SPORTS
Messi Fit to Face Uruguay in World Cup Qualifier
Argentina’s Lionel Messi has recovered from the knee and hamstring worries that kept him out of Paris St Germain’s last two games and is in line to start in their World Cup qualifier against Uruguay today.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said staff had worked separately with the 34-year-old Messi to prepare him for the mouth-watering double header against Uruguay in Montevideo and next Tuesday’s game at home to Brazil.
“In principle, we believe that Leo is good,” Scaloni told reporters.
“Leo wants to play and I want him to play.”Messi’s call up caused some unhappiness with PSG general manager Leonardo but Scaloni sought to play down any rift.
“We have a relationship with Leonardo and their (reaction) is understandable, that Messi has spent a lot of time with the national team recently,” Scaloni said.
“But there can be no doubt that we are within the rules calling him up. This has always been a problem for European clubs.”
Argentina are second in South America’s 10-team qualifying group, six points behind Brazil after 11 games.
The top four qualify automatically for Qatar 2022 and the fifth-placed side goes into an inter-regional playoff.
Winners of the Copa America in July, Argentina are unbeaten in 25 games, a run that stretches back to mid 2019.
Following are the results of Match Day 1 fixtures in the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), played on Sunday and dates of the remaining fixtures:
Akwa United FC 1-1 Abia Warriors FC
Bayelsa United FC 1-1 Kano Pillars FC
Katsina United FC 1-1 Bendel Insurance FC
Niger Tornadoes FC 0-0 Nasarawa United FC
Shooting Stars FC 1-1 Plateau United FC
El Kanemi Warriors Vs Kwara United FC (postponed )
The following Match Day two fixtures
Would be played on Sept.
25:Ikorodu City FC Vs Enugu Rangers international FC
Enyimba international FC Vs Lobi stars FC .
(NAN)
Following are the results of remaining Match Day one fixtures played on Sunday in the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL)Heartland FC 1-3 Enyimba international FCKwara United FC 1-2 Niger Tornadoes FCBendel Insurance FC 0-0 Rivers United FCPlateau United FC 1-0 Katsina United FCKano Pillars FC 3-0 Ikorodu City FCSunshine Stars FC 3-0 Bayelsa United FCAbia Warriors FC 0-2 Remo Stars FCNasarawa United FC 1-1 Shooting Stars FC.
(NAN)
The interim coach of the Super Eagles, Augustine Eguavoen, said his team can beat any team with the quality of players in the team.
Eguavoen stated this after his team spanked the Cheetahs of Benin Republic 4-0 in the 2025 African Cup Of Nations (AFCON) at the Godswill Akpabio stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom on Saturday.
“We have quality players to beat any team but we respect team anyway.
Any coach can come in and do the same job with the Super Eagles.“It is a mindset, we have the potential and how you perceived your opponent, given the information about them and then go out and do the job,“he said.
Equavoen attributed the victory to the formation adopted by the technical crew, adding that any formation could be used to ensure that the team was successful.
“We can decide to use any system. It is something we discussed and I slept over it. I know with the caliber of players that we have, we can decide to play any formation.
“Football is about you win, lose and draw, I don’t believe we have a poor result,” he said.
He, however, said that the former Super Eagles coach didn’t do a good job but it has to do with believe, what is at stake and what you want to achieve.
“Psychologically as a group, we are agreed, where we are and where we are going to be. We will definitely achieve it,” Equavoen said.
He commended the performance of the defence , describing it as superb, adding that the team had been training together for one week.
The coach said that asking six players to warm up for the second half was to buy time, adding that there was no need to rush to change.
He said the Cheetahs of Benin Republic were a good team, adding that they came with a good game plan.
Report says that Eguavoen was appointed interim coach after the deal between the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) and coach Bruno Labbadia failed.
NFF explained in a statement that it failed due to the stringent regulations of German tax authorities.(NAN)
Gunmen Attack Police Station, Kill 2 in Anambra
Share The Police Command in Anambra says gunmen have burnt its station in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area, killing...
IPPIS Data Base not Compromised, OAGF Assures Employees
Share By Tony Obiechina, Abuja The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) has reiterated the Federal Government’s...
Again, Inflation Drops to 32.15% in August
ShareBy Tony Obiechina, Abuja Nigeria’s headline inflation dropped to 32.15 percent in August, according to National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)...
Imo: Police kill 3 Hoodlums in Attempted Police Station Attack
Share The Police Command in Imo on Sunday foiled an attack by hoodlums on Njaba Local Government Area Divisional Police...
INC Condemns killings During Youth Congress Elections
Share The Ijaw National Congress (INC) worldwide has condemned in strong terms the Sept.14 killings in Abuloma during the ljaw...
Tinubu Committed to Improving Welfare of Senior Citizens –Alake
Share Dr Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, has restated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improve the welfare...
Lifting of Petrol from Dangote Refinery Marks Industrialisation – FG
Share The Federal Government has hailed the commencement of petroleum product lifting from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, describing...
Parents Protest Boarding Fees Increase in Lagos School
Share Some parents of students of Oriwu Model College in Ikorodu on Sunday protested the sudden increase of boarding fees...
Federal High Court Resumes Tuesday After Annual Vacation
Share The Federal High Court (FHC) will, on Tuesday, resume its annual vacation. The annual vacation, which began on July...
EFCC Detains 5 Chinese Nationals over Alleged Illegal Mining
Share The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended five suspected Chinese illegal miners in Ndito-Eka-Iba village, Ibieno Local...