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Tag: World cup

  • U17 Women’s World Cup: Flamingos surrender to Germany after first half Miracle goal

    U17 Women’s World Cup: Flamingos surrender to Germany after first half Miracle goal

    European champions Germany on Tuesday beat Nigeria’s under-17 women’s national team 2-1 in their opening match at the 2022 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Goa, India.

    Team top goalscorer Opeyemi Ajakaye struck the woodwork in the 18th minute as the Flamingos started brightly, but defender Miracle Usani headed the rebound wide.

    However, Miracle entered the tournament’s books when she powered into the net a free-kick in the 30th minute to give Nigeria hope.

    Goalkeeper Faith Omilana came up with two great saves to preserve Nigeria’s lead as the Flamingos led 1-0 at the break.

    However, the well-drilled Germans scored twice in the second period to scoop all three points.

    Svea Stold equalised four minutes into the second half and Albert Mura added a second 12 minutes later.

    The Flamingos will be back on the turf of Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday to seek the three points against New Zealand.

    Nigeria are in Group B of the competition alongside Germany, Chile and New Zealand. Nigeria will take on Chile on Monday in their third and final group phase match.

    The 2022 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup which began on Tuesday in India will end on Oct. 30.

  • Qatar confirms COVID-19 test requirements for World Cup fan

    Qatar confirms COVID-19 test requirements for World Cup fan

    Fans attending the World Cup in Qatar must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test regardless of their vaccination status, organisers said in a statement on Thursday.

    All visitors aged six and above must present a negative result from a PCR test taken within 48 hours,  before their departure or from a rapid antigen test taken in the 24 hours before arriving.

    Results of the rapid antigen tests will only be accepted if they are from official medical centres and not self-administered.

    No further tests will be required in Qatar if visitors do not develop symptoms of COVID-19.

    Visitors aged 18 and above will also be required to download a government-run contact tracing phone application called Ehteraz.

    “A green Ehteraz status (showing the user does not have a confirmed case of COVID-19) is required to enter any public closed indoor spaces,” the statement added.

    Fans will have to wear masks on public transport but vaccination is not mandatory for the unprecedented influx of 1.2 million visitors expected for the Nov. 20-Dec. 18 tournament.

    “Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 while in Qatar will be required to isolate in accordance with Ministry of Public Health guidelines,” the statement said.

    Qatar has recorded more than 440,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 692 deaths from the virus, according to data from the Ministry of Public Health.

    The country has a population of 2.8 million, of which barely 380,000 are Qatari nationals. A total of 7,487,616 vaccine doses have been administered so far, the data states.

  • UEFA Nations League: England still winless, draw Germany 3-3

    UEFA Nations League: England still winless, draw Germany 3-3

    England came back from 2-0 down to draw Germany 3-3 on Monday night UEFA Nations League clash at Wembley stadium.

    The result meant England are still winless in their last six games in the UEFA Nations League.

    England captain, Harry Kane scored from 12 yards to give England their third goal as they fought back from 2-0 down to draw 3-3 with Hansi Flick’s side last night.

    Kane has  admitted that his team were under heavy scrutiny before their UEFA Nations League clash with Germany.

    He added that Gareth Southgate’s men had a ‘point to prove’ against Germany, having gone six games without a win.

    “The boys have been under pressure with recent results and we all came out here with a point to prove,” Kane told Channel 4.

    “We’re going to have to be ready come the start of the tournament. Major tournament football is different to any other football you play for England.

    “The pressure is high and the concentration has to be high and I feel like we respond well to that.”

    He added, “We will go away with our clubs and hopefully, everyone goes away fit, strong and ready to come back in November.”

  • FIFA warned over potential 2030 World Cup bid by Saudi Arabia

    FIFA warned over potential 2030 World Cup bid by Saudi Arabia

    Staging the 2030 men’s World Cup in Saudi Arabia would be “virtually impossible” if FIFA correctly applies its human rights criteria to any bid it makes, Amnesty International has said.

    The Middle Eastern country, which has been widely criticised for its human rights record, is reportedly interested in hosting the centenary finals alongside Egypt and Greece.

    There are reports that consideration is being given to a bid to host the finals, which would be in the winter like this year’s upcoming tournament in Qatar.

    It would be Saudi’s boldest move into the world of sports yet.

    This is following the country’s Public Investment Fund buying a controlling stake in Newcastle United last year and the staging of Formula One races and high-profile boxing bouts.

    Amnesty insists FIFA must rigorously apply human rights criteria when weighing up any possible bid involving Saudi Arabia.

    It said this will be in order to avoid the “mistake” made by the FIFA executive committee in 2010 in awarding the 2018 and 2022 finals to Russia and Qatar respectively.

    “After the purchase of Newcastle United, the staging of the Anthony Joshua fights and the hugely controversial LIV golf venture, it feels almost inevitable that Saudi Arabia will also seek to host the 2030 World Cup.

    ”This will be as a sort of crowning glory to its sportswashing operations,” Felix Jakens, Amnesty UK’s individuals at risk campaigns manager said in a statement released.

    “Under Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi sportswashing has gone into overdrive at the very time that human rights have deteriorated alarmingly.

    “If Saudi Arabia becomes an official bidder for the 2030 World Cup, FIFA should avoid the mistakes it made with Qatar and Russia.

    ”It should ensure there’s a rigorous assessment of human rights risks in awarding the tournament to Riyadh.

    “As things stand, it’s virtually impossible to see how FIFA can square Saudi Arabia’s appalling human rights with its own principles and responsibilities on human rights.”

    Neither FIFA nor Saudi Arabia have made any official comment regarding a bid to date.

    Spain and Portugal are interested in hosting the finals in eight years’ time.

    Also, Uruguay —- who hosted the inaugural finals in 1930 —- are set to bid alongside Argentina, Chile and Paraguay.

  • Road to the World Cup – The perennial festival of football fanfare

    Road to the World Cup – The perennial festival of football fanfare

    When the inaugural World Cup was hosted in Uruguay in 1930, football had become a keenly supported, highly competitive & glamorous sport that generated huge profits for it’s administrators at the time. FIFA, the world governing body for football had recorded some significant success in controlling the affairs of football for several years before deciding to run it’s global tournament & even though in the early days, it was difficult to have countries outside Europe & South America participate in World Cup, the game has since evolved to see more and more countries participate fully in the buildup to the World Cup.

    92 years & counting, 21 editions and ongoing, 17 host nations across 5 continents, 79 different national teams have played in the group stages of the Finals, 8 winners in-between all 21 previous editions; the FIFA World Cup is the singular most watched sporting event on earth with almost a billion persons watching the finals in Germany 2006 between France & Italy (Italy won that finals via penalty in a match that saw former 3x FIFA Player of the Year & French captain, Zinedine Zidane, pick up a red card for a cynical yet infamous head-butt foul on Marco Materazzi).

    Brazil are the only country to have played in every World Cup since 1930, 21 appearances in total so far; Brazil have also won the most World Cup finals (5 times) with Italy & Germany closely behind them on 4 World Cup trophies each. Uruguay, Argentina & current holders, France are on 2 trophies each with England (1966) & most recently, Spain (2010), on 1 World Cup win each.

    In terms of hosting per continent, Europe has hosted the World Cup more times than every other continent in the world combined at 11 editions, while Africa just recently hosted its only tournament with the 2010 edition held in South Africa. Korea/Japan 2002 was Asia’s first World Cup tournament which saw co-hosts, South Korea reaching the Semi-finals & almost breaking a jinx of being the first non-European or South-American nation to reach a World Cup final. Qatar 2022 would be the second edition of the FIFA World Cup hosted on Asian soil.

    The number of teams participating in the World Cup has changed over the years from the 13 teams that participated in the 1930 finals in Uruguay to the 16 team tournament in the subsequent 10 editions from 1934 till 1978 (except the 15 teams in France 1938 when Austria merged into Germany & the 13 teams in the Brazil 1950 tournament because India, Turkey & Scotland withdrew from the tournament). From Spain 1982 till USA 1994 there were 24 teams playing in the World Cup group stages & it was upgraded to the current 32 team tournament from France 1998 till date.

    In January 2017, FIFA confirmed that by the 2026 World Cup in USA, Canada & Mexico it will increase the number of teams playing in the World Cup to 48 teams to allow for more slots for CAF, AFC, OFC, CONMEBOL & CONCACAF nations to participate in the tournament. Though the slot allocation is yet to be announced, it’s confirmed that there would be 16 groups in the tournament & we can expect to see as many more matches played in the time frame of the tournament in 2026.

    Just Fontaine holds the record for the most goals scored in a single World Cup, scoring 13 goals in the 1958 World Cup alone. Miroslav Klose holds the record for the most number of World Cup goals, 16 goals scored across four World Cups (2002 – 2014). Mexico’s Rafael Marquez holds the record for being the only player to have featured in 5 World Cups as a captain. Brazil holds the record of featuring in every World Cup from 1930 till date. Germany & Brazil are tied on the record of most matches played in the World Cup (109 games played each). The Germans have featured in 8 final games, 13 semi-finals & 16 quarter-finals. Brazil have won the most games at the World Cup (73) & scored the most goals (229) in their 21 edition appearances, last reaching the finals in 2002 (vs Germany) & the semi-finals in 2014 on home soil (a humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany enroute to their infamous win in 2014).

    No African, North/South American, Oceania or Asian nation has ever placed in the top 3 at the World Cup with South Korea coming closest in 2002 when they lost to Turkey in the Third Place Match and placed 4th overall in the standings at the first ever Asian hosted World Cup. by thedavidadesina

  • Angola dent D’Tigers’ 2023 FIBA World Cup hopes

    Angola dent D’Tigers’ 2023 FIBA World Cup hopes

    Nigeria’s senior male national basketball team, D’Tigers, on Sunday in Abidjan suffered a 67-70 loss to Angola in a 2023 FIBA World Cup qualifier.

    Tthe match played at the Palais des Sports Treichville saw D’Tigers having a sluggish start to the game.

    The Nigerian team lost the first quarter 16-18 but bounced back to take the second quarter 13-9.

    The Angolans came out stronger in the third quarter with some neat steals and fast breaks to end the quarter 23-16.

    The less clinical D’Tigers fought back to take the fourth quarter 22-20, but the Angolans held on for a 70-67 win.

    D’Tigers had started their campaign in the fourth window of the qualification series in Abidjan with a loss to hosts Côte d’Ivoire.

    They bounced back with a convincing 89-70 blowout win against Guinea, to set up an anticipated final tense game with perennial foes Angola.

    The qualifiers which started in November 2021 will end in February 2023 with the last window.

    D’Tigers are vying to pick one of the five slots for African teams at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

    The 2023 FIBA World Cup scheduled for Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines will hold from Aug. 25 to Sept. 10.

    NAN

  • World Cup qualifier: D’Tigers cage Guinea 89-70

    World Cup qualifier: D’Tigers cage Guinea 89-70

    Nigeria’s national men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, on Saturday in Abidjan defeated Guinea 89-70 in their second match of the FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers.

    The match played at the 3,500-capacity Palais des Sports Treichville saw D’Tigers bounce back after losing to Cote D’Ivoire in the opening fixture.

    The Nigerian team started brightly, racing to a 24-15 points lead in the first quarter, the second quarter was a tie 20-20 but D’Tigers took a nine-point lead to the halftime break.

    However, the third quarter proved decisive for the D’Tigers as they blew their opponents away 32-15 to establish a solid lead going into the last quarter.

    Guinea took the fourth quarter 20-13 but it was too little, too late as D’Tigers ran away with a 89-70 win.

    Top performers for D’Tigers include: Amanze Egekeze (14 points), Metu (12 points) and Uche Iroegbu (11 points).

    The Nigerian team will wrap up their window 4 of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers with a game against Angola on Sunday.

    D’Tigers are vying to pick one of the five slots for African teams at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

    The 2023 FIBA World Cup in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines will hold from Aug. 25 to Sept. 10.

  • We want more Nigerian workers in our country – Qatar

    We want more Nigerian workers in our country – Qatar

    The State of Qatar has expressed its willingness to have more Nigerians in its labour force.

    Mr Ahmad AL-Horr, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Qatar in Nigeria, said this when he visited the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige on Friday in Abuja.

    According to AL-Horr, the Government of Qatar needs the collaboration with the Nigerian Government on migration of workers owing to the limited number of Nigerians working in the country

    He said that his country cared about workers protection for engineers, doctors and indeed all other professions.

    “We are processing the bilateral agreement between the Government of Nigeria and the Government of Qatar on the Regulation of Employment of Nigerian migrant workers in the State of Qatar.

    “We need the relationship with the labour ministry because the number of Nigerian workers in Qatar is limited. We want more Nigerian workers in our country,’’he said.

    AL-Horr added that Qatar was ready to host the FIFA World Cup, the biggest football tournament in the world, starting from Nov. 20 and ending on Dec. 18, which is the country’s national day.

    He also said that Qatar was looking forward to welcoming the minister at the World Cup.

    Responding , Ngige said that his ministry was looking forward towards formalising the bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Qatar on labour migration.

    Ngige blamed the alarming rate of unemployment in Africa on high number of young people between the ages of 17 and 35, who constitute 60 per cent of the population.

    According to him, in Nigeria, the youth constitute about 60 percent of the population,with unemployment ratio of about 34 per cent.

    “If you include underemployment, you will be talking about close to 40 percent, which is also very alarming.

    “That is why we are looking forward as a country towards formalising labour migration agreement with you.

    “Your country has been identified as one of the destinations for people who are looking for work.

    ” You have even reiterated here that the Nigerian component of foreign workers in your place is limited, ’’he said.

    The minister added Nigerian overnment is very interested in the agreement to provide opportunities for Nigerians in the Gulf country.

    He gave the assurance that the ministry would work assiduously to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari would sign the agreements during his planned state visit to Qatar.

    “We need Nigerians to work in your place. We also appeal to you to find a way of formalising the stay of Nigerians who are living and working in your place illegally,’’he said.

    Ngige also expressed hope that Nigerians would work well in Qatar as both countries are oil and gas producing countries.

    He added that a lot of Nigerians, trained in oil and gas, would be assets to Qatar if allowed to work in the country.

    Also present at the meeting were Mrs Matilda Mmegwa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation and some directors in the ministry.

  • FIFA releases World Cup sound track two on streaming Platforms

    FIFA releases World Cup sound track two on streaming Platforms

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has released the second track of the 2022 World Cup.

    The World Cup track will be released across all music streaming platforms from August 26, 2022. The single,

    ‘Arhbo’, features Congolese-French rapper Gims and Latin Grammy-winning Puerto Rican artist Ozuna. It is currently available only on the official YouTube channel of FIFA.

    Gandhi Bilel Djuna, better known by his stage name Maître Gims and more recently just Gims grew up in France and currently lives in France and Morocco.

    He has topped the French singles charts four times. Juan Carlos Ozuna Rosado, known simply by his surname Ozuna, is a Puerto Rican/Dominican singer and rapper.

    All five of his studio albums have topped the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart.

    Recall that FIFA released the second  ‘Hayya Hayya (Better Together)’, featuring Trinidad Cardona, Davido, and Aisha was released in April.

    The two soundtracks will be used throughout the FIFA World Cup slated to start on the 20th of  November in the Asian country of Qatar.

  • Qatar 2022: Deschamps confident Pogba will make World Cup

    Qatar 2022: Deschamps confident Pogba will make World Cup

    Didier Deschamps remains confident Paul Pogba will be fit to play for France at the World Cup in spite of missing the start of the season through injury.

    Pogba sustained a knee problem in pre-season after returning to Juventus from Manchester United on a free transfer.

    There were early suggestions surgery could see the World Cup winner miss Qatar 2022, but he has opted instead for therapy that aims to ensure a far swifter return.

    Pogba is set to again be paired with N’Golo Kante in the France midfield in November, although the Chelsea man has not been without his own injury issues in recent seasons.

    “We’re talking about players who are in high demand – two players who have a big experience, leaders,” Deschamps told Le Parisien of the duo.

    “It is important that they are there, but we are never safe – hence the need to prepare younger players.

    “I am obviously in contact with Paul. His participation in the World Cup, today, is not questioned.”

    Antoine Griezmann is another player still seen as key to Deschamps’ plans, despite scoring only three goals in LaLiga last season.

    “He’s not a robot. Obviously the head controls the legs,” Deschamps explained. “But every player encounters, sooner or later, a period of playing less well.

    “This translates, then, into a loss of confidence.

    “Antoine has had high-intensity seasons. Before his physical issue at the beginning of the year [a thigh injury], he had always been spared from injuries during his career.

    “A few months earlier, he had changed clubs. External elements may also have impacted it.

    “I know him well. He has a big mind. He needed to regenerate and will do everything to return to his best level. He represents a plus for the France team.”

    For now the focus is on getting France in the best condition heading into the World Cup, even as former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane continues to be linked to Deschamps’ job.

    The France boss, for his part, is not worried, saying: “I’ve always put the France team above me, above everything.

    “Today, the place is not free, since I occupy it with my staff. Afterwards, everyone has the freedom to say what he wants and how he wants. On me, it has no impact.

    “The interest, today, for the players and the whole squad, is to be efficient at the World Cup. Anything that can defeat this common goal is not necessarily a good thing.”