Emmanuel Adebayor

Emmanuel Adebayor could be given a new lease of life with confirmed interest from Tottenham Hotspurs.

The ex Arsenal man is currently training with the reserve team after being left out of Man City’s traveling party to the US.

The Togoloese have not hidden his desire to leave the Premiership ‘cash kings’ with his preferred destination being Real Madrid where he spent the latter half of last campaign on loan.

However White Hart Lane boss, on a pre-season tour in South Africa, said: ‘The chairman, Daniel Levy, has been speaking about it, I am not sure if it will happen. He is a name that has certainly been mentioned.

‘I spoke to the chairman about loaning the player and if we could work out a deal for him, I would like to bring him to the club.’

Adebayor risked a hefty fine from his current employers last week when he refused to train with the youth team after being left out of the first-team squad for pre-season.

Caf President Issa Hayatou

FIFA has forced CAF to remove the suspended Slim Aloulou and Amadou Diakite from its various committees for the next two years.

Aloulou of Tunisia and Diakite of Mali were handed worldwide bans by the world governing body last year for their roles in the World Cup vote-buying scandal.

Yet, the two men, who are strong allies of CAF president Issa Hayatou, were shockingly included to serve on various committees from June 2011 to 2013.

“FIFA has received confirmation from CAF that CAF fully respects the ruling and that Slim Aloulou and Amadou Diakité are not taking part in any football related matter,” FIFA said in a statement.

“FIFA has asked CAF to ensure that, during the period of their suspension, the names of Slim Aloulou and Amadou Diakité are not published in any CAF committee list.

“Or, alternatively, are marked as ‘banned from taking part in any football-related activity’ on such lists during this period.”

CAF spokesman Suleiman Habuba said “Kindly note it’s not a new appointment.”

“All of them have been elected as executive committee members or serving on these committees before the ban. And none of them attended any CAF meetings.”

But his claim goes contrary to the list released by CAF general secretary headed ‘CAF Standing Committees 2011-2013’ sent to members just last week.

Aloulou was included in the list to be the chairman of the Africa Youth Championship and also to serve on the CAF Executive Committee, Organising Committee of CHAN, Inter Club Competitions Committee and the U17 Committee.

Diakite has also been included in the CAF Executive Committee and the Inter Club Competitions Committee.

FIFA found the two guilty of unethical conduct by FIFA’s Ethics Committee in November last year.

Based on the length of worldwide bans imposed by FIFA, Aloulou cannot return to football administration until November 2011, whilst Diakite’s ban ends in November 2012.

Source: MTNFootball.com

Stephane Sessegnon

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce managed to find a positive despite witnessing a 3-1 defeat to Hanover in a pre-season game in Germany.

Benin midfielder Stephane Sessegnon scored the consolation for the Black Cats to earn the praise of his manager.

“Stephane can be a big, big player for us. Towards the end of last season, I thought he was really terrific. He’s quick and has a goal in him,” Bruce said of his £6million January arrival from Paris St Germain.

Mohammed Abdellaoue, Jan Schlaudraff and sub Erdal Akdari were on target for Hannover.

Toure being helped off the pitch after suffering injury

James Milner has blasted the Vancouver pitch, labeling it ‘one of the worst’ following the injury to teammate Yaya Toure.

The Ivorian midfielder collapsed on the turf during their 2-1 win over the Whitecaps and is now set for further tests to determine the severity of his injury.

Toure was said to have injured his ankle and is now in danger of missing the start of the season but Milner blames it all to the horror Vancouver pitch.

He said: “It was probably one of the worst pitches we have played on.

“I am not blaming anyone but it is not ideal in pre-season and probably increased the risk of injury.

“There were big chunks coming out of the pitch, so turning was difficult.

“You try to put it out of your mind but when it is taking you five steps to turn round, subconsciously you are bound to think about it.

“Yaya has got injured and if it is not too bad, maybe we were a bit lucky to get away with it.”

Nigeria coach, Samson Siasia

A strong Nigeria squad has been named to face Ghana in an international friendly next month.

However coach Samson Siasia didn’t shy away from ringing changes in his team with Solomon Okoronkwo replacing U20-bound Ahmed Musa.

Contrary to reports in the Nigerian media which suggests the NFF’s technical committee gave the ex Super Eagles star a tough time defending his squad, Siasia disclosed discussions were rewarding.

“The technical committee only asked questions on the role of each player and made suggestions that would help the team. They did not ask me to drop any player and we did not disagree at all,” he said.

The players are expected to hit the London camp on July 29 for the match fixed for August 9.

The squad:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama, Dele Aiyenugba, Chigozie Agbim

Defenders: Joseph Yobo, Taye Taiwo, Ambrose Efe, Yusuf Ayila, Chibuzor Okonkwo, Elderson Echiejile, Gege Soriola

Midfielders: Mikel Obi, Joel Obi, Fengor Ogude, Kalu Uche, Solomon Okoronkwo, Emmanuel Ekpo

Strikers: Ikechukwu Uche, Osaze Odemwingie, Emmanuel Emenike, Obinna Nsofor, Victor Anichebe, Ekhigo Ehiosun.

Tottenham Hotspurs have confirmed the signing of Under 17 World Cup wonder-kid Souleymane Coulibaly.

The 16-year-old stole the show at the recent tournament in Mexico by finishing top scorer with nine goals in four games for the Ivory Coast.

His tally included a hat-trick against Brazil and four against Denmark as he equalled former Liverpool striker Florent Sinama Pongolle’s record from ten years ago in three fewer games.

Coulibally races to jubilate goal

The striker has been dubbed the new Didier Drogba and was reportedly being tracked by Real Madrid.

Coulibaly joins from newly promoted Serie A side Siena, where he failed to make a first team appearance.

He joins goalkeeper Brad Friedel and fellow youngster Cristian Ceballos in moving to White Hart Lane this summer.

Didier Drogba

Tottenham may be prepared to sell Luka Modric to Chelsea – if Didier Drogba arrives as part of their offer.

The Daily Star says despite boss Harry Redknapp and Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy ­insisting Modric is not for sale, a deal could yet still go through with Tottenham asking for striker Drogba in return, plus £10million.

Chelsea upped their original £22m offer to £27m and then Modric slapped in a transfer request to Levy last Wednesday night in a bid to force his move. He is currently away in South Africa on Tottenham’s pre-season tour – but he is ­adamant he wants to leave to win trophies.

And the lack of marquee signings this ­summer so far has given his argument for moving on some added clout.

Ahly surrenders to Wydad in Caf Champs League

Al Ahly paid the price of some slack defending to draw 3-3 with Wydad Casablanca in the group stage of the CAF Champions League in Cairo.

A first-minute own-goal from Sherif Abdul-Fadil gave the visitors a perfect start, but Ahli replied instantly through Emad Meteb before Wael Gomaa gave his side the lead from the spot.

Mohsin Iajour restored parity in the 61st minute as Dominique da Silva put Ahli in the front seat once again, only for the Wydad striker to double his personal tally with a last-gasp equalizer.

Both teams couldn’t capitalize on Saturday’s draw between Esperance and MC Alger as the four teams remain tied on one point in Group B.

With Mohamed Barakat unavailable, Ahli started with a three-man frontline in Geddo, Dominique and Meteb.

The visitors couldn’t have wished for a better start as they found themselves ahead only seconds after kickoff, thanks to an error from Abdul-Fadil, who misjudged Ayoub El Khaliqi’s cross to convert the ball past the hapless Ahmed Adel.

But Ahli pegged back only three minutes later through Meteb, who fired home from eight yards after being set up beautifully by Dominique in the presence of some five opposition defenders.

Having the momentum by their side, the Egyptian champions were gifted a goal by defender Hicham El Omrani, who sloppily handled Sayed Moawad’s cross to concede the softest of penalties.

In the 22nd minute, Gomaa made no mistake from the spot to score his third penalty of the season and ease the tension after the shock start.

The referee brought a thrilling first half to an end, but the game was far from over for the Moroccans.

Wydad didn’t seem to be giving up after the break and proved they are no pushovers by scoring the second goal through striker Iajour.

The Morocco international notched in a fine volley past Adel as once again the positioning and marking of the Ahli defense was poor.

In the 71st minute, Ahli new signing Al-Sayed Hamdi came on for his debut at the expense of the ineffectual Geddo.

But it was the lively Dominique who restored the Reds’ lead after receiving a defense-splitting pass from Hossam Ghaly, muscling his way past the keeper and slotting home in an empty net on 75 minutes.

Shortly after the goal, Jose took off Dominique for Moataz Eno, but the defensive substitution hardly paid off as Wydad snatched the crucial equalizer with one minute remaining on the clock.

It was Iajour again who capitalized on a shambolic piece of defending from Abdul-Fadil to rob the Ahli sweeper of the ball and fire in a left-footed shot that was deflected in off the latter just above the body of Adel.

Surprisingly, Wydad took control after their equalizer and were closer to scoring a shock winner, but that was it at the Military Academy and the Moroccans have every right to be happy with the result.

Al Hilal striker Edward Sadomba

Sudanese side Al Hilal rallied late to earn a priceless 2-2 draw against Enyimba in the opening game of the group stages of this year’s Caf Champions League on Sunday.

The result thus leaves Group A widely opened as Morocco’s Raja were also held to a scoreless draw by Cotonsport from Cameroon a day earlier.

Al Hilal took a 22nd minute lead through speedy Zimbabwean striker Edward Sadomba only for the Nigerian champions to claw back into the game four minutes after the interval through left back Valentine Nwaebili.

Two-time African champions Enyimba then went in front in the 61st minute through Uche Kalu, before Sadomba restored parity for the visitors in the 77th minute.

The slippery nature of the pitch at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba caused by the early morning drizzle seriously affected the home side in this clash.

Three years ago at the same stage of Africa’s foremost club competition, Enyimba defeated Hilal 4-1 in Aba after they lost the reverse tie 3-2 in Omdurman.

The Champions League will continue in a fortnight with Cotonsport hosting Enyimba, while Hilal Raja.

TP Mazembe from DR Congo are the defending champions but were disqualified from this year’s competition after they fielded an ineligible player in their qualifying match against Simba Sports of Tanzania.

Kalou being mobbed by teammates after scoring

Salomon Kalou insists Chelsea are capable of wresting the Premier League title back from Manchester United.

The Ivory Coast attacker says morale is sky high in the Blues camp.

Speaking after the Blues’ 1-0 win over Portsmouth in a pre-season friendly, he told talkSPORT: “We’re really competitive and we’re looking to win back the Premier League.

“It won’t be easy because teams like Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal are always present but we know we have the team and the players to go back and win that trophy so we’re confident about it.”