Sports

Angry fans invade Abuja Stadium as Nigeria fail to qualify for 2022 World Cup (Watch Video) Angry Nigerian supporters stormed the pitch of the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, after the national team failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. The Super Eagles were banking on home advantage, following their 0-0 draw in Kumasi last Friday. But it was the Black Stars who took the lead in the 10th minute of the game through Thomas Partey. Partey’s speculative shot from distance was fumbled into the net by goalkeeper Francis Uzoho. However, Nigeria levelled through William Troost-Ekong’s penalty, after VAR…

2022 WCQ Playoffs: Osimhen, Lookman, Dennis, Bassey, Etebo Start Vs Ghana. Super Eagles interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen has made five changes to his starting line-up for today’s 2022 FIFA World Cup playoffs second leg encounter against the Black Stars of Ghana. Francis Uzoho kept his position in goal, with Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong and Leon Balogun also named in the starting line-up. Rangers left-back Calvin Bassey however takes the place of Zaidu Sanusi from the first leg. In the midfield, Eguavoen opted for the trio of Oghenekaro Etebo, Frank Onyeka and Joe Aribo with Innocent Bonke and Kelechi Iheanacho…

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has praised the Super Eagles after they held Black Stars of Ghana to a goalless draw, in their 2022 World Cup qualifying playoff first leg in Kumasi. The Eagles battled their host to a stalemate in front of a over 50,000 home fans inside the Baba Yara Stadium on Friday. Reacting to the result, Kalu urged the Eagles to make sure the clinch the World Cup ticket in the second leg. "It was not a bad performance from our boys yesterday. Well done, Super Eagles! Our focus should be the…

Chelsea to play Real Madrid in Champions League quarter-finals. The two-leg quarter-finals take place on 5-6 April and 12-13 April. Holders Chelsea will face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Manchester City will play Atletico Madrid, while Liverpool tackle Benfica and Bayern Munich take on Villarreal. In the semi-finals, the winner of the Chelsea v Real Madrid tie will face Atletico Madrid or Manchester City, while Benfica or Liverpool will play either Villarreal or Bayern Munich. The two-leg quarter-finals take place on 5-6 April and 12-13 April. The first legs of the semi-finals will be on 26-27…

Ex-International and member of Super Eagles 2002 World Cup team, Justice Christopher, is dead. He was 40. Christopher reportedly died after he slumped in his hotel in Gwolshe, off Tudunwada Ring Road, Jos, Plateau State, on Wednesday. The Nation learnt the defensive midfielder died with no sign of sickness or illness. The country’s football governing body, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed his death. Christopher played for several clubs including Katsina United, Sharks F.C., Bendel Insurance, Antwerp (Belgium), Levski Sofia (Bulgaria), Trelleborgs FF (Sweden), Alania Vladikavkaz (Russia) and Herfølge Boldklub (Denmark). Christopher captained the Nigeria U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles,…

2022 W/C Playoff: Eguavoen Lists Musa, Ighalo, Sadiq, Okoye, Lookman, Bassey, 26 Others In Provisional Squad For Ghana Clash Technical Adviser Augustine Eguavoen has called up Captain Ahmed Musa, deputy captain William Ekong, midfielder Wifred Ndidi and forwards Moses Simon and Kelechi Iheanacho in a Super Eagles’ provisional list of 32 for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 play-off round against the Black Stars of Ghana. Also called up are goalkeepers Maduka Okoye and Daniel Akpeyi, defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi and Abdullahi Shehu, midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, and forwards Victor Osimhen, Odion Ighalo and Samuel Chukwueze. Leicester…

Premier league side Chelsea won the Club World Cup for the first time after an extra-time victory against Brazilian club Palmeiras. A 117th-minute penalty in Abu Dhabi by Kai Havertz - who scored their 2021 Champions League winner - means the Blues have now won every trophy possible under owner Roman Abramovich. Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring with a header in the second half before Raphael Veiga levelled from the spot. Palmeiras defender Luan was sent off in added time.  

FIFA approves Ademola Lookman nationality switch to Nigeria. Leicester City winger Ademola Lookman has had his application to change nationality to represent Nigeria instead of England approved by FIFA. The 24-year-old is on loan at the King Power Stadium from RB Leipzig, having previously represented Everton and Charlton Athletic. Lookman has not represented England’s senior team, but was an Under-19, Under-20, and Under-21 youth international. He was part of the squad that won the Under-20 World Cup in 2017. Growing up in Peckham, both his parents are Nigerian. His path follows that of Alex Iwobi, who declared for Nigeria after…

Chelsea midfielder, Hakim Ziyech, has announced his retirement from Morocco’s national team. The decision comes after Ziyech was left out of Morocco’s squad for their Africa Cup of Nations campaign last month. Last year, Morocco head coach Vahid Halilhodzic accused the 28-year-old of faking an injury to get out of playing a friendly and criticised the midfielder’s behaviour. Ziyech, who has 40 caps for Morocco, has not featured for the national side since June and has now made himself unavailable for the foreseeable future. “Obviously I understand them but I will not return to the national team,” Ziyech told Abu…