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Who is your top defender of the season?

This is the sixth edition of the prize, which has previously been won by current holder Cristiano Ronaldo (twice), Barcelona star Lionel Messi (twice) and Wesley Sneijder in 2010. As part of the build-up to this year's gong, we are running a series of polls asking readers to vote for their own best players in each position for what should be an intriguing debate.

After kicking off with the goalkeepers, we now put forward a number of high-profile candidates who can lay claim to having been the best defender in the world game over the last 12 months. Bayern Munich were undoubtedly the team of the season and they have three representatives in our list. Right-back Philipp Lahm, central defender Dante and left-back David Alaba all impressed throughout 2012-13.

Pillars, Wolves, Sunshine battle for honours as Federation Cup takes centre stage

The 2013 Federation Cup competition has kicked off again with interesting fixtures to be decided in the Round of 64 cracker billed for different centres across the country, Leading elite clubs Kano Pillars, Sunshine Stars and Warri Wolves are among 34 teams that will be involved in the Round of 64 games of this year’s Federation Cup competition on Wednesday. Wolves go up against Dynamite FC of Benin City at the Rojenny Stadium in Oba, near Onitsha while Sunshine Stars, semi finalists in last year’s CAF Champions League competition, will tackle Fountain FC of Ekiti at the Ilorin Sports Stadium. Pillars, reigning Premier League Champions, take on Global Academy FC of Anambra at the Confluence Stadium in Lokoja.

Capello on PSG brink after betting is suspended

Fabio Capello is expected to become the next coach of Paris Saint-Germain after bookmakers suspended betting on the Russia boss taking over the newly-crowned Ligue 1 champions. The French giants look set to lose Carlo Ancelotti to Real Madrid in the next few days following the Italian's decision to join los Blancos, with the 67-year-old emerging as the favourite to succeed his countryman.

According to Sky Sport Italia, PSG have agreed to pay the €3 million necessary to release Capello from his contract with the Russian FA, with a lucrative one-year deal currently in the works.

Capello's son and agent Pierfilippo was believed to have travelled to Paris on Tuesday to apply the finishing touches to negotiations with sporting director Leonardo, and an appointment now appears to be imminent.

The former Juventus and AC Milan coach was as big as 16/1 with BetVictor less than 24 hours ago, but all betting markets on the Italian joining les Parisiens have now closed. The switch to PSG marks Capello's return to club football for the first time since leaving Real Madrid in 2007, having spent the past six years on the international scene with England and Russia.

Heynckes urges Bayern to sign Isco

Former Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes has advised the Champions League winners to make a move for Malaga star Isco in the summer transfer window.

The attacking midfielder is continually being linked with a move to a bigger club following his fine performances in 2012-13 and revealed earlier this week that Manchester City and Real Madrid are keen to lure him away from his current club ahead of next season.

However, if it was up to Heynckes, the Spain Under-21 international would continue his career at the Bundesliga giants instead.

"Who should Bayern sign? There are some very interesting players out there, like Malaga star Isco. He's a class act in midfield," Heynckes told Kicker.

The 21-year-old has a contract with Malaga until 2016, but has a €35 million buy-out clause.

Bayern have already secured the services of Mario Gotze from Borussia Dortmund and Jan Kirchhoff from Mainz for next season.

Heynckes announced his retirement earlier this week after guiding Bayern to a historic treble this term. The Bavarians had previously already appointed Pep Guardiola as his successor.

Real Madrid offer world-record €155m deal to keep Cristiano Ronaldo

The Portuguese superstar is in advanced negotiations over a five-year contract that will be the most lucrative in the history of football ever. Cristiano Ronaldo is close to agreeing a new contract with Real Madrid which will make him the world's highest-earning footballer,

Madrid are in advanced talks with Ronaldo's representatives over a deal totalling around €155 million over five years, with the Portuguese forward set to earn €15m annually after tax in what will be the most lucrative contract in the history of the game.

Ronaldo, who has scored 201 goals in just 199 games in his four seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu, raised alarm bells on Thursday when he posted a cryptic message on Twitter which read simply: "All the news about my renewal with Real Madrid are false." Days earlier, however, he revealed his intention to remain at the Spanish side beyond his current contract, which expires in 2015.

After Portugal's 1-0 win over Russia in a World Cup qualifier last week, Ronaldo said: "I haven't spoken to anyone yet, [but] I know we will reach an agreement on a new contract. The most important thing now is the national team." And he also claimed his future has nothing to do with the departure of coach Jose Mourinho. "I am not worried by what Mourinho does; I am concerned with Real Madrid and my future," he said in May. The pair's relationship, once excellent, deteriorated in recent months following an angry dispute over a tactical correction made by Mourinho in a game against Valencia in January.

Nigeria must take chances in this Confederation Cup

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has pleaded with his players to be more ruthless in front of goal in the Confederations Cup after a string of missed chances in their 6-1 win over Tahiti.

Despite the heavy margin of victory on Monday night, the Super Eagles wasted a number of opportunities when one-on-one with the South Pacific islanders' goalkeeper Xavier Simin.

The five-goal triumph leaves the African champions top of Group B, however, and Keshi insists that he is pleased with the team's performance ahead of their game with Uruguay.

"We had some chances, they needed to bury the goals," he told reporters after the match. "When you play a game like this you tend to give the opposition team the confidence to come back.

"They scored their goal and reacted a little bit. I'm happy with how we did and we'll see how we get on against Uruguay."

Support in Belo Horizonte was largely in favour of their Oceanic opposition and Nigerian goals were not celebrated with much fervour, but Keshi dismissed this as having an effect on his players at the Mineirao.

"Most of the supporters are Tahitians or came out to boost their morale which is normal," he added. "As a professional player you don't need to worry about that."

Following their clash with Uruguay on Thursday, Nigeria will face a final group game against Spain on Sunday.

The Super Eagles coach was unconcerned that the crowd favored Tahiti during their Confederations Cup clash and insists he is happy with his team's performance, but all the same Nigerian term went home with many goal

Arsenal braced for Koscielny bids from Barcelona and Bayern Munich

Barcelona and Bayern Munich have both made enquiries for the France international and are prepared to offer him a bumper pay rise to move to the continent while the Gunners have slapped a €23.5 million price tag on the 27-year-old in an attempt to ward off interest from the two big hitters.

, with a growing acceptance among the Emirates Stadium hierarchy that they are vulnerable if the centre-back pushes for a move.

"Laurent is part of a shortlist of two clubs," said Courbis. "Bayern or Barca have not contacted the player to discuss a possible transfer but I know that [he] is part of a shortlist of three or four players from both clubs."

Arsenal fear that Koscielny could be tempted by a big offer from either team. The 27-year-old has four years remaining on the £75,000-a-week contract that he signed last summer but the two continental giants could both offer him a salary worth more than £100,000 a week as well as a chance to play for two of Europe's elite clubs.

Koscielny caught the eye of Guardiola and Barcelona's top brass when Arsenal beat the recently crowned Spanish champions 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium in a first-leg Champions League tie in February 2011. He was also outstanding in the Gunners' 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena in the first knockout stage of this season's tournament.

The Gunners face a battle to hang on to their in-demand defender this summer following enquiries from the two European giants for the €23.5 million-rated Frenchman

Nigerian Eagles guarantees their progression from their World Cup Qualifying Group

 Nigeria limped towards a place at Brazil next summer with an underwhelming draw away against Namibia.
After the Brave Warriors had surprisingly taken the lead at the Sam Nujoma Stadium through Deon Kavendji, the Super Eagles responded through the unlikely hero of Godfrey Oboabona to secure a point with just seven minutes remaining.
In the opening stages of the contest, Koln forward Anthony Ujah - preferred to both Ideye Brown and Joseph Akpala from the start - burst through on goal, only to be bundled to the ground by a Namibian defender, but the referee was unmoved in appeals for a straight red card.
As the first half wore on, Keshi’s men sought the goal that would hand them near-complete control in the contest. Ujah was the most likely to break the deadlock, but lost his nerve with every chance that came his way, sending a whole flurry of shots skywards or into the arms of Virgil Vries in the home goal.
Ahmed Musa, with his raw pace and direct running, was a threat, but behind him, John Obi Mikel and Ogenyi Onazi were predominantly shackled by their opposite numbers as the visitors continued to struggle.
As Nigeria’s profligacy continued, their hosts began to grow in confidence, and instigated several more forays forward when the opportunities arose. It was from one of these that the opening goal sprang, with Kavandji on hand to sumptuously volley the ball past the stranded Vincent Enyeama, into the bottom-left corner.
Nigeria, with their World Cup qualification thrown into doubt, needed to show some of the mettle that saw them lift the Africa Cup of Nations, and with seven minutes remaining they did just that.
Centre-back Godfrey Oboabona stepped up to take a freekick from the edge of the box and fired a delightful finish into the back of the net to send the visiting fans into jubilation, but although they pressed forward for the closing stages they were unable to find a second goal. 
"but  ambit all Stephen Keshi's team fought back to secure a point away against Namibia, but it is not a result that guarantees their progression from their World Cup Qualifying Group"www.topspotafrica.com/afcon
With Malawi and Kenya having shared the points earlier in the day, a win for Nigeria would have guaranteed their progression from Group F, and ensured their safe passage into the CAF play-off round.
Instead, they were unable to beat the side ranked 125th in the world, and will now need to avoid defeat against Malawi in Calabar in order to advance.