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Mbappe’s Brace Puts France Past Messi’s Argentina 4 – 3

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In the end, Argentina just did not have enough even with Lionel Messi. Two goals in the first half were followed by five in the second as France, with a brace from 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe took Les Bleus through to the quarterfinal. The PSG teenager was a constant threat, winning a penalty and scoring twice while Messi continued his record of not scoring in the second round of the World Cup.

First Half

France kicked off with Argentina starting Lionel Messi as the central striker with the licence to roam. Gonzalo Higuain was dropped and Cristian Pavon came in. Kylian Mbappe showed his speed to the Argentines and was taken out by Javier Mascherano as he approached the box. Antoine Griezmann stepped up and struck the crossbar.

On 11 minutes, Mbappe won the ball deep in France half and took off. He sprinted past Mascherano, Nicolas Otamendi before Marcos Rojo hauled him down in the box. Clear penalty. Griezmann stepped up and sent Franco Armani the wrong way.

Seven minutes later, Nicolas Tagliafico fouled Mbappe on the edge of the box after Pogba found the 19-year-old with a quick free kick. The free kick was blazed over by Pogba. Griezmann had a run into the box but his cutback was straight at Armani. Tagliafico had to be 100% accurate with a tackle on Mbappe in the 30th minute. Things got a little tasty on 32 minutes as Mascherano flew into Pogba after the French midfielder had dispossessed Messi.

Angel Di Maria then scored a contender for goal of the tournament when he let fly from 31 yards after he was not closed down. That was on 41 minutes and it was Argentina’s first shot on target. Mascherano was finally shown a yellow card on 42 minutes for a diving challenge on N’Golo Kante. Argentina were now having more joy with the ball and were pushing France back.

Second half

Federico Fazio replaced Rojo at the start of the second stanza and just three minutes into the second stanza, Argentina were ahead.

From a free kick, the ball was half-cleared and fell to Messi., who swiveled and shot at goal with Lloris well placed but the ball hits Mercado and wrong-footed the French goalkeeper. Fazio then almost gifted Griezmann a goal on 56 minutes but the path to goal was quickly closed.

France were on level terms in the 57th minute when a cross from France’s left back, Lucas Hernandez, found its way to his right back, Benjamin Pavard, who hammered a swerving shot past Armani.

Game on!!!

Mbappe pounced on a loose ball in the Argentina box in the 64th minute, twisted and powered a left-footer under Armani to give France the lead once again.

France’s fourth goal was a classic team move that started from the Goalkeeper, Lloris to Kante to Griezmann to Blaise Matuidi, who laid on to Giroud, who passed into Mbappe’s path and the teenager passed it past Armani. What a goal!

Sergio Aguero, on as a substitute got Argentina’s third in the second minute of added time from a Messi cross but it was too late for the two-time winners. The questions will continue for Messi.

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UCL Quarter Final: Arsenal Draw Bayern, Madrid to Play Man City

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Arsenal have been drawn against FC Bayern Munich while Real Madrid will face defending champions Man City in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

The draws are as follows:

Q4: Paris Saint Germain vs FC Barcelona

Q3: Real Madrid vs Manchester City

Q2: Atletico Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund

Q1: Arsenal vs Bayern Munich

Here’s the

Winners of Q2 vs Winners of Q4

Winners of Q1 vs Winners of Q3

The eight teams that get past the round of 16 will compete in the draw, with all eight teams likely to face each other as there is no seeding for the draw.

Teams from the same country and teams that played against each other in the competition’s group stage will be allowed to meet in the draw going forward. The host team will draw the first ball, while the visiting team will draw the second.

The semifinal and final routes will also be determined here, as has been the tradition since the 2018–2019 campaign. Thus, the eight qualified teams will be aware of the path required to get to the final.

The quarter-finals will be played on April 9 and 10 for the first leg, while the conclusions will come one week later, on the 16th and 17th of the same month.

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Anthony Joshua Secures Second Round Knockout Against Ngannou

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Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua halted Francis Ngannou’s nascent climb to crossover stardom Friday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, defeating the mixed martial arts star via second-round knockout.

Joshua (28-3, 25 knockouts) made quick work of Ngannou, ending the fight with a massive right overhand that knocked the Cameroonian out cold. Ngannou (0-2, 17-3 in MMA) was fighting in his second professional boxing match after claiming the UFC heavyweight crown in 2021.

“It is what it is,” Joshua said on the DAZN broadcast after the match. “When I saw the fight between Francis and Tyson Fury, I realized he could fight. And I wanted a piece of that. He’s an inspiration. He’s a great champion and this result doesn’t take anything away from his capabilities.”

Ngannou’s October bout against Fury, the World Boxing Council heavyweight champion, went decidedly different. The 37-year-old MMA star entered that match as a substantial underdog but dropped a stunned Fury with a left hook in the third round. After 10 frames, Fury escaped with a controversial split decision victory on the scorecards.

Ngannou had said boxing was his first love before he discovered MMA. But that showing in his professional boxing debut sparked excitement.

Ahead of Friday’s fight, Joshua said he would not underestimate Ngannou as some believed Fury had. His coach, Ben Davison, said Ngannou carried a “false sense of confidence” into the match.

He landed a powerful right jab to drop Ngannou late in the first round. Joshua connected with the right hand to drop him again in the second round. Seconds after Ngannou returned to his feet, Joshua delivered a crushing right overhand that flattened his opponent on the canvas. Ngannou was given oxygen by the ringside doctors and regained consciousness.

“I told him he shouldn’t leave boxing,” Joshua said of Ngannou. “He can do well. He’s fought two of the best.”

For Ngannou, a decisive defeat potentially bruises his chances of a rematch against Fury, who is scheduled to face Oleksandr Usyk on May 18 for the undisputed heavyweight title. After leaving the UFC for the rival Professional Fighters League last year, Ngannou is scheduled to return to the cage to face Renan Ferreira in what will be his PFL debut and his first MMA bout since January 2022.
Usyk defeated Joshua in 2021 to capture his title belts, then repeated the feat in 2022 to retain them. Promoter Eddie Hearn has said the winner of Friday’s match will face the winner of the May 18 fight, opening the door for a potential blockbuster fight between Joshua and Fury, which Hearn has failed to secure in the past.

“My team will shape my future,” Joshua said. “I’m just here to fight. I will go back to my cage and lock myself away and I will come back when it’s time to fight.”

Source: WashingtonPost

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Eguavoen Takes Over Super Eagles As Paseiro Resigns

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Follwing the resignation of Jose Paseiro as Coach of the Super Eagles, former Nigerian coach and captain, Augustine Eguavoen, is reportedly set to be appointed as interim coach.

Nigeria’s national team job became vacant after February 29, 2024, when Peseiro’s contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officially expired.

The Portuguese tactician took over 18 months ago and led the Super Eagles to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024) in the Ivory Coast.

He was, however, unable to end the country’s 10-year trophy drought as Nigeria lost 2-1 to hosts Ivory Coast in the final.

Afrik Foot reports that Eguavoen is in line to be appointed as the interim coach of the Super Eagles.

The 58-year-old has prior experience in managing the national team, having acted as its technical director from 2020 to 2021.

He has also served as caretaker coach of the Super Eagles in two different spells – first in 2010 and again from 2021 to 2022.

During his second spell as caretaker boss, Eguavoen guided Nigeria to a round of 16 finish at AFCON 2021 but could not lead them to qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup after the Super Eagles were beaten by rivals Ghana in the playoffs.

Though the Portuguese born tactician had an option to renew the contract, he chose to resign from the job.

afrik.foot.com

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