SPORTS
Bale Ends 2-Year Wales’ Scoring Drought with Hat-trick Against Belarus
Gareth Bale ended his two-year Wales scoring drought yesterday with a hat-trick in a thrilling 3-2 defeat of Belarus in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying game in Kazan.
Bale had not added to his record 33 goals since scoring against Croatia in October 2019 —- a run of 16 games.
But the Real Madrid forward struck twice from the penalty kick spot before his dramatic stoppage-time winner broke Belarus hearts.
Vitali Lisakovich and Pavel Sedko had scored in the space of two first-half minutes to turn the clash on its head.
Bale converted from the penalty kick spot after five and 69 minutes and was then in the perfect position to turn Daniel James’ cross goalwards.
This came as time appeared to be running out on Wales’ bid to close down top-two Belgium and the Czech Republic in Group E.
But Wales are only four points behind group leaders Belgium, with a game in hand, going into Wednesday’s home qualifier against Estonia.
Wales had been decimated by a spate of withdrawals which had rekindled unhappy memories of the John Toshack era between 2004 and 2010.
Injuries, visa issues, suspensions and COVID-19 had left interim manager Rob Page without 10 of the 23 players who were in the matchday squad for Wales’ last competitive fixture.
That was the 4-0 defeat to Denmark at Euro 2020.
English and Italian football giants Manchester City, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Juventus will square up for pre-season friendlies in Hong Kong in August, the clubs announced yesterday.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, currently arm-wrestling Arsenal for the Premier League title, will take on Inter Milan on Saturday, August 1, spearheaded by their Norwegian goal machine Erling Haaland.
The match will kick off the “Hong Kong Football Festival” at the city’s futuristic 50,000-seat Kai Tak stadium.
The gleaming arena opened a year ago, featuring a roof that can be closed and air-conditioning to combat the fierce summer heat and humidity in Hong Kong.
Chelsea will play Juventus on Wednesday August 5 to round off the mini-tournament.
Lagos State will host the second edition of the National School Volleyball Championships from April 21 to April 24 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
President of the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), Olabisi Joseph, said in a statement on Monday that schools from across the country had converged for the four-day tournament.
She said the competition meant for secondary schools is organised by the NSSF in collaboration with the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), with support from the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC).
Joseph said the annual tournament aims to develop volleyball in the school system and identify outstanding athletes who will represent Nigeria at the International School Sport Federation (ISF) events.
She expressed delight at the growing interest among schools nationwide and urged participants to be worthy ambassadors of their institutions.
“In Nigeria, we are blessed with an abundance of talent in the school system.
“Volleyball, being one of the popular sports in schools, has ignited healthy rivalry among students.
“Sports stimulates learning, so we are building a total child through events like this,” she said.
Joseph added that standout athletes from the Lagos championship would be shortlisted to compete at the ISF World School Volleyball Championship in China.
She described the event as a unique opportunity for young players to showcase their skills before global scouts.
“Teams from Lagos, Osun, Rivers, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Ogun, Taraba, Bauchi and other states are competing for honours, with NVBF technical officials on ground to scout for talent.”
The maiden edition of the National School Volleyball Championships was held in Abuja, where host teams won both the boys’ and girls’ categories.
Outstanding players from the FCT, Plateau and Kaduna states later represented Nigeria at the 2025 ISF World School Volleyball Championships in China.
The World School Volleyball Championship is scheduled to be held from July 1 to July 10 in China.
Guinea will face Nigeria’s Flamingos in the final qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The Guineans defeated Niger Republic 3-0 in the second leg of their qualifying fixture in Conakry on Saturday.
They won the contest 8-2 on aggregate, following their 5-2 triumph in the first leg last week.
The winner of the Flamingos versus Guinea clash will qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The Flamingos set up camp in Abuja for the clash with their fellow West Africans last week.
Newly appointed head coach, Akeem Busari invited 36 players to camp for the team’s preparation.
Wike Waives C-of-O Fees for Nigerian Law School
ShareBy Laide Akinboade, Abuja The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike on Thursday gave an immediate waiver of fees for the Certificate of...
Study Links Alcohol to Higher Cancer Burden in Australia
ShareAustralian researchers on Thursday revealed that alcohol consumption causes a higher proportion of cancers in Australia than previous estimates. According to a statement of...
C’River Debunks False COVID-19 Report, Confirms Only One Case
ShareFrom Ene Asuquo, Calabar The Cross River State Government has refuted a publication by online platforms alleging the discovery of 10 new...
NCC Orders Airtime Credits for Poor Network Service
ShareThe Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said telecom operators will compensate subscribers for poor network quality through airtime credits under a strengthened regulatory enforcement framework...
CBN Orders Banks on Monthly Report of Mobile, ATM Transactions
Share The Central Bank of Nigeria has directed banks and other financial institutions to submit monthly reports on failed electronic...
Tinubu Seeks Senate Nod for $516m Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway Loan
ShareBy Eze Okechukwu, Abuja President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the National Assembly’s approval for a $516.3 million external loan...
2027: APC Begins Sale of Forms, Adopts Consensus, Direct Primaries
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rolled out a comprehensive and revised timetable for its 2027...
Grant Pardon to Henry Okah, Niger Delta Activists Tells Tinubu
ShareBy Raphael Atuu, Abuja Popular Niger Delta activist Nengi James OON, alongside other youths under the aegis of Advocates for...
NCoS Places Facility on Red Alert over Alleged Attack Threats in Niger
ShareFrom Dan Amasingha, Minna The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in Niger State has placed all custodial centres across the state on red...
FIBA WWC: D’Tigress Land in Tough Group B with France, Hungary, Korea
ShareNigeria’s D’Tigress will face France, Hungary, and Korea in Group B at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup. The draw set up the D’Tigress for...