Sports
Governor Otu Gifts Super Eagles Star Moffi N10m For AFCON Success
The Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, has rewarded Super Eagles player, Terem Moffi, with N10m for his role in Nigeria’s second-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.
Moffi, along with his father and younger brother, received the gift in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State during his visit to the governor.
Governor Otu praised Moffi, who is from the state, for representing Cross River State admirably and serving as a positive role model for the youth. He promised to continue supporting the Nice of France player and emphasised his administration’s dedication to youth and sports development to promote opportunities and reduce youth restiveness in the state.
“I am particularly delighted that you represented the State well and the fact that you have been a good ambassador of the youths in the State and beyond,” the governor said.
“Like you, we have so many talents across the State and we will continue to create opportunities for them to blossom.”
He also commended the Super Eagles for their support of sports development in the state.
Earlier, Moffi had donated N1m to Pelican Stars FC, in addition to the donation of 25 balls each to the team and Calabar Rovers.
The silver medal-winning Eagles star plays for Nice of France. He moved to Nice in 2023 after featuring for FC Lorient of France and Belgian club, KV Kortrijk.
Moffi, who is among the players invited for the Eagles World Cup qualifying matches with South Africa and the Benin Republic in June, debuted for the senior national team in 2021.
The La Liga meeting between Barcelona and Osasuna on Saturday night has been called off at the last-minute.
This comes following the death of medical doctor of Barcelona.
The day’s action in Spain’s top-flight was due to be brought to a close in Catalunya’s capital late this evening.
As much came with table-topping Barcelona looking to extend their advantage over the chasing pack, in a home meeting with Osasuna.
The two squads had been close to finalising their warm-ups, with the respective starting XIs having been made official across social media, too.
As alluded to above, though, Barca and Osasuna will not take to the pitch on Saturday.
As confirmed by La SER, amongst others, this comes following the passing of an unnamed individual:
‘A person close to the FC Barcelona locker room has died and the players asked for the suspension of the match.’
Mohamed Salah scored two penalties as Liverpool came from behind to beat rock-bottom Southampton for the second time this season and moved 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
The Reds were miles below their best after their energy-draining late win at Paris Saint Germain on Wednesday – but all that matters at this stage of the season is results.
This takes them one step closer to the title and leaves Saints still in danger of the lowest Premier League points total ever.
The visitors allowed themselves to dream when Will Smallbone took advantage of a huge mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson to slot in from a tight angle.
But Reds boss Arne Slot made a triple substitution at half-time and Liverpool were much improved.
Darwin Nunez, perhaps fortunate not to be one of the ones replaced at the break, slotted in from Luis Diaz’s cutback.
And then the Uruguayan striker was fouled by Smallbone for a penalty, which Mohamed Salah predictably dispatched with style.
Liverpool fans started singing “now you’re going to believe us, we’re going to win the league” after that.
Salah also netted another spot-kick late on, for his 27th goal of the season, after the video assistant referee spotted a Yukinari Sugawara handball.
Second-placed Arsenal have two games in hand – including Sunday’s match with Manchester United – but it is impossible to see anyone overhauling Liverpool.
Nigeria’s U-17 national women football team Flamingoes on Saturday beat host South Africa’s Bantanwa 3-1 to take a giant step in the FIFA Under 17 women world cup qualifiers.
The Nigerian girls stunned their host in the match played at the Lucas Moripe Stadium following goals from Shukurat Moshood and Harmony Chidi who scored a brace, thus taking the upper hand in the two legged affair.
Malebana however scored one goal consolation for the hosting team.
The return leg will now be played in Abuja, Nigeria in a fortnight as the Flamingoes hope to qualify for the final round of the qualifiers in style.
The victory may serve as inspiration to other Nigerian national teams like the Super Eagles and Super Falcons who have been having a tough time dealing with the South Africans, especially away from home.
The Super Eagles will be hoping to replicate such performance when they play Bafana Bafana in the 2026 world cup qualifiers later in the summer.