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Persistent Lewandowski Secures Barca Win Over Athletic

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Robert Lewandowski shrugged off a string of missed opportunities to earn Barcelona a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday in La Liga.

The 36-year-old striker twice hit the woodwork, among other wasted chances, but kept his cool to slot home a 75th-minute winner for the Catalan giants.

Teenage starlet Lamine Yamal put Barcelona ahead with a deflected effort but Oihan Sancet pulled Athletic level from the penalty spot before half-time.

Lewandowski’s strike earned Barcelona their second win from two league matches under new coach Hansi Flick.

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“Especially in the first half he could have scored one or two goals… but in the end this is a goal getter, a striker, who scores goals,” Flick told reporters.

“The second goal was the winner, three points, perfect.”

The former Germany and Bayern Munich boss had hoped to utilise new arrival Dani Olmo but with Barcelona unable to register him because of their financial difficulties, the former RB Leipzig playmaker could only watch from the stands.

Pedri started in midfield after injury, along with 17-year-old Spain star Yamal, who shared a joke with his compatriot Nico Williams, a Barcelona target this summer.

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The winger is set to stay with Athletic this season and some Barcelona fans whistled him during his engaging battle with Jules Kounde.

Barcelona drew first blood, with Yamal’s effort from the edge of the box deflecting home off Inigo Lekue’s head.

“I’m very happy for the win, it’s important to win at home,” Yamal told DAZN.

“(For my goal) I saw a bit of space, I saw Nico coming, who is not very intense when it comes to defending, and when I found the space, I shot.”

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Williams whipped a dangerous cross inches wide of the far post at the other end as Athletic threatened.

Barca striker Lewandowski, who netted twice at Valencia in their La Liga opener, struck the post after more good work by Yamal and Raphinha.

Athletic pulled level shortly before the break when young centre-back Pau Cubarsi clumsily fouled Alejandro Berenguer in the area.

Sancet sent Marc-Andre ter Stegen the wrong way from the penalty spot to send the teams in tied at the break.

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Polish veteran Lewandowski hit the woodwork a second time, heading Raphinha’s free-kick against the far post from point-blank range.

The Brazilian teed up the forward again with an inviting cross but Athletic goalkeeper Alex Padilla made a superb save.

Barcelona were turning the screw and got their reward when Lewandowski fired home his third goal of the campaign in the 75th minute.

Raphinha played in Pedri, whose cross was palmed out by Padilla into Lewandowski’s path and this time he made no mistake.

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‘You always suffer’

Barcelona’s victory against Ernesto Valverde’s Copa del Rey winners is another morale boost after their opening day win at Valencia.

Champions Real Madrid are widely expected to defend their crown after signing Kylian Mbappe but Flick’s Barcelona have made a perfect start in their bid to snatch it back, despite various injury problems.

Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and Ronald Araujo are among those who will return later in the season for Barcelona, while Olmo is waiting for his chance too.

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“These are things we have to accept because we cannot change it,” continued Flick.

“We knew when we signed for Barca (the financial situation) is not easy, (so I) don’t think about that. Today we wanted three points and we got it.”

Athletic have just one point from their first two matches.

“You always suffer when you come here, you know they will take the initiative,” said former Barca coach Valverde.

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“In the second half they were stronger in pressing after losing the ball and they didn’t let us get out, I think that was the key.”

AFP

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I Failed In Front of the World Four Years Ago — Lookman’s Touching Speech After Winning CAF Award

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Super Eagles star, Ademola Lookman had delivered a touching speech after winning the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award.

According to him, he learned from his failure four years ago which made him a better player.

He said: “Just over four years ago I failed in front of the world. Fast forward four years, I’m the best player in Africa,” Lookman said after receiving the award.

“I want to say to the young children and people watching this: don’t let your failures weigh you down that they break your wings. Matter of fact, turn your pain into your power and continue to fight.

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“Firstly. I want to thank the Almighty God for everything he has been doing in my life, and everything he has been blessing me with.

“I want to thank the president, I want to thank all my teammates- club and country. I want to thank them for all their support and love that they gave me.”

“This award today is a blessing to me, to my family, to my nation, and to be recognized as the best player in Africa. It’s something incredible and I’m extremely proud of.”

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CAF Awards 2024: Full List of Winners

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Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman, South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, and Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie emerged as some of the standout winners at the 2024 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards.

Lookman, who plays for Atalanta, clinched the prestigious CAF Men’s Player of the Year title, beating contenders such as Simon Adingra, Achraf Hakimi, Ronwen Williams, and Serhou Guirassy.

South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams dominated the night, bagging both the Men’s Interclub Player of the Year and the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year awards.

Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie, known for her stellar performances, was named Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year.

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Full List of CAF Awards 2024 Winners
CAF Men’s Player of the Year: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
Women’s Interclub Player of the Year: Sanaa Mssoudy
Men’s Interclub Player of the Year: Ronwen Williams (South Africa)
Women’s Club of the Year: TP Mazembe
Men’s Club of the Year: Al Ahly FC
Men’s National Team of the Year: Ivory Coast
Women’s National Team of the Year: Nigeria
Men’s Young Player of the Year: Lamine Camara
Women’s Young Player of the Year: Doha El Madani
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria)
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Ronwen Williams (South Africa)
Women’s Coach of the Year: Lamia Boumehdi
Men’s Coach of the Year: Emerse Faé
Goal of the Year: Mabululu (Angola)

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Ronaldo To Contest Brazilian Football Federation Presidency

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Brazil legend Ronaldo has confirmed he wants to become president of the country’s football governing body to address a “deep crisis” the sport is facing nationally.

“I have hundreds of motivations, but I think the biggest of them is really to restore international respect to Brazilian football,” he said in an interview on Monday with the Globoesporte website.

Ronaldo said he wanted to be an “alternative for significant change” as candidate for the job of running the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).

“O Fenomeno” (“The Phenomenon”), as the 48-year-old became known over the course of his 1993-2011 career, said he wants to use the CBF presidency to help Brazil’s national team to regain its glory as five-time world champions.

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“The Selecao has to recover its prestige. I’ll do everything so that the players understand the historic importance of playing for the national team,” he said.

Ronaldo scored both goals when Brazil beat Germany in the 2002 World Cup final in Japan, and was twice winner of the Ballon d’Or.

To lodge his CBF candidacy, he needs the support of Brazilian regional clubs and federations.

To get those, he promised to travel “all around Brazil” and share the “incredible plans” he has for the sport.

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The date of the next CBF election has not yet been set, but should happen between March 2025 and March 2026, according to Brazilian media.

‘Much deeper problem’

Current CBF chief Ednaldo Rodrigues has been criticized for slotting in temporary coaches for the national team after Tite’s 2022 exit while waiting for Carlo Ancelotti to arrive — something that did not happen when the Italian decided late last year to extend his contract as manager of Real Madrid.

Currently coached by Dorival Junior, the Selecao are fifth in South America qualifying for the 2026 World Cup tournament, seven points behind leaders Argentina.

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“My problem is not Ednaldo. The problem is much deeper. My goal is to bring the people closer to the Selecao. Today, the people are indifferent when the Selecao plays,” Ronaldo told Globoesporte.

“I am an alternative of significant change for Brazilian football, which is going through a deep crisis,” he said.

Ronaldo, a former star for Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, already has leadership experience.

In 2018, he took majority control of Spain’s Real Valladolid, and in 2021 did the same for Cruzeiro, the Brazilian club where he started his career.

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He sold his Cruzeiro stake in April this year.

In his interview, Ronaldo said he was in talks to “very soon” sell his Valladolid stake to avoid “any obstacle” to his CBF candidacy.

AFP

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