Sports

Nigeria Draws Cameron in AFCON Round of 16

Published

8 months ago

January 24, 2024

Eric

Nigeria and Cameroon will renew their rivalry again in the Round of 16 stage of the ongoing 34th Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire on Saturday.

Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions who denied the Super Eagles three AFCON titles by the championship game in 1984, 1988 and 2000, defeated The Gambia 3-2 in their last Group C clash last night to upstage Guinea to the runner up spot of the group.

Defending champions Senegal trounced Guinea 2-0 to finish on maximum nine points on top of the group.

Both Guinea and Cameroon finished on four points each but superior +5 goals advantage gave the Indomitable Lions the edge over the Syli Nacional.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Monday night similarly finished on same seven points with Equatorial Guinea but missed the top spot due to the superior goals difference of the team from Malabo.

The Syli Nacional however, look certain to be among the best four third placed teams to progress to the Round of 16.

Defending champions Senegal’s Teranga Lions, winners of all group matches, will wait for the third best placed teams from Groups A, B or F to know who they

will play in the Round of 16.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles stand-in Captain, William Troost-Ekong has said he will be back in training later this week after a knee injury sidelined him out of the team’s final AFCON group game against Guinea Bissau.

The PAOK central defender suffered the injury in the Eagles 1-0 win over AFCON hosts Cote d’Ivoire.

Eagles who observed yesterday as rest day will resume training today ahead of their Saturday clash with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

The team’s major injury doubt remains Antwerp midfielder Alhassan Yusuf, who has yet to return to full team training after the thigh injury that forced him out of the opening group game against Equatorial Guinea.

The 23-year-old box-to-box midfielder has himself said he hopes to be back for the knockout rounds of the competition after a scan showed the injury was not as serious as first feared.

ThisDay

Sports

NFF Appoints Bruno Labbadia As New Super Eagles Coach

Published

2 weeks ago

August 27, 2024

Eric

The Nigeria Football Federation has announced the appointment of a German tactician, Bruno Labbadia, as the new Super Eagles coach, with immediate effect.

Labbadia’s appointment was disclosed in an early morning tweet on Tuesday via the NFF’s X handle, tweeting as #thenff.

The statement read, “The Nigeria Football Federation has announced that it has reached an agreement with German tactician, Bruno Labbadia, to become the Head Coach of Nigeria’s senior men’s national team, Super Eagles.”

“The NFF Executive Committee has approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development sub-committee to appoint Mr Bruno Labbadia as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles,” according to the federation’s General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi.

Labbadia becomes the 37th Head Coach of the Super Eagles after the resignation of former coach, Finidi George.

Sports

Paris 2024: Amusan Pays Price for Late Start, Loses Chance to Bid for 100m Olympics Medal

Published

4 weeks ago

August 9, 2024

Eric

World Record holder, Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, failed to reach 100m Hurdles final at the Paris Olympics on Friday.

Amusan came third in the first semi-final, in a time of 12.55 (.548) seconds and had to wait to see the results of the two other semi-finals to see if she would squeezed through, but the third semi-final spoilt her wait as the two athletes who came third and fourth bettered her performance.

Amusan started late and she paid the price for that, a miss out in the final of the 100m Hurdles.

The first semi-final was won by Grace Stark of the United States of America (USA) in a time of 12.39 seconds, while Devynne Charlton of Bahrain came second in a time of 12.50 seconds, while Amusan andPia Skrzyszowska of Poland came third in a time of 12.55 (.548).

The World Record holder was Nigeria’s only medal hope as Team Nigeria members crashed out in other contests.

With her flop, Nigeria may be without a medal at the Paris Olympics, which ends in two days.

Sports

Spain Berth in Euro 2024 Final, Beat France in Dramatic Comeback

Published

2 months ago

July 9, 2024

Eric

Spain have book a place in the final of the Euro 2024 championship after a 2-1 win against France on Tuesday night.

Dani Olmo’s 25th-minute right-footed strike sealed the Spanish side’s victory at the Allianz Arena, Germany.

Spain will face either the Netherlands or England in the competition’s final on July 14.

France opened scoring in the eighth minute through R. Kolo Muani before two quick goals from Spain’s L. Yamal in the 21st minute, and D. Olmo in the 25th sealed victory for the Spaniards.