Sports
Nunez upstages Haaland as Liverpool beat Manchester City to win Community Shield
Liverpool new boy Darwin Nunez drew the first blood in the battle of the super-signings with an encouraging 30-minute cameo on Saturday.
He capped it with the final goal in a 3-1 win over Manchester City in the Community Shield match played at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, UK.
Manchester City, last season’s English Premier League (EPL) champions, and Liverpool, the English FA and League Cup winners, both paraded their big-money acquisitions in this match.
But it was the Uruguay international who upstaged Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, after he came off the bench in the 59th minute with the score at 1-1.
His aerial presence won the late penalty kick from which Mohamed Salah put Liverpool in front for a second time.
But the former Benfica striker, having earlier been denied a goal by Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson, was not finished there.
He stooped to head home his first goal for the Reds in domestic competition in added time.
“I liked the game a lot, but most of the time Manchester City games against us are cool to watch,” Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp said later.
“We played the smart passes. We saw Nunez in dangerous situations. He used the spaces and finished well too.”
One new Manchester City signing did make his mark —- former River Plate forward Julian Alvarez —- climbing off the bench to cancel out Trent Alexander-Arnold’s opener.
But the focus was really on the big men upfront.
The traditional season curtain-raiser played out as expected with the country’s top two sides going at it once again.
But it was the nuance of what the new signings might bring which attracted the intrigue.
Haaland scored 86 goals in 89 matches for Borussia Dortmund before his move to the Manchester.
He is likely to add many more for Manchester City once he and they have adjusted to each other.
The Norway international had the fewest touches of any player in the first half —- eight —- and the service he received throughout was scant.
But that did not mean he was not a threat.
When Andy Robertson initially dispossessed him from Bernardo Silva’s cross, the 22-year-old reacted quickest to fire in a shot which third-choice goalkeeper Adrian batted away.
His next attempt moments later from another Silva cross did not go so well.
It came to him at an awkward height and he could not decide what to do with it and completely mis-kicked.
But he saved his worst for last when he blasted against the crossbar when faced with an open goal six yards out in added time.
Nunez, however, justified Klopp’s decision to continue his integration from the bench.
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The 23-year-old scored four second-half goals in a pre-season friendly against RB Leipzig but that was not enough to persuade his manager to start him from the off.
But when he was introduced he was a bundle of energy and, unlike Manchester City with Haaland, Liverpool seemed to be better equipped to supplement his talents.
With virtually his first touch he was brought down by Ederson, who was spared by an offside flag.
Then the Manchester City goalkeeper had to race out to block Nunez’s shot with his chest after Jordan Henderson played him through.
Nunez is more a traditional number nine and less the multi-functional player Klopp usually prefers, but that can work to his advantage.
When he climbed highest to head down, the ball struck the arm of Ruben Dias.
Referee Craig Pawson waved away handball claims but having been advised to consult the pitchside monitor he awarded a penalty kick and Salah swept past Ederson.
But Nunez was not finished there and his poacher’s instinct saw him stoop to head home Robertson’s knockdown in added time.
It was a pulsating finish to a game which had ebbed and flowed, with Alexander-Arnold putting Liverpool ahead in the 21st minute.
Thiago Alcantara’s cross was killed instantly under the foot of Salah, whose pass rolled invitingly into the path of the full-back.
He whipped a shot which just flicked off the head of Nathan Ake on its way in via the far post.
Manchester City improved in the second half and Alvarez, introduced at the same time as Nunez, equalised in the 70th minute.
That was after Adrian saved Phil Foden’s initial effort but fumbled the rebound.
VAR checked offside and, although the goalkeeper appeared to have two hands on the ball, after a lengthy delay the goal was ruled legitimate.
It meant the new signing followed in the exalted footsteps of Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez as only the third Argentinian to score in the Community Shield.
He will, however, still play second fiddle to Haaland while Nunez has begun the process of establishing himself as Liverpool’s long-term option upfront.
Nunez will also help in ensuring the sale of Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich quickly becomes an afterthought.(dpa/NAN)
Sports
Arsenal Sporting Director, Edu Gaspar To Step Down
Arsenal Football Club is facing a major transition as sporting director, Edu Gaspar is reportedly poised to leave his position amidst growing interest from a group of clubs owned by Evangelos Marinakis, including Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos.
Sources indicate that the Brazilian, who has been a key figure in reshaping Arsenal’s transfer strategy and overall identity since 2019, is expected to take on a significant new role within Marinakis’ expansive network.
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His departure could signal a substantial shift in Arsenal’s approach to player recruitment and team development.
Edu’s tenure has seen the club invest £867 million in player acquisitions, ranking Arsenal third in spending behind Chelsea and Manchester United.
Under his leadership, the Gunners secured the FA Cup and finished as runners-up in the Premier League during the last two seasons.
He played a pivotal role in the signings of high-profile players such as Martin Ødegaard and Declan Rice while managing the exits of notable figures including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Özil.
According to reports, Edu’s decision to leave was self-initiated, with recent changes in senior roles at the club possibly influencing his choice.
As Arsenal prepares for a crucial Champions League match against AC Milan, manager Mikel Arteta is expected to address the situation in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
Edu’s journey at Arsenal began when he returned to the club as technical director after a successful period with the Brazilian Football Confederation, where he celebrated a Copa America victory.
Promoted to the role of sporting director in 2022, he has emphasized a philosophy that prioritizes both winning and playing with style, stating, “Winning is not enough for Arsenal; style is paramount. I want to win the best way possible.”
The club now faces the challenge of finding a successor capable of sustaining the momentum and vision Edu has instilled.
Football transfer analyst Fabrizio Romano confirmed the impending transition, noting that Edu is a sought-after target for Marinakis’ multi-club operation.
Sports
Obaje’s Brace Sees Rangers Triumph Over Nasarawa Utd
Two second half goals in a-five-minute-period by former NPFL top-scorer, Godwin Obaje, ensured that reigning champions of the league, Rangers International bounced back to winning ways, beating Nasarawa United FC 2-0 in a match day 10, at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Smarting from a heartwarming 1-1 draw in Ilorin and 0-0 draw in Uyo in the last two match days, coach Fidelis Ilechukwu made three changes to the last match day starting squad, handing starts to goalkeeper, Kingdom Osayi and Godwin Obaje while captain of the side, Chinemerem Ugwueze also started in the very entertaining encounter watched by an appreciable number of fans.
ALSO READ: Nigerian Community In Libya Paying Dearly For CAF Verdict
Opting for a 4-4-2 formation which was aimed at pushing the visitors back so as to contain the exploits of leading goal scorer, Anas Yusuf, with Frank Uwumiro and Godwin Obaje leading the attack with the quartet of Isaac Saviour, Kazeem Ogunleye, Chinemerem Ugwueze and Ejike Ugochukwu anchoring the middle of the pack while the back-four of Effimi Nsi, Evans Ogbonda, Austine Opara, and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi providing cover for the man between the sticks, Kingdom Osayi.
The first period witnessed a lot of missed opportunities on both ends but with more missed chances coming the way of the home side as Effimi Nsi failed to connect when set up by Isaac Saviour on 14 minutes which was followed by Frank Uwumiro’s stinging shot that was pushed out by goalkeeper, Galadima Mohammed on 16 minutes just as Godwin Obaje could not fathom how his efforts on 22 and 40 minutes failed to rest inside the net and Ejike Ugochukwu, Isaac Saviour’ efforts were bravely stopped by Galadima on 36 and 45 minutes.
When both sides returned for the second period, the home side continued to push and probing for openings which came on 55 minutes when Obaje met an Uwumiro cut-back with precision to open his goals account for the season and on 60 minutes, he grabbed his brace in the match as he expertly tucked in the spot kick awarded his side after he was wrestled down inside the box by Victor Collins as the fans yelled for more goals in celebrations.
Obaje would have made it a hat trick of goals on 67 minutes after being fed by Evans Ogbonda but his effort missed target by inches just few minutes after substitute, Silas Nenrot’s stinging shot was pushed out by an alert Galadima on 65 minutes while Nenrot’s effort that found the back of the net was ruled out for offside on 70 minutes. Opportunities also came the way of Kazeem Ogunleye and Godwin Obaje in the 71 and 73 minutes but there were no further goals to show for all the dominance.
As the game neared it closing period, coach Ilechukwu handed game time to two of his young stars, Daniel Onyia and Kelechi Edeh and they did not disappoint.
In the post-match chat, chief-coach of the Enugu side, Ekeh Ekenedilichukwu, said, “This was a great game with a good result against a quality side. They proved difficult in the first half but after some talks at the break, we got our acts together and converted two of the numerous chances that we created. We are happy with the result and would work harder to convert our chances in subsequent matches.”
Two-goals hero, Godwin Obaje, while reacting to the media after the encounter, said, “We are happy we got the win and I am really glad to have scored in my first start for the season. It goes a long way to show that we are gradually getting into the needed shape to challenge for a good season. Nasarawa United gave us a good fight but we showed more resolve to win.”
With the win, Rangers now occupy the 5th spot on the 20 team log with fifteen points from ten matches and would next play against Plateau United in a match day 11 fixture at the New Jos Stadium, Jos in the coming weekend.
Sports
Nigerian Community In Libya Paying Dearly For CAF Verdict
It appears the Libyans are venting their frustration on the Nigerian community in reaction to the recent verdict of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over the botched African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier involving the senior men’s football team of both countries.
Recall that the Super Eagles of Nigeria went through harrowing experiences in the hands of hosts, Libya when they travelled to the north African country to keep an October 16 date with their Libyan national team counterparts.
The near-death experiences, which hit the globe spontaneously, thanks to social media, received widespread condemnation culminating in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) withdrawing the Super Eagles from the game, reporting the matter to the CAF, who later awarded the game and three points the Nigerian national side, including a fine of $50,000.00 against Libya.
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Feeling undone, with the outcome of their gimmicks, the Libyan authorities are now seeking a pound of flesh from the Nigerian community in their country, in a manner that suggests that they have taken the football warfare from the field to the streets.
They appear focused on getting the Nigerians pay for sins of their home country in daring to seek justice from CAF through imposition of fines, new taxes, and stringent enforcement of resident/work permits, in a manner that suggest that CAF can impose a fine, but Nigerians would have to pay it.
Amidst the fines and new taxes, there’s already an outcry of mass arrest from the Nigerian community in Libya, according to the https://punchng.com/.
Recall that the Nigerian football contingent was held at the Al-Abraq Airport in eastern Libya for over 20 hours upon arrival for the second leg of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between the Super Eagles and Libya’s national team.
They were scheduled to land at the Benghazi Airport and travel for nearly four hours by road to Benina, where the match would have been played.
However, less than an hour before landing, the Tunisian pilot reportedly received a directive from the Libyan authorities to divert the flight to the Al-Abraq Airport, located 150 miles away from the destination.
The attendant public outcry compelled the NFF to withdraw the Super Eagles from the qualifying match and file an official complaint against Libya at the CAF.
In its ruling on Saturday, October 26, signed by its Chairman, Ousmane Kane, the disciplinary committee of the African football governing body awarded the Super Eagles of Nigeria three points and three goals for the abandoned match.
In addition, the disciplinary board ruled that the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) breached Article 31 of the AFCON Regulations and Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
The panel also ordered the LFF to pay a fine of $50,000 within 60 days of the notification of the decision.
The LFF has expressed displeasure with the CAF’s verdict.
The LFF President Nasser Al-Suwai’I described it as “unjust and malicious,” alleging that the NFF’s influence within the CAF played a major role in the outcome.
A report on Monday by a Libyan outlet, Libyan Observer, quoted Al-Suwai’I saying the LFF would file an official appeal within hours and that if the appeal was denied, the body would resort to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to ensure “their legitimate rights are secured.”
Campaign against Nigerians
Following the CAF ruling, a popular Libyan news blog, Libya News Today 1, on Sunday, thus, “All Libyan TV channels are urging the government to arrest the Nigerian workers who are working here in Libya without legal papers. They have to pay $500 plus taxes.
“The fine that Libya is accused of will be paid by Nigerian citizens who live in Libya. We have been subjected to injustice. We have no borders with Nigeria. What benefit are they to us? They’re a burden on the Libyan people. They have to go back home.”
The blog has more than 188,000 followers on Facebook and 57,000 likes.
The post was accompanied by a video of a Libyan TV presenter, who said, “Anyone who is living in Libya and working without paying tax is eating haram, which means sinful money. The government should make every effort to arrest all Nigerians who are working in Libya so that they can pay a tax of $500 and regulate their stay in the country by obtaining residence permits.”
Another Libyan site, Libya INF.TV, reported that Libyan stations wanted the government to start arresting Nigerian workers.
“Those who don’t have Libyan papers will have to pay a fine of $500 for taxes. If you refuse deportation, no mercy. The Libyan government will pay the Nigerian government from their citizens’ money,” the post said.