Sports
Cameroon’s Coach Expects Matip Return

Cameroon coach Hugo Broos reveals he would like to have Joel Matip back in the national team set up after the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Gabon.
The Indomitable Lions are through to the quarter-finals of the biennial continental showpiece after playing to a 0-0 draw in their final Group B match against hosts, Gabon on Sunday.
Matip reportedly announced his retirement from the national side, yet Broos called him for AFCON with the defender rejecting the call-up to focus on Liverpool instead.
“I hope he’ll change his mind and we’ll see him in the next game (after the Nations Cup) because he’s a fantastic player,” Broos told Tidesports source
“I’m very happy that this problem is solved and he can play again for Liverpool and I hope, really I hope, that he’s thinking again why shouldn’t I play with Cameroon.
“I think everyone is free to make a decision and he made the decision not to come with us here for the Nations Cup.
“I respect his decision but I also think the Cameroon Federation had to do what it has done because they are the FIFA rules and it’s too easy to say no, I don’t come.
“But this problem is solved now, for me there is no problem anymore and I still hope, as I have done since I was coach of Cameroon, that he will come back and play with us again.”
Meanwhile, FIFA rules state, a player may be blocked from featuring for his club if he refuses to play for his country, but on Friday Matip was cleared to play.
The Reds defender last played for the national team in 2015 and was not included in their final 23-man squad for the tournament.
Sports
CAFCL: Finidi Laud Players Over Impressive Performance
Sports
Umuahia Hosts Africa Para- Badminton Championship
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Sports
FIFA U20: Flying Eagles Narrowly Loss to Norway
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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