HEARTLAND 1-0 ABS

For the first time in almost three years the city of Owerri was agog again over their darling club's rise to the summit of the premier league after a hard earned 1-0 win over hard fighting ABS at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Sunday evening.

A delightful free kick converted by Amarachi Ukaegbu from a good pass from Ikechukwu Ibenegbu in the 34th minute of the encounter was all the Naze Millionaires needed to stage a return to the pinnacle of the league for the first time in recent years.

It was a follow up to the feat recorded in Ibadan where Heartland against all odds outwitted 3SC 2-0 at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba last Wednesday.

The defeat meant that the Ilorin outfit has slipped to the bottom of the table and must do everything fast in their next home tie against Enugu Rangers on Wednesday. An outright win is non-negotiable for the privately owned club.

Heartland have a big task of their own if they want to retain their place at the top when they visit Sunshine Stars of Akure this Wednesday. If they secure another unlikely win, they are going to remain at the top. Heartland are currently on 22 points from 12 games, same as Kano Pillars but they are on top by virtue of their better goals difference while ABS are at the wrong end of the table with 13 points from 13 encounters to place 19th. 

Ahmed Musa's CSKA crowned Russian champions

Ahmed Musa's club CSKA Moscow have been crowned the champions of Russia thanks to a 0-0 draw with Kuban Krasnodar on Friday.It's Musa's first championship title in Europe. The capital giants could only play out a stalemate against the Europa League hopefuls, but Zenit St Petersburg side cannot now claim a third straight title having accrued too few victories in comparison to Leonid Slutsky's men with just two matches to spare.

Their coach, who was appointed as Juande Ramos' successor at the back end of 2009, was quick to pay tribute to the club's fans in the wake of their Russian Premier League success.

"This is my first title so it's hard to describe how I feel," the midfielder told NTV Plus. "I can't describe it. Just happiness. The only problem was that we couldn't score, although we came close several times."This weekend's title triumph was the 11th in CSKA's history and their first since 2006.

Ancelotti has pre-contract with Madrid, says Al-Khelaifi

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi believes that head coach Carlo Ancelotti has already sealed a pre-contract with Real Madrid. Ancelotti has told PSG that he wants to leave the club for Madrid this summer, but the French giants have no intention of letting go of the 53-year-old without significant compensation. "I think that he already has a pre-contract with Real Madrid," Al-Khelaifi told Al Jazeera. "But I do not expect Madrid to have him sign a contract for now. They will be in legal trouble if they do that. "I have told Carlo that he has an ongoing contract with us. He demanded a contract extension back in March, but Madrid have now come up. "All we are doing is respect our principles and the contract we have with Carlo. We honour our commitments. "There are solutions for everyone who wants to break a contract. Negotiations will have to take place to make sure everything goes smoothly." Ancelotti has been in charge of PSG since December 2011 and guided them to their first Ligue 1 title since 1995. 

A guard of honour for Sir Alex's 1,500th and final game as manager...

A guard of honour for Sir Alex's 1,500th and final game as manager...

Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal: Koscielny strike secures Champions League football for Gunner

 

Arsenal secured Champions League qualification for next season with a vital 1-0 win over Newcastle at St James' Park on the final day of the Premier League season, as Laurent Koscielny's second-half volley was enough to seal fourth place.

The Gunners' victory meant that regardless of how Tottenham got on against Sunderland at White Hart Lane, they would be the north London side appearing in the Champions League come September.

Arsene Wenger risked Mikel Arteta from the start after the Spain midfielder was given injections in his calf on Friday to patch up the injury he sustained in the midweek win over Wigan, but the decision proved a poor one as the Gunners captain was forced off through injury in the 29th minute.

Newcastle marked Steve Harper's final game by handing him the captaincy for the day, as the goalkeeper reached the end of a 20-year spell at the club. The 38-year-old was afforded a marvellous send-off by Newcastle's supporters as they chanted his name for the duration of the 37th minute, to symobolise the goalkeeper's shirt number.
 

Timothy Simmons's Photos

Timothy Simmons's Photos

Marcello Nicchi wons Balotelli

 Marcello Nicchi, president of the Italian Referee's Association (AIA) has warned Mario Balotelli that he will be receive a red card if he walks off a pitch due to racial abuse. The AC Milan star claimed that he would have no problem in leaving the field if he were to encounter any more racist chanting in Serie A, as team-mate Kevin Prince Boateng did in January during a friendly game. And while Nicchi accepts that the authorities need to do more to combat racism in the game, he says enforcement of rules will see Italy international punished. "Everyone is free to express their own opinions but there are rules. Whoever leaves the field to make a protest, without warning the referee or without being substituted will be sent off," he told SkyTG24. "Less importance has to be given to this phenomenon as a media event and more importance from what can be done realistically. "Be tough and uncompromising with the idiots who sing these shameful chants." Balotelli was subject to racist chants from Roma fans during Sunday's 0-0 draw at San Siro, with the Giallorossi promptly fined €50,000 for their supporters' conduct.

AC Milan ponder €15m swoop for Xabi Alonso

AC Milan are pondering a swoop for Xabi Alonso as the midfielder is considering leaving Real Madrid in the summer transfer window. The Serie A giants are keen to add some more experience to their squad ahead of next season and they see the Spain international as a valuable addition to their midfield. Alonso has a contract with Madrid until June 2014 and would be open to a new challenge this summer after four seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu. Madrid have set a €15 million asking price for Alonso and are ready to cash in on the midfielder if Milan were to meet that sum. Nevertheless, Alonso's personal demands could prove to be a stumbling block for Milan, with the former Liverpool man having set his sights on a three-year deal worth €4m per year. The Spain international has also been linked with the likes of Chelsea and Inter, but no club has made a formal approach for the 31-year-old so far.

Santos Neymar the Brazilian new hope

Santos vice president Odilio Rodrigues has confirmed that Neymar has told the club he wants to join Barcelona. The Brazil international has long been linked with a move to Camp Nou and is set to fly to Spain for talks with the Blaugrana in July after the Confederations Cup. Other clubs, including the likes of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are reported to be monitoring the 21-year-old's situation at the Sao Paulo outfit but Rodrigues says the player is intent on a move to Catalunya. "Neymar has told us that he wants to sign for Barca," Rodrigues told SER Esports. "There are other proposals but he has a preference for Barca. There is no official Madrid proposal for Neymar, but we know that this offer will come." Neymar's contract with the Peixe expires in 2014 and while he has been adamant that he will not leave before then, recent speculation has suggested that he would be open to a summer exit. The 21-year-old has made over 100 league appearances for the club and has already racked up over a century of goals in his career.