SPORTS
Erling Haaland fired Manchester City to the top of the Premier League with a second consecutive hat-trick in a 3-1 win at West Ham on Saturday.
The Norwegian put Ipswich to the sword last weekend and followed up with another treble to take his tally to 70 goals in 69 Premier League games since joining City from Borussia Dortmund.
City have started the defence of their title in ominous fashion for those looking to depose Pep Guardiola’s men after winning the league for four consecutive seasons.
The English champions are the only side so far to win all three of their opening fixtures before an upcoming international break, helped in no small part by Haaland’s electric start.
Guardiola could again afford the luxury of leaving Rodri, John Stones and Kyle Walker on the bench after their exertions in reaching the final of Euro 2024, while Phil Foden missed out for the second successive game through illness.
In contrast to most of his team-mates who were in action at the Euros and Copa America, Haaland had the summer off from international duty and looks as refreshed as he has been ruthless.
After scoring in the opening weekend win at Chelsea and hitting his 10th City hat-trick against Ipswich, Haaland is now up to a Premier League record seven goals in the first three games of a season.
West Ham only had themselves to blame for the opener as they coughed up possession deep inside their own half and Bernardo Silva picked out Haaland to coolly slot beyond Alphonse Areola.
City looked set to put the game to bed in the opening stages as Areola denied Kevin De Bruyne before the Belgian smashed a shot off the crossbar.
But with West Ham’s first purposeful attack they were level thanks to a helping hand from the visitors.
Julen Lopetegui has promised a more attractive style of football after the Hammers fans grew tired of David Moyes’ reign despite impressive results.
At the end of an impressive move from one end to the other, Jarrod Bowen drove into the City box and his low cross was turned into his own net by Ruben Dias.
City quickly restored their grip on proceedings and restored their lead with an intricate move of their own that ended with a resounding finish.
Rico Lewis’ pass found Haaland, who then picked his spot and smashed the ball high past Areola.
Haaland should also have had an assist before the break as Lewis fired over from his deft lay-off.
City left the door open in the second half as they failed to find the killer third goal and could have been punished.
A lightning counter-attack saw Bowen play in Mohammed Kudus, who cannoned a powerful effort back off the post.
Haaland, though, fittingly had the final say to seal the three points.
The 24-year-old was played in by Matheus Nunes and confidently scooped the ball over substitute ‘keeper Lukasz Fabianski.
And the veteran Polish stopper was called into action to deny Haaland a fourth in stoppage time.
A second defeat in three games for West Ham leaves Lopetegui’s men down in 14th.
Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen suffered their first Bundesliga defeat since May 2023 as a 3-2 loss at home to RB Leipzig on Saturday snapped their 35-match unbeaten run in the top flight.
In a volatile match which saw visiting coach Marco Rose sent to the stands in the first half, Leverkusen jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Jeremie Frimpong and Alex Grimaldo.
But Kevin Kampl scored for Leipzig against the run of play just before half-time and Lois Openda levelled things up early in the second period.
Openda scored again with 10 minutes remaining to secure victory for Leipzig against last season’s unbeaten league and cup winners.
“We had the chance to finish the game, but the goals we conceded were far too easy,” said Leverkusen captain Jonathan Tah.
“We defend as a team, but we fell asleep a few times and of course we’re going to be punished.”
The loss for Leverkusen ended a run of 43 domestic matches without defeat, a run spanning 463 days.
Xabi Alonso’s side, who have scored 17 goals in the 88th minute or later this year, pushed to keep their record alive, but could not find an equaliser this time.
“We knew it was going to be very hard to play here, Leverkusen play lethal football. We wanted to be courageous and get on the front foot,” said Kampl.
“We know we’ve also got quality up front. We were ice-cold today.”
Rose was sent to the stands after he was yellow-carded twice in quick succession in the first half for touchline outbursts after a foul on his player.
The Leipzig coach appeared to still be seething after Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface caught the head of Amadou Haidara while attempting a bicycle kick. He was upset Boniface escaped with a booking as Haidara needed to be replaced.
Dortmund held at Bremen
Earlier on Saturday, a toothless and ill-disciplined Borussia Dortmund were held to a 0-0 draw at Werder Bremen.
Dortmund dominated possession but failed to break through and played the final 17 minutes a man down after centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck was sent off.
They came into the game with Maximilian Beier as their one recognised striker, having sent Sebastien Haller out on loan to La Liga side Leganes late on Friday.
Summer signing Serhou Guirassy, brought in to replace Niclas Fuellkrug after the Germany striker left for West Ham, is still weeks away from a return from a knee injury.
Schlotterbeck picked up a second yellow for a challenge on Justin Njinmah, reducing his side to 10 men.
“Everything isn’t exactly great yet,” said Dortmund midfielder Pascal Gross. “The coach prepared us well but we need to do better at implementing it”.
Last season’s surprise runners-up Stuttgart again gave away points from a winning position, drawing 3-3 with Mainz after conceding an equaliser in stoppage time.
Strikes from Enzo Millot and Jamie Leweling inside the opening 15 minutes put Stuttgart in control.
The hosts however let Mainz back into the match when Millot gave away a clumsy penalty late in the first half which was converted by Nadiem Amiri.
Jonathan Burkardt, who won the penalty, headed Mainz level after 62 minutes.
Stuttgart — who led in their Bundesliga opener and in the Super Cup against Leverkusen before losing both — led again when Fabian Rieder scored a stunning free-kick with two minutes remaining.
Mainz’s Maxim Leitsch scored in the fourth minute of added time to snatch a point for the visitors.
“We actually played a pretty good game, but we undid it by making simple mistakes,” Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller told Sky.
Eintracht Frankfurt won their opening home game 3-1 against Hoffenheim.
Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike again impressed in the win, scoring the opener and laying on a perfect pass for Hugo Larsson’s second.
Hoffenheim’s Andrej Kramaric, who scored a hat-trick in last week’s season opener, pulled one back for the visitors early in the second half but Egypt winger Omar Marmoush added another to seal the match.
Borussia Moenchengladbach won 2-0 at Bochum, while top-flight newcomers Holstein Kiel are still looking for their first Bundesliga point, going down 2-0 at home to Wolfsburg.
Brazil winger Raphinha scored a hat-trick as Barcelona thrashed Real Valladolid 7-0 on Saturday to make it four wins from four in La Liga under new coach Hansi Flick.
While bitter rivals Real Madrid have stumbled early following the much-trumpeted arrival of Kylian Mbappe, Barcelona are off to a flying start despite their continued financial difficulties.
Raphinha opened the scoring at the Olympic Stadium on 20 minutes as he chested down a pass from Pau Cubarsi and flicked elegantly into the far corner with the outside of his left boot.
Robert Lewandowski soon doubled the lead when he latched onto a ball through from Lamine Yamal and squeezed a shot past Valladolid goalkeeper Karl Hein, on loan from Arsenal.
Jules Kounde made it three before half-time when a corner dropped to the France defender inside the area and he stabbed into the top corner while off-balance.
Raphinha had a simple tap-in from close range just past the hour, with Lewandowski and Yamal involved before the ball broke kindly for the Brazilian.
He completed his treble on 72 minutes following a brilliant burst forward from Yamal, who then slid through a delightful pass for Raphinha to stroke home.
Dani Olmo, who got the winner midweek at Rayo Vallecano, on his debut, struck with his final touch as he danced past a series of defenders and rolled in Barcelona’s sixth.
Raphinha rounded off a glittering performance with the assist for Ferran Torres as Barcelona hit a seventh, fizzing in a cross from the left for the substitute to steer home in clinical fashion.
A few days ago, a new coach was hired for the Super Eagles, the national football team of Nigeria.
Under normal circumstances, it would be considered too soon to start any controversial discourse on the man. However, the shrouded process of the appointment, the timing of it, and the calibre of the person engaged following one of the worst periods in Nigeria’s football history, have raised a lot of eyebrows. To be silent would be tantamount to lazy journalism.
He is foreign, a German. His name is Bruno.
The only famous Bruno in sports that I know of are Fernandez of Manchester United FC, and the British boxer. In coaching, not any of the known names in international football that would have silenced critics and sceptics avers to hiring any more foreign coaches in Africa in 2024 after all the previous failures.
So, Bruno who?
The appointment of a Bruno Labbadia, therefore, came as a complete surprise to everyone (except, of course,those that must have been behind the deal). There must be some kind of deal in this new arrangement. That’s the only way to understand the rationale for a football administration to dare at this time to present to Nigerians a totally unknown coach, straight from the blue, completely outside the radar of even the most ardent football followers.
Bruno’s choice immediately attracts interest. The current relatively subdued debates on the issue are a result of the ‘shock’ of the audacity of the NFF administration to present, without clear reasons and motivation, a low-level foreign coach without international recognition or solid credentials after the unconvincing performances by several foreign coaches with better credentials, including Jose Paseiro, to Nigerians.
This is not even good to stick to the doctrine of a foreign coach given the outcry over previous dismal failures marked by a desert of trophies. The impression most Nigerians had after Paseiro’s ouster is that any new appointment would pass through microscopic lenses and scrutiny. For any foreign coach to be hired would as difficult as a ‘camel passing through the eye of a needle’. I had assumed that an unknown foreign coach would never again be unleashed on Nigerians. I now humbly concede naivety.
There are too many boxes that any prospective new coach would have to tick.
The person must be renowned internationally; must have clear and solid records of achievements to show in football; must be grounded in African football and footballers, either as a coach or even as a player; must have the reputation as a former player or as a coach to earn the immediate respect of the big superstars in the Eaglesand the critical Nigerian public.
Does Bruno Labbadia tick any of the boxes?
The Super Eagles are a very troubled team.
The team has not done well for several years in all competitions. The last AFCON in January/February this year was a punctuation mark with performances, since then, that make their commendable achievement look like a fluke. At AFCON 2023, they defied all the odds, rode on the back of some decent performances and got to the finals of the African Championship.
Since then, however, there has been a huge slump in performance, disturbing to the extent that the coach of the team, even after being lavishly celebrated and rewarded (prematurely it now seems), was sent ‘packing’ with the refusal to renew his contract.
The Super Eagles now face many challenges. The most glaring is that the team lacks depth in quality of players that can lift it above the present plateau where the team has remained for well over a decade, unable to win any major trophies, and not convincing anyone of its once-undisputed status as a giant in African football. Smaller countries that the Super Eagles used to devour for ‘breakfast’ have suddenly become their Nemesis. Some have even defeated the Super Eagles on their home turf, something that was once considered ‘impossible’!
With this new appointment of Bruno, my feeling is that the NFF has taken on a big gamble.
The expectation was that any new coach must start to win from Day One, and that there will be no excuses or time for a honeymoon. Nigerian coaches were not given any such luxury.
As Bruno Labbadia resumes and takes charge, his previous ‘record’ of never winning any trophy in his almost 30 years career as a coach, amounts to nothing. It will not serve as an acceptable excuse should he fail to deliver by defeating the Cheetahs of Benin Republic next week in a 2025 AFCON-qualifying match to be played in Uyo, Nigeria. The match has tension and grudge written all over it.
Gernot Rohr, the last German coach that was sacked by Nigeria some years ago, now leads the Cheetahs for this sequel against the Super Eagles.
He came a few months ago and inflicted the defeat on the Super Eagles that fast-tracked Jose Paseiro’s exit from Nigeria. That defeat was one of the worst and most humiliating in Nigerian football history. It must not happen again!
Unfortunately, even as the team list for the match was released during the week, it showed that Bruno would still be working with most of the same set of players that could not lift Nigerian football higher in the past decade. Is there some ‘magic’ that he would perform with the players within the one week that he has before the match?
There is also a second match within days against Rwanda in Kigali, another mountain that the new coach will have to climb to clear the cloud before the eyes of Nigerians about a certain coach from ‘nowhere’ leading their prized Super Eagles.
These two matches are critical for Bruno’s survival as the coach of the national team, and for the NFF itself as a board. Nigerians are waiting and watching.
Meanwhile, for academic reasons only, it will be interesting to know the value of Bruno’s contract, the duration of the contract, the target(s) set for him, who pays his wages between the sports ministry and the federation, foreign assistants (will he make use of local coaches), and so on.
The more I look at all this matter of Bruno Labbadia, the more I see it as one huge gamble by the NFF.
The deal between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the new Super Eagles Coach Bruno Labbadia have been aborted.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NFF had earlier announced on Tuesday that it had reached an agreement with German tactician, Labbadia to become the Head Coach of the Super Eagles.
However, a statement by Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Communications, on Friday quoted the NFF President, Musa Gusau as saying that the deal between the NFF and Labbadia had been botched.
Gusau explained that stringent regulations of German tax authorities had conspired to abort the agreement between the NFF and Coach Labbadia.
“We have been on the tax issue for the past three days.
“I told him clearly that there was no way the NFF will agree to offset the concomitant tax percentage on his salary that will be demanded by German tax authorities.
“It is not possible for us to shoulder the responsibility of shelling out another money, between 32 per cent to 40 per cent of his salary, after paying the agreed monthly wage.
“The NFF and Labbadia reached an agreement in principle before we made the announcement that he would become the Head Coach of the Super Eagles.
“The tax details were never part of our discussions, and he had personally agreed to all terms before the tax issue came up.
“We were doing our best to be flexible in the discussions but he was adamant that the NFF had to pay the full tax amount as well. We simply cannot do that,” Gusau said.
He added that with the latest development, Technical Director of Nigeria Football Federation, Coach Augustine Eguavoen will now take charge of the Super Eagles.
Eguavoen will lead the team for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic in Uyo, Sept. 7 and Kigali, Rwanda Kigali, on Sept. 10.
NAN reports that this would be Eguavoen’s fourth stint in charge of the three-time African champions, after earlier experience in 2005 to 2007, 2010 and 2022.(NAN)
Napoli’s Victor Osimhen has found himself sidelined as the Serie A club has handed his iconic number 9 jersey to their new signing, Romelu Lukaku.
This development follows a summer of intense transfer speculation and a reported fallout with the club’s hierarchy, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.
The Nigerian striker, who played a pivotal role in securing Napoli’s first Scudetto in four decades, was at the centre of a tug-of-war between several top clubs.
However, despite last-minute bids from Saudi giants Al-Hilal and English side Chelsea, Osimhen remains with the Partenopei, a situation that has left many fans and pundits puzzled.
New Napoli manager Antonio Conte, who has a history with Lukaku from their successful stint at Inter Milan, appears to have no place for Osimhen in his plans.
Conte’s preference for the Belgian striker is seen as a key reason behind the decision to strip Osimhen of his number 9 shirt.
Napoli had reportedly reached an agreement with Saudi club Al Ahli for a fee of around £67 million, but negotiations hit a snag when the Italian club demanded a higher fee.
This prompted Al Ahli to shift their focus to Brentford’s Ivan Toney, ultimately securing the English forward for a £40 million move.
Toney, who had already undergone a medical in London on Deadline Day, became the more straightforward option for the Saudi side.
The failed transfer saga has left Osimhen in a precarious position, with reports suggesting he could be sidelined until January when the transfer window reopens.
This situation is in contrast to his recent successes, including being named African Footballer of the Year and finishing 8th in the Ballon d’Or rankings.
After a successful 2023 season, tensions between the striker and Napoli had already been simmering, especially after the club’s official TikTok account released a controversial video that many interpreted as disrespectful.
Despite the public fallout, the former Wolfsburg striker extended his contract with Napoli until 2026.
Victor Osimhen’s move from Napoli to Chelsea on transfer deadline day failed to materialize.
The Nigeria international had been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge on deadline day but the parties were unable to reach an agreement, leaving the 25-year-old in a difficult position.
According to Italian sports journalist, Fabrizio Romano, negotiations between Napoli and Chelsea broke down late in the window.
“No agreement between Victor Osimhen and Chelsea even after a new proposal was presented two hours ago. Deal completely off for Victor Osimhen. No agreement with Chelsea, and the #CFC delegation is now leaving Napoli.
“If nothing happens from Saudi in the next three days, Osimhen will stay at Napoli but he’s not gonna be part of the first-team squad. Relationship currently completely broken,” Romano wrote on his social media platforms.
Osimhen was asking for a wage package worth over £300,000-a-week, according to Sky Sports.
Chelsea were reportedly ready to continue talks with the striker but their approach went unanswered, leaving the Blues to consider the deal off.
Napoli had also been in negotiations with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli for Osimhen‘s transfer, reportedly for an €80 million proposal.
While Osimhen had agreed on personal terms with Al-Ahli worth a massive €30 million per season, Napoli demanded an extra €5 million in bonuses on top of the €80 million offered, causing the deal to fall through.
Osimhen’s future now appears uncertain. With his relationship with Napoli coach Antonio Conte strained and the club unwilling to pay him a substantial salary while keeping him benched, his options are limited.
There remains a faint hope of a last-minute transfer to Saudi Arabia, as the transfer window in that region remains open until September 2.
[DailyTrust]
Arsenal legend, David Seaman, has told goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale that the club’s fans will ‘never forget’ his massive contribution to getting the Gunners back in the UEFA Champions League following his transfer deadline day move to Premier League side Southampton.
Recall that Ramsdale completed a £25m move to the Saints on Friday.
The 26-year-old signed a four-year contract with Southampton with an option of another 12 months.
Reacting, Seaman wrote on X:
“Wishing the very best of luck to a great friend and goalie Aaron Ramsdale as he makes his move to the Saints, a great opportunity to see him playing in the Premier League again.
“We’ll never forget his match-winning saves and massive contribution to getting us back into the Champions League again.
“I look forward to watching his progress and the continuation of his career from afar! See you on the golf course soon mate. Good luck!”
[DailyPost]
The Nigeria Football Federation has been forced to abandon its agreement with German coach Bruno Labbadia to lead the Super Eagles, citing complications arising from strict German tax regulations, Soccernet.ng reports.
The deal fell apart after the NFF refused to shoulder the additional tax burden, which could have amounted to between 32% and 40% of Labbadia’s salary.
NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau revealed that while both parties had initially reached an agreement in principle, the unexpected tax issue became a sticking point.
“We have been on the tax issue for the past three days, and I told him clearly that there was no way the NFF will agree to offset the concomitant tax percentage on his salary that will be demanded by German tax authorities,” Gusau said. “We were doing our best to be flexible in the discussions, but he was adamant that the NFF had to pay the full tax amount as well. We simply cannot do that.”
With the Labbadia deal now off the table, the NFF has turned to its Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, to lead the Super Eagles in their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches.
Eguavoen, who is stepping in for his fourth stint as head coach, will guide the team in crucial matches against Benin Republic on September 7 in Uyo and Rwanda on September 10 in Kigali.
Eguavoen’s appointment brings a familiar face back to the helm of the three-time African champions, but the sudden change in leadership just days before the qualifiers has raised concerns about the team’s readiness for the challenges ahead.
South Africa’s Udeme Okon won gold in the 400m final at the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, with a remarkable comeback, clocking in at 45.69 seconds.
The victory, shared on social media, highlighted Okon’s dual ties to Nigeria and South Africa, sparking reactions from both nations.
While the recent controversy involving Miss Chidinma Adetshina underscored tensions between the two countries, Okon’s achievement seems to have been celebrated across borders
PUNCH Online reports that the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships, also known colloquially by its former official title, the World Junior Championships, is an international athletics competition for athletes qualifying as juniors.
Health 360: Food Safety
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The event is ongoing in Lima, Peru, from August 27 to 31, 2024.
Okon’s profile on his Instagram page, #udeme_sprints, shows both the Nigerian and South African flags, signifying his ties to both nations, PUNCH Online also reports.
World Athletics in early Friday video posts on X revealed this.
It read, “WHAT. A. COMEBACK. ‘s Udeme Okon wins the 400m final in great style with 45.69.
“It’s Okon’s moment Udeme Okon claims the 400m gold with an incredible comeback in the home straight 45.69 ”
Meanwhile, several reactions followed the post from South Africans and Nigerians alike.
Nigerians-South Africans tension
Recall the recent controversy surrounding Miss Chidinma Adetshina, a South African-born model of Nigerian and Mozambican descent, which sparked significant debate and tension between South Africans and Nigerians.
Adetshina’s eligibility to compete in the Miss South Africa pageant was questioned after revelations about her dual citizenship. Critics argued that her participation undermines the opportunities for South African-born candidates, fueling xenophobic sentiments.
As the scrutiny over her citizenship and background intensified, Adetshina withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition, citing concerns for her safety.
Following her withdrawal, she was invited to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, which has further complicated the situation given the uncertainty around her Nigerian citizenship status.
However, it seems reactions from the South Africans do not have an issue with Okon and his gold medal.
World Athletics
PUNCH Online reports that World Athletics, the global athletic governing body, oversees disciplines like track and field, cross-country, road running, and race walking. Established in 1912 as the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF), it rebranded in 2019 to modernise its image and expand its global appeal.
Headquartered in Monaco, World Athletics sets the sport’s rules, organises major events like the World Athletics Championships, and maintains world records. The organisation is committed to promoting athletics worldwide, supporting athletes and national federations, and fostering the development of the sport at all levels.
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Napoli have reportedly accepted a £67.3 million (€80m) offer from Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli to sign Victor Osimhen.
According to SkySports, the Nigerian striker will earn wages in the region of £646,000 per week tax free on a four-year contract worth around £33.6 million (€40m) a season.
The English sports news outlet added that Osimhen will head to Saudi Arabia for medicals on Friday.
However, Fabrizio Romano, an Italian journalist, said while Napoli has accepted the bid, Osimhen is yet to decide on the move.
He added that Osimhen is still negotiating with Chelsea FC, and the striker will only consider the Al Ahli option should the talk with the London club break down.
Chelsea have been heavily linked with Osimhen Chelsea since the transfer window opened. The club aimed to acquire the 25-year-old on loan with an obligation to buy.
The Blues’ negotiation with Osimhen has stalled over a wage agreement as the striker’s initial demand did not fit into the club’s new wage structure.
Over the last months, Osimhen’s relationship with the leadership had broken down irredeemably, leading to the striker tendering a transfer request.
Antonio Conte, Napoli’s new manager, constantly communicated that his plan for the team does not include Osimhen and poached Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea.
UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin on Thursday honoured Cristiano Ronaldo with a special award in recognition of his remarkable legacy in the world’s most prestigious competition.
Cristiano Ronaldo the all-time leading goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League.
Ronaldo’s achievements in Europe’s premier club competition – over the course of more than 18 years – were recognised during the inaugural 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 36-team league phase draw ceremony on Thursday 29 August at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.
The former Sporting Clube de Portugal, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward has scored 140 Champions League goals in 183 appearances.
He is 11 goals clear of Lionel Messi and 46 ahead of third-placed Robert Lewandowski at the top of the scoring charts.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the brightest stars in the UEFA Champions League constellation. His extraordinary goalscoring achievements in the competition seem destined to stand the test of time, posing a remarkable challenge for future generations to surpass.
“His sustained excellence at the highest level is a testament to his relentless pursuit of both team and individual honours. Over more than two decades, he has continuously evolved and refined his game while preserving a youthful passion for scoring and celebrating goals.
“His professionalism, work ethic, dedication and ability to shine on the grandest stage are qualities that football players everywhere should aspire to emulate,” UEFA President Ceferin said.
Ronaldo has finished seven separate Champions League seasons as leading scorer – more than any other player – spanning from his eight goals in Manchester United’s triumphant 2007/08 campaign to his 15-goal haul when Real Madrid claimed their third straight title in 2017/18. He also holds the record for most goals in a single Champions League season having found the net 17 times in 2013/14, including in the extra-time win against Atlético de Madrid in the final.
The Portugal forward has won the competition once with Manchester United and four times with Real Madrid – making him the first five-time winner in the competition’s history since 1992 – and is the only player to have scored in three separate Champions League finals (2008, 2014, 2017).
He also holds the record for longest Champions League scoring streak having struck in 11 successive matches from June 2017 to April 2018. Ronaldo has also scored an astounding eight Champions League hat-tricks.
The multiple Ballon d’Or and UEFA Men’s Player of the Year recipient is also the all-time leading scorer in all UEFA club competition (145 goals, 197 appearances) as well as the most prolific ever player in men’s international football (130 goals, 212 appearances).
CRISTIANO RONALDO’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CAREER IN NUMBERS
Appearances: 183
Goals: 140
Wins: 5 (2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Top scorer: 7 times (2007/08, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15*, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18)
Most goals in a single season: 17 (2013/14)
Longest scoring streak: 11 games
*Joint-top scorer with Lionel Messi and Neymar
The Nigerian women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, has made history by rising to eighth place in the latest FIBA rankings, released on Thursday.
This significant leap of four spots secures their position among the top 10 teams globally, making them the first African team – men or women – to break into the top 10 of the FIBA world rankings.
D’Tigress’ impressive performance at the Paris Olympics fueled their historic rise. Notable achievements include:
– Defeating Australia in their first game, securing their first Olympic victory in 20 years.
– “A brilliant performance” against France.
– Defeating Canada to become the first African side to qualify for the Olympic basketball quarter-finals.
Although they lost to the United States in the quarter-finals, D’Tigress’ remarkable display earned their head coach, Rena Wakama, the title of “best coach of the women’s basketball event.”
The top five teams in women’s basketball remain, United States (Olympic champions), Australia, France, China, Spain.
D’Tigress’ groundbreaking achievement solidifies their position as six-time AfroBasket champions and a force to be reckoned with in global women’s basketball.
Nigerian high jumper and national record holder Temitope Adeshina talks about her journey into athletics and the pains of missing out on the final of the event at the Paris 2024 Olympics in this interview with ABIODUN ADEWALE.
How did you begin your journey into athletics, and what inspired you to focus on the high jump?
My journey into the high jump started with the Baba Ijebu Inter-School Athletics Championships around 2014 and 2015. I made it from the inter-school level to the district level, where I was second behind Esther Isa. That was also where and when my coach, Kola Adebayo, discovered us. He said we were tall and asked if we were interested in training with his athletes. He gave us his number then, but unfortunately, I lost my phone and couldn’t reach him. After the competition, everyone went back to their schools, and I began to go to the stadium. I schooled in Badagry, Lagos State, so I only went to the stadium on weekends. I was training in the evening, and unknown to me, coach Kola Adebayo was training in the morning. In the absence of coach Kola, I met coach Adu, Ruth Usoro’s coach, and started sprint training with him. However, I was a bit lazy in that, and he told me he was going to introduce me to a high jump coach who turned out to be coach Kola. That was how I reconnected with coach Kola, and I began to train specifically in the high jump. From there, I went to more school competitions, and gradually, I started competing at meets and national events in Nigeria.
The Olympics have come and gone. What’s the greatest lesson you learnt from your first outing at that level?
The Olympics have taught me not to wait for anybody. You just have to do what you need to do because eventually, nobody celebrates failure. If you win, that is when you will be celebrated. Nobody wants to roll with a loser. That’s the greatest lesson I got from the Olympics, even though the will to merely make it there is what most of us take as solace. But for me, it’s one thing to be an Olympian; it is another thing to be an Olympic medallist. So, we go again next time in LA 2028.
What was on your mind when you stepped out to compete?
When I first stepped onto the purple track inside the Stade de France, I was like, ‘Wow, this is a dream come true.’ Of course, there are still many other dreams, but that was special. From the time that I qualified, throughout my camping and eventual journey to Paris, I had nursed the feeling of becoming an Olympian, and I felt it the moment I stepped out to compete.
The bronze medal-winning mark was 1.95m, and your season’s best, which qualified you, was 1.97m. How did you feel about that, having not made the final of the event?
After the qualifiers, I felt bad that I couldn’t reach the final. And believe me, I gave it my all. During the final, when I saw that the bronze medal winning mark was 1.95m, I felt bad all over again because my season’s best, which qualified me for the Games, was 1.97m. I got to my room that day and cried. Honestly, I tried my best because I had a very long season.
Overall, Nigeria returned without a medal, and some Nigerians will blame the athletes for the poor outing. How disappointing was that for you?
As much as people demand from us as athletes, we demand more from ourselves too. I push myself beyond limits. The Olympics come up once every four years, and it’s not even easy to qualify in the first place. No athlete will take the sacrifices involved for granted. It was a low moment for me and all of us.
How did you prepare for the games, and what were the challenges you faced?
I prepared so hard because it was a dream I wanted to fulfil. Before the NCAA nationals, I checked the rankings, and I saw that I was Paris-bound, being in 25th place in the world. So, I was like, ‘Let me give myself a breather from competing and focus on training for the Olympics.’ Weeks later, my ranking had dropped from 25 to 33. When I called coach Kola Adebayo, then he said if I qualified by rankings, Nigeria would not register me for the Olympics, so I needed to pick an automatic qualifying ticket so I would be sure of going to the Olympics. That woke my spirit, and there were just three competitions left before the end of the season; I was almost giving up on qualifying for the Olympics. So I went for the NCAA nationals, and the big jump (1.97 m) came, and it got me straight to Paris and became a new national record as well.
How does it feel to hold the national indoor and outdoor records in the women’s high jump?
Holding both records feels great. Coach Adebayo usually said if I believed in myself, it would happen, and it did. I was so excited because I wasn’t expecting the results to come so soon. I always knew the results would come too, and I am proud of my achievements so far. Last season is one to remember for me, and I always want to look back to my first season in the NCAA and derive the inspiration to aim higher. Thanks to God, that is how it has been, all thanks to my sports mother, Doreen Amata, and my coaches in Nigeria and college as well.
How is your relationship with the former national record holder, Doreen Amata?
Dorren Amata has been like a mother to me since I started the high jump. She bought me my first high jump spikes as well. From the first time I met her, she has always monitored my progress. She was very sad about my performance at the Olympics and called me on the phone as soon as I finished my event.
How has it been combining academics with competition, and how is the NCAA impacting your career?
It’s not easy. I leave the house as early as 7 am and am at school before 8 am for classes, practice, assignments, exams, and competitions. I almost gave up the idea of studying. The impact of the NCAA has been immense. Aside from when I was discovered in Nigeria, joining the NCAA is another big step in my career because back home, there is little or no facility. The high jump bed I used in training in Nigeria is like what they use in the room. Imagine landing badly on one of those; you will feel your body touching the ground. So, coming here is a big step that has improved my career. To God be the glory, I won about four awards in my first season as well, and I’m ranked 18th in the world. By the time I start competing again, the only way is up.
You once competed in the 100m hurdles. Why did you leave the event?
I didn’t abandon the 100m hurdles, but I had to stick to the high jump in school. My school even wanted me to run the 400m as well.
What are your targets for next season and other major competitions ahead?
Going to the Olympics is a great experience, and my target at the World Championships next year is to return with any type of medal. Any medal would do. The long-term plan is also to be at the Commonwealth Games in 2026 and the next Olympics as well, of course, as a medallist. In terms of performance, I had hoped to jump 2m before the end of this season, which ended with the Olympics, and I wish I did that on the global stage too. The target is to jump 2.05 m. I have 3 cm more to make 2m, and I will double the effort to jump 2.05m.
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