Sport

Thursday, 12 July 2018 04:32

Croatia in World Cup final for 1st time, beats England 2-1

Croatia's legs seemed heavy, burdened by the accumulated toll of consecutive penalty-kicks wins needed to get this far. England had gone ahead with a free kick just five minutes in, dominated play and appeared headed to its first World Cup final since 1966. Then the second half started and it was as if a different Croatian team had replaced the lethargic one. Ivan Perisic tied the score in the 68th minute , Mario Mandzukic got the go-ahead goal in the 109th and Croatia shocked England with a 2-1 victory Wednesday that advanced a nation of just over 4 million to…

Wednesday, 11 July 2018 03:29

Euphoric France dreams of World Cup glory after 20-year wait

France began dreaming of World Cup glory after a two-decade wait after Les Bleus on Tuesday defeated Belgium to reach the final, unleashing a wave of soccer euphoria across the country. Delirious supporters draped in the Tricolor flag spilled on to Parisian boulevards as the blare of car horns reverberated through the French capital. In a fan zone outside City Hall on the banks of the River Seine, jubilant supporters embraced and lit smoke flares. "I'm totally blown away, this is crazy," said 41-year-old Gilles Rove in Paris' Belleville neighbourhood. "Nobody believed this could happen at the beginning of the…

Monday, 09 July 2018 03:47

National sporting event cancelled after protest by athletes

Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) on Sunday cancelled All Nigeria Athletics Championship holding in Abuja, following protests by participating athletes over poor welfare. Mr Sunday Adeleye, AFN Technical Director, said the decision followed an emergency meeting of the board of AFN regarding the protest. “The decision we have reached is that the championship is cancelled and we further decided that we are going to select athletes who will represent Nigeria at All African Senior Athletics Championships,” he said. All Nigeria Athletics Championships, which kicked-off at Abuja National Stadium of Saturday, was supposed to be the National Trials for athletes expected…

Sunday, 08 July 2018 05:08

England reach first World Cup semi-final in 28 years

England defied almost three decades of disappointment to move confidently into the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1990 as headers from Harry Maguire and Dele Alli downed a dogged but toothless Sweden 2-0 on Saturday. Far more fancied England sides had failed to reach the last four in the past but Gareth Southgate's young squad powered on as they continued to make a mockery of dampened pre-tournament expectations with another impressive display in Russia. They were set on their way when Maguire rose imperiously to head home from a corner and Alli added the killer blow after…

Sunday, 08 July 2018 05:07

Croatia ends Russia's run, advances to World Cup semifinals

Although Russia made it further at this year's World Cup than most anyone expected, it was Croatia that advanced to the semifinals with a 4-3 shootout victory Saturday following a 2-2 draw. The overachieving hosts, the lowest ranked team in the tournament at No. 70, were trying to make it to the World Cup semifinals for the first time since the Soviet Union finished fourth at the 1966 tournament in England. Even Russian President Vladimir Putin was taken in by the host nation's surprising run, at least according to Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov. "Putin called me during the day, and…

Saturday, 07 July 2018 05:05

France reaches World Cup semifinals, beats Uruguay 2-0

A shot that flew directly at the hands of the opposing goalkeeper turned into a World Cup goal for Antoine Griezmann. The France striker scored the second goal in his team's 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Uruguay on Friday, sending a seemingly easy-to-save shot at a waiting Fernando Muslera. But the ball hit the keeper on the palms, bounced off and looped over his head and into the net. The victory gave France a spot in the World Cup semifinals. The 1998 champions will next face Belgium on Tuesday in St. Petersburg. Griezmann didn't celebrate what was his third goal of…

Saturday, 07 July 2018 05:03

Belgium hold off Brazil in thriller to reach semis

Belgium struck early and then held off a late Brazil fightback to send the five-times champions tumbling out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage with a 2-1 victory in an end-to-end thriller on Friday. A Fernandinho own goal and brilliant Kevin De Bruyne strike, after Thiago Silva had hit the post for Brazil, earned Belgium a date with neighbours France in St Petersburg on Tuesday, their second trip to the last four at a World Cup after 1986. Brazil will depart at the last eight stage for the third time in the last four World Cups despite the…

Friday, 06 July 2018 04:52

Embattled Pinnick gets top CAF appointment

Mr Amaju Pinnick has been appointed 1st Vice President of Confederation of African Football, CAF. Pinnick, told earlier this week to vacate his position as President of Nigeria Football Federation due to a court ruling has been chosen as replacement for Ghanaian Football Association former head, Kwesi Nyantakyi, who resigned last month from the post. An official confirmation was posted on CAF website on Thursday and congratulatory messages are pouring in for Pinnick. “Following the resignation of 1st Vice-President Mr. Kwesi NYANTAKYI, CAF President, after consulting members of the Emergency Committee, appointed Mr. Amaju Melvin PINNICK as 1st Vice-President. “This…

Friday, 06 July 2018 04:50

Where do World Cup fans meet? At Stalin's secret bunker

Joseph Stalin's secret bunker has become the unlikely meeting point for thousands of fans who have descended on the Russian city of Samara during the World Cup. Emerging from the underground shelter more than 120 feet (37 meters) below, Mexicans donning traditional sombreros and Colombians and Uruguayans carrying national flags were fascinated with this remnant of Soviet history that remained unknown for 50 years. "It's amazing to see so many Latin Americans gathered here. Soviet history is so foreign to us, and getting to know this part of history, which is new to us, is so cool," said Edly Mortera,…

Thursday, 05 July 2018 05:15

Nigeria Football Controversy: Pinnick returns to court

FIFA recognised chairman of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr Amaju Pinnick, has asked a court to vacate its order that sacked him from office. Following his request, Jos Federal High Court on Wednesday fixed July 10 for hearing the motions filed by Pinnick, challenging the exparte order it granted Mr Chris Giwa, who has assumed office as president of the federation. Pinnick approached the court for the relief after federal government implemented the order of the high court. Mr Musa Kurya, presiding judge in the case between Yahaya Adama and Aminu Maigari had, on June 5, made an exparte order asking…

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Wednesday, 04 July 2018 03:42

England finally wins penalty shootout at World Cup

After three haunting failures, England finally won a penalty shootout at the World Cup. And it happened under a coach who for 22 years has taken the blame for a previous shootout loss at a major tournament. England advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals by beating Colombia 4-3 in a shootout following a 1-1 draw Tuesday, sending Gareth Southgate running onto the field to celebrate the end of the national team's years of misfortune. "It will never be off my back, sadly. That's something that will live with me forever," Southgate said of his 1996 shootout failure. "But today is…

Tuesday, 03 July 2018 05:29

Chris Giwa assumes office as NFF chairman

Mr Chris Giwa on Monday arrived at Secretariat of Nigeria Football Federation with some security agents to assume office as substantive Chairman of the Federation. Giwa also spoke with journalists on his assumption of office in line with the ruling of the Supreme Court on June 5 at the boardroom. He said that the court had nullified the parallel election held in Warri by the former chairman, Mr Amaju Pinnick, and upheld him as the chairman. “I am here to claim my mandate as substantive chairman elected on August 26, 2014. “We waited for the other board to finish the…

Tuesday, 03 July 2018 05:27

World Cup quarterfinals exclusive to Europe, South America

So much for this being a "World" Cup. The quarterfinals are all-European and South American for the first time since 2006. Mexico said adios with a 2-0 loss to Brazil in the round of 16 on Tuesday and Japan sayonara when it wasted a two-goal lead in a 3-2 defeat to Belgium, ending the hopes of North America and Asia. Africa and Central America didn't make it past the group phase. Oceania and the Caribbean couldn't even earn an invite. For 47 consecutive months, experts proclaim emerging soccer nations are catching up with the traditional powers. Then the World Cup…

Monday, 02 July 2018 04:44

Host Russia extends World Cup party by eliminating Spain

Stretching every part of his body out into a star shape and diving to his right, Igor Akinfeev flicked out his left foot and kicked the ball high away from danger. Akinfeev's foot kept Russia's party going Sunday night, ended the international career of one of Spain's biggest stars and sealed the biggest upset of the tournament and one of the greatest in World Cup history. Akinfeev saved two shots during the shootout, while all of his teammates scored to give Russia a 4-3 advantage after a draw that was dominated by Spain in every way but the 1-1 score.…

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