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Former world number one Naomi Osaka reached her first final since 2022 on Saturday as she swept aside unseeded American Alycia Parks at the Auckland Classic.
The four-time Grand Slam champion from Japan won 6-4, 6-2 in another confidence boost ahead of the Australian Open starting on January 12 in Melbourne.
Osaka was contesting her first semi-final since 2022, having taken a break from tennis and becoming a mother in 2023. She returned to the sport a year ago.
The 27-year-old showed no sign of the nerves that had marked her first three wins in Auckland, producing a clinical performance to set up a final on Sunday against Clara Tauson of Denmark.
“Of course I’m really happy to get to the final here, I’ve actually never got to a final a week before Melbourne so this is like a career first for me,” said Osaka, a two-time Australian Open champion now ranked 57th.
“In my head I’m really happy. But there’s always constantly things to improve to get better, no matter how old you are.”
Osaka’s power and precision proved too much for the 78th-ranked Parks.
The American faded in what was her second match of the day, having had her quarter-final pushed back by rain on Friday.
Osaka’s four wins this week have come against opponents ranked below her at a tournament lacking a strong field.
That will change in the final against 50th-ranked Tauson, who beat unseeded American Robin Montgomery 6-4, 6-3 in the other semi-final.
Earlier in the day, Tauson toppled American top seed Madison Keys 6-4, 7-6 (9/7) in a quarter-final that was interrupted by rain on Friday night.
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Arne Slot says crisis-hit Manchester United are “much, much better” than their shocking position in the Premier League suggests as he prepares his Liverpool team for a clash against their fierce rivals on Sunday.
Liverpool are six points clear at the top of the Premier League table — and are hot favourites to land a 20th English top-flight crown, which would pull them level with record-holders United.
United, by contrast, are 14th in the table after five defeats in their past six league games under new manager Ruben Amorim.
But Slot, also in his first campaign in England, is adamant he will not take his opponents lightly at Anfield, when asked if he might rest players at Friday’s pre-match press conference.
“No, of course I’m not going to plan to rest any player because it’s a big game and I think it’s for me I said it before the first fixture (a 3-0 win at Old Trafford) and I can say it one more time, that they have much better players in my opinion than maybe the league table shows at the moment.
“I think it’s going to take a while maybe for Ruben Amorim to bring this out of the players… but they will definitely go up and they are much, much, much better than the league table shows at the moment.”
The Dutchman said he had sympathy with his rival in the Old Trafford hot seat, who joined United from Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon in November.
“I think every manager sympathises with every other manager, because we all know how much pressure this job brings,” said Slot.
“That’s not different for him than for me, or for any other manager that works in the Premier League, or somewhere else around the world.”
Slot was asked whether he could categorically state that Liverpool would not let Trent Alexander-Arnold leave in the January transfer window, with the defender heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid.
Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and captain Virgil van Dijk are all out of contract at the end of the season and can now talk to foreign clubs.
Slot said Alexander-Arnold was “fully committed” to Liverpool and would be playing on Sunday.
“Hopefully he brings the same performances as he brought in for the last half-year, because I think everybody saw how great a first half of the season he had, how much he is here, how much he wants to win here,” said Slot.
AFP
As 2025 unfolds, sporting bodies worldwide are gearing up for a year filled with excitement, ranging from the intense drama of football tournaments to the high-speed thrills of Formula 1, offering something for every sports enthusiast.
Here are ten major sporting events to look out for in 2025:
African Cup of Nations (AFCON)
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be hosted by Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, and will feature 24 teams from across the continent, including some of the most successful footballing nations in Africa.
The teams set to compete in the AFCON tournament include Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, defending champions Ivory Coast, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Benin Republic, Tanzania, Botswana, and Mozambique.
The tournament is expected to showcase the finest African football talents, with Morocco returning as the host after initially being scheduled to host the tournament in 2015.
2025 Rugby World Cup (Women)
The 2025 Rugby World Cup (Women) will be hosted in England from August 22 to September 27, 2025, across eight venues, with the final set to be staged at Twickenham Stadium. Qualified teams such as the USA, England, New Zealand, France, and Canada will compete in what is set to be the largest-ever Women’s Rugby World Cup, which has expanded from 12 to 16 teams in order to increase the visibility and growth of the women’s game across the globe.
With qualification still open through the WXV series and other regional competitions, the full list of participants will be finalised as the year progresses.
Tour de France
One of the prestigious cycling events in the world, the 2025 Tour de France, will be held from July 5 to July 27 next year, where cyclists will compete for the coveted Yellow Jersey awarded to the overall leader of the race.
The race will feature strong contenders like Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard, and Primož Roglič.
UEFA Women’s Euro 2025
The 14th edition of the UEFA Women’s European Championship will be held in Switzerland from July 2 to July 27, 2025, and will feature women’s national teams from across Europe competing for the continental title
Countries like Sweden, Denmark, and Germany have already qualified for this tournament, while others will qualify through a series of qualifying matches.
FIFA Club World Cup
The FIFA Club World Cup, scheduled for June 15 to July 13, is another sporting event to look out for in 2025.
The competition will be the first edition to host 32 teams from around the world against the previous 7 team competitors, and it is the first time the tournament will be held in the United States.
Participating teams are expected to qualify based on their respective continental championships, such as Europe (UEFA Champions League winners), South America (Copa Libertadores champions), Asia (AFC Champions League winners), Africa (CAF Champions League winners), North America (CONCACAF Champions League winners), Oceania (OFC Champions League winners), and host country representatives (likely the MLS champions from the US).
2025 Ryder Cup
Golfers around the continent will meet at the Bethpage Black Course in New York, USA, from September 23 to September 28, 2025, to compete in the 2025 Ryder Cup. The competition will feature Team Europe and Team USA, featuring 24 of the best golfers from each continent.
Golfers qualify for the Ryder Cup based on their performance in various competitions leading up to the event, including the PGA Tour, European Tour, and major tournaments. Captains for both teams select the final members from the top-ranked players or as “wildcard” picks.
Wimbledon Championships
One of the oldest and arguably most prestigious Grand Slam tournaments, The Wimbledon Championship, will be held in London, England, from June 30 to July 13, 2025.
2025 World Aquatics Championships
The 2025 World Aquatics Championships is scheduled to take place in Singapore from July 11 to August 3, 2025. The competition includes various aquatic sports such as swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, water polo, and open-water swimming.
The event is a key qualifier for athletes aiming for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, making it especially important for those in the swimming and diving categories.
Monaco Grand Prix (Formula 1)
The 2025 Monaco Grand Prix will take place from May 23 to May 25, 2025, in the legendary streets of Monte Carlo, Monaco.
The sporting event is expected to attract a crowd of celebrities, royal figures, and business magnates.
2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup
The 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup, scheduled to take place in India, is an event to look out for in 2025.
[Vanguard]
Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has lost his mother, months after the Chippa United safe hands announced the death of his father.
Nwabali shared the sad news of his mother’s death on X Wednesday evening.
“Rip mom,” he wrote, describing it as the “worst year of my life already “.
Before that, Nwabali had posted, “A very very crazy world indeed”.
The goalkeeper, did not, however, give details of how the mother died.
He lost his father just over a month ago. This happened a few hours before the Super Eagles match against Rwanda in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification game in mid-November.
The 28-year-old was thereafter excused from the match.
“He has been excused from the game. However, the player will come to watch the match and cheer his teammates on,” the Super Eagles’ Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, told thenff.com.
Nwabali’s father Godspower Onyekam Abali, Chief Onyeogazrim 1 of Okwuzi, was 67 when he died.
The South Africa-based goalkeeper made headlines early last year after shinning for the Super Eagles at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
He played in all matches as the three-time African champions reached the final of the competition before losing to hosts Cote d’Ivoire.
Two-time world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua visited President Bola Tinubu at his residence in Lagos on Wednesday.
The visit was disclosed by the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Olusegun Dada, through a post on X (formerly Twitter).
During the courtesy call, Joshua presented President Tinubu with an autographed boxing glove as a gesture of respect.
“Champ @anthonyjoshua pays homage to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at his residence in Lagos. Presents him with his autographed glove,” Dada shared in the post.
Meanwhile, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has announced that former two-time world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua will serve as the torchbearer for the rescheduled 2024 National Sports Festival.
During a meeting at his office in the Gateway State on Monday, December 30, Governor Abiodun expressed his enthusiasm for Joshua’s involvement, stating, “We are thrilled to officially welcome you as our sports ambassador and request that you return to ignite the torch for the Gateway Sports Festival.”
The Governor also unveiled plans for the construction of a new indoor boxing ring named after Anthony Joshua, which will be located in a stadium in Abeokuta.
He emphasized the importance of this facility, saying, “This new boxing ring will encourage you to visit home more frequently and foster a vibrant sports culture in our state.”
In addition to these initiatives, the Governor offered Joshua a new residence in Sagamu, aiming to strengthen their partnership in sports development.
He encouraged Joshua to collaborate with the Director General of the National Sports Commission and the state Commissioner for Sports Development to organize a boxing championship in Ogun State.
Governor Abiodun praised Joshua’s remarkable achievements on the global stage, affirming that his administration is committed to supporting his career in every possible way.
Several sporting events, including the Paris 2024 Olympics, the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Ivory Coast, the Copa America and Euros, among others, took place in 2024.
The year 2024 will always be a memorable one for sports fans around the world.
As the year draws to a close on Tuesday midnight, DAILY POST presents five issues that rocked the world of sports in the year 2024:
Ivory Coast’s miraculous AFCON triumph:
The 2023 AFCON was held from 13 January to 11 February in 2024 in Ivory Coast.
The host nation fought against all odds in a tournament comeback after they almost exited in the group stages after losing their final group game 4-0 against Equatorial Guinea.
They even sacked Jean-Louis Gasset as their coach and appointed Emerse Faé to take charge of the team.
Ivory Coast scraped through to the knockout phase eliminating the likes of Senegal, Mali and DR Congo on their way to the final.
They came from behind to beat Nigeria’s Super Eagles 2-1 in the final, thanks to Sebastien Haller’s winning goal.
The victory over the Super Eagles completed a miraculous turnaround for the Elephants in the competition.
Surprises at Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics:
The Paris 2024 Olympics opened on July 26 and ended on August 11 as thousands of athletes from different countries participated.
The United States led the final medal table with 40 Gold and 126 total medals, while China finished in second place with 40 Gold and 91 medals in total. The occasion marked the first time a gold medal tie among the two most successful countries has occurred in Summer Olympics history.
Also, seasoned athletes like Simone Biles showcased why they were the best at what they do, whilst newcomers like Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo announced themselves on the Olympic stage with a historic debut.
New records were set, and historic milestones were reached as Paris passed the Olympic torch to Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games.
Shortly after the end of Paris 2024, the Paralympics followed from August 28 to September 8, with thousands of para-athletes competing in different events.
Like the Olympics, the Paralympic Games also witnessed athletes break milestones as Nigerian athlete, Mariam Eniola Bolaji, an 18-year-old, became the first African to win a badminton medal at either the Paralympic or Olympic Games.
Mixed feelings over 2024 Ballon d’Or:
There were mixed reactions after Manchester City midfielder, Rodri won the 2024 Ballon d’Or ahead of Real Madrid winger, Vinicius Junior in October.
Rodri got the highest number of votes to take home the prestigious individual prize ahead of Vinicius.
As a result, Vinicius, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, and the rest of the Los Blancos members boycotted the award ceremony in Paris, France, as they were disappointed with the outcome.
This brought diverse reactions from several stakeholders in the football industry.
Liga president, Javier Tebas blasted Real Madrid following their failure to attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Tebas described their action as ‘classless behaviour and lack of elegance’.
On his part, Portugal captain, Cristiano Ronaldo claimed that Vinicius, who won the 2024 FIFA Best Player Award, should have won the 2024 Ballon d’Or ahead of Rodri.
“Vinicius Jr should have won the Ballon d’Or, in my opinion it was clear,” Ronaldo said at the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, adding “It was unfair.”
Similarly, Manchester United legend, Gary Neville hit out at Vinicius over his ‘classless and outrageous’ reaction after losing the 2024 Ballon d’Or award to Rodri.
Neville believes the Brazilian disrespected his rival Rodri by not showing up at the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Tyson Fury’s back-to-back defeat against Oleksandr Usyk:
Fury suffered another defeat against Usyk in their heavyweight rematch at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December.
The 12 rounds of boxing was intense as momentum shifted from one to the other.
Eventually, Usyk handled Fury’s aggression enough to win by unanimous decision. He defended his unified world heavyweight championship.
DAILY POST reports that the three results from the judges all read 116-112.
Earlier in 2024, Usyk handed Fury his first professional defeat.
Following the fight, the Ukrainian became the undisputed heavyweight world champion in the process, the first in 25 years since Lennox Lewis.
England’s back-to-back Euro final defeats:
The Three Lions of England suffered another Euro final defeat in the summer this year.
The 2024 Euro was held in Germany from June 14 to July 14. Spain made England and their fans to once again wait for their first Euro title just like that night in Wembley in 2020.
Recall that Italy defeated England in the 2020 Euro final at Wembley Stadium.
Many expected the Three Lions to bounce back from the Italy defeat four years ago and used the experience against Spain in Germany, but they ended up losing again another Euro final as La Roja won 2-1 in the final.
Nico Willaims and Mikel Oyarzabal scored the goals for Spain as Cole Palmer’s goal was not enough for England.
Lionel Messi and Co. made history at the 2024 Copa America:
Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates secured a record-breaking 16th Copa America title for the Albicelestes after beating Colombia 1-0 in the final.
Inter Milan attacker, Lautaro Martinez scored the game’s only goal at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.
The 2024 Copa America took place from June 20 to July 14 in the United States.
Argentina defended their title against 15 other teams from the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and the Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF).
The Albicelestes had won the 2021 Copa America after beating Brazil 1-0 in the final.
So it was a back-to-back Copa America finals victory for Argentina.
[DailyPost]
Boxing legend, Mike Tyson has announced that he will be back in the ring in 2025, according to Spanish publication Marca.
Mike Tyson, 58, who faced Jake Paul on November 15, 2024, resulting in a loss, has been generating buzz about a significant return, capturing the interest of the boxing community.
Tyson’s recent bout against Paul at AT&T Stadium sparked discussions, particularly because of the striking 29-year age difference between the two fighters.
Despite the outcome, Tyson remained positive and expressed his gratitude for the experience, acknowledging the meaningful moments shared with his children during the match.
“This is one of those situations when you lost but still won,” Tyson reflected in a Netflix interview post-fight.
“I’m grateful for last night. To have my children see me stand toe to toe and finish 8 rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboy stadium is an experience that no man has the right to ask for. Thank you.”
While his fight with Paul may have raised questions about the future of his boxing career, many fans continue to hope for another memorable appearance from the former undisputed heavyweight champion.
Should Tyson decide to retire, he would leave behind an extraordinary legacy of over four decades, showcasing a remarkable record of 50 wins, 7 losses, and 44 knockouts, while also being recognized as the youngest boxing champion in history.
Interestingly, Tyson’s potential return is now complemented by a surprising challenger: Joe Gatto, known for his role on Impractical Jokers. Gatto has lightheartedly expressed interest in facing Tyson in 2025, adding an exciting layer of intrigue to the legend’s return to the ring.
Enyimba FC have confirmed the signing of Brown Ideye, former Super Eagles striker.
The club announced the deal in a post on its X account on Monday.
Ideye, who has been without a club since leaving Kuwait’s Al Yarmouk in 2022, will wear the number 34 jersey at Enyimba.
“We are delighted to officially announce the addition of former Super Eagles Striker, Brown Ideye to our fold,” the tweet reads.
“We are expectant of the experience & professionalism he will add to our game/quest in our remaining games, this season especially under the new gaffer.”
Enyimba had recently parted ways with Yemi Olanrewaju as the club’s head coach after a nine-game winless run.
A more experienced Stanley Eguma immediately replaced the 32-year-old at the helm of the Peoples Elephant affair.
Ideye’s acquisition underscores Enyimba’s intention for the second half of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season and their continental campaign in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Ideye will return to the NPFL after 17 years. He played for the Ocean Boys in 2006 before leaving for Europe.
The 36-year-old was integral to the Super Eagles squad that won the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2013.
[TheCable]
Croatian top-flight club, Dinamo Zagreb has announced the appointment of a former Italian international, Fabio Cannavaro as the club’s new coach.
The announcement was disclosed in a statement Sunday on the club’s site.
“Fabio Cannavaro is the new coach of GNK Dinamo’s first team. This decision by the club’s management and the sports director was supported this evening by the club president and the Executive Board during the 15th session of the Executive Committee,” the statement partly read.
Cannavaro, who played as a defender for Juventus and Real Madrid, won the 2006 World Cup with Italy.
Owing to his professional behaviour and leadership skills, Cannava was awarded the Ballon d’Or the same year.
Currently, Dinamo sit in the third position with 29 points in the domestic league HNL, behind table leaders Rijeka and Hajduk Split.
According to the club’s Chief Executive Officer, Zvonimir Manenica, the lack of results in the HNL forced the management to consider Cannavaro’s appointment.
“The club’s management decided that we had to take necessary steps to stop this negative crisis because such poor results in the domestic league haven’t been seen in a long time. We thank Coach Bjelica for everything he has done. He gave his all and achieved great results in the Champions League, but the domestic league is the club’s priority, and unfortunately, the results there were lacking.
“We have the opportunity to take the club to the next level in Europe, but this is only possible by winning the title. We are aware of the risks and responsibilities, and this was not a hasty decision. It was carefully analysed to determine the best course of action without the daily pressures that come with Dinamo’s high ambitions. This is why we waited to make the decision after the match with Varaždin and took our time to decide calmly,” Manenica said, among others.
Cannavaro will join the first team at their gathering on January 3, 2025, when he will also be officially introduced.
The Italian tactician’s first test will come up on January 22 when they visit the Emirates Stadium in London, in their Champions League encounter against Arsenal.
[Punch]
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has taken decisive action against Libya by imposing a substantial financial penalty of $50,000 and mandating that the national team play two upcoming matches behind closed doors.
This decision comes in response to alarming incidents of misconduct by both supporters and officials during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Benin, which took place in Benghazi on November 18.
This latest infraction follows closely on the heels of another significant disciplinary action against Libya just two months prior. In October, the Libyan football authorities faced backlash for their handling of a separate AFCON qualifier against Nigeria.
Libyan officials were accused of deliberately diverting the Nigerian Super Eagles’ aircraft to a potentially unsafe airport, an act that drew widespread condemnation and raised serious concerns about the well-being of the visiting team.
In addition to Libya’s sanctions, CAF’s disciplinary committee also addressed a separate matter concerning Guinea. The committee dismissed an appeal from Guinea, which sought to have Tanzania disqualified from the upcoming 2024 AFCON.
Guinea’s complaint centred on the claim that Tanzanian substitute Ibrahim Ame wore an incorrect shirt number (26) that was not included in the official team sheet for their qualifier, leading to questions about compliance with tournament regulations.
In addition to Libya’s penalties, CAF has also handed down sanctions to other nations, including Benin and Equatorial Guinea, though the specific details regarding their punishments are yet to be disclosed.
More...
fter the last game of the year involving Nigerian players abroad, ABIODUN ADEWALE presents the numbers of five forwards with Ademola Lookman reigning supreme again
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta – 22 goals and 12 assists)
African Player of The Year for every reason, Lookman has once again come tops with his contribution for his club among Nigerian strikers thanks to his 22 goals and 12 assists in 42 games across all competitions (excluding club friendlies) for Atalanta in 2024.
Despite missing the start of the year with the club due to his participation at the 2023 AFCON which was held between January and February in Ivory Coast, the 27-year-old returned to action on February 25 against AC Milan.
His first goal of the year for the club came against Bologna in a 2-1 home defeat on March 3 while his first assist was also during a 2-1 defeat at Cagliari on April 7.
Lookman didn’t look back from there and added more goals, including a historic hat-trick in the final of the UEFA Europa League which sealed Atalanta’s first-ever European title.
The England-born forward surely had a great year and capped it off by winning the 2024 African Player of The Year award.
Victor Osimhen (Napoli/Galatasaray – 21 goals and 4 assists)
Like Lookman, Osimhen started the year with Nigeria in Ivory Coast and didn’t return to club football until February and ended the year with 21 goals and four assists in 29 games. But the year 2024 could be described as a stormy one for the 26-year-old and he did weather the storm, particularly in the summer transfer window when he had a failed transfer away from Napoli before landing a surprise loan move to Galatasaray.
Osimhen’s first game at club level in 2024 was a 1-1 draw between Napoli and Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League and the Nigerian announced his return in style with Napoli’s goal in the game. By summer, his relationship with the club had completely broken down and he was looking for a way out before the Turkish giants called.
In Turkey, the striker began life with three consecutive assists before netting a brace in their 3-3 draw against Kasimpasa on September 28. He also scored a brace in his last game of the year as they beat Kayserispor 5-1 away from home to solidify their top position in the league.
Cyril Dessers (Rangers – 25 goals and 8 assists)
Glasgow Rangers forward Dessers played more games than other strikers on this list (54), scoring 25 goals and eight assists in the process. He had the most goals but was bettered by Lookman in terms of goals plus assists while Osimhen’s less number of games gave him the edge ahead of the Scotland-based Dessers.
The 30-year-old has been busy from the second day of the year, providing an assist in their 3-1 win over Kilmarnock in a league game before grabbing his first goal of the year 18 days later in the 4-1 Scottish Cup win over Dumbarton.
Tolu Arokodare (Genk – 20 goals and 4 assists)
Arguably one of the most in-form Nigerian strikers abroad, Arokodare has been on the ascendancy since joining Genk in January 2023 and seems to have settled fully in Belgium. He played his first game for Genk this year on January 20 and his first goal was on February 11 during their 1-a draw at Mechelen. He has been in great form since the start of the 2024 campaign and that has propelled him to the top of the Belgium Pro League scoring chart with 13 goals in 20 games so far this season. His club Genk are also on top of the table with 42 points from 20 games.
Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen – 13 goals and 2 assists)
Plagued by injury at the start of the year, Boniface is currently sidelined and has managed a decent 13 goals and two assists in 26 games, proving he can be a prolific goal scorer when fit.
The 23-year-old started the year on the treatment table, missing three months of action including the AFCON. He returned in April, playing 26 minutes in a DFB Pokal game and marked his return with a goal during their 2-0 win over West Ham United in the Europa League. His last goal of the year was scored in October and he’s been out with a thigh injury since the end of November.
The Super Eagles B scored three first-half goals to claim a dominant 3-1 win over the Black Galaxies of Ghana in the second leg of their African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
The victory ensured a 3-1 aggregate win for the home-based Eagles following a goalless first leg, thus ensuring Nigeria’s qualification for the 2025 CHAN tournament.
The Eagles scored thrice in six minutes through Sodiq Ismail, Nduka Junior, and Isaac Saviour to dump out a shell-shocked Ghanian side tactically naïve and outmaneuvered by their opponents. Stephen Amankuna scored Ghana’s solitary goal.
Ismail put the Eagles in front on 19 minutes when he sprung the offside trap to meet a long punt forward, squeezing his shot under goalkeeper Benjamin Asare for 1-0.
The lead was doubled four minutes later following a poorly cleared corner kick that found its way back into the penalty area, allowing Junior, the team captain, to guide an expert finish into the roof of the net at the near post.
Two minutes later, the Eagles were three-nil up when good pressing by Sikiru Alimi led Saviour to pounce on a loose pass and round the goalkeeper before stroking into an empty net.
Alimi had chances to extend the Eagles’ lead before Amankuna scored the consolation goal for Ghana on 70 minutes.
The final whistle sent the Super Eagles’ bench into jubilation mode as the country qualified for its first CHAN tournament in six years — after missing out on the last two editions.
It is also the first time the home-based Eagles will defeat their Ghanaian counterparts in three attempts.
The 2025 CHAN will be co-hosted by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda between February 1 to February 28.
The African Nations Championship (CHAN) is a biennial competition reserved exclusively for professional footballers playing in their country’s domestic leagues.
Technical of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Augustine Eguavoen, has asked for a decision to be taken quickly on the appointment of a substantive head coach for the Super Eagles.
Eguavoen assumed the role of interim head coach in September and guided the Super Eagles to 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.
The NFF are, however, still looking to appoint an expatriate to tinker the three-time African champions.
The former defender has tasked the soccer house to hasten up the process ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers which will resume in March 2025.
“All hands must be on deck, we want to try and qualify for the World Cup,” Eguavoen told Kennis FM.
“March is just around the corner. If we have to do something (about the team), we need to do it quick.
“That person should come in as quickly as possible, settle down, so that we could speak, tweak things, exchange ideas and talk about the way forward. The earlier the better.”
[DailyPost]
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen on Monday joined Nigeria’s elite at billionaire Tony Elumelu glamorous all-white party in Lagos, embracing the holiday festivities during a visit to his home country.
The Galatasaray forward, who has been in prolific form, was seen mingling with top celebrities at the event hosted by Tony Elumelu, Chairman of the UBA Group, with an estimated net worth of $700 million according to Forbes.
The star-studded affair featured electrifying performances by some of Nigeria’s biggest music icons, including Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, and Flavour.
Prominent political figures also graced the occasion, with Lagos State Governor Jide Sanwo-Olu and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun among the notable attendees.
Media
Victor Osimhen at Tony Elumelu's All White Christmas Party ??? pic.twitter.com/drQGKigiZg
— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) December 24, 2024