Sports
Rivers Angels Charged To Conquer Africa
Rivers Angels Football Club of Port Harcourt, now christened Rivers Angels International FC has been charged to go and not only pick a ticket for the maiden edition of CAF Women’s Champions League proper in the imminent qualifying series in Cote D’Ivoire, but go all the way to the title in the main event in Egypt. Players of the team were assured that victory in the continental championship would not only be glorious to Rivers state and Nigeria, but an opportunity to change their lives through the magnanimity of their number one supporter and sports loving Governor of the state, Chief Nyesom Wike.
All these unfolded at the sent- forth ceremony of the team to the Champions League qualifiers organised by the Rivers State Ministry of Sports last Wednesday before they jetted out to Abidjan.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Special Guest of Honour and state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Amb. Desmond Akawor told the team that their movement to fly the flag of the state and country at the championship is historic and an opportunity to taste the large heartedness of Governor Wike, once they return with laurels. “You have a sports loving Governor that would change your lives if you win. Please do not disappoint the state, do not disappoint the Governor, do not disappoint the Ministry of Sports that have worked very hard for you”, he charged the team.
He went ahead to promise the team, on behalf of PDP, the sum of one million naira for each goal scored in Abidjan and the chances of becoming landladies if they win the title.
Earlier, the Sports Commissioner, Hon Boma Iyaye, while admonishing the team said that the ceremony was organised to make the team realize that it is carrying the banner of millions of Rivers people and Nigerians. He stated that all that the team needed to excel at the tournament had been provided by the sports loving governor, thus, Iyaye declared that there would be no excuse for failure. “The only thing you can do now to reciprocate the gesture of the state is to qualify in Abidjan and win in Egypt. We want to conquer Africa, you are not going to Cote d’Ivoire for jamboree, you are going for serious business. There would be nothing like second best, we’re the best and would continue to keep the standard. Go to Abidjan, qualify, then go to Egypt and conquer Africa”, Iyaye charged the team
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to Governor Wike on Real Madrid Academy and Chairman, Rivers State Football Association, Barr. Christopher Green urged the team to go to the tourney to hustle, demonstrate desire to work as a team in order to achieve victory. He restated that the competition is one opportunity made by God for the players to change their lives for good.
The Permanent Secretary, ministry of Sports, Sir Honour Sirawoo on his part noted that the Angels, serial winners in the domestic scene are the first women’s team to represent Nigeria on the continent, which is a testimony to the passion and commitment being demonstrated by Governor Wike in all spheres of life in the state, particularly, sports.
He described Rivers Angels as one of the State’s projects, where the governor, Mr Projects has shown commendable commitment and expressed hope that as the team was being sent-forth uniquely, they would be celebrated on return.
General Manager of the team, Mrs Matilda Otuene-Onyiloha was effusive in her appreciation of the welfare package arranged for them and promised that they would not disappoint.
Rivers Angels qualified for the maiden Africa Women’s champions League appearance after winning the Super-Six Play-off of the league. They will play their first game in Abidjan tomorrow against Hasaacas of Ghana.
By: Gabriel Nwanetanya
Sports
Inter Best Juventus To Maintain Serie A Lead
Andrea Cambiaso scored at both ends during the first half of Saturday’s Derby d’Italia, before Pierre Kalulu’s red card forced Juventus to play the entire second half a man light.
Substitute Francesco Pio Esposito got Inter back in front with a bullet header, then Manuel Locatelli’s pinpoint finish looked to have salvaged a point for the Bianconeri, before Zielinski struck on the cusp of stoppage time.
Juventus made the brighter start, but they were masters of their own downfall in the 17th minute, when Cambiaso deflected Luis Henrique’s cross beyond Michele Di Gregorio.
Cambiaso atoned within nine minutes, catching Henrique on his heels when Weston McKennie’s cross squirmed through to the back post and applying a side-footed finish.
But after Bremer cleared Zielinski’s dinked effort off the line, Juve’s hopes were damaged when Kalulu received his second yellow card for a 42nd-minute pull on Alessandro Bastoni, though the Inter centre-back appeared to go down theatrically.
Di Gregorio made a remarkable stop to thwart Hakan Calhanoglu, but as Juventus dropped ever deeper, they were punished when substitute Esposito guided Federico Dimarco’s searching cross into the far corner with 76 minutes on the clock.
It looked like Inter would have to settle for a point when Locatelli whipped a wonderful finish into the bottom-left corner in the 83rd minute, but Zielinski had the final say as his 20-yard drive fizzed through Locatelli’s legs and beat Di Gregorio.
Sports
Szoboszlai’s Real Madrid Dream Sparks Concern At Liverpool
A cloud of uncertainty has settled over Liverpool after comments from Hungary head coach Marco Rossi reignited speculation about Dominik Szoboszlai and Real Madrid.
Rossi, who has worked closely with Szoboszlai since his teenage years, revealed that the midfielder’s lifelong ambition is to play for the Spanish giants.
“Because of the very close and direct relationship I’ve had with Dominik since he was a child, Real Madrid has always been his dream,” Rossi said.
For a Liverpool side building around Szoboszlai as a centerpiece of Arne Slot’s project, those words landed hard.
Within hours of Rossi’s remarks, Szoboszlai interacted on social media with two Real Madrid players, applauding posts from Vinicius Junior and Trent Alexander-Arnold following Madrid’s win over Real Sociedad.
His reaction to Vinicius’ post drew particular attention. The exchange with Alexander-Arnold, his former Liverpool teammate, was seen as less surprising.
Still, in the hyper-connected world of elite soccer, even a digital thumbs-up can carry weight. On Merseyside, fans and pundits quickly began dissecting the meaning behind the interactions.
Szoboszlai, Hungary’s captain, has become one of Liverpool’s most influential players. That status is precisely why Rossi’s comments triggered such an intense reaction in England.
The midfielder had just delivered on the field as well, scoring in Liverpool’s 3-0 FA Cup fourth-round victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield.
After the match, Mohamed Salah heaped praise on his teammate, calling Szoboszlai “the best player in the world.” Slot struck a slightly more measured tone but echoed the sentiment.
“I think there are many elite players in the world, but I definitely agree with Mo that he is one of them,” Slot said. “He is very important for us.”
Szoboszlai is under contract at Liverpool through 2028. However, the club is reportedly eager to open extension talks in the coming months to secure his long-term future.
The player himself addressed the situation recently with notable candor.
“There’s nothing yet, to be honest. Nothing from now on. It’s not in my hands. That’s how it works,” he said. “There’s no progress, but if the right offer comes, we’ll see.”
He was equally clear about his affection for Liverpool.
“We’ll see what happens. Hopefully everyone will be happy in the end. Of course I want to stay. I like the city, I like the club, I like playing with these guys. I love Anfield, I love the fans. Let’s see what the future brings. It’s not my fault. I’d love to stay. We’ll see.”
Inter’s dramatic victory boosted their lead over rivals AC Milan to eight points, ahead of the Rossoneri hosting Como on Wednesday. Juventus, meanwhile, could drop out of the top four as Roma visited Napoli last night.
The last four Serie A matches between Inter and Juventus have produced a total of 21 goals (an average of 5.25 per game), compared to just nine in the previous six (1.5 per game).
Cambiaso became the first player in Derby d’Italia history to score and put through his own net in the same match between these old rivals, but it was Zielinski’s fifth Serie A goal of the season that proved decisive.
Inter will argue they were deserved victors after amassing 21 shots and 1.88 expected goals (xG), while Luciano Spalletti’s visitors mustered 10 shots and 0.92 xG – though the Bianconeri actually attempted six of their shots while down a man in the second half.
Sports
Wolves Beat Man Utd Conquerors
Premier League strugglers Wolves overcame resolute Grimsby Town in challenging conditions at Blundell Park to reach the FA Cup fifth round at the expense of the side that eliminated Manchester United in the last round.
Santiago Bueno scored from Wolves’ only shot on target with an hour played, diverting Joao Gomes’ cross past goalkeeper Jackson Smith with his thigh to end the League Two club’s resistance.
Unrelenting rainfall caused heavy ground underfoot and one penalty area in particular- that of Grimsby’s Smith in the first half – was already a quagmire before kick-off.
Charles Vernam shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box with just 43 seconds on the clock as Grimsby sought to catch their top-flight visitors cold.
Wolves had to wait until the 17th minute for their first opportunity of note, forward Tolu Arokodare firing over with a first-time attempt.
The white paint of the pitch markings soon blended and blurred with the mud as the surface rapidly deteriorated, and both sides struggled to stitch together cohesive attacks as passes travelled unpredictably across the sodden ground.
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