Sport

Ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Nigeria’s captain, Mikel Obi has recounnted what he decribed as a disastrous outing for the Super Eagles in the Brazil 2014 world cup.

From the outside looking in, there was a depressingly familiar undercurrent in the form of a pay dispute between the Nigeria Football Federation and the players. It led to a boycott of training from the latter days before the last-16 tie against France, which the Super Eagles lost 2-0. From the inside looking out, it was simply toxic.

Mikel who spoke to Guardian UK’s David Hytner, recalled “there were a lot of problems in the camp which a lot of people didn’t see, the media didn’t see – we kind of hid it under the table,” Mikel said.

Real Madrid have signed 18-year-old forward Rodrigo Rodrigues, who will join up with the Castilla youth side ahead of the 2018-19 season, ESPN reports. It was reported last September that a deal had been agreed with Brazilian club Gremio Novorizontino for the teenager to join Madrid once he turned 18, and the youngster was at the club's Valdebebas training round this week to complete a medical and finalise the move.

Usain Bolt is training with Norwegian side Stromsgodset with a view to becoming a professional footballer, Verdens Gang report. The 31-year-old Jamaican, who won eight Olympic gold medals, trained with the club in Drammen, 40km south-west of Oslo, on Wednesday and hopes to play in a friendly against the club's under-19 side.

Egypt’s Mohamed Salah’s shoulder injury could keep him out of action for three to four weeks, Liverpool’s club physiotherapist has said. The Egyptian tries to recover in time for the World Cup. The 25-year-old winger is desperate to play for Egypt in only their third World Cup and their first for 38 years.

Football’s rule-making body the International Football Association Board (IFAB) has said that referees at the 2018 World Cup finals will be able to give red cards for off-the-ball incidents spotted by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

VAR will be used for the first time at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. And IFAB confirmed that players can receive retrospective red cards during matches in the tournament.

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has dropped four players from his World Cup-bound squad.

However, Moses Simon is currently nursing a thigh injury and will be out of action for at least three weeks, will be travelling with the team, according to team sources.