Sports
Nigeria’s Super Falcons, Cote d’Ivoire Target WAFU Women’s Cup Final Glory
By Augustine Akhilomen
FIFA World Cup-bound, Nigeria’s Super Falcons will be firm favourites to lift the WAFU Women’s Cup as the team face host nation, Cote d’Ivoire in Saturday’s final at the Stade Robert Champroux in Abidjan
The team made through to this stage after overcoming Ghana 4-2 via a penalty shoot-out on Thursday in the semi final while Cote d’Ivoire thrashed Mali 4-1.
Still unbeaten in the competition, the Super Falcons are expected to face a tough challenge against an Ivorien side that has maintained strong bond and qualified in a group that consist of Ghana.
“The competition has been quite interesting and it has been a great experience for the Super Falcons. Against the Ivorians, we will play our normal game, approach things calmly and take our chances.
“Winning the Cup would be good for the girls’ spirit and just reward for their endeavour here. It would also significantly motivate and spur those members of the team who will be going with us to the FIFA World Cup final camp in Austria on Monday.”
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Sports
Saka pens new long-term Arsenal deal
Bukayo Saka has signed a new deal with Arsenal as he commits his future to the club.
As reported by The Athletic and The Standard, Saka has reportedly put pen to paper on his new Gunners contract that will make him Mikel Arteta’s highest-paid player by some distance.
The Hale End graduate’s five-year extension will see him earn a wage in excess of £300,000 a week, taking his association with Arsenal from boyhood to his late twenties in what is a huge move from the North London side.
The 24-year-old’s existing deal was set to expire at the end of next season, but there was no doubt that the winger would stay with the side he has been loyal to his whole career so far.
His decision would have been helped by the club’s impressive season so far as they compete in every competition available, with an EFL Cup final showdown against Manchester City awaiting them in March.
Saka will now leapfrog Viktor Gyokeres, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, William Saliba, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz to become the club’s highest paid player before he turns 25.
The England star has scored seven times in 33 appearances for the Gunners this season and will feature once more this week as his side aims to pick up 3 points against Wolves and extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly all also agreed new long-term contracts last summer as the side look towards the future.
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Sports
‘There’s always a lot of noise’ – Enrique plays down Dembele’s recent criticism
Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique on Monday brushed aside criticism from Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele over a lack of team spirit at the Champions League holders ahead of their knockout-round playoff first leg at Monaco on Tuesday.
Dembele was critical of his teammates after PSG lost 3-1 at Rennes, calling for unity and for players to stop playing for themselves.
Friday’s defeat came after a challenging few months in which they failed to finish in the top eight of the Champions League and struggled to dominate Ligue 1 as they have in the past.
“There’s always a lot of noise around PSG, and we have to accept it. That’s it,” said Luis Enrique when asked again to respond to Dembele’s criticism at the pre-match press conference.
He had done much the same on Friday after Dembele’s feisty pitch-side television interview.
“The defeat (by Rennes) was cruel because if you consider what we created, it was similar to what we did against Marseille when we scored five goals. But we only got one against Rennes,” said the coach.
“We would have liked to come to Monaco with a victory, that’s true, but it’s the Champions League and we’re motivated.”
PSG lost 1-0 at Monaco in November. “We can expect a match similar to the one we played. We’re not going to change anything because we’re going to try to win this match,” Luis Enrique added.
He also dismissed concerns about facing a domestic rival in the Champions League.
“It’s football, it’s the same thing, you have to try to do the same thing to win the match. What I hope is to see the best version of PSG.
“We started the Champions League last season with the same lack of efficiency, but when you look at the results we later had, it meant we were superior to our opponents, and that’s what we’re aiming for again. I’m sure we can get back to that very quickly,” he added.
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Sports
Jose Mourinho sends incredible warning to Real Madrid
Benfica boss Jose Mourinho has sent a message to Real Madrid ahead of the Champions League play-off.
Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored with almost the final kick of a 4-2 win over the Spanish giants to secure a play-off spot on goal difference for Mourinho’s side who will clash against the Spanish giants once more.
Having previously described Arbeloa as “his boy”, Mourinho did not hold back against a Madrid side who have struggled in the Champions League this season.
Speaking in his latest press conference ahead of the clash, Mourinho sent a warning to his former side who reports suggest he is desperate to get revenge against after falling out with the side.
“(I know it will be) Very demanding, without a doubt. We’ve only played the first leg of the tie.
“Trubin (the Benfica keeper who scored against Real Madrid last time out) won’t be in the attack at the Luz stadium. I’m very used to these kinds of ties.
“I’ve been doing it all my life. People often think you need a certain result in the first leg for this or that reason. I say there is no definitive result.
“We will play the first leg with our heads, ambition, and confidence. We know what we did to the kings of the Champions League.
“They are wounded. And a wounded king is dangerous.”
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