Sports
AFCON Qualifier: Key Super Eagles Players Down With Injury
Super Eagles coach Éric Chelle could be without a key defender and striker when Nigeria begins its 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign later in the month report has suggested.
The Super Eagles finished third at the 2025 AFCON, but they will be looking to do even better when the next edition takes place in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda next year. However, they have to qualify for the competition first, and that process kicks off this September.
The three-time African champions have been drawn alongside Madagascar, Tanzania, and Guinea-Bissau in Group C.
With the qualifying series set to kick off , coach Chelle will likely have started compiling his squad list for the first two games against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. However, he might have to exclude Zaidu Sanusi and Sadiq Umar
This comes after the 29-year-old Sanusi suffered an injury in Porto’s Portuguese league match against Académico de Viseu on Saturday evening, ditto for Umar who sustained injury in a Valencia and Deportivo La Coruna match
Sanusi started the game as usual for the reigning Portuguese champions, but he had to be helped off the pitch in the 18th minute following a serious injury. At the time he was substituted, Porto were leading 1-0, with the match eventually ending 3-0 in their favour.
As of now, the nature of the injuries have not been confirmed, but they could be forced to spend a few weeks on the sidelines.
The Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers are just over three weeks away, and the possibility of them returning before then and being match-ready is slim.
Barcelona forward, Lamine Yamal, has admitted that Victor Osimhen’s disallowed goal could have made their Champions League clash with Galatasaray more difficult.
Osimhen thought he had made it 2-0 to the Turkish champions in the first half.
However, his powerful header was chalked off following a VAR review.
Barca then fought back and overpowered Galatasaray, scoring four goals to take all three points.
But Yamal has claimed that if Yellow and Red had gone two goals up, their job would have been harder than it became.
“If Galatasaray’s second goal hadn’t been disallowed, our job in Istanbul would have been very tough,” Yamal said per Le Marca Sports.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored as Al-Nassr won an AFC Champions League match which was delayed by an hour because of a missile alert.
Ronaldo scored Al-Nassr’s second goal as the Saudi Pro League champions beat Uzbekistan’s Neftchi Fergana 3-1 on Monday.
Kick-off was delayed after Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence issued a safety warning just 15 minutes before the scheduled start time in Riyadh, the capital city which has been the target of missiles fired from Yemen-based Houthis.
Following attacks on Riyadh’s airport, explosions were heard in the capital on Monday night. The Saudi-led military coalition said a ballistic missile had been intercepted and destroyed.
Future sporting events could be affected by the regional conflict, including Formula 1 races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Once Al-Nassr were able to get under way, Ange Postecoglou’s team went ahead through Angelo in the 33rd minute and Ronaldo doubled their lead before half-time.
Uzbekistan champions Neftchi pulled a goal back, but they were reduced to 10 men after 65 minutes and an own goal 13 minutes later sealed a first Group B victory for the hosts.
Nigeria international Frank Onyeka made a good account of himself as Coventry City defeated Newcastle United 4-1 in Monday night’s Premier League fixture.
Despite seeing just 12 minutes of action, Onyeka came in and impressed as Coventry made it back-to-back win in the English topflight this season.
It was Onyeka’s fifth appearance in the Premier League this season for newly promoted Coventry.
His Nigerian teammate Taiwo Awoniyi was not in action for Frank Lampard’s side due to suspension.
Early goals at the start of each half from Jack Rudoni and Sidiki Cherif put Coventry City in course for their first brilliant Premier League win at the CBS Arena.
Although the Magpies pulled one back 20 minutes from time, super subs Ellis Simms and Stephen Mfuni scored in the 81st and 86th minutes to secure a huge three points for the Sky Blues.
The win took Coventry up to 14th place on six points while Newcastle, on eight points, are in 11th in the league table.
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