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The attacking duo are likely to feature at the Olympics but the tactician says it will be business should they play against his team in Rio Nigeria U23 coach Samson Siasia says he isn't scared of threats from Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez and PSG’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Dream Team VI will face Sweden, Colombia and Japan in Group B of the preliminary round of the 2016 Olympics men's football event and the duo have been penciled down to represent their countries. "There is nothing to fear about Zlatan Ibrahimovich starring for the Swedish team and James Rodriguez staring for Colombia in our Group,” Siasia told Goal. “These two countries already know their weak areas that they want these mentioned want to come and cover up.  So they already have a team on ground. "But we don't know yet because we are trying to put up a team that would determine which three over aged players we would want to bring. But Sweden and Colombia already know their...

As the Blues’ midfielder celebrates his 29th birthday, the ex-international is confident that the ‘blessed’ player can play at the highest level for many years EXCLUSIVE      By Shina Oludare      Follow on Twitter   Nigeria legend, Christian Chukwu has paid tribute to Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi as he celebrates his 29th birthday. The Blues' star who made his Super Eagles’ debut in 2006, began his international career for the country at the 2003 African U17 Cup of Nations in Swaziland where the Golden Eaglets finished third before featuring at the Fifa U17 World Cup same year. He then progressed to the Nigeria U20 team where he played key role as Samson Siasia’s lads finished second at the 2005 Fifa U20 World Cup in Holland. “There is no debate about his class which I attribute to discipline and dedication," Chukwu told Goal. “Mikel is committed to whatever he wants to do and that has helped h...

The Brazil attacker is yet to sign a new contract with the club, prompting speculation around his future, but the director maintains there is no chance of him leaving this year Barcelona vice-president Jordi Mestre has reiterated that the club has no intention of parting company with Brazil superstar Neymar . The forward is without a goal in his past five club matches, during which time Barcelona's lead at the top of La Liga has collapsed due to three consecutive defeats. Atletico Madrid have also dumped the soon-to-be deposed European champions out of the Champions League and Neymar's form has come in for criticism. The 24-year-old was involved in an altercation with Valencia defender Antonio Barragan after Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Camp Nou and he is currently embroiled in a club versus country row due to Brazil's desire for him to play in both the forthcoming Copa America Centenario and the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Neymar is also yet to pen a...

Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi have rarely lived up to their price-tags over the course of their City careers, but their form over the past few weeks has impressed They were seen as the expensive expendables. Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala cost nearly £75 million between them but, until very recently, few Manchester City fans would have minded if they were shown the door this summer. These are, after all, two of the most expensive footballers in history. All in, it took £42m to prise Mangala from Porto, a world record fee for a defender. Otamendi, meanwhile, was bought for £32m. For much of their time at City, the pair have proven to be costly, chiefly in terms of the errors they have made. Otamendi, who arrived with a take-no-prisoners reputation, has alarmed fans on a weekly basis with his tendency to throw himself into tackles, displaying scant regard for his opponent's limbs or the gaping spaces left behind him. A "Northern Quarter Phil Jo...

The Wales international faces a race against time to be fit for his side's Champions League clash against the Citizens after his manager ruled him out of Los Blancos' next game Zinedine Zidane is unsure whether Gareth Bale will be fit to face Manchester City in the Champions League next week after the Real Madrid boss confirmed the forward will miss Wednesday's clash against Villarreal with a muscle injury. Wales international Bale scored his 16th La Liga goal of the season in Saturday's 5-1 battering of Getafe as Real kept pace with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the race for the title. However, Zidane has since revealed that the 26-year-old will be absent against Villarreal and does not know yet if he will be available for their next two games against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday and then City next Tuesday. "He has suffered from something this weekend," Zidane said at a pre-match news conference. READ MORE   | POLL: Who is Re...

Chelsea produced the worst title defence of any club in Premier League history in 2015-16, but who has been their silver lining in a difficult campaign? We are left scratching our heads to find the Player of the Season for Chelsea after a tepid campaign in which stars such as John Terry, Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas have failed to shine. The Blues were only one point above the relegation zone on December 17, and they subsequently sacked Jose Mourinho, who paid for a terrible run of nine defeats in 16 matches. They were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain 4-2 on aggregate and Diego Costa's infamous red card saw them dumped out of the FA Cup to Everton in the quarter-final at Goodison Park. No silverware is in sight for the Stamford Bridge side, who finished the campaign with Guus Hiddink in charge. Picking three names from their worst season in 20 years is no easy task but these are three men who can hold their heads up high in ...