2014 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS: Nigeria lead group after slim win

Nigeria climbed to the top of Group F of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers after defeating a brave Namibia 1:0 at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar on Sunday.

After the opening festivities,including a one-minute silence in honour of the departed Nigeria legend Rashidi Yekini, both sides quickly got down to business.

A string of fine saves by the Namibian keeper Virgil Vries ensured that an entertaining first half ended scoreless.The Eagles started the match on a promising note but met with resistance from the determined Namibian side,packing the backline with all its players each time the Eagles made inclusions into the vital area.

Enugu Rangers winger,Ejike Uzoenyi was particularly impressive in the first half with his pace and penetration.He was also unfortunate not to hit the target when his spectacular overhead kick was saved by Vries.

The combination of Wigan Athletic's winger,Victor Moses,John Utaka and Ikechukwu Uche proved quite a hand-full for the hard-tackling defenseline of the Namibians that later sucumbed to pressure at the last minutes of the explosive encounter.

But with time running out for the West African,Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi introduced CSKA Moscow's Ahmed,who came in to replace John Utaka and Enyimba of Aba' s Kalu Uche coming in for victor Moses,adding the needed pep to the Eagles attack.

With the goals not coming,the hosts increasingly grew frustrated and lost their way somewhat while their opponents grew in belief. Fans at the stadium then started singing for a goal from their team.

"All we are saying... give us one goal" they chanted. Five minutes later they got the break.

In the 80th minute, Ejike Uzoenyi of Rangers International,who was a thorn in the flesh of the Namibians delivered a cross from the left flank,flicked by Kalu Uche,and converted by Ikechukwu Uche to give the Keshi led technical crew a relieve.

However,on Saturday other teams in the group,Malawi and Kenya struggled to a goaless draw in Nairobi,giving Nigeria the advantage with 3 points in their kitty.

The Super Eagles travels away to Blantyre,Malawi,June 9 to keep a date with the Eastern African country in the second match of the qualifiers.

Ikechukwu Uche was rewarded with the man-of-the-match award and a prize of $5,000.00USD for his efforts on the day.

KANU ‘wants full pay-off to leave Pompey’

Nwankwo Kanu will quit Portsmouth if he were paid the full amount owed him for the remainder of his 12-month contract.

That is the claim from Pompeys administrator Trevor Birch,who insists the veteran striker’s agent is demanding the total worth of Kanu’s deal for him to leave Fratton Park early,despite the club still fighting to stay alive.

The sum is believed to be in the region of £300,000 for a player whose current deal has already been lowered by a relegation clause.Birch said: “The club is in the players’ hands.“On one hand,them agreeing to defer wages gave the club a lifeline – but at the same time they need to take big cuts in the long term to enable it to survive.

“The ones we are having problems with are Kanu and Ben Haim.You cannot strike a deal with them.“Kanu’s agent wants the full amount and at the moment he is going nowhere.“His agent is digging his heels in as well,making demands,and it is very difficult to solve.”

Kanu,the scorer of Pompey’s FA Cup-winning goal in 2008,is among several players who the Blues are seeking to reach compromise agreements with.Now aged 35,a back problem contributed to restricting his availability to just 12 matches this season.

Super Eagles will overrun Namibia – VICTOR MOSES

Nigeria international and Wigan Athletic star Victor Moses has said the Super eagles have enough quality to overrun Namibia in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday.

Moses,who will be gunning for his second international cap for Nigeria,told MTNFootball.com in an exclusive interview,“From what I have seen of our training sessions, I have no doubt that we will run down the Brave Warriors on Sunday.“I know we have the quality and talent to do the job on Sunday and we are focused on doing it for Nigerians.”

Moses made his long awaited Eagles debut as a late substitute against Rwanda in February in a 2013 Africa Nations Cup qualifier,which ended goalless.The Wigan Athletics winger told MTNFootball.com he is now itching for his home debut. “I can’t wait to play at home.You know I never had the chance even though was close to featuring in the game against Zambia,but am happy and hungry to play in front of my a packed stadium with Nigerians cheering”.

Victor Moses has represented England at various age levels but was handed the all-clear to play for Nigeria by world football governing body FIFA last year after he opted for a change of nationality.

Police probe Twitter attack on ALUKO

Strathclyde Police have confirmed they are investigating claims by Rangers that two of their players were racially abused.

It is understood the Ibrox pair allegedly received the abuse via their Twitter accounts overnight but neither player has been named by police or the club.

However,Kyle Bartley – who spent last season on loan at Rangers from Arsenal – has indicated on his own Twitter page that the players targeted were Sone Aluko and Maurice Edu.

Rangers tweeted from their official account: "The Club has this morning been made aware of racial abuse directed at two of our players."We have reported this matter to the Police who are now investigating the matter".

A Strathclyde Police spokesperson said: "We can confirm the matter has been reported to us and we are investigating."