Hon. Mbonu Chidiebere Blog

The 37-year-old Uzbekistan-Russian born played for Nigeria more than 60 times, scoring at the 2014 World Cup, and scored 36 goals in 129 Premier League appearances between 2010 and 2016. Odemwingie was a subject of controversy in the Premier League, suffering a Deadline Day transfer debacle in January 2013. Believing he was moving to QPR from West Brom, the striker drove to Loftus Road, only to be refused entry into the stadium after both clubs failed to agree on a fee. On his retirement, Odemwingie was quoted as saying by Sky Sports, “It’s an emotional day, so many memories go through your head.

The Flying Eagles again lost on 4-5 penalty shoot –out as South Africa’s Amajita picked up the bronze medals of the 2019 Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Niamey. Failure to put away a number of opportunities that came their way proved fatal for the seven –time champions, who endured the humiliation of finishing outside the medals’ range at the tournament for the first time. Peter Eletu, who was starting for the first time as the Nigerian camp tried to lift the morale of the boys following Wednesday’s penalty shoot-out defeat to Mali in the semi finals, fluffed what was a good opportunity in the 32nd minute when the ball fell invitingly to him just outside the Amajita’s eighteen –yard box during an onslaught. He instead hooked the ball listlessly over the bar. The unflattering features of poor passes, aimless shots and pathetic lack of marksmanship that saw the Flying Eagles end up with the wrong end of the stick on Wednesday were again in full flow, and the encounter was a stinging remi...

Tottenham produced a magnificent and outstanding second-half display to completely nailed down Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund and take control of this Champions League last 16 tie in the first leg at Wembley. Mauricio Pochettino’s side mounted a remarkable revival to advance from the group stage – and they made the most of that hard work to establish a perfect platform to reach the quarter-finals. After a closely contested first half, spurs were irresistible in the second 45minutes with Son Heung-min breaking the deadlock two minutes after the interval with a side-foot volley from Jan Vertonghen’s cross. Dortmund, regarded by many as favourites with Spurs missing injured talisman Harry Kane as well as Dele Alli, failed to respond and the home side rammed home their superiority in the last 10 minutes. The outstanding Vertonghen slid in on Serge Aurier’s delivery and substitute Fernando Llorente headed in Christian Eriksen’s near-post corner – with Spurs also keeping a clean she...

Tottenham took a huge step towards reaching the Champions League quarter-finals as Son Heung-min inspired their 3-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 first leg on Wednesday. Mauricio Pochettino’s side had been under the cosh as Dortmund dominated the first half at Wembley, but Hugo Lloris kept them level with a series of fine saves. That set the stage for a sublime second half from Tottenham, who were sparked into life by a fine finish from South Korea forward Son. Son’s fourth goal in his last four appearances took him to 16 for the season, but none have been as priceless as this one. Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen capped his own powerful performance when he swept in their second goal in the closing stages and substitute Fernando Llorente’s late third put the seal on a remarkable result. Although Tottenham still have to survive the second leg at Signal Iduna Park on March 5, they have a golden opportunity to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first...

Paris Saint-Germain must cope without the injured Neymar and Edison Cavani to halt the surge of a revitalised Manchester United if the French champions are to avoid more pain in the Champions League last 16. PSG’s trip to Old Trafford Tuesday’s first leg could not have come at a worse time for Thomas Tuchel’s side as injuries to key players have pilled up for the Parisians, just as United have hit form under caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Neymar will miss both legs of the tie due to a foot injury and will joined on the sidelines by Cavani due to a hip problem and Belgian international Thomas Meunier with concussion. Midfielder Marco Verratti, who returned from a three-week injury layoff for Saturday’s 1-0 win over Bordeaux, and new signing Leandro Paredes are also lacking match sharpness. Such stretched resources is not what the club’s Qatari owners had in mind when a near 400 million euros was splurged on Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in 2017 with the intention to carry PSG...

Manchester United must mount a miraculous recovery operation to keep their Champions League campaign alive after they were overpowered by Paris St-Germain at Old Trafford. Second half goals from Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe secured victory for the French champions, with Paul Pogba sent off for two yellow cards late on. United’s revival with 10 wins in 11 games under interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer raised hopes that this was the night they could reclaim their place in Europe’s elite. Instead, they were outclassed by PSG to suffer their first European home defeat by a margin of more than one goal and will now need to produce something remarkable in Paris on 6 March to stand a chance of advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals.

As the titleholders prepare for their first knockout tie without the Portuguese forward in a decade, Goal analyses his pivotal role in past triumphs Few would disagree with the view that Julen Lopetegui failed dismally to get the most out of his resources at  Real Madrid . Certainly, the Camp Nou capitulation that cost him his job last October wasembarrassing, and cast in an even more unfavourable light by last week’s impressive  Copa del Rey  draw at  Barcelona  under his successor Santiago Solari, who has also taken the Blancos from ninth in  La Liga  to second. Nonetheless, Lopetegui’s father, Jose Antonio, raised a valid point when blaming Real’s decision to sell Cristiano Ronaldo to  Juventus  last summer for his son’s struggles at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Manchester City striker, Sergio Aguero has spoken on his side’s Premier League 6-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday. Goals from Sergio Aguero (3), Raheem Sterling (2) and Iikay Gundogan (1) gave Pep Guardiola’s men all three points against Maurizio Sarri’s side at Etihad. Aguero said he hopes to continue his good form after matching Newcastle legend, Alan Shearer’s Premier League career record of 11 hat-tricks. “I have to continue the same way, but it’s important to win,” Aguero was quoted by Metro UK as saying about equaling Alan Shearer’s record at post-match. Aguero added: “I don’t know how I missed some opportunities, sometimes it happens. The next one I scored. The important thing is to get the ball and for the team to win.” Aguero now has 17 goals so far this season in the Premier League.