Sports
‘Fitness, Key For Senegal’s World Cup Hopes’
Stoke City’s Senegalese midfielder, Papa Alioune Ndiaye says it is vital his fellow international team-mates stay injury-free ahead of the World Cup.
Senegal has been drawn in Group H in Russia, alongside Poland, Columbia and Japan, and Ndiaye says the fitness of players will be key.
“We are not there yet, we have to focus on our clubs first but I hope no one gets injured so that we all go to represent our country and play our best,” Ndiaye told Tidesports source.
Russia will mark Senegal’s return to the World Cup for the first time since 2002.
At their last appearance, Senegal reached the quarter-finals, beating France along the way and Ndiaye admitted that the Senegalese players have started discussing Russia 2018.
“We are talking about it (World Cup) and it’s a great opportunity for our generation to play at the World Cup.
“We just have to be focused. If you think too much about it then injury will happen. We just have to play our game not to think so much about getting injured.
“With the help of God everything will be ok,” said the midfielder adding that being fit is “not only about the World Cup but as a professional you always have to look after yourself.”
Also known as Badou Ndiaye, the 27-year-old joined Premier League side Stoke City in January from Turkish giants Galatasaray.
A graduate of Senegal’s famous Diambars football academy, he has been capped eight times by the Teranga Lions and was part of their Nations Cup squad in Gabon last year.
He has become a regular in a Senegal side that boasts other Premier League stars including his Stoke City team-mate Mame Biram Diouf, Liverpool’s Sadio Mane, Everton’s Idrissa Gana Gueye and West Ham and Senegal captain Cheikhou Kouyate.
Meanwhile, Ndiaye says he is settling in well at his new English club and hopes Stoke can survive relegation.
Stoke City lie second from bottom in the English Premier League with ten games to go.
“We have a quality team with good players and we are working hard in training.
“We just have to keep working like this to take more points and I am positive that we will be safe,” said Ndiaye.
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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