Sports

Alex Iwobi: Everton can compete with the best

Published

4 years ago

August 28, 2022

Alex Iwobi

Nigeria international Alex Iwobi says positive talks with boss Frank Lampard and an enduring confidence paved the way for his accomplished turnaround for Everton.

The creative midfielder followed up his fine form at the end of last season into the new season to stand out in all games this season, especially in the league opener against Chelsea and last Tuesday’s victory in the Carabao Cup.

Though, Everton lost the PL opener to a late penalty at Goodison Park, Iwobi earned glowing praises from Frank Lampard for his performance alongside Abdoulaye Doucoure in Everton’s midfield engine room, with the Blues boss declaring the Nigerian “did superb in the game…and dealt with Chelsea’s threats brilliantly”.

The 26-year-old was one of Everton’s standout players in the 2021/22 season run-in and says he is determined to elevate his game further in this campaign.

Iwobi revealed how specific instructions from Lampard ahead of the Chelsea match helped him shine against high-quality opposition.

He told evertontv: “I had a meeting with the manager before the game who told me – especially when we are going on the attack – that I should look around and be aware of my surroundings.

“It helped me going into the game and I felt like I did okay.

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“I felt quite comfortable in midfield. The defence was always talking to me and helping me, so I was always in the right positions at the right times.

“The gaffer is always talking to me, motivating me and telling me to go out and express myself, kick on from last season, and I feel like I’ve done that so far. But it’s a long season, it’s a marathon, and there’s a long way to go.”

Iwobi’s influence on the game is highlighted by the fact he completed more passes than any other Everton player (38).

He was ambitious in possession, too, regularly feeding penetrative passes into the Toffees’ attackers.

Iwobi explained how the belief he feels from Evertonians is giving him the freedom to express himself.

“The fans are always giving me that confidence that even if a pass doesn’t come off, they’ll clap and applaud the effort,” he said.

“It’s something that’s helping me go into games that, even if I do miss, I’ll have the confidence to try something again.

“It worked out against Chelsea; I was able to make some forward passes and hopefully it leads to some assists in the next game.”

The Chelsea game was marred by an injury to Ben Godfrey after just 10 minutes, with Lampard confirming the defender sustained a suspected “small fracture” of his fibula.

Iwobi said: “The way Ben was suffering on the pitch; it didn’t look right.

“We’ll keep in touch with him, he’s a strong guy. As soon as I got in after the game, I messaged him straight away.

“We hope for the best for him because he’s one of the lads. He’s a big character. He’ll be back in no time. We trust him.”

Godfrey’s fellow centre-back James Tarkowski produced a towering performance against Chelsea, with his authority, composure and leadership all on show on his competitive Everton debut.

Iwobi revealed the sense of assurance the England international gives to the team.

Iwobi said: “He’s a giant at the back, he’s a monster.

“You feel very safe and secure with him, and nothing goes past him. For me playing in front of him, he’s always talking to me, always helping me to be in the right positions.

“He’s good for me, good for the team, has a lot of experience. It was a solid performance from him.”

Everton stood toe-to-toe with Chelsea throughout the game, with only Jorginho’s penalty in first-half stoppage time settling a closely-fought battle.

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Iwobi insists belief remains high in the camp and look forward to more favourable results in the PL.

“I don’t think like we deserved this result,” Iwobi said.

“We defended really well, we were unfortunate with the penalty but, other than that, we defended as a team and created a couple of chances. On another day, those chances go in.

“It shows we can compete with one of the best teams in the Premier League. If we can compete against them, we can compete against anyone.”

Iwobi says, though the team is yet to get it right in the PL, the win over Fleetwood is a booster for them.

Lampard says they passed a “test of character” in the 1-0 Carabao Cup victory at Fleetwood Town but believes the Blues can improve their quality in key areas.

Everton were made to work hard for their win against a dogged Fleetwood outfit but Demarai Gray’s 28th-minute strike ensured the Blues’ progress to the third round of the competition.

“There are parts of the performance I liked. Also, individuals got some important minutes – such as our captain [Seamus Coleman] who came in and had a great attitude – and some players grew into the game

“We can improve. I wanted a bit more intensity off the ball at times. And the quality of our play, moments when we can make a killer pass and take control of the game, I thought we were a little bit loose at times.

“It was a test of character and a test of quality.

“I think we succeeded on the test of character, for sure, but we could have been better at times on the test of quality.

“Fleetwood gave us a good match. They’re a physical team. In that sense it was a good challenge for us.

“In terms of our performance, it wasn’t amazing, but I’ve played in many nights like these – and been beaten on nights like this as well – so I understand they’re not easy.”

Summer signing Amadou Onana made his first Everton start in the game and completed the full 90 minutes. Lampard believes the experience will be an important step in the 21-year-old’s acclimatisation to English football.

“I thought Amadou grew into the game really well,” he said.

“He has not had a lot of days in training before coming here, and he’s moving to a new league, a new speed, new physicality… He found that out tonight. I thought he played well.

“Some of his passing across the pitch was really good – it was flat, he was getting the balls to our wing-backs and wingers quickly, he was playing through lines. There were lots of good things. His attitude was great, too. It was spot on.”

The Everton boss also had words of praise for Alex Iwobi, who delivered yet another high-calibre performance in central midfield.

Indeed, the Nigerian’s display saw him voted as man of the match by Evertonians.

Lampard added: “Alex is playing at a really high level where he plays – midfield, higher up the pitch – and he works off the ball and he’s huge player for this squad.

“We’re delighted with his performances and since I’ve been here, he’s been getting better and better. He’s started the season in great form.”

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Sports

CAF Suspends Two Super Falcons Stars Ahead of Decisive Egypt Clash in WAFCON 2026

Published

1 day ago

August 3, 2026

Trends Admin

CAF Suspends Two Super Falcons Stars Ahead of Decisive Egypt Clash in WAFCON 2026

Defender Oluwatosin Demehin and midfielder Jennifer Echegini will miss Nigeria’s must-win final Group C match against Egypt at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after being suspended by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following disciplinary incidents in the victory over Zambia.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons will be without two key players for their crucial final Group C match against Egypt at the ongoing 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) handed suspensions to defender Oluwatosin Demehin and midfielder Jennifer Echegini. The suspensions stem from disciplinary incidents during Nigeria’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zambia on Saturday, a result that revived the nine-time African champions’ title defence after a shock opening defeat to Malawi.

Demehin will miss the decisive fixture after receiving a straight red card in the 40th minute of the Zambia match. The centre-back was sent off for bringing down Zambia captain Barbra Banda as the striker raced through on goal during a dangerous counter-attack. The dismissal forced Nigeria to play with 10 players for more than 50 minutes, but the Super Falcons defended bravely to protect their slim lead until the final whistle. Echegini, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, will also be unavailable after receiving a yellow card during the same contest. The booking was her second caution of the tournament, triggering an automatic one-match suspension under CAF’s disciplinary regulations.

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The suspensions come as Nigeria seek victory against Egypt to boost their chances of reaching the quarter-finals. The Super Falcons bounced back from their opening 3-2 defeat to Malawi with a determined win over the Copper Queens, but the victory came at a significant cost. Asisat Oshoala scored the only goal in the eighth minute before Nigeria were forced to play with 10 women following Demehin’s dismissal. Despite Zambia’s numerical advantage for most of the contest, the nine-time African champions held on to claim all three points. With two rounds of matches completed, Malawi lead Group C with six points, while Nigeria and Zambia have three points each. Egypt remain without a point, leaving qualification for the knockout stage to be decided in the final round of group fixtures. The final round of Group C matches will be played on Wednesday, with Nigeria facing Egypt knowing victory could secure a place in the knockout stage, while Malawi take on Zambia in another decisive fixture.

Beyond the two confirmed absentees, captain Rasheedat Ajibade faces a different concern. Should she receive a yellow card against Egypt and Nigeria progress to the knockout rounds, she would be suspended for the first knockout-stage match, adding another layer of caution to Nigeria’s approach to the game. The absences of Demehin and Echegini will test the squad’s depth and put pressure on head coach Justine Madugu to reorganise ahead of a match Nigeria must win to advance. Demehin’s absence could prompt Madugu to reshuffle his backline after the defender had played a key role in containing the dangerous Barbra Banda before her dismissal, while Echegini’s suspension reduces Nigeria’s midfield options for the decisive encounter. Despite the double blow, the Super Falcons will be encouraged by the resilience they showed against Zambia, where they protected a one-goal lead for more than 50 minutes with a numerical disadvantage to reignite their title defence. The nine-time African champions have once again demonstrated their ability to grind out results under pressure and will be eager to maintain that momentum against Egypt.

CAF Suspends Two Super Falcons Stars Ahead of Decisive Egypt Clash in WAFCON 2026

Sports

Nigeria Shines in Commonwealth Games, Tops Africa with 10 Gold Medals

Published

1 day ago

August 3, 2026

Trends Admin

Nigeria Shines in Commonwealth Games, Tops Africa with 10 Gold Medals

Nigeria delivered one of its finest outings in Commonwealth Games history, finishing as Africa’s undisputed sporting powerhouse after clinching 24 medals to place seventh overall at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The Team Nigeria contingent returned home with 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals, comfortably emerging as the highest-ranked African nation and securing a place among the world’s top seven teams at the Games.

The final medals standings, released on the official Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games X handle after the close of competition on Sunday, confirmed Nigeria’s remarkable performance behind only Australia, England, Canada, India, Scotland and New Zealand.

Nigeria’s campaign gathered momentum after Esther Nworgu won the country’s first gold medal in the women’s lightweight para-powerlifting event.

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The gold rush continued with Ezekiel Nathaniel’s victory in the men’s 400m hurdles, while Goodness Nwachukwu produced one of the defining moments of the Games by breaking her own world record to win the women’s F42 discus throw.

Idris Riluwan also struck gold in the men’s para-powerlifting event, while Chukwuebuka Enekwechi etched his name into history with a landmark triumph in the men’s shot put.

Despite battling injury, world record holder Tobi Amusan showed remarkable resilience to claim a bronze medal in the women’s 100m hurdles.

Australia dominated the Games with 171 medals, including 70 gold, 45 silver and 56 bronze medals.

England finished second with 110 medals (29 gold, 45 silver and 36 bronze), while Canada placed third with 62 medals made up of 19 gold, 20 silver and 23 bronze.

India and hosts Scotland completed the top five with 39 medals each, with India taking fourth place on the strength of a superior silver medal tally.

New Zealand finished sixth with 36 medals (10 gold, 14 silver and 12 bronze), narrowly ahead of Nigeria, whose 10 gold medals ensured it finished above every other African country.

Jamaica placed eighth, Wales finished ninth, while Malaysia completed the top 10.

South Africa ended 11th with 28 medals, ahead of Northern Ireland in 12th, while Kenya finished 13th.

Cyprus, Mauritius, Cameroon, Jersey, Samoa, Sri Lanka and Fiji also featured among the leading nations.

Among the remaining African countries, Uganda, Namibia, Ghana, Lesotho, Zambia and Gabon all finished on the medals table, underscoring Nigeria’s dominance on the continent.

Nigeria Shines in Commonwealth Games, Tops Africa with 10 Gold Medals

Sports

Super Falcons bounce back as Oshoala sinks Zambia despite red card

Published

2 days ago

August 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Asisat Oshoala

Super Falcons bounce back as Oshoala sinks Zambia despite red card

Nigeria’s Super Falcons returned to winning ways at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zambia in their second Group C match in Rabat, Morocco.

The defending champions produced a determined response following their disappointing 3-2 defeat to Malawi in their opening fixture, with Asisat Oshoala scoring the only goal of the match in the eighth minute.

Nigeria were forced to defend their narrow advantage for more than half of the encounter after defender Oluwatosin Demehin was sent off in the 40th minute following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review of her challenge on Zambia captain Barbra Banda.

Despite playing the entire second half with 10 players, the Super Falcons remained disciplined and organised to secure three important points and revive their campaign. (Confédération Africaine de Football)

The victory was particularly significant for Nigeria, who entered the match under pressure after their unexpected opening defeat to Malawi.

The Super Falcons needed a positive result to strengthen their chances of progressing from Group C and keep their pursuit of a record-extending 11th WAFCON title on course.

Head coach Justine Madugu restored Oshoala to the starting line-up, and the experienced forward made an immediate impact.

Nigeria made a bright start and broke the deadlock in the eighth minute after Oshoala latched onto a long pass from midfield and used her pace to get ahead of the Zambian defence.

The forward broke into the penalty area and attempted to beat Zambia goalkeeper Hazel Nali. Although Nali stopped the initial effort, the rebound ricocheted off Oshoala and rolled into the net to give Nigeria an early lead.

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The goal gave the Super Falcons confidence and provided the ideal response after their difficult start to the tournament.

Nigeria had beaten Zambia 5-0 in the quarter-finals of the previous WAFCON, but the latest meeting proved to be a much more demanding contest.

The Super Falcons’ task became significantly harder shortly before halftime when Demehin was shown a straight red card following a VAR review.

The referee ruled that the defender had committed a serious foul while challenging Zambia’s influential captain, Banda.

The dismissal left Nigeria with 10 players and forced the team to adjust its approach for the remainder of the match.

Zambia increased the pressure after the restart and enjoyed more possession as they searched for an equaliser.

The Copper Queens pushed forward through Banda and fellow attacking players, but Nigeria’s defence remained compact and continued to limit clear scoring opportunities.

Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie also delivered an important performance, making key saves and helping the Super Falcons preserve their slender lead.

Nnadozie had faced criticism following the defeat to Malawi, but her display against Zambia provided a strong response as Nigeria secured their first win of the competition.

The goalkeeper appeared emotional after the final whistle as the Super Falcons celebrated a result that could prove decisive in their bid to reach the knockout stage.

Madugu also made tactical adjustments during the second half, introducing fresh players, including Chinwendu Ihezuo, to strengthen Nigeria’s defensive shape and provide additional energy.

The Super Falcons showed resilience, tactical discipline and determination as they resisted sustained Zambian pressure until the final whistle.

The result breathed new life into Nigeria’s WAFCON title defence and left Group C open heading into the final round of group-stage matches.

Nigeria are the most successful team in the history of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, having won a record 10 titles. The Super Falcons are seeking an 11th continental crown at the 2026 tournament, which is being staged in Morocco from July 26 to August 16. (Confédération Africaine de Football)

The 2026 edition is the first WAFCON tournament to feature 16 teams. The competition also carries added importance because the four semi-finalists will qualify automatically for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, while the fifth-placed team will advance to an intercontinental play-off. (The NFF)

The Super Falcons will now turn their attention to their final Group C match against Egypt, with another positive result expected to strengthen their chances of qualifying for the knockout stage.

Nigeria will also have to prepare for the fixture without Demehin, who is expected to serve a suspension following her red card.

For the Super Falcons, the victory over Zambia was more than just three points. It was a statement of resilience after the disappointment against Malawi and a timely boost for their hopes of defending the WAFCON title.