Sports
‘Victor Boniface Nursing Injury Ahead Of 2023 AFCON’
The potential partnership between Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface in the Super Eagles’ attack during the forthcoming 2023 AFCON is under a serious threat.
Victor Boniface was expected to shine like a million star in the 2023 AFCON, which will begin in Ivory Coast on January 13 but he is currently nowhere to be found.
When the Super Eagles played a friendly match against an Abu Dhabi club, Al Gharbia FC on Sunday, January 7, Boniface didn’t start the game and wasn’t on the bench.
His absence from the team wasn’t obvious since the Eagles played against a lowly-rated team, and the Nigerian side won emphatically, 12-0.
When the starting lineup for the warmup game against Guinea was released earlier today, January 8, and Victor Boniface wasn’t in the lineup and not part of the substitutes, Nigerians began to wonder where the 23-year-old striker had been.
Reports initially claimed that the Bayer Leverkusen striker is currently resting so that he can be 100 percent fit ahead of the commencement of the tournament on January 13.
However, it confirmed that Boniface is currently injured but the severity of the injury has not been ascertained.
At the time of writing, the state of the injury is still being assessed and there is a possibility that he could miss the 2023 AFCON if the injury is deemed severe.
If that happens, Boniface will be the second A-list player from coach Jose Peseiro’s 25-man AFCON squad to withdraw from the squad. Recall that Wilfred Ndidi had to be replaced by Alhassan Yusuf due to fitness issues.
Also, Kelechi Iheanacho has not joined the team as he is not fully fit yet. However, he is expected to link up with the team in Lagos on January 9 and then fly with them to Abidjan on January 10.
Super Eagles’ first match in the 2023 AFCON is against Equatoria Guinea on January 14.
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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