua now says his country is focused on building a team to win the African title and also plan to put in a bid for another big football event.

"We want to forget what happened there and prepare ourselves again. Yes we will not host the big event but we have a team that can win the title there [in Gabon]. I trust that our Desert Foxes can win the title and make all Algerians proud in Gabon," Raouraoua said.

"The players know how important this tournament is for us as a nation and I trust them to do well. Now I don't want to talk more about that."

Algeria have been drawn in the Group J with Ethiopia, Lesotho and Seychelles for the 2017 Afcon qualification.

Pirates target Confed Cup progress

Orlando Pirates will look to advance into the final qualifying round of the CAF Confederation Cup when they host Gabon’s CF Mounana for the return leg of their second round tie.

Kick-off at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday, will be at 20:15 CAT and the match will be broadcast live on SS4 HD

Pirates come into the match in a strong position, having recovered from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Libreville earlier this month.

Bucs were in dire trouble at 2-0 down in the second half, but late goals from Lehlohonolo Majoro and Thabo Rakhale turned the tie in their favour. The South African side now knows that any win, or a draw with a goalless or 1-1 score line, will see them through.

However, Eric Tinkler’s men must assume that Mounana will once again be difficult opponents. The Gabonese should really have won the first leg comfortably, as they dominated play and created many scoring opportunities.

They are unlikely to be as effective away from home, but the pace and strength they demonstrated in the first leg will come in handy if they play a counterattacking strategy in the return game in Soweto.

In addition, Bucs could have weary legs for the match. After their draw in Gabon and the lengthy trip back to South Africa, they were held to a goalless draw by University of Pretoria in a domestic clash last Friday, while they are also in action this midweek.

Tinkler will have to juggle his squad to ensure his side remains sprightly and continue on their African adventure – after the failures of Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns in the Champions League, Bucs are the only SA side still standing in CAF club competition.

The referee for the match is Davies Ogenche Omweno from Kenya. The winners will advance into the playoff round of the Confederation Cup, where they will face one of eight losers from the current Champions League round. The winners of those eight ties advance into the group stage.

Yanga seal title in fine style

Young Africans have claimed the Tanzania Premier League crown with two games remaining, their 25th league title overall.

‘Yanga’ as the capital-based club is nicknamed made certain of the title after a 4-1 thrashing of relegation-threatened Polisi Morogoro on Monday at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

A hat-trick from Burundi-import Amissi Tambwe and other by Simon Msuva was enough for the Jangwani Street outfit to wrestle the title back from Azam FC, despite Nicholas Kabipe grabbing a consolation for the struggling side.

Young Africans now have 55 points from 24 games, which takes the championship race beyond last season winners, Azam, which has bagged 45 points from 23 games.

Bitterest rivals, Simba occupy a distant third with 41 points from 24 games in the 14-club league.

Yanga, currently involved at the 1/8th round of the 2015 Orange CAF Confederation Cup will represent Tanzania in next year’s CAF Champions League.

They will travel to the Tunisian resort city of Souse as guests of Etoile du Sahel for the return leg on Saturday, 2 May 2015 at the Olympic Stadium. The first leg ended one-all.

Okocha gives hint at NFF presidency

Former Nigerian captain, Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha, has delivered a veiled desire that he could one be running for the office of the Nigeria Football Federation [NFF].

The ex-football star has identified himself as a presidential type in an executive workings of running football.

The 41-year-old said he is rather interested in holding executive positions than going into coaching at the moment.

But Okocha was quick to acknowledge that such presidential ambition still remains a decision for the future.

No [I am not going into the coaching], not for the moment. I’m more interested in the executive positions. I prefer to be the one who appoints them and tells them what to do (laughs)!" he told Fifa.com this week.

Asked if he is best-suited for the presidential position, Okocha responded: "Why not? Yes. In fact, I’ve just been named the chairman of the Delta State Football Association, which I’m delighted about. Who knows what the future has in store, though?"

Okocha is currently chairman of the Delta State FA, having been elected into the position in February this year.

Knives out for free-fall Marseille

Seen as potential champions as recently as Christmas, Marseille's Ligue 1 meltdown has been so dramatic even second-bottom Metz fancy their chances for their showdown on Friday.

Desperate for a win themselves Metz coach Albert Cartier explained this week why he thought Marseille, on a run of four league defeats, were there for the taking again.

"They're a team who attack and who are in real need of a win, us too, so against Marseille it'll be an open game," he explained.

Marseille travel north to Metz with just four games left of a season that is turning into a gut-wrenching disappointment for everyone at the club.

After their humiliating 5-3 home defeat in a wild match to relegation-threatened Lorient last week Marseille's club president spoke openly of a season gone to terrible waste.

"That looked like collective suicide," OM president Vincent Labrune said.

"We need to find some self-respect, some pride, only this way can we win our last four games and avoid this season becoming a dreadful waste," he added.

In the close season Labrune recruited the Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa, whose peculiar coaching style and tendency to crank up the pressure saw the club top the table going into the winter break, and top it in swashbuckling style spearheaded by striker Andre-Pierre Gignac, who has 18 league goals this season.

Fourteen games later however they now trail Monaco in the third Champions League spot by five points, and tellingly are a full 11 behind Lyon, and a massive 14 adrift of leaders Paris Saint Germain.

Marseille forward Dimitri Payet however says there is no internal fighting and that Champions League football is still an objective.

"We can't wait for this match," insisted the 28-year-old Bielsa stalwart who has started 31 league games this term.

"We want to show everyone this series of results was a kind of accident."

Metz are in a far worse predicament than Marseille with four games left, three at home and one at Monaco, they are eight points behind a safety spot.

Leaders Paris Saint-Germain are in action in Sunday's late game where they travel to Nantes in focussed pursuit of a domestic treble.

Ogu sets sight on Israeli Cup

Nigeria international, John Ogu, will play in the final of the 2015 Israeli Cup after his team, Hapoel Be'er Sheva, hammered lower league side and giant-slayers Hapoel Afula 7-0 on Wednesday.

Ogu, who just returned from a one-game suspension last weekend, was instrumental in the Be'er Sheva midfield as his side ran riot.

Dovev Gabbay scored a hat-trick in the game that also saw Shlomi Arbeitman score a brace for Hapoel Be'er Sheva

Be'er Sheva led the game 4-0 at half time and completed the rout with a further three goals in the second half as Aviatar Iluz and Or Havivyan also got among the goals in the rout.

A visibly happy Ogu told supersport.com after the game that he is excited in playing in his first major final in Israel since his switch to Hapoel Be'er Sheva from Portuguese side, Academica de Coimbra.

"I enjoyed the game and I'm happy we won with such a huge margin. It will give us confidence going into the final match.

"My teammates played the perfect game and our collective effort gave us the win.

"This victory is dedicated to the fans of Hapoel Be'er Sheva for standing by us and supporting us," he added.

Be'er Sheva will now meet Maccabi Tel Aviv in the final after the Ligat Ha'al side defeated Maccabi Ahi Nazareth 3-0 in the other semifinal on Wednesday

Fresh injury woe for Everton's Oviedo

Everton player Bryan Oviedo has suffered fresh injury misery after manager Roberto Martinez revealed on Thursday that a broken metatarsal has ended his season.

The 25-year-old Costa Rica international was sidelined for eight months by a double leg break last year, forcing him to miss the World Cup, and the new injury will prevent him from playing in the Concacaf Gold Cup.

"We had a real disappointing situation with Bryan Oviedo in training as he has fractured his fifth metatarsal (in his right foot), which is incredibly bad luck," Martinez told a press conference.

"He was in a great moment of form to get back into the squad and finish the season playing, but it was a very unfortunate action on his own and he is going to be out for the rest of the season.

"It is not his leg he had the break in, so there it is nothing to do with the mechanics involved, but it means he will miss the Gold Cup for Costa Rica."

Oviedo, who can play at left-back or in midfield, had been due to make his return from a hamstring injury in a game between Everton's under-21s and their Liverpool counterparts at Goodison Park on Thursday.

Blatter makes Asian push

Sepp Blatter hailed Asia and showered praise on its leader for fighting corruption on Thursday as he made a final push for re-election as head of world football body Fifa.

Quoting Confucius in a meandering address, Blatter, 79, told the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) congress that Asia was the "most important continent" for Fifa.

"Asia is the biggest and most important continent in the world, and also it's the most important for Fifa's present and future," Blatter told the meeting in Manama, Bahrain.

With his challengers Prince Ali al Hussein, Michael van Praag and Luis Figo seated nearby, Blatter called for fair play in the looming Fifa presidential vote on May 29.

"Don't forget we are in elections and in elections we have the same principles in respect of play, even if there's no referee," Blatter said. "We must ensure discipline, respect and fair play."

Fifa's second-biggest confederation after Africa is a key constituency for Blatter, who is widely expected to seal a fifth term despite a series of controversies.

Blatter enjoys strong support in Asia led by increasingly powerful AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa, who will be re-elected unopposed later.

The Bahraini "has shown a remarkable sense of organisation and diplomacy to bring back the boat of the Asian Football Confederation, that at a certain time has been in waters that are not so very clear and not so very clean," Blatter said.

Shaikh Salman took over the AFC in 2013, after his Qatari predecessor Mohamed bin Hammam was banned from football over claims of bribery and financial wrongdoing.

Blatter praised Asia's development in football, calling it vindication for Fifa's policies and handouts which have helped secure him strong backing in the region.

"(Chinese philosopher) Confucius said, if you want to help your friend or your brother, don't give him a fish but teach him how to get fish," Blatter said.

"This is the policy of our development programme. There is money available (but) I don't want to speak about money today."

Asia is the last of the confederations to hold a congress before the Fifa vote and is a stronghold of Blatter support, along with 54-member Africa.

Nkana duo racing against time

Nkana are in a race against time to have captain Donashano Malama and midfielder Claude Bwalya fit for Sunday’s Kitwe derby showdown at home against Power Dynamos.

Defender Malama and Bwalya have been sidelined from training this week due to injuries.

Bwalya has been out of action since Nkana’s 0-0 home draw with defending Faz Super League champions Zesco United on April 19 with a thigh injury.

Malama also sustained a thigh injury in last Saturday’s scoreless away game at Green eagles.

“Malama has a knock but I hope by the end of the week the medics will give us the full story on him but it is not a serious injury,” Nkana coach Beston Chambeshi said.

“Claude may start light training and as we go into the week he might join us.”

Meanwhile, Nkana will head into the derby at Nkana Stadium already without goalkeeper Scott Ngokane due to suspension.

Ngokane was red carded in that away draw at Eagles in the 69th minute.

His absence will see fit-again Rabson Muchelenganga, who missed start of the season due to injury, battle Charles Mweemba to replace Ngokane this weekend.

Nkana are unbeaten against Power in their last four league derby meetings with two wins and as many draws.