Sport

Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Ahmad Ahmad has explained why the categories for the African based best player and best referee were scrapped for this year’s edition of the Aiteo CAF Awards billed to hold in Ghana.

Ahmad told journalists during a media conference at the International Conference Centre in Accra, Ghana on Wednesday that the body cancelled the award to avoid duplication.

Al Ahly and Nigeria’s Junior Ajayi was in the running for the award for African Player of the Year- based in Africa.

Arsene Wenger launched a scathing attack on referee Anthony Taylor after Arsenal suffered fresh penalty pain in their dramatic 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Wednesday. Wenger has been charged by the Football Association for his furious protests following a penalty given for a handball by Arsenal’s Calum Chambers in Sunday’s draw at West Bromwich Albion. But the Arsenal boss was in an angry mood again following Taylor’s decision to award a second-half spot-kick for Hector Bellerin’s foul on Eden Hazard.

Super Eagles and Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has been rated as the player with the most successful tackles across the top five leagues in Europe.

This was according to football news and statistics website Squawka Football.

Home-based Eagles coach, Salisu Yusuf has released his final 23-man squad for the African Nations Championship in Morocco. Headlining the list are goalkeeper and skipper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Kano Pillars midfielder, Rabiu Ali and Lobi Stars forward, Anthony Okpotu.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been charged with misconduct following comments made after the Gunners’ West Brom draw. The French boss, 68, was furious with referee Mike Dean after he awarded a last-gasp penalty following Calum Chambers’ handball from a Kieran Gibbs cross.

The Nigeria Football Federation has granted Gernot Rohr’s request to lead the Super Eagles against Poland in a friendly affair. Both teams are searching for warm-up encounters ahead of the Russia 2018 World Cup. Poland, who are grouped alongside Japan, Colombia and Senegal, in Group H, confirmed on December 11 the White and Reds manager Adam Nawałka had agreed to lead the Eastern European nation against the Eagles on March 23.