GLOBACOM LEAGUE ROUNDUP
Wolves win, Enyimba lose
Warri Wolves left it late before claiming a handsome win against Zambia's Zesco in the CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday. But Enyimba's first foray into CAF's second-tier competition got off to a nightmare start.
Wolves just about edged a first half where both sides looked evenly matched but failed to find a goal.
In Angola, it was not such good news for Enyimba, who were beaten 2-0 by Angola's Academia and now have a mountain to climb as they seek to add a Confederation Cup title to their two CAF Champions League trophies.
Kwara mount pressure
Kwara United stopped struggling Wikki 1-0 at home to step up the pressure on Nigeria Premier League front runners, Enyimba and Kano Pillars, at the weekend.
Kwara remain in third place but are now tied on 42 points with second-placed Pillars and only two points behind leaders, Enyimba.
Matches involving Enyimba and Pillars were re-arranged due to international engagements of Enyimba and Pillars opponents, Heartland.
Enugu Rangers could have added even more on the title chasers had they beaten relegation-haunted Lobi Stars at home on Sunday, but they failed to do so and thus remain in fourth place on 39 points from 25 matches.
Kaduna United improved their standing on the 20-team table, courtesy of a 2-1 win away at Ocean Boys.
They are now 11th on the table with 33 points.
Dolphins survive Sharks drama
Two saved penalties, referees and visiting team afraid to go into the dressing room at half time, plus seized match tapes of the game marked another day in an ill-tempered Port Harcourt derby which saw Dolphins escape, barely, with a 0-0 draw against Sharks.
Both clubs are owned by the Rivers State government, but the animosity between Sharks and Dolphins runs deep. And this latest chapter in their rivalry was set up to be even feistier than usual.
Sharks are at the wrong end of the log, mired deeply in relegation trouble while Dolphins are safe in mid-table. Both sides drew 1-1 earlier in the season with a contentious late penalty to Sharks and the build-up to the game was dominated by ill-tempered tough talk from both sides.
It was no surprise then that over five thousand fans turned up to watch; the biggest turnout Port Harcourt has witnessed all season.
FIFA revenue hits a billion
The World Cup in South Africa has helped FIFA's revenues past the billion dollar mark for the first time, world football's governing body revealed this weekend.
'We are very confident… not only confident but very proud, that we can deliver the World Cup to Africa and that Africa can deliver the World Cup to the world,' president Sepp Blatter said at a press conference after a two-day FIFA executive committee meeting.
FIFA, a non profit-making organisation, said it had made a $196 million surplus in 2009, as revenues soared to $1.06 billion.
'For the first time our turnover in one year has been more than one billion dollars,' Blatter told the press.
'The market trusts South Africa,' he added, referring to lucrative television and marketing deals in the years running up to the first ever finals to be staged in Africa, which kick off on June 11.
'What'll be a little more expensive is the organisation, but it's worth it,' said Blatter.