Sports

Ronaldo Scores In Portugal’s Nations League Win As Spain Sink Denmark

Published

3 days ago

October 13, 2024

Cristiano Ronaldo scored as Portugal beat Poland 3-1 for their third straight Nations League win on Saturday, while European champions Spain put an end to Denmark’s perfect start in the competition.

Bernardo Silva volleyed Portugal ahead in the 26th minute in Warsaw as Bruno Fernandes cleverly nodded a cross from Ruben Neves back towards the Manchester City midfielder.

Ronaldo then found himself in the right place at the right time to turn in the rebound for Portugal’s second after Rafael Leao’s shot came back off the post following a brilliant surging run by the AC Milan winger.

The 39-year-old Ronaldo has now struck in all three games of this Nations League campaign for Portugal, taking his record men’s international goals tally to 133.

Piotr Zielinski cut the deficit for Poland but Jan Bednarek’s own goal sealed victory for Portugal, the lone remaining team in League A with a 100 percent record, and they could secure a place in the quarter-finals next week.

Roberto Martinez’s side have a maximum nine points in Group A1, three ahead of Croatia who beat Scotland 2-1 to condemn them to a third successive defeat in the section.

Ryan Christie’s first half-goal gave Scotland a shock lead in Zagreb, but Igor Matanovic equalised before the interval and Andrej Kramaric bagged the winner midway through the second half.

Che Adams thought he had salvaged a stoppage-time equaliser but VAR disallowed his effort for offside, with Scotland winless in nine competitive outings — the longest run in their history.

Spain needed a 79th-minute effort from Martin Zubimendi to shrug off Denmark 1-0 in Murcia and replace their opponents at the top of Group A4.

The hosts were without Rodri and Dani Carvajal, both sidelined by long-term injuries, with first-choice goalkeeper Unai Simon still recovering from wrist surgery, and Dani Olmo and Robin Le Normand also ruled out.

But Luis de la Fuente’s team grabbed the only goal when Zubimendi’s low drive from just outside the edge squirmed past Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who had earlier denied Lamine Yamal and Alvaro Morata.

Spain moved up to seven points, one above Denmark, with Serbia picking up their first win after beating Switzerland 2-0 in Leskovac.

Serbia led through Nico Elvedi’s own goal in first-half stoppage time and Aleksandar Mitrovic doubled the advantage before Predrag Rajkovic saved a penalty from Swiss striker Breel Embolo.

Both games in Group C3 finished goalless as Bulgaria were held at home by Luxembourg and Northern Ireland drew against Belarus on neutral ground in Hungary.

Romania eased to a 3-0 win away to Cyprus in Group C2, while Kosovo beat Lithuania 2-1.

AFP

Sports

Just in: You Can’t Jettison This Match, Libya Tells NFF

Published

24 hours ago

October 15, 2024

Naijablitznews

By Mario Deepromoter

The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has said that it would not condone excuses from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to boycott the second leg of the Group D 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifier tie against the Super Eagles.

The LFF disclosed this on its X handle on Tuesday after the Super Eagles pulled out of the match, scheduled for Tuesday, October 15, citing safety concerns after being stranded at Al Abaq Airport for more than 13 hours due to an unexpected flight diversion on Sunday.

Sharing several photos of their players’ training session, LFF wrote: “Some may be used to putting up obstacles before the match, but here in the heart of Benghazi, specifically on the grounds of the Martyrs of Benina Stadium, there is no room for excuses after the starting whistle.

Source:Citynewsng

Sports

2025 AFCON qualifier: CAF break silence on Nigeria issue in Libya

Published

1 day ago

October 15, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released an official statement following the recent ordeal involving the Nigerian Super Eagles at the Al Abaq Airport in Libya, which led to the postponement of their scheduled second-leg clash in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.

The Nigerian team, who were set to face Libya after a 1-0 victory in Uyo during the first leg, were stranded for over 16 hours after their flight was diverted to Al Abaq. The players were left unattended at the airport, resulting in frustration and health concerns ahead of the crucial match.

As a result, the Super Eagles made a U-turn and returned to Nigeria, raising serious questions about the logistics and organization of the game. The situation has sparked reactions from African football legends, including Emmanuel Adebayor and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, who expressed their disappointment at the handling of the Nigerian contingent.

CAF, in its statement, condemned the situation and revealed that an investigation into the incident is currently underway. The disciplinary board is tasked with determining whether any regulations were violated, and sanctions are expected based on their findings.

Key Points From CAF’s Statement:

1. CAF’s involvement: The governing body is actively engaged in resolving the situation.

2. Communication with authorities: CAF confirmed it has been in direct contact with both Libyan and Nigerian authorities regarding the incident.

3. Super Eagles stranded: CAF expressed concern over the treatment of the Super Eagles players during their time at the airport.

4. Flight diversion: It was acknowledged that the Nigerian team’s flight was diverted to Al Abaq, contributing to the disruption.

5. Disciplinary investigation: The CAF disciplinary board is investigating the issue to ensure accountability.

6. Potential sanctions: CAF hinted that appropriate actions will be taken in line with its statutes and regulations once the investigation concludes.

Libya vs Nigeria Second Leg Postponed: what next?

With the game now postponed, CAF is expected to announce a new date for the second-leg encounter, while fans and stakeholders await the outcome of the investigation.

Sports

AFCON 2025: Libya finally opens up on Super Eagles nasty experience

Published

2 days ago

October 14, 2024

Austin Ojomah

The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has reacted to the poor treatment meted out to the Super Eagles by authorities in the country.

The LFF claimed it had no hand in the barbaric act.

“We are deeply concerned about the recent reports surrounding the diversion of the Nigerian national team’s flight ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Libya,”the LFA said in a statement on Monday.

While we regret any inconvenience caused, it is essential to note that such incidents can occur due to routine air traffic control protocols, security checks, or logistical challenges that affect international air travel.

“These are standard procedures at airports worldwide, and delays or rerouting, though unfortunate, are not uncommon.

“We have the utmost respect for our Nigerian counterparts and want to reassure them that the diversion of their flight was not intentional.

There are no grounds to accuse the Libyan security teams or the Libyan Football Federation of deliberately orchestrating this incident. Such actions are inconsistent with our values and principles.

“We firmly reject any claims that suggest foul play or sabotage in this situation.

“It is important to highlight that just last week, our own national team faced significant challenges upon our arrival in Nigeria for the third match of the Africa Cup of Nations qualification.”

Sundry media reports had said that players and officials of the Super Eagles were held hostage at the Al Abaq Airport for several hours following the team’s arrival in the country on Sunday night.