Sports
Oliseh Laments Enyeama’s Late Withdrawal From Tanzania Tie
Super Eagles’ Head Coach
Sunday Oliseh on Wednesday lamented the late withdrawal of the team’s first choice goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, from tomorrow’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
Enyeama’s withdrawal from the game against Tanzania has presented Carl Ikeme and Ikechukwu Ezenwa as the only options for Oliseh.
The match, a Group G Match Day 2 fixture, is scheduled to take place in Dar es Salaam.
Oliseh told newsmen at the team’s weekly interactive session with the media that Enyeama’s late withdrawal had put the team in a precarious and complicated situation.
“The player himself withdrew for reasons I don’t know but what I can’t say on this is that the late withdrawal has put me in a very tight situation, I must confess.
“I made it clear from the onset that the task ahead of us is very difficult because we are practically starting afresh.
“With all due respect Enyeama is a good goalkeeper, but this development is not a pleasant one. However, we have to forge ahead because there is nothing I can do,’’ he said.
Oliseh said however that the development had shown that believing so much in a player would not augur well for the team.
He said this was why he had since resolved not to build the team around one individual.
The coach pointed out that his philosophy had been centred on teamwork.
“What happens if our best player falls sick a night before our match. Should Nigeria withdraw from the encounter?
“It is also not a sign of respect to my other players, to say because one person is not playing the team will fumble.
“We have to respect the choice of the player if he withdraws himself,’’ he said.
The Eagles coach also insisted that the situation did not mean that he was under any pressure to win in Tanzania, saying the match was not a do-or-die.
“The only time in my life that I was under pressure was 20 minutes before our match with Bulgaria at the 1994 World Cup. Ever since then, I have learnt that pressure is what you live with.
“There are three things that can happen in a game. We can win, draw or lose. But, we are building now and everybody can see that. But I am very optimistic.
“I am not looking at what happens if we lose, win or whatever. I want to see my team play to serve Nigeria and whatever the result is, we will take it like that.
“However, our objective is to qualify, and we still have games to play. Even if we win on Saturday, the journey is just starting,’’ he said.
Oliseh nonetheless expressed the optimism that Tanzania would fall in Dar es Salaam even with his little knowledge of the team.
The former Eagles captain said the video clips of the Tanzanian team’s matches, which he obtained from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), had enough to help his team achieve victory.
He, however, noted that coaching the Super Eagles would be a difficult task with the level of criticisms and analyses Nigerians provide before and after every match the team played.
The Super Eagles, comprising of 17 foreign-based and six home-based players departed Abuja yesterday for Tanzania for the encounter in a chartered flight.
Nigeria and Egypt are currently topping Group G of the qualifiers, having both secured the maximum three points from their first group matches.
Egypt are however better placed, with a superior goal margin, having defeated Tanzania 3-0 in their first encounter, while Nigeria secured a 2-0 win over Chad.
Sports
Tottenham’s Miserable Run Continues
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Fulham, who scored twice in the opening six minutes in their 2-1 win over Spurs in November, again got an early goal with Harry Wilson netting in the seventh minute.
However, the goal was controversial as new Spurs boss Igor Tudor felt it should have been disallowed as home striker Raul Jimenez pushed Radu Dragusin as they challenged for a Kenny Tete cross, before Oscar Bobb picked out Wilson to volley home from six yards out.
Tottenham had a similar goal ruled out last week in their 4-1 loss to Arsenal for a foul by Randal Kolo Muani on Gunners defender Gabriel but, following a check from the video assistant referee (VAR) Craig Pawson, Fulham’s goal was allowed to stand, much to Tudor’s fury.
Spurs, though, had no excuses for the 34th-minute second goal with Alex Iwobi left with space to shoot home superbly from 18 yards out, with the ball going in off the inside of the post after a neat exchange with Wilson.
Sports
City Survive Leeds’ Challenge At Elland Road
Antoine Semenyo scored just before half-time as title-chasing Manchester City escaped Elland Road with victory over an energetic Leeds United.
The hard-earned outcome narrowed Arsenal’s lead to two points at the top of the Premier League.
City travelled to West Yorkshire without their Leeds-born star striker Erling Haaland who was injured in training, and it looked for large periods in the first half that they would rue not having their top goalscorer available.
But Ghana international Semenyo stretched to convert Rayan Ait-Nouri’s fizzed low ball into the penalty area for his sixth City goal since joining from Bournemouth in January.
Leeds will be wondering how they did not score after making a sprightly start and giving City real cause for early concern.
Meanwhile , a clinical Liverpool performance helped them beat battling West Ham in the Premier League and move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.
The hosts were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister.
West Ham pulled one back early in the second half through Tomas Soucek before Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal lead in the 70th minute.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side scored again through Taty Castellanos, but an Axel Disasi own goal ensured Liverpool hit five goals in a league game for the first time this season.
Bayern Rebound To Overcome Dortmund In Bundesliga (5)
Harry Kane scored two second-half goals as Bayern Munich came from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund in a thrilling match and move 11 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.
The England striker took his tally to 45 goals in all competitions this season as Bayern became the first team to inflict a home league defeat on Dortmund.
Kane, who passed 500 A clinical Liverpool performance helped them beat battling West Ham in the Premier League and move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.
The hosts were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister.
West Ham pulled one back early in the second half through Tomas Soucek before Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal lead in the 70th minute.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side scored again through Taty Castellanos, but an Axel Disasi own goal ensured Liverpool hit five goals in a league game for the first time this season.
All three of the Reds’ first-half goals came from set-pieces – with Arne Slot’s side now leading the table in 2026 when it comes to goals from set-plays (excluding penalties).
In the fifth minute, Ryan Gravenberch teed up Ekitike, who finished smartly to beat Mads Hermansen at the near post for his 16th goal of the season.
West Ham threatened to equalise, but against the run of play Liverpool doubled their advantage when Van Dijk headed in Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner.
The visitors failed to take advantage of Liverpool’s complacency with Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jarrod Bowen and Soucek all wasting chances.
And just before half-time, Mac Allister’s superb volley took a deflection and ended in the back of the net. That was the cue for sections of the travelling support to head for the exits.
Nico Schlotterbeck’s opener.
Dortmund thought they had snatched a point when Daniel Svensson’s thumping volley sent Signal Iduna Park into pandemonium.
But that was until Joshua Kimmich’s strike three minutes from time kept Bayern in pole position to win a 14th title in 15 seasons.
Schlotterbeck headed Dortmund ahead in the 26th minute when he rose highest in a crowded penalty area to connect with Svensson’s free-kick from the left.
Dortmund had the chance to double their lead later in the half when Fabio Silva squared the ball to Maximilian Beier, who was denied by the onrushing Jonas Urbig.
Despite dominating possession in the first half, Bayern – playing with a front three of Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz – were unable to test Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
But Kane equalised early in the second period with a poacher’s effort from inside the area at the end of a slick move involving Kimmich and Serge Gnabry.
Both teams missed chances before Kane scored a penalty – a record 10th in a Bundesliga season – after Josip Stanisic was floored by Schlotterbeck.
Dortmund levelled when Svensson volleyed past Urbig, but Kimmich all but ended their hopes of winning a first title since 2012.
Sports
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Lee Kang-In had an effort saved by Diaw before his right-wing cross was headed home by Barcola for his ninth goal of the season.
Moments later Lee fired wide when through on goal, before PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia fired against a post just after half-time.
Keeper Matvey Safonov made a fine save from Issa Soumare to keep PSG in front, while Diaw denied substitutes Nuno Mendes, Ibrahim Mbaye and Doue.
Diaw parried Doue’s spot-kick low to his right after Doue was brought down by Lucas Gourna-Douath with 11 minutes left.
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