Sports

Kenyan guard dies after fall at Qatar World Cup stadium

Published

2 months ago

December 15, 2022

A Kenyan security guard who was on duty at the Lusail Stadium at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar, has died after a fatal fall from a upper floor of the stadium, the World Cup organisers said in a statement on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the victim, John Njau Kibue, 24, suffered critical injuries in the early hours of Saturday, a few hours after Argentina beat the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, promising that an urgent investigation had been launched into the death of the security guard.

“Stadium medical teams immediately attended the scene and provided emergency treatment before he was transferred to Hamad Medical Hospital’s intensive care unit,” said an organising committee spokesperson.

“We regret to announce that, despite the efforts of his medical team, he sadly passed away in hospital on Tuesday, 13 December, after being in the intensive care unit for three days.

“Kibue’s family in Kenya has been told of his sad demise. We send our sincere condolences to his family, colleagues and friends during this difficult time. We will also ensure that his family receive all outstanding dues and monies owed,” the statement said.

The death of Kibue has added to the toll of deaths at World Cup stadiums since Qatar was awarded the tournament in 2010, including migrant workers who died during the construction of the different stadia.

Rights groups have said thousands of foreign migrant workers have died on construction projects across Qatar over the past decade, organisers have insisted that though 37 workers died, only three died in “work-related” accidents.

Click to comment

Sports

Jose Mourinho extols Nigerian forward, Victor Osimhen, after wonder goal

Published

23 hours ago

January 30, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

Roma manager, Jose Mourinho, has heaped praises on Nigerian forward, Victor Osimhen, after the striker scored a wonder goal which can potentially compete for the goal of the season in the Italian Serie A.

The former Chelsea boss said Osimhen, who is a target of one of his former clubs, Manchester United, can compare favourably with former Ivorian striker, Didier Drogba who terrorised defences in the English Premier League.

However, Mourinho said the only hindrance to the Napoli striker reaching legendary status is if he desists from “diving” to gain favours from referees.

“He is of the same level as Drogba, but Didier didn’t dive,” Mourinho told reporters after the game when asked to access the Super Eagles forward’s performance.

“If Victor changes, then OK. I’d buy him if I was at a club with a lot of money.”

“However, if he does go to England one day, he needs to change, because in Italy they put up with this sort of behaviour, whereas in the Premier League, they’d come down hard on him.”

“I told him that he scored a wonderful goal and needs to stop diving so much. His goal was fantastic, he did the same thing when we met earlier this season, so he’s a fantastic player. But he mustn’t dive,” the Portuguese coach said.

The red hot Osimhen, has scored 14 goals in 16 league matches, propelling Napoli to a healthy 13 point lead at the top of thr Serie A.

Watch Osimhen’s wonder goal against Roma here:

Sports

CHAN 2023: Niger, Madagascar make history, beat Ghana, Mozambique, to reach semi-finals

Published

2 days ago

January 29, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

It was a night of shocks and history on Saturday at the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Algeria when one of the tournament’s favourites, Ghana, was knocked out by outsiders, Niger Republic in a 2-0 defeat which saw the Nigeriens qualify for the semi-finals.

As if the shock was not enough, first-time qualifiers, Madagascar, thumped Mozambique 3-1 to also qualify for the semi-final in some style.

While Madagascar was dealing with Mozambique in Constantine, Niger shocked two-time runners-up, Ghana, in Oran to complete the last-four line-up alongside host, Algeria and Senegal.

Niger’s reward is a date with Algeria while Madagascar will square up against Senegal, both on Tuesday.

Though Algeria and Senegal are outright favourites to win the tournament meant for African footballers playing in their country of birth, pundits believe underating the so called minnows could spell doom as Ghana, Cameroon, DR Congo and other top playing nations found out the hard way.

Madagascar had earlier shocked Ghana and hammered Sudan to win Group C, while Niger had pulled up the shock of the group stages by sending Cameroon packing with a 1-0 victory in their last group D match.