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UEFA LEAGUE UPDATE: NEYMAR PREVENTED FROM ATTACKING REFEREE IN THE DRESSING ROOM
There was a drama in the locker room after Manchester United eliminated Paris Saint-Germain from the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night. According to Daily Mail of UK, Neymar, the £198million player who missed the match on account of injury, had to be ‘restrained by club staff’ from the dressing room.
Quoting RMC Sport, the paper reports that the player’s anger at his side’s dramatic exit spilled over into the tunnel afterwards. Neymar angrily tried to enter the referees’ office as his frustration at Dario Skomina’s late penalty award – which was given via the interference of VAR – boiled over, according to the report.
According to eye-witnesses, who spoke to RMC, Neymar is alleged to have forced his way through the corridor to the officials’ office and had to be restrained by members of the PSG staff outside the door.
Club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi was also left seething, according to the RMCreport, after seeing another Champions League campaign go up in smoke.
The Qatari let his anger out, bashing against a door in frustration.
The pair’s grievances stemmed from another failed campaign but the contentious issue of the night surrounded an injury-time penalty.
The referee judged
that a handball from Presnel Kimpembe had been deliberate and after
consultation with VAR in the form of a pitchside review, the decision and was
given and United progressed on away goals.
While much of the RMC report is focused on the outburst in the bowels of the Parc des Princes, it also highlights the moment Neymar became a confidant to devastated team-mates – and also his wounded manager.
Neymar and boss Thomas Tuchel are reported to have embraced in a hug, which goes against suggestions in recent months that the Brazilian could be angling for an exit under the former Borussia Dortmund boss.
Neymar would find himself lucky to escape a ban from UEFA, not just for his actions behind the scenes but also for his comments immediately after the full-time whistle on Wednesday.
The Brazilian was livid with the referee and blasted him on Instagram: ‘This is a disgrace, they put four people that know nothing about football in charge of looking at the replay for VAR,’ he wrote.
‘There is no penalty. How can it be a handball when it hits his back! Go f*** yourselves!’
PSG were knocked out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage by Real Madrid last season and continue to fall short in the tournament they want to win most of all.
Neymar’s side are still set to win Ligue 1 at a canter and also have a chance of glory in the French Cup.
However, it is the Champions League in which they wanted to prevail the most, in order to demonstrate how far they have progressed under Qatari ownership.
African teams will battle for the remaining qualification spots for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup this weekend as the final round of qualifiers reaches its climax across the continent.
In Kampala, Ghana will attempt to protect a slender 2-1 first-leg advantage when they face Uganda’s U20 girls away from home.
Cameroon are also in a strong position ahead of their return-leg clash against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam after securing a 3-1 victory in the first meeting.
Meanwhile, Benin will fancy their chances of advancing when they host Côte d’Ivoire following a 1-1 draw in Abidjan.
Nigeria’s Falconets are equally close to qualification after earning a 2-0 first-leg victory over Malawi ahead of Saturday’s decisive encounter in Lilongwe.
The successful teams will join the global field for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland next year.
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The London Marathon broke the record for the highest number of finishers in a marathon, with 59,830 participants completing the course to surpass the mark of 59,226 at last year’s New York City event.
Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe shattered the world record to become the first man to run the marathon in under two hours, followed by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who also breached the two-hour barrier on Sunday.
“To then break the record of the largest number of finishers in the history of marathons underlines the inspirational nature of the London Marathon. We are incredibly proud to have set a new Guinness World Record,” said Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events.
In the women’s race, three women ran under two hours and 16 minutes in a single race for the first time ever, as Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa defended her title by shattering her own women ‘s-only world record
-Reuters
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By George Akpayen
The finish line is now in sight in this season’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), and much of the talk has centred on the title race and those at the other end of the table, which surprisingly include last season’s champions Remo Stars.
However, there is another race shaping up among the leading top scorers this season, and this could see as many as six or more players going head-to-head in the final six matchdays.
Top contenders in the race for the battle for the golden boot are Enugu Rangers’ striker, Godwin Obaje and Ikorodu City winger Joseph Arumala, who have scored 11 goals apiece.
On the tails of the top-two scoring individuals are Victor Mbaoma (Remo Stars), El-Kanemi Warriors midfielder Daddy Abdulrahman, Katsina United’s Uche Collins and Emeka Obioma of Abia Warriors, all on 10 goals each.
THE PERFORMANCE BREAKDOWN
Out of the top-six leading scorers, Obaje, Arumala and Mbaoma have more direct goal involvement. Obaje and Arumala have 11 goals and two assists each, while Mbaoma has 10 goals and assists from 23 appearances, which is the least number of matches featured in among the leading scorers. Mbaoma missed most of the early parts of the season due to bruised ribs.
El-Kanemi Warriors midfielder Abdulrahman has made the most appearances among the top-six scorers and has a 12-goal direct involvement (10 goals + two assists).
Obioma is however, the only top-six scorer who is yet to register an assist this season after 26 appearances for Abia Warriors.
Interestingly, Collins is the only top-six scorer who has netted a hat-trick this season so far.
THE CHASING PACK
There is also the chasing pack in the race for the Golden Boot. One of them is Plateau United winger Temitope Vincent Adebayo, who has scored nine goals. Sodiq Ibrahim (3SC), Enyimba striker Chidera Michael, and Igbunu Evwierhurhoma of Warri Wolves.
The variety of players in the chasing pack also makes the race intriguing as they have been consistent goal scorers in recent matchweeks. They are definitely breathing down the necks of the frontrunners.
There are also the outsiders in the race. Jonathan Mairiga of Wikki Tourists, Chidozie Iwundu (Rangers) and Bendel Insurance duo of Kayode Oke, 3SC’s Qamar Adegoke and Alex Oweilayefa – all on eight goals. On seven goals is Kano Pillars legend Rabiu Ali.
WORTHY MENTION
However, Iwundu deserves a big mention among the top scorers as he is the top-scoring defender. He has made 29 appearances for Rangers and has been booked three times and sent off once.
Iwundu’s goalscoring form from his centre-back role has also been important for his club in their title aspirations this season, and his team will hope his form can continue into the final six matchdays.
No doubt, there will be twists and turns for individual glory in a race that is still wide open. Fixture difficulty, favourable run-in, struggling defences and hunger in front of goal are surely going to be among the factors that would decide who wins this race in an unpredictable league. At this point, nothing is guaranteed as all top marksmen are odds-on to claim the top individual prize.
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