The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Latest sports news

  • Nigeria crash out of CHAN 2020 despite 2-0 win over Togo

    By Julius Okorie

    Super Eagles team B otherwise called CHAN Eagles Saturday at the Agege Township stadium failed in their bid to qualify for the 2020 edition of the African Nations Championship billed for Cameroon.

    The Imama Amakapabo led side beat Hawks of Togo 2-0 in front of a capacity crowd but it was not enough to turn the table against the West African brothers who had defeated the Eagles 4-1 in the first leg.

    Sikiru Alimi scored a brace in the 10th and 62nd minutes of the match but that was all the firing powers of the Eagles could produce till the end of 90 minutes.

    Victorious Togo side sealed victory in the first leg at home

    The two legged encounter thus ended on 4-3 aggregate in favour of the Togolese.  The Eagles only needed un-replied 3-0 victory to earn a place in the championship which unfortunately they could not achieve.

    Nigeria finished second in the last edition in Morocco losing 4-0 at the Complexe Mohamed V in Casablanca to the hosts.

    Nigeria has featured at the championship reserved exclusively for home based players in the continent three times, finishing third place in her debut edition in 2014 in South Africa, crashing out in the Group Stage at the 2016 edition in Rwanda and finishing runners up in the 2018 edition in Morocco.

    Soccer fans who reacted following the ouster on Saturday said it did not come as a surprise as they were sure it would be difficult for the team to turn the table with a 4-1 defeat in the first leg.to the hosts

  • Kenyan’s Eliud Kipchoge shatters Marathon record in Vienna

     

    Amid jubilant scenes in Vienna on Saturday morning, Eliud Kipchoge became the first runner to finish a marathon in under two hours.

    The 34-year-old Kenyan completed the course in Vienna, in an incredible one hour, 59 minutes and 40 seconds.

    He celebrated with his arms outstretched and waved to the crowds as he sprinted over the line before he was greeted by a loving embrace from his wife Grace.


    Kenyan’s Eliud Kipchoge after crossing the finish line in Vienna

    In incredible scenes Kipchoge was somehow able to keep running as he celebrated with the crowd before being hugged by his INEOS team-mates as he waved aloft the Kenyan national flag.

    Afterwards he told the BBC: ‘I am feeling good. After Roger Bannister in 1954 it took another 63 years, I tried and I did not get it.

    ‘After 65 years, I am the first man! I want to inspire many people, that no human is limited.’

    Kipchoge, the four-time London Marathon winner whose official world record time is 2:01.39, added: ‘I can say I’m tired. It was a hard run. Remember, the pacemakers are among the best athletes in the world.

    ‘I can say thank you to them, I appreciate them for accepting and together we made history on this one.

    ‘We can make this world a beautiful world and a peaceful world. My wife and three children, I am happy for them to come and witness history.

    Kipchoge was racing alone but assisted by 41 pacemakers, including former Olympic and world record holders, in his attempt to achieve the milestone.

    The time will not be an official world record but is nonetheless a historic moment in distance running.

    In April, he eased away from Sir Mo Farah soon after crossing Tower Bridge, finishing in 2hr 2min 38sec.

     

     

     

  • Eagles Return: The ball is in your court, Agu tells Enyeama

     

    As the unending debate over whether or not former Super Eagles  ace Vincent Enyeama should return, Goalkeeper trainer Aloy Agu has told the out of contract safe hand that the ball is squarely in his court.

    A lot of water according to him has passed under the bridge since the 37 year old quit the Eagles with a lot of competition in all departments especially in goalkeeping.

    Enyeama he further recalled made the decision to quit, to have more time for his family and returning will depend on his current form on one hand and his ability to compete on the other.

    “He made a decision that he needed a break, wanting to relax with his family, and if he decides to come back, it is a good one; after all, it is no crime playing for one’s fatherland. But, there is the need to look at performance, because football is all about performance, and that is what Enyeama must show.

    Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer Aloy Agu

    “The questions we should be asking are how his performance is? Is he back in club football? If you look at the team now, we are having competition in the goalkeeping department and Enyeama must prove he has that x-factor which is performance to come to the negotiation table”, “he told Sports Extra.

    Enyeama who was capped 101 times has been out of action for close to two years and his attempt to return to club action after leaving Lille, hit the rocks as he failed to seal a contract after trials with French Ligue 1 side Dijon.

    The former Lille safe hand, who began his soccer career with Ibom Stars made 506 appearances for the seven clubs he played for both home and abroad including Enyimba where he clinched the CAF Champions league back to back.

    Some soccer fans have however advised him to stay away from the current Eagles as that is the only way the younger ones can rise to the occasion and take the bull by the horns.