International Football
JAY JAY OKOCHA’S NEPHEW, IWOBI TAKES NIGERIA TO RUSSIA 2018
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Nigeria on Saturday became the first African team to qualify for the Russia 2018 World Cup after an energy sapping 1-0 defeat of brave Zambian side that put up stiff resistance.
Before a capacity crowd at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, millions of Nigerian football followers have Alexander Iwobi, the 21 year old nephew of Austin Jay Jay Okocha to thank.
He came off the bench midway the second half and instantly made impact as blasted home the clincher in the 73rd minute after an interchange of passes from Victor Moses and Abdullahi Shehu.
Incidentally, he scored the opening goal in the 2-1 win that the Super Eagles had recorded a year ago against Zambia in Ndola. Game appeared going even with both sides until Iwobi came in to replace Simon Moses.
Before then, the Super Eagles had been put on edge as chances after chances were being lost owing to anxiety and the tension created by the high stakes. The fluidity that had characterised previous encounters with Algeria and Cameroon were glaringly absent as the Zambians punctuated virtually every tricky interchange of passes.
Point man, Odion Igalo did not really get the spaces he deserved to optimise his game as he was often crowded by the rampaging Zambians.
The adventurous postures of the Zambians also added to the frustration that enveloped the arena. Coach Gernot Rohr had begun with the same line-up against Cameroon.
Nigeria scales through having attained an unassailable 13 points even with a match to go with bottom stuck Algeria which has lost every match apart from the opening day duel with Cameroon which ended 1-1.
The Super Eagles are six clear points ahead of second placed Zambia while Cameroon which also beat Algeria 2-0 occupies the third position on six points, just one behind Zambia’s.
Nigeria’s next match will be next month against Algeria in North Africa – a match which is just to fulfil the fixtures. Zambia will be hosting Cameroon in an inconsequential encounter in Lusaka.
In qualifying on Saturday, Nigeria became the first African side to do so.
The African Group B from where Nigeria qualified was seen by many as the toughest group.
But Nigeria was dominant, remaining unbeaten throughout and only dropping points thanks to a Cameroonian penalty on the road in Yaoundé.
The 4-0 win a few days earlier against the reigning African champions was a particular highlight. In beating Zambia on Saturday, Nigeria have extended their unbeaten streak in the World Cup to 34 matches.
International Football
BREAKING – Video: Osimhen accepts to join Galatasaray
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/osimhen-jubilates.jpg)
At last, Nigeria’s striker Victor Osimhen is out of the limbo. He has accepted to join Galatasaray on loan.
He is now asking for a release clause at Napoli to become €75m instead of €130m
He also wants a break clause for January in case top clubs approach him over move.
The final points are being discussed. He has been videoed celebrating with the Turkey club’s fans.
International Football
Uruguay striker Suarez to play last international match on Friday
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Uruguay striker Luis Suarez announced his international retirement on Monday, ending a 17-year career with his national team as their top scorer with 69 goals.
The 37-year-old, who has 142 caps for his country, made his international debut in 2007 and was key in the squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup and won the Copa America a year later.
“Friday will be my last match with my country’s national team,” an emotional Suarez told a press conference.
“The fact that is my decision to retire and that I’m not retired because of injuries or that they stop calling me for one thing or another, that gives me a lot of comfort, it helps me individually.
“It’s difficult but it gives me peace of mind that until the last game I have given my all, and that flame has not been extinguished little by little,” the striker added.
Uruguay take on Paraguay at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo on Friday in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup before facing Venezuela four days later.
Suarez scored the stoppage-time goal against Canada that secured third place at the Copa America in July and the striker added that one of his aims was to show he could continue to contribute to the national team.
“My dream was for my children to see me win something important with the national team … that last goal was very nice for them and even though it wasn’t a trophy to take home, it was very nice for them,” he said.
“I wanted to show people again that I can continue to contribute to the national team and, well, I had the Copa America and yes, I could have done it (retired) perfectly after that, but having analysed the situation, I want to do it with my people, in my stadium.
“I want my children to live this experience. Saying goodbye with the people here is something that I don’t know if many have done.”
Suarez has already said Inter Miami will be his last club after joining the Major League Soccer side last year to reunite with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
-Reuters
International Football
Quitting Portugal never crossed my mind, says Ronaldo
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Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo dismissed suggestions he had considered ending his international career in the near future, adding that post-Euro criticism did not worry him.
Portugal host Croatia in their Nations League opener on Thursday before welcoming Scotland in League A Group One on Sunday.
“That’s all from the press. It never crossed my mind that my cycle (with Portugal) had come to an end. Quite the opposite: it gave me even more motivation to continue to be honest,” Ronaldo told a press conference on Monday.
“The motivation is to come to the national team to win the Nations League … We’ve already won it once and we want to do it again. I might say the same thing over and over again, but I don’t think long term, it’s always short term.”
Ronaldo captained Portugal to success in the opening edition of the Nations League in 2018-19, three years after they became European Champions for the first time in France.
“Until the end of my career, I will always have the mindset that I will be a starter,” Ronaldo added.
“What I feel at the moment, and the coach’s (Roberto Martinez) words also demonstrate this, is that I continue to be an asset to the national team and I will be the first (to admit it) if that isn’t the case.
“When I’m (no longer) an asset I will be the first to leave. But I will go with a clear conscience, as always, because I know who I am, what I can do, what I do and what I will continue to do.”
The 39-year-old appeared untroubled by criticism he faced for failing to score at the 2024 European Championship.
“Criticism is great because if it doesn’t exist there’s no progress. It’s always been like this. Is it going to change now? It won’t,” Ronaldo said.
“So I try to follow my path, be as professional as possible, help in the best way possible with my professionalism and not just with goals, assists, discipline, and example, because football is much more than just playing well or scoring a goal.
“The people who give their opinions have never been in a locker room, and I often laugh because it’s the same thing as me talking about Formula 1.
“How can I give my opinion on Formula 1 if I don’t know anything about tires, rims or the weight of the car … It’s normal and that’s why for me criticism is good and part of it, it’s no problem at all.”
-Reuters
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