Fans Commend Eagles’ Commitment

Published

15 years ago

February 11, 2011

Football fans have said that the Super Eagles 2-1 victory over the Leone Stars on Wednesday showed that the players and their coaches were committed to rebuilding the national team.

The fans said after the encounter at the Tesilm Balogun Stadium that the team exhibited a high team spirit.

“Though the result was slim, I must say that it is a good beginning for the team,” Femi Atolagbe, a banker, said.

“The team spirit must be commended. All the players displayed the commitment and coordination required to rebuild a team that has lost the confidence of fans.

“I want to also commend Coach Samson Siasia for his good leadership role and tactical discipline.

“He has been able to bring Nigerian players together and given all the opportunity to prove themselves.”

Bimbo Akinola, a businessman, said that the team should be given time to mature.

“This is a new team. Nigerians should not judge them with the result of the match because they need time to mature.

“Many of them are playing together for the first time and need to blend over time with continuous playing and understanding of one another.

“I only hope that they will continue to display the high level of commitment and patriotism they showed here which the last Super Eagles lacked,” Akinola said.

He urged the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) to organise more friendly matches for the team to avoid woeful performances in major competitions.

Osasu Obayuiwana, Associate Editor of New African Magazine, said that the match was just a friendly encounter which would serve as part of the team’s rebuilding process.

“The team still has a lot of work to do in coordination to understand each other.

“For now there is no cause for me to complain too much since we won the match anyway,” he said.

Fred Edore, a sports journalist, said that the team was going through the process of reconstruction and confidence building.

“This is a new effort in rebuilding our football and all hands must be on deck,’’ he said.

“The technical crew did not limit the players to the already established ones; the home-based were equally given the opportunity to prove themselves, even the reserves played except the goalkeeper.”

On the choice of Sierra Leone, he said it was good for a team that is going through transformation.

Meanwhile, Siasia commended the Lagos fans but blamed the synthetic pitch for the 2-1 score.

“Lagos fans are wonderful, they are one of the best spectators in the world; they cheer you when you are playing well and boo you when you are not playing well.

“For me, playing in Lagos is like playing an away match and I need to play well to get the support of the fans.

“Our problem is not with the fans but with the pitch. Most of the players are playing for the first time on such a pitch which made it a bit difficult for them to express themselves.

“But what is most important for us is that we won; this is part of our preparation for the Nations’ Cup qualifier against Ethiopia which is a must win,” Siasia said.

Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo called on the fans to keep supporting the team to bring back the country’s lost glory in football.

“Considering the time and preparation, the result is not bad for we put in our best to redeem the image of the national team after the poor performance of the World Cup in South Africa.

“The pitch and the limited time we had for preparation were responsible for the slim victory but we urge our fans to keep supporting us because this is a new Super Eagles,” Yobo said.

Tottenham’s Miserable Run Continues

Published

8 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Relegation-threatened Tottenham’s miserable 2026 continued as their winless run extended to 10 league games with Fulham gaining a deserved victory to boost their hopes of qualifying for European football.

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

Published

8 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

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

PSG Extend Lead In Ligue 1

Published

8 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Paris St-Germain stretched their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to four points by claiming a narrow win at Le Havre.

The defending champions hoped to take advantage after second-placed Lens drew at Strasbourg on Friday, and Bradley Barcola gave them a deserved lead shortly before half-time.

PSG had chances to extend their lead and substitute Desire Doue had a late penalty saved by Le Havre goalkeeper Mory Diaw.

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.