Sports
Golden Eaglets book Nations Cup ticket, beat Cote d’Ivoire 3-1
Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets have qualified for next year’s U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria, after defeating Côte d’Ivoire 3-1 in the first semi-final of the WAFU B tournament in Ghana.
Two well taken free-kicks from Emmanuel Michael in the first half and a second half header off Abdullahi Idris, earned coach Nduka Ugbade and his side their third consecutive win at the regional tournament.
The Eaglets uncharacteristically conceded first when Yan Diomande scored from the penalty spot in the very first minute after a foul in the Nigerian box.
Vanguard reported that the Nigerian boys launched onslaught after onslaught and were rewarded on the half-hour mark when Emmanuel Michael, who scored a spectacular goal from a 22-yard free-kick in the opening match against hosts Ghana, found the range off another free-kick from the right wing.
Thirteen minutes later, Nigeria were ahead for the first time in the encounter when Michael, again from a free kick at the edge of the box, blindsided goalkeeper Mohamed Cisse with an intelligent attempt that swept past the static wall.
The Ivorians came into the second half determined to browbeat the Eaglets with their size and stoutness, but they were pegged further back on the hour mark when Abubakar Idris Abdullahi found the net with a glancing header.
Four minutes later, the Ivorians were down to 10 men after Makhete Moustapha N’diaye was shown the red card.
Another free-kick by Emmanuel Michael in the 77th minute missed target narrowly, and Precious Tonye Williams came very close with four minutes left after a brilliant team move set him up with a clear chance.
In Friday’s final, the Eaglets will take on the winner of the second semi final between hosts Ghana and Burkina Faso. However, victory over the Ivorians mean they will be one of the eight participating teams at next year’s Africa U17 Cup of Nations in Algeria.
Defender and dead ball prodigy Emmanuel Michael was presented with the Man-of-the-Match award, for the third consecutive match.
Sports
Mbappe left out of France squad for Nations League games
Mbappe left out of France squad for Nations League games
France captain Kylian Mbappe has been left out of his team’s UEFA Nations League matches this month after coach Didier Deschamps on Thursday named his squad.
The Real Madrid star returned from a short spell on the sidelines, with a thigh injury, to appear as a substitute in the surprise 1-0 defeat at Lille in the Champions League on Wednesday.
However, the 25-year-old will play no part in France’s games against Israel and Belgium, a decision clearly made in order to allow Mbappe to rest and work on his fitness.
“I had an exchange with Kylian. He has a problem which is not serious. I am not going to take risks, which is why he is not in the squad,” Deschamps told reporters in Paris.
France play Israel on Thursday, October 10 in an away fixture moved to Budapest due to the security situation in the Middle East.
Les Bleus, Nations League winners in 2021, will then take on Belgium in Brussels on Monday, October 14.
France have three points after their first two outings in Group A2, which is topped by Italy with six points.
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Thursday’s squad announcement was the first by Deschamps since vice-captain Antoine Griezmann retired from international football at the beginning of this week.
“He had such an impact that we can’t play in the same way,” Deschamps said of losing Griezmann, who quit aged 33 after winning 137 caps.
“I am not necessarily going to change the system, but I am not going to look for an equivalent player.”
Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku, who won the last of his 10 caps in June last year, returns to the squad, from which midfielder N’Golo Kante is also left out.
France squad
Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham United/ENG), Mike Maignan (AC Milan/ITA), Brice Samba (Lens)
Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Nice), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa/ENG), Wesley Fofana (Chelsea/ENG), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan/ITA), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool/ENG), Jules Kounde (Barcelona/ESP), William Saliba (Arsenal/ENG), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich/GER)
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid/ESP), Youssouf Fofana (AC Milan/ITA), Matteo Guendouzi (Lazio/ITA), Manu Kone (Roma/ITA), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid/ESP), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)
Forwards: Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, Randal Kolo Muani (all Paris Saint-Germain), Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea/ENG), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich/GER), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan/ITA)
Mbappe left out of France squad for Nations League games
Sports
Eguavoen gives conditions to accept permanent S’Eagles job
Eguavoen gives conditions to accept permanent S’Eagles job
Super Eagles’ interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has hinted at the possibility of taking on the role of head coach on a permanent basis, provided certain conditions are met.
Eguavoen, who has been entrusted with leading the Nigerian national team through the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Libya, shared his thoughts during a recent interview.
Eguavoen, who helped secure four points in the first two matches of the qualifiers, emphasized that for him to consider a long-term position, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) would need to offer a long-term contract.
He also stressed the importance of patience and continuous support from the football authorities to build a strong and competitive team.
“The Super Eagles job isn’t one you take lightly. If I were to take it permanently, I’d need to sit down, reflect, and think deeply because it’s not a small task.
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“It’s going to be tough. I’d need a long-term contract, patience, and clauses in the deal because you don’t win every day. It takes time to build a team,” Eguavoen told Brila FM.
Eguavoen, who has had three previous stints as head coach, lamented that he was never given enough time to truly implement his vision for the team.
“In 2006, I was in charge for six months. Every other time, it was just two months or two to three games. Clemens Westerhof had five years. Gernot Rohr had six years. They got time, but I never had two straight years,” he noted.
He reiterated that to succeed as the substantive coach, he would need long-term assurances, contractual clauses, and a show of confidence from the NFF.
Eguavoen gives conditions to accept permanent S’Eagles job
Sports
Salah shines in Liverpool-Bologna 2-0 UCL match
Salah shines in Liverpool-Bologna 2-0 UCL match
LIVERPOOL, England, Oct 2 (Reuters) – Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah set up one goal before bagging his 49th in the Champions League in a 2-0 win over Italian side Bologna at Anfield on Wednesday that kept Arne Slot’s team perfect with their second win in the competition.
A rousing atmosphere greeted Slot and his players in their first game at Anfield in Europe’s top competition after a year away. Slot’s men had beaten AC Milan 3-1 away in their opener, and Liverpool did not disappoint, with Alexis Mac Allister scoring in the 11th minute, tapping in Salah’s pinpoint cross from close range.
Bologna made a game of it, however, and there was an element of relief around Anfield when Salah blasted home the winner in the 75th minute.
“(Salah) is a player that helps us a lot, sometimes it looks like he’s not in the game but suddenly a perfect touch, he puts the ball in the top corner. That’s his quality, his strength as well,” Liverpool keeper Alisson said.
“We are lucky to have him.”
Mac Allister’s first goal of the season came less than two minutes after Bologna’s Thijs Dallinga slotted the ball past Alisson, but his effort was disallowed for offside.
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Liverpool were denied a second goal in the 17th minute of an entertaining night when Darwin Nunez sprinted onto a pass before calmly firing home past Lukasz Skorupski, but the Uruguayan was flagged for offside.
After narrowly missing several scoring chances, Reds talisman Salah finally connected, touching the ball past Juan Miranda before curling a rocket into the top corner.
Moments before his goal, the 32-year-old Salah fired just wide, holding his head in frustration.
While Liverpool dominated much of the night, Bologna were not without their chances, recording 12 shots to Liverpool’s nine. Dan Ndoye hit the post in the first half and then seconds later Alisson was forced to dive to stop Kacper Urbanski’s shot.
“You know very well how difficult it is, especially for guys experiencing stages like this for the first time,” Bologna manager Vincenzo Italiano said.
“Once they got past the initial excitement, though, we played with courage. The boys are starting to adapt to these rhythms, and they put on a great performance.”
Salah shines in Liverpool-Bologna 2-0 UCL match
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