Falcons vs Lions Preseason Picks and Predictions: Familiarity Helps Detroit in Opener

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi is giving Saturday s clash with Sudan his full attention despite continuing speculation over his future.

Keshi stepped down after the World Cup campaign in Brazil, in which Nigeria exited in the last 16 to France, before being re-appointed in August.

It was announced that Keshi would take charge for Nigeria s opening two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers before discussing a new contract but after those games a 3-2 defeat to Congo and a 0-0 draw with South Africa his situation remains unclear.

With defending champions Nigeria sitting third in qualifying Group A, they are in desperate need of maximum points from the weekend s encounter in Khartoum.

Nigeria is not the last team for me to coach, Keshi said. There are plenty of team…

French newspaper that Besiktas are closing in on Paris Saint-Germain full-back Siaka Tiene.

The first contacts were established few months ago and they have been intensified now that the January transfer window draws closer.

Besiktas do not want to wait until the summer when the player’s contract is due to expire, but would rather sign him in January and thus improve their chances of winning the Super Lig title race.

Tiene and his representatives will attempt to persuade PSG officials to terminate his contract in the coming weeks so that the defender would be able to move on a free transfer in January.

The Ivorian defender joined the club from Valenciennes back in 2010 and enjoyed a decent start to his career at Parc des Princes.

He lost his p…

Esteban Cambiasso s bizarre own goal gave West Brom a 1-0 win as Leicester City extended their winless Premier League run to five matches.

The toothless hosts struggled to make the most of their chances against Alan Irvine s men on Saturday, with Jamie Vardy in particular guilty of spurning a couple of good opportunities.

But ultimately they were undone by an error two minutes into the second period when Cambiasso inadvertently directed Wes Morgan s clearance into his own net.

Andy King could have earned Leicester a draw in the final 15 minutes but he headed straight at goalkeeper Ben Foster as Leicester s struggles continued.

West Brom, meanwhile, held on for their first win since the end of September.

Leicester struggled to provide service for t…

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said Manchester United can be inspired by the Catalan club s 2014-15 resurgence this season.

After Louis van Gaal s men dealt Barca a 3-1 defeat in the International Champions Cup in California, Luis Enrique said the Dutchman is capable of turning the Old Trafford club around who have finished seventh and fourth in the past two Premier League seasons.

In 2013-14, Barca failed to win a major title the Spanish Supercopa their only silverware before claiming the treble last term.

With a coach like Van Gaal and the kind of players they have, it is a team that are going for everything, Luis Enrique said via Barcelona s website.

In a year a lot of things can happen. We came off the back of a year without a trophy and we won the tr…

Atletico Madrid defender Kieran Tripper must serve the rest of his 10-week ban after his appeal was dismissed by FIFA.

The defender was issued a suspension and a fine of £70,000 on December 23 after England s Football Association found him guilty of breaking rules related to betting.

Trippier was charged with seven alleged breaches of rule E8(1)(b), four of which were proven.

The regulation states: Where a participant provides to any other person any information relating to football which the participant has obtained by virtue of his or her position within the game and which is not publicly available at that time, the participant shall be in breach of this rule where any of that information is used by that other person for, or in relation to, betting.

T…

Marc-Andre ter Stegen is a doubt for Barcelona s next LaLiga meeting with Espanyol, while Arthur will not return in time for the Supercopa de Espana.

Goalkeeper Ter Stegen is undergoing treatment on a tendon problem in his right knee and was declared unavailable by Barca on Monday, five days before they return to action against their local rivals.

While no time frame for the Germany international s return to action was provided by the club, they did confirm Arthur will be missing for another three weeks.

The midfielder has been out of action since sustaining a groin injury in the 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid on December 1.

Arthur will miss Barca s trip to Saudi Arabia, where they face Atletico in the Supercopa de Espana semi-finals on January 9.

…

Lyon manager Claude Puel promised a match with extra spice against Marseille in the French Cup on Wednesday compared to the bland goalless draw in the league before Christmas.

Lyon thrashed fifth-tier Concarneau 6-0 at the weekend to qualify for this last 32 fixture which will also act as a litmus test for both teams championship credentials.

This will be a no-holds barred cup match, said Puel.

The 0-0 draw in the league (on December 14 in Lyon) was a good result for Marseille who did not have to push themselves.

We were very lacklustre in that match, just four days after a Champions League game and we had been too tired to go for it against Marseille. This time, both teams will be fresher and that should make for a match with more spice.

Sta…

Market: Both teams to score

Odds: 4/7 @

Looking to extend on their FA Cup adventure at the second attempt in midweek, Norwich will make the trip to Bristol Rovers on Wednesday night.

Starting with the hosts, while Bristol Rovers might have sprung an upset away at Carrow Road last week as they snatched a 1-1 draw, it is fair to say that the Pirates are seeking some recent stability. Knowing that they still face a real uphill battle in their bid to punch a shock play-off charge in 2024, Matt Taylor’s side have recorded just a pair of wins from their previous six appearances across all competitions. Failing to pick up any kind of momentum over the weekend as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Barnsley, Bristol Rovers will certainly be excited to make a …

Equatorial Guinea saved the day by stepping in as hosts of the Africa Cup of Nations, but their preparations have been far from ideal.

Morocco pulled out as hosts of the 2015 edition of the tournament due to fears surrounding the Ebola epidemic. 

Equatorial Guinea agreed to stage this year s AFCON in Morocco s stead, but changed coach with the competition just days away.

Andoni Goikoetxea was fired after he failed to arrive at the team s training camp in Portugal and he has been replaced by the women s national team coach Esteban Becker.

And inexperienced Argentinian Becker has his work cut out to match Equatorial Guinea s AFCON 2012 run to the quarter-finals.

The favourites – Congo, Gabon

Congo have Frenchman Claude Le Roy at the helm…

Chelsea duo Nathaniel Chalobah and Marko Marin will spend the remainder of the season out on loan.

Chelsea have opted to send fringe players Nathaniel Chalobah and Marko Marin on loan for the remainder of the season.

Chalobah, who had a temporary spell with Burnley this term, has dropped down a division to join Championship outfit Reading.

Marin, meanwhile, has ventured to Belgium to link up with Pro League champions Anderlecht, having been at Fiorentina before the turn of the year, featuring in four matches exclusively in the UEFA Europa League.

The versatile Chalobah, who can operate in defence or midfield, has also spent time at Watford, Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough.

He is a product of Chelsea s academy, but the England Under-21 internat…