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Rivers Angels Retire Federation Cup Trophy …Enyimba Douses Wolves’ Ambition

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Rivers state darling football
club, Rivers Angels FC last Sunday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos won the women’s 2013 Federation Cup title, courtesy of a commanding 3-0 victory over Nasarawa Amazons.
The victory marked the fourth time, the third on the trot the Angels would be winning the title after triumphing in 2011and 2012. As a result, they have now won the trophy for keeps.
The women’s final kicked off a memorable 68th edition of the Federation Cup which also had Enyimba International FC of Aba contesting the men’s version against Warri Wolves of Delta state.
Apparently motivated by a pre-match pep talk by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports, Mrs Comfort Nwihioka, which assured them that the government and people of Rivers State were behind them, and Governor Amaechi’s commitment to rewarding success, the Angels turned on the style to rout the Amazons.
A final that kicked off with a promise of a keen contest, owing to the Amazons’ initial enterprise tapered to a one- sided affair after Gloria Ofoegbu put the Angels ahead in the 45th minute.
On resumption of the second half, Angels further proved their class by dominating proceedings. Elizabeth Addo made it 2-0 in the 58th minute to take the game beyond their opponents, while Ofoegbu grabbed her brace and Angels’ third goal in the 82nd minute to throw their camp into celebration.
In the men’s final, it was a perfect advertisement for Nigerian domestic football as Enyimba and Wolves lived up to their pre- match hype. Both clubs played exquisite football to the admiration of the spectators.
In deed, the final promised to be an attraction as supporters of the clubs struggled to out do each other in colourful demonstration of support for their respective teams. As hostilities began, it was Enyimba that that thrilled with good possession and flair. Warri Wolves, however took the lead in each half, only for the Peoples Elephant(Enyimba) to draw level twice to take the game to penalty shootout.
The ensued shootout saw Super Eagles defender, Azubuike Egwuekwe miss his kick to hand the title to Enyimba 4-5 on penalties.
While Enyimba and their fans celebrated with the usual Enyimba – Enyi song, Wolves’ players mourned the loss of mouth watering largesse, one 2013 toyota Avensis car, each player and two weeks all expenses paid tour of France and one million naira per goal, promised them by the Delta state government.
Other highlights of the final were the honour and recognition given to some of the veterans of the Federation Cup, Muda Lawal, Amusa Shittu, Paul Hamilton, Sebastian Brodericks-Imasuen,Jossy Dombraye,Joe Erico, Toyin Ayinla, Stanley Eguma, Dominc Iorfa and Walter Oyatogun, and the unveiling of the media tribune dedicated to late commentators, Chief Ishola Folorunsho and Ernest Okonkwo by Lagos state governor, Babatunde Fashola.

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Gyokeres Situation, Transfer Under Cloud At Sporting

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Sporting have not received an offer for striker Viktor Gyokeres and there is no gentleman’s agreement for him to leave for £59million, says club president Frederico Varandas.
Sweden international Gyokeres, 27, has been heavily linked with Manchester United and Arsenal after scoring 97 goals in 102 matches during two seasons in Portugal.
He has a 100m euro (£85m) release clause in his contract.
It has been widely reported that, after staying at Sporting last summer, Gyokeres and Sporting agreed he could leave for 70m euros (£59m) this summer.
However, Varandas said the club’s only promise to Gyokeres was that they would not demand his full release clause.
“I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for 60m euros plus 10m euros because I never promised that,” Varandas said.
“To this day Sporting has not had an offer for Gyokeres, neither today nor last season.”
Gyokeres spent three seasons with Coventry City in the Championship before joining Sporting under Ruben Amorim.
Manchester City director of football Hugo Viana was sporting director at Sporting last summer, when Gyokeres’ agent sought assurances about his leaving if a suitable offer arrived.
“One of the agent’s biggest concerns was whether we would demand the termination clause,” said Varandas.
“He wanted to guarantee certain things. And what was agreed? That Sporting would not demand a release clause now.
“For one reason: he was going to be 27 years old and no player leaves Portugal at 27 for 100m eurors or 90m euros.
“In that same meeting the agent wanted to anchor the exit to a value. I said this sentence: ‘It’s not worth us setting a value because I don’t know what will happen in a year’s time. I don’t know if it will be 40m euros, 60m euros or 80m euros. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand 100 million euros.’”

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Concacaf Opposes 64-Team W’Cup Plans

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Concacaf President Victor Montagliani has criticised a proposal to expand the 2030 men’s World Cup to 64 teams.
The plans, put forward by South American governing body Conmebol, have also drawn opposition from Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
The tournament will be hosted by Spain, Morocco and Portugal, after the opening matches are held in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
The 2026 World Cup, which will take place across the United States, Mexico and Canada, has already been expanded from 32 to 48 teams.
But Conmebol said it wanted to add more participants to mark the competition’s 100-year anniversary.
“I don’t believe expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams is the right move for the tournament itself and the broader football ecosystem, from national teams to club competitions, leagues, and players,” Montagliani told Tidesports source
“We haven’t even kicked off the new 48-team World Cup yet, so personally, I don’t think that expanding to 64 teams should even be on the table.”
Concacaf is the governing body of football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
The decision to expand the 2026 World Cup to 48 teams was taken in 2017 following a unanimous vote at a Fifa congress.
Fifa’s 75th congress will be held in Paraguay on 15 May, when Conmebol’s proposal could be discussed.
If the proposal is accepted, the 2030 edition would consist of 128 matches, double the number played under the 64-game format used from 1998 and 2022.
In March, Ceferin described the proposal as a “bad idea” while AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa said it would cause “chaos”.
“If the issue remains open to change, then the door will not only be open to expanding the tournament to 64 teams,” said Salman.
“But someone might come along and demand raising the number to 132 teams. Where would we end up then? It would become chaos.”

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Brazil Edge Paraguay, Book W’Cup Spot

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Brazil qualified for the 2026 World Cup this week with a 1-0 win against Paraguay in South American qualifying to give Carlo Ancelotti his first win as manager.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jnr scored from close range in the second half, finishing after fine work from Manchester United-bound playmaker Matheus Cunha.
The victory, Ancelotti’s first after a 0-0 draw against Ecuador on his debut last week, means Brazil has now qualified for every edition of the World Cup.
“We needed to win and qualify for the World Cup,” said Vinicius Jr.
“Now the coach will have more time to work. Of course today wasn’t one of our best performances, but the important thing is always to win.
“Now it’s time to celebrate qualifying.”
Elsewhere, World Cup holders Argentina played out an entertaining 1-1 draw with Colombia in Buenos Aires.
Liverpool winger Luis Diaz opened the scoring with a fine individual goal, dancing through three defenders before finishing past Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Argentina was reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes remaining when Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a high-boot challenge on Colombia’s Kevin Castano.
But Lionel Messi’s side found an equaliser nine minutes from the end through Lyon’s Thiago Almada, leaving Colombia four points clear of seventh-placed Venezuela.
Ecuador, Argentina’s nearest challengers, booked their spot at next summer’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States after a 0-0 draw away at Peru.

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