SPORTS UPDATE

[Edoman]

AFCON 2019: Nigeria knocks out defending champions Cameroon to qualify for Quarter-finals






Super Eagles of Nigeria have knocked out Cameroon, the defending champions from the ongoing African Cup of Nations in Egypt after thrashing them 3 -2 to qualify for Quarter-finals.

Nigeria first took the lead in the 28th minutes after Odion Ighalo found the net. But Cameroon later replied with two goals from Stephane Bahoken and Clinton N'Jie in the 41 and 44 minutes.
 
The comeback goal came in the 63 minutes after Odion Ighalo found the net for the second time before Alex Iwobi then made it 3 - 2 in the 66 minutes.

The Super Eagles will face either Egypt or South Africa in the quarter-finals. 

by Linda 

[Edoman]

Nigeria Vs Cameroon: Ighalo Wins Man Of The Match


Nigeria defeated Cameroon 3-2 at the Alexandria Stadium to seal the quarter-finals ticket.

Two goals from Jude Odion Ighalo and an assist for Alex Iwobi for the third saw him won the man of the match award. 

Source https://www.reportminds.com/2019/07/ighalo-wins-motm-award-in-3-2-win.html?m=1

[Edoman]

AFCON 2019: Nigeria to face South Africa in Quarter-finals after host nation Egypt crashes out 






Bafana Bafana of South Africa have set up a Quarter-final clash with the Super Eagles of Nigeria after they knocked out Egypt, the host nation of 2019 Africa Cup of Nation. 

South Africa stunned Egypt with a late goal in the 85th minutes from Thembinkosi Lorch to advance to the next stage from the round of 16 tonight. 

South Africa will now face Nigeria 8pm on Wedneday, July 10, 2019. 

by Linda Ikeji

[Edoman]

Super Eagles forward, Ahmed Musa, says he wants to win the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations trophy in honour of late coach of the side, Stephen Keshi.

Keshi last won the AFCON title for Nigeria, leading the team to victory in the 2013 edition of the tournament in South Africa, and Musa was part of the squad.

Speaking with CAF online, Musa who was one of the only three players that won the 2013 AFCON, said Keshi was like a father to him.

Musa said:

“It was such a happy occasion when we won in 2013 and we said as a team then that there is no bigger honour than winning something for your country. Now, it is the same for us this year after missing out over the last two editions.

“If we win the title, I am going to dedicate it to the late Stephen Keshi because he was like a father to me. It’s not that easy losing someone so special to you and the memories I have left of him are like a motivator.

“There are so many lessons I draw from him as a person and as a coach and that is what always keep me going. We really miss him as players and as a country and we always pray for him. It would be an honour for us if we won this for him.

“We don’t fear anyone. For us, is just to take a game at a time, focus as a team and give our best. There is no easy team at this AFCON and we know if we are to win, it will come as a result of very hard work.”

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Source: https://www.mediahelm.com.ng/2019/07/i-want-to-win-afcon-for-stephen-keshi.html[/size]

[Edoman]

Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah was left heartbroken and devastated following Egypt’s shock AFCON exit against South Africa, MySportDab reports.

Egypt were considerable favourites against 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa, the Pharaohs were expected to cruise past the Bafana Bafana – but things certainly didn’t go to plan.

South Africa forward Thembinkosi Lorch fired his side into the lead and the Bafana Bafana warriors didn't look back at all, they managed to keep Egypt at bay and win the Round of 16 clash 1-0.

Remarkably left-back Sifiso Hlanti, who playsfor South African side Bidvest Wits FC, managed to keep the Champions League winner quiet for the entire game.

The defender was phenomenal this evening and this performance will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of his career.

Salah was seen crying after the match.

Watch Video;https://www.mysportdab.com/2019/07/mohamed-salah-in-tears-after-egypt.html

[Edoman]

Super Eagles players will get $20,000 Each for winning today - Amaju Pinnick



President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick today in Egypt, confirmed to the players that they will get $20,000 for winning today's Round of 16 tie vs Cameroon.

Watch Video: 

Source: https://www.mediahelm.com.ng/2019/07/every-super-eagles-players-will-get.html

[Edoman]

Messi Accuses CONMEBOL Of Match Fixing And Corruption


Furious at having been sent off for just the second time in his career, Lionel Messi criticised CONMEBOL after Argentina's 2-1 victory over Chile in the third-place play-off.


The Albiceleste captain did not take any part in the ceremony, after a Copa where he has hit the headlines more for his outbursts against organisers Brazil and CONMEBOL than his exploits on the pitch.

And when he finally addressed reporters from the stadium he launched a withering condemnation of the competition's organisation in supposed favour of the hosts.

"There is no doubt, the whole thing is set up for Brazil," he fired, before suggesting that he paid the price for his previous outburst against the refereeing of the semi final.

"I did not want to be part of this corruption, we shouldn't have to be.

"I always tell the truth and I'm honest, that is what keeps me calm, if what I say has repercussions that is not my business.

"I think that what happened is because of what I said [against Brazil].

"What I said last time perhaps came back to haunt me. With a yellow card that was the end of it."

Messi previously criticised the playing surfaces at the Copa America following Argentina's last-eight victory over Venezuela, labelling the pitches "shameful" after a subdued performance.

But it was in the aftermath of Tuesday's defeat that he really let loose, incensed by the failure of match official Roddy Zambrano to refer two penalty calls to VAR in Brazil's 2-0 victory.

"They were not better than us. They found the net early and the second goal came from a penalty [to Aguero] they didn't award," Messi told reporters.

"They [the officials] had booked a lot of bullsh*t, but they didn't even check the VAR, that's incredible.

"That happened all over the game. At the first glance of contact, they ruled in their [Brazil's] favour and this kind of bullsh*t distracted us from the game."

Source https://www.reportminds.com/2019/07/messi-acuuses-conmebol-of-match-fixing.html?m=1

[Edoman]

Sport
EPL: Manchester United include Pogba, Lukaku in pre-season squad [Full list]
 


Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has named a 28-man travelling squad for 2019 tour.
United will play five tour matches against Perth Glory and Leeds United in Australia, Inter Milan in Singapore, Tottenham Hotspur in China and AC Milan in Wales.

A sixth friendly will be staged in Norway, against Kristiansund BK, according to the club’s official website.
See full squad:
Goalkeepers: David De Gea, Lee Grant, Joel Pereira, Sergio Romero.

Defenders: Diogo Dalot, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, Victor Lindelof, Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling, Axel Tuanzebe, Luke Shaw, Ashley Young.
Midfielders: Tahith Chong, James Garner, Angel Gomes, Daniel James, Jesse Lingard, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata, Scott McTominay, Andreas Pereira, Paul Pogba.
Forwards: Mason Greenwood, Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford.

Argentina defender Matteo Darmian and Brazil’s Fred will join the tour at a later date due to family reasons, according to the club.

[Edoman]

Sport
Liverpool owners fear Klopp might leave club as manager stalls on new contract
 


Liverpool are afraid manager Jurgen Klopp might not sign a new contract amid fears of burn out, the UK Sun reports.
Klopp is believed to earn around £7million a year and Reds owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), have made an approach to raise his salary to £10m following success in the Champions League last season.

The German and his coaching staff signed six-year extensions in 2016, keeping them at Anfield until 2022.
However, Klopp values his health far more than money, which is why he is taking his time to make a decision.
On the other hand, FSG are worried that the more successful Klopp becomes, the more attractive he makes himself to big European clubs in future.

The 52-year-old who finished second in the Premier League last season has expressed his intention of ending Liverpool’s 29-year wait for the title.

[Edoman]

Sport
Transfer: Real Madrid offer Bale, Isco, £72m for Man United star

on
July 7, 2019
 


Real Madrid have reportedly told Manchester United that they are prepared to offer £72million, Gareth Bale or Spanish star, Isco in exchange for French midfielder, Paul Pogba, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The World Cup winner’s future with the Red Devils has been plunged into uncertainty in the past year.

United, have, however, informed Real Madrid that a deal could only be down if the La Liga giants tabled a bid in excess of £150m.
That is despite Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola’s recent comments, where he admitted they are trying to force a move from the club.
The newspaper reports that Real Madrid have responded by suggesting a swap deal for Pogba which would see one of Bale or Isco join the red side of Manchester.

This is not the first time that Bale and Isco have been linked with United, but rumours have previously fizzled out.
The proposed package would include £72 million upfront too, almost half the £150 million valuation placed on Pogba by the Red Devils.

[Edoman]

Sport

Argentina vs Chile: Lionel Messi shown straight red card in Copa America semi-final
 


Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, was shown a straight red card, during their Copa America semi-final win against Chile on Saturday.
The Barcelona superstar had earlier laid on an assist, as they raced into a two-goal lead.

Sergio Aguero and Paulo Dybala found the back of the net, as it appeared that the Albiceleste would run off the defending champions.
However, things changed in the 38th minute, as Messi tussled with Gary Medel for a loose ball.
Mario Diaz de Vivar from Paraguay deemed it to be bad enough and sent off both players.

Arturo Vidal pulled one back for Chile in the second half, as Messi’s team-mates held on for a 2-1 win.
This is the second time Messi will be sent off in his career. The first time was on his Argentina debut in 2005.

[Edoman]

Sport
AFCON 2019: Ighalo leads highest goalscorers



Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, is currently leading the race to become the highest goalscorer at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.
Ighalo netted a brace in Nigeria’s 3-2 win over Cameroon on Saturday, to take his tally to three goals so far.

The Shanghai Shenhua frontman had earlier found the back of the net, in a 1-0 win over Burundi during the group stages.
He is tied with Senegal’s Sadio Mane, who has also scored three times so far.
Ighalo will have a chance to extend his tally, when the Eagles take on South Africa on Wednesday, July 10.

Top scorers so far:
3 goals: Ighalo (NGR), Mane (SEN)

[Edoman]

Egypt FA boss resigns after shock AFCON exit
 
 
                                
The president of the Egyptian Football Association Hani Abou Rida has resigned after sacking his technical team after the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hosts’ suffered a surprise defeat in a round of 16 game against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.

The decision had been “a moral obligation” said the Egyptian FA in a statement after “disappointing Egypt’s supporters” in a 1-0 defeat to South Africa, adding that all board members had been invited to resign.

Saturday’s match saw rank outsiders South Africa stun the record seven-time African champions whose line-up included Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and who were among the favourites to win the tournament.

Rida had led the Egyptian FA since 2016, in a three-year reign marked by controversy, including a 2018 World Cup fiasco that saw the Pharaohs fail to get out of the group stages after losing all of their matches.

The location of the team’s training base in Grozny, the capital of Muslim-majority Chechnya, spurred widespread criticism — especially from human rights groups — over concerns of abuses by Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, supported by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

The federation has also feuded with Salah, the reigning African Footballer of the Year and won the Champions League last month with his club Liverpool, who has accused the body of misusing his image inside the country.

Recently the reinstatement of a player who had been banned following sexual harassment charges had provoked further widespread criticism of the Egyptian FA on social media.

Egypt’s coach Javier Aguirre came in for criticism for his management of the side during the African Cup of Nations, with Egypt legend Wael Gomaa accusing the Mexican of having “no tactics or strategy”.

Following Saturday’s defeat, Aguirre said he alone took the blame for the host nation’s disastrous campaign and indicated he would hold talks with the Egyptian football association over his future.

Egypt had been tipped as leading title contenders on home soil but came unstuck against a South African team that only scraped through into the knockout phase via the last of four spots reserved for the best third-place sides.

Thembinkosi Lorch scored the only goal of the last-16 match in the 85th minute to give South Africa a stunning victory.

“No decision until this moment. I spoke to the players in the dressing room, and tomorrow (Sunday) will speak with EFA officials,” Aguirre said after the final whistle.

“I think the game was open and there were chances for both teams. The only difference was the goal for South Africa,” he added.

[Edoman]

USA have won the 2019 Women's World Cup after a final 2-0 win against Netherlands in France, MySportDab reports.

The United States were massive favourites and secured the win thanks to a penalty from Megan Rapinoe and fine Rose Lavelle effort.

USA, who knocked England out in the semi-final, won four years ago beating Japan 5-2 in the final.

The victory sees Jill Ellis’ side successfully defend their World Cup title won in 2015, while adding to triumphs in 1991 and 1999.

Their four titles is the most of any nation since the tournament began in 1991, with Germany the closest with two titles.

It also continues a run of dominance from the USWNT that has seen them lost just once in their last 45 matches – a 3-1 defeat to France last January, amassing a record of 39-1-5 over that span.

USA players are seen celebrating wildly after the final whistle.

Watch Video;https://www.mysportdab.com/2019/07/usa-win-2019-women-world-cup-after-2-0.html
1 

[Edoman]

Brazil Defeat Peru To Win Copa America





 
Brazil are the new champions of South America, after they defeated Peru 3-1 to win its first Copa America title since 2007 on Sunday.
 
Everton's opener for Brazil, was equalised a minute before half-time when Paolo Guerrero scored from the penalty spot after Thiago Silva handled the ball. The goal was the first Brazil had conceded in six games in the Copa América, but they retook the lead moments later after a well-worked move from midfield. Gabriel Jesus scored a decisive goal after the penalty, and Richarlison's late spot-kick sealed Brazil's spot as winners of the South American title for the ninth time. 
 
It was Brazil’s first major title since they won the Copa América in 2007 and the first for their coach Tite, who took charge of the national team three years ago. Peru has not won the tournament since 1975. 
by Linda

[Edoman]

Messi must accept ‘when he loses’ – Tite

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[url=https://thenationonlineng.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Tite.jpg]


Brazil coach Tite has criticised Lionel Messi for his complaints against the Copa America refereeing.
Brazil beat Messi’s Argentina lineup in the semifinals and clinched the title Sunday with a 3-1 win over Peru for their first Copa since 2007 and ninth overall.
“He has to have more respect and needs to accept when he loses,” said Tite, who had praised the Argentine playmaker ahead of the semifinals.
Messi boycotted the medal ceremony after Argentina beat Chile in the third-place game on Saturday. He said he was protesting against the refereeing and “corruption” in the Copa America.

Messi and Chile’s Gary Medel were red carded after their physical confrontation in the first half.
Messi said afterward that Argentina was not treated fairly and hinted that Brazil was benefiting as a result.



Tite said he didn’t think Messi should have been sent off against Chile and that a yellow card would have been enough.
“You have to have a little more respect and be careful,” Tite said. “We played clean against Argentina. Messi was unfairly sent off against Chile. It was a yellow card. But be careful.”
Brazil captain Dani Alves said that the comments by his former Barcelona teammate shouldn’t take away from Brazil’s win.
“I do not agree with what [Messi] said. Here we have professional players who have worked a lot in this competition and who have fought for it.
“Deservedly [Brazil] eliminated [Argentina in the semifinal]. This is a very special achievement. We do not have to think about what other people say, even if it’s Messi.”

[Edoman]

I won’t be here if I didn’t love tennis — Serena


[url=https://thenationonlineng.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Serena.jpg][/url]



SERENA Williams has stated that passion is what pushes her to keep playing tennis at the highest level.
For the American, it’s everything. “I absolutely would not be here if I didn’t love what I do. I work really hard at what I do every day. So, yeah, it’s hard to do something for this long if you don’t have a true love for it. I think it’s been consistent. I think in the past few years it gets to be a lot more, which is really intense.” Asked an opinion about the age eligibility as Cori Gauff, who has reached the fourth round, can play only a certain amount of events at 15 years of age, Serena added: “I don’t know.
“I can’t really comment on that because I can’t really experience that. I do know when I was younger, I was limited to tournaments. I also was able to go to school and be able to do things that I’ll never get back.
“I don’t know. I don’t know what to say about it.” Asked what made her decide to play mixed doubles with Andy Murray, Serena added: “We talked about it a little bit before. It made sense for me because I really could use some matches at this point.


“It made sense for him. We both want to do well. We both love Wimbledon. Yeah, so it was definitely something that we thought we could do. I think Andy is a great player like I said. I think he is mentally one of the toughest players out there.
I don’t even know what goes on in his mind. I know what goes on in mine, my mind. It’s always interesting to hear what other champions think, how you can play that to your game — apply it to your game. It’s only a win-win situation for me.

[Edoman]

Sport
Transfer: Premier League striker completes move to China
 


West Ham have completed the sale of Marko Arnautovic to Shanghai SIPG for £22.4m (€25m), according to Sky Sports.
The 30-year-old passed a medical with the Chinese Super League side over the weekend, with the deal expected to be made official early this week.

West Ham decided to accept a “terrible deal” for Arnautovic, because everyone “wants him out”.
The London club were running out of patience, after comments made by his brother claiming they are “using” him.
The Austrian striker scored 21 goals in 59 Premier League matches in his two seasons at the club since arriving from Stoke City.

Arnautovic had asked to leave in January, but ended up signing a contract extension.
The new deal saw his wages rise by 20% to £120,000 a week, including a £40m release clause, which expired on June 14.

[Edoman]

Sport
Transfer: Sarri identifies top Premier League defender for Juventus
 


Juventus boss, Maurizio Sarri has identified Tottenham defender, Kieran Trippier, as one of the players he will be taking from the Premier League this summer.
The Italian is interested in signing the England defender, according to Italian sports journalist, Aurelio Capaldi.

“Sarri began to appreciate him in the Premier League, so Trippier is an option,” Capaldi told the Transfer Window Podcast.
“He’s very happy if the club manages to sign him.
“Sarri believes Juventus really needs offensive people on the sides and wants to make things happen.”

[Edoman]

Sport
AFCON 2019: Iwobi reveals what Super Eagles will do before South Africa clash
 


Super Eagles playmaker, Alex Iwobi has said he and his team-mates will analyse their previous matches to work on their lapses ahead of Wednesday’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final against South Africa.
Iwobi netted the winner, as Nigeria eliminated defending champions Cameroon, following a 3-2 victory on Saturday.

“Of course I am happy, the team performance is the main thing. I am happy to beat a strong team like Cameroon and we’re looking forward to the next round,” Iwobi said, according to AllNigeriaSoccer.
Speaking on the clash against Bafana Bafana, the Arsenal ace added: “First we need to recover, I am shattered and tired. We will analyze what went wrong in the last game and go into the next game and hopefully we can do well again.
“We didn’t expect this result against Cameroon, we never know what to expect in a game of football. Cameroon are able to get goals so are we, we were able to do that and outscore them.”