Category: Sports

Nasarawa United technical adviser, Mbwas Mangut has expressed satisfaction with the performance of their newly recruited players in the 2-1 over Niger Tornadoes.

Adekunle Oluwasegun, who was among the newly recruited players, scored the winning goal for the hosts in the game.

Last season’s top scorer, Anas Yusuf, opened scoring for the Solid Miners.

Ahmadu Liman grabbed the consolation goal for the Niger Tornadoes.

“We scored two early goals and made some incursions, however, the most important thing was that we secured the maximum points,” Mangut disclosed to the club’s media.

“I am glad with the performance of our newly acquired mid-season players who are blending well with the established players. We are rotating the team due to fatigue and illnesses to some of the players.”

NPFL: Mangut thumbs up new players performance in win over Tornadoes

Kwara United have tendered an unreserved apology for their poor start to the second half of the season.

The Harmony Boys are without a win in their last two games

Kwara United suffered a 1-0 defeat to Ikorodu City at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos on Sunday.

The Ilorin-based side blamed their struggles on injuries.

Kwara United said it was not the results they planned for.

“Yet, amid these setbacks, I want to reassure you that we are not standing idle,” Kwara United wrote in a statement after the defeat in Lagos.

“Our squad have been ravaged by an unprecedented injury crisis testing our depth and resolve like never before.”

NPFL: Kwara United apologise for poor start to second stanza

Senegal were crowned African champions on Sunday afternoon, beating Morocco in the AFCON final.

Senegal star, Pape Gueye scored the game’s only goal in the first half of extra time to ensure the Teranga Lions defeated the AFCON host nation.

However, DAILY POST takes a look at the most successful countries in the history of the AFCON tournament.

Egypt, which lost the AFCON third-place playoff to Nigeria on Saturday, is the most successful nation in the competition’s history, having won seven titles.

Behind Egypt is Cameroon, who have five AFCON titles so far.

Here is the list of countries with the most AFCON titles after Senegal triumphs over Morocco:

1. Egypt – 7 titles
2. Cameroon – 5 titles
3. Ghana – 4 titles
4. Ivory Coast and Nigeria – 3 titles
5. Algeria – DR Congo and Senegal – 2 titles

AFCON: Most successful nations in history after Senegal triumphs over Morocco

Former Nigeria international, Odion Ighalo, ex-South Africa forward, Teko Modise and former Chelsea forward, Solomon Kalou, have condemned Senegal for walking off the pitch over a referee decision in the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

While the game was tilting towards a 0-0 end, the centre referee disallowed Ismaila Sarr’s header for a foul on Achraf Hakimi.

Then in the 97th minute, the host nation were awarded a controversial penalty which led to a lot of tension.

At a point, Senegalese players walked off the pitch in protest of the referee and VAR decisions.

“The world is watching this and for talking about one the Africa Cup of Nations being the same level and of European standard, then this. This should not happen in Africa football, the coach telling player to go out of the pitch and all that,” Ighalo said on SuperSport while reacting.

“Sadio Mane saved them from embarrassment. Always been there. He has won everything. He showed it tonight. He’s a class player in and out of the field. And tonight he respected the game, because he knows it’s more about the football.

“He showed that no matter the situation, you have to respect the game, which he did, and call his teammate to come out and continue the game like he said the coach was supposed to show less emotions, but manage step up and show that he’s class guy,” Ighalo continued.

Kalou added, “I mean, Sadio Mane was not going to go outside the pitch. There he was. He made up his mind. I going to stay on the pitch. And I think that if every team have to work off the pitch because of bad decision in this tournament, then some of the team will have done that long time ago.

“So we can know we cannot just base our football on one decision of a referee.
In that situation, the coach have to be the one with less emotion. Yeah, because they’re out of the pitch. If it is the players we understand. But when you’re the coach and you’re outside, you have to play with less emotion. And sometimes I think Sadio Mane was the one today who made that team to that win the match.”

South Africa’s Teko Modise, said, “And also it helps as well, because he’s got so much respect from his peers, and he has won everything, and he’s a superstar, and in his behavior and his demeanor, he’s the one that still stays on the pitch.

“Look at the leadership that he has… calling the player back on the pitch. And there’s a moment as well where the emotions are flying. There’s a penalty you feel like maybe you shouldn’t have got it, but at another day, we can’t be in a space where if you feel like the decision is not going your way, and then you want to walk out of the pitch, that’s the football.

“He was like, come let’s play. It’s not a problem. Let’s play. That’s what he was telling his teammate, that to tell you is they respect him for what he had won and what the big player that is. But also he understand that it was important for his team to get back on the pitch.”

A first-half extra-time strike from Papa Gueye was enough for Senegalese to claim the trophy in Morocco.

AFCON: ‘Everyone respects him – Ighalo, Modise, Kalou react as Mane recalls Senegalese players 

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will receive $15,000 for finishing third at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, DAILY POST reports.

The bonus was initially meant for the semi-final where they lost 4-2 on penalities to hosts Atlas Lions of Morocco.

The players have received all their win-bonus except for the third- place match, according to SCORENigeria.

Wealthy businessman Abdul Samad Rabiu has also  redeemed his pledge of $500,000 to the team.

The players have already dispersed to their respective clubs.

They failed to attend the medal presentation ceremony on Sunday.

AFCON 2025: Super Eagles get special bonus for third place

Nigerian forward, Akor Adams, has named the Super Eagles as the best team at the AFCON.

The Sevilla star spoke to reporters after Nigeria defeated Egypt in the AFCON third-place playoff on Saturday.

Adams also said that he was proud of Eric Chelle’s side for winning the AFCON bronze medal.

Recall that the Super Eagles won six out of their seven matches at the AFCON.

Their only defeat was against the host nation, Morocco, as they lost 4-2 in the penalty shoot-out.

Chelle’s men defeated Tanzania, Uganda, Tunisia, Mozambique, Algeria and Egypt.

“We are the best team, we came for the gold but we didn’t take it . But we are proud of what we have been able to achieve,” Adams said.

“Everybody is going home with a better friendship with the next person. We are all grateful to Eric Chelle for what he has done for us as a group in the last three weeks. We are better people because of Chelle.”

AFCON: Nigeria’s Akor Adams names best team at tournament

Super Eagles centre-back, Calvin Bassey has expressed happiness after Nigeria defeated Egypt to win the AFCON third-place playoff on Saturday.

Bassey didn’t feature in the match due to suspension after picking up a yellow card against Morocco in the semi-final.

The Fulham star was in the stands as he watched Nigeria defeat the Pharaohs 4-2 on penalty shoot-out.

Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali saved the penalty kicks of Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush.

Reacting to Nigeria’s victory against Egypt, Bassey also thanked God for the outcome of the encounter.

“I’m happy to get something, thank God,” Bassey said in the mixed zone as he walked passed reporters inside the Stade Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.

Bassey was outstanding for Nigeria in every match he played for Eric Chelle’s side.

AFCON: ‘I’m happy to get something, thank God’ – Bassey after Nigeria beat Egypt

Ademola Lookman says the Super Eagles can be proud of their performance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, DAILY POST reports.

The Super Eagles ended their campaign on a positive note, edging the Pharaohs of Egypt 4-2 on penalities in the third-place match.

Nigeria finished second in the previous edition but failed to surpass the achievement in Morocco.

They lost to the hosts in a keenly contested semi-final.

Despite the setback, Lookman said they are proud of their performance in the competition.

“It was a good competition from us. We scored a lot of goals, we created a lot of chances. We played some good football.We can be proud of what we have done.”

AFCON 2025: Super Eagles proud of performance in Morocco – Lookman

Senegal head coach, Pape Thiaw has insisted that Africa’s image is at stake as his team prepares to face Morocco in the AFCON final on Sunday night.

Thiaw spoke during his pre-match press conference, calling on spectators and match officials not to spoil the AFCON final.

Senegal and Morocco had defeated Egypt and Nigeria, respectively, at the semi-final stage.

“Today, it is the image of Africa that is at stake,” Thiaw said at his pre-match press conference.

“We must not spoil it. Playing the host nation is never easy because of the crowd, but on the pitch, it is 11 against 11.”

This comes as the Confederation of African Football, CAF, on Saturday, responded to Senegal’s complaints against Morocco ahead of the AFCON final on Sunday night.

AFCON final: ‘Africa’s image at stake’ – Senegal coach, Pape Thiaw

Manchester City midfielder, Bernardo Silva has suggested that the club might be losing control of the Premier League title race after they lost 2-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola’s team had a chance to reduce the gap at the top of the league because current leaders, Arsenal, weren’t playing until later on Saturday evening when they faced Nottingham Forest.

United gave their best performance of the campaign so far in what was interim manager Michael Carrick’s first game in charge.

The home team were unlucky not to be ahead at halftime because two of their goals were disallowed by VAR for very small offside mistakes.

Also, Harry Maguire shot straight at the crossbar from close range. It was not until almost halfway through the second half that Carrick’s team managed to break the tie and score against Gianluigi Donnarumma, with Bryan Mbeumo scoring a great goal from a fast counter-attack.

Patrick Dorgu scored the winning goal with 14 minutes left because City’s defense was not as strict as usual.

The result could have been even worse if Mason Mount’s late attempt had been successful. The city’s players and Pep Guardiola looked sad after the game ended.

Silva said the gap between their team and Arsenal is getting bigger and harder to make up.

“It’s a big gap, and we won’t lie it’s not a big gap at all,” he said.

“We will keep fighting till the end,” he said.

City has gone four games without winning in the league, and Silva added, “They had more energy and intention. It always felt like they were almost ready to score, but we were never in the right place.

“We gave them what they want. They played the game in areas where they are strong and we are weak. Since I came to England, we’ve always been a very controlled team. There were a lot of things that were missing from us. Definitely a really bad day for us.”

Guardiola was also asked if Mikel Arteta’s team is getting too far ahead and he said, “It’s about how we grow as a team.

“I think we’ve done some really good things so far. To improve yourself, you might need to take a step back…”

EPL: ‘Big gap’ – Man City’s Bernardo Silva hints on Arsenal winning title