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TOTTENHAM EUROPA LEAGUE CAMPAIGN BEGINS IN BULGARIA
Tottenham Hotspur will face a trip to Bulgaria in the Europa League second qualifying round in September after being paired with Lokomotiv Plovdiv in Monday’s draw.
The tie will be played on Thursday, 17 September, five days after Jose Mourinho’s side kick off their Premier League campaign at home to Everton. They are due to play away at Southampton on Sunday, 20 September.
Lokomotiv qualified for the Europa League by winning the Bulgarian Cup for the second year running. Spurs qualified by coming sixth in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers have been handed a glamour tie at home to seven-time former European champions AC Milan in Dublin.
Steven Gerrard’s Rangers have been drawn away at Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar, the minnows who beat Celtic 1-0 at home in a Champions League qualifier in 2016 before losing the return in Glasgow.
After being knocked out of this season’s Champions League at home by Ferencvaros in the second qualifying round last week, Celtic will enter the Europa League in the third qualifying round, the draw for which takes place today.
Complications caused by the coronavirus pandemic mean that all qualifying ties are being played as one-off matches at the home of the first team drawn from the hat, rather than over two legs.
All European ties are going ahead behind closed doors.
The delayed 2019-20 Europa League was only completed on 21 August, with Sevilla beating Inter Milan in the final behind closed doors in Cologne to win the trophy for the sixth time in 15 years.
In a separate draw, KF Tirana of Albania and Ludogorets of Bulgaria were given byes into the play-off round
Ties to be played on September 17 with winners advancing to third qualifying round
Ties will be played as one-off straight knockout matches, rather than over two legs, because of the complications caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The first-named clubs are at home.
UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND DRAW:
- Hammarby (SWE) v Lech Poznan (POL)
- Maccabi Haifa (ISR) or FK Zeljeznicar (BIH) v Kairat Almaty (KAZ)
- B36 Torshavn (FRO) v The New Saints (WAL)
- TSC Backa Topola (SRB) v FCSB (ROU)
- Progres Niederkorn (LUX) v Willem II (NED)
- Sfintul Gheorghe Suruceni (MDA) v Partizan Belgrade (SRB)
- Lokomotiv Plovdiv (BUL) v Tottenham Hotspur (ENG)
- Budapest Honved (HUN) v Malmo (SWE)
- Lincoln Red Imps (GIB) v Rangers (SCO)
- KF Renova (MKD) v Hajduk Split (CRO)
- Dunajska Streda (SVK) v Jablonec (CZE)
- Shamrock Rovers (IRL) v AC Milan (ITA)
- Kaysar Kyzylorda (KAZ) v APOEL (CYP)
- Lokomotiv Tbilisi (GEO) v Dynamo Moscow (RUS)
- Coleraine (NIR) v Motherwell (SCO)
- KF Teuta (ALB) v Granada (ESP)
- Viking Stavanger (NOR) v Aberdeen (SCO)
- CSKA Sofia (BUL) v BATE Borisov (BLR)
- KF Laci (ALB) v Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR)
- FK Ventspils (LAT) v Rosenborg (NOR)
- Servette (SUI) v Reims (FRA)
- Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO) v HSK Zrinjski (BIH)
- Piast Gliwice (POL) v Prolactal Hartberg (AUT)
- Hibernians (MLT) v Fehervar (HUN)
- Nomme Kalju (EST) or NS Mura (SLO) v AGF Aarhus (DEN)
- Neftci PFK (AZE) v Galatasaray (TUR)
- IFK Gothenburg (SWE) v FC Copenhagen (DEN)
- OFI Crete (GRE) v Apollon Limassol (CYP)
- Bala Town (WAL) v Standard Liege (BEL)
- FC Botosani (ROU) v KF Shkendija (MKD)
- Aris Thessaloniki (GRE) v Kolos Kovalivka (UKR)
- FK Riteriai (LTU) v Slovan Liberec (CZE)
- Borac Banja Luka (BIH) v Rio Ave (POR)
- FK Kukesi (ALB) v VfL Wolfsburg (GER)
- NK Osijek (CRO) v FC Basel (SUI)
- Bodo/Glimt (NOR) v Zalgiris Vilnius (LTU)
- Inter Club d’Escaldes (AND) v Dundalk (IRL)
- KuPS Kuopio (FIN) v Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
- Linfield (NIR) v Floriana (MLT)
- Riga FC (LAT) v SS Tre Fiori (SMR)
- Djurgardens (SWE) v Europa FC (GIB)
- Flora Tallinn (EST) v KR Reykjavik (ISL)
- FK Sileks (MKD) v KF Drita (KOS)
- FC Astana (KAZ) v FK Buducnost Podgorica (MNE)
- Ararat-Armenia (ARM) v CS Fola Esch (LUX)
- Connah’s Quay Nomads (WAL) v Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO)
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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