Africa's richest man plots Arsenal takeover within four years as he promises to turn Gunners around.

The 59-year-old billionaire is confident that he can
 'run a very successful team'

• Aliko Dangote - worth £8.3billion - has spoken of his desire to buy Arsenal
• Dangote is keen to take over the Gunners in 'maybe three to four years'
• The 59-year-old stressed: 'It's about buying Arsenal and turning it around'
• Dangote attempted to buy shares in Arsenal six years ago but was rebuffed

Aliko Dangote - Africa's richest man - has stated his desire to buy Arsenal 'within three to four years'.

The 59-year-old, who is believed to be worth around £8.3billion, has spoken of his interest to take over Arsenal on a number of occasions but said that he needs to overcome 'challenging headwinds' in his other business ventures before focusing on buying the Gunners.

BIG BLUNDER: Dalung erred in naming Mikel Team Nigeria captain – Nwosu

EARLIER in the week, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solo­mon Dalung through a press release named Chelsea of England star, John Mikel Obi, Team Nigeria Captain to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games to the shock of many stakeholders.

While many had argued that the captaincy should have gone to the old­est participating athlete like Segun To­riola or Funke Oshonaiki both table ten­nis stars players going to their seventh and sixth Olympic Games respectively, others said Mikel’s popularity and good conduct in Chelsea was enough to make him Team Nigeria captain.

However, former Green Eagles captain, Henry Nwosu, had faulted the action of the Sports Minister declaring that neither Dalung nor the ministry, has the right to name Team Nigeria captain.

“The minister or the sports ministry has no business naming or appointing any athlete Team

Buhari welcomes FIFA anti-corruption reforms

President Muhammadu Buhari has welcomed FIFA’s President, Gianni Infantino plans to reform the game through transparency, anti-corruption and good governance.
He ‎assured that his administration would pay keen interest to accountability and transparency to fast-track football development in the country.
This was even, as the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino noted that there was  no crisis in football management in Nigeria, noting that there was an elected president in place, who is already functioning.

2016 Winners Golden Bet/Lagos SWAN Cup: The Sun Blazers too hot for Channels

The Sun Blazers yesterday became too hot for Channels Television, winning 3-0 at the on-going The Winners Golden Bet/ SWAN Cup 2016 played at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
The Blazers victory came courtesy of a walkover against Channels Television who on hearing that the Apapa based team had flown in from Portugal where they had taken tutorials from Fernando Santos, who led Portugal to the Euro 2016 victory decided to go into hiding.
In the team’s second game of the day, the Cool FM conglomerate, which also included Wazobia FM, Nigeria Info ganged up against The Sun Blazers to force a 3-1 win.
The encounter was one in which the spectators cheered every move of the Sun Blazers.

Turkey coup latest: Okocha, Kanu stranded in Istanbul

THE charity football match organised by Samuel Eto’o was unceremoniously called off on Saturday following the attempted coup that rudely shocked the government of Turkey.

The cancelation which was at the behest of the Cameroo­nian international would have provide former Nigerian inter­nationals an avenue to show case their talents alongside other world soccer stars leav­ing Austin Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Nollywood star Pawpaw and comedian AY all stranded in Turkey.

A lot of playing and retired footballers, are currently in An­talya, Turkey. were scheduled to feature in Eto’o’s charity match scheduled to take place saturday, July 16th, in celebra­tion of the 10th anniversary of his foundation.

Unfortunately, a coup at­tempt in Turkey, which resulted in the death of over 90 people, prevented them.

Hazard Eden, Puyol, Michael Essien, Kolo Toure, Kanu Nwankwo, JJ Okocha, AY Comedian, Paw Paw and many others are currently in Turkey.

FIFA to splash N1.4bn on Nigerian Football Federation

THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is set to receive a massive fi­nancial boost from world soccer ruling body FIFA.

The world soccer govern­ing body said yesterday that she would from next year be increasing her financial support to member federations.

According to a release by FIFA, the cash support would represent a 312 percent increment.

The financial support to member associations for football develop­ment is to jump to $5m (about N1.4bn) per every  four-year cycle from the former figure of $1.6m with effect from 2017.

Under the previous pro­gramme, each federation got an annual support of $400,000 to help in administering the game in the country.

Following the bumper increase, the NFF will now receive $1, 250, 000 every year to support the specific programmes to be dictated by FIFA.

The process for the im­plementation commences from June 1, 2017.

FIFA is also increasing her financial support for the six confederations to enable them do more to develop football in their regions.

Confederations will now receive $40m per four-year cycle for football development, up from $22m.

On the home front, widespread media reports that the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF had secured a $1.5 million bond with the Nige­rian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC to pay the would be Super Eagles foreign coach, has been dismissed as untrue.

Suleiman Yahaya- Kwande, who is the Chairman of the NFF’s Media and Publicity Committee came out to refute the story and said nothing of such has been agreed.

“The story is the fig­ment of the imagination of the writers. Nobody in the NFF or NNPC dis­cussed the matter of sal­ary of Eagles’ Coach and there is no iota of truth in it,” he told Supersports. com.

Leicester boss: Musa’s speed amazing

LEICESTER manager Claudio Ranieri has described the club’s new signing, Super Eagles forward, Ahmed Musa as an air plane.

The Italian manager told Foxes Player HD that Musa’s blistering speed is something that tickles him.

“It’s very important to have another airplane in our squad. Remem­ber, we are the RAF and we’ve signed one of them!,” Ranieri was quoted as saying.

The Nigerian joined the reigning English champions from CSKA Moscow having snubbed a host of other English teams.

Ranieri has now revealed that Musa can now join his Royal Air Force to bolster the Foxes forward ranks as they hope to successfully defend their title.

“Musa can bring his speed,” Ranieri told Fox­es Player HD. “I don’t know if he’s as quick as Jamie Vardy, but he has lots of speed.”

Leicester City kicks off her season against Manchester United in the FA Community Shield on August 7, 2016.

NPFL: LMC, NASD strike new deal

THE League Management Company (LMC), yester­day in Lagos, signed a Memorandum of Understand­ing (MoU) with NASD OTC Security Exchange with a view to fast tracking the Nigeria League and bring a more enduring ownership structure.

Speaking at the event, LMC Chairman Shehu Dikko said the MoU was hatched because of the need to standardize the NPFL club ownership struc­ture in line with what is obtained in Spain Britain, North Africa and other parts of the world.

Said he: “We are happy that NASD has embraced this vision and has offered to work with LMC to­wards the actualization of this dream. The LMC and NASD have had several interactions that culminated in this joint pursuit of a mutually beneficial col­laboration. This partner will also seek to enhance the commercial and promotional opportunities of NPFL.”

Dikko further disclosed that NASD would also be organizing periodic capital market investment education and seminar for clubs and other league stakeholders.

“NASD will facilitate the creation of special prod­ucts including fans based cooperatives to provide NPFL clubs the platform to trade on their shares,” he said.

In his remarks, the CEO of NASD OTC Securi­ties Exchange, Bola Ajomale, who hailed the LMC initiative, said the idea could not have come at a better time especially now that state and federal governments are seeking to reorder their expenditure pattern.

According to him, it is good that the LMC is look­ing at allowing private and public investment play a bigger role in the financing of football clubs in the country.

He however said it would not be an all comers affair as all clubs must meet their stringent corporate governance and financial reporting standards before they could apply.