Sports
FWWC: Morocco in a Miraculous 1-0 win over Columbia qualifies for R16 Stage.
The Atlas Lionesses of Morocco on Thursday stunned book makers defeating Columbia by a lone goal at the Group H match played at the Perth Rectangular Stadium and qualifying for the Round of 16.
Morocco celebrates
Morocco joins Nigeria and South Africa, all from Africa to move to the last 16 team of the world with the Copper Queens of Zambia the only team to go home from the group stage.
Ref Maria Caputi of Italy who officiated the Japan versus Costa Rica in Group C was meticulous to ensure fair play and standard game but the blacks at the stadium stood by Morocco to win.
The winning goal of the match was spectacular Ghizlane Chebbak had missed a penalty shot saved by Perez but the rebound came to Ouzraoul who quickly found Anissa Lahman who scored at 45+4th minute.
In the first round, Germany defeated Morocco 6-0 and Columbia banged Korea 2-0; in the second round, African representatives tamed the Tigresses of Asian, Korea by a lone goal while Germany was shocked with a 1-2 defeat by Columbia.
With the shocking 1-1 draw between Korrea and Germany, Columbia emerged winners in group H chalking 6 points, winning two games and losing one scoring 4 goals and conceding 2; Morocco who everyone thought was the whipped team of the group came second to move to the round of 16 with 6 points scoring 2 goals and conceding 6; almighty Germany ranked 2 in the world had a nightmare of a tournament being kicked out with four points winning a match, drawing one and losing the third scoring 8 goals (highest in the group) and conceding 3 while giant killers Korea went home placing 4th but with heads high as the 17th ranked team in the world could only make a point from a draw and scored only a goal that wrecked Germany but conceded 4.
Morocco as runners-up in this group will meet France on Tuesday 8th August at 0900 hours while group winners Columbia will meet the Reggae Girlz of Jamaica at 12 noon same Tuesday.
This is the first time Columbia is facing any African side and the first time Morocco will face any South African side.
Columbia could become just the second South American side to win 100% of their group games in a single edition of the world cup with Brazil the only previous side to have done it in 2007, 2011 and 2015.
Cameroon is the only African side to have won their group third game 2-1 over Switzerland in2015.
The Round of 16 matches will start with Switzerland taking on Spain at the Eden Park Stadium on Saturday at 0600 hours while the second match of the round is also on Saturday at 0900 hours (both times Nigerian time) between Japan and Norway at the Wellington Regional Stadium.
By Eniola Olatunji
Real Madrid boss José Mourinho has weighed in on Cristiano Ronaldo’s dramatic retirement from international football.
The 41-year-old Al Nassr striker shocked the footballing world on Thursday by announcing his permanent withdrawal from the Portugal national team, drawing the curtain on a legendary 23-year international career.
Addressing the media fallout during his Friday press conference ahead of Real Madrid’s upcoming LALIGA fixture against Valencia, Mourinho offered a supportive perspective on the situation.
Mourinho, who previously managed Ronaldo at the Santiago Bernabéu, insisted that the veteran’s controversial exit should not overshadow his monumental contributions to the country.
“His decision must be respected, and I do respect it,” Mourinho daid
However, the Portuguese tactician also expressed visible regret over the sour circumstances surrounding the departure of his nation’s greatest-ever player.
“The only thing I wish for is that the moment of his retirement as a player will be different from his farewell yesterday,” the Real Madrid boss added.
While Ronaldo’s international days are officially over, Mourinho was incredibly quick to remind reporters that the forward remains a devastating force in domestic football.
“He hasn’t ended his career; those who know him are aware that he still has goals,” Mourinho stated emphatically.
Kelechi Iheanacho was on target as Bursaspor played out a 1-1 draw against Antalyaspor in their TFF 1. Lig encounter on Friday night.
The Nigeria international had previously scored in 12 consecutive league matches for Bursaspor before his remarkable scoring run came to an end against Bandırmaspor last weekend
Iheanacho restored his scoring touch by opening the scoring against Antalyaspor in the 26th minute.
However, an own goal from Tural Bayramov brought the visitors level before the half-time break.
The striker has now recorded an impressive 17 goals and four assists in 14 league appearances for Bursaspor this season.
Despite dropping points, Bursaspor remain top of the league standings with 37 points
England manager Thomas Tuchel has left Cole Palmer and Phil Foden out of his latest squad for the final Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain.
However, Jobe Bellingham and Fulham midfielder Josh King have received their first senior call-ups.
Tuchel said Palmer had missed too many opportunities to represent England, despite scoring five goals and providing three assists for Chelsea this season.
Jobe Bellingham joins his elder brother, Jude, in the squad after impressing at Borussia Dortmund.
King also earns his first call-up following a strong start to the season, with two goals and one assist in the Premier League.
Defender Ben White returns to the squad for the first time since March, while Declan Rice is also back after missing the previous camp through injury.
Djed Spence has also returned after recovering from injury.
England will host Croatia at Wembley on November 12 before travelling to Madrid to face Spain three days later.
Tuchel’s side are second in Group A4, three points behind leaders Spain. The top two teams will qualify for the Nations League quarter-finals.
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