The Nigerian left-back is confident that the Super Eagles will qualify for Brazil as they look forward to Monday to know their opponents

SC Braga defender Elderson Echiejile has revealed that the Super Eagles are ready to take on any opponent in the 2014 World Cup play-off next month.

This he said after he helped the AFCON champions trounce Burkina Faso 4-1 in an international friendly at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on Tuesday.

Read more »

Former Cystal Palace forward Mark Bright believes the 20-year-old is a true "gift" from Sir Alex Ferguson to David Moyes for the 2013-14 campaign

Manchester United winger Wilfried Zaha could be as good as Cristiano Ronaldo, according to former Crystal Palace striker Mark Bright.

The 20-year-old picked up his first winner's medal with the Red Devils on his competitive debut as they saw off Wigan to claim a 2-0 victory in the Community Shield last Sunday.

And, speaking exclusively to Goal, Bright – who spent six years with Palace – says the former Eagles winger can provide the sort of excitement fans at Old Trafford were used to seeing with Ronaldo.

"I've seen a lot of Zaha because of my association with Palace, having done some coaching in their academy and I think he could be like Cristiano Ronaldo," he said.

"He has the ability to do everything - he's quick, strong and determined. He's Sir Alex Ferguson's last signing, a great gift to David Moyes."

The Cote d'Ivoire-born England international was a vital ingredient in seeing Palace return to the Premier League last term, earning the decisive penalty which was converted by Kevin Phillips in the Championship playoff final at Wembley.

However, Bright has called on the starlet to build on last season's goal tally of eight in the coming campaign as he fully expects him to get plenty of playing time for the English champions.

"He needs to add more goals to his game but he has the ability to go past defenders like no-one [in England] since Steve McManaman.

"He's going to be a great asset to Manchester United and I think he'll play a lot more this season than most people think."

Mark Bright was speaking on behalf of Prostate Cancer UK. Sign up to Prostate Cancer UK's Men United email newsletter to be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to the Capital One Cup final and to receive exclusive football content. We fight to help more men survive and enjoy a better quality of life. It's Men United v Prostate Cancer. We can win this.

Read more »

The Nigerian striker will hope to become the lead striker under Everton’s new coach as they face Norwich in the EPL opener this weekend

After finishing the last season on a strong note, Everton striker, Victor Anichebe is excited about the new season, which kicks off on Saturday with the Toffees away to Norwich City.

“I am always excited and you know it is going to be a good season,” Anichebe told EvertonTV.

“A lot of teams have strengthened and you know the Premier League is always difficult and I am not going to expect anything different this year.

“But we have got a new manager, new players so you know the Premeir League is always going to be exciting and I am sure the fans are looking forward to it too.”

Last season, Norwich took four points off Everton with a 2-1 win at their Carrow Road Stadium and a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park and Anichebe expects it to be another difficult match on Saturday.

“It will be difficult. I missed the game last year in Norwich, which we lost 2-1 but any game in the Premier League these days is difficult so we need to approach this as we always approach games really professionally.

"Chris Houghton has gone in and done a good job and they have a good support but we are also a very good team,” Anichebe added.

The Nigerian played 26 league games last season and scored six goals.

Read more »

Although Manchester United have insisted that the striker is not for sale at any price, the former Real Madrid manager has admitted that he only has eyes for the England man

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has reiterated his admiration for Samuel Eto'o but insists the Blues only want to bring in one player - Wayne Rooney.

Manchester United have rejected two bids for the wantaway striker this summer and continue to insist that he will not be sold.

But Mourinho still publicly declared his interest in Rooney during the club's pre-season tour of Asia and now says his position has not changed, despite Eto'o's suggestion that he would like to move to Stamford Bridge.

"[Eto'o] is a player with a big history in European football, but as I was saying in Asia we are trying to sign one player and we will wait to see what will happen before the transfer window closes," he told reporters.

"I'm just a Chelsea manager, as every one of us [managers] is always looking to strengthen the squad.

"We all say no [we don't want to sign players] but we lie, until the last day of the market we are all waiting for something to happen, even when we say we are very happy with our squad we lie because we always want to make it better."

Mourinho also confirmed once again that David Luiz will not be sold to Barcelona, who saw a €25 million bid rejected earlier in August.

"David is one of these players that the club made a huge investment in, he signed a new contract last year, he was very happy to do it, so we want to keep him," he continued.

"We understand that a big club like Barcelona want the best, and want to get one of the best central defenders in the world but there is no chance David is leaving."

The former Real Madrid manager also had a message for British football fans upon his return to the Premier League.

"I think I'm better than ever, because of my experience," he added. "I want to be seen like everybody else - but somebody who will give his all for his club.

"I want to say to everybody around this country at every stadium that I am one of them. I love this football country and I want to give joy to everybody."

Read more »

The Spaniard says that los Blancos would welcome the Wales winger with open arms at the Santiago Bernabeu, saying he would give their Italian coach a welcome selection headache

The Nigeria international has put pen to paper for another Ukrainian side and will be there for the next four seasons for an undisclosed fee

Super Eagles' midfielder, Michael Babatunde has signed for Ukrainian Premier League side Volyn FC for four years and an undisclosed fee, his close confidant has told Goal.

Babatunde left FC Kryvbas another club in Ukraine after the club was declared bankrupt.

He featured for Nigeria at the Fifa Confederation Cup where he came from the bench twice against Tahiti and Uruguay.

Over five clubs notably from Ukraine made enquiries about the young Nigerian that will turn 21 on December 24 before he finally settled for Volyn whose contract offer and play time agreement was okay with Babatunde.

The former FC Ebiede and Heartland of Owerri player joined Kryvbas in 2011 before he left the club at the end of last season. The club owed him and his former team mates several months’ salaries and other entitlements.

He has since resumed training sessions with his new club towards featuring for them in the league that is already into its sixth round of matches this weekend.

Volyn are 14th with four points from five games on the log and they play at home to Karpaty on Monday August

Read more »

The Spaniard says that los Blancos would welcome the Wales winger with open arms at the Santiago Bernabeu, saying he would give their Italian coach a welcome selection headache

Isco says that there is no doubt that the arrival of Gareth Bale at Real Madrid would give coach Carlo Ancelotti a problem, but a "blessed" one.

Los Blancos have already confirmed their interest in the Tottenham winger, but have thus far refused to meet the Premier League outfit's asking price of €114 million.
 

There has been also been some debate over whether Madrid actually need Bale, but Isco feels that the Welshman would represent a most welcome selection headache for Ancelotti.

"If he comes, it would a problem for the coach, but a blessed problem," he told reporters at a press conference on Friday.

"I think what everybody thinks [about him]: that he is a really great player. So, we would welcome him as everyone else has been welcomed [this summer]."

Isco is one of Madrid's most recent arrivals, having joined from Malaga for a reported €30m and he believes he can thrive at the Bernabeu under Ancelotti's tutelage.

"He's a coach who is always speaking with you," he explains. "He is very close to the players and his philosophy is perfect for Madrid.

"The coach asks for possession, good judgment, creativity and high pressing. It's a style that suits players who like to play. We're going to see an attractive Madrid that will do great things.

"We want to do well in all competitions, not just the Champions League. We want to win everything."

Isco admitted, though, that he faces a difficult task in nailing down a regular berth in the Madrid starting line-up.

"I will just try to do my job," he explained. "The adaptation for me has been quick and easy. I'm delighted to be here and eager to do well.

"It's true that at Malaga I played every game as a starter, but here at Madrid, they give nothing away.

"I hope to play a lot and I hope to play on Sunday [in Madrid's Liga opener against Betis] but the coach has the final say."

Isco, who has been capped once at senior level by Spain, played a key role in the country's triumph at this summer's Under-21 European Championship.

Read more »