Super Eagles and Mainz 05 defender Leon Balogun has sustained a suspected cheekbone fracture during his club’s 2-0 defeat to Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga on Friday. The 29-year-old Nigerian was taken off the pitch in the 74th minutes with the injury, which he also suffered last year.“Last year @LeonBalogun wore a face mask vs @S04_en. Today he had to come off with a suspected cheekbone fracture.
Nigeria will take on Argentina in their first pre-2018 World Cup friendly match next month, according to OwnGoalNigeria. The game will be played in Spain on November 14, four days after their dead rubber 2018 World Cup qualifier in Algeria. The Super Eagles have already qualified for next year’s tournament in Russia and are already searching for friendly matches, to help the team prepare well.
The Nigeria Football Federation have confirmed the appointment of former Houston Dash manager Randy Jordan Waldrum as the new Nigeria Women’s National Team coach. The Texas native had been in search of a new employer after he parted company with National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), Houston Dash, in May 2017. The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation held a meeting at the Plateau State and one of the important issues discussed was the hiring of Waldrum.
A footballer in Italy has been suspended for five matches for urinating towards opposition fans.
Giovanni Liberti of non-league side Turris received the lengthy ban. During a stoppage in play in a 3-3 draw against Sarnese, Liberti "urinated in the direction of the away section, making obscene and vulgar gestures, while showing his genital organ," says the Serie D disciplinary body.
An appeals court in Brazil has fined Neymar 3.8 million Brazilian reales ($1.19m) for acting in "bad faith" regarding his attempts to delay a tax evasion case.
The parents of the PSG and Brazil international as well as three companies that administer the player's portfolio have all been fined, according to judicial sources.
Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter has accepted an invitation from Russia leader Vladimir Putin to attend next year's World Cup.
Blatter's 17-year spell in charge of world football's governing body ended amid a corruption scandal in 2015.
