Sports

Brothers at war: Nigerian players go head to head in Super Eagles battle

Published

1 year ago

November 5, 2022

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

This European football weekend will put some players of the Super Eagles of Nigerian squaring up against each other.

In the English Premier League, Nigeria’s most improved player this season, Alex Iwobi will be up against the duo of Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho as Everton takes on Leicester City.

Another match that will see brother at war will see Taiwo Awoniyi and Emmanuel Dennis taking on Frank Onyeka as Nottingham Forest host Brentford while in Italy, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman will clash in a top-of-the-table meeting in Serie A between Napoli and Atalanta where the Naples outfit could open a gap at the top with a win.

Africannewswatch brings you a preview of the war of Super Eagles players.

Alex Iwobi vs Wildred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho

Baring any last minute injury, Alex Iwobi should be selected as Everton take on Leicester with Wilfred Ndidi hopefully starting after overcoming a niggling injury.

Alex Iwobi is now Everton’s main man (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Kelechi Iheanacho was a substitute in Leicester’s 1-0 loss against Manchester City and is looking to have another run after an encouraging display against the EPL champions.

The Toffees have claimed two wins from three at home and will be hoping to put up a sterling performance against a Leicester team that has not been able to replicate form that saw them always compete for the top four in recent seasons.

Taiwo Awoniyi, Emmanuel Dennis vs Frank Onyeka

With Nottingham Forest hosting Brentford, the trio of Taiwo Awoniyi, Emmanuel Dennis and Frank Onyeka could come face to face but with Awoniyi seeming to lose steam these days, Dennis may well be the starter with the former Union Berlin forward coming on as a sub.

Taiwo Awoniyi and Reds teammates celebrate first EPL goal (Photo Credit: Nottingham Forest FC)

Last weekend, Onyeka was dropped to the bench for Wolves’ after three starts but the hard tackling midfielder will hope to make another start at the City Ground.

Victor Osimhen vs Ademola Lookman

Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman are two hot Nigerian forwards currently setting the Italian Serie A on fire with goals and as Napoli takes on Atalanta in a top of the table clash, the two Super Eagles stars will be looked upon by their respective clubs to deliver the goals.

Ademola Lookman was the hero for Atalanta (Photo Credit: Atalanta FC)

While Osimhen got his first Serie A hat-trick last weekend in Napoli’s 4-0 routing of Sassuolo, Lookman was also on song as Atalanta defeated Empoli 2-0 to take his season tally to five.

As Luciano Spalletti’s unbeaten side travel to second-placed Atalanta intent on continuing their outstanding start in the league, Lookman and company will be looking to truncate that run.

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Sports

Al Ahly, Esperance to clash in CAF Champions League final

Published

3 hours 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

1 day 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.