Sports
African Players Thank, Celebrate Wenger

As news broke that Arsene Wenger is to leave English club Arsenal at the end of the season, there was an immediate outpouring of affection for the manager from African fans and players alike.
From current Liberia President George Weah at Monaco to Wenger’s last signing at Arsenal – Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – the Frenchman has been a strong supporter of African players.
His knack of signing and nurturing some of the continent’s biggest names has been a distinguishable feature of his 22 years at the helm.
It therefore comes as no surprise that all 16 African footballers to have played in the colours of Arsenal all made their appearances under Wenger.
The unconditional love affair started in Africa when Wenger was manager of French side Monaco.
He discovered Liberia’s George Weah through a friend and signed him from Cameroonian side Tonnerre Yaoundé in 1988, becoming a father figure to the young striker.
Weah went on to become the only player to win the African, European and World footballer of the year titles in one season – in 1995.
The former Monaco, PSG, Milan, Chelsea and Marseille striker, who remains the only African to be voted as the world’s top player, has a lot to thank Wenger for.
“Every time I go on the pitch, playing for Arsene Wenger, I wanted him to know the ways I could pay him back. I could break my knee, my face, my hand for him – just to win a game.”
“He took care of me like his son, I could not believe it. When racism was at its peak, this is a man who showed me love.
“Besides God, I think that without Arsene, there was no way I would have made it in Europe,” Weah recalled to Tidesports source.
And when Wenger became Arsenal boss in September 1996 following Bruce Rioch’s departure, Weah’s cousin Christopher Wreh was Wenger’s first African signing.
Snapped up from his last French club Monaco in August 1997, Wreh scored three important goals in 28 appearances.
During his time at Highbury, Wreh won the Premier League and FA Cup double in the 1997/98 campaign and also lifted the FA Charity Shield.
Wreh is one of 16 African footballers to have played for Arsenal in the Premier League since it began in 1992, all making their appearances under the Frenchman.
Those numbers are only half the story. As friends, families and fans rocked up to support the team, the Frenchman’s impeccable faith in signing African players further attracted legions of fans on the continent.
Much of the Gunners’ popularity in Africa can be put down to the “Invincibles”, the record-breaking team of the 2003-04 season which won the league without losing a single match, as part of a 49-game unbeaten run.
Arsenal’s march to that incredible feat would not have been possible without the valuable contributions of three African stars. All three played starring roles at different moments, and none fluffed their lines.
A strong showing of Ivorian Kolo Toure, Cameroon defender Lauren and Nigerian Nwankwo Kanu made them even more popular. Kanu is surely one of the main reasons for Arsenal’s popularity in Nigeria as well.
Kanu, who helped Arsenal to two Premier League and FA Cup titles in a five-year stint at Arsenal, paid tribute to Wenger’s great service to the club, his career and the continent.
“Big shoes for anyone to fill, playing for Arsenal under Arsene was one of the best period of my career, two Premiership, two FA cups, The invincibles, playing with some of the best assembled players, influencing millions of fans in Africa to support this great club,” Kanu wrote on Twitter.
Lauren played 159 league games for Arsenal between 2000 and 2007 and also picked up two league titles and three FA Cups. He swiftly followed suit by highlighting his legacy.
“An emotional day. Arsene took English football to a different level and pushed me to become the player I never thought I’d be. Let’s cherish the memories and his legacy, which will always remain.
“We must thank him for giving his all to make Arsenal such a great club,” Lauren tweeted.
Nigerian youngster Alex Iwobi was not even born when Wenger took over the club, but the Super Eagle has risen from the academy to become a first team player under Wenger.
The 20-year-old also took to social media to reflect on Wenger’s influence.
“For everything you’ve done for Arsenal Football Club, for trusting me as a teenager, for giving me the opportunity to express myself and grow both as a footballer and as a person. I will forever be grateful to you boss. Thank You So Much!,” he said.
Notably, Wenger often divided opinion on the continent due to the timing of the Africa Cup of Nations – which was traditionally played during January and February.
He stressed in 2004 that the timing was beginning to harm the prospects of African players signing for major European clubs – because teams had reservations about losing players for a month in the middle of the season.
But as other Premier League managers continued to criticise the poor timing of the tournament, Wenger won the hearts of millions around the continent by consistently signing and standing by African players.
Since then, Wenger’s desire for the Nations Cup tournament to be held in June has finally been approved.
Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shone brilliantly in France, matured as a top footballer in Germany, but failed to attract other top European clubs. However Wenger brought him to the Premier League by making him his last Arsenal signing in January.
Aubameyang could not have put it more succinctly when he posted on Twitter: “I’m your last signing but since I’m here, I’m proud to be your player Boss thanks for everything.”
Culled from BBC Sport
Sports
Tottenham Fight Back To Hold Brighton
Tottenham fought back from two-goals down to secure a deserved point against Brighton.
The Seagulls were second best for much of the match but found themselves 2-0 up after 31 minutes thanks to Yankuba Minteh’s early strike and Yasin Ayari’s powerful drive.
However, Richarlison halved the deficit just before half-time when he stopped a shot by Mohammed Kudus before slotting in.
Spurs dominated the second half but their finishing let them down as Richarlison and substitute Xavi Simons were both unable to make the most of promising opportunities.
But the equaliser came eight minutes from time when Jan Paul van Hecke turned Kudus’ cross into his own net.
Spurs then pushed for a winner as they looked to continue their impressive start to the season, but Brighton held on for the point.
Bundesliga: Kane Continues Goal Harvest (5)
Harry Kane scored his second hat-trick of the season as Bayern Munich overcame a shaky start to win at Hoffenheim and continue their 100% start.
The England captain, 32, broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time with a clinical first-time finish from a cleverly worked low corner, and doubled Bayern’s lead from the spot after Albian Hajdari was harshly penalised for a handball.
That broke Hoffenheim’s resistance and Kane completed his ninth Bundesliga hat-trick with another penalty, given for a foul on substitute Michael Olise after a video assistant referee (VAR) check.
This time Kane sent home keeper Oliver Baumann the wrong way for his 13th Bayern goal in seven matches across all competitions this season, adding to his Champions League double against Chelsea last Wednesday.
“Hat-trick Harry is what they called me in school,” Kane told Tidesports source after the match. “That one kind of stuck when I was younger.”
“Any ball in the box, whether penalty or not, I back myself to hit the target.”
Hoffenheim had the better of the first 45 minutes, Fisnik Asllani only able to hit the post after goalkeeper Manuel Neuer passed straight to the Kosovan.
They eventually got some reward for their efforts, former West Ham full-back Vladimir Coufal’s deflected free-kick beating Neuer to earn the Czech his first goal for the club.
Ex-Liverpool winger Luis Diaz hit the top of the bar late on as he failed to continue his record of scoring in every Bundesliga game this season, but Serge Gnabry added a fourth for Bayern with the last kick, converting a rebound from a tight angle after Baumann saved from Joshua Kimmich.
Nicolas Jackson made his first start since joining Bayern on an initial loan deal from Chelsea, but the Senegal striker had a very quiet game before being replaced in the 62nd minute.
In Italy, Lorenzo Pellegrini fired Roma into the Serie A top four as Lazio had two players sent off in a fiery derby.
The midfielder found the bottom corner in the 38th minute as Roma extended their unbeaten run to four games against their city rivals.
Lazio have lost three of their opening games of the season and had Reda Belahyane and former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi dismissed in late drama.
Roma started well and Rome-born Pellegrini claimed the vital goal – his fourth in a Rome derby after being available for transfer in the summer – following good work down the right by Matias Soule.
But the hosts will rue missed opportunities as Boulaye Dia, Mattia Zaccagni and Alessio Romagnoli all had openings.
With four minutes left substitute Belahyane was shown a red card for a late studs-up challenge on Manu Kone.
Danilo Cataldi struck the outside of the post for Lazio in a last-gasp effort to snatch a point, while team-mate Guendouzi was sent off for dissent after the final whistle.
Sports
Zidane’s Son Switches Allegiance To Algeria
Luca Zidane, the son of France’s World Cup-winning playmaker Zinedine, has switched his international allegiance from France to Algeria.
Born just outside Marseille, the 27-year-old goalkeeper had appeared for France at various youth levels.
The move, which was approved by Fifa, may enable Zidane to follow in his father’s footsteps by appearing at a World Cup, with Algeria expected to secure a place at the 2026 finals in North America in their qualifier against Somalia next month.
Zidane, who is the second of four brothers, all of whom came through the Real Madrid academy, currently plays for Spanish second tier side Granada.
He played two matches for Madrid and has La Liga experience at Rayo Vallecano, but dropped a level in 2022 to play for Eibar before heading to Andalusia in 2024.
Zidane qualifies for the North African country through his father, whose parents hailed from the Kabylie region of Algeria.
Zinedine Zidane, who is regarded as one of the games greatest players scored twice for France in their 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil, but was famously sent-off in the 2006 final, which was won by Italy after a penalty shootout.
Sports
Man Utd Beat Chelsea To Ease Pressure
Manchester United capitalised on Robert Sanchez’s fifth-minute red card to secure a crucial victory over Chelsea in torrential rain at Old Trafford.
The first match in Premier League history to see two or more goals, red cards and substitutions in the first half was settled by goals from United skipper Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, who was the other player sent off before the break.
It was Sanchez’s dismissal that set the course of the game though.
The Spain international raced from his goal to meet Bryan Mbeumo as the striker ran beyond the Chelsea defence.
Sanchez then upended the forward outside his area rather than allow him past to tap the ball into an empty net.
Enzo Maresca’s response to the red card was to take off both Pedro Neto and Estevao Willian and, as Cole Palmer had to be replaced after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury, Chelsea had lost three attacking players in the space of 20 minutes.
Trevor Chalobah pulled one back for Chelsea with a header 10 minutes from time but United kept their nerves at bay to make it to the final whistle with their lead intact.
The victory was United’s second of the season and came in front of minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who gave head coach Ruben Amorim assurances over his future 48 hours earlier.
It also means Chelsea have still not won at Old Trafford since 2013, when Sir Alex Ferguson was United manager.
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