Messi to face trial over tax evasion claim

The Barcelona superstar had claimed he was not aware of the financial dealings of his father and agent Jorge, with the pair accused of defrauding the tax authorities of €4.1 million between 2006 and 2009. Lionel Messi is to go on trial on a charge of tax evasion after a magistrate on Friday dismissed his appeal against being named in the case. It is alleged that Messi's image rights were sold by Jorge - who assumed full responsibility when the case began - using companies in countries like Belize and Uruguay to avoid Spanish tax obligations.The player and his father paid just over €5m - the alleged unpaid tax plus interest - to authorities last year as a corrective payment and it had looked as if the case would be closed but the state has opted to pursue the pair. Messi has protested his innocence throughout and insisted he is not guilty of any wrongdoing.

Messi: I don't want to compete with Ronaldo

Having claimed the last six Ballon d'Or awards between them, Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo  are regularly compared to one another, with their respective merits discussed at length by players, pundits and fans alike. Lionel Messi insists that he has no interest in competing with Christiano Ronaldo for the title of the world's greatest player. However, Messi insists that he has no interest in the perceived rivalry between the two, explaining that he is not driven by personal prizes - but club titles "Competing with Cristiano? I don't feel like competing with him or anyone else," he told reporters on Thursday. "It's not about individual awards; I want to help my team."

Ronaldo will beat all records, says Madrid legend Santillana

Santillana has backed Cristiano Ronaldo to go on and break every goalscoring record at Real Madrid. Ronaldo scored four goals against Elche on Tuesday, adding to the hat-trick he bagged at the weekend against Deportivo La Coruna, to put him level with the former Santiago Bernabeu forward on 186 goals in La Liga. The Portuguese moved level with the former Blancos striker - who describes the forward as a "beast" - with his tally of La Liga goals in midweek

Where would the Blame Go: Keshi or the Glass House?

Boss Keshi

Against the Congolese and the South Africans, The Super Eagles of Nigeria were, as usual, predictable, useless at set pieces, opted for kick-and-follow football, and could barely string meaningful passes together. Is it safe to say that Stephen Keshi has reached his peak with the national team and that it’s time for fresh ideas in the dressing room?. The Super Eagles managed a well-deserved 3-2 loss in Calabar and an undeserved point gained against Bafana Bafana of South Africa, who can only blame their poor finishing and inexperience for failing to take all three. While the South Africans lacked composure and clinical finishing, Claude Le Roy's Congo had Thievy Bifouma to rely on, although Ogenyi Onazi, Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona were all complicit in making the former West Bromwich Albion loanee look like Thierry Henry. It look like "We had a good team on paper; unfortunately, the game was played on grass."

Or is it the administrative disaster at the Glass house that is impacting performances on the pitch?

There's no perfect answer to either question, but two things are clear.

1. Keshi’s team has not improved since their Afcon triumph.

2. You cannot expert cohesion in a football house that is in disarry

3. Aminu Maigari and Chris Giwa are not in charge of the Super Eagles’ dressing room.

Congo Vs Nigeria another record to be broken in Cape Town

For 33 long years the West African giants have not lost a competitive match on their own patch. 1981 was the last home defeat, invincibility ever since….few of the continent’s nations could have made claims greater than that…until now. Records are there to be broken, or so they say, but the current Nigeria squad will surely be devastated that the Super Eagles’ proud history of resilience at home fell on their watch. The Republic of Congo strode into town behind Claude Le Roy, a wily, savvy veteran who knows how to forge resilient, yet offensive-minded teams. He hasn’t always succeeded, but he did on Saturday, dethroning the African champions with unforgettable lesson.

Two-goal hero Vilakazi confident Bafana can finally end Nigeria Dominance in Africa

Sibusiso Vilakazi, who inspired South Africa to a 3-0 victory against Sudan, has spoken to the media ahead of the mouthwatering tie against Nigeria. The 1996 Afcon winners now hope to win their first ever competitive game against the Super Eagles on Wednesday at the Cape Town Stadium. “We just need to keep our feet grounded and the rest will follow. The players know what it means to represent one’s country; they know that behind their backs that they are carrying the hopes of 52 million people," Vilakazi said. The PSL player of the season scored twice in Omdurman to set Shakes Mashaba on a good spell in his first game in charge of Bafana Bafana.

Asisat Oshoala regrets trophy loss despite personal awards

Golden Ball and Golden Boot winner Asisat Oshoala has expressed regrets at her failure to win the trophy for Nigeria following a 1-0 loss to Germany in the 2014 Fifa U20 Women's World Cup finals on Sunday. After emerging as the 2014 Fifa U20 Women's World Cup golden girl in Canada, the talented midfielder says she is disappointed seeing her country lose the finals to Germany. The Falconets' midfielder, who was picked as the Best Player of the tournament and emerged the highest goal scorer with seven goals, said she is unhappy despite her remarkable personal achievement in Canada. The Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt forward said her side was not destined to win the final after their impressive display against the organized Germans.

Win and get `heroines’ welcome’, Jonathan tells Falconets

President Goodluck Jonathan has assured the Falconets of  “a  heroines’ welcome’’ should they triumph over Germany in Sunday’s final of the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada. A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, stated that Jonathan gave the assurance in a telephone chat with the players on Saturday. It stated that the president spoke with the Captain of the team, Patience Okaeme; top scorer, Aisha Oshoala; Assistant Captain, Deborah Okoye; and Courtney Dike. He also spoke with Uchechi Sunday, the leader of the Nigerian delegation, Mr Felix Agwu; Head Coach, Peter Dedevbo; and other members of the team.

What does the future hold for Mikel at Chelsea?

Chelsea got their Premier League campaign off to a flying start with a comfortable 3-1 away win over newly-promoted side Burnley on Monday. The Portuguese handed debuts to new recruits, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas, and both proved to be key figures as Burnley were taken apart. In terms of personnel and performance, it was a new-look Chelsea, one that Jose Mourinho likes very much. However, with the team packed with so much power and flair, where exactly does John Obi Mikel fit in the revolutionised Stamford Bridge outfit? As Mourinho seeks perfection, does he have a place for the Nigerian, even if he is one of his long-serving lieutenants?