Sports

Chelsea Desperate For Champions League Action

Published

9 years ago

March 8, 2017

While Chelsea are focused on winning the Premier League, head coach Antonio Conte is desperate to return to the Champions League and make an impact in Europe.
Chelsea are flying high domestically this season as the Londoners look to restore their 10-point lead with victory at West Ham on Monday.
Conte’s men have only lost one of their past 20 Premier League matches – winning 17 – but there is a void at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea finished 10th last term and the Italian boss is determined to fill it.
“For me and for my players we all miss it [the Champions League],” Conte said.
“The Champions League must be an appointment for us every year. The Champions League must be our house, for this reason we are putting our strength into making sure we are playing in the Champions League next season.
“It’s a great competition for the players, the club and the manager and we want to try and stay there, to try and fight to win.”
Antonio Conte told his players to “keep their feet on the ground” after they beat West Ham 2-1 on Monday to take another big step towards the Premier League title.
The Blues lead second-placed Tottenham by 10 points with 11 games left.
Supporters were singing “we’re going to win the league” at London Stadium, but Conte said: “We must think we have to take 26 points. We go step by step.”
Those points would mean a total of 92 – the maximum Spurs can accumulate is 89.
Chelsea are the seventh side to accrue 66-plus points from their first 27 games of a Premier League season, having done it themselves twice before (69 in 2005-06 and 68 in 2004-05). All six previous sides have gone on to win the title.
Italian Conte, in his debut Premier League season, added: “We must think every opponent will want to beat us from now until the end.
“To dream is good, but it’s important to keep our feet on the ground.”
Despite his side recording their 21st league win of the season, Conte said he was disappointed with them conceding against West Ham late in the game.
Eden Hazard finished off a counter-attack in the 25th minute to give Chelsea the lead before Diego Costa made it 2-0 from close range five minutes after the restart.
However, Manuel Lanzini’s stoppage-time strike made it an uneasy final few seconds for the Blues.
“To give away a clean sheet at the end is not good,” Conte said.
“We must improve in this situation – but I’m pleased. We showed great concentration and commitment and will to win.”
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic does not expect their London rivals to slip up in the run-in.
“They look serious. For me they are not going to lose that. I can’t see them being casual,” the former Croatia defender said.

Sports

Lewandowski Leads Top Stars Missing From W/Cup Roll Call

Published

20 hours ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)

One of the greatest strikers of the past 15 years, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, is among the big names who will not be playing at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

The 37-year-old Barcelona striker, who has scored 89 goals for his country, was not able to inspire his side as they lost 3-2 in Stockholm against Sweden in Tuesday’s play-off final.

Lewandowski, who won the German Bundesliga title on 10 occasions, twice with Borussia Dortmund and then in eight successive seasons with Bayern Munich, before winning La Liga twice with Barca, may have played in his last major international tournament.

Lewandowski captained Poland at the World Cup in 2018, but did not score in Russia as his country came bottom of the group. He had a better tournament four years later in Qatar, scoring twice as Poland reached the last 16 before losing to France.

He netted four times in Group G in 2026 qualifying only for Poland to finish three points behind the Netherlands, before losing to Sweden on Tuesday.

Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)

Another star that will be missing in action at the mundial is Gialuigui Donnarumma of Italy.

Italy lost in the World Cup play-offs for a third successive qualifying tournament

Gianluigi Donnarumma has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season since he moved from Paris St-Germain for £26m in September, after helping the French club win the Champions League last season.

Despite being player of the tournament as Italy won the 2020 European Championship, he misses out on a World Cup again after Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.

Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund and Guinea)

Serhou Guirassy is Fourth in the list of Bundesliga top scorers this season

Serhou Guirassy has established himself as one of most prolific strikers playing in Europe, with 62 goals in the German Bundesliga over the past three seasons, while no player scored more than his 13 goals in the Champions League in 2024-25.

But he will not be at the World Cup as his country Guinea went out in the first round of African qualifying, finishing fourth in their group, with only four wins and three draws from their 10 matches.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia and PSG)

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped Paris St-Germain become European champions last season, scoring in the 5-0 final win over Inter Milan, and he came 12th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.

But Georgia had a miserable campaign in World Cup qualifying as they only picked up three points from a group that contained Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria.

Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray and Nigeria)

Victor Osimhen has scored 26 goals for club and country this season

Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win Serie A in 2023 before moving to Galatasaray, where he grabbed 26 goals in 30 games to take them to the Turkish title last season.

Nigeria drew five of their 10 matches in the first group phase as they finished one point behind winners South Africa, but then had a second chance in the following play-off.

With Osimhen already substituted, Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo to miss out on the World Cup.

Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool and Hungary)

Dominik Szoboszlai has scored 12 goals for Liverpool this season

Liverpool and Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed this season and scored some stunning long-range goals.

But he will not be at the World Cup after his country let a 2-1 lead slip in their final group game with the Republic of Ireland scoring twice in injury time to clinch a spot in the play-offs and eliminate Hungary.

Sports

Para Games: Team Rivers Wins 53 Medals On Day 5 … Director Praise Athletes

Published

22 hours ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

Rivers para team has been impressive in the third edition of the competition. The first-timers have made a significant impact on the games.

Speaking at the event, the State Director of Sports, Obia Inyingikabo, who is the leader of the contingent, has praised her athletes for their commitment and determination to make the state proud.

According to her, the impressive performance of the athletes is unprecedented despite the fact that they relatively prepared late for completion.

“I am not in doubt that team Rivers in this competition will finish tops,” Inyingikabo said.

Meanwhile, below are the medals won by the para team Rivers.

Para table tennis:

14 gold, 6 silver, and 5 bronze,

Shooting, 1 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze. Cycling: 1 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze. Swimming: 1 gold, 2 bronze, Badminton: 1 gold and 1 silver. Para powerlifting: 1 gold and 1 bronze; para athletics: 1 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze.

Tonye Orabere

Sports

Ondo Women Shine At Gov Diri Wrestling Classics

Published

22 hours ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

Female wrestlers in action at Governor Diri Wrestling Classics.

Ondo State wrestlers dominated the women’s events on Day six of the fourth Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa on Monday, claiming gold medals in two of the four women’s freestyle categories.

African champion Khadijat Idris of Ondo State led the charge in the 55kg division, defeating rising talent Mary Ayeloh of Bayelsa State by technical superiority to claim gold. Happiness Soso of Delta State and Augustine Rhoda of Lagos State took bronze medals in the category.

Damola Ojo also flew the Ondo flag proudly in the 76kg event, retaining her title after defeating all opponents in a round-robin format. Nigeria Army wrestler Laide Ojo settled for silver, while Juliet Ogo of Bayelsa State and Mercy Alison of Abia State each claimed bronze.

In the 62kg category, Patience Kakanda of Bayelsa State produced the upset of the day, defeating Nigeria Army’s Precious Tieberi 3-1 in the final to be crowned the new champion. Isioma Abojei of Delta State and Blessing Apah of Dynamite Club won bronze medals.

Rivers State’s Esther Asaolu also retained her title in the 59kg division, overcoming all her opponents in the round-robin format, with Patience Opuene of Bayelsa State finishing as runner-up.

In the men’s events, Solomon Ulabo of Bayelsa State claimed gold in the 79kg category, with Kpum Ayibasisei of Edo State taking silver and Rasheed Saliu of Ondo State and Ebisindei Okorie of Dynamite Club winning bronze. NewLife Ebikeme of Bayelsa State won the 92kg gold, ahead of Perezidei Obaze of Edo State in silver position, while Tobechukwu Udeh of the Nigeria Army and Timilehin Adekanmi of Ondo State claimed bronze medals.