Sports

U-20 World Cup: Fans back Flying Eagles against Italy

Published

2 years ago

May 23, 2023

U-20 World Cup: Fans back Flying Eagles against Italy

SOME Football fans in Lagos on Monday urged Nigeria’s Flying Eagles to toughen up as they set sight on Italy in their second match of the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina.

The Flying Eagles began their campaign defeating their Group A counterpart, Dominican Republic 2-1, to record valuable three points.

The Nigerian side played their hearts out and had good control of the game but it was the Dominican Republic that scored the opening goal in the 22nd minute from the penalty spot.
However, a resolute Flying Eagles team maintained their confidence and mounted countless attacks on their opponent to record a victory.

Football Fans in Lagos told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in seprate interviews that the team still had so much to do to secure a win or draw.

Friday Ekpo, an ex-international in his assessment of the team, said a lot still needed to be done as the Italian side were no pushovers.

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He said the team should stay focused and do not allow their first victory to get to their heads as earning a draw was good enough to go into their last group game against Brazil.

“The team needs to stay focused, and should not allow any kind of distraction to affect their team cordination.

“They should listen to their coach’s instructions because they definitely should have seen the Italian side and assessed how to beat them and earn needed points to move ahead.

“There are weaknesses in every team and Italians are not short of that, hence the team should keep their heads and take to their coach’s instructions,” Ekpo said.

John Agbalaka, a grassroots football coordinator, told NAN that the team had the capacity to go far but must work hard to achieve their set objectives.

“They need to work hard as a team and stop waisting valuable chances as the Italian side are technically sound.

“They also need to to maintain good ball possession and rotation as they showed against the Dominican Republic.

“They basically need to keep their heads and at least get a draw going to their final match against Brazil,” Agbalaka said.

Femi Adejobi, a football fan, expressed confidence in the Ladan Bosso tutored side and urged them to go all out against the Italians.

“We have some foreign based players in the team that bring in the necessary exposure and experience.

“The team is good and they keep up their good fighting spirit and don’t allow any form of intimidation from the Italians.

“It’s a must win match for them but if they get a draw it could be good enough to keep them in the tournament going to their final group game against Brazil,” Adejobi said.

NAN reports that Flying Eagles take on Italy on Wednesday, as both teams would be looking to earn valuable points having won their first match in the competition.

U-20 World Cup: Fans back Flying Eagles against Italy

Sports

Lewandowski shines as Barcelona crush Dortmund in Champions League showdown

Published

21 hours ago

April 10, 2025

Trends Admin

Robert Lewandowski

Lewandowski shines as Barcelona crush Dortmund in Champions League showdown

Robert Lewandowski delivered a vintage performance against his former club, scoring twice to help Barcelona demolish Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

The dominant display extended Barcelona’s unbeaten run across all competitions to 23 matches (W19, D4), and further strengthened their pursuit of a historic treble.

Barcelona started on the front foot, with early chances falling to Lamine Yamal and Lewandowski.

The breakthrough came when Raphinha, this season’s leading Champions League scorer, tapped in at the far post — a close call for offside, but the goal stood.

Dortmund responded with efforts from Carney Chukwuemeka and Serhou Guirassy, but couldn’t break through. After the break, Jamie Gittens went close, but Barcelona quickly wrestled back control.

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Lewandowski, who has now scored 28 goals in 28 matches against Dortmund, made it 2-0 after heading in from close range following a deflected cross by Raphinha.

The third came after a swift counterattack — a slick move involving Yamal and Fermin López ended with the Polish striker smashing in a first-time finish.

There was still time for more brilliance, as Yamal rounded off the scoring with a clinical strike after a fine assist from Raphinha, sealing a night to forget for Dortmund.

Lewandowski’s brace not only sealed the win but also earned him a place in history — he’s now the first player to score 10 Champions League goals in a single season for three different clubs: Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona.

Dortmund, winless in six meetings with Barcelona (D2, L4), now face an almost impossible task in the second leg.

Lewandowski shines as Barcelona crush Dortmund in Champions League showdown

Sports

Mo Salah poised to pen new Liverpool deal

Published

21 hours ago

April 10, 2025

Trends Admin

Mohamed Salah

Mo Salah poised to pen new Liverpool deal

Liverpool are moving closer to agreeing a new contract with forward Mohamed Salah.

Talks between all parties are ongoing and a final agreement is yet to be reached, but sources have indicated the club have made positive progress in their efforts and are hopeful a deal will be done.

Salah’s deal expires at the end of the season and there has been some uncertainty over his future, with clubs in Saudi Arabia keen to land the Egypt international.

But the recent progress has raised hope at Anfield that Salah will extend his stay at the Premier League club.

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Salah has been a key player for Liverpool since his arrival in the summer of 2017 and has been central to the team’s title charge this season, scoring 32 goals across all competitions.

Earlier this week, captain Virgil van Dijk – whose deal also expires in the summer – provided a positive update on his own contract talks.

“There is progress, yes,” said the defender.

“These are internal discussions and we’ll see. I love the club, I love the fans and they were there for us again [at Fulham].”

There is less certainty about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future, however, with the right-back in talks with Real Madrid over a free transfer move to Spain before next season.

Mo Salah poised to pen new Liverpool deal

Sports

Galatasaray offer mouth-watering deal to sign Osimhen

Published

23 hours ago

April 10, 2025

Trends Admin

Victor Osimhen

Galatasaray offer mouth-watering deal to sign Osimhen

Galatasaray are ready to make a record-breaking offer to secure Victor Osimhen on a permanent basis.

After a possible deal to Chelsea fell through, Osimhen joined the Turkish giants on loan from Napoli.

Since joining the club, the Super Eagles attacker has 28 goals in 32 appearances across all competitions.

Osimhen has also rapidly become a fan favourite, as he leads Galatasaray’s quest to defend the Turkish Super Lig championship and win the domestic cup.

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Now, the club’s senior brass are keen to keep him in Istanbul past the summer season.

However, Galatasaray will face competition from famous European clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and perhaps Saudi Arabia.

According to Spanish publication AS and Cumhuriyet, the Istanbul heavyweights are willing to pay Napoli a record €70 million transfer fee and give Osimhen a three-year deal for €15 million net every season, plus performance-related bonuses.

The proposed salary package will rival those offered by top Premier League sides.