Sports
2021 AFCON: Why Super Eagles performed poorly, by Rohr


Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr has said the poor condition of the pitch at the Siaka Stevens stadium, Freetown, was responsible for the poor performance of the team against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in Tuesday’s match.
The Super Eagles played an uninspiring goalless draw against the Leone Stars in the reverse fixture of their Group L 2021 AFCON qualifier.
The Eagles remain leaders of the group with eight points after four games, while Sierra Leone are third with three points.
Rohr, reviewing the game on the team’s official Twitter account, praised the performance of some his players, singling out Maduka Okoye for being the most impressive, and lamenting the long ball tactics used by the home team, which scuttled the efforts of the Eagles’ to secure the much needed three points.
Rohr stated, “The team did well, especially our goalkeeper who had a very good match. Last time, he conceded four goals, which was not his fault. And today, he showed everyone what he can do. Our defence did well, but the pitch was very difficult to play good football and they were playing long balls.
“The point means we stay top of our group and I believe we are in the right direction.”
The Eagles will in their next match play away to Benin Republic in March 2021.
Sports
McTominay scores double against Chelsea to reduce pressure on Ten Hag


McTominay scores double against Chelsea to reduce pressure on Ten Hag
Scott McTominay relieved some of the pressure surrounding Erik Ten Hag as his double earned an improved Manchester United a much-needed 2-1 win over Chelsea.
Ten Hag’s gamble in dropping both Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial amid reports of dressing-room disharmony had the desired effect for the under-fire manager, with the hosts’ quality with and without the ball a world away from Saturday’s dismal defeat at Newcastle.
McTominay opened the scoring on the rebound from Harry Maguire’s effort (19), but Unitwd would have already been ahead had Bruno Fernandes not seen an eighth-minute penalty saved.
United dominated the opening period without adding to their lead, and were made to pay on the stroke of half-time when Cole Palmer fired home a well-placed strike from just inside the area.
The home side were less effective following the interval but McTominay (69) restored their advantage with a close-range header from Alejandro Garnacho’s cross, before the Argentine wasted a glorious opportunity to wrap up victory on the break.
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It mattered little in the end, as United’s performance cut through the noise surrounding the club to finally earn a first point – and win – of the season against an opponent in the top half of the Premier League, and lifted them just three points off the top four.
However, Leon Bailey’s deflected strike earned Aston Villa a deserved 1-0 win over Manchester City at Villa Park that lifted them above the reigning champions into third.
The goal came late in the game to maintain the perfect home record of Unai Emery’s side and reflected their superior endeavour throughout the contest against an unusually passive City. It is now four Premier League games without a win for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Erling Haaland did have two chances in the first half but City never looked comfortable, missing the suspended Rodri badly. They drop to fourth in the table and are now six points adrift of Arsenal. On this evidence, they may need to worry about Villa too.
McTominay scores double against Chelsea to reduce pressure on Ten Hag
(SkySport)
Sports
Guardiola has to ‘find a solution’ to Man City woes after Villa loss


Guardiola has to ‘find a solution’ to Man City woes after Villa loss
Birmingham (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola admitted he has to “find a solution” to Manchester City’s woes after the Premier League champions crashed to a damaging 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Wednesday.
Guardiola’s side were rocked by Leon Bailey’s second-half winner at Villa Park.
Fourth-placed City are now languishing six points behind leaders Arsenal after a fourth successive league game without a victory.
Villa have climbed above them into third place, with the treble winners looking more vulnerable than any time in recent memory.
Guardiola had no immediate answer to why City have stumbled of late, with the lethargic Villa loss coming after draws with Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham.
But the City boss conceded he must get to the bottom of their alarming blip quickly.
“Six points (behind Arsenal) and we would prefer to be top of the league but we made three draws and lost today,” he said.
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“In these years we have found a way to win games but we struggled a bit and we have to find a way.
“It is my job to find a solution. The dynamic changes by winning games. When a team is better you have to recognise it.”
Villa out-played City from start to finish, with Guardiola’s team failing to muster a shot on target after Erling Haaland’s two efforts in quick succession early in the first half.
Guardiola admitted City never looked comfortable, saying: “Aston Villa played better. The first half we didn’t move in possession and the second half was much better and we had chances, but we struggled to find the pass and movements in the right moments.
“We have scored four or five goals with deflections so it is what it is and we have to accept Aston Villa was better and go to Luton on Sunday.”
City’s four defeats this season have come without Rodri in the line-up, with the influential Spain midfielder serving a suspension at Villa.
They are unbeaten in their last 43 games with Rodri in the team and Guardiola said: “Rodri is an important player of course but when he is not there we have to find a way to win without him.”
Guardiola has to ‘find a solution’ to Man City woes after Villa loss
AFP
Sports
Footballer slumps, dies during training


Footballer slumps, dies during training
Sodiq Adebisi, a footballer from Ogun State, died after collapsing during a training session at the Dipo Dina International Stadium in Ijebu-Ode.
The player was reportedly exercising with other football players on Saturday when the incident occurred.
When his teammates saw the 34-year-old collapse to the ground, they transported him to a state hospital in Ijebu-Ode.
However, despite valiant efforts by hospital professionals, Sodiq was proclaimed dead the same day he was admitted to the hospital.
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Our correspondent further learnt that the corpse of the deceased had been deposited at the state mortuary in Ijebu-Ode.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Tuesday and disclosed that the deceased footballer’s brother, Ganiyu Adebisi, had approached the Igbeba Police Division to demand the corpse for burial.
“The brother came to report the incident at our Igbeba division. The family said they don’t want any investigation and that they wanted to bury the deceased according to Islamic rite,” Odutola stated.
Footballer slumps, dies during training
(Punch)
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