Mikel extends Chelsea stay

Nigeria international, John Obi Mikel, has signed a new five-year deal to remain with European champions, Chelsea.
The club announced on Wednesday that the 25-year-old midfielder has decided to stay at Stamford Bridge until 2017.
Mikel is happy to have spent six years with the Blues in spite having a torrid start to his Chelsea career.
"Chelsea seems like my home now because I have been here for over six years and I enjoy my time here.
"I come into the training ground every day to work and I value my time there. I am happy and want to keep going and win trophies for this club," he said.
Mikel remains a key player for Rafa Benitez's team.
He has won one Barclays Premier League title, four FA Cups and a League Cup.
But he has managed just two goals in his six-year Chelsea career and has made more than 250 appearances for the club.

MANCHESTER CITY GET SAME NUMBER OF PENALTIES AS UNITED, SAYS SIR ALEX FERGUSON

SIR ALEX FERGUSON sparked a war of words with Roberto Mancini in the build-up to the Manchester derby with a jibe about City’s penalty record.

City have been awarded 21 penalty kicks – 20 of them at the Etihad Stadium – since the start of the 2010-11 season. And in a clear attempt to influence tomorrow’s referee, Martin Atkinson, Ferguson said: “If we were to get that number of penalty kicks there would have been an inquiry in the House of Commons and protests.”

But Ferguson’s argument was undermined when the records showed that United have been awarded exactly the same number of penalties in Premier League games in the same period of time – 13 coming at Old Trafford and eight away.

That sparked a sarcastic response from City boss Mancini, who accused Ferguson of hypocrisy.

He said: “I remember very well last season when Ashley Young was swimming and they had four or five penalties in the last 10 games. He [Ferguson] didn’t say anything then. It is fair to say that over the last 15 years United have had some penalties that have been debatable – not a lot but certainly two or three. He is probably saying it deliberately. He is clever.”

City have the better record from penalties – converting 18 of their 21. United have scored only 14 of their spot kicks.

City host United at lunchtime tomorrow and Mancini defended himself in the face of criticism following his club’s exit from the Champions League.

He pointed to Ferguson’s struggle to make an impact domestically and in Europe in his early years at Old Trafford.

“Ferguson won his first title after seven years in the job and his first Champions League after 14 years,” said Mancini.

“I won the Premier League after two years and have another 12 years to win a Champions League. I am happy with the job I have done here.”

Walcott and Arsenal at contract standoff after months without meeting

Theo Walcott and Arsenal are at a contractual impasse as the club and the player have gone since the end of August without meeting face-to-face about extending the England international’s stay at the Emirates Stadium, the Daily Mirror has reported.

Arsene Wenger this week revealed his frustration that Walcott has not yet signed a fresh contract with the North London club, claiming that the club have been in negotiations with Walcott for a long time and calling on the forward to make up his mind and decide if his future is with Arsenal or one of the suitors angling to capitalize on the deadlock.

Walcott is attracting attention from Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City, having been given an ultimatum by Arsenal in August. The 23-year-old was told that if he did not sign a new contract, he would be sold, and with the winter transfer window opening in a matter of weeks, the interested parties are said to be preparing their offers.

http://streamglobe.com

Hundreds Nigerians fleeing Boko Haram take refuge in Niger

More than 1,000 Nigerians, fleeing violence blamed on the Boko Haram Islamic sect, arrived in Diffa region, 1,500 km east of Niamey, between November 30 and December 5, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has said.
The UN position is contained in its newsletter, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
According to OCHA, the Nigerians have settled in the Nigerien villages, Guésséré and Massa, 25 km away from the town of Diffa.
It said that the Nigerian Red Cross had identified 1,042 refugees, including 520 children and 306 women, most of whom live with host families.

Streamglobe news
http://streamglobe.com

Nigeria: Idoko Takes Charge As Baribote Is Impeached

At least 16 Nigeria Premier League clubs meet on Tuesday at an emergency meeting in Abuja and unanimously passed a vote of no confidence on the board of the NPL leading to the immediate impeachment of Chief Victor Rumson Baribote as chairman of the NPL board.
The meeting also announced a six- man interim management committee to be headed by the Administrator of Ondo State Football Agency and General Manager of Sunshine Stars FC, Mr. Mike Idoko.
Other members of the committee are Alloy Chukwumeka, Alhaji Sabo Babyaro, Tony Ogola, Alhaji Suleiman Chindo and Oscar Keke.
According to the resolutions and decisions of the meeting read by the General Manager of Heartland FC, Mr. Fan Nduboke " the clubs having reviewed the state of the just concluded 2011/2012 league season agreed that the season under review was the worst organized football season in the history of the NPL.
"The clubs also identified lack of transparency and accountability on the side of the Chief Victor Baribote led league board, gross misappropriation of funds, lack of sponsorship for the league, clubs payment of match officials idemenities, transportation, accommodation and feeding as well as divisions amongst the board members as part of the ills which hindered the progress of the league".
The clubs therefore passed a vote of no confidence on the entire board and thereafter requested the Nigeria Football Federation to recognize the six-man interim board to oversee the league pending the process leading to a fresh election.
Subsequently, the clubs agreed that they would not attend the Kano Congress earlier scheduled for today at the Tahir Hotel Kano, citing loss of confidence in the ability of the ousted board to organise the congress as their reason.
However, later yesterday, the NFF ordered that the proposed 7th NPL congress should be put on hold, a development which has set tongues wagging.
Meanwhile, embattled chairman of the NPL, Chief Victor Rumson Baribote yesterday thanked the NFF for its timely intervention in what he said would have degenerated into a full blown political upheaval.
According, his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Jude Idu, the NPL chairman said "this action exhibits major qualities of great leadership and has avoided imminent political tussle that would have put another set- back to the entire progress of Nigeria Football".
Baribote expressed confidence that in the end, all his travails would come to pass and the truth would prevail eventually.

Song, Toure and Drogba make final list for CAF award

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the top three contenders for this year’s African Footballer of the Year.
The final three are: The current holder of the award, Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba and Alex Song.
The candidates were unveiled on Wednesday, after the football body, removed Ghana’s Andre Ayew and Demba Ba from Senegal, from the penultimate list of five players.
African Footballer of the Year Top Three in alphabetical order
Didier Drogba (Cote D’Ivoire, Shanghai Shenhua)
Alexander Song (Cameroon, Barcelona)
Yaya Toure (Cote D’Ivoire, Manchester City)
African Player of the year – Based in Africa Top Three in alphabetical order
Mohamed Aboutreika (Egypt, Al Ahly)
Rainford Kalaba (Zambia, TP Mazembe)
Stoppila Sunzu (Zambia, TP Mazembe)
The winner will be announced on December 20 at the Awards Gala in Accra, Ghana.