Garba douses pressure

Nigeria's Under-17 national team head coach, Manu Garba, has declared that they are not under pressure to face Mexico in the Fifa Under-17 World Cup showpiece game in Abu Dhabi this Friday.

Garba is confident of guiding Nigeria's Golden Eaglets to a fourth title at under-17 level after watching his boys defeat Sweden 3-0 in the semifinal in Dubai on Tuesday with goals from Taiwo Awoniyi, Samuel Okon and Chidera Ezeh.

But Garba, who was an assistant coach of the Golden Eaglets six years ago when they won the Under-17 World Cup in South Korea, was quick to point out that the Mexicans have been resilient following their recovery from a 1-6 loss in their opening game against Nigeria.

The Nigerian coach branded the North Americans as "a very technical team."

“We showed today (Tuesday) that we are a very strong side. We are not going to be on any pressure against Mexico in the final because we would prepare mentally, physically and psychologically for the final.

"The Mexican team I maintained are a very technical team and I believe the final is going to be a great one but by the grace of God, we shall win this trophy for Nigeria and Africa.

“I still maintained that the Mexican team are a very technical team and we can see their resilience by coming from a 6-1 loss to us (Nigeria) and still be in the final," Manu said at the post-match media conference.

Mexico's El Tri reached the final after dumping out Argentina 3-0 in the first semifinal at the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

The Fifa Under-17 World Cup final match is live on SuperSport 3 from 5.45pm CAT this Friday.

Tottenham out to seal KO spot

Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas is hoping to put his side's struggles in front of goal on the domestic front behind them as they look to seal Europa League progress against Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday.

Spurs have scored just nine times in 10 games in the Premier League this season, including three times from the penalty spot, and Sunday's 0-0 stalemate against Everton has led to increased scrutiny on their misfiring attack.

However, they have not had such problems in Europe thus far, scoring 15 goals in five matches, with Jermain Defoe netting six of those to equal Martin Chivers as the club's record scorer in continental competition.

As a result, the London outfit sit top of Group K with a maximum nine points and a win at home to the Moldovans at White Hart Lane will seal their place in the competition's knockout stages with two matches to spare, while a draw will also be enough as long as Tromso do not beat Anzhi Makhachkala in Norway in the evening's other match in the section.

That would allow Villas-Boas the chance to blood some younger players, but in the meantime he will send out a strong starting line-up, although there is some doubt as to whether Hugo Lloris will feature in goal.

Spurs were due to assess the condition of Lloris on Wednesday after the France captain was knocked out but got up to play on during the draw at Everton.

Veteran American Brad Friedel started the majority of Tottenham's Europa League matches last term, but it is understood that Lloris told Villas-Boas at the start of this season that he wanted to play in the competition this year and he has featured in all but one of the five games to date.

Nevertheless, Friedel could step into the breach with Villas-Boas and his medical staff being branded "irresponsible" by a brain injury charity for not taking the 26-year-old Lloris off after he was caught accidentally on the head by the knee of Everton's Romelu Lukaku as he dived to collect a stray ball.

Meanwhile, Swansea City could also qualify on Thursday if they win away to Kuban Krasnodar and Swiss side St Gallen lose at home to Valencia in Group A - a scenario that would see the Spaniards progress too.

Swansea lost 1-0 away to Cardiff City in the South Wales derby in the Premier League on Sunday and manager Michael Laudrup is hoping for a return to winning ways despite the arduous journey to Krasnodar, which lies more than 1300 kilometres south of Moscow.

"It's always good to have another game soon after a defeat, but we have to remember it's another competition," Laudrup told UK media.

"Fortunately the game on Thursday is only five hours' flight away and four hours' time difference!

"It's a lot of travelling, but I've said it before and I will say again the reason for the European games is that we deserve them - we won the cup last year so we are in Europe."

Swansea had to learn a hard lesson when they hosted Kuban last month, having to settle for a 1-1 draw when Djibril Cisse scored a stoppage-time penalty for the Russians.

"We will try to go to Russia and do well because we have some history with them after they scored in the last seconds against us," Laudrup added.

Elsewhere, Wigan Athletic must also travel to Russia, taking on Rubin Kazan in Group D knowing a win will see them leapfrog their opponents into first place in the section.

A host of teams can seal qualification for the last 32 on Thursday, including Fiorentina, who have maximum points in Group E as they prepare to go to Romania to face Pandurii, and Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt, who go to Israel to take on Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

Tottenham on brink of knockout stage

Tottenham Hotspur closed in on a place in the Europa League knockout stages with a 2-0 win away to Moldovan champions Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday.

It was a hard-earned win for Andre Villas-Boas' side, with Sheriff applying plenty of pressure, but ultimately the Premier League team's class shone through.

Villas-Boas made wholesale changes to the team that had beaten Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday but the visitors needed just 12 minutes to open the scoring.

On their first attack, captain for the night Jan Vertonghen headed home Christian Eriksen's cross to settle Tottenham down in the tricky tie in Transnistria, a territory that claims independence from Moldova itself.

A Sheriff side with a heavy African and Brazilian influence might have drawn level moments later but Vlad Chiriches made a stunning last-gasp clearance to stop Luvannor Henrique from scoring after rounding Hugo Lloris.

The hosts then had a goal disallowed but they remained very much in the contest until Jermain Defoe made sure of the win in the 75th minute with a deflected strike that saw him equal Martin Chivers' record of 22 European goals for Spurs.

The north London club have the maximum nine points from three games in Group K and lead the section by five points from Anzhi Makhachkala, the Russians who beat Tromso 1-0.

Elsewhere, there was frustration for another Premier League side as Swansea City were held to a 1-1 draw by Russian side Kuban Krasnodar in south Wales.
It looked like a beautifully-crafted Michu goal midway through the second half would be enough to give Michael Laudrup's men a third win in as many games in Group A, especially as they had not conceded a goal in the section while their opponents had not scored.
But the visitors won a penalty in stoppage time when Senegalese substitute Ibrahima Balde was brought down by goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel and French former Liverpool forward Djibril Cisse netted from 12 yards.
"It's massively disappointing to be honest," said Swansea captain Neil Taylor. "We weren't at our best. Fair play to them, they gave it everything, but that at the end is a sucker punch."
"I think overall it's a fair result, but of course when you're 1-0 up in injury time...yeah, that's a little frustrating," added Laudrup.
"But I have to say that watching the game overall a draw was a fair result."
Last season's English League Cup winners remain a point clear at the top of the section from Valencia, who romped to a 5-1 home win against St Gallen of Switzerland with Fede Cartabia scoring twice.
Like Swansea, Wigan Athletic drew at home against Russian opponents, although the FA Cup holders came from behind to hold Rubin Kazan 1-1 with Nick Powell cancelling out Aleksandr Prudnikov's opener.
Meanwhile, Serie A side Fiorentina followed up their stunning weekend win against Juventus by keeping up their perfect start in Group E, Spanish winger Joaquin setting them on their way to a 3-0 victory against Romanians Pandurii in Florence.
Eintracht Frankfurt of Germany made it three wins out of three in Group F by beating Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-0, and there was a much-needed win for Lyon, who beat Croatian side Rijeka 1-0 in Group I after a run of just one win in 12 games in all competitions.
Clement Grenier scored the only goal of the game in the second half and OL are level on five points with Betis, who won 1-0 at home to Vitoria Guimaraes.
Betis' city rivals Sevilla, who won the Uefa Cup in successive years in 2006 and 2007, needed a late equaliser to draw 1-1 with Slovan Liberec of the Czech Republic in Group H.

Spurs, Swansea hunt for Euro joy

Premier League duo Tottenham and Swansea put unbeaten records on the line in the third batch of Europa League group action on Thursday.

Spurs can even qualify for the knockout stages with three games to spare should they see off FC Sheriff in Moldova and the other Group K tie ends in stalemate.

Wins in Russia last time out against Anzhi Makhachkala and Norwegians Tromso have left Andre Villas-Boas's high-flyers coasting in a competition in which they reached the quarterfinals last season.

Villas-Boas, who lifted the 2011 Europa League trophy with FC Porto, told uefa.com: "This trophy means a lot to Tottenham - last year we embraced the competition in a serious way, and we aim to do so again this season.

"Our objective is to progress."

Speaking after the Anzhi victory the Portuguese commented: "A win is what we wanted and gives us the opportunity in the next games against Sheriff to ensure qualification."

Spurs striker Jermain Defoe is on the brink of rewriting club history as one more goal will swell his European catch to 24 and draw the England striker level with club record-holder Martin Chivers.

Swansea made it two out of two to lead Group A with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Saint Gallen in south Wales at the start of the month.

On Thursday they are back at the Liberty Stadium playing host to Russian visitors Kuban Krasnodar, facing a Premier League side for the first time.

Like Tottenham, Swansea, competing in Europe for the first time since the 1991/92 season, are not only unbeaten but they have yet to concede a goal.

Both Spurs and Swansea, who were applauded by the Valencia fans after stunning the Spaniards 3-0 in their opener, are in good heart after stylish wins on the home front at the weekend.

Britain's third contender, FA Cup winners Wigan, are out to build on their first ever home European win - a 3-1 triumph over Maribor of Slovenia - when they host Rubin Kazan.

The Russians represent tough opposition, firing in nine goals to top Group D, with Wigan two points behind in the all-important second spot which gains qualification to the next round.

Sevilla, winners of the predecessor to the Europa League the 2006 and 2007 Uefa Cups, are undefeated and lead Group H, a position of superiority they are out to confirm when they travel to Slovan Liberec of the Czech Republic.

Group E leaders Fiorentina, buoyed by a 4-2 defeat of arch-rivals Juventus in Serie A on Sunday, are in Romania to tackle Pandurii Targu-Jiu.

With Germany striker Mario Gomez sidelined American-born Giuseppe Rossi, back after three operations in two years, has answered his club's call, scoring a hat-trick against Juve.

His experience with Villarreal when he scored 11 goals on the way to helping his former Spanish club reach the semifinals in 2010/2011 will prove invaluable with the Italians taking seriously their Europa league engagement.

"This team is built to win," said Rossi after the Juve win.

"We have big hearts and great motivation. We have great players on the field and on the bench. Fiorentina can take on anybody.

Uefa relax punishment on Lazio fans

Lazio won a partial reprieve from Uefa on Wednesday but were still ordered to close part of their ground for their next home Europa League game as punishment for fans' behaviour at the Stadio Olimpico.

Uefa said they had "partially admitted" Lazio's appeal against a charge of racist chanting during their Europa League game against Legia Warsaw on September 19.

The governing body had originally ordered the Serie A club to play their next home Europa League match behind closed doors, but Uefa's appeals body has now decided only the Curva Nord should be shut to supporters for the visit of Cypriot side Apollon Limassol on November 7.

Lazio were also fined €40,000 for a host of offences during the Legia game, including displaying an inappropriate banner, igniting fireworks and a late kick-off.

The sanction against the Curva Nord is the latest in a string of incidents involving Lazio fans, who have a reputation for extreme right-wing politics.

The notorious Curva Nord section was closed for the Serie A match against Udinese in August after fans racially abused Juventus players during their 4-0 defeat in the Italian Super Cup.

Last season, the club was forced to play two home matches behind closed doors in the Europa League after their fans racially insulted Borussia Moenchengladbach players.

There were also violent clashes before their home match against Tottenham Hotspur when home fans engaged in anti-Semitic abuse and fascist salutes because of the English club's historic links to London's Jewish community.

Omeruo's return rejuvenates Eagles

Head coach of the Nigeria national team, Stephen Keshi is pleased to welcome Chelsea defender, Kenneth Omeruo back to the team.

The 19-year-old has not played for Nigeria since June 23 when he injured his shoulder in the 0-3 loss to world champions, Spain at the 2013 Fifa Confederations Cup in Brazil.

He aggravated the injury while training with Chelsea in August and subsequently had a keyhole surgery in London.

Following a successful surgery and rehabilitation, the former ADO Den Haag man is now back in action and has been playing games for the Chelsea reserves.

Omeruo was included in the 25-man Nigeria squad to face Ethiopia and Italy in internationals later this month and Keshi has been speaking about the qualities of the player.

“It’s good to have him back. He’s part of the team. We all saw what he has been doing for the national team and he will certainly make the defence stronger and better,” Keshi told supersport.com.

“The Big Boss” as Keshi is fondly called added that he had been monitoring the progress of the defender and expressed happiness that he is now back in the fold.

“I always followed his progress even when he was injured and I was pleased to know he had recovered and is now playing again.

“Every coach wants his best players available and I am no different,” he said.

Nigeria will face Ethiopia in a second leg 2014 World Cup playoff game at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar on November 16 before facing four-time world champions, Italy at Craven Cottage, London two days later.

Celtic boss laments missed chance

Celtic manager Neil Lennon criticised his forwards for an insipid performance in their 1-0 defeat to Ajax at the Amsterdam ArenA which gives his side a major battle to qualify from Group H.

Despite dominating possession in the first half Ajax were made to wait until the 51st minute to make the breakthrough when a wonderful passing move ended with Lasse Schone expertly guiding the ball past Forster.

Celtic improved after the goal but James Forrest, Anthony Stokes and Kris Commons all wasted chances as Frank de Boer's side picked up their first win of the campaign to gain revenge for their defeat in Glasgow a fortnight ago.

The Scottish champions slipped to the bottom of Group H and Lennon was unhappy with a flat performance from the players upfront.

"We were very flat first half and I think some players will have regrets about the game tonight because they were nowhere near their best and at this level you can't have that," the Celtic manager said.

"Fraser Forster made a good save from the free-kick and the de Jong header but our play in general just wasn't like us. We looked second best particular in the forward area.

"It was a very disappointing first half but a better second half and we had opportunities to score goals and we didn't take them.

"When Schone got the goal we were just starting to get a foothold in the game and we missed some decent opportunities.

"We were insipid in the first half, but in the second half we were a lot better and a lot more competitive and we created good chances, particularly on the counter attack.

"Of course at 0-0 you are always encouraged by that. But goals change games and Ajax scored what they would say is a good goal but from our point of view is a poor goal.

"There are some positives tonight and there were some good performances but predominately from players in my back four and midfield.

"There were opportunities where we could have done better with the final ball and that's been a concern for the last few weeks now domestically and at this level as well.

"There wasn't a great deal in the game really but our quality at the top end of the pitch at times was lacking tonight.

"We didn't take care of the ball particularly well in the final third at times and didn't pass it anywhere near as well as we can.

"The second half was better and we did have opportunities but away from home in the Champions League you have to take them."

Celtic's 24th defeat in 26 Champions League away games means they prop up Group H on three points, a point behind Ajax and two behind AC Milan.

Barcelona booked their place in the last 16 with a 3-1 win over the Italians with the Hoops now needing to defeat Milan in Glasgow in three weeks time if the Parkhead club are to avoid exiting the competition.

"It makes it very, very difficult to qualify, however, the whole thing could flip around again if we beat Milan and Barcelona come here and take something off Ajax," Lennon said.

"We have to beat Milan now. It is imperative that we do that to have any chance of qualification.

"We will have to play better, particularly looking on the first half evidence tonight, when we go back to Celtic Park.

"I need a bit more from some players but we will look to Celtic Park now and try and turn things around again.

"We have to improve our away form. We played well in Milan. The first half we didn't play well tonight but we played better second half but it's not enough.

"We didn't work the goalkeeper enough for my liking. It's an opportunity lost, but all's not lost.