Category: Sports

FIFA World Cup winner Christian Karembeu has tipped the Super Eagles to be one of the standout teams at the 21st FIFA World Cup finals taking place in Russia this summer.

President Muhammadu Buhari receiving the FIFA/Cocacola World Cup Trophy from FIFA Representative, Christian Kerenbeu during a reception at the Presidential Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja.

Photo by Abayomi Adeshida 07/03/2018 The Les Bleus legend, a member of France’s 1998 World Cup –winning squad, made this assertion at a world press conference held in Abuja yesterday to welcome the original World Cup trophy to Nigeria. He is the FIFA Representative accompanying sport world’s most recognizable diadem on the fourth Coca-Cola FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour.

“Yes, we know there are a number of strong African countries in the game but Nigeria has always been a great footballing nation, and they have an exciting team heading to the FIFA World Cup in Russia. I have played alongside and against so many Nigerian players and I can attest to their strength and ambition. I believe the present Super Eagles squad is capable of great things,” said Karembeu, as he congratulated the President of NFF, Mr. Amaju Pinnick on the Super Eagles’ berth in Russia 2018.…

Man City have sealed their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals with a 5-2 aggregate score, despite losing 2-1 to Basel in the second leg.

Pep Guardiola’s side held a 4-0 advantage from the first tie in Switzerland three weeks ago, and it took Gabriel Jesus just seven minutes to open the scoring as he made his first start since New Year’s Day.

But 10 minutes later, Mohamed Elyounoussi equalised for Basel on the night before Michael Lang added the second in the 71st minute.

It ended a run of 12 successive Champions League wins at the Etihad Stadium for City, although they will still be in next Friday’s quarter-final draw thanks to the aggregate victory.…

Tottenham were knocked out of the Champions League after Juventus scored twice in three minutes to win the second leg of their last-16 clash 2-1 at Wembley and secure a 4-3 aggregate victory.

Heung-min Son’s 39th-minute opener looked to have put Spurs on track for the quarter-finals.

But, having created little in the first hour of the match and looking to be on the ropes, Juve stunned the hosts with a quickfire double from Gonzalo Higuain (64) and Paulo Dybala (67).

Harry Kane came agonisingly close to a late equaliser but saw his header roll along the goal-line after hitting the post.

As Juventus celebrated wildly at the final whistle, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino headed straight down the tunnel, having seen his side blow a golden chance to make the last eight for the first time since 2010/11.

B’mouth vs Tottenham
March 11, 2018, 3:30pm

Unlike in Turin, where Juventus scored twice in the opening 10 minutes, this time it was Spurs who made the fast start, as they set a pace that the visitors struggled to cope with in the first half.

Son forced Gianluigi Buffon into an early save with a shot across goal before Kane rounded the Juventus goalkeeper but could only hit the side-netting from a tight angle.

Juventus were rightly aggrieved in the 17th minute when they were not awarded a penalty after Jan Vertonghen slid in and caught Douglas Costa from behind.

Gonzalo Higuain equalises at Wembley
Gonzalo Higuain equalises at Wembley
However, that was a rare positive moment for the visitors, as Buffon punched away a header from Son and Dele Alli and Kane also had shots before the deadlock was broken in the 39th minute.

Alli was denied by a sliding challenge as he was set to pull the trigger but the ball broke for Kieran Trippier to square for Son to finish with a scuffed effort.

Miralem Pjanic almost replied quickly with a shot that went narrowly wide, but otherwise Juventus offered little, with Spurs continuing to look the dominant side …