Connect with us

Sports

Four African players who set the UEFA Champion League on fire

Published

on

The match day four of the UEFA Champions League proved to be a good day for African players who were involved for their various teams as they came out firing from all cylinders.

Liverpool’s Egyptian striker, Mohamed Salah showed that his troubles in the EPL remains in England as he needed only six minutes, 12 seconds to score a hat trick at the Ibrox as the Reds hammered host Rangers 7-1.

Victor Osimhen (Photo Credit:NFC)

Victor Osimhen (Photo Credit:NFC)

In the process, the Pharaoh captain set a record by scoring the fastest hat-trick in the history of the competition. And he achieved that feat after coming off the bench!

Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen also proved to be a handful as he announced his return from injury to nick a goal in a 4-2 thrashing of hapless Ajax while Sadio Mané once again, showed why Bayern Munich pulled every trick to sign him from Liverpool by bagging two goals again Plazen.

On Tuesday, ex-Gabonese captain scored his second goal in as many matches when he fired Chelsea’s second goal against AC Milan to underscore his importance to the Blues.

Africannewswatch brings you a review of how the African stars performed for their teams.

Victor Osimhen – Napoli

Victor Osimhen came off the bench to score Napoli’s fourth goal as they thrashed Ajax 4-2, his first UCL goal for the Italians as the Parthenopeans go through to the next round with a 100 percent record.

The Nigerian international who had been out with an injury he sustained in match day one against Liverpool, was introduced in the 50th minute for Giacomo Raspadori and got his goal with a minute left on the clock after he drilled the ball past goalkeeper Remko Pasveer.

Victor Osimhen is back with a bang (Photo Credit: Napoli FC)

Victor Osimhen is back with a bang (Photo Credit: Napoli FC)

Aside from his goal, the former Lille forward had three shots on target, one key pass, and won one aerial challenge won.

According to Opta, Osimhen was caught offside on three occasions, contributed 15 touches, had nine passes and a passing accuracy of 77.8 percent in the duration he stayed on the pitch.

Mohamed Salah – Liverpool

Mohammed Salah became an history maker by scoring the fastest-ever
hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League as Liverpool put their EPL woes behind them to rout Rangers of Scotland 7-1 at the Ibrox.

Salah was left on the bench from the start by Jurgen Klopp but came off the bench to score three times in a space of six minutes and 12 seconds, the fastest hat-trick in the history of the competition.

The Egyptian captain is back in his element (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

The Egyptian captain is back in his element (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Salah’s hat-trick obliterated the previous record set by Lyon”s Bafetimbi Gomis, who netted an hat-trick against Dinamo Zagreb in the 2011-12 Champions League group stage in eight minutes.

Salah also required fewer touches to get his goals while all three goals were assisted by the same player, Diogo Jota, another first since 2012.

Sadio Mané – Bayern Munich

Sadio Mané once again, showed his importance for Bayern Munich when he scored once and created one assist as the German champions defeated Viktoria Plzen in Wednesday’s Champions League fixture.

The Senegalese Afcon winner gave an all round performance in the six-goal thriller inside Doosan Arena Plzen, and handed the Bavarians a 10th-minute lead after he was set up by Leon Goretzka.

Sadio Mané is enjoying his time in Bayern Munich (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Sadio Mané is enjoying his time in Bayern Munich (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Apart from the goal, the former Liverpool forward was in an inspiring form with statistics showing he accounted for two shots, two key passes, two aerials won, and one dribble.

The result also guaranteed Bayern a place in the next round with two matches to spare.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Chelsea

Earlier on Tuesday, the former Gabonese captain propelled Chelsea to a 2-0 win over AC Milan to brighten their chances of qualifying for the knockout stage.

Aubameyang scored his second successive UEFA Champions League goal for Chelsea by netting in the 34th minute after Jorgino had given the Blues the lead via a penalty in the 19th minute.

Aubameyang made it two in two for Chelsea (Photo Credit: CFC)

Aubameyang made it two in two for Chelsea (Photo Credit: CFC)

Former Chelsea academy graduate, Fikayo Tomori was the culprit in giving away the penalty for a foul on Merson Mount which also earned him a sending off.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

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

Sports

Nigerians drum support for chess master Tunde Onakoya as he attempts to break world record

Published

on

Nigerians from all walks of life, including politicians, captains of industry and celebrities, have drummed up support for chess master, Tunde Onakoya, as he attempts to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon in New York City.

The Nigerian chess prodigy is set to play until at least 20:00 New York time on Friday, which will see him clock 58 hours and surpass the world record of 56 hours, nine minutes, and 37 seconds, which was set by Norwegian duo of Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad in 2018.

The 29-year-old Onakoya has so far gone beyond the existing record of 56 hours set in 2018 as he also aims to raise $1 million for his charity, “Gift of Chess and Chess in Slums Africa,” an organisation he has used as a vehicle to uplift children from impoverished backgrounds in Africa.

Onakoya who began his quest during the week, was aiming to play chess nonstop for 58 hours in New York City’s Times Square to break the global record for the longest chess marathon.

His audacious attempt has elicited support from his countrymen including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, business mogul Tony Elumelu and popular Nigerian Afrobeats star, Davido, who paid him a visit on Wednesday to give him moral support.

“Mr Onakoya is a symbol of excellence and resilience that distinguish Nigerians both at home and abroad… Go, make history, and inscribe our name in gold,” Shettima posted on X on Thursday.

“Lagos is rooting for you. This is a powerful testament to how greatness can emerge from anywhere,” Sanwo-Olu said in a personal message to Onakoya.

The Nigerian community in New York has rallied behind their compatriot, providing Onakoya with music and energising him with supplies of classic Nigerian dishes, including Nigeria’s beloved national staple food, the jollof rice.

Continue Reading

Sports

Top European, Asian clubs on alert as Super Eagles keeper set to make contract decision

Published

on

Some top clubs in Europe and Asia have been put on alert as Super Eagles and Chippa United goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, is reportedly getting set to make a decision on his future as he will be a free agent at the end of this season.

Nwabali who led Nigeria to the finals of the 2023 Afcon before losing to host Cote d’Ivoire, has been a subject of transfer speculations in his last year at the South African club.

Shortly after the Afcon, there were rumours that the former Katsina United safe hands who joined Chippa United in 2022 was on the verge of teaming up with a club in Saudi Arabia in a deal that was reported to be worth millions of dollars but the speculations died down as there was no concrete for him.

However, after some excellent showings at club level since the continental championship, the 27-year-old shot-stopper’s value has continued to rise and with his contract running out at the end of the current season, some big clubs in Europe and Asia have indicated interest in signing him.

According to reports from South Africa’s Soccer Laduma, Nwabali will not sign an extension with Chippa United at the end of the season, potentially making him available on a free transfer.

“This would be particularly appealing to clubs like Kaizer Chiefs, Queens Park Rangers, Union SG, and Al Ettifaq, who have all been credited with a move for the Nigerian,” the sports journal said.

“While a move to Saudi Arabia might present better financial incentives, Nwabali is reportedly keen on testing his talents in Europe and a move to Union SG or QPR could end up being the best option for him.”

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

Culture16 mins ago

Survey ranks Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, South Africa among 15 ‘cheap countries’ for family trips

A recent survey carried out by Insider Monkey, an investment website that tracks corporate insiders and hedge funds, has ranked...

Sports26 mins ago

Nigerians drum support for chess master Tunde Onakoya as he attempts to break world record

Nigerians from all walks of life, including politicians, captains of industry and celebrities, have drummed up support for chess master,...

Tech34 mins ago

SA internet service provider Kaya Konekta launches data access for underserved communities

South Africa’s leading Internet Service Provider (ISP), Kaya Konekta (KaKo), has launched new operations aimed at reaching underserved communities in...

Metro43 mins ago

Zambian opposition party decries rise in tribalism, corruption, calls for national dialogue

One of Zambia’s main opposition party, the Socialist Party (SP), has decried what it calls the rising tribalism, repression and...

Metro11 hours ago

‘Reconsider your anti-people policies, they are causing hardship, insecurity in Nigeria’— PDP tells Tinubu

Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has called on President Bola Tinubu to consider what it calls...

Sports1 day ago

Top European, Asian clubs on alert as Super Eagles keeper set to make contract decision

Some top clubs in Europe and Asia have been put on alert as Super Eagles and Chippa United goalkeeper, Stanley...

VenturesNow1 day ago

IMF says South Africa needs to do more to cut spending, lower debt-to-GDP ratio

A top official from the International Monetary Fund has revealed that South Africa needs to do more to cut spending...

Politics1 day ago

Burkina Faso expels 3 French diplomats over ‘subversive activities’

According to a letter quoted by Reuters on Thursday, three French diplomats have been sent back to France by Burkina...

Tech1 day ago

Nigeria’s MAX partners Ghana’s Kofa in e-bike financing deal

Nigeria’s electric vehicle solutions provider, MAX, has announced striking a partnership deal with Ghana’s innovator in energy networks, Kofa, that...

Metro1 day ago

Zambia asks EU to help strengthen its democratic initiatives ahead of 2026 elections

The Zambian government has called on the European Union (EU) to help in strengthening democratic initiatives in the country as...

Trending