Sports

Paris St-Germain 2-0 Real Sociedad: Kylian Mbappe marks return from injury with goal

Published

8 months ago

February 15, 2024

Kylian Mbappe marked his return from injury with a goal as Paris St-Germain took control of their Champions League last-16 tie against Real Sociedad.

The French champions have an underwhelming record in the competition and were enduring a frustrating night until Mbappe pounced.

Having missed his side’s previous match with an ankle problem, Mbappe scored at the back post after a corner.

Bradley Barcola added the second with a lovely finish past Alex Remiro.

Real Sociedad keeper Remiro had earlier denied Mbappe a second when he tipped his attempt on to the crossbar.

PSG, who have never won the Champions League, were far from their best in the first half and Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino hit the bar just before half-time.

“If you told me at half-time we would win 2-0, I would be dancing for two hours,” PSG manager Luis Enrique told TNT Sports.

“We had to change everything because they were pressing us very high. We couldn’t press and it was like a nightmare.

“When that happens you are going to lose confidence, but football is unbelievable and we could change that. In the second half it was more what we wanted.”

Real Sociedad will believe they can turn it around in the second leg in Spain on 5 March, but will have to offer a much more attacking threat than in Paris.

Qatar-owned PSG have spent vast sums on transfer fees and wages in recent years only to be eliminated from the last 16 of the Champions League five times in the past seven seasons.

They have won nine Ligue 1 titles since Qatar Sports Investments took over in 2011 but, with European success eluding the club, they have also appointed seven managers in that time – four of those in the past four years.

Enrique, their latest manager who steered Barcelona to Champions League glory in 2014-15, returns to Spain for the second leg in three weeks’ time knowing his team are in a strong position to advance thanks partly to Mbappe.

With the forward’s contract running out at the end of June there has been much speculation about his future, but to his credit the 2018 World Cup winner with France has delivered goals all season.

Mbappe has been directly involved in 38 in 30 appearances for his club this season – 31 goals, seven assists – the most of any player in Europe’s big five leagues.

In addition, he has now scored 44 times in 68 Champions League appearances for Monaco and PSG.

In January Mbappe, who has been linked with Real Madrid, said he had not made a decision about his future and it remains to be seen where he will be playing his football next season.

His performance against Real Sociedad illustrated what a huge asset he is to PSG, with four of his seven attempts on target.

He would have walked away with the match ball but for Remiro, who denied Mbappe as early as the sixth minute after he was played in with only the keeper to beat.

This was Real Sociedad’s first knockout tie in the competition for 20 years.

It appeared to be going to plan for the team from the Basque Country as they limited PSG to a handful of chances in the first half, before conceding twice in the space of 12 minutes.

The absence of captain Mikel Oyarzabal because of injury was a blow, and manager Imanol Alguacil will hope his leading goalscorer is fit to play in the return leg.

Real Sociedad conceded as many goals in the French capital as they did in the entire group stage – two in six games – while this was their first defeat in European competition since March 2023, ending a seven-match unbeaten run.

“Two goals is nothing, and at home, with our fans pushing as we have done in the last games in the Champions League, I think we have a chance,” said former Newcastle midfielder Merino about his side’s hopes of turning the match around in the second leg.

“It’s all about being efficient, about scoring goals, which is what we haven’t done lately but we know that with our fans we can do it.”

Sports

Get ready for Libya rematch – Obi Tells Super Eagles

Published

18 hours ago

October 17, 2024

Naijablitznews

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has called on the Super Eagles to gear up for a rematch against Libya, following the team’s harrowing experience at a Libyan airport last Sunday.

The Nigerian players and officials were stranded for hours, denied food and internet access, ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier match against Libya’s Mediterranean Knights.

In a statement on his X handle, Obi expressed sympathy for the team’s ordeal and commended their patriotism and patience in the face of unfair treatment.

He encouraged the players not to let the experience dampen their spirits, but rather recharge their determination to win the match and qualify for the Morocco 2025 AFCON.

The statement reads: Like every other patriotic Nigerian, I sincerely sympathize with our dear Super Eagles over their ordeal in Libya on their way to play the Morocco 2025 AFCON Qualifier return leg match, which was later delisted by CAF following the players’ decision not to play the match.

The neglect and abandonment they and their officials suffered at a remote Libyan airport is highly regrettable and justifies their alternative decision of returning home.

While we await the outcome of an investigation ordered by CAF, I wish to use this opportunity to commend the players for their patriotism, patience, and forbearance in the face of the unfair treatment by our Libyan brothers.

I appeal to them not to allow this sad experience dampen their zeal or break their spirit.

On the other hand, it should recharge their determination to fight to win the match whenever it takes place, to qualify for the Morocco 2025 AFCON, and, to win the championship.

In times like this, when Nigerians are left dejected by the sorry state of affairs in the country, every victory by the Super Eagles would not only serve to unite the country but also give Nigerians something to celebrate.

The sad experience of our national team in Libya should encourage all of us to work hard to bring more respect and dignity to our nation.

With the right leadership in place, Nigeria surely will rise again. Indeed, a new Nigeria is POssible.

Sports

CAF confirms Morocco host of 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League

Published

24 hours ago

October 17, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has picked Morocco to host the 2024 edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League Finals.

The CAF Women’s Champions League Morocco 2024 will be played between November 9 and 23.

Morocco hosted the 2022 edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League – the premium women’s club football competition in Africa.

Eight clubs including Edo Queens will contest the top prize. Winners will get USD 400 000 in prize money with runners-up walking away with USD 250 000.

Mamelodi Sundowns are the current holders – having won the competition twice in three years.

Morocco’s ASFAR is the other team that has won the Competition – back in 2022 when they defeated Mamelodi Sundowns.

Since its inception, the CAF Women’s Champions League played a key role in shaping women’s football in Africa.

Morocco’s hosting of the CAF Women’s Champions League follows the nation’s successful hosting of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2022 which also enjoyed unparalleled success.

Six Zonal tournaments took place to qualify six teams in addition to the host and the holder of 2023 title to the FT of CAF WCL 2024.

Apart from holders Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) and host team ASFAR (Morocco), Aigles de la Medina (Senegal) will represent WAFU A while Edo Queens (Nigeria) will represent WAFU B .

Others are

University of Western Cape (South Africa) for COSAFA , Tutankhamun (Egypt) for UNAF , CBE FC (Ethiopia) for CECAFA and TP Mazembe (DR Congo) for UNIFFAC.

Sports

NPFL: Kano Pillars shock Rangers in seven-goal thriller

Published

1 day ago

October 17, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Kano Pillars bagged their first away win of the season at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu against Rangers International and have thrown a spanner in the Nigeria Premier Football League reigning champions title challenge.

It was a Matchday 7 tie that came barely three days after Kano Pillars were pinned 2-0 in Uyo by Akwa United. But they were at their best against the Flying Antelopes and raced to a 4-0 first half lead to the bewilderment of Rangers’ head coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu.

Rabiu Ali scored the game’s first goal for the visitors in the 19th minute from the spot kick while Rabiu Muhammed Zulkifilu made it two 10 minutes later. Ali got his brace in the 41st v minute from the penalty spot again before Ahmed Musa’s icing on the cake in the 45th minute.

But Isaac Saviour scored a quick-fire double in the 46th and 59th minutes for the home side to raise the hope of a comeback but they could only add one more in the 90th minute. The game finished 4-3 with Sai Masu Gida having the last laugh on the Flying Antelopes’ stomping ground.

Rangers slipped to the fifth spot with 10 points but Kano Pillars moved to the fourth spot with 10 points. The arrival of Super Eagles Skipper Ahmed Musa and Shehu Abdullahi is helping to provide the necessary stability at Kano Pillars.

In the remaining games played yesterday, Lobi Stars were held to a 2-2 draw by unbeaten El Kanemi Warriors at the Lafia City Stadium.

Lobi Stars went 2-0 up through the goals of Ossy Martins in the 17th and 53rd minutes. It was Martins’ third goal in his last two games for the Pride of Benue.

El Kanemi Warriors began their comeback in the 57th minute through Ibrahim Mustapha’s goal before Mukhtar Mohammed’s equaliser four minutes from full time. It was the Borno Army’s fifth draw of the season after six games. They are still with a game at hand against Kwara United in Maiduguri.

In another game played in Lafia, Nasarawa United’s Anas Yusuf notched his second hat trick of the season in their 3-0 whiplash of Abia Warriors. Yusuf has seven goals from the seven games played thus far.

In Aba, Enyimba had to comeback from behind to avoid a first home defeat of the season against Niger Tornadoes. The People’s Elephant had held Shooting Stars to a goalless draw in Ibadan last weekend but they went behind to God’s time Joseph’s 42nd minute stunner.

Enyimba’s Chinedu Ufere got the leveller in the 76th minute to ensure it was a draw.

At the Kwara Sports Complex, Ilorin Wasiu Alalade was the star man for Kwara United who whipped Sunshine Stars 3-0.

Alalade scored twice in the 30th and 38th minutes while Shola Abdulraheem hit the target for the third goal of the game in the 73rd minute.

The remaining Matchday Seven games slated for today are: Bendel Insurance versus Bayelsa United; Rivers United versus Shooting Stars; Heartland versus Ikorodu City; Plateau United versus Remo Stars and Katsina United versus Akwa United.

NPFL Matchday 7 Results

Lobi Stars 2-2 El Kanemi

Nasarawa United 3-0 Abia Warriors

Enyimba 1-1 Niger Tornadoes

Kwara United 3-0 Sunshine Stars

Rangers FC 3-4 Kano Pillars