France hijack Mali target N’Golo Kanté

France coach Didier Deschamps will hand a maiden international call-up to Leicester City midfielder N’Golo Kanté, L’Equipe unveiled this Wednesday.

Highly rated in the English Premier League since joining the Foxes on a four-year contract from SM Caen last summer, Kanté has been instrumental in Leicester’s meteoric rise this season with his tireless work rate.

And his consistent performances for his club did not go unnoticed by the former France international, who will unveil his squad on Thursday as they are preparing for their UEFA EURO 2016 with friendlies against Netherlands and Russia.

The move is a major blow to Kanté’s country of origin Mali, who were desperate to land the 24-year-old in the Eagles’ nest.

We start off at Villa Park. Tottenham Hotspur dragged Aston Villa deeper into relegation trouble with a 2-0 win. England midfielder Dele Alli started and played 87 minutes of the contest.

Both Josh Onomah (Tottenham Hotspur) and Gabby Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) did not make the squad.

Jerry Mbakogu was an unused substitute as Carpi won for only the fifth time this season, beating Frosinone 2-1 at the Stadio Alberto Braglia.

Elsewhere, Super Eagles vice-skipper Eddy Onazi was a handed a rare start as Lazio defeated Atalanta 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico . He was replaced in the 81st minute.

Still in the Italian Serie A, Torino midfielder Joel Obi watched proceedings from the bench as his side surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to Genoa at Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris.

Defender Leon Balogun played the entirety of Mainz 05’s 2-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund. He has appeared 18 times in the Bundesliga this season, lasting the distance in the last nine matches.

ADO Den Haag right-back Tyronne Ebuehi worked a ninety-minute shift in defense in his team’s 2-2 draw with FC Utrecht in the Eredivisie.

Stefano Okaka scored in the sixth minute of Anderlecht’s 3-0 rout of Kortrijk, who were without Michael Olaitan. The Italy international went the distance while teammate Imoh Ezekiel was an unused sub.

Nigeria international winger Moses Simon played 85 minutes of Gent’s 1-1 draw against Sporting Charleroi. He was yellow-carded in the 74th minute.

Still in the Juplier Pro League, Flying Eagles defender Wilfred Ndidi was substituted in the 87th minute as Genk thrashed KV Oostende 4-1 at the Cristal Arena. He was booked five minutes from time.

KV Oostende number 17 Joseph Akpala watched proceedings from the bench, while teammate Saviour Godwin did not make the squad.

Super Eagles midfielder Izunna Uzochukwu played only 14 minutes of OB Odense’s 3-1 win against FC Nordsjaelland.

Brown Ideye passed a late fitness test and assisted the champions Olympiakos beat Panathinaikos 3-1 in the derby. The striker ended a two-month goal drought in the league after he hit target in the 89th minute.

Abdul Ajagun came off the bench in the 46th minute as Levadiakos suffered a 3-0 loss at the hands of Levadiakos.

In the Austrian Bundesliga, Bright Edomwonyi rescued a point for Sturm Graz in their 1-1 draw with Austria Vienna. Bright, who played the full game, equalized for the homers in the 86th minute.

Olarenwaju Kayode was yellow-carded in the 71st minute, then was substituted four minutes later. The Austria Vienna star still has 11 goals in the league.

Sylvester Igboun was not involved in FC Ufa’s 2-0 loss to Lokomotiv Moscow in the Russian Premier League. New signing for the Railway men Henty Ezekiel worked a ninety-minute shift in attack.

In the Ukrainian top-flight, there was no debut for new Stal Dniprodzerzhynsk signing Akeem Latifu . He was an unused sub as his team lost 1-0 to Volyn.

Kingsley Madu played the entirety of Trencin’s 3-1 victory against Zemplin Michalovce. Teammate Aliko Bala was on the bench for this one.

Tunde Adeniji watched from the bench as Levski Sofia beat Pirin Blagoevgrad 3-1 in the Bulgarian top division.

WENGER HAILS IWOBI
Arsenal Manager hails Nigeria international Alex Iwobi ahead of Tuesday night’s FA Cup replay against Hull City at the KC Stadium.

The 19-year-old has fallen down the pecking order in recent matches but is in line to feature against the Tigers, with Coquelin suspended due to his red card against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.

“What I see in [Iwobi] is a creative player who has a high work-rate and a good team spirit,” Wenger said to arsenal.com/ “I think he’s a player who develops very well because he has a big passion for the game and he can score goals as well. “He can play on the flanks, he can play through the middle, he’s a very interesting player.”

Of the 10 appearances Iwobi has made for the Gunners first team in the ongoing campaign, five were in Cup competitions.

The striker has started every single game in the FA Cup but failed to last the distance in each of them.

SIASIA AXED THREE PLAYERS

Super Eagles interim coach Samson Siasia has dropped three players from the roster announced to face Egypt in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Usman Mohammed, Stanley Dimgba and Segun Oduduwa were called up to train with the Dream Team VI but arrived late to the camp of the Nigeria U23s without authorization.

“We cannot have those three in camp anymore. This is very serious business, and only serious –minded persons can be involved,” said Samson Siasia.

“They reported late to the camp of the U-23 team, so they cannot be tolerated in the camp of the senior team.

 “I have said it over the past few days that mentality would count big among the traits we are looking for in the players to feature against Egypt.”
   
As a result of the exclusion of the trio, it means only 19 home-based players will train with the Super Eagles before the arrival of the professionals based abroad as from Sunday, March 20.

NFF Appoint Samson Siasia Caretaker Manager Of Super Eagles

The Nigeria Football Federation has appointed Samson Siasia as caretaker manager of the national team following the resignation of Sunday Oliseh.

The former Nantes striker will be assisted by Salisu Yusuf and ex-Barcelona star Emmanuel Amuneke, with Alloy Agu to serve as a goalkeeper coach.

Siasia left his role as Super Eagles coach in October 2011 after the team could not qualify for the 2012 African Cup of Nations.

But he has served Nigeria so well in the past, leading the Flying Eagles to the final of the 2005 Fifa Under 20s and was in the dugout when the Dream Team lost to Argentina in the Olympic Games final three years later.

Samson Siasia’s first task is to begin preparations for the upcoming African Nations Cup qualifiers against Egypt.

EMENIKE TEAMS UP MOSES AT WEST HAM

West Ham have announced the signing of former Nigeria international Emmanuel Emenike on loan from Turkish Super Lig team Fenerbahce following a successful medical at Spire Roding Hospital .

The Hammers have inserted a clause into the agreement that allows them to make the transfer permanent in the summer.

In his first words after the transfer was completed, Emenike said : “I’m very, very happy and very, very excited that I’m here,”Emenike told West Ham TV.

“I have always known West Ham as a great Club. I’ve always been watching them. West Ham’s a great Club and I’m happy to be here. ”

The former Spartak Moscow star added : “I’ve known him [Bilic] for years. When he was at Lokomotiv Moscow, I was at Spartak Moscow, then he came to Besiktas and I was in Fenerbahce, so we’ve known each other for a long time. I’m happy to be here and happy to play for him.     

“We’ve followed each other’s careers and thank God we are here today and we are here together.”

Emenike, who is in line to make his Premier League debut on Tuesday versus Aston Villa, has been handed the number 7 kit.

IHEANACHO IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SQUAD.

Nigeria youth prodigy Kelechi Iheanacho has been rewarded with a place in the UEFA Champions League squad by Manchester City following his impressive performances for the EPL club.

Iheanacho, who netted a treble weekend in a cup game against Aston Villa at the Villa Park, has replaced recuperating Samir Nasri in a 25-man squad submitted by Manuel Pellegrini.

"Yes, he (Iheanacho) will be in the squad,” said Pellegrini on Kelechi's inclusion in the Champions League squad.

“I have decided that. I told Samir Nasri I will take him out from the Champions League list because he needs two more months to be fit.

“We need Kelechi, because with Wilfried Bony injured, we cannot afford any risks if Kun [Sergio Aguero] is injured.

“So, we need Kelechi in the squad.

“It was not a difficult decision, but it's always difficult to tell a player he will not continue in the selections.

“But I think Samir understood. He has already been injured for three months and he understands."

Nasri has been out of action with a hamstring injury for three months