The Wasps, who have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup and who have only made one African Nations Cup (2004), have advanced into the third round of the Confederation of African Football's 2010 World Cup qualification tournament.

20 nations will advance into this third round hoping to land one of the 5 spots open for the 2010 World Cup. Click to continue reading...

Before you read on, this isn't a serious list. It's just ten silly suggestions. Especially #4. If you're a Newcastle fan and thus in no mood for laughing, then don't read any further. I'd suggest reading this more serious list of potential buyers on the always good NUFC Blog. Everyone else, read on.. Click to continue reading...

The following interview with Nigerian legend and captain of the national team Nwanko Kanu was conducted by African football magazine New African Soccer and reprinted here with their permission. The magazine is free to download. Nigeria went into the Beijing Olympics football tournament confident that they will do well. Click to continue reading...

Following all the speculation about possible owners for Newcastle United, it seems that Mike Ashley is preparing to sell the club to a consortium of wealthy Nigerians. Chris Nathaniel, the chief executive of NVA Management, the company managing the deal, said he is hopeful the Nigerians will become the first Africans to own a Premier [. Click to continue reading...

Why is playing defense so satisfying? I know it isn't everyone's cup of tea, but there are more than a few of us who love the high anxiety of the back line in a tight game - who love the challenge of trying to shut down a player with more speed, more skill - who live for the peculiar victory of engineering another's defeat. Click to continue reading...

The international break ended with some satisfaction for the under-fire British teams. England produced one of their best results and one of their best performances for many years in the 4-1 thrashing of Croatia. Scotland got the 2-1 win in Iceland they so desperately needed after the disappointment of the 1-0 defeat in Macedonia. Click to continue reading...

SA's preparation for the World Cup has already been subject to intense scrutiny but their team continues to lower the bar on already low expectations. They lost to Nigeria, 0-1 and were eliminated from ACN contention. Yesterday, they lost to Guinea in a friendly, 0-1.

Joel Santana resignation/ firing countdown begins.

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Emmanuel Ekpo became the active MLS player to advance the furthest in a major international competition in this Summer's Beijing Games playing in every match of Nigeria's run to the finals. Ekpo has now returned to the Crew and is ready to refocus on helping his club win the Supporters Shield and MLS Cup. Click to continue reading...

Interesting article from the Bangkok Post about how confusing the 2010 African World Cup qualifiers are. As they put it, 'FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) are on course to score an own goal' with their qualifier rules.

Basically, there's a situation where South Africa may have to lose or draw to make it to the next round (weird, I know. Click to continue reading...

Nigeria have still included West Ham's Carlton Cole in the Nigeria squad even though he is ineligible to play. Cole player for England at under-21 level and now being 24 is too old to change his nationality but the Nigerians have refused to give up yet. "We have not completely ruled out ... Click to continue reading...

This week's show looks back at Olympic gold for Argentina, a Champions League escape for Liverpool and a warning for Roma. Click on the links below to find out more on the stories that appear on this week's show. The Good It was good for Argentina as they retained their Olympic title by defeating Nigeria 1-0 in [. Click to continue reading...

Benfica have reportedly put a £24million price tag on Argentina youngster Angel di Maria to ward off Arsenal. The 20-year-old jumped into the limelight following his classy match-winner against Nigeria in the Olympics football final in Beijing. Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United are thought to be amongst a host of top European clubs interested in [. Click to continue reading...

Messi magic and an Angel Di Maria finish brought Argentina a 1-nil win, and a well-deserved Olympic gold, over Nigeria on Saturday, August 23. Messi brilliantly worked himself away from the tough Nigerian defense and fed the ball to Di Maria to coolly slot it in the Nigerians' net in the ... Click to continue reading...

For much of the men's Olympic soccer tournament, the focus has been on Argentine star Lionel Messi, and given his undeniable skill on the ball, much of that attention is deserved. But history has shown countless times that one-man teams don't win tournaments, and this was proven once again in Saturday's final, with Angel di Maria's goal giving Argentina a 1-0 victory over a game Nigeria side. Click to continue reading...

MARKHAM - After winning the last 5 straight games and 8 of their last 10, Pistolas FC dropped the last game of the regular season 2-1 to Silver.

Playing their 2nd game in 4 nights, the team looked sluggish all around showing only few signs of determination.

But with the previous game ending in a lopsided 6-1 Titans FC over Limeys FC, the boys in black weren't as pressed into a must win situation and experimented with an unusual lineup. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has become the first Argentinian footballer in history to win two Olympic gold medals.

Javier Mascherano helped the Albiceleste beat Nigeria 1-0 in this morning's Olympic final in Beijing‘s Bird‘s Nest Stadium, the winning goal for the South Americans being scored by Angel Di Maria in the 58th minute. Click to continue reading...

(Summary is not available.) Click to continue reading...

(Summary is not available.) Click to continue reading...

Argentina beat Nigeria 1-0 to capture the gold medal at the 2008 Olympic games. Argentina was my pick, and the favorite of many to win the gold at these Olympic games, and they didn't disappoint.  Angel di Maria scored for Argentina in the 58th minute off a great through ball from Lionel Messi. Messi wasn't able to score in the game, but was key to every attacking chance Argentina had in the game Click to continue reading...

Argentina killed two birds with one stone Saturday. Not only did they successfully defend their Olympic gold, but they also avenged their Atlanta 1996 final loss to Nigeria with a 1-0 victory in Beijing. Read about it here. Brazil, which... Click to continue reading...

Someone pointed out to me the moment he knew the U.S. was going to defeat Brazil for the gold medal.

It was during the break for the overtime periods, when Brazil's players fell to the ground to rest, exhausted. The U.S. players were obviously fitter, and a tired Brazilian defense would probably give up chances. Click to continue reading...

With Argentines being crowned Olympic Champions it's always good to see who may have made some money based on their performances in Beijing.
Here are five that I think made them selves some serious cash during the Olympic soccer tournament. 1. Angel Di'Maria, Argentina (above): Everyone talks about Messi and Roman but the Benfica wingers performance was key. Click to continue reading...

©Mark Dadswell/Getty Images How does this happen? How did a team as lethargic as Nigeria make it to the final? I mean from keeper to front line I'd say they are simply average. The Japanese had just as good of a shot to make it to the final. And I'll be honest, I only saw the [...] Click to continue reading...

It's about time too... The Olympic football tournament didn't do it for me (while at this very moment Nigeria and Argentina play for the gold...). I think partly due to the horrible broadcast of this here Olympics, and due to Holland's inability to live up to their reputation and ambitions. So, Click to continue reading...

Four years after the gold in Athens, another 1-0 scoreline confirmed Argentina as Olympic football champions. In 2004, the match-winning goal had been scored by a certain Carlos Tevez; this year in Beijing, salvation came from above. "Little Angel" Di María flapped his celestial wings and delivered a fatal blow to finalists Nigeria, exploiting an [. Click to continue reading...

Two Olympic golds in a row for Argentina.Hungary was the last team to do that - winning consecutive golds in 1964 and 1968.
20-year old Angel Di Maria - known as "The Little Angel" - came up with a heavenly chip that sailed over the goalie and into the net.It was to be the only goal of the final.

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Four years after the gold in Athens, another 1-0 scoreline confirmed Argentina as Olympic football champions. In 2004, the match-winning goal had been scored by a certain Carlos Tevez; this year in Beijing, salvation came from above. "Little Angel" Di María flapped his celestial wings and delivered a fatal blow to finalists Nigeria, exploiting an [. Click to continue reading...

Four years after the gold in Athens, another 1-0 scoreline confirmed Argentina as Olympic football champions. In 2004, the match-winning goal had been scored by a certain Carlos Tevez; this year in Beijing, salvation came from above. "Little Angel" Di María flapped his celestial wings and delivered a fatal blow to finalists Nigeria, exploiting an [. Click to continue reading...

This will be the third fixture between the teams in a close space of time; a preseason friendly in Nigeria and the Comunity Shield. Man Utd won both these fixtures surely it is Portsmouth turn to win. Especially after their mauling a Chelsea on the opening day of the season will have fired them up.  Please [. Click to continue reading...

In a couple of hours' time, Argentina will be going for a second gold medal of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games when the men's football team take on Nigeria, their conquerors in Atlanta 1996, in the OFT final. Argentina are seeking to defend their title, having demolished arch-rivals Brazil 3-0 in the semi, with Liverpool [. Click to continue reading...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/olympics_blog/2008/08/soccer.html

The Columbus Crew's Nigerian midfielder Emmanuel Ekpo has a chance this saturday to add an Olympic Gold medal to his resume. He and the rest of the Nigerian Olympic team will take on defending champion Argentina for the Olympic gold. Click to continue reading...

Nigeria squares off against Argentina in Saturday's Olympic gold medal final and while the game is a repeat of the 1996 gold medal match that Nigeria won 3-2, can the Super Eagles' offense deal with Lionel Messi and the Albicelestes this time around?

Argentina are favored after their 3-0 destruction of Brazil in the semi-finals. Click to continue reading...

The Olympic gold medal men's match is once again set. The two foes are familiar faces on this stage, Argentina and Nigeria. Perhaps it's Argentina's turn to pull even in today's rematch in Beijing; because 12 years ago in Athens...Georgia that is...Nigeria won their first and only international trophy in the form of Olympic gold. Click to continue reading...

Goal.com's Juan Lirman and Ewan Macdonald take a look at the historic Nigerian Olympic victory over Argentina in the final of the 1996 Games, and what it means today...
Argentina and Nigeria: Twelve Years On

Nigerians warn against diving Argentina

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Damon edges into an early lead. This week we focus on the Olympic Men's final and the Premier League. Italy and Spain kick off their leagues at the end of August. 08/09 Podcast 2 DB DF RES Nigeria v Argentina 2-3 1-2 Blackburn v Hull 2-0 1-1 Man City v West Ham 1-1 2-0 Portsmouth v Man U 1-2 1-1 Stuttgart v B Leverkusen 2-0 2-1 Click to continue reading...