Football
Nigeria Draw Argentina, France, Mexico In Russia 2018 Mock Draw ‘Group Of Death’
Nigeria have been drawn in a ‘group of death’ for the Russia 2018 World Cup according to former England striker and draw host Gary Lineker, who revealed that Thursday’s practice run pitted the Super Eagles against Argentina, France and Mexico.
The Super Eagles qualified for next summer’s finals in Russia with a game to spare and undefeated in a group that had Algeria,Cameroun and Zambia, but are in pot four due to an unfavourable FIFA ranking as 32 teams wait to learn their fate in the draw on December 1.
Former Tottenham and Barcelona star Lineker, who won the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup where England were knocked out by Diego Maradona’s Argentina, will conduct the draw in Moscow with Russian sports journalist Maria Komandnaya and seven superstar ‘assistants including Maradona and Brazil’s Cafu.
Lineker revealed on Thursday that a dry run of the draw saw Gernot Rohr’s men drawn alongside Argentina for the fifth time in Nigeria’s six world cup appearances, France who knocked Nigeria out at the round of 16 three years ago in Brazil and Mexico who has never played against the Super Eagles at the World Cup.
Lineker also revealed that England have been drawn in Group B alongside Roberto Martinez’s high-flying Belgium (pot 1), Senegal (pot 3) and Japan (pot 4).
The 56-year-old wrote on Twitter: “Just had my first production and logistics meeting for next week’s @FIFAWorldCup draw. Had a quick run through (it’s complicated) and England ended up in Group B with Belgium, Senegal and Japan.”
While England managed to avoid any previous World Cup winners in the practice draw, Lineker also revealed that Mexico were pitted in a “group of death” against Argentina, France and Nigeria.
Lineker’s scenario for Nigeria is impossible though as both Argentina, who the Super Eagles defeated 4-2 in a recent friendly, and France are both in Pot 1 and two teams from the same pot cannot be drawn against each other.
The draw will take place on December 1 in the Russian capital of Moscow at the State Kremlin Palace.
The final World Cup 2018 groups draw eventually saw Nigeria in Group D, together with Argentina, Iceland and Croatia. Click to see the full World Cup 2018 groups and schedules.
Sourced From: Complete Sports Nigeria
The 26-year-old becomes only the second player to score 30 league goals in Europe’s top ten leagues this season and the first Nigerian to reach that mark after he scored in Genk’s 3-2 win at Antwerp
Paul Onuachu continues to break new grounds in what has been a remarkable season after he scored his 30th league goal to help Genk to a 3-2 win over Royal Antwerp in the opening game of the Jupiler League Championship playoff round.
After coronavirus ended the Belgian top-flight abruptly last season, the championship round resumed again this season, with Antwerp playing host to Genk.
Theo Bongonda put Genk ahead in the 20th minute following a ball from Junya Ito, but goals from Maxime Le Marchand and Koji Miyoshi in the space of four minutes turned the tie around for Antwerp.
However, Onuachu restored parity for The Smurfs in the 71st minute for his 30th league goal of the season. By reaching this milestone, the former Midtjylland striker becomes the first Nigerian to reach 30 league goals in a single season in Europe.
Also, he is just the second player after Robert Lewandowski to score 30 or more goals in Europe’s top ten leagues this season.
But the Nigerian international is still 11 short of the record for most goals in a single Belgian top-flight season, set by Arthur Ceuleers and Jules Van Craen in the 1942-1943 season.
Nonetheless, Onuachu is well on course to become the third Nigerian player to finish as the top scorer in the Belgian top-flight after Tosin Dosunmu and Joseph Akpala.
Meanwhile, Bongonda, who provided the assist for Onuachu’s goal, combined once again with Ito to fire home the winner for Genk two minutes from time.
Sourced From: Soccernet.ng
The Super Falcons star was the hero in the first leg, and was again brilliant in the return leg, even though La Blaugranes lost
Asisat Oshoala was once again on target, but Barcelona lost 2-1 in the return leg of their Uefa Women’s Champions League quarterfinal clash.
However, Barcelona still progressed to the semifinals 4-2 on aggregate, having won the first leg 3-0 in Rome.
Oshoala was the hero in the first leg, scoring once and winning a penalty. The Nigerian international picked up from where she left off as she scored Barcelona’s equaliser in the 59th minute after Janine Beckie had given City the lead.
The former Liverpool star finished off a cut back from Mariona Caldentey to draw Lluis Cortes ladies level. The 26-year-old now has 13 goals for Barcelona this season, including four in the champions league.
Although Samantha Mewis restored City’s lead from the penalty spot, it was the Spanish champions that progressed 4-2 on aggregate.
Barcelona will now face either Lyon or Paris in the semifinals next month.
Sourced From: Soccernet.ng
The former Enyimba striker got the crucial opener in the first half for the Promise Keepers in their NPFL clash with southern rivals Rivers United
Akwa United secured a commanding 3-0 victory over high-flying Rivers United thanks to goals from Nigerian international Mfon Udoh, Charles Atshimene, and Morice Chukwu.
The visitors, still smarting from their CAF Confederations Cup aggregate loss to Enyimba last week, were the more enterprising team in the opening stages of the encounter at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
But the tide changed in favour of the home side when 2014 Nigeria Premier League top scorer Udoh found the back of the net five minutes before the break.
And Kennedy Boboye’s men bagged all the three points at stake with second-half goals from Atshimene and Chukwu.
Afonja Warriors Back At The Top
It was a comfortable afternoon for Kwara United as the Afonja Warriors defeated Warri Wolves 2-0 to return to the summit of the Nigeria Professional Football League table.
With league leaders Kano Pillars losing 3-2 in a thrilling clash at Dakkada earlier in the day, Kwara United knew any manner of win would be enough to take them back to the prime position.
And a brilliant victory they carved out thanks to a goal in each half from Jude Steven and Michael Ohanu.
NPFL Results
Dakkada 3 – 2 Kano Pillars
Akwa United 3 – 0 Rivers United
Jigawa Golden Stars 0 – 0 Enyimba
Ifeanyi Uba 0 – 0 Plateau United
Lobi Stars 2 – 1 Katsina United
Sunshine Stars 0 – 0 Adamawa United
Enugu Rangers 2 – 0 Heartland
Kwara United 2 – 0 Warri Wolves
Sourced From: Soccernet.ng
The on-loan Club Brugge striker got his Germany adventure to a bright start as he led his new club to a convincing home victory on Sunday
Super Eagles attacker Emmanuel Dennis began a new chapter in his career on a promising note as he helped Cologne to a delightful 3-1 win over Arminia Bielefeld in a game-week 19 Bundesliga clash at the RheinEnergie Stadion.
Cologne boss Markus Gisdol handed the Nigerian forward his first start, just days after moving in from Belgium, and the tactician was rewarded with a fine attacking display that has become a rare sight in the Billy Goats’ games this term.
A Marius Wolfe double in the opening half-hour and an Elvis Rexhbecaj effort shortly after the hour mark was all Cologne needed to secure all the three points at stake.
It was the first time the Billy Goats would score three times in the Bundesliga this term.
Dennis was replaced in the 82nd minute by Jan Thielmann, ten minutes after Cordova got the visitors’ consolation goal.
The 23-year-old will hope his performances in the coming days impress his German bosses before the expiration of his loan spell later in June.
In Spain, Super Falcons star Asisat Oshoala was back to her deadly best as she found her target twice to inspire Barcelona to an exciting 4-1 home victory over ten-woman Real Madrid.
The visitors had goalkeeper Maria Rodriguez sent off in the 72nd minute, by which time Oshoala and co. had done all the damage inside the Estadi Johan Cruyff.
Oshoala ensured Barcelona went into the break with a three-goal lead, profiting off a Christine Hansen pass in the 37th minute after Alexia Putella and Jenni Hermoso had scored for the hosts.
The reigning African Women Player of the Year then added a fourth goal – her 13th strike of another prolific league campaign – in the 70th minute.
Rodriguez then received her marching orders shortly after before Olga Carmona struck from the penalty spot to give Real Madrid something to cheer about on a sad day.
Oshoala is now two goals short of catching up with the league top scorer, Levante’s Esther Gonzalez.
Sourced From: Soccernet.ng
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