Connect with us

Sports

Too Good, Too Bad: How African stars performed in Europe last weekend

Published

on

It was another weekend of scintillating football action as African football stars filed out for their respective clubsides in different leagues and competitions in Europe.

While some came out smiling, others had no reason to laugh due to poor individual performances or their team’s performance.

In the EPL, Riyad Mahrez missed a crucial penalty for Manchester City that would have seen them defeat West Ham and place the league title firmly in their hands.

For the African quartet in Liverpool, Sadio Mane, Naby Keita, Joel Matip, and Mohamed Salah, it was a collective joy as they lifted another trophy this season after beating Chelsea which had Edouard Mendy and Hakim Ziyech in the FA Cup.

We bring you a review of how African stars performed for their European clubs in the past weekend.

Too Good:

Victor Osimhen: Napoli

Super Eagles of Nigeria striker, Victor Osimhen, scored his 14th Serie A goal of the season when he fired Napoli to a 3-0 victory over Genoa.

The Lagos-born Osimhen got his club’s opener in the 32nd minute before Lorenzo Insigne and Stanislav Lobotka, also got on the score sheet to take the match out of Genoa’s reach.

Taiwo Awoniyi: Union Berlin

Taiwo Awoniyo was the hero for Union Berlin with a brace as his German club ran out 3-2 winners against Bochum in their last Bundesliga game of the season.

Awoniyi got Berlin’s second goal from the penalty spot in the 25th minute before netting the third in the 88th minute as they finished the season fifth on 57 points.

Jeffrey Schlupp, Marc Guehi: Crystal Palace

Jeffrey Schlupp and Marc Guehi were instrumental for the Eagles as they both combined to produce Palace’s equalizer against Aston Villa in the 81st minute after Steven Gerrard’s men had taken a 69th-minute lead.

Schlupp got the equaliser with an assist from Guehi just three minutes and 37 seconds after he came off the bench.

Schlupp has now scored five league goals as a substitute for Palace, with no player netting more such goals for the Eagles outside Dwight Gayle who also has five.

Too Bad:

Sadio Mane: Liverpool

Sadio Mané was on the ‘too bad’ list despite Liverpool winning the English FA Cup against Chelsea, as he missed his spot-kick in the shootout.

His national team mate Edouard Mendy managed to save Mane’s penalty but his blushes were saved as the Merseysiders went on to win the shoot-out contest by a 6-5 margin.

Salah was injured in the 33rd minute, while Keita was replaced as James Milner came on. Matip took Virgil van Dijk’s place when Jurgen Klopp made a 90th-minute change, while Mali-eligible Ibrahima Konate played from start to finish.

Edouard Mendy, Hakim Ziyech: Chelsea

Both Mendy and Ziyech were involved in the English FA Cup final loss to Liverpool.

They both played critical roles in the match as Mendy kept a clean sheet before the penalty shootout and stopped international teammate Mane from converting his penalty while Ziyech scored one of Chelsea’s penalties, but their efforts could not deny Liverpool the trophy at Wembley Stadium.

Samuel Kalu, Oghenekaro Etebo: Watford

Both Nigerian stars were involved as Watford confirmed their relegation from the EPL to the Championship when they suffered a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Leicester City at Vicarage Road.

While Kalu started and played the entire duration of the game, Etebo came on as a substitute as the Hornets suffered their 15th home league defeat of the season, the joint-most by any side in a single English top-flight campaign, level with Blackpool in 1966-67 and Stoke City in 1984-85.

Riyad Mahrez: Man City

The Algerian captain missed a penalty for Manchester City during their game against West Ham which ended in a 2-2 draw.

The Citizens had to fight back from 2-0 down, but Mahrez let them down with a missed penalty that would have given them the lead and kept the gap with Liverpool wider.

Mahrez has missed two penalties in all competitions for Manchester City, his first being against Liverpool in October 2018, and the miss against West Ham being the second. He has converted nine penalties since joining City from Leicester.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Domestic worker sues Pitso Mosimane, wife following debilitating injuries

Published

on

Former Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and Al Ahli of Egypt coach, Pitso Mosimane, and his wife, Moira Tlhagale, have been sued by their domestic worker after a severe injury at the home of the couple led to disabilities.

The domestic worker, domestic worker Dorothy Sikirivao, filed the lawsuit against Mosimane who is the current head coach of Abha Club of Saudi Arabia, claiming the sum of R5.7-million at the Johannesburg High Court after suffering from severe injuries he sustained in a mishap at the couple’s residence in April 2021.

According to reports by Sunday World, Sikirivao had a serious fall at the Mosimane’s home while clearing debris, with the accident allegedly leaving her with “catastrophic spine-related injuries, leading to a significant reduction in her mobility and affecting her reproductive health.”

The reports stated that medical specialists diagnosed Sikirivao with multiple injuries, including blood clots in the brain, shoulder dislocation, various bone fractures, and severe pressure on the spinal cord.

“The domestic worker claims the injuries were exacerbated by the demanding nature of her duties and the couple’s insistence that she return to work soon after the accident,” the tabloid wrote, quoting Sikirivao legal documents

“This was because of the tedious nature of the work she did and the potential of aggravating the injuries. The injuries she sustained from the said accident were of such a nature that exacting physical labor will aggravate them.”

The documents explained that initially, Mosimane and Tlhagale covered Sikirivao’s medical expenses but reportedly ceased payments without explanation.

“Despite being granted a month of sick leave following the incident, Sikirivao alleges she was coerced into resuming work, which worsened her condition.

“The plaintiff, post the said accident, was also prognosed to be in a situation where the plaintiff may never be able to carry a pregnancy and fulfil her desire to have her biological children except through an expensive and legally cumbersome process of surrogacy.

“Furthermore, she may face ongoing health complications due to the accident. The compensation Sikirivao seeks includes R1.7-million for loss of income, R2-million for past and future medical expenses, and R2-million divided equally for the loss of amenities of life and for pain and suffering,” the legal documents added.

Continue Reading

Sports

Zambian FA boss, Gen.Sec arrested over alleged laundering of K341,902

Published

on

President of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), Andrew Kamanga, has been arrested along with the Secretary-General and two other persons over an alleged money laundering running into K341,902.

The country’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), which made the arrest, said in a statement on Tuesday through its Assistant Public Relations Officer, Sydney Katongo, that Kamanga was jointly charged with FAZ General-Secretary, Reuben Kamanga.

Katongo named the other individuals arrested as Madalitso Kamanga and Jailous Siame, residing in Woodlands Chalala and Mumbwa Road respectively, and will be jointly charged on several offenses including obtaining money by false pretenses.

The DEC spokesman said other offenses were obtaining pecuniary advantage by false pretense and conspiracy to defraud government.

“DEC investigations revealed that the suspects while acting together, obtained K341, 902.00 from the Government of the Republic of Zambia under false pretenses,” Katongo said in the statement.

He stated that money was purportedly allocated as allowances for Madalitso Kamanga and Jairous Siame to attend the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), however, the allowances were transferred into their personal accounts with Madalitso and Jairous getting K170, 951, while they also individually obtained return tickets valued at K99,980.

“It was discovered that the funds were disbursed to two individuals under the guise of being FAZ officials, necessitating their attendance with the advance party for AFCON,” Katongo said.

He added that investigations revealed that neither Madalitso nor Jairous held official or executive positions within FAZ.

“This fraudulent activity transpired between January, 1 and February, 15, 2024, coinciding with the dates of the Africa Cup of Nations held in Ivory Coast from January, 13, to February, 11, 2024.

“The suspects are currently finalising bond processes and will appear in court soon. The DEC underscores its unwavering commitment to combating money laundering offenses within Zambia,” Katongo assured.

“The Commission will continue to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in money laundering schemes, ensuring accountability and justice for all,” Katongo added.

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

Tech32 mins ago

Nigeria’s NGX Group enters into strategic investment partnership with Ethiopian Securities Exchange

Leading Nigerian integrated market infrastructure group in Africa, the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), has announced strategic investment in the Ethiopian...

Culture44 mins ago

Namibia govt condemns tourists posing naked on Big Daddy Dune

The Namibian authorities have frowned at tourists who posed naked at the Big Daddy Dune, the country’s top tourist attraction...

Sports58 mins ago

Domestic worker sues Pitso Mosimane, wife following debilitating injuries

Former Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and Al Ahli of Egypt coach, Pitso Mosimane, and his wife, Moira Tlhagale, have...

Metro6 hours ago

Media polarisation blamed for biased coverage, civil society leader calls for mindset shift

Chama Mwansa, Executive Director of the Chandarika Women and Youths Foundation, has attributed media biases to the similarities in coverage...

Metro8 hours ago

Nigeria: 118 prison inmates escape after rainstorm destroys facility

At least 118 inmates of the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State, in northern Nigeria, have reportedly escaped...

Tech1 day ago

Tanzania’s auto-tech startup Spana is simplifying car maintenance— CEO

Tanzania’s auto-tech startup, Spana, has developed a mobile application for a bouquet of automobile services, enabling individual car owners and...

Culture1 day ago

Nollywood thrown into mourning as another veteran actor Zulu Adigwe passes on

The Nigerian movie industry, popularly known as Nollywood, has once again been thrown into mourning with the death of veteran...

Sports1 day ago

Zambian FA boss, Gen.Sec arrested over alleged laundering of K341,902

President of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), Andrew Kamanga, has been arrested along with the Secretary-General and two other...

Metro1 day ago

Luapula businessman, Munsanje, reflects on media freedoms and freedom of expression

As stakeholder engagement intensifies regarding the ongoing project to amplify voices on media freedom, freedom of expression, and digital rights,...

Musings From Abroad1 day ago

World Bank stops tourism fund to Tanzania’s Ruaha park. Here’s why

A spokesperson for the World Bank said on Wednesday that the lender had stopped all new payments from a $150...

Trending