Sports
Leicester City Confirms Iheanacho, Ndidi Injured As Nigeria’s 2023 AFCON Camp Opens
The manager of EFL Championship club, Leicester City, Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Super Eagles duo, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi are currently injured.
The Leicester City manager gave this update on Monday, January 1, less than two weeks before the commencement of the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast on January 13.
Both Iheanacho and Ndidi were absent in the Leicester City squad that defeated Huddersfield Town in the second tier of the English football system on Monday.
Recall that Iheanacho was also absent in the team’s 2-0 win over Cardiff on Friday which sparked the speculation that the versatile forward could miss the 2023 AFCON.
His fitness was further called into question when he was left out of the Championship table-toppers matchday squad for their triumph against Huddersfield.
After the game, coach Maresca confirmed the fitness status of Iheanacho and that of Ndidi but added that both players will link-up with the Super Eagles for the 2023 AFCON.
“Kele and Wilf are both injured, but they are now going to be with the international team,” the Leicester City manager said according to LeicestershireLive.
“We’ll see if they’re going to keep them or send them back. But they are both injured unfortunately for us.”
The Super Eagles camp for the 2023 AFCON will open in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, later today, January 2, and last until January 9. The team will then fly to Lagos on January 9 before they will depart for Ivory Coast on January 10.
Nigeria’s campaign in the tournament will commence on January 14 against Equatorial Guinea in Group A. They will take on the hosts, Ivory Coast on January 18, and then end the group stage campaign on January 22 against Guinea Bissau.
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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