Sport

Thursday, 18 July 2019 05:25

Nigeria grab bronze in 2019 AFCON

Odion Ighalo scored the fastest goal so far in the2019 Africa Cup of Nations as the Super Eagles beat Tunisia 1-0 on Wednesday night to win the Bronze medal at this year’s tournament. After Sunday’s semi-final losses, Tunisia and Nigeria wanted the bronze medal. But it was Gernot Rohr’s side that prevailed in the third place contest in Cairo. Nigeria shot into the lead barely three minutes into the game as Ighalo tucked home the ball after Ben Cherifia and Meriah made a mess of Jamilu Collins’ cross. Carthage Eagles responded well and would have gotten a quick equaliser had…

Monday, 15 July 2019 04:56

Africa Cup of Nations: Senegal reach final with victory over Tunisia

Senegal reached Africa Cup of Nations final for the second time as Tunisia defender Dylan Bronn's extra-time own goal gave them victory. Both sides had penalties saved in normal time before Bronn inadvertently headed the only goal of the game. Mouez Hassen tipped Sadio Mane's free-kick on to Bronn's head as Senegal - who face Algeria in Friday's final - moved closer to a first Afcon title. Tunisia had a late penalty award overturned by VAR. After Salif Sane's headed clearance ricocheted off Idrissa Gueye's elbow, the referee initially pointed to the spot before overturning his decision after reviewing video…

Monday, 15 July 2019 04:55

Algeria defeat Nigeria, qualify for AFCON 2019 final

Riyad Mahrez fired in a late free-kick from outside the penalty area to give Algeria a dramatic 2-1 victory over Nigeria in a fiercely contested semi-final tie at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations Sunday night. William Troost-Ekong, the man who scored the last-minute winner for Super Eagles in the quarter-final against South Africa, turned the ball into his own net to give Algeria 1-0 lead. Odion Ighalo equalised for Nigeria in the second half from the penalty spot to register his fourth goal of the tournament. But the heart of Nigerians was left shattered when Mahrez curled in a…

Sunday, 14 July 2019 05:42

Halep wins Wimbledon, stops Williams’ bid for 24th Slam

Clutching her trophy 20 minutes after becoming Wimbledon’s champion, Simona Halep checked out the board inside Centre Court that lists tournament winners. Below all of the mentions of Serena Williams, her opponent in Saturday’s final, there already was inscribed: “Miss S. Halep.” Halep was not concerned with preventing Williams from winning a 24th Grand Slam title. All Halep cared about was winning her first at the All England Club. And she played pretty much perfectly. On top of her game right from start to finish, Halep overwhelmed Williams 6-2, 6-2 in stunning fashion for her second major championship. The whole…

Thursday, 11 July 2019 04:58

Nigeria eliminate South Africa to qualify for AFCON semi-finals

William Troost-Ekong’s late winner sent Nigeria through to semi-finals of Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday after a tense 2-1 victory over South Africa in Cairo. Samuel Chukwueze fired Super Eagles ahead in the first half in front of a healthy, largely pro-Nigerian crowd at the 75,000-capacity Cairo International Stadium. But Bongani Zungu’s looping header brought South Africa level on 70 minutes, the goal awarded with the aid of VAR — introduced for the first time at the tournament from the quarter-final stage onwards — after it was initially ruled out for offside. Centre-back Troost-Ekong then turned home at a…

Monday, 08 July 2019 04:59

FIFA boss, French President booed at World Cup final ceremony

Crowd at the women’s World Cup final booed FIFA chief Gianni Infantino and French president Emmanuel Macron as United States fans demanded equal pay for the players after their team claimed a fourth global title by beating the Netherlands 2-0 on Sunday. Macron and Infantino, head of soccer’s world governing body, were turned on by the supporters as they approached the ceremony podium - a sharp contrast with the hero-like reception given to player of the match Megan Rapinoe by the 57,900 crowd. Despite a recent rebound, Macron’s popularity was last at 38 percent in an Ifop poll, up 15…

Sunday, 07 July 2019 05:21

Afcon: Super Eagles subdue Indomitable Lions in thrilling 3-2 win

Nigeria’s Super Eagles brushed off the disappointment of a humiliating defeat against Madagascar in their last match to rise to the occasion and eliminate defending champions, Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, from the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. The Nigerian team again faced adversity after going 2-1 down at halftime but thereafter came from behind to edge out their illustrious opponents 3-2 at the Alexandria stadium. In a match which will be remembered as one of the best in the tournament so far, it was Eagles who started on the front foot and opened the scoring in the 20th…

Monday, 01 July 2019 04:22

AFCON: Madagascar deliver shock defeat to Super Eagles to top Group B

Lowly-rated Madagascar shocked highly-rated Nigeria 2-0 after an awful performance by Super Eagles handed the Indian Ocean islanders leadership of Group B. The result condemned the three–times champions to finishing second and a probable encounter with Black Stars of Ghana in the Round of 16. The then group leaders started on the wrong footing as Leon Balogun failed to deal with a routine backpass. It led to the ball being snatched by Lalaina Nomenjanahary to score the first goal for the competition debutants after only 13 minutes. Eagles, who won each of their two previous matches by the odd goal,…

Thursday, 27 June 2019 05:07

AFCON 2019: Super Eagles qualify for Round of 16

Super Eagles of Nigeria have emerged as the first team to qualify for the Round of 16 at ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. Eagles beat the Syli Nationale of Guinea by a lone goal to zoom into the round of 16 with a game to spare. Kenneth Omeruo got the only goal for Nigeria as he nodded in a cross from Moses Simon in the 73rd minute. Super Eagles had defeated Burundi 1-0 in their first match of the tournament. 2019 AFCON is being hosted by Egypt. PT

Sunday, 23 June 2019 05:00

Super Eagles struggle to defeat Burundi in 2019 Afcon opener

Super Eagles of Nigeria started their campaign at Africa Cup of Nations on a winning note as they pipped debutants Burundi 1-0 on Saturday. While many expected a shelling of Burundi, it was the solitary strike from Odion Ighalo that saved the day for Super Eagles. Gernot Rohr’s side are 89 places above Burundi in FIFA’s world rankings. But the Eagles struggled for long periods in their Group B opener at Alexandria Stadium but sealed all three points in the 77th minute. Odion Ighalo, introduced for Paul Onuachu just four minutes earlier, latched onto Ola Aina’s wonderful back-heeled pass and…

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Sunday, 23 June 2019 04:58

Super Falcons fall flat before Germany in quarter final FIFA Women’s World Cup

Germany qualified for an eighth consecutive quarter-final appearance at FIFA Women’s World Cup by beating Super Falcons 3-0 at Stade des Alpes in Grenoble on Saturday. The Germans were favourites to win the Round of 16 clash, and it was further evident with 60 percent possession and 12 shots in total during the game. The two-times champions duly lived up to their game plan with a 20th minute goal from Alexandra Popp as the striker made her 100th appearance for the German side. The African champions struggled to keep themselves alive in the game which had 17,988 spectators in attendance.…

Friday, 21 June 2019 05:32

By luck, Nigeria’s Super Falcons qualify for World Cup Round of 16

The anxious wait to know the fate of Super Falcons at ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in France is now over as the Nigeria Ladies have snatched the last ticket into the Round of 16 at the tournament. Super Falcons will have to thank the Thailand Women’s team for their qualification as the Asians did well enough to lose just 2-0 to Chile. That was not enough to give the South Americans passage into the knockout phase. They needed three unreplied goals. Thailand before Thursday’s game against Chile had lost 13-0 against USA and 4-1 against the Swedes but their…

Tuesday, 04 June 2019 04:44

Senegal knock Nigeria out of FIFA U-20 World Cup

Nigeria’s U-20 team, Flying Eagles, have been knocked out of ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland after they were beaten 2-1 by their Senegalese counterparts on Monday. Two first-half goals from Amadou Sagna and Niane gave Senegal a two-goal deal. Though Success Makanjuola pulled one back in the second half, it was not enough to save Flying Eagles from crashing out. Flying Eagles, having started with a massive 4-0 victory over Qatar, gave many false hopes. The Coach Paul Aigbogun tutored side were however humbled 2-0 in their next group game against USA. While a 1-1 draw against Ukraine…