STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE: DEFEND WORLD HANDBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE WITH INTEGRITY, FG URGES STATE HOUSE TEAM

The Federal Government Saturday in Abuja urged athletes participating in the forthcoming 2016 World Handball Youth Championship in Granollers, Spain to defend their current title with diligence, maturity and integrity.

The State House handball team, Aso Rock Kings, will be representing Nigeria at the 2016 World Handball Youth Championship, which will be held in Spain, June 28th -July 4th, 2016.

Speaking to the team, which had a training session at the National Stadium, the State House Permanent Secretary, Jalal Arabi, told the athletes to remain focus, committed and unwavering in defending the gold trophy they won in Spain last year.

Euro 2016 state of play: results, tables, schedule and TV times

THE FIRST round of the Euro 2016 group stages is over but the tournament is just heating up.

Each team still has two more matches to play before the two teams with the most points and the four best third-placed teams in each group progress to the Round of 16. That means a country could make the knockout stages after earning just three points in the group stage.

While the heavyweight nations and their world-class stars have produced moments of brilliance in the first round, will they replicate similar form in the matches to come?

To make sure you’re on top of each group’s results, table, next fixtures and TV times in AEST, here is your current state of play!

BREAKING: José Mourinho Appointed as Manchester United manager

• Portuguese coach has won 22 trophies since 2003

We are delighted to announce Jose Mourinho is our new manager! Full statement: https://t.co/PDiHMIWnpd #WelcomeJose pic.twitter.com/eZ8NBSz2up

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 27, 2016

José Mourinho will take over as manager of Manchester United from the 2016/17 season, signing a three-year contract with an option to stay at the club until at least 2020.

José, 53, has managed at the top level of European football for over a decade and in that time has won league titles and cups in four countries (Portugal, England, Italy and Spain), as well as winning the UEFA Champions League twice – in 2004 with FC Porto and in 2010 with Inter Milan.

Announcing the appointment, Ed Woodward said: "José is quite simply the best manager in the game today. He has won trophies and inspired players in countries across Europe and, of course, he knows the Premier League very well, having won three titles here.

"I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome him to Manchester United. His track record of success is ideal to take the club forward."

FIFA remembers Former African Footballer of the Year, Rasheed Yekini

The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), on Wednesday remembered Nigeria’s late ex-international, Rasheed Yekini, four years after his death.

In a statement on the world football governing body’s website, FIFA looked back on Yekini’s memorable goal which became historic and the subsequent celebration.

Yekini, who is Nigeria’s highest goal scorer (37 goals) till date, died of illness on May 4, 2012, at the age of 48.

He entered history books after scoring the Super Eagles’ first ever FIFA World Cup goal at the 1994 finals held in the U.S. in the 3-0 group stage win over Bulgaria.

Brazil: Keshi, Mikel want victory over France

We were No 5 in 1994...Mikel wants victory over France to make a statement that Nigeria has arrived at the soccer map of the world.

Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel is hopeful that victory over France and a first World Cup quarter-final appearance can help unite the African nation currently gripped by violence and bloodshed. 

Mikel, 27, said the troubles had made an impression on the squad but he pressed the need for his team mates to focus on Monday’s last 16 match against France and do their bit to bring people together. “I think football is what unites everyone back home in Nigeria, everyone loves football, and as long as we keep doing well and as long as we keep winning, I think this football alone can bring unity back to these various places where we are having problems.” 

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi also pressed the need to bring cheer to the strife hit fans of the Super Eagles, who are the first African country to get past the World Cup group phase on three separate occasions. Peppered with questions about a bonus pay dispute involving the squad and the Nigerian Football Association, Keshi, known as “Big Boss”, was clearly bemused by the interest in a problem he explained was over and said his team were “good to go”.

Eagles Will Win Against Bosnia – Guru Maharaj Ji

Hopes were dampened after Nigeria’s first outing in the FIFA World Cup were they ended in a goalless draw against Iran.

The Brazil 2014 has been full of surprises, the top rated teams have shocked the world with below average performances, most shocking being the early exit of the defending champions, Spain, in the first round.

The Spiritual Leader of One Love Family, Sat Guru Maharaj Ji, has given hope to Nigerians by assuring them that this years World Cup will be a good one for the Super Eagles.

He said that not only will the Nigerian team win today’s crucial match against Bosnia but they will go ahead to finish strong in the rournament. Speaking to journalists on Friday, June 20, 2014 Maharaj Ji disclosed that he had warned the team before the commencement of the competition against blue colour in any form but, however, assured that he would intervene to turn the table in favour of the team.

Brazil 2014: Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel believes Nigeria are on the right track

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel believes Nigeria are on the right track to build on their success as African champions at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The Super Eagles have played in five of the past six World Cups but after reaching the second round in 1994 and 1998, have taken just two points from their past six matches in the finals.

They come into the tournament on a high, however, after winning last year’s Africa Cup of Nations and boasting the likes of Mikel, his Chelsea team-mate Victor Moses and forward Emmanuel Emenike.

“This is my first World Cup,” Mikel said after a training session in Campinas. “I want to make sure we achieve something coming here. We don’t just want to come and make up the numbers, we want to do well.

“I have to make sure I lead by example. We are all driving in the same direction. We all know what we want and hopefully we will have a good tournament.”

Why Defending champions Spain crushed to a 1-5 defeat against Netherlands

Stunning goals from Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben fired the Netherlands to a 5-1 demolition of Spain who endured a miserable start to their World Cup defence in a pulsating Group B game on Friday. In complete contrast to the tetchy World Cup final between the sides in 2010 which Spain won 1-0, the Dutch took sweet revenge with a vibrant display capped off by two goals each for Van Persie and Robben and one by defender Stefan de Vrij.

"I certainly didn't expect this result but I did expect us to score in the way we did," Dutch coach Louis van Gaal told reporters. "Spain were always going to come at us and we catch them on the counter. My players did it perfectly. It's far better than we ever expected," Dutch coach Louis van Gaal told reporters.

Spain's King Juan Carlos Abdicates For His Son

Spain's King Juan Carlos is abdicating to allow his son Prince Felipe to take over, the country's Prime Minister has announced.

Mariano Rajoy addressed the nation to say there would be an amendment to the constitution so the 46-year-old Crown Prince could take the throne. The 76-year-old king, who oversaw his country's transition from dictatorship to democracy, has had health problems in recent years.

In the last few years the monarchy has been hit by scandals including a furore over an elephant-hunting trip Juan Carlos took during the financial crisis. In the last few months, his daughter, the Infanta Cristina, has appeared in court to face questions over financial allegations surrounding her husband.