Rivers United defeated title-holders, USM Alger of Algeria 1-0 in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final clash at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Sunday. Augustine Okejepha is the hero of the game, as he scored the decisive goal in the 10th minute with a clinical strike from the edge of the box. Despite USM Alger’s efforts to contain Rivers United, the Nigerian team’s physical dominance proved to be a significant factor throughout the game. USM Alger struggled to match the intensity of their opponents who looked eager to score more goals. However, the arrival of rain…
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Manchester City and Arsenal handed Liverpool the advantage in the Premier League title race as they played out a bitterly disappointing goalless stalemate at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. A game touted to be potentially defining in a fascinating three-way title race provided little thrill in the first half with both teams appearing unwilling to take risks in a chess match between ‘master and apprentice’ Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta. Gabriel Jesus had the first opportunity against his former club, but could only hit the side netting from Ben White’s cross. Nathan Aké ought to have done better when he headed…
Liverpool moved top of the Premier League, at least temporarily, as Jürgen Klopp claimed his 300th competitive victory in charge of the Reds with a keenly-contested 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. Anfield has been an impenetrable fortress for Klopp’s side this season, but they faced a Brighton side that has posed them with more than a few problems in recent years. That trend continued in the second minute when Danny Welbeck stunned the Kop with a ferocious first-time strike after the Liverpool defence failed to deal with Simon Adingra’s cross from the left-hand side, marking his 100th PL…
Barcelona’s desperation to extend Xavi’s stay past the end of the season has been ramped up again as the club’s vice-president made a plea for the head coach to stay at the Nou Camp. Xavi shocked Barcelona and the rest of European football when he announced at the end of January following a 5-3 home defeat against Villarreal that he would be leaving his management position. The 44-year-old has enjoyed an upturn in results ever since, with Barcelona now second in the LaLiga standings just five-points behind leaders Real Madrid and additionally securing their place in the Champions League quarter-finals.…
Former Super Eagles captain and coach, Sunday Oliseh, has denied applying for the vacant coaching position in the Super Eagles, and faults the application process for the job. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) declared the position of the Super Eagles head coach vacant a couple of weeks ago, following the expiration of the contract of former coach, Jose Peseiro after the AFCON in Ivory Coast. In an advertisement on its website, the NFF called for applications with a March 13 deadline. The football governing body stated that the prospective Eagles coach “must have proven experience at the elite level of…
Chelsea midfielder Roméo Lavia will miss the remainder of this season following a setback in his recovery. Chelsea confirmed the diagnosis on Wednesday, shortly followed by Lavia releasing a statement on social media. “As you may know, despite my countless efforts, I will be missing the remainder of the season” he wrote. “This has been a frustrating season for me, not being able to help my teammates. “I love this squad, this badge and being on the pitch more than anything. Trust that I have given my all everyday to be back. “Thank you for the love, support and criticism…
The Super Eagles of Nigeria lost 2-0 to the Eagles of Mali in an international friendly game played in Marrakech, Morocco on Tuesday night. El Bilal Toure put the Malians in front in the 18th minute, and Kamory Doumbia sealed the victory three minutes from time after he raced into Nigeria’s 18 yard box and fired past Stanley Nwabali. The Super Eagles were forced into a first half change as Moses Simon went off injured in the 34th minute and was replaced by Cyriel Dessers. It’s their first win over Nigeria since their 4-1 win in a friendly game in…
Spain and Brazil played out an amazing 3-3 draw at the Santiago Bernabéu, as the latter protected their impressive record of losing just one international friendly in 24 as the designated away side with the last kick of the game. Spain started stronger, and nudged themselves in front just 12 minutes in via the penalty spot. João Gomes tripped the lively Lamine Yamal in the area, allowing the returning Rodri to step up and strike straight down the middle – just his second goal for his country. Yamal continued to turn Brazil’s defence inside and out, and his dynamic play…
Memphis Depay’s agent has denied that the Atletico Madrid forward paid Dani Alves’ €1m (£850,000) bail to enable the Barcelona icon to walk out of prison on Monday. Alves, 40, had been held at Brians 2 Prison near Barcelona since January 2023 after being accused of raping a young woman in a nightclub bathroom in the Spanish city in the early hours of December 31, 2022. He was found guilty of rape last month and was handed a four-and-a-half year prison sentence, which he subsequently appealed. Alves pleaded to be released on bail, and his bail bond was set at €1m. It appeared…
Jude Bellingham scored with the last kick of the game to salvage a 2-2 friendly draw for England and deny Belgium their first ever win at Wembley, as the Three Lions found reason to feel positive despite extending their winless run to three matches. Rampant injuries have disrupted Gareth Southgate’s final opportunity to cast his eye over England hopefuls ahead of UEFA Euro 2024, and John Stones joined a growing list in the treatment room inside nine minutes, hobbling off in what will have been just as big a concern to Manchester City as it is to England. A calamitous…