Sports Corner

Many people, try copying others
In life .
Not knowing that,
Everyone has different, Question papers.

Psalm 46:5

Do you know that?

England's best performance in a world cup was in 1966 (The year they hosted) after that, they have been to the Semi-finals twice (Italy 1990 and Russia 2018) and they've grazed the quarter-finals 7 times.

The just concluded Qatar world cup was tagged "It is coming back home" by the English people, but unfortunately the cup knows where it calls home.
With this, England are still hopeful for an international trophy and next world cup may just be it.

Did you know?

Do you know that there is only one player that can boast of 3 world cup titles to himself in the history of football?

Edson Arantes do Nascimento (1940-2022) popularly known as Pele was more than a god, he played football as a hobby, a defender’s worst nightmare and a keepers tragedy.

His world cup debut was in 1958 in SWEDEN, and he was just 17years old.
He started his football career in santos at the age of 15. Internationally, he joined the Brazilian national team at the age of 16 and went on to lift the 1958 world cup at the age of 17 (youngest ever to do so) 1962 world cup and the 1970 W/C.
This together makes him the only player with 3 world cup titles to his name.

A Decorated player and a humanitarian indeed who visited so many countries, even Nigeria where he played in support of a cease fire during the Nigerian civil war.

Pele died on the 29 December 2022 after a long battle with colon cancer.
May his Gentle soul rest in peace

DO YOU KNOW THAT!!

Africa has paraded great names on the field of play
from Jay-Jay Okocha (He was too good they had to name him twice)
Abedi Pele, Asamoah Gyan, Samuel Eto, Didier Drogba, Toure Yaya, M.Salah, Aboutrika, Nwankwo Kanu, Rasheed Yekeni, Finidi George, Amunike, Seydou Kieta, Roger Milla, Essien, Sadio Mane and Diop. E.t.c

But in all achievements of these wonderful players, Winning the Ballon d`Or was a step above the normal.
In 1995 The Liberian and AC Millan man did the unthinkable winning combination.

He is the only African to ever win a Ballon d'Or, the only African to ever become European Footballer of the Year and finally, the only African to ever be named FIFA World Player of the Year.

All hail the king

George Weah

DID YOU KNOW THAT

Morocco is the first African nation to reach the semi finals of a FIFA world cup tournament after 92 years and 49 attempts.

It has been a historic journey for the Morocco football team and the whole of Africa, Carrying the burden of the entire country and continent, the African side has been in a class of its own, showing great composure and temperament at the grandest stage of all. Still unbeaten in the FIFA World Cup 2022, Morocco’s journey has been nothing short of a Awesome.

Take a look at their journey so far

GROUP STAGE
Against Croatia
They played out a 0-0 draw, in this match, we saw the awesome defensive coordination of the Moroccan team

Against Belgium
It was a mouth watering Victory as they defeated Belgium (World Number Top ranked) 2-0
Thanks to Romain Saiss and Zakaria Aboukhal

In the final group game, they edged Canada and won Group F, leaving Croatia and Belgium in a direct shootout contest for the knockout stage.(Of which Croatia came out victorious.

Round of 16
They took on the 2010 champions with like of Bosquet, Morata and Gavi. To the surprise of many, they came out victorious after decision were made from penalty shootout.

The 2018 revenge did not stop there as Portugal who had beaten them four years ago in the group stage were left red-faced in the quarterfinal tie. A Youssef En-Nesyri winner saw Portugal bow out in a 0-1 defeat, in the process writing one of the historic chapters in the history of the FIFA World Cup.

The falcons now have one of the greatest task ever ahead of them, as they are to face the defending champions today December 14th with the likes of Mbappe and Giroud in combo of Griezmann and Dembele.
This victory Journey means a lot to Africa as a whole.

DO YOU KNOW THAT!!!

Cameroon on the 2nd of DEC 2022 in the ongoing Qatar 2022 world cup became the first African team to beat Brazil in a world cup match.

Jerome Ngom Mbekeli, the only member of Cameroon’s team who plays for a Cameroonian club Colombe supportive, made an inspiring run and cross to set up Vincent Aboubakar’s header and stoppage-time winner in a 1-0 victory to make the Indomitable Lions the first African nation to beat Brazil at a World Cup.

Despite the victory on Friday, Cameroon finished third in its group and was eliminated.

DO YOU KNOW THAT!!!

Ghana has become the first country in a world cup to lose two playtime penalty kick against a particular country.
In 2010, Asamoah Gyan the then Sunderland striker had an opportunity to send Ghana into the 2010 world cup semi-finals after Luiz Suarez stopped a ball going straight into the net with his hands.
It was all mixed feelings for Everyone who watched the match, until Gyan Came up and sent the ball straight into the cross bar.
Ghana went ahead to lose that match in Penalty kick After extra time.
History they say will always repeat itself, either for good or for nothing good.
Ghanaians were also given a revenge opportunity to send Uruguay back home as they came up Head to head in the ongoing Qatar 2022 World cup Decisive group stage final match.
Ghana began brightly and on the 21st minute, they were rewarded with a penalty kick.
Andrew Ayew stepped up wearing the shoes of the now retired Gyan. But this time, he decided to hand the ball straight to the confines of the keeper.
Unfortunately, Ghana went ahead to lose the match 2 goal to 0 with both assists coming from LUIZ SUAREZ.

At the end, none of them had the last laugh. Both countries got eliminated from the world cup as South Korea defeated the group leaders Portugal 2 goals to 1.

WOW!!!

DO YOU KNOW?

The 2022 World Cup was actually Qatar's first-ever World Cup, as they had never qualified before gaining automatic qualification as hosts. Their best qualifying performance had previously been reaching the fourth round of AFC section in 2014 and 2018.

It was the first time since 1934 that a host nation had never previously qualified for a World Cup. Since then, every single host nation had qualified at least once before hosting the tournament.
they lost their first match against Ecuador 2 goal to Nil, they went ahead to lost to Senegal 3 Goals to 1. Although this was remarkable, it was a match that saw them score their first ever world cup goal, but that wasn't good enough to motivate them against Netherlands, as they lost the last match in the group stage 2 goals to Nil. Making it 3 loses in 3 matches.

Countries that did not make it to Qatar
1.Italy
Italy a 4 time world cup winner couldn’t find their way to Qatar after they unfortunately lost to North Macedonia in their playoff in Palermo, with this I mind, Italy has failed to qualify for the second consecutive world cup.
2. Sweden
Sweden Lost their playoff to Poland who is currently placed in group B with Argentina, Poland, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. This simply means that Sweden has failed to Appear in a world cup for the second time and the 40 years old Ibrahimović may never play a world cup match again.
3. Nigeria
Nigeria an African powerhouse with great number of players in major leagues In the world has failed to qualify for world cup twice (2006 and 2022) with this, the world wont get to see the likes of Ndidi, Iwobi and Napoli sensation Osimhen.
4. Egypt
A 7-time African champion and the home country to Liverpool sensation Mouhammed salah wont be playing a single match in the world cup, The pharaohs lost out to the Senegal team in the last round of the world cup qualification.
5. Chile
This will make it a second time that this south America giant in the field of play, parading world stars like Alexis Sanchez and Antonio Vidal. They failed to make the cut again and the world would not see Sanchez play his last world cup
6. Columbia
After getting eliminated in the quarter finals in Russia, Columbia with Stars like Falcao, James and Sanchez, they’ve failed to make it to Qatar.
7. Algeria
One of the best football nations in Africa, they were crowned AFCON champions in 2019, But failed to qualify for Qatar making it the 3rd consecutive time they’ve failed to show up