The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Wembley Stadium.

  • NANS hails boxer Anthony Joshua’s victory

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Sunday congratulated the Nigeria-born boxer, Anthony Joshua, on his victory over the Russian Alexander Povetkin to retain his World Heavyweight titles.

    The NANS’ congratulatory message was contained in a statement titled: “Inspiration for All Nigerian Youths’’, signed by its National Public Relations Officer, Bestman Okereafo in Enugu.

    Joshua had on Saturday night defeated Povetkin through a Technical Knock Out (TKO) in the seventh round of the fight at the 80,000-capacity Wembley Stadium, London.

    With the victory, Joshua thus retained his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO world heavyweight championship belts.

    The association attributed the victory to hard work and consistency, adding that Joshua remains a big source of inspiration to other Nigerian youths.

    Read Also: Video: Anthony Joshua knocks out Povetkin

    “Anthony Joshua had in series of times proved that you can be the best you want to be through hard work, dedication and focus.

    “Nigerian youths are proud of the great boxer and we will strive to emulate his virtues by putting Nigeria first in anything we are doing.

    “We say thank you for continuously making Nigeria proud,’’the statement reads.

    With the win, the 28-year-old boxer moved on to 22 fights unbeaten in his professional career.

    The successful bout also gave Joshua his 21st win by TKO.

    In April 2017, Joshua became a unified heavyweight world champion after he knocked out Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko at the same Wembley Stadium.

    NAN

  • Soccer Fans to pay N73, 000 for FA cup final

     

    Soccer fans, who will storm the Wembley stadium on May 19 for the FA cup final between Manchester United and Chelsea, will have to part with N73, 000, N58, 000 and N23, 000 respectively.

    The FA approved £145 for grade A tickets, £115 for category B tickets respectively. The cheapest ticket however remains at £45 (about N23, 000).

    The FA has faced criticism from supporters groups for price increases which saw an additional £30.

    Nigeria’s Victor Moses who was impressive in the Chelsea’s semi final tie against Southampton with the Blues running away with a 2-0 victory to hit the final, will be hoping to replicate the performance when they face Manchester United in next month’s final. Should the former Wigan Athletic ace and his teammates win the title at the expense of Manchester United, he would have joined compatriot and Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel in clinching the FA cup with the Blues.

    The 2016–17 premier league winner has continued to enjoy impressive run at the Stamford Bridge and is one of the super Eagles player being tipped to lift Nigeria in Russia where they have been pitched against Croatia, Iceland and Argentina in the Group Stage. Eagles captain John Obi mikel who currently plies his trade with Chinese Super League side Tiajin Teda, won three FA  cups with Chelsea 2006–07, 2008–09, 2011–12

     

     

     

  • England’s friendly to decide Eagles team – Mutiu Adepoju

    England’s friendly to decide Eagles team – Mutiu Adepoju

    A former Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, on Friday said the upcoming international friendly match between the Three Lions of England would be a good rehearsal before the World Cup.

    Adepoju, who featured for the Super Eagles at the USA `94 and the France `98 World Cup, said in Lagos that the match would likely decide final team selection.

    “Well it’s a Grade A match, and it will definitely give the team an insight into what to expect at the World Cup proper.

    “It’s a very good test match, probably this will be the last match before the World Cup.

    “And I think it’s a good one that will put the team in proper perspective for the main event,’’ the former Super Eagles midfielder said.

    The Three Lions will lock horns with the Super Eagles on June 2, at the iconic Wembley Stadium.

    Read Also: Keshi was a role model to us – Mutiu Adepoju

    The friendly encounter will be the third time both teams will be engaging each other, their first encounter was a friendly match at Wembley Stadium which England won 1-0 shortly, after the 1994 World Cup.

    While their second encounter was at Osaka, Japan in a Group F match at the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup which ended in a goalless draw.

    NAN

  • Kane beats Shearer record for most goals in a year

    Kane beats Shearer record for most goals in a year

    Harry Kane scored a Premier League record 37th goal in 2017 on Tuesday in Tottenham Hotspur’s game against Southampton at Wembley Stadium.

    The England forward thus toppled a 22-year-old record held by former England striker Alan Shearer.

    Read also: Kane suffers angle ligament damage

    The 24-year-old Kane headed in Christian Eriksen’s free kick in the 22nd minute to overtake Shearer’s 36 goals in 1995 with Blackburn Rovers.

    Kane had equalled the 36-goal tally while scoring a hat-trick in Spurs’ 3-0 win at Burnley on Saturday.

    NAN

  • Joshua vs Klitschko rematch: Fans to pay N350,000

    Joshua vs Klitschko rematch: Fans to pay N350,000

    Can you pay N350,000 to watch Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko rematch in Lagos?

    That was the question posed to a cross section of sports fans following reports that organisers of the boxing bout are considering  Lagos as one of the probable venues of the fight with the other three venues  being America, Dubai and Cardiff.

    Organisers have put the ticket at $1,000 (About N350,000 by current exchange rate in Nigeria).

    Those who responded to the query said it is unthinkable to commit such amount to watch the clash when there are other teething issues begging for attention in the family.

    Some others claim that such amount is adequate for them to start their own small scale business considering the high level of unemployment, while some who already own business say the amount would no doubt re-jig their business.

    A respondent who claims to be an unemployed graduate said unemployment is so high in Nigeria because people can’t get reasonable loan to establish themselves.”

    “If I have such money I will create job for myself and stop the ritual of submitting resume where they end up being used to wrap groundnut and akara,” he said.

     

    There are however those who described the report of a rematch in Lagos as a typical April fool, insisting that such a fight cannot hold in Lagos as the amenities are not there.

    “Where is the fight going to hold in Lagos, National Stadium that is in a state of decay? Is it Teslim Balogun that is small and has been reserved exclusively for the FA cup that holds once a year? It can hold in Dubai or Cardiff but definitely not in Lagos,” they submitted.

    This school of thought however played down the ticket issue adding “But assuming it is to hold in Lagos there are some super rich Nigerians who will pay. You will even be surprised to see some paying N2million for a table of four. Some do that for comedy and musical shows why not?”

    Nigeria born British boxer Anthony Joshua had in the first fight in April knocked out the Ukrainian in front of 90,000 supporters at Wembley Stadium. Report has it that as proposal for rematch is being considered die-hard boxing fans are already challenging themselves to bet, with some insisting that Joshua will win the rematch against irrespective of where it is staged, describing the Shagamu born pugilist as a dynamite whose time has come.

  • Huddersfield land premier league ticket after 45-year wait

    Huddersfield land premier league ticket after 45-year wait

     

    Huddersfield Town have defeated Reading on penalties after a goalless Championship playoff final to end their 45-year wait for a return to the top tier of English football.

    For the first time in second-tier history, the 90 minutes ended goalless and penalties were required to separate the two sides following a cagey affair.

    The Terriers, who squandered the two major chances of the match early on, held their nerve to win the shootout 4-3 and earn promotion to the Premier League for the first time in their history.

    Reading are left to rue what could have been, meanwhile, falling short in the playoffs for a joint-record fifth time after what was a nervy performance over the 120 minutes from both sides.

    Huddersfield created their two killer chances of a tight match in the opening 15 minutes, neither of which they could make the most of.

    Aaron Mooy floated a free kick into a good position for Michael Hefele to attack, but he somehow nodded wide from close range after getting the beating of Joey van den Berg.

    There was an even better opening to come the Terriers’ way moments later, as Elias Kachunga flashed the ball across goal where Izzy Brown was waiting for what looked like a simple tap-in.

    The Chelsea loanee remained onside but did not see the ball until late, perhaps explaining how he placed the ball wide of goal from just a couple of yards out – one of the great playoff misses.

    A lively start to the match did not offer a true reflection of what was to follow, with the teams – separated by just four points at the end of the regular season – cancelling each other out all over the field.

    The only other sight of goal for either side in the first half arrived midway through when Lewis Grabban, on the winning side with Norwich City here two years ago, curled wide from range after working some space.

    Chris Lowe and John Swift fired in the first on-target attempts of the afternoon in quick succession early in the second half, the latter of which forced a good stop out of semi-final hero Danny Ward.

    It was proving to be a playoff final devoid of any major chances, bar the two created by Town early on, with substitute Collin Quaner slotting wide 12 minutes from time when Nakhi Wells was better positioned behind him.

    Chris Gunter got in behind for the first time late on in normal time following a George Evans ball, but his teasing cross was well dealt with by Hefele in front of goal.

    Huddersfield won 22 of their 25 regular-season fixtures by a one-goal margin and still held out hope of snatching the match at the death in front of the 76,682 spectators at Wembley Stadium.