Sports
England beat France 6-4 to claim World Cup third place
” We are fiercely competitive, so we almost don’t allow ourselves to be proud of third place because 18 months ago we set the highest goal. We set the highest dream to chase, and we were very, very ambitious with our dream to make it to the final and win the World Cup. So it’s very, very painful if you miss out.”
•Copyright AP Photo
England beat France 6-4 in a surprisingly tense and World Cup third-place playoff, with Bukayo Saka scoring a hat trick as the Three Lions secured their best finish at the tournament since winning the title in 1966.
Saka struck in the 37th minute, again in first-half stoppage time and completed his second England hat trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute.
Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa also found the net as England raced into a 4-0 halftime lead before surviving a relentless French fightback.
“I hope that the players can be proud of that in some time,” England coach Thomas Tuchel said.
” We are fiercely competitive, so we almost don’t allow ourselves to be proud of third place because 18 months ago we set the highest goal. We set the highest dream to chase, and we were very, very ambitious with our dream to make it to the final and win the World Cup. So it’s very, very painful if you miss out.”
Both teams had admitted beforehand they would rather have been playing in Sunday’s final, but the consolation match still produced a host of records.It was the highest-scoring World Cup match since Hungary’s 10-1 victory over El Salvador in 1982, while the 10 goals were the most ever scored in a World Cup third-place playoff.
Jude Bellingham rounded off the scoring deep into stoppage time with his seventh goal of the tournament, the most by an England player at a single World Cup.
Sports
NFF Crisis: NSC Names Ikpeme Acting General – Secretary., Ademola Olajire, Deputy
The appointments followed the resignations on Thursday of NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General – Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi, and several members of the federation’s Executive Committee.
[File photo] Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has appointed Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme as Acting General -Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), following a major leadership shake-up in the country’s football governing body.
Ikpeme, who previously served as the NFF Deputy General – Secretary, will oversee the federation’s secretariat during the transition period, while Dr Ademola Olajire, former Director of Media and Communications, will serve as Acting Deputy General -Secretary.
The appointments followed the resignations on Thursday of NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General – Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi, and several members of the federation’s Executive Committee.
The NSC also suspended all processes initiated for the NFF Elective Congress scheduled for September 27.
Sports
NFF President Gusau, other board members resign Over DSS Probe
The latest probe comes amid persistent public concerns over the administration of Nigerian football teams that have suffered severe systemic decline, highlighted by the Super Eagles missing consecutive FIFA World Cups and the historic failure of the Super Falcons to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The President of Nigeria Football Federation( NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, and other board members have resigned.
The NFF board had come under intense pressure following the poor management of Nigerian football.
The latest debacle was the failure of the Super Falcons to qualify for the FIFA Women World Cup for the first time.
The Department of State Services, DSS, joined other security operatives in investigating the NFF over the utilisation of the N17bn Federal Government intervention fund released to the Federation for players’ wages and bonuses.
The fund was approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 to clear outstanding payments owed to Nigeria’s national teams.
An authoritative source said on Monday, that the DSS had beamed their searchlight on officials of NFF to show proof on what they did with the massive fund released to the Glass house.
It’s a normal thing for DSS to go through all documents relating to the funds released them,” our source said, dismissing fears of witch hunt or hounding.
The latest probe comes amid persistent public concerns over the administration of Nigerian football teams that have suffered severe systemic decline, highlighted by the Super Eagles missing consecutive FIFA World Cups and the historic failure of the Super Falcons to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Sports
Ronaldo To End Career In Football This Year Without World Cup Title
The 41-year-old Portugal captain is one of football’s most decorated players, having won major trophies with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and current club Al-Nassr.
Cristiano Ronaldo says this could be his final year in football as the Portugal captain prepares to leave a lasting legacy.
“This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” Ronaldo told lifestyle magazine Vogue in an interview published on Sunday.
The 41-year-old Portugal captain is one of football’s most decorated players, having won major trophies with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and current club Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo made his senior debut for Sporting in 2002 and has enjoyed a career spanning more than two decades.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored 976 goals for club and country and is now closing in on the 1,000-goal milestone.
However, Ronaldo was unable to add a World Cup title to his list of honours after Portugal fell short at this year’s tournament.
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