Sports

Cameroon’s keeper, Andre Onana takes blame for Man Utd’s Champions League loss

Published

7 months ago

September 21, 2023

Cameroon and Manchester United goalkeeper, Andre Onana, has accepted responsibility for his side’s 4-3 loss to Bayern Munich in their opening game of the 2023/24 Champions League match played at the Alianz Arena on Wednesday night.

Onana was a fault when Bayern winger, Leroy Sane opened the scoring midway through the first half as his low effort from the edge of the penalty area slipped under the charismatic keeper who has now conceded 14 goals in his first six games as United’s goalkeeper.

Though United put up a spirited display to make the scoreline respectable, Onana believes that he let his team down with his mistake despite making several saves in the match.

In a post-match interview, the Indomitable Lions first choice goal tender said he “let the team down” because of his error.

“It’s difficult to lose this way because in the beginning we started very good,” Onana said.

“After my mistake, we lost control of the game. It’s a difficult situation for us, for me especially because I’m the one who let the team down.

“Because of me we didn’t win but we just have to move on. This is the life of the goalkeeper.

“We were very good on the ball, they didn’t create any chances. The first shot on target I made a mistake so I think it was the key point of the game.

“The team went down because of that mistake. I have to learn from it and be strong, move on. It’s not an easy situation but I’m very happy with the comeback of the team, we were fighting until the end.

“I have a lot to prove because my start in Manchester hasn’t been so good, not how I want. This was one of my worst games and it’s difficult because we have big ambition. We are a big club and want to win everything.

“It’s a tough time and we have to be together and continue working hard,” the former Inter Milan player added.

Click to comment

Sports

Al Ahly, Esperance to clash in CAF Champions League final

Published

1 day 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

2 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.