Police investigate Kumbela for violence

Congolese striker Domi Kumbela is being investigated by German police on suspicion of domestic assault, a spokesman confirmed on Wednesday.

Police were called to the 29-year-old Eintracht Braunschweig striker's house at 1730 GMT on Tuesday because of a disturbance.

"There is are charges against Mr Kumbela and also his girlfriend relating to the allegations," a Braunschweig police spokesman told SID, an AFP subsidiary.

"There was apparently reciprocal violence. Both blame each other."

Both Kumbela and bottom side Braunschweig refused to comment on the allegations until the police investigation is complete.

"We have full confidence in Domi and he will be taking part in training and matches until then," said Braunschweig's director of sport Marc Arnold.

In December last year, Kumbela was included in the Democratic Republic of Congo's preliminary squad for this year's African Cup of Nations in South Africa, but declined the call-up to concentrate on his club football.

This is not the first time Kumbela has fallen foul of the law in Germany having been given a 14-month suspended sentence in 2009 for an incident when he beat up his pregnant girlfriend and a doorman in a nightclub.

The same year he was fined €3500 by a court in Paderborn for assault on a man in a separate incident while in 2005 he was thrown out of Kaiserslautern's reserve team for cannabis use.

Lewa drops Bayern hint... in Bavarian

Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski has dropped another heavy hint that he plans to join Bayern Munich in 2014 by responding in Bavarian to a question about his future.

"Schaun mer mal ('let's wait and see' in Bavarian)," Lewandowski told German daily Bild when asked about a possible move to rivals Bayern Munich.

The 25-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and has been repeatedly linked to a move to European champions Bayern.

The Poland striker is set to make an announcement about his future in January, when he is expected to confirm his move to Munich for next season.

With 11 goals in 16 league games this season, Lewandowski says he is frustrated by Dortmund's lack of Bundesliga form with Borussia third and 12 points behind leaders Bayern Munich in the table after three defeats in their last five games.

"We all know we need to start winning again," he said.

"We want to start against Hertha Berlin (on Saturday in the Bundesliga).

"We must really get going in the second part of the season and reduce the gap behind Leverkusen and Bayern. We are not allowed to drop any more points.

"Despite my 11 goals, I could have scored many more.

"That's why I am not satisfied. But that's not only my problem – that applies to the whole team.

"We did not drop that many points because we played badly but because we were too wasteful in front of goal. That's annoying.

Bayer sign South Korea's Ryu on loan

Bayer Leverkusen will have a second South Korean in their ranks after agreeing to sign striker Ryu Seung Woo on loan from Jeju United.

Ryu, 20, undertook a medical test on Wednesday in Leverkusen and will join his new teammates at a training camp in Portugal in the new year, the Bundesliga club said.

Ryu, who impressed at the under-20 world championships in Turkey this summer, will join fellow South Korean striker Son Heung Min at Leverkusen.

Leverkusen, second in the Bundesliga behind Bayern Munich, have an option to buy Ryu from Korean K-League side Jeju at the end of the 12-month loan period.

Meanwhile full-backs Sebastian Boenisch and Roberto Hilbert were able to return to training Wednesday after recovering from knee injuries.

Hilbert was given an individual training programme five weeks after tearing a knee ligament, while Boenish had been sidelined for four match with bruising at the back of the knee joint.

Bayer sign South Korea's Ryu on loan

Bayer Leverkusen will have a second South Korean in their ranks after agreeing to sign striker Ryu Seung Woo on loan from Jeju United.

Ryu, 20, undertook a medical test on Wednesday in Leverkusen and will join his new teammates at a training camp in Portugal in the new year, the Bundesliga club said.

Ryu, who impressed at the under-20 world championships in Turkey this summer, will join fellow South Korean striker Son Heung Min at Leverkusen.

Leverkusen, second in the Bundesliga behind Bayern Munich, have an option to buy Ryu from Korean K-League side Jeju at the end of the 12-month loan period.

Meanwhile full-backs Sebastian Boenisch and Roberto Hilbert were able to return to training Wednesday after recovering from knee injuries.

Hilbert was given an individual training programme five weeks after tearing a knee ligament, while Boenish had been sidelined for four match with bruising at the back of the knee joint.

Aubameyang challenged to sprint race

Germany's 100m sprint champion Julian Reus has challenged Borussia Dortmund winger Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to a sprint race to prove whether the football star is faster than Usain Bolt.

Aubameyang, who has scored nine Bundesliga goals this season, has clocked 3.7seconds over 30 metres in training, suggesting that he is faster than Bolt, who clocked 3.78secs over the same distance en route to setting the 100m world record of 9.58secs in 2009.

Last Saturday, Gabon international Aubameyang told German television show Sportstudio that he is faster than Bolt, a claim German sprint champion Julian Reus is eager to challenge and wants to race him.

"It is a blatant myth that Aubameyang is faster than Usain Bolt," said the 25-year-old Reus, whose personal best is 10.08secs, while Aubameyang has yet to accept the challenge.

"What Aubameyang claimed on television really annoyed me. I want to restore athletics' honour.

Keshi still 'misunderstood'

Head coach of the Nigeria national team, Stephen Keshi believes he is misunderstood by many of his countrymen who have the impression that he is a difficult person to get along with.

Keshi took charge of the Super Eagles in 2011 after Samson Siasia was sacked for failing to steer Nigeria to a place at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Success at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa where Nigeria won the title and a qualification ticket to the 2014 Fifa World Cup finals in Brazil saw Keshi’s reputation as a top trainer rise admirably but the gaffer says he’s been struggling to shrug off the wrong impression some have about him.

“I have heard many people say I am a snob and a hard man but that is not true. I am a very approachable person and easy to get along with,” Keshi told supersport.com.

Keshi, who earned the nickname, “Big Boss” for his charismatic nature and no-nonsense approach to issues during his days as a Nigerian international, believes that may be the reason for the misconception.

“I had a reputation as a tough person during my days as a footballer so maybe that’s what many are thinking about.

“When I first got this job to coach the Super Eagles, my wife encouraged me to take the job.

“She said it would give me the opportunity to really show Nigerians that I am not the person they think I am. I am really friendly and very nice,” he said.

Keshi is currently with the Nigeria squad in Abuja intensifying preparations for the 2014 African Nations Championship in South Africa and he took the time to assess the chances of his side ahead of the tournament.

Nigeria will face South Africa, Mali and Mozambique in Group A and Keshi is full of respect for the opposition.

“All the teams that have qualified are good. We are full of respect for them all.

“We had a practice game today (Wednesday) and the boys are slowly beginning to understand what we ask of them.

“Hopefully, we will be ready by the time the competition commences next month,” he said.

Eagles beat Tornadoes in Chan warm up

Nigeria’s Super Eagles defeated Niger Tornadoes 2-0 in a practice game in Abuja on Wednesday.

The game was part of preparations ahead of preparations for the 2014 African Nations Championship (Chan) in South Africa.

Nanen Imenger and Ikechukwu Azubuike were the goal scorers for Nigeria and Keshi stated afterwards that he was impressed with the physical attributes of the opposition which he predicted would help his wards at the 2014 Chan.

Nigeria will face South Africa, Mozambique and Mali in the preliminary stages of the competition which gets underway in January.

The Super Eagles will be making their debut in the tournament.

Eagles beat Tornadoes in Chan warm up

Nigeria’s Super Eagles defeated Niger Tornadoes 2-0 in a practice game in Abuja on Wednesday.

The game was part of preparations ahead of preparations for the 2014 African Nations Championship (Chan) in South Africa.

Nanen Imenger and Ikechukwu Azubuike were the goal scorers for Nigeria and Keshi stated afterwards that he was impressed with the physical attributes of the opposition which he predicted would help his wards at the 2014 Chan.

Nigeria will face South Africa, Mozambique and Mali in the preliminary stages of the competition which gets underway in January.

The Super Eagles will be making their debut in the tournament.

Real see off Olimpic, Atletico advance

There was no dream ending for Olimpic de Xativa after an efficient performance from a second-string Real Madrid secured a 2-0 win at the Bernabeu which sent them through to the King's Cup last 16 on Wednesday.

A 0-0 home draw had built up Olimpic's hopes of an unlikely upset but Asier Illarramendi eased Real's concerns with the opening goal after 16 minutes and midway through the first half Angel Di Maria converted a penalty.

Gareth Bale was among the injured players and Cristiano Ronaldo was suspended for a game in which Real coach Carlo Ancelotti kept faith with his second string who had disappointed in the first leg.

Real reached the last 16 along with Atletico Madrid, who beat their Madrid rivals in last season's final, and won 2-1 against Sant Andreu earlier on Wednesday to advance.

Barcelona made short work of Cartagena with a 3-0 victory on Tuesday to qualify 7-1 on aggregate.

"We tried to get more goals but the important thing is that we played well and we respected the opposition," Real defender Pepe told reporters.

"We had a good rhythm to our play, the team is united and we are working hard."

Olimpic made the 400km journey from south of Valencia by coach looking to repeat the feats of lower league sides Alcorcon and Real Union who have knocked Real out of the Cup in recent seasons.

The visitors were willing to take the game to Real and attacked down the wings through Alejandro Belda and Denis Najera but they lacked creativity and a cutting edge.

After a slow start, Real began to find their feet and Illarramendi put them in front, finishing clinically from a pass by Jese Rodriguez.

A header from Alvaro Morata was handled by Enrique Alcazar inside the area and Di Maria extended Real's lead as he converted the penalty.

Real controlled the game after the break but despite their possession they struggled to create further chances as Olimpic closed them down well.

"It has been a fantastic experience from the moment the tie was announced. We've had the chance to play in the Bernabeu and although we conceded goals in the first half we have given a good account of ourselves," Olimpic midfielder Eduardo Rifaterra said.

A stoppage-time goal from Tobias Alderweireld gave Atletico Madrid victory over lower league Sant Andreu.

SQUAD PLAYERS

After their resounding 4-0 first-leg win coach Diego Simeone used his squad players to finish off the contest at the Calderon but it was the third division side who scored first through Alberto Corroza.

The defender was quickest to react when an Adrian Mourino free kick was turned on to the post by Daniel Aranzubia and he slotted the ball home after 14 minutes.

Atletico had a golden chance to equalise when Adrian Lopez was fouled by keeper Jose Miguel Morales for a penalty but Adrian blazed his spot-kick over the bar.

Adrian, however, made amends 12 minutes from the end when he crossed for Hector Hernandez to score.

In the dying moments, Atletico, who are joint leaders of La Liga with Barcelona, got the winner through a Alderweireld header from a Gabi Fernandez free kick.

Real Sociedad also reached the next round with a 4-0 win over lower league Algeciras to seal a 5-1 aggregate victory.

Third division Racing Santander pulled off a shock as they beat Sevilla 2-0 away to go through 2-1 on aggregate.

Bilbao, Madrid candidates to host Euro 2020

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed on Wednesday that the new San Mames Stadium in Bilbao and Atletico Madrid's future home La Peineta will be their candidates to host matches at Euro 2020.

Espanyol's Cornella El Prat and Valencia's new Mestalla stadium, which had previously been earmarked as potential hosts have now been discarded.

"After analysing the four stadiums initially presented as candidates for the European Championships in 2020, the board has announced that it will propose San Mames (Bilbao) and La Peineta (Madrid) as candidates to host matches during the tournament," the RFEF said in a statement.

Both the stadiums selected have yet to be completed.

The new San Mames opened in September, but one stand is still to be constructed before it will reach its full capacity of 53 000.

Meanwhile, La Peineta, which would have been the Olympic stadium in 2020 had Madrid's bid for the Games been successful, will not be ready to host matches until at least 2016, but does have the advantage of a significantly bigger capacity of 70 000.

Euro 2020 will be the first international tournament to be spread across 13 host cities in different countries with 32 federations already having expressed their interest in hosting matches.

Court investigate Neymar's signing

Barcelona have been ordered by a local court to provide details about the signing of Neymar before a decision is made on whether to open proceedings against club president Sandro Rosell for the misappropriation of funds.

The case has been brought to court by club member Jordi Cases.

The Brazil forward signed for the Spanish champions in the close season for €57.1 million of which €17.1 million went to his former club Santos, it was said in court.

Cases is looking for clarification over what happened to the remaining €40 million, which Barcelona say was paid to a company, named in media reports as Neymar & Neymar.

"It is not known what has really taken place with the €40 million supposedly paid to the player or his representatives," Cases said in a statement read out at the hearing on Wednesday.

The judge Pablo Ruz has given Barcelona five days to provide Neymar's contracts.

He has also asked for the club's financial records from the previous three years to cover the period during which negotiations for the 21-year-old's signing took place.

"It is a charge without basis. I am relaxed," Rosell told reporters on Monday.

Barcelona spokesman Toni Freixa said the club had nothing to hide.

"We have acted with complete transparency and we have nothing to be concerned about," he told a news conference on Monday.

"We have explained the details of the transfer... €40 million went to a company. If any judicial body asks for the information then there will be no problem.

Ramos wins appeal against red card

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos will be free to play against Valencia on Sunday after the club's appeal against his 18th career red card in the game with Osasuna last Saturday was successful.

The first of Ramos' two yellow cards in the first-half of the 2-2 draw in Pamplona was rescinded by the competition committee of the Spanish Football Federation on Wednesday.

Real boss Carlo Ancelotti had described the Spanish international's dismissal as "hard to understand" and the Italian will be relieved that Ramos is available for the trip to the Mestalla as he has a shortage of options at centre-back.

Portuguese international Pepe is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season against Osasuna, while Raphael Varane remains sidelined by a knee injury.

Madrid are also hopeful that Gareth Bale will be fit to face Valencia despite being ruled out of Wednesday's Copa del Rey clash with Olimpic Xativa due to a calf injury.

Ramos wins appeal against red card

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos will be free to play against Valencia on Sunday after the club's appeal against his 18th career red card in the game with Osasuna last Saturday was successful.

The first of Ramos' two yellow cards in the first-half of the 2-2 draw in Pamplona was rescinded by the competition committee of the Spanish Football Federation on Wednesday.

Real boss Carlo Ancelotti had described the Spanish international's dismissal as "hard to understand" and the Italian will be relieved that Ramos is available for the trip to the Mestalla as he has a shortage of options at centre-back.

Portuguese international Pepe is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season against Osasuna, while Raphael Varane remains sidelined by a knee injury.

Madrid are also hopeful that Gareth Bale will be fit to face Valencia despite being ruled out of Wednesday's Copa del Rey clash with Olimpic Xativa due to a calf injury.

Townsend sidelined by hamstring injury

Andros Townsend faces a spell on the sidelines after the Tottenham Hotspur winger injured his hamstring in Wednesday's 2-1 League Cup quarterfinal defeat to West Ham United, according to the London club's caretaker manager Tim Sherwood.

Townsend suffered the injury in the 73rd minute and was immediately substituted, and Sherwood, who replaced the sacked Andre Villas-Boas on Monday, fears the 22-year-old England international could be ruled out for some time.

"It looks like it," he was reported as saying by the BBC. "It looks like he pulled up with a hamstring."

Townsend has made 14 league appearances for Spurs this season, having spent last term on loan at Queens Park Rangers, and made a spectacular start to his England career, scoring on debut in a World Cup qualifier against Montenegro in October.

Tottenham, who dismissed Villas-Boas following a series of poor results despite heavy investment on players, next play Southampton in a Premier League clash on Sunday.

Swansea keeper to undergo surgery

Swansea City goalkeeper Michel Vorm is to undergo surgery on a long-term knee injury, the Premier League club announced on Thursday.

"The Swans had hoped the Dutch keeper would battle through until January, but after suffering more problems against Norwich City last Sunday, it was decided that the injury could not be managed any longer," the club said on their website (www.swanseacity.net).

The length of time Vorm will be sidelined will not be clear until after the operation.

Vorm, who has played 14 times for the Netherlands, is likely to be replaced by German Gerhard Tremmel in Swansea's starting line-up.

The Welsh club, who play Everton on Sunday, also said Leon Britton and Chico Flores are expected to return to training this week after injury lay-offs.

Britton missed the last five matches with a broken toe while Flores, who was suspended for the Norwich match, hurt his knee in a Europa League match with St Gallen.

Wilshere accepts charge, will contest ban

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has accepted an FA charge over an offensive gesture, but will contest the mandatory two-game ban, the BBC reported on Wednesday.

The England international is alleged to have made an abusive hand gesture towards Manchester City supporters at the Etihad Stadium during Arsenal's 6-3 Premier League defeat on Saturday.

The incident went unnoticed by match officials but was caught on video and Wilshere was charged retrospectively by the FA under a new pilot project for potential 'not seen' incidents in Premier League matches.

His case will be heard by a commission on Thursday and if the suspension is upheld he will miss Arsenal's Premier League match with Chelsea on December 23 and the game at West Ham United three days later.

Swansea, Hull fined for on-pitch melee

Swansea City and Hull City have each been fined £20 000 over an on-pitch fracas during their Premier League encounter last week, the Football Association announced on Tuesday.

The clubs both admitted to a charge of failing to ensure that their players "conducted themselves in an orderly fashion" during their 1-1 draw at Swansea's Liberty Stadium on December 9.

The charge related to a confrontation late in the game between Hull pair Tom Huddlestone and Yannick Sagbo and Swansea centre-backs Ashley Williams and Chico Flores.

Sagbo and Williams were both booked, while Swansea midfielder Jonjo Shelvey was also cautioned in the aftermath of the incident.

"Swansea City and Hull City have both been fined £20 000 following a mass confrontation between the two sides," read a statement on the FA website.

"The clubs each admitted a charge of failing to ensure that its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion.

Raja revere Ronaldinho after win

Rank outsiders Raja Casablanca untied and removed Ronaldinho's boots and pleaded for his shirt after a stunning 3-1 win over South American champions Atletico Mineiro on Wednesday.

Former World Player of the Year Ronaldinho curled in a free kick but was unable to prevent the Brazilians from sliding to an astonishing defeat against Raja, who were seen as no-hopers after firing coach Mohamed Fakhir one week before the tournament.

The ever-grinning Atletico playmaker left the pitch amid a crowd of admiring opponents, who qualified as champions of the host nation and are fifth in the Moroccan league.

Raja, a team of average league players with only a sprinkling of international caps between them, will have the chance to add more souvenirs when they face all-conquering Bayern Munich of Germany in Saturday's final in Marrakech.

Mouhssine Iajour gave Raja the lead early in the second half before Ronaldinho curled a free kick in off the post to level for the South American champions just after the hour.

Mohsine Moutaouali fired home a controversial penalty in the 84th minute and Vivien Mabide wrapped it up in stoppage time with a breakaway goal amid wild celebrations at the Stade de Marrakech.

It was a heart-breaking defeat for Atletico and their army of fans who made the trans-atlantic journey for the competition.

South American teams dream of testing themselves against Europe's top sides and treat the Club World Cup as the biggest prize in football.

"We are all ashamed," Atletico coach Cuca told reporters. "There are so many fans who stopped at nothing to come here, humble people who saved up for years and we frustrated their dreams.

"This was the most important game of the season for us."

Marrakech was even more chaotic than usual earlier in the day as Raja fans drove around the city, hooting incessantly and sitting halfway out the windows, suggesting that the tournament was anything but a low-key event.

The atmosphere in the Stade Marrakech, which involves a long trek out of the city in appalling traffic, was electric with around 20,000 Raja fans and half that number from Brazil.

EXCELLENT CHANCES

Atletico missed two excellent chances to take the lead when Jo somehow missed with a sliding left-foot effort from Lucas's cross and Fernandinho fired wide from an good position.

The Brazilians were already jittery, however, allowing Raja two good chances before the break.

It was no surprise when the Moroccan side went ahead eight minutes into the second half when Iajour was sent clear on the right and fired a low shot past Victor.

Atletico appeared to be losing their way but grabbed an equaliser out of the blue when Ronaldinho curled in his free kick off the post.

That briefly brought them to life and the otherwise subdued Ronaldinho produced one of his party tricks with a flick over an opponent, but it did not last.

Raja broke away after Atletico wasted a corner and Rever was adjudged to have tripped Iajour, although replays suggested no contact was made. Moutaouali set the stadium wild by converting the penalty.

The desperate Brazilians charged upfield and were caught completely open, allowing Mabide to produce the coup de grace in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Mineiro coach sorry after shock exit

Atletico Mineiro coach Cuca apologised to the 10 000 fans who made the long and costly trek from Brazil after Wednesday's 3-1 defeat to rank outsiders Raja Casablanca cost them a dream tie against Bayern Munich.

Atletico had been looking forward to meeting Bayern in the Club World Cup final ever since winning July's Libertadores Cup, South America's equivalent of the Champions League, and their army of fans had crossed the Atlantic in expectation.

Wednesday's semi-final against Raja Casablanca, a modest fifth in the Moroccan league, was seen as a mere appetiser and defeat was considered almost unthinkable.

"Almost everyone played badly," Cuca told reporters after his side were left with the unappetising prospect of a third place playoff against Guangzhou Evergrande.

"We have to be responsible, professional and divide the blame for a bad game and apologise to our fans. We have to lift ourselves quickly no matter how difficult that seems.

"We expected to get the anxiety out of our system after the first 15 or 20 minutes. Instead, we created chances and missed incredible goals and that created more anxiety.

"When we equalised, we had the game at our mercy but with five or six minutes to go, we allowed them a counter attack and conceded the second goal."

He even suggested his team did not commit enough fouls.

"We only gave away seven free kicks in the match and, although it's not right to say this, there are times when you have to commit fouls in midfield.

"It's shameful, we are all ashamed, we made our fans sad," he added. "There are so many fans who stopped at nothing to come here, humble people who saved up for years and we frustrated their dreams.

"This was the most important game of the season for us. It's tough to be sitting here justifying this performance, but that's part of our lives in football. I've come here to face the music.

"If you tried to find somebody who did well today, I think that would be difficult and I would include myself in that.

Raja stun Mineiro with two late strikes

Raja Casablanca scored twice in the last 10 minutes to stun Brazil's Atletico Mineiro 3-1 in their Club World Cup semifinal on Wednesday and earn a place in the final against Bayern Munich.

Mohaine Moutaouali fired home a controversial penalty in the 83rd minute and Vivien Mabide wrapped it up in stoppage time with a breakaway goal amid chaotic scenes.

Mouhssine Iajour had given Raja, who qualified as champions of host nation Morocco, the lead early in the second half before Ronaldinho curled a free kick in off the post to level for the South American champions.

It will be only the second time since the tournament has been played in its current format in 2005 that the final has not been between a South American and European team.

There were incredible scenes at the end as the Raja players surrounded Ronaldinho to ask for his shirt and took off his boots.

Mineiro, who had spent six months dreaming of the tournament since they won the Libertadores Cup, slunk disconsolately away, leaving their army of 10 000 fans with a long, painful journey back to Belo Horizonte.

Raja look more confident against a nervous, disjointed Atletico team and twice came close to taking the lead before halftime.

It was no surprise when they went ahead eight minutes into the second half when Iajour was sent clear on the right and fired a low shot past Victor.

Atletico appeared to be losing their way but grabbed an equaliser out of the blue when Ronaldinho curled in his free kick just after the hour.

The goal failed to inspire the Brazilians and Raja regained the lead in the 83rd minute when Rever was adjudged to have tripped Iajour, although replays suggested no contact was made.

Mabide produced the coup de grace in the fourth minute of stoppage time, scoring after the Atletico defence was left wide open.

Five-star Monterrey end on high

CF Monterrey finished their Fifa Club World Cup Morocco 2013 journey on a high after defeating CAF Champions Al Ahly SC 5-1 at Marrakech Stadium to claim fifth place.

The match was the first time in Club World Cup history that two teams faced each other for a second time as both sides met in Japan last year.

A bright start from Al Ahly was immediately countered when Monterrey's Efrain Juarez found space on the right wing to cross to Humberto Suazo who then slotted a through pass to Neri Cardozo who finished coolly past Al Ahly goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy.

The Egyptians would need only five minutes to respond. Emad Meteab brought his side level after controlling left-back Ahmed Kenawi's chipped ball and nutmegging Monterrey goalkeeper Juan de Dios Ibarra with his left-footed shot from a narrow angle.

Monterrey won the 2012 match for third place against their Egyptian counterparts 2-0, thanks to goals by Jesus Manuel Ruiz Corona and Cesar Delgado.

Delgado came back to haunt Al Ahly in the 22nd minute when he finished his chance from a Cardozo pass leaving him one-on-one with Ekramy.

The Argentinian made no mistake to put Monterrey ahead 2-1, making him the competition's joint all-time top scorer (along with Mohamed Aboutrika, Denilson and Lionel Messi – all on four goals).

Al Ahly fell further behind just five minutes later when Leobardo Lopez connected from a corner kick, shooting from 14 metres. Lopez's shot proved too strong for Ekramy who let the ball slip beneath his body and into the net.

The Mexican side continued to pile the pressure on Al Ahly's goal in the 29th minute when Suazo launched inside the penalty area, chipped an onrushing Ekramy only for his shot to hit the crossbar.

Monterrey would eventually be rewarded for their bright attacking play when Al Ahly veteran Wael Gomaa brought down Lopez in the penalty area.

Chile international Suazo converted the resulting penalty, putting Monterrey in a commanding 4-1 lead and drawing an eventful half to a close.

Delgado would go on to make history in the 65th minute when he finished off a delicate, lobbed through ball from Suazo to become the tournament's all-time leading scorer.

The Mexican representatives finish fifth for the second time in their Club World Cup history after securing the same fate in 2011.

Sherwood unsure about Spurs future

Tottenham Hotspur caretaker manager Tim Sherwood said he was in the dark about his future as the sense of crisis at the north London club intensified following their 2-1 home League Cup defeat by West Ham United on Wednesday.

Tottenham, who sacked manager Andre Villas-Boas on Monday following a humiliating 5-0 home Premier League loss to Liverpool, are yet to meet with former midfielder Sherwood to discuss his ongoing role.

"I got a call at 10:15 on Monday from the chairman asking me to take the first team training but the immediate future beyond that is up in the air," Sherwood, who was an animated figure in the technical area during the game, told reporters.

"I'll have to have a chat with the chairman.

"There are lot of big names being bandied about as you would expect because it's a huge club but the chairman needs to make the right decision and find the manager that is compatible to take this club forward."

Asked if he wanted the job, Sherwood, who has been in charge of the development squad, said: "It would have to be right for me and right for the football club."

He was not sure if he would be in charge for Tottenham's trip to Southampton on Sunday.

With their season coming apart at the seams, however, Sherwood feels a decision should be made soon.

"Confidence has taken a battering and whoever is in charge on Sunday and for training on Friday needs to get the team prepared. If it's me I won't go in all doom and gloom.

"I haven't spoken to the chairman but it would be good to get it resolved for the club. I'm in the frame but it's not my decision unfortunately."

It is the season of goodwill, but charity was in short supply as West Ham fans mockingly chanted, "You're getting sacked in the morning" at Sherwood as the final whistle sounded.

"I'm not used to sleeping two hours a night thinking about football players," Sherwood, a Premier League winner with Blackburn Rovers, said of his sudden elevation.

"It's madness, isn't it really? But I've always been up for a challenge."

From the meticulous build-up play under Villas-Boas, Tottenham were far more energetic in the opening 20 minutes against their London rivals, carving out several chances.

When Emmanuel Adebayor, brought in for his first start of the season by Sherwood, finally opened the scoring with little more than 20 minutes remaining it seemed the rookie manager would enjoy a dream night.

However, West Ham hit back with goals by Matt Jarvis and Modibo Maiga to send Spurs fans trudging away into the north London rain.

"We ran out of steam," Sherwood said.

"They are fit enough to play a certain way but I wanted to change the way we played. It's a complete change of mindset. I wanted a bit more gung-ho and up-and-at-them but you need to acclimatise for that."

Despite being five points off the top four in the Premier League, there is a sense of despondency pervading the club.

The optimism with which they began the campaign after spending more than 100 million pounds ($163.9 million) on seven players, albeit money recouped by selling Gareth Bale to Real Madrid, has long since disappeared.

United reach semis, Spurs out

Manchester United beat Stoke City 2-0 to reach the League Cup semifinals on Wednesday, while the post-Andre Villas-Boas era at Tottenham Hotspur began with defeat by West Ham United.

After a first-half hailstorm briefly forced the teams off the pitch at the Britannia Stadium, United prevailed through fine strikes from Ashley Young and Patrice Evra.

Their reward was a semifinal tie against Sunderland, 2-1 victors over Chelsea on Tuesday, while West Ham will play Manchester City, with the first legs of both ties due to be played in the week beginning January 6.

"The first goal tonight, whoever got it was going to make a big difference," United manager David Moyes told Sky Sports.

"It was a tight game. We had some good play at times. We hadn't created too many chances, but I didn't think Stoke City created too many chances either."

On the prospect of facing Sunderland, he added: "It's a cup game. It shows you how well Sunderland played – they beat Chelsea last night and they played well to get that result.

"They've got a new manager (Gus Poyet) as well, so a lot of things can happen between now and then, but obviously we're just really pleased that we got ourselves into the semifinal."

With Wayne Rooney absent due to an unspecified injury, Moyes deployed Danny Welbeck as a lone striker, while Chris Smalling, Anderson and Young were all brought into the team.

Young was given an early sight of goal when a square pass from Welbeck found him in space on the edge of the box, but he could only find the side-netting with his rising shot.

The hail arrived in the 28th minute, sending players and match officials scurrying for the cover of the changing rooms, before play resumed following a 10-minute delay.

Jonny Evans might have put United ahead shortly before halftime but he could not get a shot away after latching onto Smalling's near-post flick-on.

Moyes introduced Javier Hernandez with just over half an hour remaining and moments later Young made the breakthrough in stunning fashion.

The former Aston Villa winger played a pass forward to Hernandez and when the ball came back to him on the edge of the box, he met it with a first-time drive of searing power that Thomas Sorensen got his gloves to but could not stop.

Stoke rallied, briefly, but United put the game to bed in the 78th minute when Evra exchanged passes with Young before curling a fine shot inside the right-hand post with his seldom-used right foot.

Playing for the first time since Villas-Boas was sacked on Monday, Spurs let a 1-0 lead slip in a 2-1 loss at home to London rivals West Ham.

Villas-Boas's departure appeared to have caught the producers of the Tottenham match-day programme by surprise, with the Portuguese still listed as "Head Coach" on its back page.

Interim coach Tim Sherwood picked an adventurous team, giving Emmanuel Adebayor his first start of the season alongside Jermain Defoe up front, and the pair combined to give Spurs the lead in the 67th minute.

Defoe crossed from the left and Adebayor slid in to slam home an emphatic volley via the underside of the crossbar.

However, there was a blow for Spurs when Andros Townsend was forced off with an apparent hamstring injury and in the 80th minute West Ham levelled when Matt Taylor teed up Matt Jarvis to beat Hugo Lloris at his near post.

Modibo Maiga completed West Ham's comeback five minutes later, heading in from a Mohamed Diame cross to give Sam Allardyce's side a second consecutive win at White Hart Lane following a 3-0 league success in October.

Maiga almost made it 3-1 in stoppage time but his drive from 20 yards came back off the bar.

Moyes reveals Rooney injury

Wayne Rooney was unavailable to play in Manchester United's League Cup quarterfinal at Stoke City on Wednesday due to an unspecified injury, manager David Moyes revealed.

Rooney played for 84 minutes in United's 3-0 win at Aston Villa on Sunday, but he was left out of the squad for the trip to the Britannia Stadium, with Danny Welbeck leading the line as a lone striker.

"Wayne Rooney is injured," Moyes told Sky Sports prior to kick-off.

Asked if the England striker would be fit in time for United's busy schedule of matches over Christmas, he replied: "We hope so."

Moyes is also currently without last season's top scorer Robin van Persie, who has been ruled out for a month with a thigh injury.

Chelsea lack killer instinct - Mou

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was forced to recount a familiar tale as he bemoaned his team's latest failure to turn chances into goals after their 2-1 extra-time defeat by Sunderland in the League Cup on Tuesday.

"The quality of football we produced is amazing. We never lost a match because we didn't play or that the opponent was stronger, it's just we don't kill opponents and we give them life," Mourinho told Sky Sports after his team were knocked out in the quarterfinals.

"Every opponent knows they can score a goal (against us). We had fantastic chances to score and didn't score."

While Chelsea sit third in the Premier League and are safely through to the knockout stages in the Champions League, surprise recent results have forced the Mourinho on to the defensive about his team's chances of silverware.

Two defeats and a draw in their last seven Premier League matches as well as a double reverse against Swiss side Basle in Europe have turned the focus on the club's mis-firing strikers, Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and Samuel Eto'o.

The trio have managed five league goals between them all season.

Eto'o was handed the responsibility for leading the line against Sunderland and wasted an excellent chance to double the lead in the second half when he side-footed wide with only the keeper to beat.

Asked why his current Chelsea team is not as ruthless as the one he had in his first spell with the club, Mourinho said: "I can't answer this question. I'm the manager of this team not the manager of the old team. We are not behind the old team, but in front in terms of quality.

"But football is about results and about scoring goals. There were many key moments not just one. We always wanted to go through in this competition but it wasn't a priority. We have to score goals and win matches, not (necessarily) to be best team in every game."

Chelsea have a testing run of fixtures over the festive period, travelling to league leaders Arsenal on Monday before hosting Swansea City and Liverpool.

Aubameyang challenged to sprint race

Germany's 100m sprint champion Julian Reus has challenged Borussia Dortmund winger Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to a sprint race to prove whether the football star is faster than Usain Bolt.

Aubameyang, who has scored nine Bundesliga goals this season, has clocked 3.7seconds over 30 metres in training, suggesting that he is faster than Bolt, who clocked 3.78secs over the same distance en route to setting the 100m world record of 9.58secs in 2009.

Last Saturday, Gabon international Aubameyang told German television show Sportstudio that he is faster than Bolt, a claim German sprint champion Julian Reus is eager to challenge and wants to race him.

"It is a blatant myth that Aubameyang is faster than Usain Bolt," said the 25-year-old Reus, whose personal best is 10.08secs, while Aubameyang has yet to accept the challenge.

"What Aubameyang claimed on television really annoyed me. I want to restore athletics' honour.

Dortmund target Sunderland star

Borussia Dortmund have made Sunderland's South Korean midfielder Dong-Won Ji a prime target in the forthcoming transfer window, the popular tabloid Bild reported on Monday.

Ji, 22, is under contract at the Stadium of Light until 2015 but has fallen out of favour with new manager Gus Poyet and has made only four appearances this season, the last coming back on October 5.

Capped 26 times by his country, Ji joined Sunderland from Chunnam Dragons in 2011 and had a successful loan spell in Germany in the second half of last season with Augsburg, when he scored five times.

Schalke bounce back, Bayer lose

Schalke 04 carried some of their Champions League momentum into the Bundesliga on Sunday, beating Freiburg 2-0 to bounce back after a string of erratic results.

Nicolas Hoefler stabbed the ball into his own net on the stroke of halftime to put the hosts into a lucky lead and Jefferson Farfan converted a penalty to lift Schalke to sixth place with 27 points.

Second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, who also advanced to the Champions League round of 16, slumped to a 1-0 home defeat by lowly Eintracht Frankfurt in the other game on Sunday to end their four-match winning streak.

Marco Russ headed in on the hour and despite Joselu's saved stoppage-time penalty, Frankfurt ended their run of 10 games without a win to leave Leverkusen on 37 points, seven behind leaders Bayern Munich, who beat Hamburg Sv 3-1 on Saturday.

With only one win in their previous three league games, Schalke coach Jens Keller had been under pressure but got a welcome boost in midweek when they beat Basle to advance in the Champions League.

Sunday's win may have lacked the shine and aggression of their European performance but certainly further improved his chances of staying on past the winter break.

Keller can also again count on central defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos, who made a brief substitute appearance after more than a year out with a knee injury.

Freiburg, who got off to a better start before conceding the first goal against the run of play, were furious with what they considered a harsh penalty decision for a tumble in the box by Schalke's Max Meyer.

Freiburg, who have now failed to score in their last four games, remained 16th and in the relegation playoff spot.

Bayern secure top spot for winter break

Bayern Munich stretched their unbeaten Bundesliga run to a staggering 41 games with a 3-1 home win over Hamburg SV on Saturday to ensure they go into the winter break as league leaders.

Bayern, who are not in domestic action next week as they fly to Morocco for the Club World Cup, have gone the whole year without a league defeat, their last loss in the Bundesliga dating back to October 2012.

They clinched their 19th unofficial "autumn championship" at the season's halfway mark to move seven points clear at the top with 44 points from 16 matches, having won 14 and drawn two with 42 goals scored and eight conceded.

"Congratulations to Bayern for a sensational 2013," coach Pep Guardiola, who took over the treble winners this season, told reporters.

"The players already had Marrakech on their minds and I will try to convince them that there is still work to be done. But it is not easy after Champions League games in midweek.

"Now we fly to Morocco to win the last title of the year," said the Spaniard.

Second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, in action on Sunday, can cut Bayern's lead back to four points with one game left in the Bundesliga before a break until January.

HARD WORK

With Franck Ribery and David Alaba on the bench and Arjen Robben injured, Bayern were initially made to work hard against battling Hamburg, eager to redeem themselves for last season's 9-2 demolition by the Munich club.

Mario Mandzukic struck at the right time when he nodded in after 42 minutes. Mario Goetze's superb control and volley seven minutes after the restart gave them a two-goal cushion before Xherdan Shaqiri killed off the game in stoppage time.

Hamburg had briefly cut the deficit in the 87th minute through Pierre-Michel Lasogga.

Borussia Dortmund battled back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Hoffenheim but dropped further points after having won only one of their last five games to stay in third place and are now 12 points off the pace.

Goals from Sven Schipplock and Kevin Volland put the hosts in the driving seat but a goalkeeping fumble before the break saw Dortmund cut the lead though Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Lukasz Piszczek levelled from close range in the 67th.

Despite frantic attacking by Dortmund, who hit the woodwork, they could not find a third goal to complete the comeback and dropped five points behind Leverkusen and 12 adrift of Bayern.

Borussia Moenchengladbach failed to take advantage of Dortmund's slip when they drew 0-0 at Mainz 05 as their six-game winning streak snapped. They stay in fourth place level on 32 points with Dortmund.

Vfl Wolfsburg confirmed they are in top form with a 3-1 home win over VfB Stuttgart that lifted them to fifth and stretched their unbeaten run to 10 games.

Ricardo Rodriguez and Diego scored either side of the break to put them ahead and a 78th minute Ivan Perisic rebound sealed the win after Stuttgart pulled a goal back with a fine strike from 17-year-old Timo Werner - his fourth goal of the campaign.

Nuremberg looked set to notch their first league win of the season when they led 3-1 at Hanover 96 before a double strike by Senegal's Mame Diouf in the final minutes rescued an unexpected 3-3 draw for the hosts.

Mikel looking forward to Drogba reunion

Super Eagles midfielder, John Obi Mikel, has been speaking about the draw of the last 16 of the Uefa Champions League which paired Chelsea and Galatasaray in two potentially explosive games.

Chelsea legend, Didier Drogba, now on the books of Galatasaray returns to Stamford Bridge for the first time since leading the Blues to success in the same competition in 2012.

Mikel acknowledges that the return of Drogba will be a memorable occasion but has warned his teammates against getting carried away by the imminent return of Stamford Bridge’s favourite son.

“I'm sure he (Drogba) will text very soon, he's probably having a drink after seeing the draw, but it will be great to have him back,” Mikel told the club’s official website, chelseafc.com.

Mikel added that his friendship with Ivorian marksman will be put to one side as he aims to progress to the last eight of the competition with Chelsea.

“We shouldn't get carried away about him coming back; he is a player that was here for eight years, he won major trophies, he's a big player with a big personality.

“Obviously he had to move on but Chelsea continue, we have to win games, he's coming here with his new club, Galatasaray, who we want to beat, so we shouldn't get carried away about him coming back, we want to win the game,” he said.

The game will be the first clash between the two sides since they met in the group stages of the 1999/2000 tournament. The Blues won 1-0 at home and recorded their biggest Champions League away win over in Turkey with a 5-0 victory.

Galatasaray secured their place in the knockout stage courtesy of a narrow 1-0 win over Juventus in their final group game, with Wesley Sneijder scoring the crucial goal, and the Dutchman, as Mikel explained, is just one more player we will need to keep tabs on.

“They are a great team. Didier, Wesley, they have a good team and obviously they have Roberto Mancini who is trying to implement his philosophy and change the way they play.

“It will be tough but it's a game we're looking forward to. It will be good to meet old rivals, who you have played against in the past, as well as old teammates.

“We know what to expect from the (Galatasaray) fans. They will be on top of their team and support them but it's up to us not listen to them and make sure we go out there and play our game,” he said.

Q&A with Nnamdi Oduamadi

Nnamdi Oduamadi was largely unknown to football faithful around the world until June 17, 2013 when he netted a hattrick in 66 minutes as Nigeria overpowered Tahiti 6-1 at the Fifa Confederations Cup in Brazil.

In truth, Oduamadi had always shown promise as one of the future stars of Nigerian football long before his heroics in Brazil.

He was a member of the Nigeria Under-23 side that failed to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London.

Many blamed the team’s failure to make it to London 2012 on logistic setbacks that prevented most of the team’s top stars like Lukman Haruna, Rabiu Ibrahim, Nosa Ighalo and Oduamadi to compete at the qualifying playoffs in Morocco.

Oduamadi did not let the setback derail his progress and he duly forced his way into Stephen Keshi’s Super Eagles squad.

Injury prevented him from making the team that won the title at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa but Oduamadi has roared back to reckoning with a vengeance.

He famously scored a last minute equalizer as the Super Eagles snatched a crucial point against Kenya in a 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifier in March to underline his importance as one of the most important pieces of Keshi’s jigsaw.

Oduamadi has failed to force his way into the AC Milan squad and a loan deal at Serie B (second division) side, Varese in the 2012/13 season was promptly followed by another loan deal with yet another lower tier side, Brescia.

With seven caps and four goals to his name for the Super Eagles, it may take a disaster of monumental proportions to stop the 23-year-old from making his World Cup debut with Nigeria in Brazil next year.

The winger had a heart to heart discussion with supersport.com and he discussed the national team, Brescia, biggest ambitions and a potential return to AC Milan.

Supersport.com: You were involved in the pre-season preparations of AC Milan and even played in the Trofeo tournament against Juventus. Hopes were high that you would play in Serie A with the Rossoneri this season instead you were loaned out. Why was that?

Nnamdi Oduamadi: I love Milan. Everyone knows that (pauses). Anyway, officials of Brescia had always wanted me to play for them. Some (people) say it’s a demotion but I don’t see it that way.

I am still a player of Milan and I will return to San Siro at the end of the season.

Supersport.com: What are the major differences between Serie A and Serie B?

Nnamdi Oduamadi: In Serie A, you have a lot of space. You can show technique and the play is usually slower, more deliberate and tactics are very important.

Serie B is equally tactical with the teams planning carefully for each game. However, the major difference is that you have to run a lot more in Serie B (laughs) but I like it.

Supersport.com: What are the chances of Brescia getting promoted to Serie A at the end of the season?

Nnamdi Oduamadi: We are currently in 12th place but every team still has 22 more games to play so we are not giving up.

We have been unlucky in some games this season where we have dominated matches but not had the luck of scoring at the right moments.

The team is very strong and we will fight till the last game to secure our ticket to Serie A.

Supersport.com: So how are you enjoying life in the city of Brescia?

Nnamdi Oduamadi: (smiles) Well, it’s a lovely city. It’s a fantastic city that I heard a lot about even before I joined the city’s football club.
When I was at Varese and Milan, I used to visit friends here in Brescia so to finally get an opportunity to live here is an honour.
The fans love me too. They warmed up to me after I scored on my debut for Brescia.
Supersport.com: Last season, you played at another Serie B club, Varese….
Nnamdi Oduamadi: (cuts in). Yes, I did. Varese and Brescia are two different football clubs. Their styles of play are different too.
I recall vividly that last season, Varese faced Brescia for a place in the Serie A playoffs and Varese lost 0-2. What I recall now is that the Brescia team we lost to then, was a very good side and to be a part of them right now is a pleasure.
Supersport.com: Talk us through your hat-trick against Tahiti at the Fifa Confederations Cup.
Nnamdi Oduamadi: It was an important moment for me. I was fired up before the game and God was so kind as I was lucky enough to convert the chances that came my way.
However, the most important thing was the win on the day. It was unfortunate that at the end I got injured and we failed to qualify for the semifinals.
Supersport.com: I recall watching you play for the Nigeria Under-23 squad in an Olympic qualifying game against Botswana in 2011. You thrilled the fans with outrageous skills and flicks during that game at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City. What happened to that part of your game?
Nnamdi Oduamadi: (Laughs long and hard) The skills are dead. (Laughs again). Seriously, when you grow older, you realize the importance of eliminating certain aspects of your game.
I am more mature now. In the past, I just wanted to show the fans what I could do with the ball but I am wiser now.
If you watch my game these days, I help the team. I mark and I fall back to do the defensive work as well because I understand that the team is more important than the individual.
However, if we are winning comfortably, I could still try out some skills.
Supersport.com: What position do you prefer playing in?
Nnamdi Oduamadi: My normal position is playing on the wings. The left side but it really depends on what the coach wants of me.
Coach Keshi prefers deploying me in a central position just between the strikers. The coach sees what a lot of people cannot see so I respect the decisions of my coaches.
Supersport.com: Did you follow the draws of the 2014 Fifa World Cup?
Nnamdi Oduamadi: Yes I did. I was nervous from the beginning to the end (laughs).
Supersport.com: What do you make of Nigeria’s Group F opponents?
Nnamdi Oduamadi: I have heard people say it’s an easy group but it makes me laugh.
Argentina have won the World Cup twice before and with (Lionel) Messi, they can do impossible things. They also have other great players like (Sergio) Aguero, (Javier) Mascherano and (Angel) di Maria.
Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina are also very strong teams that can hurt us if we do not show them respect.
Small teams no longer exist in the modern day game and for those countries to have qualified means they have something to offer.
Supersport.com: How far can the Super Eagles go in Brazil next year?
Nnamdi Oduamadi: We must take it one step after the other. We will approach things game by game and see where it takes us.
Supersport.com: Who is your best friend in the Super Eagles?
Nnamdi Oduamadi: John Ogu and at Brescia, my best friend is Lucas Finazzi. He is a midfielder like me. He’s 23 and also has a brilliant left foot like me. He’s an Italian.
Supersport.com: And your best food?
Nnamdi Oduamadi: White rice.
Supersport.com: What? Just white rice?
Nnamdi Oduamadi: (Laughs) No. I will love it with some “orisirisi” (Nigerian delicacy) scattered on top. (Laughs again)
Supersport.com: Thank you so much for your time, Nnamdi?

Nnamdi Oduamadi: The pleasure was mine, Sammy.

Ambrose reveals career switch

Nigerian defender, Efe Ambrose has revealed that he hated playing as a defender earlier in his career.

The 25-year-old began his professional football education at Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club, Kaduna United in 2006 as a midfielder.

He was however asked to change his game and his position altered by one of his former coaches, Ben Duamlong.

“The first coach who asked me to play as a defender was Ben Duamlong. Initially, I hated it but he saw something in me and today, I thank him for helping me make the change,” Ambrose told supersport.com.

Ambrose also identified former Nigeria internationals, Samson Siasia and Henry Nwosu as coaches who helped him grow and develop as a professional footballer.

“I also want to use this medium to thank my former coaches Siasia and Henry Nwosu for helping me grow.

“When I first started, I was just running around the pitch. I did not understand the rules of positioning or tactics.

“These coaches helped mould me and made me the footballer I am today,” he said.

Ambrose is currently on the books of Scottish Premiership club, Celtic following a move from Israeli club, Ashdod.

The defender, who is almost certain to make Nigeria’s 2013 Fifa World Cup squad, has been capped 33 times at international level.

Tornadoes plan to flatten Chan Eagles

Niger Tornadoes coach, Hamza Azeez has promised Super Eagles Team B the toughest game of their lives.

The African Nations Championship (Chan) bound side will engage the Nigeria National League (NNL) Division A side in a build-up match on Wednesday at the Mainbowl of the Abuja National Stadium.

Azeez said his wards' winning aura at the just concluded 17-team pre-season tournament in Kaduna is same mentality they will unleash on the Super Eagles.

“We’re preparing strongly to give the Super Eagles the toughest game so far in their preparations for the African Nations Championship.

“Our target is to make something out of the rare opportunity the encounter offers us at least to further project our players to national limelight.

“We’re preparing for an outright victory in the encounter, a draw will be unacceptable to us with the approach we’re bring into the game.

“We just came back from the pre-season tournament in Kaduna which we emerged the overall winners, I think the tournament has adequately prepared us for the game against the Eagles,” Azeez said to supersport.com.

The Minna-based side that finished the out gone season in 12th position on 36 points will be using the encounter to further strengthen their squad for the start of the new season on January 25 while the Super Eagles are building up for the Chan holding in South Africa from January 11 to February 1.

The Eagles who had at the weekend beaten NNL promoted side, Prisons FC 4-1 as part of their test match heading to the biennial football event will compete in Group A at the Chan event together with the hosts, South Africa, Mali and Mozambique. Their first game at Chan will be against West African foes, Mali.

Enyeama shines despite language barrier

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama has revealed that one of the biggest problems he’s had to face in France is mastering the French Language.

The 31-year-old has been in great form this season with Lille OSC where he has conceded in just three of the club’s 17 league games this season.

Enyeama reckons his French will improve remarkably in the coming days but admitted that he still struggles to communicate in the language.

“I am not yet fluent in the (French) language. I am still learning the language and by the help of God, I should be fluent by the end of the season,” he exclusively told supersport.com.

Enyeama will return to Ligue 1 action on Sunday when Lille welcomes Bastia to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on match day 18.

It would have turned out to be a historic day for the Nigerian as he was expected to break Gaeten Huard’s long standing record by keeping a clean sheet against Bastia for 52 minutes.

He lost the chance to break that record last Sunday when Lille lost 0-1 to Girondins Bordeaux at the Stade Jacques Chaban-Delmas on match day 17.

The former Enyimba goalkeeper did not however let his head drop and stated at the post-game press conference that failure to break the record did not represent the end of the world to him.

"Honestly, I was never even thinking about the record,” he said.

He also maintained that enjoying life on the pitch during matches is most important to him.

“When I'm on the pitch I just enjoy myself. If I concede a goal, it's ok.

"I knew everyone had been waiting (for me to concede), so it made me smile.

“I think my teammates wanted to see me beat the record, but I will go into the game against Bastia only thinking about winning. This defeat is just what happens in football, life goes on," he said.

Enyeama is fast carving a niche for himself as one of Africa's best goalkeepers ever.

He won back-to-back Caf Champions League titles with Enyimba and then spent six years in Israel with Bnei Yehuda and Hapoel Tel Aviv before joining Lille.

At the 2010 Fifa World Cup finals in South Africa, he was one of Nigeria’s finest performers.

In the Super Eagles’ opening game which the team lost 0-1 to Argentina, the official match report on the Fifa website said, the South Americans "might have won by more but for Enyeama."

Argentina’s talisman, Lionel Messi who was denied time and again by Enyeama’s cat-like reflexes described him as "phenomenal" in that match.

He added to his growing collection of accolades by helping the Super Eagles win the African Cup of Nations trophy in South Africa.

Previously, Wolfsburg sporting director Dieter Hoeness turned down the chance to sign him because, at 5ft 11in, he was too small.

His frame again counted against him earlier in his career as Sam Allardyce also opted against signing him for Bolton in 2004.

Enyeama is now living the dream with Lille OSC in France and has ensured that the Mastiffs have the meanest defence in the division after letting in a paltry five goals in 17 league games this season.