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Tag: League

  • Man City v Liverpool: 1xBet announces a grand battle in the Premier League – Sporting Tribune

    Man City v Liverpool: 1xBet announces a grand battle in the Premier League – Sporting Tribune

    The reliable bookmaker 1xBet talks about the Premier League 13th-round central match, where Manchester City will take on Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on November 25.

     

    Man City returned to the champion schedule

     

    Manchester City lost three matches in September and October, but after the defeat to Arsenal, Pep Guardiola’s team gained great momentum and topped the table by the international break. The Citizens beat strong Brighton (2-1), silenced Old Trafford in the derby with Manchester United (3-0), destroyed Bournemouth (6-1), and staged a real thriller with Chelsea (4-4). The game against the Blues was an actual football holiday, but only for Chelsea fans – as City led three times during the match and conceded a fourth goal in stoppage time. In the last game, Guardiola couldn’t count on his most important defensive player, John Stones, due to injury, and there is no guarantee the Englishman will recover for the meeting with Liverpool. However, the best defense is an attack. The team has 32 goals, and Erling Haaland scored 13 of them. Stopping a forward is difficult, but Arsenal has already shown it is possible. Will Virgil Van Dijk cope with the Norwegian scoring machine? After the injury in the collision with Pickford, the Dutchman lost his speed but not the football intelligence; he remains at the level of the player close to the Ballon d’Or in 2019.

     

    Klopp knows how to play against Guardiola  

     

    Liverpool failed in last season’s first half and couldn’t rise above fifth place in the final standings. Experts said that the Reds should think about finding a new coach, but the management believed in Jurgen Klopp, and now his team is second in the Premier League, only a point behind Man City. The Merseysiders rebuilt their midfield, signing Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Wataru Endō. The newcomers quickly understood Klopp’s ideas and began to do good. Szoboszlai and Mac Allister were especially helpful. In their previous clubs, they mastered the ins and outs of high pressing, which, combined with football intelligence, technique, and stamina, makes them indispensable to Liverpool’s style.

     

    The coaching duel deserves special attention. Klopp knows better than anyone else how to beat Guardiola and has inflicted 12 defeats on him. Liverpool and Arsenal have the best defense this season and conceded just 10 goals, but can the Reds stop Manchester City on their pitch? All hope lies in counterattacks and the magnificent Salah, who, in the shadow of the media Haaland, has already scored 10 goals and is still one of the world’s best attacking players.

     

    What to expect

     

    Meetings between Man City and Liverpool are rarely dull. In 9 of the last 11 matches, at least 4 goals were scored. Guardiola and Klopp know each other well and are sure to prepare an excellent football show! Watch the top game and support your favorites with the football betting company 1xBet!

     

    Bet on Man City v Liverpool here

     


    November 16, 2023
  • Teams arrive Lagos as Ardova Handball Premier League 2023 phase two commences – Sporting Tribune

    Teams arrive Lagos as Ardova Handball Premier League 2023 phase two commences – Sporting Tribune

    All is now set for the commencement of the Ardova Handball Premier League 2023 phase 2 which will hold in Lagos, starting from Monday.

    The second phase of the Ardova Handball Premier League 2023 will see the twenty-two teams (12 male teams, 10 female teams) and officials arrive in Lagos, Monday the 13th of November 2023, ahead of hostilities which will commence on Tuesday, November the 14th 2023 at the indoor sports hall of the National Institute of Sports (NIS), National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos and the outdoor handball court at the Rowe Park Sports Center, Yaba, Lagos.

    Coaches of the teams and officials which include but are not limited to referees and members of the technical and organizing committee will hold a technical meeting at the NIS Indoor Sports hall, to avail themselves again of the rules of the league while the matches will commence at exactly 7 am on Tuesday morning at the two centers.

    With Niger United and Safety Babes leading the league summit in the men and women categories from phase 1 which was held in Benin City, Edo State, team will be battle ready to get cracking in the two categories with juicy fixtures to wet the appetites of fans.

    Starting with the women’s category, third place Rima Queens of Sokoto with 23 points, will continue where they left it in the first phase as they play Bayelsa Queens who are 8th on the log with 13 points while Delta Queens who are 7th on the table with 16 points will play bottom placed Benue Queens on match day 1.

    Still, in the women’s category, it’s a battle of 5th versus 6th as home team Seasider Babes of Lagos will face Bendel Dynamos while arguably the big match of the day will see the Abuja derby with Safety Babes, who are defending champion and league leaders face off against city rival and second-placed Defender Babes in what promises to be an interesting match between the duo.

    Former Champion Plateau Peacocks who are 4th on the table will play 9th place Imo Grasshoppers.

    In the men’s category, 9th placed D.Defenders play 6th placed Confluence Stars while league leaders and former champion Niger United with 30 points will play Correction Boys placed 10th on the table with 16 points.

    After an underwhelming first phase which saw them placed 5th on the table with 25 points, defending champion Kano Pillars will want to start the second phase on a different slate as they face 7th placed Rima Strikers while 4th placed Lagos Seasider Boys with 27 points will continue their phase 1 form as they play Benue Buffaloes who are 8th on the table.

    Bottom team Bendel Dynamos will play Police Machine while Tojemarine Academy who is second on the table will play second-placed Safety Shooters in the final match of the men’s category on match day 1.

    All matches will be streamed live on HFN TV on Facebook and the Handball Federation of Nigeria YouTube page with regular updates on the X and Instagram pages of HFN.

    This is the sixth season of the league with a new title sponsor Ardova PLC which will see an increase in preparatory subsidy of 500,000 naira for each of the twenty-two teams (12 male and 10 female teams )as well as the winners getting 2.5 million naira price money.

     

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    November 13, 2023
  • Man Utd on brink of Champions League exit after Copenhagen collapse

    Man Utd on brink of Champions League exit after Copenhagen collapse

    Manchester United are on the brink of an early exit from the Champions League after blowing a 2-0 lead to lose 4-3 on Wednesday to FC Copenhagen as Marcus Rashford was sent-off in the Danish capital.

    Rasmus Hojlund looked to have come back to haunt his former club by scoring twice inside half an hour.

    But Rashford’s sending-off swung the destiny of the match and possibly sealed United’s fate with a third defeat in four games in Group A.

    Mohamed Elyounoussi and Diogo Goncalves from the penalty spot levelled for Copenhagen before half-time.

    Bruno Fernandes’ spot-kick briefly put United back in front, but two goals in the final seven minutes from Lukas Lerager and 17-year-old Roony Bardghji handed Copenhagen their first Champions League win since 2016.

    United sink to the bottom of the group, one point behind Galatasaray and Copenhagen, with two games left to play.

    The Red Devils travel to Galatasaray in three weeks’ time before hosting runaway group winners Bayern Munich.

    Defeat will again ramp up the pressure on United boss Erik ten Hag as a disastrous start to the season in both the Premier and Champions League goes on.

    But the Dutchman will reflect on what might have been but for Rashford’s dismissal after an excellent opening half an hour.

    Copenhagen boss Jacob Neestrup claimed United would be met with an atmosphere “100 times” more intense than his side faced at Old Trafford two weeks ago.

    But the locals were quickly quietened by one of their own inside three minutes.

    Hojlund is still to score his first Premier League goal since a £64 million ($78 million) move from Atalanta but is now the joint top scorer in the Champions League this season with five in four games.

    He could not miss after being picked out by Scott McTominay at the back post for a tap in after a fine team move to open the scoring.

    Hojlund was again in the right place for a simple finish to make it 2-0 after Kamil Grabara parried Alejandro Garnacho’s initial effort.

    Grabara then needed to make a fine save to deny Hojlund a first half hat-trick.

    However, the momentum completely swung when Rashford’s difficult season took another turn for the worse.

    There appeared no malice from the England international, but his studs caught Elias Jelert on the ankle as he tried to protect the ball and after a VAR review he was shown red.

    From the resulting free-kick, Bruno Fernandes flicked a header off his own crossbar.

    But United were not handed a reprieve for long as Elyounoussi turned in Goncalves’ clever ball back across goal.

    Thirteen minutes were added at the end of the first half due to an earlier delay caused by a medical emergency in the stands and United’s lead did not survive until the break.

    Andre Onana saved Jordan Larsson’s penalty in the last action of the game in United’s 1-0 win when the sides last met.

    Goncalves had been withdrawn by that stage a fortnight ago, but he took responsibility from the spot and coolly sent Onana the wrong way.

    The roles were reversed as VAR came to United’s rescue in the second half to penalise a handball by Denis Vavro and Fernandes emphatically smashed home the resulting penalty.

    The visitors, though, failed to hold out for a vital three points.

    Diogo Dalot was caught napping as Lerager stole in at the far post to bundle the ball past Onana to give Copenhagen fresh hope.

    Teenage substitute Bardghji then produced a fairytale finish for the hosts as he smashed a volley into the ground and beyond Onana after Maguire failed to clear a cross into the box.

    AFP

  • 60 clubs to participate in second edition of Ondo Bet9ja League – Sporting Tribune

    60 clubs to participate in second edition of Ondo Bet9ja League – Sporting Tribune

    No fewer than 60 football clubs will participate in the second edition of the second edition of Bet9ja Ondo State Football League, to re-awaken the state league which had been docile.

    The Chairman of the Bet9ja Football League in the state, Mr. Yomi Seriki, who disclosed this in Akure, during the draws in Akure, the state capital, said the league was put together to groom future champions and players for clubs, especially, for Sunshine Stars, through the competition.

    Seriki who appreciated the teams that registered for this year’s competition said the competition would go a long way to determine whether the football league would continue, urging the clubs to protect the sponsors’ name.

    He noted that he had enjoyed working with football stakeholders in Ondo State and the relationship and leadership of the Football Association and stakeholders led to a renewal of the league sponsorship deal.

    Seriki appreciated Bet9ja for the continuous promotion of grassroots football, said the committee would be fair to all participants.

    He said “Getting the sponsorship is not that easy, and the way manner we will handle this edition will confirm whether next year we are still going to have the football league or table tennis tournament or basketball tournament.

    “Left to me I have enjoyed working with football stakeholders in the state, and I will just wish that this thing will continue.

    “Another thing that we need this time around is discipline. Let us see this thing as an opportunity and we should play our individual roles, if there is any disagreement, let us sit down and look at how to solve it because we are all from the same source.

    “There is no way we will have a competition like this and there won’t be issues, but it should not be like that, let us agree to disagree, or let us disagree to agree and in doing that I want to assure you that the board which I represent will be fair to everyone.

    “What we want is a competition whereby we will be able to get the benefit of sponsorship. We want to identify talents that can go higher, those are the things we want to work on.

    “Let me reassure everyone that the competition will be run to the highest standard within this locality and I want to appeal that wherever we find ourselves, we should treat the competition with respect, let us do things to the level that will attract the sponsorship,”

    Also speaking, the Acting Chairman of Ondo State FA, Gabriel Aborowa, expressed optimism that more successes would be recorded in this year’s league.

    He said the competition would start from Owo centre with Real Ifon FC trading tackles with Focus FC in what would serve as the opening ceremony for the competition.

     

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    November 6, 2023
  • FIFA badge referee Akintoye selected for CAF Women’s Champions League – Sporting Tribune

    FIFA badge referee Akintoye selected for CAF Women’s Champions League – Sporting Tribune

    Nigerian Elite Referee and FIFA badge, Yemisi Akintoye has been selected for the 2023 African Women’s Champions League taking place in Cote d’Ivoire from Nov. 5 to Nov. 19.

    The University of Lagos graduate arbiter was one of the 17 referees shortlisted across Africa and one of the 12 selected after an intensive one-week pre-tournament course.

    A statement on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Monday confirmed Akintoye’s participation alongside other referees at the 2023 African Women’s Champions League.

    It said Akintoye would be officiating alongside Salma Musaganda of Rwanda who was the first African woman Referee to officiate at the men’s World Cup.

    Akintoye was badged as a FIFA Referee in 2021. She has been at a few international competitions which include, the WAFU Women Champion’s League, the Aisha Buhari Tournament, among others.

     

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    2023 Ballon d’Or: Osimhen finishes eight, becomes highest ranked Nigerian footballer

    Super Eagles and Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen, has achieved the highest ranking for a Nigerian in the history of the Ballon d’Or football award. Osimhen achieved this milestone by ranking eighth in the 30-man list of the 2023 Ballon d’Or award.…..

     

    2024 Olympic Qualifiers: Super Falcons thrash Ethiopia, zoom to next round

    Nigeria’s Super Falcons have booked a place in the third round of the qualifiers for the 2024 Olympic Games after a 4-0 win against Ethiopia at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday. The former African champions won the second-round contest 5-1 on aggregate.….

    FIFA bans ex-Spanish football federation chief, Rubiales, for three years

    Former Spanish Football Association president Luis Rubiales has been banned from all football-related activities for three years. Rubiales kissed forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s Women’s World Cup final win over England.

     

    The 5 Most Thrilling Premier League Finals That Shaped Football History

    There’s no doubt that the Premier League is one of the most competitive football leagues in the world, filled with extraordinary talent, tactical brilliance, and captivating storylines. However, few things rival the exhilaration of a title race that comes down to the wire…..

     

    AFCON: Sports Minister expresses displeasure over exclusion of Nigerian referees

    Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Owan-Enoh has expressed displeasure over the non-inclusion of Nigerian referees amongst match officials listed for the 2023 AFCON slated for Cote D’Ivoire….

     

    Foreign scouts for SPOCS International Football Tournament — Opanuga

    Nationwide Division One League One (NLO) side SGFC Athletics Sports Club will take part in what seems to be one of the biggest scouting tourneys in the country, SPOCS Scouting Championship….


    November 6, 2023
  • Saudi Pro League: Edouard Mendy bids Chelsea farewell as he signs for Al Ahli

    Saudi Pro League: Edouard Mendy bids Chelsea farewell as he signs for Al Ahli

    Chelsea goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy

    Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has bid farewell to Chelsea after a successful three-year stint, as he completes a move to Saudi Pro League team Al-Ahli.

    The 31-year-old shot-stopper follows in the footsteps of former Chelsea teammates Kalidou Koulibaly and N’Golo Kante, who also departed during this transfer window to join clubs in Saudi Arabia.

    Mendy’s time at Chelsea was marked by remarkable achievements. He played a pivotal role in the club’s triumph in the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League, and throughout his tenure, he kept an impressive tally of 49 clean sheets in 105 appearances. Mendy’s outstanding performances earned him recognition as UEFA’s goalkeeper of the season and the Best FIFA Men’s Keeper for 2021.

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    Having joined Chelsea from French side Rennes in 2020, Mendy’s international career with Senegal was also noteworthy, as he contributed to their victory in the Africa Cup of Nations. In the final, he made a crucial save during the penalty shootout that helped his country defeat Egypt.

    However, Mendy’s situation at Stamford Bridge changed when Thomas Tuchel was replaced by Graham Potter as manager in September 2022. He gradually lost favor under Potter’s management and ended up serving as the backup goalkeeper to Kepa Arrizabalaga. As a result, Mendy only made three starts in the Premier League last season.

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    Nonetheless, Mendy’s move to Al-Ahli offers him a fresh start and new opportunities in the Saudi Pro League. Chelsea fans will fondly remember his contributions and the trophies he helped the club secure during his time with the Blues.

    In a statement on Chelsea’s website, the Premier League club said the goalkeeper was a “hugely likeable character”.

    “Having started his career in the lower tiers of French football – and even spending several months without a club – Mendy rose to the pinnacle of European football with Chelsea,” said the club.

    “A hugely likable character on and off the pitch, he will always have a place in our history for his significant contributions to our 2021 Champions League triumph.

    “For that, and for everything else, we are grateful. Good luck, Edou!“

    June 29, 2023
  • See why Premier League blocked lucrative shirt sponsor deal for Chelsea

    See why Premier League blocked lucrative shirt sponsor deal for Chelsea

    Chelsea’s quest for a fresh primary shirt sponsor for the upcoming 2023/24 season has hit a roadblock, with the Premier League thwarting a potentially lucrative deal with Paramount+.

    Following the conclusion of the previous agreement with Three, who had emblazoned Chelsea shirts for three years since 2020, the Blues were in need of a new branding partner.

    Although Three briefly paused their marketing activities with the club in 2022 due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, they resumed the partnership after Roman Abramovich sold the club in June last year. There were even discussions about removing Three’s branding from the shirts, but kit supplier Nike couldn’t produce new ones under the existing license.

    Now, Chelsea had set their sights on Paramount+, an American streaming platform, as a potential sponsor. However, the Premier League, according to the Daily Mail, has deemed the deal to be in violation of the Deed of License, which covers various broadcasting aspects.

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    Paramount+ operates in the UK, providing streaming services for entertainment shows and films. Importantly, it is also a broadcast partner of the Premier League in the United States. Therefore, a partnership with Chelsea could pose complications for the league, even though Paramount+ doesn’t stream games in the UK.

    Consequently, Chelsea will need to explore alternative options. Allianz, a German financial company already deeply involved in football, has been mentioned as a potential candidate. However, recent reports suggest that a deal with Allianz would be less financially rewarding compared to partnering with Stake, an online betting platform.

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    If Chelsea were to collaborate with Stake, the sponsorship arrangement would likely be relatively short-term. This is because Premier League clubs recently voted to prohibit betting companies from featuring as primary shirt sponsors starting from 2026.

    After that, only sleeve and pitchside gambling advertising will be permitted. Furthermore, there is a moral dilemma considering the Chelsea Foundation’s active efforts to raise awareness about the harmful impact of gambling.

    The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust conducted a poll among its members, revealing that over 77% of the voting participants strongly disagreed or disagreed with the prospect of an online casino and betting company serving as the primary shirt sponsor.

    In a letter addressed to Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly, the group unequivocally expressed their stance and highlighted the initiatives overseen by the Chelsea Foundation.

    June 19, 2023
  • Ex-Premier League star says £400k worth of jewellery stolen from mother’s house

    Ex-Premier League star says £400k worth of jewellery stolen from mother’s house

    Footballer Benik Afobe reported that jewellery worth £400,000 was stolen from his mother’s residence.

    The incident occurred on Wednesday in Elstree, Hertfordshire. Afobe, aged 30, formerly played for Wolves, Bournemouth, Stoke, and Millwall, but currently plays for Hatta in the United Arab Emirates.

    He took to social media to share details of the theft. Hertfordshire Police acknowledged the report and stated that they are investigating the theft of several jewelry items.

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    The authorities confirmed that the incident transpired in Elstree and stated that their inquiries are ongoing. Afobe began his career at Arsenal and had loan spells at various clubs, including Huddersfield, Bolton, and MK Dons, before eventually joining Wolves.

    Additionally, he represented England at youth levels, including the under-21s, and played internationally for DR Congo.

    June 18, 2023
  • Unlikely Hollywood star hails Guardiola over Champions League win

    Unlikely Hollywood star hails Guardiola over Champions League win

    Hollywood icon Julia Roberts has congratulated Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola for winning the 2023 UEFA Champions League.

    Roberts, who Guardiola revealed as one of his three idols, in a post on Instagram said, “Congratulations @pepteam for leading your team to be UCL champions. #pep #soccermom.”

    Guardiola’s Man City defeated Serie A’s Inter Milan 1-0 in a hard-fought final on Saturday, June 10, 2023.

    Hollywood star and Guardiola’s idol, Julia Roberts

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    Guardiola had earlier in a press conference revealed Roberts as one of his three idols, lamenting the fact that she visited cross-town rival Manchester United as opposed to his team.

    “I have three idols in my life. Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Julia Roberts. These are my three idols.

    “Julia Roberts years ago came to Manchester – not in the 90s when Sir Alex (Ferguson) was winning titles and titles and titles. She came in the period where we were better than United, in these four or five years, right?

    “And she went to visit Man United. She didn’t come to see us. That’s why even if I win the Champions League it will not compare for the fact that Julia Roberts came to Manchester and didn’t come to see us.

    “Even if I win the Champions League it will not compare to this disappointment I had.”

    June 12, 2023
  • ‘F**king trophy is so difficult to win’, Guardiola reacts to Man City’s Champions League win

    ‘F**king trophy is so difficult to win’, Guardiola reacts to Man City’s Champions League win

    Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, heaved a sigh of relief as his team secured a long-awaited victory in the UEFA Champions League.

    The Cityzens emerged victorious against Inter in the final held at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Turkey, with a decisive second-half goal from Rodri sealing their triumph over the Nerazzurri.

    Throughout the years, despite possessing immensely talented squads and the financial capacity to make significant transfers, Manchester City has consistently fallen short in European competitions. Guardiola, often criticized for overcomplicating tactics in crucial matches, has shouldered much of the blame for these disappointments.

    Their first appearance in the Champions League final in 2021 ended in defeat against the underdogs, Chelsea, leaving a bitter taste. However, Man City has now avenged that shocking loss, claiming the ultimate prize two years later while accomplishing the remarkable feat of securing a treble along the way.

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    Speaking to BT Sport post-match, Guardiola was asked how he felt after winning his first Champions League in 12 years.

    “Tired, calm, satisfied of course. This f***ing trophy is so difficult to win! It’s impossible,” Guardiola said.

    “It could be different, we knew it. First, because they [Inter] are good, really good. Antonio Conte will learn a lot with what they do, it’s quite similar – they bring you up, they find strikers, they link really well, can keep it, and then run to the other side.

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    “The first time, we were so anxious, so the man free was John Stones. We couldn’t find him. But it’s a question to be patient. I said it at half-time, last time we were 1-0 down in Porto [against Chelsea in 2021], now it is 0-0 which is something.

    “And we have to be lucky. This competition…they did it at the end, the same, Ederson [makes a save] or they miss it or they could draw. Phil [Foden] could have scored a second one. It’s a coin [flip]. But we were there and I think it was written in the stars. It belongs to us and we did it.”

    When asked what makes this Man City team different to previous iterations, Guardiola replied: “I think we defend a little bit better in the box, we have four central defenders, these guys are proper defenders. Even if we make mistakes, I have the feeling we are more solid.

    “We didn’t make a bad game, in general, it was not bad. The momentum started winning the Premier League, the FA Cup, and now we finish here.

    “We were not frustrated [with form in the first half of the season], maybe it was not our best level and Arsenal was beyond exceptional. But after the World Cup, the team made a step forward.“

    June 11, 2023