Sports

Man United out of Champions League in narrow defeat to Atletico Madrid

Published

2 years ago

March 16, 2022

Man United out of Champions League in narrow defeat to Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid dumped Manchester United out of the Champions League round of 16 after edging to a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Renan Lodi scored the only goal just before half-time as Diego Simeone’s side won 2-1 on aggregate after a late draw in the first leg last month.

Tuesday’s result means United’s trophy drought will now almost certainly stretch to five years, with Ralf Rangnick’s side already eliminated from the FA Cup and 20 points behind leaders Manchester City in the Premier League.

“I think we played a very good first half — exactly the way we wanted to play with a high energy level but we couldn’t convert that into one or two goals,” Rangnick said after the match.

“Conceding that counter-attacking goal just before halftime didn’t make life any easier. It was hard in the second half and always interrupted. There was always somebody lying on the floor.”

United named three changes from Saturday’s victory over Tottenham Hotspur, with Bruno Fernandes coming in to start and Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford dropping to the bench.

Teenage United forward Anthony Elanga, who turned hero to score a last-minute equaliser in the first-leg, went close to opening the scoring on Tuesday.

This was when his run toward the near post in the 12th minute was rewarded with a low cross from Fernandes, but he saw his shot stopped by goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

United goalkeeper David de Gea then produced an outstanding diving save to push wide a long range effort from Rodrigo De Paul.

Atletico had the ball in the back of the net midway through the first half when Joao Felix tapped in to an empty net at the back post, but Marcos Llorente, who supplied the assist, was ruled offside.

It was a typical display of the kind of gritty defending and swift counter-attacking for which Simeone’s side have been known.

United, for all their pressure, were unable to create enough quality opportunities to get themselves the goal they needed.

The visitors did eventually take the lead in the 41st minute through Lodi as he scored a jumping header at the back post following a floated cross from Antoine Griezmann.

The move came after Atletico won back possession from Elanga, who looked to have been fouled but saw protests waved away by referee Slavko Vincic.

On Vincic’s calls, Rangnick adeed: “I would also say some curious refereeing decisions. I wouldn’t say they were decisive but at least he fell too often for those time-wasting antics.”

United pushed for an equaliser in the second half but were unable to find a way back into the match, resulting in their sixth elimination in their past eight Champions League knockout ties.

“In the second half it was a brilliant collective effort from the team, one of the best this year,” Simeone said in a postmatch news conference.

“I’m happy, that’s why I celebrated it in the dressing room.”

Elsewhere in the Champions League also played on Tuesday, Darwin Nunez’s 80th minute goal proved enough as Benfica shocked hosts Ajax 1-0 (3-2 on aggregate) to progress to the last eight.

(Reuters/NAN)

Sports

Dabiri-Erewa Congratulates AJ for Defeating Ngannou

Published

1 month ago

March 9, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Dabiri-Erewa Congratulates AJ for Defeating Ngannou

By: Michael Mike

Chairman/ CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri- Erewa has congratulated Anthony Joshua, a British-Nigerian boxer for defeating Francis Ngannou on Friday night in Saudi Arabia.

The NiDCOM boss gave the commendation on Saturday in a statement issued by the Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocol, Abdur- Rahman Balogun.

Dabiri-Erewa said that the victory has brought more glory to Nigeria and has shown what can be achieved by being resilient.

She said: “We are proud of you and urge you to continue to use your professional prowess to extol the virtues of Nigerian heritage.

Anthony Joshua secured his unflinching victory against Ngannou with a destructive second-round knockout at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

This knockout has delivered the most powerful statement to the heavyweight division as he has done what his compatriot Tyson Fury could not do to Francis Ngannou.

Dabiri-Erewa Congratulates AJ for Defeating Ngannou

News

Musa to Build School in Kano, other parts of Nigeria

Published

2 months ago

February 16, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Musa to Build School in Kano, other parts of Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

The Captain of Super Eagles, Ahmed Musa has revealed his plan to build school in his hometown Kano and other parts of the country.

Musa, who had already built sports academy in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos and Plateau, said his new plan is to build school in Kano, his hometown first and later other parts of Nigeria.

The Team Captain of the silver winning Super Eagles at the just concluded African Nations Cup in Cote D’voire, speaking during a reception by the Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa
thanked the NiDCOM Chairman for the kind gesture and for all her support to the Diaspora, especially during the crisis in Sudan.

Musa, in an emotional laden voice, recalled his humble beginning which prompted his generousity to assist the less privileged in the society across the country.

Musa said he wanted to inspire others with his story, especially those that looked down on footballers in the past,

He assured Nigerians that in addition to other executed projects, he plans to establish a school in his hometown, Kano and subsequently expand to other states in Nigeria in the future.

Dabiri-Erewa on her part commended the Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa for being an exemplary Nigerian Diaspora and a great mentor of Nigerians youths.

She noted that the player has heeded to the mandate of being a good ambassador, remembering the country and excelling in the art of football.

She said Ahmed Musa earned the Commission’s maiden National Diaspora Merit Award in the sports category due to his philanthropic gesture and mentoring of the youths.

Dabiri-Erewa said: “We are very proud of you as a Great Soccer Ambassador, Philanthropist and mentor of our younger ones with the building of sports academy in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos and Plateau

“I have always been saying it that success is about how many lives you have touched and Ahmed Musa here have done so much for humanity.”

She re- echoed her congratulatory message to the entire Super Eagles team for coming second in the just concluded AFCON 2023 in Cote Divoire.

Also, the FCT State Diaspora Focal Point Officer, Mrs Sarah Areo, lauded the Nigerian player for his achievement and assured him that the FCT is ready to support his future philanthropic projects especially in Abuja.

Musa to Build School in Kano, other parts of Nigeria

News

Dabiri- Erewa Congratulates Anthony Joshua on Victory, Describes it Long Awaited

Published

1 year ago

April 2, 2023

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Dabiri- Erewa Congratulates Anthony Joshua on Victory, Describes it Long Awaited

By: Michael Mike

Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, (NIDCOM), Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has congratulated British-Nigerian former World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (AJ) for getting his mojo back by defeating American Jermaine Franklin on Saturday.after successive lost.

Dabiri-Erewa, in a signed statement on Sunday by one of the officials of the Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit of NIDCOM, Gabriel Odu, expressed joy over the boxing exploits of the two-time World heavyweight champion as he made a victorious comeback to the global boxing books by defeating the American.

Dabiri-Erewa, while describing AJ’s win as a “never- say-never, the I-can-do-spirit of Nigerians anywhere in the world,” added that AJ is a true ambassador at large, making Nigeria super proud and projecting the good image of Nigerians globally.

This is Joshua’s first victory since 2020 after he successively suffered defeats from Oleksandr Usyk.

The 33-year old former World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, on saturday, returned to the boxing stage with a unanimous points-decision over Jermaine Franklin with the three judges giving the fight to on 118-111, 117-111, 117-111, at London 02 Arena, Saturday.

Dabiri- Erewa Congratulates Anthony Joshua on Victory, Describes it Long Awaited