Pray for us Keshi requests!

“The game of football has changed, people are growing, nations are growing. So we have to grow too and we have to continue with whatever we are doing that we think will make us good and strong,” Keshi told Goal.

“Our game against the Congo national team was not bad. Two good sides played the match and I think in the second half we could have had more goals. We lost some chances in the second half but I give glory to God that we got the three points we needed in this match.”

Nigeria welcome Bafana Bafana to Uyo in Wednesday’s must-win final Group A game.

“As regards the last qualifying match against South Africa, Nigerians should pray for us, they should pray for the players and they should be patient and they should come out en masse to support their team to win the match. They should pray for the boys to be in good health and that they should respond well in the match,” Keshi urged.

Its a decider I am praying for Nigeria as Keshi has requested and hope you do to.

Keshi to go African with Congo in a must win match.

The Big Boss is set to do away with fancy European play when the Nigerian squad travels to Pointe Noire for this weekend’s crunch clash against the Red Devils

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi is set to adopt a more practical ‘African’ style in order to beat Congo in this weekend’s crucial 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Pointe Noire.

The Super Eagles need to win by at least two goals in order to keep alive hopes of defending their title at next year’s Afcon, before their final game against South Africa in Uyo.

Keshi has urged his foreign-based players to drop their fancy European guile and play the hard African way to be able to outwit their opponents in order to avenge September’s 3-2 defeat in Calabar.

Keshi said that it is the only way the Super Eagles can beat the Red Devils on their ground.

“I have told my players to play the African way when we meet Congo Brazzaville on Saturday. We need to play hard to get the result we crave for and we should drop the European style or method and play the African way,” Keshi disclosed.

The trainer also expressed confidence in the ability of his players to weather the storm in Congo while declaring that the spirit was high in the camp which points to victory for the Nigerian team.

“My players have really stepped up the gear and the spirit in camp is very high. The boys have been showing the hunger and urge to get victory against Congo and by the grace of God we will get victory. Nigerians should also rally round this team and support the team with prayers and we will come back with victory,” Keshi stated.

Congo lost 2-0 to South Africa in their last game at home and would be keen to stop the Eagles from conquering them as well.

South Africa lead Group A with eight points followed by Congo and Nigeria with seven and four points respectively. Sudan are rooted bottom with three points out of four matches.

An interview with on of the prolific midfielders in the premier league

Fresh from his goalscoring exploits midweek, Nemanja Matic sits down with the official Chelsea website to assess his role in a team which is undefeated in 16 matches so far this season. The tall Serbian has featured in each and every one of those games and so it’s no wonder we find him on jovial form at our Cobham training ground.

In the Premier League and in Europe Cesc Fabregas has been his ever-present partner in midfield, with the duo earning plenty of plaudits for their performances together. When asked what it is like playing alongside the Spaniard, a smile breaks out across Matic’s face. He can’t resist a joke.

‘He’s terrible,’ laughs Matic. ‘One of the worst I’ve ever played with!

‘Seriously though in every moment of the game he knows what he needs to do,’ he explains, now carefully considering his midfield accomplice’s attributes.

‘He’s a great player; he’s a player with a lot of experience having played at Arsenal and Barcelona. We have a good relationship on the pitch and it’s easy to play with him.

‘It’s very important to play a lot of games next to somebody, because as more and more time passes you get to know them better and better. We’ve improved together as a pair and I think that’s good for the team too because the midfield is such an important part of the pitch.’

The 26-year-old says he has also improved as an individual since his move to Stamford Bridge in January; something he puts down to the high-quality football the team has been playing this season.

At the heart of that outstanding attacking play has been Fabregas, who already has nine Premier League assists to his name. Jose Mourinho has regularly praised his decisive impact on matches, but the manager has been quick to highlight Matic’s important contributions alongside Fabregas too, noting in particular the speed with which he moves the ball and his ability to operate in the right spaces when we don’t have possession.

‘My job is to play defensive midfielder; going forward is his responsibility as well as the other players that play in front of us. I just try to do my job. If once or twice per game I can go forward I will do that but my main job is to keep the balance in the midfield and if we lose the ball then try and kill their game. Of course I also want to give Cesc and the other attacking players the ball when I have it.

‘No, it was Inzaghi-style that one. I said before my job is to play defensive midfielder, to do what the coach asks of me, but of course if I have the chance I will try to score.

‘In this moment I have three goals and I hope I don’t stop. I expect some more goals this season. I will be happy with 10; I have set myself the target of 10.’

Having already netted in Merseyside this season Matic might well be hoping to repeat the trick at Anfield today. However, if we are to return south with all three points it is likely to be more important he reproduces the domineering all-round midfield performance we witnessed from him at the same ground in April, at Man City in February and, more recently, at Old Trafford.

‘It’s always special when you play big games,’ he points out. ‘It’s different.

‘I cannot say every game is the same. A derby is a derby for example; it gives you a special motivation. I like to play in these kinds of games like everyone.

‘I’m really happy because we have another big game today. Liverpool are a good, strong team but we are ready to compete again.’

And who’ll be leading our challenge in the middle of our pitch, as the most recent Chelsea terrace chant goes? Matic.

By Rupert Cane

BBC African Footballer of the Year 2014 shortlist

The five-man shortlist for the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2014 has been revealed.

Title holder Yaya Toure has been nominated for the sixth consecutive year, along with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Yacine Brahimi, Vincent Enyeama and Gervinho.

The winner will be decided by fans of African football, who have until 18:00 GMT on Monday, 24 November to vote for their choice.

You can vote online here.

Or to vote for BBC African Footballer of the Year 2014 by SMS, text the number of the player you wish to vote for to +447786202008.

• Text 1 for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
• Text 2 for Yacine Brahimi
• Text 3 for Vincent Enyeama
• Text 4 for Gervinho
• Text 5 for Yaya Toure

Standard international text rates apply. Please check with your service provider. SMS votes are limited to one vote per mobile phone number.Terms and conditions apply.

The winner will be announced on Monday, 1 December.

Four of the nominees played at this summer's World Cup in Brazil, where for the first time in the tournament's history two African sides made it out of the group phase.

Goalkeeper Enyeama played in the last 16 of the tournament with Nigeria, while Brahimi reached the same stage with Algeria.

Enyeama, 32, went into the event off the back of an outstanding campaign for French club Lille - he kept 21 clean sheets for them last season.

In Spain, forward Brahimi's efforts for Granada led to him being named best African player in the country last term and earning a move to Porto.

Both players carried their excellent club form into the showpiece finals and caught the eye with superb performances - as did Ivory Coast forward Gervinho.

The Roma player has been a revelation in Italy since leaving English Premier League side Arsenal, scoring 10 goals in 39 games for the Serie A side.

He and his compatriot Toure did not make it out of their group in Brazil, but on a personal note both have enjoyed impressive seasons.

Midfielder Toure helped guide Manchester City to their second Premier League title in three years. He also won the Capital One Cup.

Although striker Aubameyang did not play at Brazil 2014 - because Gabon did not qualify - he makes the shortlist for the second year in a row thanks to his club form.

The 25-year-old has settled in his second season with German side Borussia Dortmund and his improvement has been particularly noticeable in the Champions League, where he has already scored three times in the current campaign.

Previous winners of BBC African Footballer of the Year award:

2013 - Yaya Toure (Manchester City & Ivory Coast)

2012 - Chris Katongo (Henan Construction & Zambia)

2011 - Andre Ayew (Marseille & Ghana)

2010 - Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland & Ghana)

2009 - Didier Drogba (Chelsea & Ivory Coast)

2008 - Mohamed Aboutrika (Al Ahly & Egypt)

2007 - Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal & Togo)

2006 - Michael Essien (Chelsea & Ghana)

2005 - Mohamed Barakat (Al Ahly & Egypt)

2004 - Jay-Jay Okocha (Bolton & Nigeria)

2003 - Jay-Jay Okocha (Bolton & Nigeria)

2002 - El Hadji Diouf (Liverpool & Senegal)

2001 - Sammy Kuffour (Bayern Munich & Ghana)

2000 - Patrick Mboma (Parma & Cameroon)

Arsene Wenger: no team is currently capable of catching Premier League leaders Chelsea

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes no team is currently capable of catching Premier League leaders Chelsea.

The Gunners lost 2-1 at Swansea on Sunday to slip 12 points behind Jose Mourinho's unbeaten side.

Chelsea have won nine of their 11 games this term and have 29 points - four more than second-place Southampton.

"If they keep that up nobody will touch them," Wenger said. "It doesn't look like anybody is capable of challenging them at the moment."

The Blues fought back from a goal down tobeat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield on Saturday and Wenger believes they are team full of confidence.

"Look at the season and Chelsea are on course for 105 points. Look at the number of points they have today and if they keep that up nobody will touch them, that's for sure.

"They have had a good start and as long as you don't lose you don't question yourself," the Frenchman said. "Maybe a little bit more extra spirit in the team helps them when it gets tight."

Wenger added that he was disappointed to see his own side ease up after taking the lead at the Liberty Stadium and throw away victory.

The Gunners went ahead through Alexis Sanchez before Gylfi Sigurdsson and substitute Bafetimbi Gomis turned the game around for the Swans.

The defeat caps a poor week for Wenger after a Champions League collapse to draw 3-3 with Anderlecht on Tuesday.

"It's disappointing to throw a game away like we did," said Wenger.

"We were 1-0 up and had to be tight defensively and wait for that second chance. But you have to credit Swansea who didn't give up.

"We eased off at 1-0 and let them back into the game."

Arsenal, who drop to sixth in the table, have lost more points from a winning position than any other Premier League team this season.

The Struggle continues has Mourinho criticizes players of complacency.

Jose Mourinho accused his Chelsea players of complacency after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Slovenian minnows Maribor in Champions League Group G.

The Blues went behind to Agim Ibraimi's goal but Nemanja Matic equalised before Eden Hazard missed a penalty.

"Many times surprises happen when people are not fully focused, when they believe the game can't be a difficult one," said Mourinho.

"Only when Maribor scored did the players realise the danger."

Match facts
Chelsea have not lost a competitive match since the semi-final of last season's Champions League in April
The Blues have won just one of their last six away games in the Champions League
Chelsea conceded for the first time in 230 minutes away from home in the competition

The result leaves Chelsea three points clear in Group G, needing to win one of their remaining two matches to guarantee qualification to the knockout phase.

Chelsea had thrashed Slovenian champions Maribor 6-0 at Stamford Bridge in their previous Champions League game.

And despite having talked up his opponents in the pre-match news conference, Mourinho admitted he must take some of the blame for his players' attitude in a lacklustre first half.

"If I cannot convince the players that the game is difficult and you have to play from minute one, obviously it's my responsibility," he said.

Mourinho also expressed his frustration with Italian referee Daniele Orsato and his fellow officials.

The Blues were denied a penalty early in the second half when Oscar appeared to be tripped and his fellow substitute Diego Costa had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside.

Mourinho hinted that he had history with Orsato from his time at Inter Milan, adding: "We scored two goals, two very good goals. The second goal, the referee decided to disallow but it's a clear goal.

"Normally we should win because we scored two goals. But we have to accept it.

"The referee's team did not have a good night."

Man City Continue low perfomance in the champions league by Phil McNulty

Yaya Toure apologised on Twitter after the game for his first red card for City

As the Bonfire Night fireworks designed to set the mood faded away and a heavy mist descended on Etihad Stadium, Manchester City and manager Manuel Pellegrini were lost in the fog of failure and uncertainty that engulfs them in the Champions League.

The last time the pyrotechnics flew over this stadium in celebration of 5 November, City were experiencing one of the few real joys they have had in this tournament as a 5-2 victory over CSKA Moscow secured a place in the last 16.

Fast forward exactly 12 months and those same opponents, dismissed so comfortably last season, won 2-1 to illustrate how City's apparent mental block in the Champions League has taken them backwards to the brink of an exit at the group stage.

City are virtual strangers to the highs the Champions League has to offer - and this was their lowest ebb.

The loss means that City could still be eliminated even if they win both of their remaining games - at home against Bayern Munich at home, where they will be without Fernandinho and Yaya Toure who were sent off on Wednesday, and Roma away.

City have a narrative of failure in the Champions League and the story does not change - although it has several strands and sub-plots running through it.

Pressure on Pellegrini

If City do fail to progress the scrutiny and pressure on Pellegrini will increase, simply because a club with this scale of ambition makes big demands on a manager.

There is no appetite, however, to question his position even if they go out at the group stage, although it is believed City's Abu Dhabi-based owners regarded the quarter-finals as a realistic target this season.

They feel it will take City five years to reach full fruition in the Champions League - but there can be no question they would have expected better than no wins and just two points from four games, topped off by a home defeat to the side regarded as the weakest in Group E.

A squad reduction imposed by Europe's governing body Uefa after failing to comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations, which also hit at their powers in the transfer market, is seen as a factor in their struggles. This still does not fully explain how they appear to have regressed so much.

City were fined £49m, £32m of which was suspended, and could only name a 21-man squad for the Champions League. Another sanction meant City were limited to spending £49m on players this summer, as well as any transfer fees they received, and their wage bill for 2014-15 had to stay the same as last season.

Pellegrini was at a loss to understand how this campaign has gone so badly wrong again for City, saying he would "review a lot of things" and admitting "I don't understand why they cannot play in the Champions League."

If the solution to this puzzle has eluded him over two seasons, it is stretching reality to expect him to come up with the answer inside three weeks.

An exit means Pellegrini will come under the microscope more intensely than at any time since he succeeded Roberto Mancini and will need success in the Premier League to release the pressure valve.

Manchester City's recent European fortunes
2013-14: Champions League round of 16 - beaten by Barcelona
2012-13: Champions League group stage
2011-12: Europa League round of 16 (having finished third in Uefa Champions League group stage)
2010-11: Europa League round of 16
2009-10: Did not qualify for Europe
2008-09: Uefa Cup quarter-finals

Crisis of confidence

This was the phrase Pellegrini used to describe City's current state of mind -and it was evident almost from the first whistle on Wednesday.

When City should have been on the front foot, Toure's dreadful marking allowed CSKA's Seydou Doumbia to score after 96 seconds. Toure's equaliser gave false hope as Doumbia took advantage of more defensive slackness to score the eventual winner.

This gave CSKA the first away win by a Russian side in England in the Champions League since Spartak Moscow beat Blackburn Rovers in September 1995.

City should have been on the up after ending a mini-slump with a victory over Manchester United in the derby, but they were disorganised at the back, lacked domination in midfield and even the brilliant Sergio Aguero struggled to exert his influence.

Gael Clichy had a nightmare at left-back and CSKA cut through midfield into large gaps with City stretched all over the place in defence. The self-belief that made City champions at home appears to evaporate in Europe.

The mood of failure is insidious. It has made City's fans as anxious and pessimistic as their team, creating a subdued atmosphere inside Etihad that only enlivened with increased adversity for the nine men in the closing stages.

City have players of experience, talent and character. Sadly, they have not been good enough in the Champions League and Pellegrini has failed to crack the code for success.

Statistics tell the tale

City's Champions League record since returning in 2011 is - played 24, won eight, drawn six, lost 10. At home they have played 12 ,won four, drawn five and lost three.

They have not kept a clean sheet in any of their nine home games in the Champions League since the start of the 2012-2013 season and are winless in their last six games in Europe - drawing two and losing four - their last win coming away to Bayern Munich almost a year ago.

Cut this any way you like and it is nowhere near good enough for a squad that has had so much finance lavished on it by its owners.

After winning the Premier League twice in three seasons, the next logical step was to make a mark in Europe's biggest tournament. Barring a turnaround even their most optimistic fans will struggle to see happening, it will have to wait for another year.

Manchester City's Champions League struggles
City's first foray into the Champions League group stages saw them finish third in a group with Bayern Munich, Napoli and Villarreal in 2011-12. Napoli edged them out for last 16 qualification by a point.	In 2012-13, having been crowned Premier League champions the year before, City finished bottom of their Champions League group which included Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and Ajax.
They dropped in to the Europa League in the same season and were eventually knocked out on away goals to Sporting Lisbon in the last 16.	City eventually made it out of the Champions League groups last season, but were knocked out in the last 16 by Barcelona, 4-1 on aggregate.

Conspiracy theories

Uefa felt the full force of Etihad's anger - as did Greek referee Tasos Sidiropolous - at the final whistle, seemingly a combination of FFP penalties, the failure to allow City's fans to watch the behind-closed-doors game with CSKA in Moscow and some eccentric officialdom.

Sidiropolous had an odd night, especially when a case of mistaken identity meant he showed a yellow card to defender Sergei Ignashevich when it should have gone to midfielder Pontus Wernbloom, who had already been cautioned.

Pellegrini, to his credit, insisted he would not link the referee's performance to the result and this was one thing he did get right. Asked whether this reminded him of his night of rare rage when he claimed Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson favoured Barcelona in their 2-0 win,he would not concur.

This was not a night for excuses and Pellegrini avoided making any.

City, were disorganised and ill-disciplined. Fernandinho or Toure can have no complaints about the red cards that were not just damaging, but also for their hopes of beating Bayern Munich.

This was about City's failings rather than the officials. Any suggestion that the referee was not good enough can be matched by the assertion City were not good enough either.

Can City still get through?

Well yes, if they win those last two games. The maths may stack up but the logic does not.

City did not offer one shred of evidence here that they have what it takes to get through. This was a night to jog the memory of those City fans with a finely-tuned sense of black humour, shaped in the days when just about everything that could go wrong did go wrong.

The club have been masters of the unexpected in the past but if City struggle and slump to defeat to CSKA, can they seriously be expected to unseat Bayern?

There may be hope in that Bayern have already won the group but it is unlikely coach Pep Guardiola deals in weakened teams, although there may be a psychological impact.

So the chance remains, but the mood was sombre and resigned around Etihad as Pellegrini searched for Champions League answers that have eluded him and his players.

Footballer Ricardo Ferreira handed 50-year ban after referee attack

A Switzerland-based amateur footballer has been banned for 50 years after kicking a ball in the referee's face and spraying him with water.

Portugal Futebol Clube defender Ricardo Ferreira has already served a 45-game ban for assaulting opposition players.

"I had expected one or two years maximum. But 50 years? Football's my life," Ferreira, 28, said.

The fourth-tier league's lawyer Robert Breiter said: "We do not want such a player in our league."

Speaking to Swiss newspaper Blick (in German),  Breiter continued: "Unfortunately we encounter such cases about once a year."

Ferreira had been an unused substitute in his team's match against SC Worb in the Bern league when he attacked the referee after the final whistle.

Ferreira will be free to return to footballing activity on 5 June 2064, by which time he will be 78.