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Champions League: Leicester City Thrash Sevilla 2-0

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Kasper Schmeichel pulled off a dramatic late penalty save as Leicester City sank Sevilla 2-0 on Tuesday to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time.

Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, after which Claudio Ranieri was sacked as manager, Leicester scored through Wes Morgan and Marc Albrighton before Schmeichel repelled Steven N’Zonzi’s spot-kick.

It gave them a 3-2 aggregate win and continued a remarkable turnaround under new manager Craig Shakespeare, who has won three games in a row since stepping up from his role as Ranieri’s assistant.

Unrecognisable in the defence of their miraculous Premier League title, Leicester have found solace in the Champions League and have now won all four of their home matches in the competition.

They also chose a good time to rediscover a bit of defensive solidity — and good fortune — having previously gone 12 matches without keeping a clean sheet in all competitions.

Sevilla, winners of the last three Europa Leagues, saw Samir Nasri sent off late on after he was shown an extraordinary second yellow card for aiming a headbutt at Jamie Vardy.

Sevilla's midfielder Steven N'Zonzi (C) takes a penalty that is saved during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Leicester City and Sevilla at the King Power Stadium on March 14, 2017

Sevilla’s midfielder Steven N’Zonzi (C) takes a penalty that is saved during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Leicester City and Sevilla at the King Power Stadium on March 14, 2017 (AFP)

N’Zonzi might yet have taken the game to extra time after Schmeichel was penalised for catching Vitolo after the forward had dinked a shot past him.

But the Dane redeemed himself with a save low to his left, thwarting Sevilla’s hopes of reaching the last eight for the first time since 1958.

The back-to-back 3-1 wins against Liverpool and Hull City overseen by Shakespeare had restored Leicester’s self-belief and the stadium crackled with anticipation prior to kick-off.

A carpet of blue and white flags greeted the teams, while Leicester’s fans unveiled a giant banner of Shakespeare, accompanied by the rousing William Shakespeare quote: “Let slip the dogs of war.”

For all the sound and fury generated by the home support, it was Sevilla who procured the first two sights of goal.

Escudero missile

Nasri, one of eight changes made by Jorge Sampaoli, was denied by a one-handed save from Schmeichel in the fourth minute, while Pablo Sarabia dragged wide with his left foot.

But in the 27th minute Leicester took control of the tie, Riyad Mahrez swinging a free-kick into the box after Vicente Iborra had felled Vardy and Morgan bundling home with his right knee.

Leicester City's midfielder Marc Albrighton (2R) celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates Danny Drinkwater (3R) and Riyad Mahrez (R) during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match against Sevilla on March 14, 2017

Leicester City’s midfielder Marc Albrighton (2R) celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates Danny Drinkwater (3R) and Riyad Mahrez (R) during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match against Sevilla on March 14, 2017 (AFP)

The King Power Stadium erupted with a noise that recalled the triumphs of last year and short of a mishit Gabriel Mercado cross that Schmeichel had to palm over, Leicester reached the break without alarm.

Sampaoli made two changes at half-time, sending on Mariano Ferreira and Stevan Jovetic for Mercado and Sarabia, and eight minutes in his side came within millimetres of restoring their advantage.

Sergio Escudero let fly with a fluttering effort from 35 yards that crashed against the bar before bouncing down and out, with Jovetic hoisting the rebound over.

Barely a minute later Leicester took the lead in the tie outright.

Mahrez’s cross from the right was tamely headed away by Adil Rami, allowing Albrighton to chest the ball down and arrow a left-foot drive past a statuesque Sergio Rico.

Nasri’s moment of madness arrived shortly after Schmeichel had parried from substitute Joaquin Correa.

With play ongoing, the Frenchman, taking exception to a push from Vardy, squared up to the England striker and lowered his head, prompting a second yellow card from referee Daniele Orsato.

Orsato was not prepared to abandon centre-stage and after awarding Sevilla’s penalty, he compounded the visitors’ frustrations by sending the protesting Sampaoli to the stands.

SPORTS

Victor Osimhen May Consider Saudi Arabia Move

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Victor Osimhen May Consider Saudi Arabia Move | Fab.ng

There’s a rumour swirling around Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen. It’s a tale of past success, present uncertainty, and a hefty price tag. Osimhen’s chapter at Napoli could be coming to a close. Their final game of the season ended in a disappointing draw, and rumours are swirling that the striker might be looking for new pastures.

Victor Osimhen, shining star, then a bump in the road

Osimhen has undeniably been a bright spot for Napoli. He played a key role in their 2022/23 Serie A championship win, even claiming the top scorer title that season. However, this past season wasn’t Napoli’s strongest, and Osimhen’s goal tally dipped to 15. Despite this, his talent hasn’t gone unnoticed.

A shopping list of seekers for Victor Osimhen

Victor Osimhen remains a hot asset, attracting interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, and Liverpool have all reportedly expressed their desire to sign the striker.

The Premier League dream, or a lucrative detour?

According to Italian journalist Valter De Maggio, Osimhen’s ideal destination seems to be the Premier League, with Arsenal topping his list. However, his transfer fee is a staggering €130 million, which might make the Gunners hesitate. If a move to England falls through, De Maggio suggests Osimhen might be swayed by the financial muscle of clubs in the Middle East, particularly those in Saudi Arabia.

National team duty and a decision to be made

With the club season wrapped up, Osimhen is currently enjoying a well-deserved break. He’ll soon be rejoining the Nigerian national team for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers. But before he steps onto the international stage again, a big decision looms – will he become an Arsenal player, or will his talents be showcased elsewhere? Only time will tell what Osimhen’s future holds.

For more sports updates, check out this page.

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Ronaldo Breaks Saudi Pro League Scoring Record

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Ronaldo breaks Saudi Pro League scoring record | Fab.ng

In his final game of the season, playing for his team, Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals. These goals weren’t just any goals though! They were his 34th and 35th of the season, which achieved something remarkable.

By scoring these two goals, Ronaldo became the league’s top scorer for the entire season, breaking the previous record!

“I don’t follow the records, the records follow me,” the 39-year-old Portuguese forward tweeted afterwards.

Cristiano Ronaldo had a big night during his final game of the season for his team Al Nassr. He scored two goals. The first one came very late in the first half, just as extra time was being added on. The second one was a powerful header in the 69th minute. These two goals helped Al Nassr win the game 4-2 against Al Ittihad.

But that’s not all!

Ronaldo’s goals were even more special because they made him the league’s top scorer for the entire season. He scored a record-breaking 35 goals, beating the old record of 34 goals which was set by a player named Abderrazak Hamdallah in the 2018-19 season.

This achievement is even more impressive because Ronaldo’s team, Al Nassr, actually finished second place in the league. The champions were Al Hilal, who were far ahead with a 14-point lead.

Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in December of last year, which was the start of a trend where many famous players from other countries came to the Saudi league to play for a lot of money.

Despite playing in a new league, Ronaldo is still a star on the international stage. He was recently chosen to play for Portugal in the European Championship which will be held in Germany next month.

This will be his 11th international tournament, an incredible feat! He also holds the record for most appearances and goals scored in men’s international football, with a whopping 206 appearances and 128 goals.

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Nwabali Wants “Another Challenge” At Bigger Club

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Nwabali Wants "Another Challenge" At Bigger Club | Fab.ng

Stanley Nwabali, the goalkeeper for Nigeria’s national team (the Super Eagles), is looking to switch teams. He wants a new challenge and a chance to play for a bigger club next season.

This desire comes after Nwabali’s impressive performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria took home the silver medal. His strong showing has caught the attention of several teams.

One club that has been mentioned most often is the Kaizer Chiefs.

This South African team is currently undergoing a rebuilding phase. Nwabali might be the missing piece they’re looking for. The question remains: can they convince him to join their team?

“Well, everyone would love to leave because when you are in some position, you need to grow,” the 27-year-old Nwabali said.

“Like everyone in my position, I would like to grow more. I’m talking about clubs higher than this [bigger than Chippa United] because I have been giving my all to my club this season.

“I just wish to have another challenge at some other place. To be honest, this season has been one of best seasons of my football career inside Chippa and outside Chippa.”

“This season, Chippa has been nice to me and being part of this family. We found ourselves ending the season better than the previous season. This season was one of the best seasons for me,” he continued.

The potential move to Kaizer Chiefs for Stanley Nwabali is interesting because of the current situation with their goalkeepers.

Uncertain pecking order

Right now, Brandon Petersen is the backup, with Bruce Bvuma holding the starting position. This could change, however.

Veteran goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, who has been with the club for an impressive 25 years, is rumoured to be leaving soon. This unexpected opening creates a prime opportunity for a new starting goalie to step in.

Competition and a potential starting role for Nwabali

If Nwabali joins Kaizer Chiefs, he would likely be competing directly with Bvuma for the coveted starting spot. With Khune’s potential departure, Nwabali might see this as a golden opportunity to solidify himself as the main goalkeeper.

His talent and recent performance on the international stage would certainly make him a strong contender.

Adding another layer to the story, Nwabali is about to return to Nigeria to join his national team for a crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier against none other than South Africa. This upcoming match holds some extra weight.

Nwabali’s impressive performance against South Africa at the recent Africa Cup of Nations was a big reason they weren’t able to reach the finals. South Africa will likely be looking to settle the score this time around, making this qualifier an exciting clash with a bit of history repeating itself.

For more sports news, check here.

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