Martin O'Neill has warned that Celtic FC’s challenging campaign should serve as a “wake-up call” for the club, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

Celtic currently sit second in the Scottish Premiership following their recent win over Aberdeen FC, but remain five points behind leaders Heart of Midlothian, with Rangers FC a further point behind.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final clash against Rangers at Ibrox Stadium, O’Neill said the threats to Celtic’s hopes of silverware this season should act as a reminder for the club.

“The overall picture is I think that it should be a wake-up call for the football club,” the 74-year-old told the club’s official website.

“You could say that in recent years, fans have maybe been spoilt, no real challenges in many aspects.

“Being able to coast home in the last six or seven games of a season, which is great because you’ve done that. But the challenge has not been strong.”

Ghetto Tigers Ladies forward, Aishat Bolarinwa was in blistering form at the just concluded Nigeria Women Football League NWFL Championship in Calabar, playing pivotal role in her team's fight for relegation as they maintain Championship status, Nigeriasoccernet.com writes.

Taking the lead role for Heroes Queens, Bolarinwa wowed spectators with her defense threatening runs and delicate passes as she was the major force of recognition for the Lagos based side, taking the mantle of leadership to steer her side to retain their status in the NWFL Championship.

The youngster scored a goal in four matches and also took on the role of the team's playmaker to provide three assists in four games. She was the scorer of the team's first ever goal in the Championship.

“I’m so happy to score for my team because it’s been a hard time for us in this competition, not the best of outing we would have wished for and it’s so painful”, a delighted Aishat Bolarinwa admitted in her post match presser.

The Wafa League highest goal scorer decisive runs down the wings is an added advantage to her rising career and with an invitation to the national team, she's arguably destined for stardom.

By Olaleye Oluwadamilola

Nigeria's U-20 women's team, Falconets, are planning 'operation sweep' against the Basetsana of South Africa in the final leg of the 2016 World Cup holding in Papua New Guinea.

The Falconets defeated Congo DR 2-0 in Abuja last weekend to qualify on 4-1 goals aggregate after hitting the Congolese 2-1 in the first leg played to Kinshasa.

The Nigerians who finished second at the 2014 edition of the FIFA Women's U-20 World Cup in Canada, losing 1-0 to Germany in the final, will face their South African opponents in Abuja on October 24 in the first leg of the encounter. The South Africans stopped Zambia to qualify.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, the head of women football committee on the board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mrs. Dilichukwu Onyedinma, said that the Falconets would pick the ticket because the girls are working very hard ahead the game.

"Our girls have vowed that it is the World Cup ticket or nothing. So I don't see South Africa stopping them in this final qualifying match," Onyeadinma said.

Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan through his foundation has registered the entire membership of the Ghana Blind Union in the Eastern Region – Suhum Sector – onto the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Gyan’s foundation which has been at the forefront of making vital social interventions also donated walking canes, talking watches and bags of Vits Rice to the entire membership of the Union at a ceremony held in Suhum on Thursday.

The kind gesture was in response to a request made by the union.

In handing over the items to the union, Operations Manager of the Asamoah Gyan Foundation Prince Randy Opoku Afriyie says the gesture forms part of the broad concept of his outfit to provide social intervention reliefs to deprived people and communities.

“We are here today on behalf of Asamoah Gyan and the Asamoah Gyan Foundation to donate these items to you in fulfilment of a pledge made to you upon receiving your request,” he told the excited members of the union.

“Aside paying for the registration of all of you onto the National Health Insurance Scheme, Asamoah Gyan Foundation is also providing the entire membership with walking canes, talking watches and rice.

“We are happy to be making this donation. As you may be aware, the Asamoah Gyan Foundation was set up by Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan to help support the deprived and needy in society.

“We have over the years, we have made interventions in areas of provision of portable water, healthcare, education and the like to needy individuals and communities.

[caption id="attachment_311815" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Excited members of the Ghana Blind Union[/caption]

“Nothing gives Asamoah Gyan more pleasure than to support his countrymen and women in any way he can.

“He [Asamoah Gyan] only ask of you to remember him in your prayers so he is able to provide this and more not only to you but other needy individuals and communities.”

Chairman of the Ghana Blind Union – Suhum Sector –Daniel Darfour in receiving the donation, thanked the Asamoah Gyan Foundation for the gesture and assured of his union’s total support for the Black Stars captain.

“Asamoah Gyan brings us joy whenever we hear of him playing for Ghana by scoring important goals for the nation,” he said.

“Today, we are privileged to have received even more benefits from him and his team other than what we experience when he is playing for the Black Stars.

“He is guaranteed our continued support and prayers and also for all his businesses.

“We pray that God grants him long life and further prosperity for him to continue to touch lives.”

Gyan through his foundation has been able to make direct impacts to the livelihood of deprived individuals and communities.

The AGF only in March this year, commissioned a $50,000 Water Pump House project to provide portable water for the people of Wenchi.

Two months later, Gyan himself on behalf of his foundation donated $10,000 to Cardio Center of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

The foundation has provided scholarship schemes to brilliant but needy students and has also donated medical equipments to the Ridge Hospital as some of its notable philanthropic deeds.

Schalke chief Horst Heldt insists the club has no regrets for freezing out Kevin-Prince Boateng following their 5-0 win over MSV Duisburg in the DFB Cup.

The German side froze out the Ghana international after a breakdown in trust between the two parties.

The Ruhr Valley club started life without the 28-year-old with a comprehensive 5-0 win over lower side MSV Duisburg in the opening round of the DFB Cup and director of sports Horst Heldt has revealed there are no regrets for kicking the former AC Milan man out.

“Of course we have results that satisfy us and we look forward to subsequent game. From the perspective of Kevin, I would do it again if it was today,” he said

“We want to necessarily commit a player who has leadership qualities. It would be hypocritical if today I stand up and say in retrospect I would do something different.

“In the first year, Kevin fulfilled many expectations. Then a lot of the negatives started evolving.

“It was also about lack of discipline. You have introduced code of conduct and you require new players to abide by it and not flout.”

Boateng is on scouring mission for a new club after his hugely-publicized move to Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon fell through over health concerns.

Ankobiah raced the Do-boys into the lead under the first minute after Frederick Quayson outraced Philip Boampong and laid a pass for him inside the box.

His second, which was scored on the 6th minute mark, caused anger among the Hearts of Oak fans who felt the winger was in an offside position but was allowed to score.

Philip Boampong's second-half consolation would do little to lift the pressure of Herbert Addo who reportedly nearly got the axe on Thursday.

The riotic fans reacted angrily to the referee's decision to allow the goal stand by throwing missiles onto the pitch as one of them struck assistant referee two Alhassan Badium forcing him to abandone line duties and being replaced by the fourth referee.

The action caused match officials to abandone the field of play for close to 40 minutes in temporary hold-up before later returning to supervise the game.

Hearts fans continued to push the side to redeem the goals but Hasaacas defended steadily with goalkeeper George Owu standing firm in between the sticks.

Hasaacas refused to allow Hearts of Oak cut the deficit until late into the second-half when Selasi Adjei flipped a header for defender Philip Boampong to blast past Owu.

There was no time for the Phobians to get a point from the game as the referee ended the tie with Hasaacas winning their first game at the Accra Sports Stadium against Hearts of Oak since 1994.