Sports

WWC: Nigeria’s Super Falcons stun host Australia to go top of Group B

Published

9 months ago

July 27, 2023

The Super Falcons of Nigeria once again showed why they are the best team in Africa at the ongoing Women’s World Cup by beating co-hosts, Australia 3-2 in their second Group B match played at the Brisbane Stadium on Thursday.

The Falcons, ranked 40th in the world, came from a goal down to defeat the Lilly Whites who are ranked 7th in the world, to set up a testy final match against Republic of Ireland.

Goals from Uchenna Kalu, Osinachi Ohale, and substitute Asisat Oshoala completed the come-from-behind win over the Australians who got their first goal through Emily Van Egmond in the first minute of additional time in the first half before Kanu equalised in the sixth minute of additional time.

In the 65th minute, defence lynchpin, Ohale dared the odds to put the Super Falcons in the lead while Barcelona ace, Oshola made it three in the 72nd minute after a defensive mix-up between Cortnee Vine and Mackenzie Arnold.

Though Alanna Kennedy reduced the deficit for the hosts with a header in the 100th minute, it was too little too late for the host as the impressive Falcons held on for a famous win, and now need just a point against Ireland on Monday to advance to the round of 16.

With the win, the Nigerian team has redeemed the image of the continent after Zambia, South Africa and Morocco failed to pick up points in their matches.

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Sports

Al Ahly, Esperance to clash in CAF Champions League final

Published

2 days ago

April 27, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Two of Africa’s club giants, Egypt’s Al Ahly and Esperance of Tunisia, will do battle next month over two legs for the right to be crowned champions of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Title-holders Al Ahly and their long-standing rivals Esperance both booked their places in the final with dramatic semi-final victories over DR Congo”s TP Mazembe and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa respectively on Friday night.

While Al Ahly, winners of five of the last seven editions of the continent’s top draw tournament, with a record 11 in total, overcame TP Mazembe with a 3-0 aggregate victory in the semi-final second leg after a goalless first leg last Saturday, Esperance surprised Sundowns with a 1-0 victory in Pretoria to wrap up a 2-0 aggregate win.

The two-legged final will mark the third encounter between Ahly and Esperance in the Champions League final, with the Egyptians winning in 2012 and the Tunisians triumphing in 2018.

In 2023, the two clubs clashed in the semi-finals with Ahly emerging victorious home and away, securing a 4-0 aggregate triumph.

Esperance who are aiming for a fifth Champions League title, will host the first leg in Rades on May 18, with the return fixture scheduled in Cairo seven days later.

Sports

Former Zambian captain Rainford Kalaba discharged from hospital after near-fatal accident

Published

3 days ago

April 26, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Former Zambian national team captain, Rainford Kalaba, has been discharged from hospital weeks after he was involved in a near-fatal accident where he sustained serious injuries.

The accident which involved a head-on collision between a Mercedes-Benz car in which Kalaba was in, and a truck, had initially sparked fears for his life and has since been in the Intensive Care Unit of the Zambian University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

The good news on the footballer’s progress was released by the UTH Public Relations Officer, Nzeba Chanda, who informed that the Chipolopolo legend has been discharged after showing positive signs of recovery.

“Mr. Rainford Kalaba has been discharged from the UTH-Adult where he was admitted after being involved in a road traffic accident two weeks ago,” Chanda said, adding that Kalaba will continue his recovery at his family home.

According to local media reports, the 37-year-old was a passenger in a Mercedes Benz when it collided with an oncoming truck in the south-eastern Zambian town of Kafue a week and five days ago.

In his active playing days, Kalaba spent the majority of his club career at TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, winning the CAF Champions League with the club in 2015 and the CAF Confederation Cup in 2016.

He also had a spell with clubsides in Portugal including FC Braga, and was a major part of the Zambian squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 under Frenchman, Herve Renard.