Sports

Super Eagles coach, Peseiro backs under-fire goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho

Published

6 months ago

October 20, 2023

Nigeria head coach, Jose Peseiro, has thrown his weight behind his under-fire goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho after scathing criticism from fans of the Super Eagles following his school boy errors in recent friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique.

While reacting to unsavoury comments on his number one goalkeeper, Peseiro said, “every player makes mistakes”.

The Omonia Nicosia shot-stopper had an error-strewn run in the two matches with the most glaring mistake coming against Saudi Arabia when he misjudged a flighted delivery and palmed the ball into his own net.

Uzoho had come in for heavy condemnation from Nigerians after his errors in the matches saw the Saudis pick up a 2-2 draw in the first friendly match before he also showed a shaky form in the 3-2 win over Mozambique.

The display by the Cyprus-based keeper became the major talking point among Nigerians, which forced the Portuguese coach to come to the defence of his first choice goal tender.

While speaking with BBC Sports, Peseiro said:

“In Nigeria, every time they attack the goalkeepers. Why don’t they attack the strikers who miss goals? It is the same.

“If I change them every time, or punish them when they make mistakes, one day I won’t have any players, because every player makes mistakes.

“We understand and accept that the fans are free to shout or speak. It is normal. Me, Uzoho and the players accept that. It is my obligation and my responsibility to keep the confidence and support our players.

“The only problem for me is if Uzoho doesn’t resist the criticism.

“The criticism is good for us also – sometimes it can open our eyes. But I know that, in Nigeria, people prefer to attack the goalkeeper. With me, Uzoho has only made one mistake until now.”

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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.