Tag: Super cup

  • Ancelotti defends Vinicius ahead of Super Cup clash

    Ancelotti defends Vinicius ahead of Super Cup clash

    Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr is available to play in the Spanish Super Cup, despite his recent two-match suspension, and manager Carlo Ancelotti continued to defend his player despite the club losing their appeal.

    Vinicius was sent off for slapping Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski in Friday’s LaLiga match, and after an appeal, the Spanish FA suspended the striker for two league games, clearing him for Thursday’s Super Cup semi-final against Mallorca.

    Ancelotti had been confident of winning the appeal, believing it to be a yellow card offence, and also said that Vinicius is under enormous mental stress due to previous incidents of racist abuse directed at him in Spain.

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    The manager still believes the suspension decision was wrong.

    “We are delighted with Vinicius in every aspect,” Ancelotti told a press conference ahead of  today’s game in Jeddah.

    “Both he and I hear what happens on the pitch. I keep saying that it is difficult to be Vinicius. The sanction is not correct.

    “When you talk about Vinicius’ provocation, you deflect the shot from the insults he receives.”

    Real have already played Mallorca this season, when they were held to a 1-1 draw in the opening game of the campaign, and Ancelotti is happy that their Super Cup tie will go to penalties without extra time should they end level again.

    “We know the opponent very well and they know us. It’s going to be very competitive, they cost us a lot in LaLiga. They have good characteristics and can fight for the game,” Ancelotti said.

    “You think you will play a good game and win it. If you don’t win, there’s the penalty shootout.

    “It changes a lot. It avoids extra time, which can be more complicated to manage.”

    The winners will face either Barcelona or Athletic Bilbao, who play in Wednesday’s semi-final, in the final on Sunday.

  • Uboma agog for NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup

    Uboma agog for NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup

    Uboma, Imo State, venue of the inaugural NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup is agog with the arrival of the 18 teams, as preparations put in place by the Nationwide League One are in top gear for a successful hosting of the tournament.

    The Uboma Secondary School Stadium Complex, in Ihitte/Uboma LGA, will host matches of the NLO Super League which kicks off tomorrow  with an opening fixture between Summer FC and Ave FC.

    “Preparations are in top gear, as we’re set for the NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup to kick off. The 18 clubs have arrived, and two clubs sent a correspondence informing of their withdrawal owing to logistics and distance,” Chief Operating Officer of the nation’s third-tier league, Olushola Ogunnowo said. “In a swift reaction, they were immediately replaced with the best losers within this region, looking at distance and time to prepare for the tourney.

    “Campos FC who replaced Buratai FC (Yobe State) after they withdrew from the NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup finished runners-up in the Awka Zone, and they are from Imo State, so it was easy for them to be in Uboma.

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    “Also, Bare United a team from Gombe State pulled out and we were to replace them with the Feeders Team of Giant Brillars, as it was tough finding another team.

    “The NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup is not a promotion or relegation playoff but a friendly tourney that will be used to showcase the best youth teams in the Nationwide League One.

    “It’s a pathway to achieving success in life with their football career, they will be engaging some invited European Football Scouts and Sporting Directors with their enormous skills and talents.

    “The long run of this is, since the NLO doesn’t have money to give to them at the end of the tourney, but compensates the clubs, who take the benefits of their players being picked and thereafter market them.

    “However, the facility here is good and all logistics have been put in place to ensure a hitch-free tournament.”

  • Real Madrid 3-1 Barcelona (Full Time)

    Real Madrid 3-1 Barcelona (Full Time)

    Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in action with Real Madrid’s Mateo Kovacic.
     Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in action with Real Madrid’s Mateo Kovacic. Photograph: Juan Medina/Reuters

     

  • Ronaldo Fit for Super Cup -Zidane

    Ronaldo Fit for Super Cup -Zidane

    Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has insisted Cristiano Ronaldo is fit to start the UEFA Super Cup against Manchester United.

    Ronaldo only returned to training two days ago after he was given an extended break following his Confederations Cup exertions with Portugal.

    The 32-year-old, who has been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu as he battles allegations of tax fraud in Spain, has travelled to Macedonia with the rest of the squad and Zidane admitted he could start against his former club at the Philip II Arena in Skopje on Tuesday.

    He said: “He’s relaxed and what impresses me the most is that he’s as fit as the day of the final two months ago.

    “What interests me in the long run is that he’s fit.

    “As to the rest, there’s not much we can do about it. The fact he’s with us means a lot. If he’s with us it’s because he’s ready to play.

    “We’ll see whether he plays or not but the important thing is he’s with us.”

    Real Madrid have only just returned from their tour of the United States after playing the MLS All-Stars in Chicago on Aug. 2.

    Zidane, though, insists his team is ready to face Jose Mourinho’s United.

    He added: “I think the team is feeling well. We’re eager to start the season. This is the first official match and we’re hoping to start as soon as possible.

    “We’ve been working and resting very well. Now is when everything starts.

    “We are going to prepare the same way, our way, as always. We know a lot about our rivals. What concerns us is what we are going to do.”

    Had things been different, Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos could have been lining up for United against the Champions League winners in Skopje.

    The Spaniard was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford in 2015 as Real Madrid chased goalkeeper David De Gea.

    However, United’s interest was ended when Ramos signed a new long-term contract at the Bernabeu which is set to keep him at the club until at least 2020.

    He said: “There was an opportunity in the past. It resolved itself in a different way. I’m grateful to United for the interest. It’s a great club and I wish them all the best.”

  • Super Cup: Akwa Utd will make Enyimba sweat-Ezeji

    Super Cup: Akwa Utd will make Enyimba sweat-Ezeji

    Retired NPFL footballer, Victor Ezeji has predicted a very tough game in Abuja today when Enyimba face Akwa United in the Super Cup.

    The Cup will mark the commencement of the 2015/16 league season with the winners of the NPFL and Federation Cup both competing in the season’s curtain raiser.

    Enyimba secured a seventh league title as they wrapped up last season’s campaign with the highest points by any team (70 points) and have since hired former Warri Wolves Gaffer, Paul Aigbogun to lead its onslaught in the new campaign.

    Meanwhile, Akwa United defeated Lobi Stars, 2-1 in the Federation Cup final to win their first major title and also confirm their place in the CAF Confederation Cup.

    Today’s Super Cup will pitch Aigbogun against experienced, Maurice Cooreman; who replaced Zachary Baraje, and Ezeji insists his former team – Enyimba FC- will find the game difficult to grab a win from.

  • Super Cup: Onazi to start against Juventus

    Super Cup: Onazi to start against Juventus

    According to projections by the Italian media, Eddy Onazi will be named in the starting line – up when Lazio tackle Juventus in the Super Cup on Saturday.

    Tuttomercatoweb.com says the Biancocelesti manager, Stefano Pioli, is planning to deploy a 4 – 3 – 3 formation, with Onazi handed one of the spots in midfield alongside Biglia and Cataldi.

    Over the course of last season, the Nigeria international started only nine games out of a possible 45, and was an unused substitute in Lazio’s 2 – 1 loss to Juventus in the final of the Italian Cup.

    The 22-year-old has racked up 88 appearances for Lazio across all competitions since he made his debut.

    The central midfielder will not be called – up for the Super Eagle AFCON qualifying tie with Tanzania after he was red – carded against Tanzania in June.

  • Orelesi targets third Albanian Super Cup

    Orelesi targets third Albanian Super Cup

    Former Nigeria youth international Nurudeen Orelesi is set to lift the Albanian Super Cup for the third time with Skenderbeu Korce on Sunday.

    Orelesi has already won the Super Cup in 2012 and 2013.

    He was part of his team’s pre-season tour of Austria and said he will be happy to win the trophy at the expense of Flamutari.

    “My immediate target is to win my third Albania Super Cup with Skenderbeu. It is always a sweet memory to win and I am looking forward to it against on Sunday when we face cup winners Flamutari,” Orelesi said.

    “It is going to be a tough game, but we are ready to win it again.”

    The versatile Nigeria player has won Albanian league three times in 2011/2012, 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 season.

    He has equally won the Albanian Cup in 2011/2012.

  • Super Cup: Supporters Club boss hails Enyimba’s feat

    Super Cup: Supporters Club boss hails Enyimba’s feat

    Enyimba Fc Supporters Club President, Steve Ukwueni, says Enyimba Fc have proved again why they deserved to have won the league last season with their recent 2-0 win over Kano Pillars in the Super Cup.

    The Super Cup fixture is a tie between the domestic league title holder and the Federation Cup winners.

    The “Peoples’ Elephant” defeated the “Kano Aristocrats” on Thursday in at the Warri Township stadium with goals from Ifeanyi Ede and Sibi Gwar and Ukwueni believes the victory has distinguished Enyimba as true Champions.

    “Yes, the whole world can see why we would have been crowned the League champions in the the just concluded season.

    “We defeated Kano Pillars in an open game, this is the champion of champion fixture, and we once again proved our superiority, irrespective of what happened last season in the league. I believe we’ve justified our claims here.

    The Supporters club boss is confident that Enyimba are fully prepared for another trophy parade this season.

    It could be recalled that, the Governor of Abia State, Chief T.A Orji had promised the team that he will reward them again if they won the Super Cup, and the “Aba Landlords” will once again smile to the bank as the governor has promised to fulfil his promise.

    Enyimba hold the record as 6 times Nigerian premier league champions and also the only Nigerian team to have won the CAF Champions league back to back in 2003 and 2004.

  • Ede basks in Super Cup win

    Ede basks in Super Cup win

    Enyimba forward, Ifeanyi Ede, has underlined the importance of Thursday’s Charity Cup win over Globacom Premier League champions, Kano Pillars at the Warri City Stadium.

    Ede’s magnificent effort opened the scoring for the People’s Elephant in the 20th minute of a wonderfully open and entertaining encounter and the attacker took the time to explain his show of confidence en route to the goal.

    He had received a pass from inside the Enyimba half before embarking on a mazy run and firing an unstoppable rocket past the Pillars goalkeeper, Theophilus Afelokhai.

    “When I received the ball, I wanted to pass to a teammate but my instincts told me to shoot instead. The defender (of Pillars) tried to block but I turned him inside out. It was one of the best goals I have ever scored,” he exclusively told supersport.com.

    Sibi Gwar added a second for the Aba club 15 minutes after the restart and, despite the best efforts of Pillars to launch a late fight back, Enyimba held on for the win.

    “We have shown by this win that we are the best club in Nigeria. We did not just beat Pillars, we outclassed them with 10 men,” Enyimba chairman, Felix Anyasi Agwu added.

    His Pillars counterpart Abba Abdullahi Yola tried to make light of the defeat.

    “In any game, there must be a winner or a loser. You cannot say it’s the end of the world. We congratulate Enyimba for emerging winners of the Charity Cup,” he said.