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Tag: World cup

  • Tinubu likens INEC’s Certificate of Return to World Cup

    Tinubu likens INEC’s Certificate of Return to World Cup

    Nigeria’s President-elect, Bola  Ahmed Tinubu, has likened the Certificate of Return given to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to a ‘ World Cup’ trophy.

    The former Lagos Governor, made the remark when he paid a courtesy visit to the palace of the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akinolu on Sunday in Lagos.

    Tinubu, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was announced winner of the February 25 presidential election.

    Speaking at the palace, Tinubu said: “The journey that we embarked upon, we have returned home with a certificate.

    “It is like our own World Cup and I thank you all for the effort.”

    Tinubu returned to Lagos on Sunday from his temporary base in Abuja to enable him attend some functions and apparently in preparation for March 11 gubernatorial and National Assembly election in the country.

  • Tributes pour as record World Cup scorer Fontaine dies

    Tributes pour as record World Cup scorer Fontaine dies

    Former French football great Just Fontaine, who in 1958 scored a record 13 goals in a single edition of the World Cup, has died, triggering an outpouring of tributes on Wednesday.

    Fontaine, 89, netted 30 goals from 21 caps for France between 1953 and 1960.

    In 1958, he was instrumental in Les Bleus reaching the semi-finals in Sweden.

    A prolific striker with 259 goals from 283 matches in his club career, Fontaine was one of the key players of the great Stade de Reims team.

    The team reached the European Cup final in 1959.

    Reims, who won three French top-flight titles with Fontaine, lost 0-2 to Real Madrid but ‘Justo’ ended up as the competition’s top goalscorer with 10 goals.

    “A star of French football, an outstanding striker, a legendary Reims player… To his family… Stade de Reims send their most sincere condolences,” Reims wrote on Twitter.

    “A thought for Just Fontaine,” French champions Paris St-Germain (PSG) wrote on Twitter.

    As a coach, Fontaine helped PSG gain promotion to the first division in 1974.

    France head coach Didier Deschamps said: “I am saddened by the death of Just Fontaine, as I am sure all those who love football and our national team will be.

    “As a player and then as a coach, I was lucky enough to meet him on several occasions, notably at his home in Toulouse in September 2017.

    “Justo was a very kind man, very respectful of the generations that succeeded him at Les Bleus.

    “His attachment to the French team was strong and sincere. I send a friendly and moving thought to his family, his relatives and all our great elders today in sorrow.”

  • Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay submit joint 2030 FIFA World Cup bid

    Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay submit joint 2030 FIFA World Cup bid

    Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay officially submitted a joint bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday.

    While doing so, the four South American countries called for the tournament to return “where football was born”, 100 years after the first World Cup was held in Montevideo.

    During a ceremony in Buenos Aires at the Argentine Football Association (AFA) headquarters, officials of the four countries were joined by Alejandro Dominguez, president of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL).

    Dominguez said he was hopeful FIFA could show a “gesture of greatness” towards the region and allow it to organise the tournament.

    “The 2030 World Cup is not just another World Cup, it deserves a celebration with recognition for 100 years,” he said.

    “We are convinced that FIFA has an obligation to honour the memory of those who came before us and believed in greatness and made the first World Cup.”

    AFA president Claudio Tapia added: “As world champions, we carry out this launch which is the dream of all South Americans. Not only on the centenary of the first edition, but because of the passion with which we live football.”

    Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez made a statement on his official Twitter account saying that Bolivia would be asked to join “this dream”.

    After the first edition in Uruguay, Argentina hosted the World Cup in 1978 and Chile in 1962, while Paraguay has never hosted the sport’s biggest competition.

    The South American bid will compete with Spain-Portugal, who have signed a joint bid agreement, plus possible 2030 bids from Morocco and Saudi Arabia.

  • Why it would be difficult for me to play 2026 World Cup – Messi

    Why it would be difficult for me to play 2026 World Cup – Messi

    Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) talisman and Argentina captain, Lionel Messi has opened up on why it would be difficult for him to participate in the 2026 World Cup.

    Messi did not rule out playing at the 2026 World Cup but admits that age will make it difficult for him to compete in the tournament.

    Recall the 35-year-old had said the 2022 tournament in Qatar, which he won, would be his last.

    “Because of age, it’ll be difficult to make it in 2026. I love playing football and while I feel like I’m in good shape and enjoying this, I’m going to keep at it.

    “It seems like a long time until the next World Cup, but it depends on how my career is going,” Messi told Argentine publication Diario Olé.

  • Flamingos to be honoured as Leadership’s Sportsperson of the Year

    Flamingos to be honoured as Leadership’s Sportsperson of the Year

    World Cup bronze medallists, Flamingos have been named the Sportsperson of the Year 2022 by Leadership Newspapers Group Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading media companies.

    The honour will be bestowed on Nigeria’s U17 girls at the 2022 Leadership Annual Conference and Awards scheduled for the Abuja International Conference Centre on Tuesday, 31st January 2023.

    In its notice of the Flamingos’ selection after a diligent process by the Awards’ Nomination and Selection Committee, the newspaper company wrote: “Amid several nominees with excellent credentials, you have been selected for this prestigious award for winning Nigeria’s first-ever medal at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, the second African team to achieve the feat after Ghana in 2012…the selection board found the team most qualified as the LEADERSHIP Sportsperson of the Year 2022.”

    It can be recalled that the Flamingos arrived in India for last year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup having chalked up 15 goals in six African qualification matches, and having played in all previous editions of the tournament bar the 2018 finals in Uruguay.

    In India, the Flamingos lost narrowly 1-2 to Germany in their opening match, before hammering New Zealand 4-0 and edging Chile 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals. In the quarter-finals, they defeated USA 4-3 on penalties after both teams ended regulation and extra time 1-1.

    In the semi finals, Colombia proved too tough on penalties after a 0-0 draw following regulation and extra time, and in the third-place match, the Nigerian girls outclassed Germany 3-2 on penalties following a 3-3 draw. Incidentally, Germany were Ghana’s victims when Nigeria’s fierce West African rivals won Africa’s first medal (bronze) in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan in 2012.

  • Al Nassr FC deny reports Ronaldo offered incentive to support World Cup bid

    Al Nassr FC deny reports Ronaldo offered incentive to support World Cup bid

    Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr contract does not include any commitment to promote a 2030 World Cup bid, the Saudi Arabian club stated on Tuesday.

    “Al Nassr FC would like to clarify that contrary to news reports, Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract with Al Nassr does not entail commitments to any World Cup bids,” a statement read.

    “His main focus is on Al Nassr and to work with his team-mates to help the club achieve success.”

    The Portugal forward joined Al Nassr on Dec. 30 after his departure from Manchester United FC, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract reportedly worth around €200 million ($215 million) per year.

    Reports suggested Ronaldo’s agreement included an additional bonus to act as an ambassador for Saudi Arabia’s World Cup bid, with the Middle East aiming to host another tournament after Qatar 2022.

    Al Nassr strongly denied claims Ronaldo had been offered a financial incentive to secure FIFA’s top tournament, with Spain, Ukraine and his home country Portugal among the others to make a joint bid to host.

    Ronaldo is yet to make his debut for Al Nassr after missing Friday’s clash with Al Tai as he served the first part of a two-match ban from the English Football Association.

  • Qatar 2022: Van Dijk reveals his experience after Argentina defeat

    Qatar 2022: Van Dijk reveals his experience after Argentina defeat

    Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has shared his experience after Netherlands’ elimination from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

    Van Dijk scored for Liverpool in a win at Aston Villa with his first appearance back after his country’s defeat to Argentina on the world stage.

    Van Dijk told Viaplay: “It was time to score again. It was important to come back this way.”

    The Dutchman was asked about his missed penalty in the quarterfinal defeat to Argentina.

    “Of course I have now forgotten the penalty kick, because life continues. In this case it took two days before I lost it. I was unable to sleep after the game. That makes sense, because you are very close after a 2-0 deficit.

    “Unfortunately you miss the penalty and you are floored. That was very heavy that night and the night after.”

  • Gattuso on Morocco star: I saw a player like me at World Cup

    Gattuso on Morocco star: I saw a player like me at World Cup

    AC Milan legend Rino Gattuso has sung praises of Morocco World Cup star Sofyan Amrabat.

    The Valencia coach admits he was left excited by the Fiorentina midfielder’s impact in Qatar.

    Gattuso told AS: “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a player like me, but I saw him at the World Cup: Amrabat. He moved me a lot, he looked like me when I was playing at 27. Life was so much better when I was playing, as a manager you just don’t have that.

    “I have to thank my wife, I don’t know how she is still with me, but somehow I have to change, because you can’t spend 18 or 19 hours thinking about football.”

    Of his playing days, Gattuso said: “I ran a lot and tactically I was very strong but surely in modern football I would be missing something. I had character, but the way I like to play, having character is not enough. Now I see football in a totally different way compared to when I was playing.

    “If you look at the Milan or Napoli games when I was there, we didn’t press in attack. It’s the first year I’ve done that in Valencia.”

  • Lionel Messi receives $1m offer for Arabic bisht

    Lionel Messi receives $1m offer for Arabic bisht

    A $1m offer has been made to Argentina captain Lionel Messi for the Arabic bisht he wore when lifting the World Cup.

    Ahmed Al Barwani is a lawyer and a member of Oman’s parliament and made the proposal on social media.

    He posted: “From the Sultanate of Oman I congratulate you for winning the World Cup Qatar 2022. The Arabic bisht, a symbol of chivalry and wisdom. I’m offering you a million dollars (£829,000) in return for that bisht. I was at the stadium watching that moment live when the Emir of Qatar gave Messi the bisht.

    “This moment told the world that we are here, and this is our culture, please know it well. It will be displayed to commemorate that moment of pride, and to help us relive it, and to also remind us that we can (do anything). This tournament was a source of pride and has highlighted important facts about how we didn’t forget about Palestine and that Arabs are one and united.”

    But Messi is unlikely to sell, he understands how massive this honor was to a foreigner and a person with no Arab cultural background. The more likely place where this Bisht will sit is the Leo Messi museum in his native town of Rosario.

  • Richarlison wonder goal voted best of Qatar 2022 [See list]

    Richarlison wonder goal voted best of Qatar 2022 [See list]

    Tottenham striker Richarlison’s wonder goal for Brazil against Serbia has been named the best of this year’s World Cup.

    Richarlison produced an acrobatic scissor kick in Brazil’s opening group win against the Serbs.

    He scored three goals in Qatar, with Brazil being sent out of Croatia in the quarterfinals.

    Other nominees were:

    –Salem Al-Dawsari, Saudi Arabia v Argentina

    –Cody Gakpo, Netherlands v Ecuador

    –Enzo Fernandez, Argentina v Mexico

    –Vincent Aboubakar, Cameroon v Serbia

    –Luis Chavez, Mexico v Saudi Arabia

    –Kylian Mbappé, France v Poland

    –Richarlison, Brazil v South Korea

    -Paik Seung-Ho, South Korea v Brazil

    –Neymar, Brazil v Croatia