Sports

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Last week marked a historic moment in Kaduna as Athletic Football Academy emerged triumphant in the Under-13 Bundesliga Cup, defeating Kuso Boys in a thrilling final match at the Secret Heart Stadium in Kaduna Police Barracks.
 
The intense competition, which kicked off in August 2023, witnessed the participation of 24 youth teams, captivating the attention of football enthusiasts across Kaduna.
 
Athletic Football Academy’s stellar performance in the final secured them a resounding 3-0 victory, clinching their first Under-13 Youth Cup.
 
The final match saw the presence of former Nigerian Premier League players and those who had showcased their talents abroad.
 
Bakin, among the esteemed guests, presented the awards. Yassir Awwal, a standout player from Athletic, claimed the spotlight by not only leading his team to victory but also securing the coveted title of top scorer with an impressive tally of seven goals.
 
Awwal’s remarkable talents earned him the Golden Ball and a pair of prestigious football shoes.
 
While Athletic Football Academy celebrated their grand triumph with the sizable cup, Kuso Boys Football Academy received a small trophy for their commendable efforts in the competition.
 
The Bundesliga’s influence is evidently growing in Kaduna and Northern Nigeria, as the tournament successfully garnered attention from football fans and inspired the youth.
 
Also, former players, industry professionals, and DW Hausa station representative Mohammed Mohammed, who doubles as the Bundesliga ambassador, expressed delight at the competition’s impact.
 
Mohammed, who dedicated five years to organising the tournament, noted the importance of nurturing young talents. He noted that this was not the first Bundesliga Cup in Kaduna but the first exclusively for youngsters aged 13 and under.
 
The aim is to boost children’s confidence and foster interest in the German Bundesliga, a sentiment echoed by Mohammed.
 
Expressing satisfaction with the young players’ performances, Mohammed highlighted the need for continued support from the Bundesliga, DFL, and the German football organization.
 
He believes that such backing will elevate the competition’s standards, enhance the Bundesliga’s reputation in Kaduna, and extend its influence to major cities like Kano and throughout Northern Nigeria.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Manchester City reign supreme as world champions after a mesmerising 4-0 demolition of Brazilian giants Fluminense in the Club World Cup final.

Pep Guardiola’s men etched their names in global football history, capping a phenomenal season with the ultimate trophy. 

City’s dominance was relentless. Alvarez struck early, Nino gifted an own goal as Alvarez and Foden added two more, leaving Fluminense chasing shadows.

This emphatic victory is more than silverware; it’s a coronation. City, after years of European and domestic mastery, finally conquer the world stage, proving themselves the planet’s finest. 

Guardiola, architect of this triumph, hailed his players: “This cup is a testament to their relentless pursuit of excellence.” This win transcends City; it bolsters English football, crowning them the fourth nation to conquer the world, showcasing the Premier League’s global might. 

Manchester City’s World Cup victory isn’t just a footballing feat; it’s a cultural beacon. Their dedication and teamwork inspire fans worldwide, proving that the sky’s the limit.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The UEFA Champions League bids farewell to its traditional group stage, paving the way for a radical Swiss-style format commencing next season. 

The tournament will expand its elite field to 36 teams, all converging into a singular league group. 

Clubs will face a challenging schedule, engaging in eight matches against eight distinct opponents.

This shift promises to deliver heightened competition and a diverse range of matchups. 

The top 8 teams excelling in the league will clinch an automatic berth in the knockout stages, incentivizing stellar performances throughout the group phase. 

Teams concluding the group stage from 9th to 24th place will embark on intense play-off battles.

Only 8 triumphant teams from these encounters will earn the coveted spots in the Round of 16.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

The 24-year-old Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, has secured the coveted CAF 2023 Men’s Player of the Year award. 

Osimhen’s stellar performance in the 2022–2023 football season, particularly with Napoli in the Serie A, played a pivotal role in this triumph. 

Osimhen faced stiff competition from top-tier players like Achraf Hakimi of Morocco, Sadio Mane of Senegal, and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah. Standing tall at 1.85m, the Nigerian striker’s outstanding achievements mark the end of a 24-year wait for Nigeria since Kanu Nwankwo last received the honour in 1999. 

During the 2022–2023 football season, Osimhen’s thunderous form propelled Napoli to their third Scudetto in 33 years, following the era of legendary Diego Maradona. 

His remarkable feat of scoring 26 goals in the league not only contributed to Napoli’s success but also made him the first African to claim the top scorer award in the domestic Serie A league. 

Osimhen’s accolades continued to accumulate as he clinched the Italian league’s best striker prize and secured a spot in the Serie A Team of the Year. 

Breaking George Weah’s record as the highest-scoring African player in the Italian league, Osimhen further solidified his status by winning the AIC award, the Italian Footballers’ Association Player of the Year, in December.

 Despite Nigeria’s early exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Osimhen showcased his prowess by netting 10 goals in the tournament, including an impressive seven against São Tomé and Principe. 

Since making his senior debut for the Super Eagles in June 2017, Osimhen has accumulated 20 goals in 27 appearances. 

The pinnacle of Osimhen’s remarkable journey came on Monday in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh, when he clinched the CAF 2023 Men’s Player of the Year award.

By Aliyu Yakubu Yusuf

It is challenging for any group of players that has won all the available trophies on offer to maintain the same focus and motivation the following season. There’s only one way for any club to win a treble of league title: UCL and the domestic cup. That way is downwards. In this context, I am not overly surprised about Manchester City’s struggles so far this season.

Pep Guardiola is a gaffer who prioritises control and patient buildup in the middle of the park. The current Manchester City team lacks these attributes. Their matches are often chaotic end-to-end affairs that produce plenty of goalscoring chances. This isn’t a quintessential Guardiola team that routinely deprives their opposition of a sniff of the ball, let alone scoring opportunities. I attribute Manchester City’s recent travails to three critical factors:

1. Rodri’s frequent suspensions

Manchester City have lost four games so far this season. A common denominator in all these games is that Rodri missed ALL of them. Make that what you will.

2. Kevin De Bruyne’s Injury

Do I even need to mention the importance of the blond Belgian to this team? Julian Alvarez has deputised in the KDB role, often admirably. However, the Argentine is no midfielder and will never bring the same midfield control and assurance.

3. Gundogan’s Departure/Kovacic’s Poor Form

Pep Guardiola signed the Croatian as a direct replacement for Ilkay Gundogan, who left for a Bosman ruling in the summer. The German was a cornerstone for Manchester City for several years. True, Kovacic is no Gundogan. Still, he has often been poor whenever he steps onto the pitch. He was subsequently relegated to the bench. Guardiola and City surely expected more from the former Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea man.

There you have it. For the record, I still expect Guardiola to sort things out and mount a title challenge as usual. Come the end of the season, the Citizens will be there or thereabout. Write them off at your own peril.

Aliyu Yakubu Yusuf wrote from Kano, Nigeria. He can be contacted via aliyuyy@gmail.com.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

South Korean striker Hwang Ui-jo, currently playing for Norwich City, has been suspended from the national team just seven weeks before the much-anticipated Asian Cup.

The suspension comes in light of an ongoing police investigation into allegations that Hwang illegally filmed a sexual encounter with his ex-girlfriend without her consent. 

Despite the suspension from international duty, Hwang, on loan from Nottingham Forest, continues to be eligible to play for Norwich City.

The 31-year-old forward, who scored in a recent match against Watford, denies the allegations against him. 

The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced the decision on Tuesday, underscoring the necessity of awaiting a definitive conclusion to the police investigation before considering Hwang for the national team.

Lee Youn-nam, the head of the KFA’s ethics committee, noted the expectation for national players to uphold a high standard of morality and responsibility. 

Hwang Ui-jo, with 19 goals in 62 appearances for South Korea, leaves a notable gap in the national team’s lineup ahead of the Asian Cup.

Coach Jurgen Klinsmann expressed his understanding of the situation, pledging to respect the decision of the KFA.

Klinsmann had previously included Hwang in recent World Cup qualifying matches, defending his choice amid the ongoing police probe. 

The Asian Cup, set to commence in Qatar on January 12, poses additional challenges for South Korea as they open their campaign against Bahrain three days later.

The suspension adds an unexpected layer of controversy to the team’s preparations, raising questions about the potential impact on their performance in the upcoming tournament.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are set to clash one last time in the Riyadh Season Cup this February.

Following their recent encounter in January, where Paris Saint-Germain triumphed over a Riyadh All-Stars XI, many believed it marked the end of their on-field rivalry. 

While fans had hoped for a grand farewell on the World Cup or Champions League stage, the Riyadh Season Cup now serves as the conclusive arena for these icons.

Over a decade of dominance, Messi and Ronaldo’s rivalry garnered 12 out of 14 Ballon d’Or awards and featured in one of Europe’s biggest derbies when Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid in 2009. 

With Messi’s eight Ballon d’Ors and Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory, the debate over who’s better may finally find resolution.

The February friendly will be the last chance for fans to witness these football titans side by side, bringing an end to a captivating era in the sport.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

Former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy has initiated legal action against his former club, filing a multi-million-pound lawsuit at an employment tribunal.

Mendy alleges that the Premier League champions engaged in unauthorised wage deductions during the period he faced criminal charges. 

According to Sky Sports, Mendy, now playing for French club Lorient, claims that City ceased payment of his salary in September 2021 when he was accused of rape and sexual assault.

Despite being acquitted in two trials earlier this year, Mendy contends that City withheld his wages for nearly two years, spanning the duration of the legal proceedings. 

His lawyer, Nick De Marco, confirmed the legal action, seeking all owed wages up until Mendy’s City contract expiration in June 2023.

The legal claim argues that City was not contractually entitled to impose such an extended wage suspension, emphasizing Mendy’s clearance of all charges. 

Mendy, once hailed as the world’s costliest defender after his £52 million move from Monaco to City in 2017, achieved success with three league titles.

However, his last appearance for City dates back to August 2021, just before his arrest. 

The statement released by Mendy’s legal team highlighted the critical details of the case: “Manchester City FC failed to pay Mr Mendy any wages at all from September 2021, following Mr Mendy being charged with various offenses, all of which he was subsequently acquitted of, until the end of his contract in June 2023. The claim will come before an Employment Tribunal.” 

This legal saga adds another layer to Mendy’s tumultuous journey, raising questions about the handling of wages during legal proceedings and the contractual obligations of football clubs in such situations.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

Lionel Messi, the iconic Argentine forward, has seized the Ballon d’Or for an unprecedented eighth time.

Messi, who now graces the fields of Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, achieved this remarkable milestone after steering Argentina to its maiden World Cup triumph in Qatar last year.

Not only did he guide his nation to glory, but he was also honoured with the Golden Ball award, recognising his stellar performance as the tournament’s standout player. 

His achievement widens the gap between him and his perennial rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, who notably did not feature on the shortlist for the first time since 2003.

Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, currently plies his trade with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. 

Having bid adieu to European football at the conclusion of the last season, exiting after a successful stint with Paris Saint-Germain, where he clinched back-to-back Ligue 1 titles, Messi embarked on a new chapter in his illustrious career with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

FC Barcelona has initiated an investigation into the alleged racist abuse directed at Real Madrid’s Brazilian winger, Vinicius Junior, during the recently played El-Clasico.

The incident occurred during the match held at Barcelona’s temporary Olympic Stadium, where a video published by Spanish media outlets seemed to capture a home supporter hurling racial slurs at Vinicius Junior. 

The video footage, widely circulated on social media, depicted a spectator in the stands allegedly referring to Vinicius Junior as a “monkey.”

Additionally, another disturbing incident occurred when what appeared to be a banana skin was thrown from another section of the stadium. 

Expressing their commitment to upholding the fundamental values of football, including respect for opponents, FC Barcelona released an official statement via their social media platforms, stating, “FC Barcelona will always defend the values of football and sport such as respect for the opponent, and we will investigate any racist insult that may have occurred this afternoon during the match against Real Madrid.” 

Throughout the match, Vinicius Junior faced jeers and derogatory chants from some Barcelona supporters.

Tensions escalated when the 23-year-old winger was substituted late in the game, following Jude Bellingham’s dramatic stoppage-time goal that secured Madrid’s victory.

Despite the hostile reception, Vinicius attempted to celebrate the win, pumping his fists towards the stands. Real Madrid’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, intervened, guiding Vinicius Junior off the pitch while attempting to shield him from further provocation. 

The incident has reignited discussions about racism in football and the urgent need for decisive action to eradicate such behaviour from the sport.

FC Barcelona’s investigation aims to identify the individuals responsible for the abusive behaviour, underscoring the club’s dedication to promoting respect, tolerance, and inclusivity within the football community.