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ONELGA Rolls Out Red Carpet For S’Eagles Keeper

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Sunday, February 18, 2024 is a day that will remain indelible in the hearts of many sons and daughters of the Egbema Kingdom in Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State as the locals trooped out in their thousands to welcome their national hero, the nascent Nigeria’s first choice goalkeeper, Stanley Bobo Nwabali to his hometown where his journey began.
Just one week earlier, Nwabali successfully cemented his place in the annals of Nigerian football history as his invaluable contributions helped the senior national team to a previously unimagined second place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament held in Côte d’Ivoire.
A number of Nwabali’s Super Eagles teammates were celebrated by their “own people” too in the wake of the AFCON final but none can stand nor trump the elaborate reception held for this former Go Round FC of Omoku goalkeeper and rightly so. The 27-year old put Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA and the Egbema name on the global map through his heroic displays at the tournament during which he became the first Nigerian goalkeeper to win a Man of the Match award at the AFCON in 18 years.
The day’s activities began in the early afternoon with Nwabali’s arrival at the palatial mansion of the Leader of ONELGA, the Mbanabaragu 1 of Orashi Kingdom, Bro Felix Obuah who would later lead him to the ONELGA Council Headquarters where a few hundreds were also waiting to receive the man that has made them proud.
At the Council, Nwabali was received by the Chairman of ONELGA Sir Vincent Job, DSSRS, his deputy Hon. Dr Stella Agada and other members of Council in a short plenary session with Nwabali and his wife. There, he was awarded a sum of N5m as declared by Job who also stated that a street will be named after him in the Local Government.
The reception train then proceeded from the ONELGA Council to the Nzeobi’s Palace in Aggah-Egbema where His Royal Majesty Eze Everestus Amuda conferred the chieftaincy title ‘Ugo Egbema 1 of Egbema Land’ which means the Pride of Egbema on the Chippa United goalkeeper.
Eze Amuda eulogised Nwabali for his performance especially his penalty saving heroics which he noted engraved him in the hearts of many Nigerians both home and abroad thereby making him a Pride for his people back home.
A grand reception was thereafter held in Nwabali’s honour at the Community Primary School, Okwuzi in which thousands of people were in attendance. The ceremony which lasted for about an hour had in attendance, top dignitaries especially those indigenous to ONELGA including Members of Rivers State House of Assembly and Members of the ONELGA Council and other traditional rulers.
There were speeches by the ONELGA Chairman Job, Chief Whip of the Rivers State House of Assembly and Member Representing ONELGA Constituency I, Hon Franklin Nwabochi as well as Member representing ONELGA Constituency II, Hon Dcns Nkemjika Ezekwe while it was rounded off by Bro Obuah.
There was plenty to eat and drink for guests and locals at the reception while there were heartfelt prayers said for the career and continued progress of Stanley Bobo Nwabali, the Pride of Egbema Land who had earlier in the week been honoured by Rivers State Governor Sir Sim Fubara who conferred on him the state’s highest honour DSSRS.
An emotional Nwabali spoke to newsmen after the reception:
“To be honest, I really don’t know how to appreciate these people,” began an emotional Nwabali who actually started his football career as a centre forward.
“The love they showed me today is unbelievable. I thought I’d seen it all at the AFCON but I saw a lot today. I was emotional seeing this kind of crowd coming out to give their support and respect to me. I appreciate everyone in ONELGA and those coming from different states to appreciate me,” he added.
In his own remark at the end of the epoch making event, Proprietor of Nwabali’s first club in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Go Round FC, Bro Felix Obuah says it is a dream come true for him as a Father.
“This is the dream of every father, that his son or daughter makes it to the top. When we started, I had the dream that one day if they put in their best, they will reach the zenith of their careers.
“Today, I am happy that one among lots that I invested on has been able to make it up to the Number 1 goalkeeper of the Super Eagles. I am very proud of him and I am happy that a part and parcel of us has made Nigeria proud,” added Obuah.
Nwabali who has now been linked to several top clubs in Europe and South Africa is scheduled to resume at his club Chippa United this week.

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Tottenham Fight Back To Hold Brighton

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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.

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Zidane’s Son Switches Allegiance To Algeria

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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.

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Man Utd Beat Chelsea To Ease Pressure 

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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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