Sport

Heartland has defended the action of their fans who attacked centre referee, Yusuf Garba, following their 1-1 home draw against Plateau United in a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matchday 18 tie on Monday.

Garba was severely injured after he was attacked by the home supporters at the end of the game played at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.

According to a statement released by media officer of Heartland, Henry Echefu Naze the referee incited the fans through his questionable calls in the game.

“Dear friends and folks the management of Heartland Football Club Owerri after a critical analysis of the events that preceded their matchday 18 clash against visiting plateau United, wants to state as follows.

Former France coach Raymond Domenech, World Cup winner Lothar Matthaus, John Toshack and ex-Nigeria coach Samson Siasia are among 77 applicants for Cameroon’s vacant managerial post. Siasia has been out of job since he guided Nigeria to a third-place finish in the men’s football event of the Rio 2016 Olympics.

CSKA Moscow are back in the hunt for a UEFA Champions League spot after securing a 2-1 comeback win against Kuban Krasnodar thanks to a brace from their Nigerian striker Ahmed Musa. The railwaymen needed the Nigerian to draw them level in the 73rd minute before he added a second five minutes from full time to hand them a 2-1 win which keeps their hope of qualifying of next season UEFA Champions League alive.

Super Eagles’ technical adviser Genort Rohr has given an indication that the Super Eagles will face Atletico Madrid in a friendly game on May 21 at the Godswill Akpabio International stadium, Uyo. According to the Nation, Rohr revealed on Supersport Monday night football that the CHAN Eagles or selected home-based players would be used to prosecute the match, as he ruled out the possibility of using Eagles big stars for the game.

Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions Plateau United played a 1-1 draw against struggling Heartland at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri on Monday, as they pick their first away point of the season. The hosts took the lead in the 21st minute, tapping into an empty after he was set up by Onyewuebuchi Chimankpa.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan will miss the first leg of Arsenal's Europa League semifinal against Atletico Madrid, Arsene Wenger has confirmed, while Mesut Ozil remains doubtful because of flu. According to ESPN, Mkhitaryan damaged a knee ligament against CSKA Moscow in the quarterfinals last month, but Wenger had said last week that there was a chance he could return for Thursday's match against Atletico.