Watch Highlights : Italy vs Nigeria [Video]

Nigeria and Italy drew 2-2 in an international friendly played at Craven Cottage on Monday night.

Contrary to earlier reports, Cesare Prandelli started the game with a full strength team, which featured the likes of Mario Balotelli, Angelo Ogbonna and Giuseppe Rossi.

The latter gave the Azurri an early lead when he raced into a pass from Balotelli in the 7th minute, before chipping the ball over an advancing Austin Ejide, who manned the post in place of Vincent Enyeama.

Bright Dike however equalized for Nigeria in the 35th minute, after heading home a cross from Shola Ameobi.

Ameobi turned from provider to scorer four minutes later when he smashed in a left-wing cross from Heartland's fullback Benjamin Francis, to give Nigeria a half-time lead.

Emanuele Giaccherini equalized for Italy two minutes into the resumption of the second half, and Prandelli made some vital changes to his squad moments later as he brought on the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Marco Parolo and Diamanto.

The changes proved vital as the Italians dominated proceedings with Pirlo controlling the play and creating chances which Chirechi, Giancherini and Balotelli failed to utilize.

John Ogu however came close to restoring Nigeria's lead in the 74th minute but his rasping shot after a great run by Ahmed Musa was saved by Salvatore Sirigu.

Both sides continued to threaten with Italy getting the better chances which were wasted by Mario Balotelli, as Musa and Emmanuel Emenike also came close to scoring for Nigeria.

With neither side unable to add to their tally after regulation time, referee Martin Atkinson signalled for the end of the game.

ITALY: Sirigu - Maggio, Pasqual, Ogbonna, Ranocchia, Thiago Motta, Montolivo, Candreva, Giaccherini, Rossi, Balotelli

NIGERIA: Ejide - Kwambe, Oboabona, Egwuekwe, Francis, Onazi, Mikel, Oduamadi, Moses, Dike, Ameobi

Watch videos below:

International friendlies : Italy and Nigeria play out pulsating draw

Over 15,000 lucky fans at London’s craven Cottage witnessed a pulsating international friendly as Italy and Nigeria played out a pulsating 2-2 draw in the second meeting between the sides.

Both teams attacked from the off and chances came and went before Giuseppe Rossi put the Azzuri ahead with his first International goal for over two years.

Italy continued to dominate in terms of possession and chances but Nigeria struck back to lead with two quickfire goals from Bright Dike and Newcastle United’s Shola Ameobi before the end of the first half to stun their opponents.

It took Italy only two minutes to get back on level terms after the break as Emanuele Giaccherini converted Antonio Candreva’s through ball. And although both sides missed a number of chances to add to their tally, honours ended even on Cesare Prandelli’s 50th game in charge.

Read more HERE

International Friendly : Nigeria Vs Italy - Watch Live

Craven Cottage is proud to host the International Friendly between Italy and Nigeria on Monday 18th November, kick-off 8:45pm [Nigerian time]

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Review: the Wamada Bamboo rashguard

I met Zack Adelson, the man behind the company, at the NY Open this spring and was delighted to have the chance to review one of their new bamboo rashguards.  Meerkatsu reviewed them here.  And Ayanthi wrote a nice piece about the company here.  The company website is down for maintenance at the time of this writing.  But you can buy one of these rashies on OTM's website.  It's $65 plus shipping.

You know me, I like to wear stuff for a good long while before I review it, but this lovely soft thing has passed all tests of endurance.  I've worn it in all sorts of weather, too-- ranging from +100 degreeF temps with +80% humidity all the way down to weather in the 40s.  (Yes, indoors, but we don't use AC or heat.)  I've worn this for nogi as well as under a gi, but most of my wear was under a gi.

I'm 5'2" 135 lbs, and I wear a small.  The sleeves and torso are long enough that this could fit someone longer/taller than I with ease.. at least an extra 2-3" in each.  These rashies are made of bamboo-viscose which is touted as a more ecologically-friendly textile, as well as absorbing more sweat.  This seemed kind of unique to me-- unlike most rashguards which are made with a nonabsorbent material like polyester, the bamboo did seem to retain more water and left smaller pools on the mat when training nogi.

Pros: the best thing about this rashie, to me, is the texture.  Soft, soft, soft!  Fuzzy and comfortable and stretchy.  When I first put it on in warm weather, it feels a bit too warm, but I did not feel overheated while rolling.  I also like the design-- which is available in ranked colors-- because it looks kind of like a rugby jersey.  Surprisingly, the stitching connecting the black parts to the white parts was not too tight or restrictive or scratchy.  The neckline is not too small (usually I am not a fan of crew necks) and the bottom hem stays tucked into gi pants if that's where you want it.  If you leave it out of your pants, it doesn't ride up like crazy, either.

(Excuse the scraggledy hair and post-training face of fatigue.)

The branding is appealing-- a small circular logo over your heart, and a larger name logo vertically along your ribcage on the right side, under your arm.  But it is printed straight onto the material, which usually ends up cracking and peeling over time.  Still, in the six months I've worn this, I haven't seen peeling and only a small amount of cracking.

The red contrast seaming is subtle but aesthetically pleasing.

Cons:  This fabric shows wear.  I don't think it's actually getting thinner or abraded in any fashion that would impair its utility, but it looks "pilly" and rubbed.  (The color has stayed a nice even black, so any fading you see in the photos is just an artifact of flash photography.)

Also, this sucker feels warm when you first put it on.  As I mentioned, while you're training you'll feel fine... but hanging out waiting for class to start will be toasty.  If it's temperate or even chilly weather, you'll enjoy it.  If it's hot, well, you will be slightly warmer on a subjective basis (but then again, you might not choose to wear a long sleeve rashie under a gi when it's really hot!)

In summary, this is a quality product and something a little different from all the rest of the rashies on the market.  I think it would make a nice holiday gift for the grappler in your life who already would seem to have all the rashies they could use.

Balotelli And Rossi To Lead Attack Against Nigeria

Giuseppe Rossi and Mario Balotelli are set to start up front for Italy in their friendly against Nigeria at Craven Cottage this evening.

Serie A top scorer Giuseppe Rossi has overcome tonsillitis and is expected to start for Italy against Nigeria alongside former Manchester City man Mario Balotelli.

The Azzurri managed a battling 1-1 draw with Germany in their last outing but will be strengthened in London by the return of Rossi.

Rossi has been in sensational form this season and leads the Serie A scoring chart with 11 goals to his name.

His strike partner Balotelli has had a much less enjoyable season for struggling AC Milan and has earned more headlines for off-the-field activities than his performances.

“Rossi is a versatile striker who can play as first or second striker,” Italy boss Cesare Prandelli told La Gazzetta dello Sport, explaining his probable line-up for Nigeria.

“It’s clear that if you use him as your point of reference up front then you have to co-ordinate the midfield around him, a little like Pep Guardiola has done over the last few years.”

Balotelli returns to England where he had a turbulent time and Prandelli stressed what he is looking for from the Milan marksman.

“He needs to be more reactive,” the ex-Fiorentina boss explained. “I’ll ask him to move more off the ball.”

Prandelli concluded with an assessment of Italy’s opponents who have just booked their place at next summer’s World Cup with victory over Ethiopia.

“Ten of their 11 players play in Europe,” he said. “African players are physically strong and have improved tactically.

“I expect this game to be the same difficulty at the Italy-Nigeria game of the 1994 World Cup when the Azzurri had to dig deep to win.”

Roberto Baggio was the hero of Italy’s 2-1 extra-time win over Nigeria in the USA in 1994. Italy were headed out of the competition until his late equaliser and then he converted a penalty in the 102nd minute to seal progress to the quarter-finals.

Photos : Super Eagles arrive UK for their friendly match against Italy

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will play a friendly game against European heavyweights, Italy, at Fulham’s Craven Cottage stadium in London today.

They arrived in the UK yesterday, just a day after they beat Ethiopia to qualify for next year’s World Cup finals.

More photos below:

Nigerian billionaire Jimoh Ibrahim arrested over N6.8billion tax fraud

According to a report by Sahara Reporters,

The Special Enforcement Unit of Federal Inland Revenue Service has arrested billionaire businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim, over a tax fraud that runs into N6.8b.

Sources within the unit told Saharareporters that Mr. Ibrahim was picked up today and is currently under detention at the offices of the agency.

According to one source, “We are investigating a case where Chief Ibrahim, defrauded the federal government to the tune of N6.8 billion. He is in our custody, we take intend to take a statement from the suspect under caution”, he added.

One of our sources said Mr. Mr. Ibrahim have been evading agents of the unit for some time but disclosed that the eventually caught up with him in his hotel room in NICON Luxury Hotel where he was arrested this afternoon in Abuja.

Ejide to lead Super Eagles against Italy

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi kickoffnigeria.com is expected to make wholesale changes to his starting team for Monday night's friendly against Italy.

Keshi's Super Eagles played Ethiopia in a 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifier which they won 2-0 on Saturday afternoon, then flew to London on Sunday ahead of the meeting with the former world champions.

Most of the players who did not play against Ethiopia are expected to get a run out.

Cold weather and jetlag forced the squad to skip a scheduled training session on Sunday, but they were on the ground early on Monday morning to limber up.

While a sprinkling of regulars like Godfrey Oboabona, Ogenyi Onazi and John Mikel Obi are expected to start, the rest of the team could wear a new look.

Strikers Bright Dike and Shola Ameobi could get a run, with Solomon Kwambe and Benjamin Francis also eying spots in the starting XI against a similarly experimental Italy side.

LIKELY LINE-UP:

Austin Ejide - Solomon Kwambe, Benjamin Francis, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe; Ogenyi Onazi, Mikel Obi, Nnamdi Oduamadi; Victor Moses, Bright Dike, Shola Ameobi

Photos of Dangote at Peter and Lola Okoye 's traditional wedding

Aliko Dangote with the groom...Another pic below:

Peter and Lola Okoye : The kiss and the beautiful wedding cake [Photos]

Peter and Lola Okoye : The kiss and the beautiful wedding cake [Photos].

Photo of the wedding cake below:

INEC Declares Anambra State Governorship Election Inconclusive

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Anambra Governorship election that held on Saturday November 16th inconclusive.

The commission declared the election inconclusive due to the significant number of votes it voided during counting. It said the total number of votes cancelled is much more than the difference between the candidate with the highest number of votes and the runner up.

The results declared by the commission showed that Chief Willie Obiano of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) polled 174, 710; Comrade Tony Nwoye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 94, 354, while Senator Chris Ngige of the All Progressive Congress (APC) polled 92, 300 votes. Continue...

The APC, PDP, and Labour Party candidates had in a joint statement on Sunday called for the cancellation of the election citing irregularities.

The Chairman of the commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, had also in an interview with a local television station admitted that the election was flawed, especially in Idemili North local government, where he said the electoral officer connived with outside interests to sabotage and subvert the electoral process.

INEC to conduct supplementary elections in areas where elections were cancelled or did not hold.

The Will Nigeria 

Chaos on Ajah Road in Lagos as trailer kills five school children

There's serious pandemonium on Ajah Road in Lagos. Area boys and passers-by are clashing with policemen after a trailer crushed five students as they were crossing the road.

The sad incident happened close to Ikota Primary School and the dead pupils are believed to be making their way to the school when they were killed. The tanker driver abandoned his truck and escaped.

The people protesting are insisting they won't leave the area until Governor Fashola shows up. They are blaming the gruesome accident on the lack of a pedestrian bridge in the area. The two express lanes have been blocked by the angry protesters which has caused heavy traffic in the area. There's heavy police presence in the area. 

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah praises Keshi

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah has congratulated Stephen Keshi for helping Nigeria qualify for the 2014 World Cup after beating Ethiopia 2-0 on Saturday.

Appiah, whose team face Egypt later today (Monday) in Cairo, go into the second leg encounter with a 6-1 advantage, having mauled the North Africans in the first-leg, is aiming to emulate Keshi by helping his team qualify.

"Congratulations to them [Nigeria]. They have done well," Appiah told the official website of Ghana Football Association.

The Ghanaian home-grown coach described his Nigerian counterpart as a friend who he has grown closer to in recent times.

"He's my friend, [Stephen] Keshi. We have always been in touch and I am really happy for them. We have become very close friends and we talk on so many issues."

Even though his team already hold a strong advantage going into the second-leg encounter, Appiah insists his team will approach the game with all seriousness.

Keshi and Appiah have made a strong case for indigenous African coaches, with their recent performance for the national teams of Nigeria and Ghana respectively.

kickoffnigeria.com

Obinna Nsofor out of Italy friendly

Nigeria forward Obinna Nsofor has been ruled out of Monday night's friendly against Italy with an injury.

The forward came on as a substitute to score Nigeria's second goal against Ethiopia with an exquisite free-kick.

He then went down under a heavy challenge and hobbled through the last few minutes of the 2-0 victory.

"It looks serious," he told KickOffNigeria.com after the game.

That self-prognosis has now been confirmed by team officials, who say the player will take no part in Monday night's friendly game.

"Nsofor is ruled out of the encounter due to the injury he copped in the game against Ethiopia, though he is here in London with the team," Media Officer Ben Alaiya said.

"A scan will be carried out on Monday by team medics to determine the extent of the injury." Nsofor was left disappointed.

“I would really love to have played this game but there is nothing I can do now because of the injury,” he said.

Kick-off is at 8:45pm Nigeria time at Fulham's Craven Cottage.