Cadiz demand replay of final 9 minutes of La Liga clash with Elche

GistReel

Cadiz has issued a statement, demanding a replay of the final minutes of their game with Elche after VAR didn’t intervene in a late equalizer they conceded.

Cadiz demand replay of final 9 minutes of La Liga clash with Elche

The club was minutes away from a crucial win in their fight against relegation on Monday night, leading 1-0 against bottom-side Elche when the visitors equalized courtesy of Ezequiel Ponce. A video making round online showed that Ponce came back from an offside position to help spark a move he eventually finished off with a bullet header. Cadiz were left fuming at VAR following the decision to allow Elche’s equaliser in last night’s 1-1 draw in La Liga. Replays showed that Ezequiel Ponce, who scored Elche’s goal, was offside in the build-up.pic.twitter.com/5AwPZSgbtG — Football España (@footballespana_) January 17, 2023 Reacting to this, Cadiz who are 18th on the La Liga table expressed disappointment that the goal was allowed to stand. The club also threatened legal action over the loss of the two points. The statement read; “Today, January 17, 2023, the legal services of CÁDIZ CF SAD have submitted to the competent federative authorities, a brief challenging the meeting held before ELCHE, C.F., S.A.D, by virtue of which the annulment is requested of the well-deserved match and its resumption from minute 81 of it, at which time the refereeing team validated the goal scored by the ELCHE, C.F., S.A.D. D. Ezequiel Ponce, despite being preceded by a resounding and flagrant offside, not susceptible to interpretation, as shown by the images of the match. Cadiz demand replay of final 9 minutes of La Liga clash with Elche “Quite the contrary, if necessary at the end of the season, depending on the sporting and economic damages that may be inferred from the final classification of CÁDIZ, C.F., S.A.D. In the First Division category, this Entity will evaluate the exercise of as many legal actions that assist it in Law, including the action of patrimonial responsibility against the persons, physical or legal, that in the last instance must respond for the damages and losses caused to CÁDIZ , C.F., S.A.D.”

Final year student killed as gunmen, soldiers clash in Imo state

Final year student killed as gunmen, soldiers clash in Imo state

Final year student killed as gunmen, soldiers clash in Imo state

A final-year student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has been killed by a stray bullet in a clash between gunmen and soldiers.

final year student

The said clash happened at a checkpoint in Ubomiri in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
Godson Anumenwe, according to reports was a 500L Radiography student, who left Port Harcourt for his hometown on Saturday night, December 31, 2022. Sadly, he met with his untimely death.
Gunmen
The President of the Radiography Students’ Association, Anonde Stephen, confirmed the sad news in a statement on Monday, 2nd of January, 2023.
“Until the time of his [email protected], he was in the 500 level class waiting to sign out very soon. It’s a very sad loss for all. We sympathize with the bereaved and urge all to remember the family in prayers as we grief and mourn this great loss. Rest easy Godson,” the statement read.

World Cup final referee responds to criticism that trailed Lionel Messi’s extra-time goal

World Cup final referee responds to criticism that trailed Lionel Messi's extra-time goal

World Cup final referee responds to criticism that trailed Lionel Messi's extra-time goal

Szymon Marciniak, the Polish referee who officiated the 2022 World Cup final has responded to claims that Lionel Messi’s extra-time goal should have been disallowed.
World Cup final referee responds to claims that Lionel Messi's extra-time goal should have been disallowed
Recall that Messi’s goal gave Argentina a 3-2 lead during extra time before Kylian Mbappe converted a penalty for France. The match proceeded to a penalty shootout which Argentina won 4-2.
Days after the conclusion of the tournament, the French media stated that Argentina’s third goal should have been disallowed due to the encroachment of substitutes on the pitch.
World Cup final referee responds to claims that Lionel Messi's extra-time goal should have been disallowed
Responding to the claim during a press conference yesterday, December 23, Marciniak held up a photo that showed that French players were also guilty of the same when Mbappe converted a penalty they were awarded.
He said;
“The French didn’t mention this photo, where you can see how there are seven Frenchmen on the pitch when Mbappe scores a goal.”

Szymon Marciniak, the referee for the World Cup Final, has responded to @lequipe’s criticism that Lionel Messi’s second goal shouldn’t have counted:
“The French didn’t mention this photo, where you can see how there are seven Frenchmen on the pitch when Mbappé scores a goal.” pic.twitter.com/MW6y73iiLN
— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) December 23, 2022

Deschamps reveals he ‘lost a bit of finger’ in World Cup final half-time rant

Deschamps reveals he ‘lost a bit of finger’ in World Cup final half-time rant

France’s coach, Didier Deschamps has explained why he had a bandaged finger after half-time during the World Cup final match they lost to Argentina.
Deschamps reveals he ‘lost a bit of finger’ in World Cup final half-time rant
France was trailing 2-0 during half-time following an awful performance that saw Olivier Giroud and Ousmane Dembele being substituted before the first half of the match was concluded. Argentina eventually won 4-2 on penalties after extra time.
Explaining why he had a bandaged thumb after the match, Deschamps told reporters he “lost a bit of finger” during halftime.
Deschamps reveals he ‘lost a bit of finger’ in World Cup final half-time rant
He said;
“I lost a bit of my finger at half-time. That happens to me sometimes, you have to cause a few ripples and try to turn things around. We were not at our best physically and it happened against a team who were playing a World Cup final. I didn’t get the impression that we were.”

Argentina beat France on penalties after thrilling World Cup final ends in 3-3 draw

Argentina beat France on penalties after thrilling World Cup final ends in 3-3 draw

Argentina are winners of the 2022 World Cup after defeating defending champions France 4-2 on penalties, following a dramatic 3-3 draw after extra time.

Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 23rd minute after calmly converting a penalty, while winger Angel Di Maria doubled the lead 13 minutes later.
With Argentina already cruising to victory, Mbappe stepped up and scored twice in the space of 97 seconds to send the game to extra time.
Argentina beat France on penalties after thrilling World Cup final ends in 3-3 draw
Messi placed Argentina in front again during extra time, but Mbappe stepped up again with another penalty to seal a stunning hat-trick as it finished 3-3 and went to a penalty shootout.
Argentina ended up winning the World Cup final after converting all four of their penalty kicks, while France missed two.

FIFA blocked English referee from officiating the 2022 World Cup final

FIFA blocked English referee from officiating the 2022 World Cup final

FIFA blocked English referee from officiating the 2022 World Cup final
FIFA reportedly denied English referee, Anthony Taylor, the chance to officiate the World Cup final on Sunday, December 19, over fears of Argentina questioning his impartiality.

While it’s been announced that Poland’s Szymon Marciniak will oversee the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium, it’s been gathered that Taylor was never in contention to land the match over concerns of an English official officiating an Argentina game.
Before Argentina qualified for the final, Taylor was kept on in Qatar by FIFA when the likes of Michael Oliver returned home.
The Times reported that though there are no suggestions that Taylor might be influenced by his nationality, neutrality is however a top priority for FIFA.

FIFA blocked English referee from officiating the 2022 World Cup final

English referees have been barred from taking charge of matches featuring Argentina due to fears of bias around the Falkland Islands.
The Falklands War may have taken place way back in 1982, but it remains a hot topic in Argentina. The Falklands have been a British crown colony since 1841, but the sovereignty of the territory in the South Atlantic remains disputed by Argentina, who sparked a war with Britain by invading.
Argentina made headlines after their 3-0 win over Croatia in the semi-final by singing a popular song, called Muchachos, which references the Falklands War. The song includes a line about the “f***ing English” and a reference to the Malvinas, the Argentine name of the Falkland Islands.
The song has been commonplace among Argentina’s fans in Qatar and was reportedly the most-played song on Spotify in the South American country this week.

FIFA blocked English referee from officiating the 2022 World Cup final

Had Taylor landed the World Cup final, he would have been the first English referee to do so since 2010, when Howard Webb officiated Spain vs. Netherlands.

But he lost out to Marciniak who will be joined by fellow Polish officials Pawel Sokolnicki and Tomasz Listkiewicz as assistant referees.

The 41-year-old is the first Poland native to be handed the job of refereeing the World Cup final.

Third French player sick ahead of World Cup final against Argentina

Third French player sick ahead of World Cup final against Argentina

 
Third French player sick ahead of World Cup final against Argentina

The French team is suffering a fitness concern at the moment as some of their star players are sick ahead of the World Cup final against Argentina on Sunday, December 19.
Before the semi-final clash against Morocco, it was disclosed that Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot were sick. The duo also missed the match which ended 2-0 in favour of the French team.
While Upamecano and Rabiot are fighting to be ready to face Argentina on Sunday, France coach, Didier Deschamps has confirmed that a third member of his squad has been hit with illness.
Third French player sick ahead of World Cup final against Argentina
Deschamps who told journalists that winger Kingsley Coman is sick, said;

“Coman also had a fever this morning. In Doha, the temperatures have dropped a bit and you still have air conditioning on all the time. We have had a few cases of flu-like symptoms.

“We are trying to be careful so that it does not spread and the players have put in a great effort on the pitch and obviously their immune systems suffer.”
Deschamps further revealed that Upamecano fell ill after the quarterfinal match against England. He said;

Third French player sick ahead of World Cup final against Argentina

“Dayot Upamecano felt bad immediately after the game against England. It happens when you exert yourself so much, your body weakens and you are more prone to getting these viruses.

“We’re taking all the necessary precautions, we’re trying to make sure it doesn’t spread, but viruses are of course infectious and we have to take precautions against them.

“We’ll separate him from the others and from Adrien as well.”
France is looking to become the first country to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil did in 1958 and 1962.

Messi again confirms Qatar final will be his last World Cup game for Argentina

Messi again confirms Qatar final will be his last World Cup game for Argentina

Messi again confirms Qatar final will be his last World Cup game for Argentina

Messi again confirms Qatar final will be his last World Cup game for Argentina
35-year-old PSG star, Lionel Messi has again confirmed that the Qatar 2022 final will be his last World Cup game for Argentina.

Speaking to reporters after the semi-final match against Croatia which Argentina won 3-0, Messi said he is very happy he’ll be finishing his journey in World Cups in a final.
The PSG star opened the scoring for Argentina in the match against Croatia by converting a penalty kick. He also provided Julian Alvarez with an assist for one of his two goals in the match.
Messi again confirms Qatar final will be his last World Cup game for Argentina
Speaking to reporters after the match last night, he said;
“I am very happy for finishing my journey in World Cups in a final, to play the last game in a final. That is really very gratifying.
“Everything that I lived in this World Cup has been emotional, seeing how much it has been enjoyed in Argentina. There are a lot of years from this year to the next one. I don’t think I will be able to do that. To finish this way is brilliant.”
Messi again confirms Qatar final will be his last World Cup game for Argentina
Messi also said Argentina will give everything to get their hands on the much-coveted trophy, 36 years after their last win.
He said;
“We are going to do our best, as we have done up until now so that this time it really happens – we really win it.
”I have been enjoying it the last few years being with the national side. I am really enjoying everything that is happening to us. To get the Copa America, to reach the World Cup with 36 games unbeaten, and to finish all that trajectory in a final is just incredible. I hope the people in Argentina enjoy themselves and what we are doing. They shouldn’t doubt we are giving absolutely everything.’‘

Messi and Alvarez brace take Argentina into the final

Messi and Alvarez brace take Argentina into the final

Croatia had no answer for Argentina and Messi with South American country strolling to a 3-0 win.
Julian Alvarez netted a brace as Lionel Messi scored from the penalty spot as Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to book their spot in the final!

Messi put Argentina ahead with a 34th-minute penalty after goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic tripped Alvarez as he chased a simple long ball and the Manchester City forward then charged 50 metres, somehow keeping possession via two rebounds as defenders tried to tackle him, to poke in the second five minutes later.
Croatia, who came from behind to beat Japan and Brazil on penalties in the last two rounds, tried to hit back in the second half but their neat passing failed to open any real cracks in a determined Argentine defence.
Messi then burst into life, showing mesmerising control to drive to the byline and pull the ball back for Alvarez to tuck in the third after 69 minutes and wrap up the victory.

Mane, Salah, Mendy make final 3-man 2022 African Player of the Year shortlist

Mane, Salah, Mendy make final 3-man 2022 African Player of the Year shortlist

Mane, Salah, Mendy make final 3-man 2022 African Player of the Year shortlist

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially released the final list of players competing to win awards at the 2022 edition of the CAF Awards.
The ceremony will be held on Thursday, July 20th in Rabat, Morocco, with Senegal forward Sadio Mane up against Mohamed Salah from Egypt and Edouard Mendy from Senegal.

Mane, Salah, Mendy make final 3-man 2022 African Player of the Year shortlist

In the women’s category, Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala will be hoping to win the award for the fifth time but will face stiff competition from Cameroon’s Ajara Nchout Njoya and Grace Chanda from Zambia.
“With less than 48 hours to the highly-anticipated Caf Awards 2022, Caf has revealed the top three for all the women and men categories ahead of the much-awaited Awards Gala on Thursday, July 21 2022, in Rabat, Morocco,” the CAF statement reads.
“The top three list is from the list of nominees previously revealed by Caf in both men and women categories,” said CAF.
It added that in the men’s category, former winners “Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane of Egypt and Senegal will have to battle it out with Senegal shot stopper Edouard Mendy, also a newcomer in the three-men list.”
The statement was issued on Wednesday, 20th July. Currently, Mohamed Salah plays for the EPL Liverpool, Sadio Mane recently made a sensational move to the German giant, Bayern Munich while Edouard Mendy remains the first choice goalkeeper of Chelsea FC.
The trio obviously had a good run last season.