SOFO Media

Category: Sports

  • Angry Palace End Liverpool’s Winning Streak

    Angry Palace End Liverpool’s Winning Streak

    Eddie Nketiah struck the last kick of a dramatic encounter at Selhurst Park to give Crystal Palace a deserved victory.

    The Host end Premier League leaders Liverpool’s five-match winning start to the season.

    Italian Federico Chiesa’s 87th-minute equaliser looked like to have salvaged a point the champions’ dismal display barely merited.

    Ismaila Sarr had given Palace an early lead but just as it looked like they would pay the price for wasting a host of chances, Nketiah pounced at the far post in the seventh minute of added time to lift them up to second in the table.

    Palace were outstanding in stretching their unbeaten run in all competitions to 18 games, tormenting Liverpool’s rocky rearguard throughout but failing to make their superiority pay.

    Sarr’s ninth-minute goal, bundled home after Liverpool failed to clear a corner, was scant reward for Palace’s domination in the first half, in which only the brilliance of keeper Alisson and the woodwork spared the champions further punishment.

    Brazilian Alisson saved superbly from Yeremy Pino, Daniel Munoz and Jean-Philippe Mateta, with the French forward also hitting the woodwork with a superb effort at the end of a flowing move.

    Liverpool, as they had to do, improved after the break with Palace keeper Dean Henderson – who turned Ryan Gravenberch’s powerful drive on to the post – denying Florian Wirtz from point-blank range.

    Record signing Alexander Isak, making his full Premier League debut for the Reds, also shot wide with only Henderson to beat as the visitors built up pressure.

    Liverpool’s habit of striking late surfaced again as substitute Chiesa pounced from close range, but Nketiah provided the late twist Arne Slot’s side have inflicted on others this season.

    It was dramatic as Gravenberch’s foot kept him just onside after a video assistant referee (VAR) check.

  • Fernandes Misses Penalty As Bretford Beat Man.Utd

    Fernandes Misses Penalty As Bretford Beat Man.Utd

    Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes had a second-half penalty saved as Ruben Amorim’s side slipped to a 3- 1 Premier League defeat at Brentford.

    United were trying to fight their way back after Igor Thiago capitalised on some shambolic United defending inside the first 20 minutes to give the home side a two-goal cushion.

    Benjamin Sesko pulled one back with his first goal since making a £74m summer move from RB Leipzig.

    Fernandes was given the chance to level when Bees captain Nathan Collins dragged former Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo back inside the area.

    After a delay of almost five minutes, which included a video assistant referee red card check against Collins and Brentford making two substitutions, Fernandes’ low effort was turned away by Caoimhin Kelleher.

    Brentford wrapped it up deep in stoppage time when Mathias Jensen drove a high shot past United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir from the edge of the area.

    United have not won two successive league games under Amorim, who is coming up to a year in charge and has collected a meagre 34 points from 33 league games.

    Watching the game for Match of the Day, former Manchester City defender Micah Richards was less than impressed with United’s defending for Brentford’s goals, which he blamed on Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system.

    Harry Maguire was exposed as the last man as he tried to play offside when Jordan Henderson floated a long ball out of the Brentford half, allowing Thiago to run clear for his opener.

    Then Kevin Schade found space on the left to drill a low cross into the box which Bayindir pushed straight to Thiago, who finished from four yards.

    “Shambolic,” said Richards. “The system is hampering them. They’re not sure where they’re meant to be.

    “In terms of the goals, there were individual errors. Maguire was trying to play offside for the first one – there’s no point gambling there.

    “For the second, (Matthijs) de Ligt doesn’t know where’s he’s going and Maguire isn’t sure where to position himself.

    “It’s 100% confusion caused by playing that system. It doesn’t suit the players.”

  • “Nigeria Will Host Commonwealth Games One Day” – Tinubu Assures

    “Nigeria Will Host Commonwealth Games One Day” – Tinubu Assures

    Nigeria President, Bola Tinubu has described the country’s bid to host 2030 Commonwealth Games as a “dream” that must become reality.

    In a post on his official X account on Wednesday, Tinubu noted that no African nation has ever hosted the Games.

    He said: “It is time for Africa. After 100 years of the Commonwealth Games, they have never been hosted on African soil.

    “By bringing the Commonwealth Centenary Games to Nigeria in 2030, you will send a powerful message that every region of the Commonwealth matters, and that Africa is not only part of the story, but central to its future.

    ” Nigeria is the gateway. Africa is the stage. The Commonwealth is the family. Let us make history together in 2030. Let us complete the circle of Commonwealth unity. The dream must be realized. The time is now.”

    He said bringing the 2030 edition to Nigeria would send a powerful message that Africa is vital to the future of the Commonwealth.

    Nigeria is scheduled to present its final bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games before the event’s evaluation committee on Wednesday.

    The Nigerian delegation is led by Shehu Dikko, President of the Nigeria Sports Commission (NSC), alongside the Commission’s Director-General, Bukola Olopade.

    In support of Nigeria’s bid to host the event, President Tinubu declared, “It’s time for Africa,” and urged the Commonwealth to “complete the circle of unity.”

    The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event held every four years, primarily featuring countries that are former territories of the United Kingdom.

  • Inform Liverpool Beat Everton In Merseyside Derby

    Inform Liverpool Beat Everton In Merseyside Derby

    Consistent Liverpool made it five wins from five as their flawless start to their defence of the Premier League crown continued with 2-1 victory in the Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield on Saturday.

    Arne Slot’s side made early control when Ryan Gravenberch’s clever finish from Mohamed Salah’s pass put Liverpool ahead after 10 minutes.

    Gravenberch turned provider just before the half-hour mark when he played on Hugo Ekitike to beat Everton keeper Jordan Pickford with a low shot.

    Liverpool illustrated the strength of their squad by leaving Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, two summer signings worth a combined total of £241m, on the bench until the second half.

    Everton improved as the game went on, pulling a goal back after 58 minutes when Jack Grealish’s cross found Iliman Ndiaye at the far post and he set up Idrissa Gueye for a powerful rising drive that left Liverpool keeper Alisson helpless.

    Liverpool continued their relentless winning form with this Merseyside derby win – and once again the signs were ominous for those hoping to take the Premier League title away from Anfield.

  • Our Possessions Won’t Matters Without Goals- Amorim

    Our Possessions Won’t Matters Without Goals- Amorim

    Manchester United Manager, Ruben Amorim has sent strong warnings to the club’s forward, ahead of clash with Chelsea this weekend.

    Amorim is under scrutiny having only won one of United’s first four games of the season and also been knocked out of the Carabao Cup in the second round by Grimsby Town.

    Addressing newsmen ahead of a must win game with the London side, the Portuguese acknowledged pressures over the club.

    He said: “This is football and this is the club with more pressure, maybe, than any in the world, but we want to win.

    “Last year I was very critical of the way we played. I think we are playing well until the boxes, defending and attacking.

    “We need to be more aggressive in the boxes. We need to be more clinical. The rest I think we are improving compared to last year. We are in a better place.

    “But we need to win. We lost against Arsenal and Man City. Here, losing, especially in the beginning after last season, is a problem.

    “We need to be more clinical. The number of shots and the xG are good, but if you don’t score, it doesn’t matter.

    “The way we suffered the goals, we can avoid that. We are being naive, we need to be more aggressive in order to win games.”

  • FIFA Rankings: Super Eagles Drops Continue, Spain Leapfrog Argentina

    FIFA Rankings: Super Eagles Drops Continue, Spain Leapfrog Argentina

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles have dropped in the latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings, falling to 45th globally and once again dropping out of Africa’s top five.

    The recent decline places Nigeria sixth on the continent, trailing behind several long-standing rivals.

    In Africa, Morocco remain highest-ranked team, sitting 11th in the world after securing an early qualification for next year’s FIFA World Cup.

    Senegal follow as the continent’s second-best side at 18th globally, with Egypt (35th) and Algeria (38th) rounding out the top four.

    Côte d’Ivoire, buoyed by a consistent run of results, have climbed to 44th in the world, overtaking Nigeria to claim fifth place in Africa.

    Tunisia also made gains, rising three spots to 49th. Cameroon, South Africa, and Mali complete Africa’s top ten.

    Globally, Spain have returned to the top of the FIFA rankings for the first time since 2014, following their UEFA EURO 2024 triumph. They have overtaken world champions Argentina, who drop to third, while France move up to second place.

    Germany suffered one of the steepest drops in the rankings, falling to 12th after a shock World Cup qualifier defeat to Slovakia, a result that propelled the Slovaks ten places up to 42nd.

  • We Don’t Want To Repeat Last Season’s ‘Disaster’ At Arsenal-Guardiola

    We Don’t Want To Repeat Last Season’s ‘Disaster’ At Arsenal-Guardiola

    Manchester City Boss, Pep Guardiola, has ruled out possible repeat of the 5-1 heavy defeat by Arsenal last season.

    The Spaniard and his men will travel to Emirates again on Sunday, already trailing the Gunners and defending champions Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

    City lost two of their opening three games to Tottenham and Brighton, but have bounced back with comprehensive victories over regular foes, Manchester United and in the Champions League over Napoli.

    City failed to win a trophy for the first time since 2017 and finished a distant third behind Liverpool and Arsenal.

    “The game last season, we started like many times last season, like an under-14s team and gave away a thousand million goals,” said Guardiola when asked to reflect on his last visit to the Emirates.

    “After we were, a lot of the time, pretty good considering how it was last season, but the last 15-20 minutes were a disaster.

    “We forgot to do what we had do and it was easy for Arsenal. I want to compete to be a better team than we were last season.”

  • UFC Star McGregor Bows Out Of Ireland’s Presidential Race

    UFC Star McGregor Bows Out Of Ireland’s Presidential Race

    Controversial Mixed Martial Art star, Conor McGregor has announced his decision to withdraw his candidacy for the country’s presidential election.

    Conor added that his “commitment to Ireland does not end here”.

    Irish presidential election, scheduled for October 24, will decide the successor to Michael Higgins, who has held the office since 2011.

    He was convicted last November in a civil rape case and has also been sued in the US federal civil court by a woman accusing him of sexually assaulting her in Miami in June 2023.

    “Following careful reflection, and after consulting with my family, I am withdrawing my candidacy from this presidential race,” McGregor wrote on X.

    In a lengthy message, he criticised Ireland’s electoral law, which requires the endorsement of 20 members of parliament or four local government authorities to validate a candidacy.

    He denounced a “democratic deficit against the will of the Irish people”, particularly the “‘forgotten Irish’ who feel abandoned and ignored by Establishment woke politics”.

    “There is now a very visible and vocal movement of Irish Patriots reverting to our cultural and historical origins seeking to maintain and protect our way of life as Irish,” he said, adding “this tide cannot be held back”.

  • Tobi Amusan Bags Silver At Tokyo World Championships

    Tobi Amusan Bags Silver At Tokyo World Championships

    Nigeria’s track-queen and world record holder Tobi Amusan took silver in the women’s 100m hurdles at the world championships in Tokyo on Monday.

    Tobi clocked 12.29sec behind Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji who clocked a national record of 12.24sec to win a shock gold.

    American Grace Stark claimed bronze in 12.34sec, while Olympic champion Masai Russell finished fourth with 12.44sec.

    She claimed the title in 2022 in Eugene, where she clocked her world record of 12.12.

    Tobi Amusan Bags Silver At Tokyo World Championships
    Tobi Amusan Holding her silver medal at Tokyo world championship

  • Former Barcelona Defender Announces Retirement From Football

    Former Barcelona Defender Announces Retirement From Football

    Former Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti has announced his retirement from professional football at 31 years.

    In a post shared via his Instagram page on Monday, Umtiti was spotted standing at the stadium where it all began, addressing fans with emotional messages.

    He said: “I gave EVERYTHING with passion and I regret NOTHING.

    “I learned a lot in Catalonia, but also discovered a side of football that no one is ever really prepared for.

    “How could I not mention the French national team and that World Cup? An unforgettable moment of togetherness and a unique human experience.”

    ”Today, I am proud of how far I have come and at peace with my career. I gave it my all, staying true to my values, and I hope that’s the image people.”