Sports
MFM FC Not Ready For Continental Engagement -Coach
MFM FC of Lagos Coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, recently played down the readiness of his team for the CAF Champions League, saying that the team was not prepared for the money spinning competition.
Ilechukwu made the assertion while reviewing his team’s 2-1 victory over FC IfeanyiUbah at the Soccer Temple Agege Township Stadium, Lagos.
The Tidesports source reports that the Match Day 4 of the Nigeria Professional League (NPFL) saw the Olukoya Boys defeat the Anambra Warriors by 2-1.
Goals from new boy, Akila Jesse and Sikiru Olatunbosun gave the Ilechukwu-tutored boys the needed three points, while Sika Pascal got the consolatory goal for the away team.
Ilechukwu said that fans should not expect much from his team, adding that the team was not ready yet for the continental campaign.
“I can’t promise anything concerning the CAF Champions League because of our situation now. The truth is that we are not ready for the continental competition.
“The present team is not yet our team; but maybe before six or seven games, we will be ready and tell the media because there are too many expectations from the team.
“The gospel truth is that we are not ready yet and I can defend that anywhere. Football is not magic and we cannot perform magic.
“We have been making use of fringe players and we cannot expect too much from them; if these are the players I will take to El-Kanemi Warriors, I cannot expect victory there,” he said.
Ilechukwu said that he was not under pressure to deliver because he had yet to have what he needed as a squad to put him under pressure to deliver the expectations of the fans.
“I am not under any pressure because I have not been given what I needed to have for the continental ticket. Why should I then put myself under one?
“The structure that people are seeing outside about MFM FC is not what is inside the team, it is a different thing entirely, that is the reason we don’t bother about negative comments.
“We have been using what we have since we started playing in the premier league and nobody gave us the chance then and we are in the continent,” he said.
The Kenya Football Federation (FKF) has launched an investigation into allegations that goalkeeper Patrick Matasi has been involved in match manipulation.
The 37-year-old, who plays for Kenyan Premier League club Kakamega Homeboyz, has won over 30 international caps.
His most recent appearance for the Harambee Stars came in October last year, in a qualifier for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
An undated video posted online appears to show Matasi agreeing a deal to influence the outcome of a league game.
“I have spoken to him. He was also shocked at what he was seeing in the video and he told me he doesn’t know about match-fixing,” Homeboyz owner Cleophas Shimanyula told Tidesports source .
The FKF said it would work with world governing body Fifa, the Confederation of African Football and other “relevant authorities” during its investigation.
“We reaffirm our zero-tolerance policy on match manipulation and are committed to safeguarding the credibility of our competitions,” a statement added.
“This investigation will adhere to FKF’s anti-match manipulation regulations and Fifa guidelines, ensuring a fair, transparent, and thorough process.
“The rights of the player and his club will be respected, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings.”
Shimanyula backed Matasi, pointing to the fact the veteran has kept three clean sheets in as many games since joining the club a month ago.
“When we watched this video, we found that Matasi has not wronged the club,” he said.
“In a video there can misinterpretations and false narratives and we cannot trust everything.
“He will keep playing for us because there’s no wrongdoing on his part as far as we are concerned – unless there’s evidence or the FKF writes to us to say they are suspecting the player of some wrongdoing.
“He is innocent until proven guilty and then we will act.”
The FKF has called on anyone with credible information to assist its investigation, with any reports to be handled with strict confidentiality.
Shimanyula also challenged the Kenyan footballing community to provide evidence against Matasi.
“Kakamega Homeboyz is against any form of match manipulation,” he said.
Uefa has opened an investigation into allegations of indecent conduct by four Real Madrid players during their Champions League last-16 win against Atletico Madrid.
Antonio Rudiger, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Dani Ceballos allegedly made gestures towards the home fans after Real Madrid beat their city rivals on penalties to book their place in the quarter-finals.
TV pictures showed German defender Rudiger appearing to make a throat-slitting motion, apparently towards the crowd after the shootout victory, while Mbappe was shown seemingly making a crotch-grabbing gesture.
Spanish media said Atletico reported the actions to Uefa last week.
The players could be at risk of suspension but there is no guarantee the case will be heard before their quarter-final with Arsenal. The first leg for that tie is at Emirates Stadium on 8 April and the return leg a week later.
In a statement, Uefa said: “[An] ethics and disciplinary inspector has been appointed to investigate allegations of indecent conduct” made by the four Real Madrid players.
“Further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course.”
The Premier League has announced it will have two transfer windows this summer to allow Manchester City and Chelsea to sign players before the Club World Cup.
The window will open between Sunday, 1 June and Tuesday, 10 June, then close for five days before running again from Monday, 16 June until Monday, 1 September.
This summer features the first expanded Fifa Club World Cup, which involves 32 teams and adopts the format of the regular World Cup of the past few years.
Chelsea and Manchester City are the Premier League teams in the tournament which takes place in the United States from Sunday, 15 June.
But the Premier League can only have 12 weeks of a summer window – hence the five-day break in order to run it until 1 September.
Fifa has allowed new players to be registered for the Club World Cup from 1-10 June, and again from 27 June-3 July for the knockout stage.
This is happening firstly, to bring order to the global registration system, world governing body Fifa only permits the transfer window in any individual country to be open for 16 weeks in any calendar year.
In Europe, precedent dictates four of those weeks are for the winter window, leaving 12 in the summer. In 2024, the Premier League transfer window opened on 14 June and closed on 30 August.