Sports
Man Utd Hosts Bayern In Titanic Clash
rior to the first leg of Manchester United’s Champions League quarter-final encounter against Bayern Munich, much of the talk revolved around the famous final of 1999, which the Red Devils claimed in dramatic circumstances. Sadly for Sir Alex’s Ferguson’s men, by the time it had turned 22:35 in Munich last week, the media were ruminating over a reverse showing.
Of course, Franck Ribery’s deflected free kick and Ivica Olic’s smart winner were not quite as late as the blows the English Premier League club gave to FCB over a decade ago, and neither were they quite as damaging. Bayern had no chance to bounce back in Barcelona; United have their opportunity for revenge to night.
A flat performance at the Allianz Arena from United was perhaps overshadowed a little by the ankle injury sustained by Wayne Rooney in the build-up to the decisive goal, but there can be few doubts about the repercussions that ‘Wazza’s’ injury may yet have on the Red Devils’ campaign. Out for around three weeks, the Old Trafford club missed their star’s cutting edge and sheer bullishness as they slumped 2-1 to Chelsea on Saturday in a vital league encounter.
Despite the weekend setback, club captain Gary Neville is relishing the prospect of tonight’s encounter and believes United have a good chance of overhauling their opponents. “Our ground is a difficult place to come to and we’ve got a good record at home this season,” he said, according to the club’s official website. “It’s a big game for us and we have to make sure we make things difficult for them.”
With a European pedigree only surpassed by Barcelona over the course of the last five years, there can be little doubt that the vastly experienced English side have every right to remain confident ahead of the test.
Like Manchester United, Bayern Munich had to tackle a vitally important league match at the weekend, but unlike the Red Devils, Louis van Gaal’s side dug deep to secure a 2-1 success against title rivals Schalke in trying circumstances. Reduced to 10 men, the Bavarians defended stoically; a fine dress rehearsal for the trial they are likely to be under this evening.
Dutch coach Van Gaal was delighted with the outcome. “We allowed them very few chances,” he beamed after the game. “We’ve scored two very good goals, so I’m extremely pleased. We knew it would be difficult after we went a man down, but we also knew Schalke would have problems taking the initiative. We closed down the space well, and fortunately that was enough.”
Boosting German confidence further is their fine record against their midweek opponents. United have been relatively regular foes for Die Roten in Europe, yet their record against the three-times European champions is remarkably strong. In eight previous meetings, the German giants have only been defeated once, and should they maintain that record over the course of the game, Van Gaal will lead his side into the semi-finals.
The Nigeria Football Federation has defended the recent quarter-finals draw for the 2025 President Federation Cup, saying it was conducted in line with best global practices.
A member of the NFF Executive Committee Board, George Aluo, stated that criticism over venues for the quarterfinals was unfortunate.
Going by the fixtures released on Saturday by the football body, Abakaliki FC will take on Nasarawa United in Benin, Wikki Tourists will clash with Ikorodu City in Bwari, Abuja, Akwa United and Kwara United will fight it out in Enugu, just as Area 3, Abuja, will host the encounter between Rangers International and Plateau United. All matches are scheduled for May 3rd for the emergence of semifinalists in a leg affair.
However, there have been criticisms over the Ikorodu United vs Wikki Tourist tie billed for Abuja, with a section of the press saying the venue is skewed in favour of the Bauchi team.
Aluo, also the Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), said: “Some of our media men need better education, and newsmen should not be like the fans out there on the streets. In the English FA Cup, it is always a one-legged pairing that can see a club like Arsenal host Manchester United at home”.
A new contract that will see Act Sports Di Oyibo Limited managing the career of Nigerian teqball specialist, Victor Oyemade, has been signed in Lagos.
The deal gives exclusive rights to Act Sports to manage, and exercise power of attorney over issues relating to the player’s welfare as it concerns his transactions, engagement for professional, promotional, sponsorships, endorsements, and exhibition purposes.
In signing the document, both parties also agreed that proper safeguards would be put in place to protect and promote the player’s interest at all times.
Director of Act Sports, Di Oyibo Limited, Pastor Samuel Robinson Oyibo, excited about the deal, said it would benefit both parties in the area of spreading the message of the sport, as well as laying a firm foundation for his new client’s future.
“Teqball is one of the world’s fastest-growing ball sports, and Victor Oyemade is the face of the sport here in Nigeria and Africa. That is why we are excited about this partnership that gives Act Sports official authorisation to manage his career, just as it will lay the foundation for its rapid growth in our country,” Pastor Oyibo said.
Oyemade was no less excited about the deal, saying it would help his growth in the sport.
Coaches of Nigeria’s U-18 and U-20 women’s handball teams have released their final lists of 14 players ahead of the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase, which will be held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, that commenced yesterday to end 24th of this month.
The two teams have been training at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos, for close to two weeks and departed for the competition on Thursday.
Coach John Uzor of the national U-18 team has included Omole Joy of Defender Babes and her sister Omole Shola alongside Ojie Princess of Funad Academy alongside right back Faisat Balogun in the mix while Success Duru, Chetachi Ngaodurubie of COAS Babes and Sharon Okonkwo make the cut, amongst other players.
In the U-20 team, Coach Shittu Agboola has largely stuck with the players he has been grooming since their U-18 days. The team is led by Captain Chidera Ogbusimba alongside, her Rima Queens teammates the Samuel Sisters, Amina Mohammed and Joy Peters.
Israel-based Rahima Bello, Kehinde Babatunde of ASPAC HBC of Benin Republic and Esther Mathew, who is also based in Benin Republic, keep their places.
Coach Shittu believes his team will make Nigeria proud just as they did previously at the U-18 level.
“I am really upset that Taiwo Babatunde will not be part of the team for this competition as her school, Yaba College of Technology, insisted that they will not release her for national service because of examinations.
“We did everything humanly possible to secure her release and they didn’t care that it is a national service for the interest of Nigeria and the growth of sports. We have other players who are also students and they got a release from their schools but for no tangible reason, Yabatech refused to release Taiwo despite the fact that we did everything possible to secure her release. It’s sad and I hope the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission will work in tandem so that schools will support our goal in making Nigeria proud in sporting events”.