Football

Former AC Milan and Real Madrid midfielder Ricardo Kaka have announced that he was retiring from football. Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, (Kaká) is a Brazilian professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. Kaká made his professional club debut at age 18 at São Paulo FC in Brazil in 2001. The 35-year-old wrote on Twitter: “It was much more than I could ever imagined. Thank you! I’m now ready for the next journey. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Everton star Wayne Rooney says the current Manchester City aren't the best team to have graced the Premier League, despite setting a new record of sixteen consecutive wins in the league. The Pep Guardiola's side have taken the English top flight by storm this season, and have taken an incredible 51 points out of 53 available. On Saturday, they defeated Tottenham 4-1 to go 14 points clear.

Out-of-favour Chelsea defender, David Luiz may be heading to Juventus this January having failed to retain his position in the first team. Luiz who may be exiting the club twice in a period of four years lost his first team position to Christensen.

The Nigerian Football Federation, NFF has confirmed that the Super Eagles will play 3 friendlies between January and May 2018 as part of preparations for next year’s World Cup in Russia. NFF Secretary General, Mohammed Sanusi stated that one of the countries being lined up for the Eagles is Egypt. But no final decision has been reached, but the friendlies would be played in Abuja before the World Cup in June. Earlier this week, the NFF announced that Nigeria will play Poland in a friendly match In March with the 3rd country yet to be named.

David Luiz has threatened to quit Chelsea after he held a meeting with the Blues’ manager Antonio Conte demanding his place back in the starting XI, according to Express Sport. Luiz was axed by Conte after a disagreement over tactics issue in the Champions League against AS Roma in Italy back in October which led to the defender being dropped in the game against Manchester United in the Premier League.

Nigeria Football Federation First Vice-President, Seyi Akinwunmi, a lawyer, has been named the head of a four-man panel to investigate the error that led to Nigeria forfeiting the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Algeria in Constantine on November 10, the NFF announced in a press release on Wednesday.

The final African qualifying Group B fixture for the Russia 2018 World Cup ended in a 1-1 draw, but FIFA on Tuesday awarded all three points to Algeria following Nigeria’s use of ineligible defender Abdullahi Shehu in the encounter.

The NFF were also fine 6,000 Swiss francs for their negligence.