Sports
Fans Urge S’ Eagles To Be Focused …Celebrate Victory
Football fans across the
country, celebrating the home-based Super Eagles’ victory against their Republic of Niger counterparts at the ongoing Championship for African Nations (CHAN) have urged them to remain focussed.
Tidesports reports that the Eagles on Monday in their opening group game, defeated the Mena of Niger 4-1 at the Stade de Kigali Stadium, Rwanda.
The fans also appealed to the Eagles not to be complacent but to concentrate on their remaining matches for them to triumph in the tournament.
In Ebonyi, the fans hailed the precision with which the home-based Eagles ‘annihilated’ Niger Republic, saying they won because of the coach’s tactical analysis of the match after the first half.
They also attributed the victory of the Nigerian boys to the players’ adherence to the instructions of their coach.
Chief Nicodemus Omenka, a former Ebonyi Commissioner for Sports, commended the team for its precision in all departments of the match, especially in the second half.
“The players showed utmost desire to win which reflected in the way they ‘annihilated’ Niger, especially in the second half.
“I could not agree less with the Supersports Television Network commentator, who remarked that Nigeria is a country blessed with immense footballing talents,’’ he said.
Harrison Obasi, Coach of Amateur League side, Ebonyi United FC, also praised Coach Sunday Oliseh for his tactical dexterity, noting that he analysed the first half efficiently.
“Oliseh realised that the Nigerien defenders always play the Nigerian strikers offside in the first half because they relied on long passes from the defence and midfield.
“He then deployed tactics where the passes came from the wings and on the ground from the midfield, this made the linesman get tired of ‘blowing’ for offside,” he said.
Palmer Iyanwa, a player of Defunct Anambra State Environmental Sanitation Agency (ASESA) Warriors, expressed joy over the hat-trick and heroic contributions of Chisom Chikatara in the match.
“Chikatara showed that his consistent form for Abia Warriors was no fluke as he painted a positive picture of the talents which abound in the Nigerian league.
“He ensured that Oliseh’s second half tactics worked by meandering through the Nigerien defence which checked their offside tactics and also positioned him effectively for goals,’’ he said.
Mr Elvis Ikwu, a Dentist, however warned the Eagles against complacency in their subsequent matches, especially against teams such as Tunisia with an “imposing domestic football’’ pedigree.
“This is the team’s first match and it will meet more established teams than Niger on their way to clinching the ultimate victory.
“The players should approach subsequent matches with utmost seriousness as they are presently the target of all teams in the competition,’’ he said.
Mrs Nnenna Mgbada, a civil servant, called on Nigerians to continue praying for the team, adding that the Nigerian team had a long way toward achieving its goal.
“The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), should ensure that the players are well motivated to ensure total concentration all through the competition,’’ she said.
In Okitipupa, Ondo State, the fans told NAN that the victory was a sign that the Eagles have bounced back to their winning ways.
Coach Samson Unuanel of Sunshine Stars FC of Akure, who commended the Eagles victory, said that they have put smiles on the faces of football fans across the country.
“I think the Eagles are back on their winning ways and if they can continue like this, they will go far in the championship,’’ he said.
From Jos, Coach Gbenga Ogunbote of Giwa FC, advised the national team players to intensify their fighting spirit to win other matches.
“I think they have performed well, but they should sustain the fighting spirit for them to be victorious in subsequent matches,’’ Ogunbote said.
Michael Akintunde, a sports presenter, hailed the Eagles technical and coaching crew for excellent jobs.
He urged the team to always play to instructions to win other matches.
“I think the technical crew has done a very good job; I only wish the players will continue to play to instructions in other matches,’’ Akintunde said.
Another sports analyst, Oluwatoyin Olafusi, said that the team should not be carried away by the euphoria of the victory but should concentrate more on other matches ahead.
Tidesports gathered that the Eagles’ second half goals from Osas Okoro and a hat-trick from Abia Warriors of Umuahia scoring sensation, Chisom Chikatara left the Nigeriens without a point from the encounter.
The Tidesports source further reports that the Eagles will play their second match against Tunisia on Friday.
Liverpool’s season of abject misery worsened as they were beaten with embarrassing ease by a hugely impressive Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
Arne Slot’s Premier League champions were looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat at Manchester City, but instead ran into a Forest side revitalised under new manager Sean Dyche and looking back to their best.
Liverpool head coach Slot gave £125m British record signing Alexander Isak a start, but he was totally anonymous once more and only lasted 67 minutes.
Forest went ahead after 33 minutes when defender Murillo shot powerfully past fit-again Liverpool keeper Alisson to subdue an already anxious Anfield.
Igor Jesus had a second ruled out for handball, but Forest doubled their advantage 39 seconds after the break when former Liverpool defender Neco Williams set up Nicola Savona for a crisp finish in front of The Kop.
Liverpool could barely raise a response in a desperate display, Forest increasing their lead 12 minutes from time when Morgan Gibbs-White scored after Alisson saved from Omari Hutchinson.
It means Liverpool, who lie 11th before Saturday’s late fixture, have now lost six of their past seven Premier League games as Slot’s near £450m summer spending spree comes under further scrutiny.
Forest, meanwhile, are surging away from the relegation zone and are up to 16th.
Michael Olise scored twice and provided a hat-trick of assists as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich came from two goals down to thrash Freiburg.
The visitors stunned the defending champions by taking a 2-0 lead after just 17 minutes when Yuito Suzuki scored from close range and Johan Manzambi rose highest to head home Jan-Niklas Beste’s corner.
Bayern, who had not lost in the league since March, responded superbly and had restored parity by half-time.
Teenager Lennart Karl fired into the bottom corner from Olise’s pass in the 22nd minute and set up the Frenchman for a fierce finish in first-half injury-time, although Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu should have done better.
Bayern took control in the second period as Dayot Upamecano headed home Olise’s corner to put them ahead for the first time.
England captain Harry Kane netted his 14th league goal of the campaign on the hour mark, before Olise made it three assists when he threaded a pass through for Nicolas Jackson to finish at the first time of asking in the 78th minute.
Winger Olise completed a sensational afternoon with his second of the game six minutes later, driving at the Freiburg defence and curling into the far corner.
A 10th victory in the first 11 games left Bayern eight points clear of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, while Freiburg remain 10th in the standings.
Vincent Kompany’s side visit Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday with both sides having a perfect record of four wins so far in the league phase of the competition.
AS FAR Morocco Win African Women’s Champions League (8)
AS FAR held firm to beat debutants ASEC Mimosas 2-1 in the African Women’s Champions League final and become continental champions for the second time.
Hanane Ait El Haj put the Moroccan club ahead from the penalty spot in the 13th minute after Safa Banouk had been tripped by Aboa Yapo.
ASEC Mimosas rallied after the break and Ami Priscal Diallo netted a fine header from Sopie Brou’s cross to drag the Ivory Coast club level 10 minutes into the second half.
But AS FAR were handed a second spot-kick in the closing stages when Noura Diarra committed a rash challenge on Sofia Bouftini.
This time it was Zineb Redouani who stepped up to stroke home in the 85th minute and restore her side’s lead.
Asastasie Gbehi came close to forcing extra time but she poked wide of the post in stoppage time, and the centre-back was sent off after the full-time whistle for dissent.
AS FAR move level with South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns as two-time winners of the title, having first lifted the trophy in 2022.
The Rabat-based side will now take on Chinese’s Wuhan Jiangda on 14 December for a place at next year’s Fifa Women’s Champions Cup.
The winner of that match will face European champions Arsenal in the semi-finals of the inaugural competition early next year in London.
Barcelona moved to the top of La Liga on Saturday with an emphatic win over 10-man Athletic Club in their first match at the Spotify Camp Nou since May 2023.
Robert Lewandowski scored their first goal back in their iconic home, which had been closed for extensive renovations, in the fourth minute.
Ferran Torres then netted twice in the second half, each assisted by wonderful skill from Lamine Yamal, who was aged just 15 in his only previous Nou Camp appearance.
Fermin Lopez also struck in the 48th minute, while visiting midfielder Oihan Sancet was sent off for a crude challenge on Lopez just six minutes later.
Large sections of the Nou Camp remained closed for the game, which was played in front of a 45,157 crowd.
The rebuilding work, which was originally scheduled to be finished in November 2024, will eventually increase the stadium’s capacity to 105,000.
Barca moved to 31 points from 13 games and top on goal difference, but Real Madrid had the chance to replace them, if they won at Elche in their game in hand, late last night.
Poland striker Lewandowski got his side off to the perfect start when he drove his low shot in off the arm of Athletic Club goalkeeper Unai Simon for an eighth league goal of the season.
The home side extended their lead in first-half added time as Yamal’s superb pass off the outside of his foot set up Torres for a good finish.
Lopez made it 3-0 three minutes after the restart, drilling a shot past Simon from near the penalty spot.
Sancet’s tackle from behind on Lopez was initially deemed a yellow card, but upgraded to red after the referee consulted with the video assistant referee (VAR).
And just before full-time, Yamal twisted and turned before sending Torres away to claim his second goal, which was originally disallowed for offside but overturned following a VAR check.
It was a dream return to their ground, with the reigning Spanish champions having mostly played at the 55,000 capacity Olympic Stadium on the city’s Montjuic hill since renovations on the Nou Camp began in June 2023.
They were forced to play two matches at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium, home to their women’s team, this season after failing to get a permit for the Nou Camp through safety reasons.
Pogba Returns To Action In Ligue 1 (6)
Paul Pogba played his first minutes of professional football in more than two years as he came off the bench during Monaco’s 4-1 defeat by Rennes at the weekend.
The 32-year-old was introduced in the 85th minute at Rennes’ Roazhon Park, though his side were already four goals and a player down, following a red card for captain Denis Zakaria.
French World Cup winner Pogba broke down in tears when he joined Ligue 1 club Monaco last summer, after his four-year doping ban was reduced to 19 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).
Pogba’s last competitive appearance was 811 days ago, when he featured for Juventus in a Serie A match against Empoli on 3 September 2023. He left Juventus by mutual consent in November 2024.
Pogba was provisionally banned from football for four years after a positive test for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in February 2024, following a doping test in August 2023.
Pogba maintained it was a mistake and that he was given a supplement without knowing it contained a banned substance.
The former Manchester United midfielder was permitted to return to football in March following the decision to reduce his ban.
Pogba watched from the bench as goals from Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Mahdi Camara, Breel Embolo and Ludovic Blas put Rennes out of sight.
Fellow substitute Mika Biereth pulled a goal back for Monaco in the 95th minute, but a second consecutive 4-1 defeat means Sebastien Pocognoli’s side drop to eighth in the table with 20 points after 13 games.
