Author: Nurudeen Obalola
Barcelona were eliminated 7-6 on aggregate by Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League semi-final, in an encounter that will live long in the memory. For the Blaugrana though, the bitter feeling extended beyond just their elimination and towards the officials. After the match, referee Szymon Marciniak’s performance was under heavy scrutiny, with several big calls going Inter’s way. The context behind Barcelona’s frustration with the Polish official is that Marciniak was also in charge during a crucial draw at the Giuseppe Meazza two years ago, missing a clear handball from Denzel Dumfries in the penalty box. “This isn’t the first…
Inter Milan produced a dramatic late fightback at San Siro on Tuesday night to defeat Barcelona 4-3 on the night and 7-6 on aggregate in a thrilling, all-time classic UEFA Champions League semi-final clash. With just two minutes of added time left, Inter trailed 3-2 on the night and were heading out when 37-year-old centre-back Francesco Acerbi smashed a cross into the roof of the net to level the tie. And substitute Davide Frattesi won it for the Italian champions, curling a beautiful left-footed shot into the bottom corner in the first period of extra-time. It means a second Champions…
Tanzania coach Boniface Mkwasa has voiced his concerns about Sierra Leone players at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, suggesting that some of the squad members may be older than the age limit for the tournament. The Tanzanian team had just lost to Sierra Leone 1-0 in Ismailia, and the West Africans, making their debut in the tournament, became the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals. “These are local players, most of them are playing the second division or the first division,” Mkwasa said during his post-match interview. “Even this team, Sierra Leone, if you see them,…
Manchester United have begun negotiations with the entourage of Victor Osimhen, Foot Mercato has reported. The 26-year-old Super Eagles star is currently on a season-long loan spell with Galatasaray from Napoli and has been in brilliant form all through the campaign. Osimhen has scored 33 goals and made eight assists in 37 games in all competitions as Galatasaray are on course for the Turkish Super Lig and Cup double. The Nigeria international is not expected to be at Napoli next season and has been linked with several clubs, including Manchester United. Foot Mercato claimed on Tuesday that Osimhen is keen on joining the…
Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby each scored 29 points as the visiting New York Knicks earned a 108-105 overtime victory against the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference semi-finals on Monday night. The Knicks overcame a 20-point deficit in the third quarter and sealed the win when Mikal Bridges stole the ball from Jaylen Brown after Boston inbounded the ball with three seconds to play. “This team has fought all year, and been a pretty good road team,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “It’s one game. There’s a lot of emotional highs and lows in the…
Trent Alexander-Arnold has ended months of speculation and confirmed that he will leave English Premier League champions Liverpool at the end of the season. The 26-year-old England right-back, who has been at the club since he was six years old, is out of contract on June 30 and is expected to join Real Madrid as a free agent. “After 20 years at Liverpool Football Club, now is the time for me to confirm that I will be leaving at the end of the season,” Alexander-Arnold announced on social media on Monday. “This is easily the hardest decision I’ve ever made…
The Flying Eagles of Nigeria and Morocco played out a boring 0-0 draw in their second group match of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo on Sunday. Midfielder Divine Oliseh’s effort in the first half was the only notable chance created by the Flying Eagles in the drab affair as they earned a point. The seven-time champions are up against against Kenya on Wednesday with a quarter-final spot at stake. The draw took both Nigeria and Morocco up to four points, but the North Africans are in the first position as a result of having scored more goals…
Chelsea strengthened their quest for a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League with a 3-1 victory over newly crowned English Premier League champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Liverpool head coach Arne Slot made six changes from the side that beat Tottenham Hotspur to clinch the title at Anfield, resulting in a display lacking some of their traditional intensity until it was too late. After giving Liverpool the traditional champions’ guard of honour before kick-off, Chelsea went on to secure a crucial win that moves Enzo Maresca’s side level on points with fourth-placed Newcastle United — who they…
Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman scored his first Serie A goal since early March and set a new personal mark as Atalanta defeated Monza 4-0 on Sunday. The Nigeria international, who went six matches without scoring, struck Atalanta’s third goal in the away win, taking his tally this season to 14 goals in the Italian top flight, the most he has ever scored in a league campaign. Mateo Retegui set up the 47th minute goal, the Italy striker flicking on a long ball for Lookman to skip past Stefan Lekovic and beat the goalkeeper at the near post as Atalanta…
Aaron Gordon scored 22 points, Christian Braun had 21 and the host Denver Nuggets used a big third quarter to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 120-101 in Game 7 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series on Saturday night. Denver advances to face the top-seeded Thunder in the conference semifinals. Game 1 is Monday night in Oklahoma City. Nikola Jokic finished two assists shy of a triple-double, posting 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists along with three steals. “In the playoffs, we know that everybody needs to step up,” Jokic said. “Is it offensive? Is it defensive? Really, whatever. Energy-wise,…