Sports
Stakeholders Tell NFF Not To Sack Ugbade
Following the Golden Eaglets exit from the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria, some stakeholders have urged the Nigeria Football Federation not to sack the team’s head coach Nduka Ugbade.
The Eaglets lost 2-1 to Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals of the U-17 AFCON, ending hopes of a World Cup ticket for the five-time world champions.
Former Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, said sacking Ugbade was not the best decision to take, noting that the coach paraded young stars that could progress into the senior teams in the future.
“He has done well, the tournament is for developmental purposes, but every football fan wants the coach to win all tournaments and that is why the job is difficult. When you are doing very well, everybody will praise you, but when a coach loses a match, they call for your sack.
“I don’t think sacking him is the best decision to take, he paraded young players that have a future in the national team,” Adepoju told Tidesports source.
Japan 1993 U-17 World Cup winning coach, Fanny Amun, said it’s the Nigeria Football Federation that could decide the future of Ugbade, but kicked against sacking the 1985 U-17 World Cup winner.
“Ugbade did his best, if they had qualified, everybody would have been singing his praises, but they did their best getting into the quarter-finals before losing to Burkina Faso,” Amun stated.
Should we now sack the coach for losing a match? I don’t believe that he should be sacked.
“These same players are going to serve as replacements for the national teams; I believe they have done their best.”
Ace sports journalist, Godwin Enakhena, also drummed support for Ugbade, who was captain of the victorious Eaglets side that conquered the world at the maiden edition of the U-17 World Cup in China.
Sports
Obagi Emerges OML 58 Football Cup Champions
Sports
Forest Embarrass Liverpool At Anfield
Liverpool’s season of abject misery worsened as they were beaten with embarrassing ease by a hugely impressive Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
Arne Slot’s Premier League champions were looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat at Manchester City, but instead ran into a Forest side revitalised under new manager Sean Dyche and looking back to their best.
Liverpool head coach Slot gave £125m British record signing Alexander Isak a start, but he was totally anonymous once more and only lasted 67 minutes.
Forest went ahead after 33 minutes when defender Murillo shot powerfully past fit-again Liverpool keeper Alisson to subdue an already anxious Anfield.
Igor Jesus had a second ruled out for handball, but Forest doubled their advantage 39 seconds after the break when former Liverpool defender Neco Williams set up Nicola Savona for a crisp finish in front of The Kop.
Liverpool could barely raise a response in a desperate display, Forest increasing their lead 12 minutes from time when Morgan Gibbs-White scored after Alisson saved from Omari Hutchinson.
It means Liverpool, who lie 11th before Saturday’s late fixture, have now lost six of their past seven Premier League games as Slot’s near £450m summer spending spree comes under further scrutiny.
Forest, meanwhile, are surging away from the relegation zone and are up to 16th.
Sports
Bundesliga: Oliseh Stars As Bayern Rebound To Thrash Freiburg
Michael Olise scored twice and provided a hat-trick of assists as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich came from two goals down to thrash Freiburg.
The visitors stunned the defending champions by taking a 2-0 lead after just 17 minutes when Yuito Suzuki scored from close range and Johan Manzambi rose highest to head home Jan-Niklas Beste’s corner.
Bayern, who had not lost in the league since March, responded superbly and had restored parity by half-time.
Teenager Lennart Karl fired into the bottom corner from Olise’s pass in the 22nd minute and set up the Frenchman for a fierce finish in first-half injury-time, although Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu should have done better.
Bayern took control in the second period as Dayot Upamecano headed home Olise’s corner to put them ahead for the first time.
England captain Harry Kane netted his 14th league goal of the campaign on the hour mark, before Olise made it three assists when he threaded a pass through for Nicolas Jackson to finish at the first time of asking in the 78th minute.
Winger Olise completed a sensational afternoon with his second of the game six minutes later, driving at the Freiburg defence and curling into the far corner.
A 10th victory in the first 11 games left Bayern eight points clear of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, while Freiburg remain 10th in the standings.
Vincent Kompany’s side visit Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday with both sides having a perfect record of four wins so far in the league phase of the competition.
AS FAR Morocco Win African Women’s Champions League (8)
AS FAR held firm to beat debutants ASEC Mimosas 2-1 in the African Women’s Champions League final and become continental champions for the second time.
Hanane Ait El Haj put the Moroccan club ahead from the penalty spot in the 13th minute after Safa Banouk had been tripped by Aboa Yapo.
ASEC Mimosas rallied after the break and Ami Priscal Diallo netted a fine header from Sopie Brou’s cross to drag the Ivory Coast club level 10 minutes into the second half.
But AS FAR were handed a second spot-kick in the closing stages when Noura Diarra committed a rash challenge on Sofia Bouftini.
This time it was Zineb Redouani who stepped up to stroke home in the 85th minute and restore her side’s lead.
Asastasie Gbehi came close to forcing extra time but she poked wide of the post in stoppage time, and the centre-back was sent off after the full-time whistle for dissent.
AS FAR move level with South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns as two-time winners of the title, having first lifted the trophy in 2022.
The Rabat-based side will now take on Chinese’s Wuhan Jiangda on 14 December for a place at next year’s Fifa Women’s Champions Cup.
The winner of that match will face European champions Arsenal in the semi-finals of the inaugural competition early next year in London.
-
Featured4 days agoOil & Gas: Rivers Remains The Best Investment Destination – Fubara
-
Nation4 days ago
MOSIEND Calls For RSG, NDDC, Stakeholders’ Intervention In Obolo Nation
-
Nation5 days ago
Hausa Community Lauds Council Boss Over Free Medical Outreach
-
Nation5 days agoOgoni Power Project: HYPREP Moves To Boost Capacity Of Personnel
-
Nation5 days ago
Association Hails Rivers LG Chairmen, Urges Expansion Of Dev Projects
-
Nation5 days ago
Film Festival: Don, Others Urge Govt To Partner RIFF
-
News4 days agoNDLEA Arrests Two, Intercepts Illicit Drugs Packaged As Christmas Cookies
-
News4 days agoTroops Rescue 12 Abducted Teenage Girls In Borno
