Connect with us

Uncategorized

NIGERIAN ‘PELE’, RABIU ALI EYES KOTOKO SCALP AWAY IN KUMASI

blank

Published

on

Better known as Pele on the Nigerian domestic football scene, talismanic captain of Kano Pillars, Rabiu Ali has predicted a tough duel away to Asante Kotoko in the reverse CAF Champions League preliminary round tie to be played this weekend in Kumasi.

A fortnight ago, Kano Pillars secured a hard-fought 3-2 home win at the Sani Abacha Stadium nevertheless the 33-year-old Ali is confident his side would scale the hurdle against the battle-hardened Porcupine Warriors at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday.

“We are not expecting an easy match in Kumasi against Asante Kotoko. Unlike in the first leg, we know what to expect in the second leg match,” Ali who scored the second goal and provided the assist for the winner by Mohammed Gambo in the first leg tie in Kano told CAFOnline.com 

“ It was a difficult game for us in Kano. Now we have to prepare well ahead for the return leg in Kumasi because we know Asante Kotoko is big club.”

Though the Ghanaian side are by far experienced being two-time continental champions in 1970 and 1983 as well as winning a record 24 Ghanaian Premier League title, Ali who turn 39 next month (September 27) and has won three successive Nigeria league titles with Kano Pillars between 2011 and 2914 remains unperturbed.

Advertisement

“Football is full of surprises and nobody can predict the outcome of the match in Kumasi because it will be a big battle.

“We (Kano Pillars) have participated in the CAF Champions League in the past and even reached the semi-finals in 2011 when we lost to Heartland of Owerri.

“We have not done better than that since then but we have so much motivation especially after winning the Aiteo Cup ( Nigerian version of the FA Cup) for the first time and we believe we can do well in this year’s CAF Champions League.”

An energetic attacking midfielder, Ali was sanctioned in June and would miss the opening 12 matches of the impending domestic season for allegedly inciting the crowd against match officials during a Playoff match in Lagos.

“I’m not a controversial or stubborn player. I don’t like to lose matches; I love only to win and that is why I would want to do everything possible for my team to win.

Advertisement

“I have won three league titles with Kano Pillars and I’m really delighted with the Aiteo Cup win after we lost in the final last year.

“We will press for a win against Asante Kotoko in Kumasi and we can’t be talking of defending.

“We have players that can help us and I think Mohammed Gambo who scored the winning goal for us against Asante Kotoko in Kano would be our joker again in Kumasi.

“Matches like this is very difficult to predict. It’s going to be a tough match but we ( Kano Pillars) are hopeful of qualification to the next round,” added Rabiu who was named Pele for his velvet skills way back from his days at Kuka Primary School in Kano.

Meanwhile, the aggregate winner between Kano Pillars and Asante Kotoko would face either Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia or Hafia of Guinea in the CAF Champions League second round fixture.

Advertisement

Fixtures

Friday, 23 August 2019

  • Al Ahly (Egypt) vs Atlabara (South Sudan) (4-0)
  • KCCA (Uganda) vs African Stars (Namibia) (2-3)
  • Cote d’Or (Seychelles) vs Fomboni (Comoros) (2-2)

Saturday, 24 August 2019

  • Raja Athletic Club (Morocco) vs Brikama United (Gambia) (3-3)
  • El Merreikh (Sudan) vs JS Kabylie (Algeria) (0-1)
  • Zamalek (Egypt) vs Dekadaha (Somalia) (7-0)
  • Generation Foot (Senegal) vs LPRC Oilers (Liberia) (0-1)
  • Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) vs Hafia (Guinea) (1-2)
  • Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) vs AS Otoho (Congo) (1-2)
  • Zesco United (Zambia) vs Green Mamba (Eswatini) (2-0)
  • Township Rollers (Botswana) vs Young Africans (Tanzania) (1-1)
  • FC Platinum (Zimbabwe) vs Big Bullets (Malawi) (0-0)
  • Primeiro de Agosto (Angola) vs KMKM (Zanzibar) (2-0)
  • Orlando Pirates (South Africa) vs Green Eagles (Zambia) (0-1)

Sunday, 25 August 2019

  • *El Nasr (Libya) vs Tempete Mocaf (Central African Republic) (0-1)
  • Horoya (Guinea) vs Stade Malien (Mali) (1-1)
  • ASCK (Togo) vs Buffles (Benin) (1-1)
  • AS Vita (Cameroon) vs UMS de Loum (Cameroon) (0-0) 
  • El Hilal (Sudan) vs Rayon Sports (Rwanda) (1-1)
  • Enyimba (Nigeria) vs Rahimo (Burkina Faso) (0-1)
  • USM Alger (Algeria) vs SONIDEP (Niger) (2-1)
  • Gor Mahia (Kenya) vs Aigle Noir (Burundi) (0-0)
  • Mekelle (Ethiopia) vs Cano Sport (Equatorial Guinea) (1-2)
  • Asante Kotoko (Ghana) vs Kano Pillars (Nigeria) (2-3)
  • Petro Atletico (Angola) vs Matlama (Lesotho)(2-0)
  • Nouadhibou (Mauritania) vs SOA (Cote d’Ivoire) (0-0)
  • Elect Sport (Chad) vs CMS (Gabon) (0-0)
  • Simba (Tanzania) vs UD Songo (0-0)
  • Pamplemousses (Mauritius) vs Fosa Juniors (Madagascar (0-1)

*Match will be played in Cairo

-CAF

 

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Uncategorized

Israel facing potential UEFA suspension vote as political pressure mounts

blank

Published

on

blank

UEFA appears poised for an emergency vote on suspending Israel from European competition next week, with national federations scrambling to position themselves amid mounting political pressure following calls for action.

The brewing crisis intensified this week when United Nations experts called for Israel’s suspension from international football amid the unfolding genocide in occupied Palestinian territory.

A source confirmed that Europe’s soccer body could potentially decide next week to vote on whether to suspend Israel from European competition.

Should UEFA vote to ban Israel, it would put the organisation on a collision course with the government of the United States — co-hosts for the 2026 World Cup — which is vehemently against such a motion.

“We will absolutely work to fully stop any effort to attempt to ban Israel’s national soccer team from the World Cup,” a spokesperson for the U.S. state department told Sky News.

Advertisement

But even though UEFA has the power to suspend Israel or its clubs from their competitions, it may not be able to stop them from competing in World Cup qualifiers, which fall under the ambit of global soccer body FIFA.

The general secretaries of all UEFA national associations are meeting this week in Marbella, where Israel is not officially on the agenda, but officials expect UEFA to call an emergency vote next week.

FIFA did not respond to a Reuters request for comment while UEFA declined to comment.

Palestinian Football Association president Jibril Rajoub said Israelis should not be allowed to participate in any matches, whether they are under UEFA or FIFA.

“Israel has violated the principles, values and FIFA’s statutes. Therefore, I believe that Israel should be sanctioned,” Rajoub told TV2.

Advertisement

“The sanctions should come from UEFA and FIFA.”

WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

Israel’s national team are set to face Norway and Italy, the top two teams in their World Cup qualifying group, next month.

“We don’t have any indications that we are facing such an act (UEFA suspension),” a spokesperson for the Israel Football Association told Reuters.

“We are focusing on our international matches against Norway and Italy.”

Norwegian broadcaster NRK reported the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) is one of the member associations that have been the driving force behind calling for a meeting on the Israel situation. The NFF declined to comment.

Advertisement

Lise Klaveness, the president of the NFF and a member of the UEFA Executive Committee, has also been vocal about the crisis in Gaza ahead of her country’s home game against Israel on October 11.

“Neither we nor other organisations can remain indifferent to the humanitarian suffering and disproportionate attacks that the civilian population in Gaza has been subjected to for a long time,” Klaveness said in a statement last month.

“We want to donate the proceeds (from the game) to a humanitarian organisation that saves lives in Gaza every day and provides active emergency aid on the ground.”

The Dutch football federation (KNVB) said it knows nothing about a vote to suspend Israel.

“As soon as the football association receives a message about this, it will take a position,” the KNVB told Dutch outlet NOS.

Advertisement

Last week, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Israel should be banned from international sports competitions. However, officials from the Spanish FA (RFEF) have kept a low profile on the matter.

Israel maintains that its war is not against the population of Gaza but against the Hamas militant group whose fighters led the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies, and precipitated the war.

The subsequent war in Gaza has killed more than 65,000 people, according to local health officials.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Uncategorized

WAFU-B U17 Championship: Golden Eaglets rout Baby Cheetahs 4-1 in Yamoussoukro

blank

Published

on

blank
George Agha with his MVP award on Wednesday.

A hat-trick from George Agha and a sublime free-kick goal from David Edeh ensured a comfortable start for five-time world champions Nigeria in the WAFU-B U17 Championship, as the Golden Eaglets routed Baby Cheetahs of Benin Republic 4 -1 in Yamoussoukro on Wednesday.

Agha converted from the spot three minutes into the game after Boluwatife Thompson was hacked inside the box.

Edeh displayed fantastic football artistry to score from a free-kick in the 5th minute of the encounter.

The Eaglets were in cruise control as Agha bagged his brace in the 14th minute. The charges of Manu Garba were very dominant with a three-goal advantage.

Warris Soumanou in goal for Benin Republic was caught napping and his error of judgement gave the Eaglets another goal after a beautiful exchange of passes and dribbles between Thompson and Edeh, which set up Agha for his  hat-trick in the 32nd minute.

Advertisement

It was raining goals and it was the turn of the Beninoise in the 45th minute, as a low drive from Jeremy Zannou gave the Baby Cheetahs a consolation goal.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Continue Reading

Uncategorized

Last-gasp Salah penalty earns below-par Liverpool dramatic victory at Burnley

blank

Published

on

blank
Premier League - Burnley v Liverpool - Turf Moor, Burnley, Britain - September 14, 2025 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in action with Burnley's Hjalmar Ekdal REUTERS/Scott Heppell

Mohamed Salah’s dramatic stoppage-time penalty ensured Liverpool maintained their winning start to the Premier League season with a 1-0 victory at promoted side Burnley on Sunday.

With British record signing Alexander Isak forced to wait for his Liverpool debut having been left out the squad for the trip to Lancashire, the champions struggled to break down a dogged home side in the first half.

After a regroup at the break, the visitors upped the ante in the second half, with Dominik Szoboszlai finally forcing a fine save from Martin Dubravka in the Burnley goal.

Burnley were holding on for a well-earned point with ease, before the ball agonisingly struck substitute Hannibal Mejbri’s arm in the penalty area and Salah slotted the spot kick into the net in the 95th minute to break home hearts.

Liverpool are still to really get going this season, requiring a winner in the last 10 minutes of all four of their league victories so far. The goal that clinched an undeserved success at Turf Moor was certainly the most fortunate.

Advertisement

After one of the longest transfer sagas in Premier League history finally reached its expected conclusion, Liverpool supporters were forced to wait two weeks for their first glimpse of their 125-million-pound ($169.45-million) goal machine due to the international break.

While coach Arne Slot said this week that Isak would have to be utilised carefully due to his previous injuries and lack of action so far this season, the Swede was still expected to at least be on the bench at Turf Moor.

The wait goes on as, without their expensive new forward, Liverpool mustered just one shot on target in the first half, from left-back Andrew Robertson.

Burnley, who conceded the fewest goals in English football league history last term to earn them promotion, otherwise frustrated the champions with ease. Even Lesley Ugochukwu’s red card for two bookings in the 84th minute did not seem to fluster them.

Even without Isak, Liverpool still had much attacking talent on the Turf Moor pitch but they just could not find that killer pass.

Advertisement

Salah was especially below par but he made no mistake in the most pressurised moment after Hannibal had stuck up an arm to block Jeremie Frimpong’s cross

The champions’ impressive Premier League goalscoring streak stretches to 38 games nonetheless, their longest such run in the competition.

-Reuters

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Most Viewed