Lagos State FA Cup: Organizers list Cash Rewards as Round of 32 commences

The Lagos State Football Association has announced the benefits attached to this year's FA Cup in the state.

According to the Chairman Technical committee, Dotun Coker, he said the FA is committed to rewarding participants handsomely in the round of 32 which kicks off on 16th March at the Agege Stadium.

The opening games will be between Eko Akete and Oceania, Nath Boys vs Ascenders and two other matches.

Here are the cash rewards as announced by the FA:

Male Category: Winners N750,000 and Runner up N250,000

Women: Winner N300,000 and Runner Up N200,000

Man of the Match from every game will pocket N10,000 each.

The Best behaved team, Most valuable Player and the Highest Goal Scorer would also smile home with N50,000 respectively. And the media is not also left out of the largess as cash awards will also go to the reporters in the following categories:

Best photo Journalist

Print 

TV

Radio categories

FACT: United Manager Louis Van Gaal admits Di Maria's action is inexcusable

Louis van Gaal, has told Angel Di Maria that he has ''no excuses'' for getting sent off in their 2-1 defeat to Arsenal on Monday night.

The Red devils were already trailing the Gunners and looking to level up, the Argentine international was shown two quick yellows. Referee Michael Oliver initially booked him for diving and then for pulling him back.

''In Spain, he knows that he doesn’t touch the referee, but that is also in his emotion,'' United manager said after the game.

''I’ve already spoken with him, he knows my opinion but also I have to see on the video.

''I think he touched the referee and that’s forbidden in every country, so he has no excuses.

''Di Maria knows that he doesn’t have to touch the referee, so that is not so smart of him. Every player knows that.

''I have said to Di Maria the referee is the boss on the pitch and you have to adapt to that – not the other way round.

''But to control emotion is not so easy in such a match and I know that in these kind of matches, a red card is easy''

FA Cup: Welbeck beats United at Old Trafford, sends Arsenal to semi final

Danny Welbeck scored against his former side Manchester United at the Old Trafford to seal Arsenal's semi final spot in the English FA Cup.

The Gunners took the lead through Nacho Monreal but the Reds didn't hesitate to respond as captain Wayne Rooney headed home to put the game at per.

Welbeck who left Untied last Summer for the Emirates capitalized on Antonio Valencia's 61st minutes mistake to seal the victory for his visiting side.

United finish with ten men after Angel Dimaria was shown two yellow cards for diving and immediately for pulling the referee's shirt from behind.

Arsenal will now play winner between Reading and Bradford.

Arsenal in Trouble! Rooney hopes to end FA Cup Trophy drought

Wayne Rooney has spent about 11-years with Manchester United, won many trophies but the FA Cup trophy still eludes him.

United will confront rivals Arsenal in the quarter final of the FA Cup this weekend and it promises to be a cracker. 

Rooney has missed out in the finals on two occasions, in 2005 shootout defeat to Arsenal and again in 2007 when Didier Drogba’s solitary goal in extra-time earned Chelsea a 1-0 triumph at the new Wembley

''We have an FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal on Monday and that is massive for us,'' Rooney told ManUtd.com and thePress Association. ''We haven’t been to a final for a few years, we want to try to win that game and we are looking forward to that.

''Of course, I think it is a massive trophy. It is a trophy that, growing up as a youngster, I used to love watching and I was fortunate enough to see Everton lift the FA Cup in 1995 when I was nine years old. It is something which I would love to do and hopefully it can be this year.''

The last time both teams met was in Novemeber 2014 in a league match which ended 1-2 in favour of the Reds devils.

United beat Preston, to face Arsenal in quarter final

Sky Sports: FA Cup Trophy

Manchester United came from a goal down to beat Preston in the fifth round of the FA Cup to qualify for the quarter final.

The Reds have now been drawn against premier league rivals Arsenal while Liverpool will host Blackburn Rover.

Giant-killers Bradford will host Reading while another Premier League tie see Aston Villa travel to West Bromich Albion.

Ties to be played 7 and 8 of March 2015

Diafra Sakho: Bristol City unhappy with FIFA's decision

Bristol City have released a statement over the £71,000 FIFA fine to West Ham for fielding Diafra Sakho in their FA Cup fourth-round tie.

West Ham claimed Sakho, who was issued with a reprimand, could not play for Senegal due to a back injury but that he had recovered in time to play in their FA Cup fourth round match at Bristol City on January 25 in which he scored in a 1-0 win.

Google Image: Diafra Sakho in action for West Ham

Soccer's world governing body announced the sanctions in a statement on Wednesday but the League one club feels disappointed.

The statement on the club's website reads: "Bristol City FC notes FIFA’s decision with regards to the Disciplinary Committee’s case against West Ham United and their player Diafra Sakho.

"The club is disappointed with the penalty handed down by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and is considering its options.

"The club will be making no further comment at this time."

English FA Cup: Do you know what this Rosicky's Pass against Brighton Albion is called in Nigeria?

Tomas Rosicky showed the lads at Brighton Albion he still got some stuff when he tricked their defenders looking one way and passing to Ozil on the other way.

Image: Stadiumnews.com

Theo Walcott opened scoring early in the first half for the Gunners while Rosicky scored and assisted Mesut Ozil to edge Brighton by 2-3.

Phil Neville said he would have double-footed the Arsenal midfielder for the trick.

Some say it's ''No look Pass'' but in Nigeria we call it ''Soju Nu Pass'' or ''Throway Face'', meaning, Look one way and passing the other way.

Arsenal draw Hull City again in FA Cup 3rd round (see fixtures)

Arsenal will again clash with Hull City in the 3rd round of the FA Cup after Monday draw pitch both Premier League teams for a date.

It could be recalled that Hull City lost a 2 goal lead to Arsenal in the final which saw the Gunners end their trophy drought after winning 3-2 at Wembley last season.

Jose Mourinho's men play host to Watfod, Manchester City face Sheffield Wednesday while Liverpool will travel to Wimbledon.

Southampton vs Ipswich Town

Stoke City vs Wrexham

Charlton Athletic vs Blackburn Rovers

Dover vs Crystal Palace

AFC Wimbledon vs Liverpool

Manchester City vs Sheffield Wednesday

Aldershot/Rochdale vs Nottingham Forest

West Brom vs Gateshead

Blythe Spartans vs Birmingham City

Aston Villa vs Blackpool

Rotherham vs AFC Bournemouth

Huddersfield vs Reading

Oxford United/Tranmere vs Swansea City

Cardiff City vs Colchester United

Bolton Wanderers vs Wigan Athletic

Sunderland vs Leeds United

Burnley vs Tottenham Hotspur

Millwall vs Bradford City

Derby County vs Southport

Brentford vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Fulham vs Wolves

Leicester City vs Newcastle Town

Scunthorpe/Worcester City vs Chesterfield*

Everton vs West Ham

Cambridge/Mansfield vs Bury/Luton

Chelsea vs Watford

Barnsley/Chester vs Middlesbrough

QPR vs Sheffield United

Accrington/Yeovil vs Manchester United

Preston vs Norwich

Doncaster vs Bristol City

*Chesterfield charged with fielding an illegible player so could be replaced by MK Dons.