Sports
World Cup Qualifier:Zimbabwe Coach Disappointed with Draw Against Nigeria
Following a 1-1 draw with Nigeria during the 2026 World Cup qualifier at Huye Stadium on Sunday, Zimbabwe coach Baltemar Brito expressed his disappointment, stating that his team had the potential to defeat the star-studded Super Eagles.
Despite a lackluster performance from the Eagles, they managed to secure a draw against the Warriors in the second game of the qualifiers.
The match saw Walter Musona of Zimbabwe score a remarkable 35-yard free-kick in the 26th minute, giving his team the lead. Inspired by the goal, Brito’s side contained Nigeria’s threat and restricted them to just two shots in the first half.
However, Kelechi Iheanacho managed to equalize for Nigeria in the 67th minute, resulting in a draw.
In a post-match interview, Brito confidently affirmed that his team had come into the encounter with the intention of securing a victory. Despite not achieving their goal, he commended his players for their positive attitude and performance throughout the match.
While Nigeria currently sits in second place with two points, one point behind leaders South Africa, Zimbabwe stands in third place with the same number of points as Nigeria. The 2026 World Cup qualifiers will resume in June 2024, with Nigeria set to host South Africa, followed by an away game against Benin Republic.
The draw against Zimbabwe leaves Nigeria’s Super Eagles with just two points from their first two qualifiers. In their previous match, they played out another disappointing 1-1 draw against Lesotho, considered a low-ranked team.
The performances in both games have raised concerns among fans and critics alike, highlighting the need for improvement. Coach Jose Peseiro and his coaching staff will now have to assess and address the team’s shortcomings in preparation for their future matches.
With South Africa currently leading Group C with three points, Nigeria faces an uphill battle to secure a top spot and advance to the next stage of the World Cup qualifiers. The upcoming fixtures against South Africa and Benin Republic will be crucial in determining the team’s fate in the competition.
The draw against Zimbabwe serves as a wake-up call for the Super Eagles, who will have to regroup and show a stronger performance in their upcoming matches. The coaching staff will be expected to analyze the team’s tactics, player selection, and overall strategy to ensure better results moving forward.
As the qualifying campaign progresses, fans will be eagerly watching to see if Nigeria can bounce back from their disappointing start and demonstrate their potential as a strong footballing nation. The pressure is mounting, and the team must prove their worth on the field in the coming matches to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, has generously awarded Nasarawa United a sum of two million Naira in recognition of their impressive 2-1 away victory against Lobi Stars in Enugu on Wednesday, during the NPFL Matchday 36.
The announcement was made via the club’s official WhatsApp group, where the Governor actively engages with live updates on matches and other significant events.
This latest reward fulfills a prior pledge of two million and five hundred thousand Naira that the Governor had promised after the Solid Miners triumphed over fellow zonal rivals, Plateau United, in Lafia.
Additionally, the Governor’s Deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe, contributed five hundred thousand Naira as a reward for the team’s success against Lobi Stars in Enugu.
The State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, presented the funds to the team’s Chairman, Solomon Babanjah, and Captain, King Osanga, on behalf of both the Governor and Deputy Governor.
In a thrilling match at the Cathedral Stadium in Enugu, Nasarawa United exhibited remarkable resilience, overcoming Lobi Stars with a 2-1 victory in this highly anticipated derby during Matchday 36 of the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League Season.
FIFA World Cup Announcement
The FIFA Council has officially approved the expansion of the Women’s World Cup from 32 to 48 teams, effective from the 2031 edition, during a virtual meeting held on Friday.
This new format will feature 12 groups, resulting in an increase in the total number of matches from 64 to 104, paralleling the expanded men’s World Cup scheduled for 2026. The tournament’s duration will also extend by one week.
For the upcoming 2027 Women’s World Cup, set to take place in Brazil, the tournament will maintain the 32-team format.
The 2023 edition, hosted by Australia and New Zealand, marked the inaugural participation of 32 teams, up from 24 teams in the 2019 tournament held in France.
“This expansion is not merely about adding 16 teams to the FIFA Women’s World Cup; it represents a significant advancement for women’s football as a whole,” stated FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
He emphasized, “More FIFA member associations will have the opportunity to leverage this tournament to enhance their women’s football frameworks from a comprehensive perspective.”
The United States is expected to be named the host for the 2031 Women’s World Cup, as it is the only candidate, marking the third occasion the country will host the tournament, previously doing so in 1999 and 2003.
The United Kingdom is the sole bidder for the 2035 tournament, with the hosts for both the 2031 and 2035 editions still pending ratification.
Despite concerns regarding potential mismatches with the inclusion of 48 teams, Infantino highlighted the competitive progress showcased in the 2023 edition, where teams from all confederations secured victories and five confederations advanced to the knockout stage.
He remarked, “The 2023 Women’s World Cup set a new benchmark for global competitiveness, achieving several records along the way.” (NAN)
Arsenal’s bid to win the Champions League for the first time is over after they suffered a 2-1 second-leg defeat to Paris St Germain at the Parc des Princes.
Mikel Arteta’s players were already one goal down in the semi-final first leg, and, despite a strong start, they were two behind in the tie when Fabian Ruiz struck for PSG after 27 minutes.
Vitinha missed a penalty – after Myles Lewis-Skelly was adjudged to have handled the ball following a contentious VAR review – before Achraf Hakimi put the match out of sight in the 72nd minute.
But it is PSG, who have now beaten three Premier League sides in a row, with Arsenal following Liverpool and Aston Villa in succumbing to the French champions, that will play Inter Milan in the final on May 31 after a 3-1 aggregate success.
Arsenal’s sole appearance in a Champions League final came here in Paris in 2006 where they suffered a late defeat to Barcelona, and the French capital was the scene of yet more heartbreak for the north Londoners.
RESULTS
UCL
PSG 2-1 Arsenal
(PSG 3-1 agg.)
U20 AFCON
Nigeria 2-2 Kenya
(F’Eagles for Q’finals)
Tunisia 1-3 Morocco
(Morocco for Q’finals)
Europa League
Man Utd v Bilbao
Bodo/Glimt v Tottenham
Europa Conference
Chelsea v Djurgarden
Fiorentina v Betis