As Jonas Eriksson blew his whistle to signal the end of the second 45minutes in St. Jakob-Park Basel, Switzerland, a quarter of the 38,512 spectators erupted to celebrate the victory of the three times Europa league winner - Sevilla. Tears trickled down the cheeks of some Liverpool players who had anticipated to go into the history book at Anfield after 'hitting the post' in their second finals of the season. For Liverpool, It was a tough showdown with the Liga Copa del Rey runner-up; a match officiated by a refereeing crew which after a drug test admitted to puffing hallucinogenic drugs.
Jonas Eriksson reportedly told UEFA doping officials he inhaled about “one gram of K2" before kickoff. Though the English side enjoyed a quick-witted first 45 minutes where blatantly palpable - egregious - fouls were not called as the officials who were patently under the influence of the narcotic changed the rules of the game allowing the match see four very obvious hand balls not counted. An instance of such was the Daniel Sturridge perfectly weighted pass that Grzegorz Krychowiak reached down and batted away. Jonas Eriksson said "I SAW A THOUSAND LIFETIMES IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE", "I TALKED TO GOD, I AM MY OWN FATHER".
The final whistle in Basel saw Sevilla clinched the trophy the third consecutive time. After successfully turning UEFA Champions League final into a Liga Madrid derby, Real Madrid trumped their city rival to lift their 11th UCL title.
The dominance of the Spanish league is now like the luminescence of the moon which can't be shielded. As the English teams struggle to clamber up the league of top clubs in Europe, The Spanish teams had climbed to the top taking part in all competitions across the continent. This is the third time Spanish teams would be clearing the tables leaving nothing left for others to compensate their travels.
When Liverpool football club arrived Merseyside, there were no open roof buses to convey them; their defeat to the Copa del Rey runner-up is the fifth consecutive final their newly appointed manager, Jurgen Kloop would lose.
While it continue to look as if the city of Liverpool is alone in their mishap, or as if Jurgen Kloop tribulation had just continued, I see the country that presently inhabit the duo to have added to its adversity and might strictly be affected by the loss in the long run. One tenable repercussion had been the non-participation of more than four English teams in Europe most elite competition whereas the Spanish empire have been having five representatives over the last 2 years.
The failure of Liverpool squad to replicate the night at Istanbul; Jurgen Kloop's unlucky kismet with finals; Jonas Eriksson misinterpreted vision and St. Jakob-Park debacle all accumulated to add salt to English football's injury.
Squire Readen
NB- Squire Readen is a freelance writer who writes critical sport commentaries and other related articles. He is an objective sports fan and is currently the Director of Sports for the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students (PANS), OAU Chapter. You can reach him on Pharmsquire@yahoo.com
Tuesday, 31 May 2016
Friday, 27 May 2016
Manchester United Appoints Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho has signed his contract to become the new manager of Manchester United.
The Portuguese left home at 2.50pm on Thursday and concluded talks at a central London hotel, agreeing to succeed Louis van Gaal as the new boss at Old Trafford.
Sky Sports News HQ broke the news at 5.20pm after Mourinho returned home half an hour earlier with documents in his hand and a bottle of red wine, having met with United's executive vice chairman Ed Woodward to complete the deal.
Source
Tuesday, 3 May 2016
Leicester City Win EPL Title
Tottenham FC played a 2-2 draw at Stamford bridge against their fellow London rivals which paved the way for Leicester City FC to open a seven point gap with two games remaining.
Leicester City FC also called the Foxes will now wait till Saturday 7th May 2016 to officially lay their hands on the trophy with a game against Everton FC.
Monday, 28 March 2016
AFCON Qualifier: CAF Deducts 3 Points From Nigeria
Chad were due to travel to Tanzania for the fourth match in the group, but instead made the announcement of a shocking withdrawal, citing financial constraints.
CAF swiftly applied its rules in conformity with Article 61 of the regulations of the competition which states: “If a team withdraws from the qualifying phase organised in groups, all its results shall be annulled (points, scored and conceded goals)”.
”Consequently, the three matches of Chad of Group G are cancelled and the results will not be taken into consideration”, CAF said.
Egypt still lead the group with four points,, while Nigeria have two. Tanzania have a point.
CAF further said that in accordance, with the rule set by CAF Executive Committee on 15 January 2015, any group reduced to three teams following the withdrawal of a team will have only the group winner qualifying for the final tournament.
Furthermore, the Chadian Football Federation has been fined 20,000 US Dollars and also barred from participating in the next edition of the AFCON in conformity with Article 59 of the regulations of the Competition which states “any association declaring forfeit after the start of the matches is liable to a fine of twenty thousand (20,000) U.S. dollars. It will also not be allowed to participate in the next edition of the AFCON”.
Meanwhile, Egypt will face Nigeria on Tuesday, 29 March 2016 in Alexandria.
Source: Vanguard
Sunday, 31 January 2016
LLB 4 Trash LLB 1 To Win Animashaun Cup
The annual Animashaun soccer fiesta came to an end today as the LLB 4 of the Obafemi Awolowo University Faculty of Law pummeled their junior colleague from LLB 1.
It was such a glamorous duel today as teeming crowd turned up to witness the final of the annual competition. The Part one team has been keeping an unbeaten run right from the outset of the competition defeating all their senior colleagues. However, reverse was the case yesterday as they unfortunately lost to their colleagues from Part 4. It was goalless draw all through the first half of the encounter. Many thanks to a beautiful drive from Fakeye, who eventually bagged the highest goal scorer of the competition which eventually ended the goal drought.
The match proceeded as the luminaries struggled to get an equalizer. Alas, the equalizer would not just come. Shortly after the luminaries failed to convert the penalty kick that was awarded to them, the LLB 4 team punished them by utilizing a beautiful corner which turned out to a goal, courtesy of a beautiful header from Uche.
The second goal confirmed the victor of the day as the luminaries struggled and laboured for a goal they never got even though they wrote their names so boldly in the history book being the first part one class to play in the final.
Friday, 8 January 2016
Aubameyang Wins African Player Of The Year 2015
The 26-year old beat Ivorian Yaya Toure and Ghana’s Andre Ayew to the crown, the most prestigious individual award in African football. He polled 143 points, seven more than Toure whilst Ayew finished a distant third with 112 points.
He thus becomes the first from his country, Gabon, to win the prize and was decorated at the 2015 Glo-CAF Awards Gala held on Thursday, 7 January 2016 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Nigeria.
The feat by Aubameyang ended the four-year reign of Toure, which lasted 2011 to 2014.
For the African Player of the Year – Based in Africa, Tanzanian Mbwana Aly Samatta was decorated, becoming the first from East Africa to win the coveted prize, reserved for footballers plying their trade on the continent.
Samatta garnered 127 points, ahead of his TP Mazembe teammate and DR Congo goalkeeper Robert Muteba Kidiaba, who amassed 88 points. Algerian Baghdad Bounedjah trailed in third place with 63 points.
Cameroonian Gaelle Enganamouit was adjudged Women’s Player of the Year becoming the first from her country to pick up the prize.
It was double delight for hosts Nigeria with two prizes, Victor Osimhen – Youth Player of the Year and Etebo Peter Oghenekaro – Most Promising Talent of the Year.
For guiding Cote d’Ivoire to continental glory, former coach Herve Renard was named Coach of the Year and ‘Les Elephants’ as National Team of the Year. Cameroon scooped the Women’s National Team of the Year prize and DR Congo giants, TP Mazembe, Club of the Year, whilst Gambian Papa Bakary Gassama went home with the Referee of the Year award.
Former Ghana coach Charles Kumi Gyamfi and Cameroonian Samuel Mbappe Leppe were honoured posthumously in the African Legend category. Edwin Gyamfi received the honour on behalf of his dad whilst …… picked the prize for Mbappe Leppe.
The event, sponsored by Nigerian telecommunication outfit, Globacom, was a night to celebrate and reward sporting excellence, also showcased superb and first-class entertainment from outstanding entertainers across different parts of Africa. There were musical performances by Shatta Wale (Ghana), Ahmed Soultan (Morocco), Salif Keita (Mali), Awilo Longomba (DR Congo) and Nigerians King Sunny Ade, Dija, Korede Bello, Flavour, Omawumi, Bez and Ego.
The crème de la crème of football administrators around the continent were in attendance
FULL WINNERS
AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Pierre-Emerick AUBAMEYANG (Gabon)
AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR – BASED IN AFRICA - Mbwana Aly SAMATTA
WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Gaelle ENGANAMOUIT (Cameroon)
YOUTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Victor OSIMHEN (Nigeria)
MOST PROMISING TALENT OF THE YEAR - Etebo Peter OGHENEKARO (Nigeria)
COACH OF THE YEAR - Herve RENARD (France) – Former Coach of Cote d’Ivoire
REFEREE OF THE YEAR - Bakary Papa GASSAMA (Gambia)
NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR - Cote d’Ivoire
WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR - Cameroon
CLUB OF THE YEAR - TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
AFRICAN LEGEND
Charles Kumi GYAMFI (Ghana)
Samuel MBAPPE LEPPE (Cameroon)
AFRICA FINEST XI
Goalkeeper: Robert Muteba KIDIABA (DR Congo)
Defenders: Serge AURIER (Cote d’Ivoire), Aymen ABDENNOUR (Tunisia), Mohamed MEFTAH (Algeria)
Midfielders: Andre AYEW (Ghana), Yaya TOURE (Cote d’Ivoire), Sadio MANE (Senegal), Yacine BRAHIMI (Algeria),
Forwards: Mbwana Aly SAMATTA (Tanzania), Pierre-Emerrick AUBAMEYANG (Gabon), Baghdad BOUNEDJAH (Algeria)
Substitutes
Djigui DIARRA (Mali)
Azubuike OKECHUKWU (Nigeria)
Kelechi NWAKALI (Nigeria)
Zinedine FERHAT (Algeria)
Adama TRAORE (Mali)
Victor OSIMHEN (Nigeria)
Kermit ERASMUS (South Africa)
Tuesday, 15 December 2015
UCL Knockout Draw: Arsenal To Face Barcelona, Chelsea Draw PSG
The round of 16 UEFA Champions League draws have been made with some of Europe’s finest set to meet each other at the round of 16 stage. The Line up of teams drawn: Champions League last 16 line up The first legs will take place on 16/17 and 23/24 February, with the return games to be played on 8/9 and 15/16 March.
The finals will be played in May in AC Milan/Inter Milan’s San Siro Stadium. Javier Zanetti is the 2016 Champions League final ambassador. The group runners-up will play the first leg at home. No team can play a club from their group or any side from their own association. The full draws below:
Dynamo Kiev vs Manchester City
SL Benfica vs Zenit
PSV vs Atletico Madrid
Juventus vs Bayern Munich
Arsenal vs FC Barcelona
PSG vs Chelsea
AS Roma vs Real Madrid
KAA Gent vs Wolfsburg
Thursday, 29 October 2015
Report: Nigeria U17 6-0 Australia U17
Nigeria reached the Fifa U17 World Cup quarter finals after annihiliating Australia 6-0 in their second round game in Vina Del Mar on Thursday morning.
Complete with the presence of Funsho Bamgboye and Udochukwu Anumudu who missed out of the Golden Eaglets' last group game owing to cards suspension, the Joeys were torn apart by the ruthless Nigerians at the Estadio Sausalito.
Victor Osimhen bagged a hat trick and is now the outright leading scorer in the competition with seven goals from four games as Emmanuel Amuneke’s lads scored twice in the first half, then added four in the second half to set up a last four encounter against Brazil in Vina Del Mar on Sunday.
Osimhen set the ball rolling with his fifth of the tournament in the 22nd minute by bursting forward with pace and power on the left, before turning his defender and sliding the ball past goalkeeper Duro Dragicevic.
Australia had no answer to Nigeria’s passing and movement as Kelechi Nwakali scored the second from the penalty spot four minutes later after Bamgboye was brought down in the box recklessly by two onrushing defenders.
However, Cameron Joice almost pulled a goal back for the Joeys, but failed to convert on a miserable night for the Australians.
In the second half, the Auusies looked incoherent as they gave the ball away far too easily, while Nigeria were playing with a swagger and got their third through Osimhen in the 73rd minute as he pounced on a cross which Dragicevic had failed to clear.
The lanky 16-year-old striker completed his hat trick six minutes later when he pushed aside the Aussie defender and shot into the roof of the net past the hapless goalkeeper.
Tony Vidmar’s lads were stunned, but far worse was to come as the Eaglets capitalized on more shambolic defending to score two more goals before the end of the game.
First, substitute Essien was on hand to head home from close range before Chukwueze’s missile completed the rout against the side who came into the game with the ambition of breaking their jinx against the defending champions.
Nigeria were a class apart and the Aussie fans sportingly applauded as they became the first team to score six goals in a Fifa U17 World Cup knock out phase as they attempt to win the trophy for the fifth time.
The Golden Eaglets, who have now scored 14 goals, have set up a date with Brazil in the quarter finals on Sunday.
Source: Goal.com
Wednesday, 21 October 2015
U-17 WC: Nigeria Crush Chile To Advance To The Next Round
Golden Eaglets crushed the hosts to secure a place in the knock out round of the 2015 Fifa U17 World Cup as Miguel Ponce's lads face an early exit
A goal from captain Kelechi Nwakali plus a brace from Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze brought hosts Chile to their feet as they crashed 5-1 at the Estadio SausalitoVina Del Mar on Wednesday morning.
Although Marcelo Allende got one for the South Americans with nine minutes to the end of the game, that could not inspire a comeback as the rampaging Nigerians have now secured a place in the second round of the competition.
The Chileans came into the game with the outlook of securing their first win of the competition after their 1-1 draw against Croatia on Saturday, but the Eaglets had different idea as Chukwueze fired Emmanuel Amuneke’s side ahead after 30 seconds.
Not quite long – in the 16th minute to be precise, captain Nwakali converted from the spot to double his side’s lead after Chukwueze was fouled by Juan Jose Soriano by sprinting onto a long upfield clearance and tapping the ball past the sliding defender.
In the second half, Nigeria got their third in the 60th through Chukwueze who completed his double. He found his way into the South Americans’ penalty area, performed a couple of footworks and, after seeing an initial shot blocked, thumped a left-footed strike past goalkeeper Lopez.
Osimhen got his first via the penalty spot after dangerboy Chukwueze was brought down again by Brian Leiva. Despite Funsho Bamgboye’s red card, he powered in his brace.
Chile's consolation came courtesy of Allende, who slammed past Udoh from Luciano Diaz's cross.
Nigeria with this victory boast of six points and have qualified for the second round of the competition, but will face Croatia in their third game at the Estadio Sausalito on Friday.
Source: Goal.com
