Supper Eagles players celebrating inside bus after victory with Ahmed Musa the captain a devoted Muslim leading Christian choruses. God when can we see all Nigerians celebrating in unison without religions sentiments.
NOLLYWOOD LEGEND DIES AT 74.
Nollywood Yoruba legend and Majeobaje of Edeland, Chief Adedeji Aderemi aka Olofaina died Thursday at 74 from unknown ailment.
He starred in epic films like Ogbori Elemoso; Bahorun Gaa; Afonja; Balogun Ibikunle and Lagbondoko.
Both top stars, Saudi Balogun and his close ally in the Nollywood movement, Chief Musiliu Dasofunjo confirmed his death.
Olofaina had done a video clip saying every human being will die sometime but each person should leave a good legacy behind.
His family it is said will announce his burial plans soon.
Eniola Olatunji for Patmos Media Line.
CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS AS A CHILD.
As i laid upon my couch battling general fatigue for three days due to burn out, i thought of Christmas periods i have spent on earth.
In 1966, i had followed some boys in the traditional emergency masquerade dance of boys against the wish of my mother. I thought i was a big boy now going to primary three. I had never had the grace of moving around the Abadina Community of the University of Ibadan singing, "baba thank you, oyingo, God go bless you, oyingo" and other songs.
Whenever any group danced to our house, i try my best to identify who the masquerade is. I whisper to the drummers most of who i know. Living in that community was great fun especially with the Ishan people of old Bendel State. Their masquerades would tumble and gyrate in spectacular ways. I tried copying in 1965 and ended up with minor wounds at the Jaja Clinic of the University community.
And so in 1966, armed with two empty 'peak milk tins' and striking them in a rythymic manner to produce music, i was admitted in the group of someone i don't want to name. He was six years older than me and led perhaps the most youthful squad.
Don't forget i told you my parents did not know about and approve my escapades. We went round Abadina, Chima, Sankore and other senior staff quarters. It was exciting. At the end, our leader handed me one penny stating i don't need the money because my parents were rich. The money was not my problem but the joy and fun therein.
I got home and was told by our househelp then that they had searched everywhere for me. I knew there was trouble. My heart beat increased. My father gave me the right hand of righteousness - beating. Bro Tomi Takpe carried me on his shoulders while bro Olu carried my legs and my father arranged six strokes of koboko on my bumbum and back. I called Jesus Christ to save me but he abandoned me. I didn't know how to shout ELOI ELOI LAMA SABACTANI like Him.
That was not the end. After the bulala session, my mother aske
Qatar 2022 is the best ever - FIFA President, Giani Infantino
The 22nd FIFA world cup ended in Qatar on Sunday 18th December with Argentina lifting the cup for the 3rd time after winning it in 1978 and 1986 in 18 appearances and six at the grand finale having lost it in 1950, 1990 and 2014 at that stage.
It was a frenzy of a final for the CEO of Google, Sundar Pichai said on Monday that Google Search recorded its highest ever traffic in 25 years during the final in Qatar. Pichar tweeted: “It was like the entire world was searching about one thing.”
Argentina had beaten defending Champions, France 4-2 on penalties after 2-2 at extra time making 120 minutes of dramatic football first to be decided on penalties. Lionel Messi a prolific footballer trending under the argument of who is the Greatest of All the best players between Brazil’s Pele and Messi Argentina lifted the 18 Carat Gold trophy in a special wear provided by the Qatari Government.
Tuesday, 20th December was declared public holiday in Argentina to receive the victorious Argentine team at the Obelisk, the monument that is the traditional epicenter of sporting celebrations for which Messi said “It is great to be celebrating with my people”.
Fans were at Paris Place De La Concorde on Monday to welcome the French Team. Fans released fireworks, sang ‘Allez Les Bleus’ and the team waved frantically from the balcony of the prestigious Hotel the Collon. The Coach, Didier Deschamps, team Captain Hugo Lloris and others gave synchronized waving but when Kylian Mbappe appeared, the crowd roared. French President, Emmanuel Macron had left the VIP box after the match, walked straight to a dejected Mbappe and consoled him with Hugo assisting.
But Journalists were not happy with Argentina that rendered obscene and disparaging songs at the mixed zone which were directed at the media people with Messi disappointingly leading them. The International Sports Press, AIPS demanded for apologies from Messi a
Argentina freezes France hope of historic back to back win picks the world cup on penalties 4-2.
Argentina historically defeated defending world cup champions France in a rare game of death that would have made anyone prone to high blood pressure as the first world cup final to be settled by penalties drew weeping, sympathy, joy and ecstatic celebration as hopes and aspirations were equally dashed. Truly, this was a unique pulsating match that made losers and victors weep with fans standing like street lamps wondering what they saw. Argentina 4 France 2 after the 3-3 Extra Time was the score.
Argentina got the first half easily playing the French around cutting off the brilliant dribble runs of Star boy Kylian Mbappe and the marvelous crosses of Olivier Giroud.
Lionel Messi who fulfilled the dream of lifting the only trophy that had eluded his football career, the world cup slotted in the first goal from a penalty kick in the 23rd minute that emerged his 6th penalty kick at the Qatar world cup where he missed one and his first ever goal in a world cup grand finale.
Then came Angel Di Maria from the left wing who had scored for Argentina in every final he played for Argentina in any competition as a connect between Messi and Alexis Mac Allister found him unmarked in his position in 36th minute for the second goal to Argentina.
As the first half ended football pundits were discussing what could have befallen France for the unfanciful performance. France had never experienced being scored against first at any world cup final They had beaten Brazil 3-0 at France 98 where Zidane scored a brace. In 2006 they scored first and in 2018 scored the lead goal against Croatia but in Qatar it was great suspense. Mbappe had scored a brace in the France versus Argentina 4-3 encounter at Russia 2018.
Many big Journalists’ platforms in Nigeria, NEWSPOT.NG and Global Broadcasters’ Forum had predicted massive win for Argentina.
On resumption of the second half, wonders bega
Messi messes Croatia silly, slide them off the final journey 3-0 at world cup semifinal.
Seven times world best player and talisman for the Argentina team, Lionel Messi clinically messed up the Croatian national team 3-0 in the first semifinal of the Qatar world cup making him just a step away from lifting his first ever world cup trophy.
The score line was a sweet revenge to the semifinals of the last competition at Russia 2018 where Croatia swallowed them like crocs by the same margin 3-0 all goals scored in the second half then.
The Collabo between Messi and Julian Alvarez was the Argentine joker as both wrecked the Croats. First goal was dramatic. Croatian Goalkeeper, Dominic Livakovic had tripped Julian Alvarez bagging a yellow card and conceding a penalty. In the process Mateo Kovavic was booked for dissent. Then Messi stepped forward fighting a mind game with Livakovic, gbam, he tucked into the net his 11th world cup goal, the 5th in Qatar and first goal against Croatia. Messi had played four penalty shots at Qatar world cup and lost one.
Then Boma Sosa failed to clear his lines well and Alvarez in a solo effort scored in the 39th minute to raise hopes for Argentina in the final. Again 35 year old Messi came rampaging on the right flank, crossed one to Alvarez who toed it into the net at 68th minute for goal number 3 of the night and every calculations changed to Croatia not conceding further goals.
Could it have been the change of game ball that made Croatian team not to boot like overloaded computer in time? FIFA changed the balls used from the opening match, called Al Rahla meaning “the journey” to Al Hilm meaning “The Dream”. Al Rihla has technology to assist in tracking and helping Ref decisions. Adidas that manufactured the balls said Al Hilm represents a beacon of light on the power of sport and football to bring the world together.
Argentina was strategic from the beginning with their 4-4-2 system blocking the defence and clipping the
Fire for fire as Argentina clash with Croatia again in world cup semifinals on Tuesday.
…Croatia won the 2018 encounter 3-0.
The Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar will be literarily on fire, very explosive, as the Blazers Boys of Croatia take on the Diego Maradona spirit filled Argentine in the first semifinal of the 2022 world cup that I foresee the rendition of high decibel support from the stands and many watching from homes across the world would have to sit at the edge of their seats during the duration of the match.
Watch out everywhere for the resurrection of the ardent spirit of the supporter of the IICC Shooing Stars of Ibadan in memory, Alhaji Ganiyu Elekuru alias Baba Eleran (Meat Seller) for woe betides you if you stand before Baba Eleran in a football match as he will give you via uncontrolled emotions several hard kicks especially when Odegbami and Otolorin are in front of goal, about to kick in a shot on target.
The records are amusing. Argentina has never been eliminated in their last four semifinal matches. Croatia is on the eve of their election to the hall of Global Football Elites (GFE) as the Croats are in their second successive world cup semis are have the greater chance of appearing in their second successive finals. Great record, great achievement! Only Italy, Netherlands and Germany have ever reached back to back finals. They have the GFE award. Cheers.
There are challenges ahead of the Tuesday encounter. Not the Challenge Bus Stops you find in Lagos or Ibadan both in Nigeria but the mountainous road block that may derail the lofty dreams of both sides.
Croatia has a fit bunch of players who can play 240 minutes nonstop in their camp. They specifically include in their training physical fitness and endurance. They are trained to take brick bats like snipers in the military. Hardly do you see them smile, they only grin and move on. I studied especially their Captain, Luka Modric who was brought up in a military camp.
Two important play
Atlas Lions of Morocco swallow Spain 3-0 on penalty;
… lies in waiting for Portugal or Switzerland for a quarterfinal meal in Qatar world cup.
The Atlas Lions of Morocco roared like a wounded Lion when the La Roya of Spain stamped their tail at the Qatar world cup and consumed the world cup hopefuls on penalty kicks bringing a surprise victory to Africa. Morocco won 3-0 on penalties. Moroccan goalkeeper, Bono is the hero.
Both teams played goalless after extra time despite Spain virtually camping inside the penalty box of Morocco hunting for goals that were steadfastly blocked by the North Africans who obviously waited for penalty shootouts from the opening whistle for they hardly went for goals though Morocco got 3 shots on target and Spain 2. Spain had 6 shots off target.
The pressure was much on Morocco that conceded 8 corner kicks playing none when Spain controlled the game with 75% to 25% ball possession.
Then came the penalty shoot outs. Spain lost all the three kicks they took through Pablo Sarabia; Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets. Morocco scored the first two kicks through Abdelhamid Sabiri; Hakim Ziyech and lost the third kick through Badr Benoume before Achraf Hakimi’s scored kick commanded the popping of wine.
It was time to mourn in Spain as they now lost in the world cup at the same level back to back with a probability that the La Liga people are now jinxed. There was a deafening noise of victory across Africa’s major city including the Nigerian capital city of Abuja where they chose to celebrate African victory with Isi-Ewu (Goat head) pepper soup breaking no joints attendance rules in the city after 6pm.
The Moroccans became specialists at frustration tactics; the Ref 44 year old Fernando Rapallini had to see off every player change to save time.
There were three matches between both countries which Spain won two with a draw. In the world cup qualifier on 12th November 1961 Spain won 1-0 and 23rd November 1961 Spain won 3-2 also in
Brazil teaches South Korea real football in 4-1 victory to the quarters.
…Celebrate ailing football legend, Pele.
The Samba boys of Brazil on Monday night in Qatar dazzled the Asian Tigers, South Korea 4-1 in the round of 16 creating fears that there would be an avalanche of goals as the four goals of brazil were scored in the first half.
Vinicius Junior opened scoring in the 7th minute after receiving a pass from Neymar Junior who was risking his ankle injury. Neymar himself got the 2nd goal via a penalty in in the 13th minute as Brazil tutored the Tigers on accurate passes on the green grass and not jumping in forests hunting meet.
Thiago Silva showed stuff when he made an accurate pass to Richarlison who scored the 3rd goal in the 29th minute before Lucas Paqueta pounced on a Vinicius cross pass to score the 4th goal at 36th minute.
The Tigers must have had great pep talks at have time as they came smoking in the 2nd half forcing Brazil to upgrade to blocking their goal area. All Brazilians old and young must have lined up to block the Brazil goal post riffled a ballistic missile about 30m at 76th minute into the Brazil net gingering the Koreans to buckle up at 4-1.
Immediately 40 year old Ref Clement Turpin of France blowed the final whistle, Brazil introduced the Samba dance and brandished a banner of legendary Edson Aranson de Nascimento known as Pele who is battling medical challenges in Brazilian hospital. Pele won three world cup titles.
South Korea is always kicked out at the group stages but the Tigers jumped the fence twice in 2010 when the team reached the round of 16 in South Africa and that best performance of 4th place in 2002.
That cannot be in anyway compared to five times champions’ record of Brazil in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. They were twice runners-up in 1950 and 1998; twice Bronze Medalist in 1978 and 1938; also twice 4th place in 1974 and 2014.
Brazil beat South Korea 5-1 on 2nd February 2022; 3-0 on 19th November 2019
France on Sunday in Qatar saw off the Orly (Eagles) of Poland 3-1 to move to the Quarters of the world cup.
…Set up a likely meet with England or Senegal in the quarterfinals.
France on Sunday got a sweet revenge over Poland who last defeated the now two times world champion 40 years ago, precisely 1982 at the world cup. The celebration was sweeter as the team held hands together and greeted their fans who almost brought down the stadium with their deafening noise of victory.
The Mbappe/Giroud combination was a pain to the Polish team. Olivier Giroud a well experienced attacker scored 44th minute from a Mbappe connect to put France in front for first goal and compensate for the Giroud unforgiveable miss in the 28th minute where his trickiest shot hit the upright bar and rolled into touch for a goal kick to Poland.
The Giroud curtain raiser which is his 52nd goal for France came breaking the record of Igwe (a title meaning king in Nigeria given to) Thierry Henry the legend of Arsenal. He eventually made it 53 goals for France and is the highest goal scorer in Qatar with 5 goals while others like Messi, Enner Valencia, Marcus Rashford, Cody Gakpo, Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud have 3 goals each.
The Giroud goal was very stylish as he had to twist his left foot to score the goal. I report that the Poland Goal Keeper, Wojciech Szezeny had to go inside his net, not for the ball but water bottle to gulp, not sip water meaning he had been stressed for psychologically you gulp water when you are stressed or tired. I wish I could ask the 88,236 fans that watched the match whether they saw him gulp the water like a Camel. Woj is the 1.96m tall 32 year old (born 18th April 1990) in Warsaw current goal keeper of the Old Lady, Juventus of Italy.
Rampaging Mbappe whose name is synonymous now to football terrorism with his deft touches and mesmerizing dribble runs got a brace in the match to drown the Polish team first when he blasted a ballistic missile 25m away from
Lionel Messi helps Argentina into the Quarterfinals scores first ever goal at the knockout stage of the world cup.
…Played his 1000 match and scored his 701st goal in career as Argentina beat Australia 2-1.
Argentine talisman player, Lionel Messi played the match of his life on Saturday to beat the Kangaroos of Australia 2-1 a match that if Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka was watching, he would out rightly have described the Aussies as a bunch that were “as stubborn as an illiterate goat” because they kept coming for the Argentine.
The Argentine looked to have fumbled and wobbled into the round of 16 after the team lost the opener 1-2 to Saudi Arabia but climbing to top the Group with 6 points and Poland followed 2nd with 4 points.
Messi playing his playing his 1000th match had scored 8 goals for Argentina at the world cup and none at the Knockout stages, in fact 3 of the goals at the group stages were against Nigeria so when he played a grass cutter that scored in the 35th minute against Australia off a Nicolas Otamendi pass, Journalists adjusted putting off every distraction. A Commentator renamed Messi as OluMessi a Yoruba prefix for divine translated here to mean Messi is Argentine Messiah.
Julian Alvarez pounced on a defensive error by Mathew Ryan of Australia in the 57th to increase the lead for Argentina but the game changed when in an effort to block an inter Ballistic missile of a shot, the like likes of the ones from the Atuegbu brothers of Enugu Rangers in the days of yore when Andrew Atuegbu’s shot removed the horizontal bar in a match, (There was Alloy Atuegbu) Erizo Fernandez diverted the ball into his net. The ricochet inspired the Aussies to come back to Life.
The Australians shot into the Argentine goal area like Soldiers fighting terrorists, just fire into the goal area. It was unbelievable then that Argentine Goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez saved from very close range an Uzzi like shot from Garang Kuol in 90+7 minute which could ha
PORTUGAL BOWS TO ASIAN TIGERS, SOUTH KOREA IN SHOCK 1-2 BUT TOP GROUP H.
Soccer lords, Portugal joined the league of ‘big’ countries losing at the Qatar world cup as Asian Tigers, South Korea thrashed them 2-1 in the last group H encounter.
Portugal resting most of their regular players scored first through Ricardo Horta in the 5th from a Diego Dalot assist.
A mistake from Cristiano Ronaldo was taken advantage of by Young-Gwon Kim in the 27th minute for South Korean equalizer. The Shocker came 90+1 minute when Hee-Chan Hwang scored from Heung-Min Son assist.
South Korea struggled as in their character having 6 shots on target against 5 of Portugal putting pressure to play 5 corner kicks against Portugal’s 4.
The only recorded time the two countries played was on 14th June 2002world cup when South Korea ran away with a lone goal victory at the group stage. Ex Manchester United Park Ji-Sung scored in the 70th minute. In that match, Portugal ended up playing 9 men for Joao Pinto and Beto were red carded.
Ref Fecundo Tello of Argentina who officiated the Swiss lone goal victory over Cameroon handled the match while Columbian Ref Nicolas Gala was the VAR supervisor and Bruno Boschilin of Brazil handled the automated Offside machine.
In the first round of Group H, Uruguay played goalless with South Korea; Portugal beat Ghana 3-2. In the second round, South Korea lost to Ghana 2-3 and Portugal slapped Uruguay 2-0.
Thus, Uruguay and Ghana were ousted in Group H, as Uruguay placed 3rd with 4 points and zero goals difference just like South Korea but the Asian Tigers went further technical ground as Runners Up. Ghana rocked the bottom with 3 points and -2 goals difference. Portugal topped with 6 points and 2 goals difference.
See the round of 16 schedules that starts tomorrow Saturday 3rd December:
Netherlands vs USA Saturday 3rd December at 4pm
Argentina vs Australia Saturday 3rd December at 8pm
France vs Poland Sunday 4th December at 4pm
England vs Senegal 4
SAMBA BOYS OF BRAZIL ZOOMS INTO THE ROUND OF 16 WITH A CASEMIRO LONE STRIKE IN GROUP G.
The Samba Boys of Brazil Monday night in Qatar strolled into the round of 16 after a gruesome battle with Switzerland via a Casemiro bullet shot in the 83rd minute from their usual ‘tiki taka’ football meaning one touch pass where among a legion of passes substitute Rodrygo found Casemiro. Brazil 1 Swiss 0.
VAR chief in the match, Fischer from Canada had rejected Real Madrid’s Vinicius Juniors’ goal at 64th minute.
The Centre Ref Ivan Barton from EL Savador handled the Japan versus Germany where Japan won 2-1.
Switzerland did not record a single shot on target but Brazil had 5 good shots; despite the efforts of Nigeria’s Akanji in the Swiss defence, Brazil played 8 corner kicks stressing the Swiss team that conceded 17 fouls to Brazil 10 in determined spate of moves to ward off the mesmerizing Brazilian attacks.
Brazil and Switzerland always play nail biting matches that you can hardly sit comfortably watching their matches. In 2006 Switzerland lost to Brazil 1-2; Brazil was beaten 1-0 in 2013 both friendly matches but in the last world cup at Group E both played 1-1 draw, no wonder the Qatar match was dicey.
In the first round, Brazil outran Serbia 2-0 and Switzerland narrowly clipped the Canadian wings 1-0.
At the end of round 2 in Group G, Brazil has qualified for the next round having secured maximum 6 points with +3 goals difference; Switzerland is still second with 3 points and zero GD; Cameroon has a point with -1 GD to be 3rd on the table while Serbia whose coach bagged a red card earlier are 4th with a point and -2 GD. Earlier, Cameroon and Serbia played 3-3.
Who joins Brazil for the round of 16 knockout stages will be decided simultaneously at 2000 hours West African Time on Friday 3rd December when Cameroon plays Brazil and Serbia has to beat Switzerland or go home.
Third round matches start tomorrow Tuesday. In Group A, hosts Qatar will play a fo
COSTA RICA DECODES HI TECH JAPAN WITH FIRST WORLD CUP GOAL WINS 1-0 IN GROUP E.
Costa Rica’s 20 year old Keysher Fuller on Sunday decoded the Hi Tech Japanese team that dimmed the German Machine when he scored the lone goal at 81st minute via Yeltsin Tejeda assist that destabilized Group E table.
That first goal of Costa Rica at the world cup left Japan stranded like a fellow who missed his train at the London tube and was a terrible punishment for the blunders in the Japanese defence.
Football plotters had tipped Japan to win convincingly and were waiting for the final before final in the encounter between Spain and Germany coming up tonight at 8pm. It is either the fuses in the German machine function well or they will return to the vehicle city of Stuttgart for thorough review and re-presentation in 2026.
Costa Rica never defeated Japan. Japan tutored them 3-1 in 2014 after 1-1 draw in 2002 and slayed Costa Rica 3-0 in 2018 so the victory of the Costa Ricans is an upset.
Group E in the first round matches were heartwarming with the shocker 2-1 win of Japan over Germany and the highest team score of 7-0 of Costa Rica by Spain. That match later tonight is high on the bill.
Temporarily, Spain leads the table in this group with 3 points; Japan is 2nd with 3 points too but zero goals difference; Costa Rica is 3rd but with a whopping -6 goals difference and Germany is there at the bottom with no point and -1 goals difference.
At 8pm West African Time on Thursday 1st December Costa Rica will play Germany and another star match in Japan versus Spain both at 8pm.
Eniola Olatunji reporting.
#FifaworldcupQatar2022.
QATAR 2022: CANADA BOWS TO BELGIUM 0-1 IN GROUP F OPENING MATCH.
Alphonso Davies missed a golden chance to record his name as first ever goal scorer for Canada when he kicked an outstandingly weak penalty shot that Real Madrid Goalkeeper Tony Courtois parried safely in the 11th minute of play in a Group F encounter against Belgium at the Qatar world cup tournament.
Unrated Canada just ranked 41 in the world lining up against Belgium ranked 2nd was a mismatch on paper but the North Americans shook the Belgians who managed a grim victory by a lone goal scored by Michy Batshuayi in the 44th minute from a Toby Alderweireld assist.
The Red Devils of Belgium really missed lanky Romea Lukaku their highest scorer who is nursing a muscle injury and Yani Caraso who caused the penalty had to bite his lips looking into heaven about four times probably thanking God that Alphonso did not score whereas a Canadian based Nigerian Pastor, Nosa Idahosa quickly lamented on his FaceBook page: “we lost a penalty”.
Belgium is the only European country with a long record of attendance, 14th but has never lifted the trophy. Their greatest achievement was beating the Three Lions of England 2-0 in the last tournament of 2018 to bag the Bronze. The Devils placed 4th in 1986.
Heaven must have approved victory for the Belgians though on the other thinking, inexperience ‘killed’ the Les Rouges (The Reds) of Canada who dominated the game with 54% to 46% possession bombarding the Belgians especially in the first Half with a total 11 shots on target to just 3 from Belgium.
The assumption of inexperience showed in the statistics with 18 goal kicks to Belgium and 7 to Canada; 4 corner kicks each but 11 foul calls to Belgium and 14 to Canada with 3 yellow cards to Belgium and 2 to Canada all indicating one thing – Canada did not come to the field to show respect to their senior football brothers. Simple. It also shows Canada may come smoking in their next match like the Rumble in the ju
HI TECH JAPAN DISMANTLES GERMAN MACHINE BEAT FOUR TIME CHAMPIONS 2-1 IN GROUP E.
The Japan football team on Wednesday at the Kalifa Stadium inflicted a tangible collateral damage on the German Machine sinking the team 2-1 in the first group E encounter at the 2022 world cup in Qatar.
Midfielder IIkay Guadogan of Germany had scored from a penalty spot after Japanese goalkeeper fouled on a German attacker in 33rd minute and Ref Ivan Barton of El Salvador surprised the entire stadium when he approved an obvious offside goal by Kai Hevertz in the 45+4th minute only for VAR to turn it down.
Germany did not foresee the waking up of the hard working Japanese when they started bombarding their goal area from the 70th minute until Ritsu Doan got a gift of a parried ball from German goalkeeper, Manuel Neur to score an equalizer in the 75th minute.
The younger Japanese players kept mounting pressure until Takuma Asano got a pass from Ko Itakura in 83rd minute to powerfully ram in the winner and the German Machine malfunctioned drifting into an unexpected loss.
Five Japanese players play in the Bundesliga and understood all the computerized moves of the Germans who are the most successful in the world cup after Brazil.
Germany ranked 11th in the world were making their 20th appearance at the world cup winning four times in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014. They were Silver Medalists in 1966, 1982, 1986 and 2002. Won Bronze in 1934, 1970 and 2010. What an intimidating record! But at the last tournament held in 2018, Germany was sent out at the Group Stage. Will Germany go out at the group stage in 2022?
Japan were surely underdogs appearing the 7th time with 24th placed ranking but their best were mere round of 16 appearances thrice in 2002, 2010 and 2018. This is ‘positionally’ less than a David versus Goliath match.
We are not sure if this standard can upset archrival Spain who are in their group but has a Costa Rica hurdle to scale. Ref Mohammed Abdullai Hassan of UAE w
FLAMINGOS FLY PAST USA IN WORLD WOMEN FOOTBALL QUARTERS.
Nigeria's U17 female football team The FLAMINGOS on Friday at the D Y Patil Sports Stadium in India flew past their USA counterparts in the quarter finals per kindness of an awful penalty kick during shoot out by America's Riley Jackson who lost their last kick.
Nigeria zoomed into the semi finals via 4-3 penalty shootouts as both played 1-1 after regular time.
Elegant O. Edafe opened scoring for Nigeria via penalty kick at 26th minute before scoring again during the penalty kicks but A. Villarreal cancelled the advantage at 40th minute through a Gamero assist.
It was a day the God of soccer refused the Americans to shine over Nigeria despite outplaying the Olowookere tutored Flamingos who were locked with 15 corners to 4; bagged a yellow through no 10 shirt, Taiwo Afolabi in the 87th minute; had slim 2 shots on target to America's 3 with 41 to 59 ball possession. Fouls were four for each side.
Emiri for America had lost her side's second penalty kick before Comfort Folorunsho lost Nigeria's 4th kick and then Jackson baby lost it all.
It was the first time USA went past the group stage since 2008. America topped their group with the highest team score of 13 goals but Nigeria came from runners up in group B.
Nigeria will face winner of Columbia v Tanzania in the 3rd quarters at noon on Saturday in the semifinals.
Later on Friday, Germany U17 will face Brazil. Tomorrow, Saturday Japan will tackle Spain in the 4th quarters.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
