Sports
2019 Super 4: NWFL Hails Wike, Rivers Angels On Feat
The management board of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) ably led by Aisha Falode has warmly congratulated the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and the Rivers State owned Women’s premier League team, Rivers Angels, for their well-deserved victory at the just concluded 2018/2019 Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) Super 4 championship.
The Jewels of Rivers defeated hard-fighting newcomers, Confluence Queens of Lokoja, with one unanswered goal at the final of the 2019 NWPL Super 4 on Sunday at the Agege Stadium in Lagos.
Cecilia Nku’s well-taken penalty in the second minute proved decisive to hand the Port Harcourt side the enviable trophy and seventh domestic title in the hotly contested final that was witnessed by two serving cabinent ministers, the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Mrs Paulen Tallen, the Youth and Sports Minister, Sunday Dare as well as the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Phillip Shaibu represented by the chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, Barrister Godwin Dudu-Orumen, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick represented by the NFF first vice president and Lagos state FA chairman, Barr Seyi Akinwunmi, the Nigeria Referees Association president, Tade Azeez, former Nigerian internationals and NWFL board members, among other dignitaries.
Falode, who took special notice of the Rivers State governor’s uncommon and unwavering financial support over the years to the team insisted that the team awesome and overwhelming dominance of women’s football in the land would not have been possible without the unfailing interest and support of the governor especially as it concerns the welfare of the team and “We want to congratulate the governor of Rivers State, Wike and the newest Nigerian champions, Rivers Angels for their victory at the just concluded 2018/2019 Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) Super 4.
“We have taken keen interest in the governor’s special and passionate interest and support for the team over the years.
“We make bold to say that the immediate victory and past victories achieved by the team may not have been possible without the huge financial support of the governor to the team.
“Of course, we need not reinstate the obvious that the team happens to be one of those state-owned clubs that earn their salaries regularly.
“Aside, we have equally noted that the governor does not joke with the welfare of the team in every aspect of it.
“Of course, the saying that, to whom much is given, much is expected, is very apt in describing the many laudable achievements of the team over the years.
“Worthy of note is the fact that Rivers Angels are almost the nursery and pool of material for the various national teams.
“Rivers Angels are by virtue of their 2018/2019 NWPL Super 4 victory have become instant beneficiaries of the maiden one week tour to Spain courtesy of the LaLiga/NWFL partnership deal.
“We plead with the governor to further open his coast especially now that the team will be shouldering the whole responsibility of the Women League as ambassadors to the first of its kind NWFL supervised tour of Spain,” said the NWFL chairperson, Falode.
Additionally, the 2019 Nigerian champions, Rivers Angels, pocketed the championship prize money of N3million and giant trophy. The first runners-up, Confluence Queens took home N2million, while the second runners-up, Bayelsa Queens pocketed N1million for their efforts.
Rivers Angels, too equally qualified to engage the 2018 Aiteo Cup winners, Nasarawa Amazons in the upcoming third edition of the best of the best championship the Champions Shield.
Sports
Inter Best Juventus To Maintain Serie A Lead
Andrea Cambiaso scored at both ends during the first half of Saturday’s Derby d’Italia, before Pierre Kalulu’s red card forced Juventus to play the entire second half a man light.
Substitute Francesco Pio Esposito got Inter back in front with a bullet header, then Manuel Locatelli’s pinpoint finish looked to have salvaged a point for the Bianconeri, before Zielinski struck on the cusp of stoppage time.
Juventus made the brighter start, but they were masters of their own downfall in the 17th minute, when Cambiaso deflected Luis Henrique’s cross beyond Michele Di Gregorio.
Cambiaso atoned within nine minutes, catching Henrique on his heels when Weston McKennie’s cross squirmed through to the back post and applying a side-footed finish.
But after Bremer cleared Zielinski’s dinked effort off the line, Juve’s hopes were damaged when Kalulu received his second yellow card for a 42nd-minute pull on Alessandro Bastoni, though the Inter centre-back appeared to go down theatrically.
Di Gregorio made a remarkable stop to thwart Hakan Calhanoglu, but as Juventus dropped ever deeper, they were punished when substitute Esposito guided Federico Dimarco’s searching cross into the far corner with 76 minutes on the clock.
It looked like Inter would have to settle for a point when Locatelli whipped a wonderful finish into the bottom-left corner in the 83rd minute, but Zielinski had the final say as his 20-yard drive fizzed through Locatelli’s legs and beat Di Gregorio.
Sports
Szoboszlai’s Real Madrid Dream Sparks Concern At Liverpool
A cloud of uncertainty has settled over Liverpool after comments from Hungary head coach Marco Rossi reignited speculation about Dominik Szoboszlai and Real Madrid.
Rossi, who has worked closely with Szoboszlai since his teenage years, revealed that the midfielder’s lifelong ambition is to play for the Spanish giants.
“Because of the very close and direct relationship I’ve had with Dominik since he was a child, Real Madrid has always been his dream,” Rossi said.
For a Liverpool side building around Szoboszlai as a centerpiece of Arne Slot’s project, those words landed hard.
Within hours of Rossi’s remarks, Szoboszlai interacted on social media with two Real Madrid players, applauding posts from Vinicius Junior and Trent Alexander-Arnold following Madrid’s win over Real Sociedad.
His reaction to Vinicius’ post drew particular attention. The exchange with Alexander-Arnold, his former Liverpool teammate, was seen as less surprising.
Still, in the hyper-connected world of elite soccer, even a digital thumbs-up can carry weight. On Merseyside, fans and pundits quickly began dissecting the meaning behind the interactions.
Szoboszlai, Hungary’s captain, has become one of Liverpool’s most influential players. That status is precisely why Rossi’s comments triggered such an intense reaction in England.
The midfielder had just delivered on the field as well, scoring in Liverpool’s 3-0 FA Cup fourth-round victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield.
After the match, Mohamed Salah heaped praise on his teammate, calling Szoboszlai “the best player in the world.” Slot struck a slightly more measured tone but echoed the sentiment.
“I think there are many elite players in the world, but I definitely agree with Mo that he is one of them,” Slot said. “He is very important for us.”
Szoboszlai is under contract at Liverpool through 2028. However, the club is reportedly eager to open extension talks in the coming months to secure his long-term future.
The player himself addressed the situation recently with notable candor.
“There’s nothing yet, to be honest. Nothing from now on. It’s not in my hands. That’s how it works,” he said. “There’s no progress, but if the right offer comes, we’ll see.”
He was equally clear about his affection for Liverpool.
“We’ll see what happens. Hopefully everyone will be happy in the end. Of course I want to stay. I like the city, I like the club, I like playing with these guys. I love Anfield, I love the fans. Let’s see what the future brings. It’s not my fault. I’d love to stay. We’ll see.”
Inter’s dramatic victory boosted their lead over rivals AC Milan to eight points, ahead of the Rossoneri hosting Como on Wednesday. Juventus, meanwhile, could drop out of the top four as Roma visited Napoli last night.
The last four Serie A matches between Inter and Juventus have produced a total of 21 goals (an average of 5.25 per game), compared to just nine in the previous six (1.5 per game).
Cambiaso became the first player in Derby d’Italia history to score and put through his own net in the same match between these old rivals, but it was Zielinski’s fifth Serie A goal of the season that proved decisive.
Inter will argue they were deserved victors after amassing 21 shots and 1.88 expected goals (xG), while Luciano Spalletti’s visitors mustered 10 shots and 0.92 xG – though the Bianconeri actually attempted six of their shots while down a man in the second half.
Sports
Wolves Beat Man Utd Conquerors
Premier League strugglers Wolves overcame resolute Grimsby Town in challenging conditions at Blundell Park to reach the FA Cup fifth round at the expense of the side that eliminated Manchester United in the last round.
Santiago Bueno scored from Wolves’ only shot on target with an hour played, diverting Joao Gomes’ cross past goalkeeper Jackson Smith with his thigh to end the League Two club’s resistance.
Unrelenting rainfall caused heavy ground underfoot and one penalty area in particular- that of Grimsby’s Smith in the first half – was already a quagmire before kick-off.
Charles Vernam shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box with just 43 seconds on the clock as Grimsby sought to catch their top-flight visitors cold.
Wolves had to wait until the 17th minute for their first opportunity of note, forward Tolu Arokodare firing over with a first-time attempt.
The white paint of the pitch markings soon blended and blurred with the mud as the surface rapidly deteriorated, and both sides struggled to stitch together cohesive attacks as passes travelled unpredictably across the sodden ground.
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