Sports
Granit Xhaka Hails Victor Boniface, Nathan Tella After Bundesliga Triumph
Swiss midfielder, Granit Xhaka has singled out Nigerian duo, Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella, for Bayer Leverkusen’s superb run so far this season.
Just like former Arsenal midfieder, Granit Xhaka, Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella were very instrumental in Bayer Leverkusen’s first German Bundesliga triumph.
Despite an abductor injury that kept Boniface out of action for close to three months, the 23-year-old Nigerian striker has scored 11 league goals and provided 9 assists in 18 league games.
He scored a goal in Bayer Leverkusen’s 5-0 win over Werder Bremen on Sunday, April 14 which won his club the German Bundesliga title.
As for Nathan Tella, the 24-year-old right-winger played 20 German Bundesliga games for Bayer Leverkusen. In those games, the Nigeria international scored 5 goals and provided 2 assists.
This means that the two Nigerian players at Bayer Leverkusen, Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella contributed a combined 16 goals and 11 assists to the club’s German Bundesliga triumph.
“For Boni and Nathan, they’re very good, very positive, always with a smile on their faces. With them, we have a lot of quality in the team, on and off the pitch, and it’s so nice to be a part of them and the team,” Xhaka was quoted by Soccernet.
Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella will be expected to help Bayer Leverkusen progress in the Europa League when they take on West Ham in the second leg of the Europa League quarter-finals. The first leg ended in a 2-0 win in favour of the German club.
Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili made a spectacular debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics, delivering an impressive performance in the women’s 200m event.
After a disappointing setback in the women’s 100m, Ofili showcased her resilience by clinching victory in her heat with a new season’s best time of 22.24 seconds on Sunday, August 4. The victory has qualified her for the 2024 Olympics 200m women’s semi-finals which will take place this evening.
Argentine football icon, Lionel Messi, has stressed that he doesn’t care how much movement he makes in a game as people continue to take note of his walking technique.
In recent times, videos of Lionel Messi practically walking while his team are off the ball have kept many football enthusiasts talking. Many believe that it is a technique to prevent being injured, some say he does that because other players are doing the hard work for him.
But in an interview with Clank Media, Lionel Messi who turned 37-year-old earlier today, June 24, 2024, said not running when he is off the ball has been a part of his game from his days at his boyhood club, Newell, in his native country, Argentina.
“When I was at Newell’s, there were two or three times a week we were sent to run around the grounds. I used to hide behind a tree. Running without a ball was never my thing. Heh”, Lionel Messi said.
“I have always been very self-critical. I am the first to know what I do right and what I do wrong. When I walk, I analyse the opponent’s positioning, how we stand when we don’t have the ball, get away from the marker and be able to initiate a counterattack.
“I don’t pay much attention to GPS, statistics or data. I never cared how much I ran in a match.”
Note that Lionel Messi had used his walking technique while off the ball to win virtually everything in world football including 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League, one FIFA World Cup, and a record 8 Ballon d’Or.
In just two matchdays in the ongoing European Championship (Euro 2024), three countries have secured their place in the tournament’s round of 16.
Interestingly, the Three Lions of England and France, seen as the Super favourites to win the Euro 2024, will have to wait until the last day of the group stage to confirm their place.
Earlier today, June 22, 2024, Portugal’s national team, ably led by five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, defeated Turkey 3-0 to book themselves a place in the round of 16.
Goals from Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and an own goal from Samet Akaydin made all the difference.
Ronaldo provided an assist for Portugal’s third goal, which was his 7th in the history of the tournament, and the all-time highest in the European Championship.
Recall that Portugal defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 in their opening game in Group F. Hence, the Portuguese side now have 6 points in two games.
Whether or not they beat Georgia in their last group stage game on Wednesday, June 26, the Portuguese side will play in the round of 16. However, they need to win the game to ensure they finish top of Group F.
Other two teams that have already booked themselves a place in the Euro 2024 round of 16 with a game in hand are the hosts, Germany, and Spain.
Germany are topping Group A with 6 points in 2 games, while Spain are topping Group B with 6 points in two games.
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