Balotelli brace down Monaco

Balotelli celebrates with Nice team mates

Mario Balotelli scored twice to help Nice dominate Monaco 4-0 and move top of the Ligue 1 table on Wednesday.

The enigmatic striker continued his resurgence with his third and fourth goals since his move from Liverpool this summer as unbeaten Nice moved one point ahead of both Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco.

Paul Baysse opened the scoring for Nice on 18 minutes before Balotelli scored on the half-hour mark with a hard shot from an angle that went in off the far post.

And the striker stayed onside to add another goal midway through the second half before coming off a few minutes later.

Tiemoue Bakayoko was dismissed with six minutes to play, and though Balotelli’s replacement Alassane Plea missed the resulting penalty he completed the rout with a header a minute later.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi out for three weeks

 

Barcelona star Lionel Messi will be sidelined for the next three weeks due to a groin strain, dealing a huge blow to his club and country. “To lose Lionel Messi means football loses and we lose,” said Barca boss Luis Enrique. 

 

Messi limped off just before the hour mark of the Spanish champions’ 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. 

 

The Argentine captain is set to miss his country’s World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Paraguay next month as well as Barca’s Champions League clash at Borussia Moenchengladbach. Messi will also sit on the Catalans’ La Liga trips to Sporting Gijon and Celta Vigo. Messi. Messi. 

Yaya Toure quits international football •He will not play for City until… —Guardiola

IVORY Coast midfielder, Yaya Toure, has officially made known his decision to quit international football.

The 33-year-old Ivorian announced his retirement on Tuesday via his twitter handle, @YayaToure, where he said:”There are decisions that are difficult to take. But, I have to pass the baton on to the younger generation. After 14 years at most levels with the Elephants, I have come to the end of my football adventure with the Ivory Coast. I thank all the supporters, all my fans.”

He made his debut for his country in 2004, and took a break from the side following their Africa Cup of Nations triumph in February 2015. He returned to the squad in March this year, but on Tuesday confirmed he would no longer put himself in contention for selection into Ivory Coast’s senior national football team.

Mikel hints on Chelsea exit

SUPER Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel, has hinted that he is on ready talking to clubs for a possible transfer if Chelsea fails to offer him a new deal in January.

Mikel has entered the final year of his contract and can begin negotiations over a Bosman move at the beginning of 2017.

He has so far struggled to get into Antonio Conte’s side after playing in the Olympics football tournament in Rio de Janeiro, where he helped his country secure bronze and he accepts that his time at Chelsea could be coming to an end.

“I have one year left [on my contract],” Mikel told Goal. “When you have a year left as a football player, you have to start planning and start thinking about what’s going to happen at the end of the season. Yes, there are going to be rumours, yes, there are going to be conversations between clubs.

“When you have a year left, in January, you are allowed to talk to other clubs and sign a pre-contract or have an agreement so, yes, I will talk to other clubs because you never know what is going to happen.”

“I’ve been here for a long, long time. I’ve spent 11 years of my life in this football club, it is my home.

“This season is the last at the club if my contract ends. I am quite relaxed about it, the future looks good.”

The 12 athletes who made Nigeria proud at Rio Paralympics, setting new record

With 8 gold medals among the total haul of 12, the 2016 Paralympics in Rio is Nigeria’s best ever.

This is an overview of the 12 athletes who made the country proud in their various events at the Paralympics.

GOLD MEDALISTS

Ezuruike Roland (Powerlifting Men’s -54 kg Gold Medal winner)

The Nigerian Power-lifer set three Paralympic Records (PR) enroute his victory in Rio as he ended with a lift of 200kg. 

Before his success in Rio, Ezuruike had won medals at the African Games as well as the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where he won a silver medal in the Men’s 72kg.

Kehinde Paul (Powerlifting Men’s -65 kg Gold Medal Winner)

Kehinde twice broke the men’s -65kg World Record (WR) to win GOLD in the Powerlifting event.The 28-year-old lifted an astonishing 220kg to claim gold in style at the Rio Games.

Born in Lagos, Kehinde competed in the men’s 72 kg event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games where he also won a gold medal.

Champions League: Iheanacho scores, Ahmed Musa enjoys big win

It was a good night for the Nigerian duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Ahmed Musa in the UEFA champions league with their respective clubs.

A hat-trick by Sergio Aguero and a late goal by substitute Iheanacho ensured that Man City continued life in Europe under Pep Guardiola with a comfortable win.

Iheanacho, fresh from his heroics in the Manchester derby, was a delight to watch again on Wednesday.‎ He scored minutes after coming in as a substitute.

There was also much to cheer for Ahmed Musa as his club Leicester City began their Champions League adventure with an impressive 3-0 win over Club Brugge in Belgium.

A brace by Riyad Mahrez and an opening goal by Marc Albrighton were enough to seal a 3-0 win over the Belgian side.

In some of the other games, Real Madrid left it late to beat Sporting CP 2-1 as they began their title defence at the Santiago Bernerbeau on a shaky note.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Alvaro Morata were the scorers for Real Madrid.

In Turin, it ended goalless between Juventus and Sevilla.

Tottenham Hotspur were beaten 1-2 at home by Monaco while Dortmund crushed Legia Warsaw 6-0 at their backyard.

Russian hackers leak Simone Biles and Serena Williams files

Simone Biles

The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) has condemned Russian hackers for leaking confidential medical files of star US Olympic athletes.

Athletes affected include tennis players Venus and Serena Williams and teenage gymnast Simone Biles.

A group calling itself "Fancy Bears" claimed responsibility for the hack of a Wada database.

Mikel narrates ‘Crazy’ Olympics experience

Team Nigeria Captain to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, John Mikel Obi, has given insights on his maiden appearance in the sporting showpiece.

Speaking with his club’s official website, Mikel, talked about the good, bad and ugly sides of his Olympic experience.

Despite not having the best of preparations, the U-23 Eagles saved the nation the heartache of another barren outing; wining bronze in the football event in Rio.

Mikel told chelseafc.com it was a terrible experience. He commented on his role as captain of the U-23 Eagles and also Team Nigeria.

4 matches to watch: Rangers dare 3SC in Ibadan as Manchester derby berths at Old Trafford

3SC vs. Enugu Rangers @Adamasingba Stadium @4pm on Sep.10

An age-old rivalry is rekindled in Ibadan on Saturday with both teams fighting for their lives but at opposite ends of the table. It has been 32 years since Rangers were crowned league champions – they have never been relegated – but ‘Sooting Stars’ [as they are called in Ibadan] have been up and down and are currently looking over their shoulder at the relegation places. Three points is now very important with six weeks to the end of the season. The stakes could not be higher.

Recent Form: 3SC [L-W-L-D-W]; Rangers [W-W-L-L-D]

Head to head

08/05/16     NPF    Enugu Rangers      1 – 1   Shooting Stars

13/09/15     NPF    Enugu Rangers      2 – 1   Shooting Stars

17/05/15     NPF    Shooting Stars       1 – 1   Enugu Rangers

22/09/13     NPF    Shooting Stars       2 – 1   Enugu Rangers

19/06/13     NPF    Enugu Rangers      2 – 0   Shooting Stars

Prediction: 3SC 2-1 Rangers

Djokovic, Wawrinka through to US Open final

Defending champion Novak Djokovic will take on third seed Stan Wawrinka in the US Open final on Sunday after both men won semi-finals in punishing conditions.

Djokovic beat 10th seed Gael Monfils 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-2 on Friday night in New York, with the Frenchman adopting unusual tactics to try and counter the world number one.

Stifling humidity was still a factor as Wawrinka beat Japan’s sixth seed Kei Nishikori 4-6 7-5 6-4 6-2 hours later.

“It’s really humid, really hot. I knew it would be tough,” said Wawrinka.

The 29-year-old Djokovic had treatment on both shoulders during the first semi-final, while Monfils could barely move at times as conditions took their toll.

“Humid,” is how the Serb described it. “I think that’s all we were thinking about and feeling.’’