Obafemi Martins scores brace against D.C. United

Obafemi Martins scored a double as the Seattle Sounders downed D.C. United 2-0 at CenturyLink Field. Martins grabbed a goal in the 19th minute, running onto Brad Evans' through ball down the middle and finishing low into the corner. He capped the game with a second goal in the 91st, muscling his way through the United defense and finishing emphatically. The result puts Seattle in sixth in the West, even on points with Los Angeles. D.C. remains in the unenviable last place in MLS.

Santos accept Napoli bid for Rafael

Napoli are on the verge of signing Brazil international Rafael from Santos as the Brazilian side have accepted an offer in the region of €5,5 million for the goalkeeper. Rafael's agent had already revealed they were close to agreeing personal terms with the Partenopei and it now appears to be a matter of time before the transfer is completed following the latest developments. "We received a draft contract from Napoli the other day and their offer matches all of Santos' demands.  Napoli are keen to add a new goalkeeper to their squad to fight it out with Morgan De Sanctis for the No.1 position and they see the 23-year-old Rafael as the ideal signing. Rafael had previously attracted the interest of Roma, but he now seems destined to continue his career at Rafa Benitez's new side.We should be able to wrap things up shortly," Santos vice-president Odilio Rodrigues told Fox Sports. Santos own 70 per cent of the shot stopper's registration, with Teisa own 15% and the player himself owning the remaining 15%.

Balotelli: I told Tevez to join Milan

The striker has revealed the Argentine ignored him to swap Manchester City for Juventus and said he would love the Rossoneri to re-sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli says he tried unsuccessfully to convince Carlos Tevez to join the club instead of Juventus this summer. The Argentine, 29, followed in the footsteps of Robinho, Nigel de Jong and Balotelli in swapping Manchester City for Serie A football but, instead of joining the Rossoneri like the aforementioned trio, the forward signed for the Bianconeri in late June. Balotelli says his former Blues team-mate would not listen to his pleas to join Massimiliano Allegri's squad and admitted he would love to see Milan bolster their attacking ranks with the return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Paris Saint-Germain. "We are strong, but to compete at a European level we need reinforcements," he told Sportmediaset. "I would like us to sign Ibrahimovic. "I'm not afraid of Juve: I respect all clubs but fear none.  "I sent a message to Stephan to ask him how he had gone the meeting with Adriano Galliani," Balotelli added. "He told me that he would stay and I told him that he did well. "I'm happy. As I'm concerned, it's nice to [see him] be declared non-transferable, but in football you never know. "Milan are the team that I have in my heart, it is a good club with many fans. I'm fine here and I'll be staying here, then one day we'll see."
Tevez is a friend - I told him to come to Milan, however, he did not listen and went to Juve. If I happen [to come against him], on the pitch, I'll take the ball around him!" Balotelli also revealed his delight that Stephan El Shaarawy is set to stay at San Siro this summer and says he has no plans to leave the club he joined in January from the Etihad Stadium.

Nigeria drop to 35th position in Fifa ranking

The Super Eagles saw their fortunes tumble after their hectic campaign in June saw them win two, lose two and draw one of their matches The descent of the Super Eagles on the Fifa ranking continued as the team dropped four spots to finish in 35th place in the new listing released on Thursday. Nigeria had a hectic June playing two 2014 World Cup qualifiers before heading to Brazil to play in the Fifa Confederations Cup. Stephen Keshi’s side won two of their five matches last month, losing two with one draw. The Super Eagles beat Kenya 1-0 in Nairobi and drew 1-1 with Namibia in Windhoek. They won 6-1 against Tahiti before losing 1-2 and 0-3 to Uruguay and Spain respectively. The team finished in 31st spot in the previous ranking released in June. Cote D’Ivoire continue to be the top ranked African side staying in the 13th position while Ghana dropped three spots to 24th and Mali dropped five spots to 28th to remain the second and third ranked African sides. Algeria overtook Nigeria for fourth place in Africa as they climbed one place to finish in 34th position with the African champions being the fifth ranked side from the continent. Despite losing the Confederations Cup final 0-3 to Brazil, Spain maintained their hold on the top spot as the Selecao climbed up 13 spots to finish in ninth position following their heroic run to the title on home soil.

The Largest Sharing and Social Data Platform. We Provide Twitter and Facebook Buttons, Custom Audience Targeting, and more. | AddThis

The Largest Sharing and Social Data Platform. We Provide Twitter and Facebook Buttons, Custom Audience Targeting, and more. | AddThis

Nnamdi Oduamadi handed jersey No. 90 at AC Milan

The Nigeria hat trick hero says he looks forward to a great time with the Rossoneri after his performance in Brazil earned him a recall to AC Milan.  The Nigeria forward was recalled to the Rosoneri following his hat trick performance against Tahiti at the Confederations Cup. Oduamadi played last season on loan at Varese in the second division in Italy but now faces an uphill task to cement a place with the high flying Milanese side. “I went to Italy from Brazil as my club wanted to confirm the extent of the ankle injury [picked up at the Confeds] and they found it was not too serious,”  “So now I have been given the No. 90 jersey which I requested for as it is the year of my birth and I hope to convince the coaches that I merit a place in the team for next season,” he concluded. The midfielder has spent time doing philanthropy since returning home for the summer after his exploits in Brazil. He donated cash and food items to a Lagos orphanage on Monday.

Maradona: Brazil would not have beaten Spain on neutral ground

Argentina legend Diego Maradona believes that Spain would not have lost the Confederations Cup final against Brazil had the game been played at a neutral venue. The European and world champions were comfortably beaten 3-0 at the Maracana following a double from Fred either side of a Neymar strike and the 52-year-old feels the hostile environment affected Vicente del Bosque's men. "Spain were unlucky that the tournament was being played in Brazil. They looked promising. Brazil wouldn't have beaten them had the game been played on neutral ground," he told reporters on a visit to Indonesia. The Napoli icon then went on to praise Lionel Messi and stressed that the Barcelona star is still a cut above Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo. "Messi remains the best in the world. He is still a better player than Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo." Maradona also had his say on the 2014 World Cup and he is hopeful that Argentina can emerge victorious in Brazil. "Next year's World Cup belongs to South Americans. I hope Argentina will be crowned champions," he added. 

But, the only question that come to my mind as a scientist is "on what ground did Brazil did this stuff"?...

Keshi banks on Confederations Cup experience for CHAN assignment

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has told has it that the experience acquired by his players in the Fifa Confederations Cup would come handy in subsequent matches starting from Saturday’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier against Cote D’Ivoire in Kaduna. Nigeria have never qualified for the competition meant for players based in local leagues on the continent while Cote D’Ivoire have played in both editions having hosted the maiden tournament in 2009. “Playing against top class footballers in the world, getting to know their behavior off and on the field of play, their professionalism, these are qualities you can’t buy anywhere. All these would always come handy in any match the guys play henceforth,” Keshi told Goal. “The Confederations Cup has taught me some few things and I am sure most of the guys too have learnt some things that will be very useful in our subsequent matches beginning from CHAN qualifying game this weekend. His side was well appreciated by all and sundry with the impressive way they played against quality sides like Uruguay and Spain. Keshi told Goal he would like to continue on the high by churning another impressive display against the Ivorians in Kaduna on Saturday. ”Every match is crucial for us be it practice game, all matches are important because this is what we do for a living. Mind you Cote d’Ivoire has a pedigree as far as African football is concerned and I can assure you that they will surely give us a good fight. But we will make sure we do our best to make Nigeria proud come Saturday,” Keshi assured.

Shooting Stars: Asuquo, Edjomarigwe remain our players

The Oluyole Warriors say they are not ready to release any player as they are confident of getting a continental ticket at the end of the season Shooting Stars Sports Club have described the story of Kano Pillars snatching their winger, Tony Edjomarigwe and midfielder Philip Asuquo as untrue as the duo remain members of their team. While clarifying the issue in Ibadan, 3SC media officer Jubril Arowolo said they only permitted the two players to visit their family consequent upon the short break in the league and not until they failed to report back on the scheduled period given to them that any suspicion can be entertained. Arowolo stated further that no club has approached them for clearance that would come to a close on Friday June 28 of any of their player, so they wonder how a player can be signed without following formal procedures. “Asuquo and Edjomarigwe are players of Shooting Stars, we wonder where the website that posted the story got it from, as far as I’m concerned we are not ready to sell any player at this mid-season stage that we are finding a way to strengthen and fortify the team. “We are not happy with such one-sided report that is capable of causing rancour between the team and its teeming followers who are looking forward to a rejuvenated squad when the second round gets underway,” Arowolo noted