Sports
AFCON: CAF to decide Libya vs Nigeria case today
The Confederation of African Football will on Wednesday announce its decision on the botched AFCON qualifying Group D between Libya and Nigeria, which was scheduled for Benina Martyrs Stadium on October 15 l.
According to Libya Al-Ahrar Channel, the apex continental football body will announce the final decision regarding the players’ ordeal during the first leg in Nigeria in October, which ended 1-0 in favour of the Super Eagles and the reverse fixture that would have held at the 10,550-capacity, Libya’s first all-seater stadium.
The outlet also revealed that the Libyan Football Federation submitted all the documents it collected with a specialised lawyer assigned by the body to supervise the Libyan file with the Confederation of African Football.
A day after the botched encounter, CAF delisted the fixture from its calendar after announcing its cancellation hours before kick-off, with the matter referred to the Disciplinary Committee for consideration.
In its statement on Monday, the Libyan Football Federation denounced the measures taken by the Nigerian side regarding the team’s refusal to play its match against Libya. The Federation confirmed that it would take all legal measures to preserve the interests of the national football team.
Nigeria had arrived for the match on Sunday, October 14, only for their flight to be diverted to Al Abraq International Airport, which is about three hours away by road to Benghazi, the venue of the match. The Libyan authorities held them captive for approximately 17 hours, leaving them traumatized as they flew back to their home country.
Nigeria lodged a complaint with CAF lamenting their ordeal, and the Libyan Federation said that the Nigerians did not cooperate with them in any way, whether in the first or second leg, indicating that their experience is a child’s play compared to theirs while in Nigeria for the first leg.
CAF had described what happened to the Nigerian team in Libya as “extremely dangerous,” noting that it had contacted the Libyan and Nigerian authorities after reporting that the latter had been subjected to worrying conditions for hours at the airport. It referred the matter to its disciplinary committee to investigate and take appropriate action against those who violated the regulations.
PUNCH
Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior has hit out at UEFA after picking up an injury that rules him out of Wednesday night’s Champions League clash at Liverpool.
The LaLiga champions have confirmed that Vinicius has a hamstring problem and will miss the next three weeks of action.
The Brazilian has now lashed out at the packed fixture list.
Vinicius took a full part in their 3-0 win against Leganes on Sunday but will not travel to Merseyside due to “an injury to the biceps femoris in his left leg.”
In a message on social media, Vinicius pointed the finger of blame at executives behind a hectic fixture schedule that has most notably seen UEFA expand the Champions League by at least two matches, writing: “Crazy calendar. Time to recover.”
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti will also be without Lucas Vazquez and Aurelien Tchouameni for the match.
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool forward says he is “disappointed” by the club’s failure to offer him a new contract – and looks more likely to leave than stay.
The 32-year-old, Liverpool’s top scorer this season with 12 goals in all competitions, is out of contract at the end of the season.
Salah scored twice in the 3-2 win against Southampton on Sunday, including the winner from the penalty spot, to take Liverpool eight points clear at the top of the Premier League.
The Egypt forward, who joined the Reds from Roma in 2017, told reporters, external after the win at St Mary’s: “We are almost in December and I haven’t received any offers yet to stay in the club.
“I’m probably more out than in.”
Asked if he was disappointed that he is yet to receive an offer, Salah said: “Of course, yeah.
“I’m not going to retire soon so I’m just playing, focusing on the season and I’m trying to win the Premier League and hopefully the Champions League as well. I’m disappointed but we will see.”
Liverpool have not publicly commented on Salah’s remarks.
A club source told BBC Sport that contact between Liverpool and Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, is ongoing and has been positive.
Only Manchester City forward Erling Halaand has scored more Premier League goals than Salah this season, with the Egyptian netting 10 times in the top flight.
According to Opta, Salah’s goals and assists have been worth 17 points to Liverpool this season – the most of any player in the division.
Salah signed a three-year contract extension with the club in 2022, with that deal set to expire in the summer.
“You know I have been in the club for many years. There is no club like this,” said Salah.
“I love the fans. The fans love me. In the end it is not in my hands or the fans’ hands. Let’s wait and see.”
Defender Trent Alexander-Arnold and club captain Virgil van Dijk are out of contract at the same time as Salah.
Liverpool rejected a £150m offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad in September 2023 and multiple sources have reported that the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) remains interested in bringing Salah to the Saudi Arabia Pro League.
Following a 3-0 win against Manchester United in September, Salah said he treated the game as if it was the “last time” he would play at Old Trafford.
After scoring the winner in a 2-1 victory against Brighton this month that took Liverpool top of the table, Salah wrote on X: “No matter what happens, I will never forget what scoring at Anfield feels like.”
Rivers United reclaimed top position in the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, after a 1-0 victory over Abia Warriors.
Former Akwa United striker Ndifreke Effiong netted the winning goal for Finidi George’s side in the 58th minute.
Rivers United top the standings with 25 points from 13 points.
Azeez Falolu and Boslam Dawi scored both goals as Katsina United defeated Remo Stars 2-0 at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium.
Shooting Stars returned to winning ways courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Bayelsa United. Anthony Okachi scored the decisive goal after 16 minutes.
Former champions Plateau United claimed a 2-0 victory over Nasarawa United in Jos. Shina Kumater scored an own goal in the 51st minute to hand Plateau United the lead. Olawale Doyeni doubled the home team’s advantage nine minutes from time.
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