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Conte thanks Chelsea fans as Hazard double eases pressure

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Antonio Conte thanked the Chelsea fans for their loyal support as Eden Hazard’s double eased the pressure on the Italian with a 3-0 win over rock bottom West Brom on Monday.

Three-goal thrashings at the hands of Bournemouth and Watford saw odds slashed on Conte becoming the latest Chelsea boss to be dismissed just nine months on from winning the Premier League.

However, Conte’s name was sung loudly around Stamford Bridge as the brilliance of Belgian Hazard either side of a second-half strike from Victor Moses moved Chelsea back into the top four.

“I think they are reading speculation, rumours on me, and for sure I am grateful to the fans for supporting me this way,” said Conte.

“Maybe in this year-and-a-half they understand my patience and will to defend this colour, this shirt, this badge.”

Chelsea climbed into fourth with the gap between Manchester United in second and fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur now just four points in the race to join runway leaders Manchester City in next season’s Champions League.

“It’s not easy to lose two games but now we are back,” said Hazard. “We are Chelsea, we are the champions, we have to give everything.”

At the other end of the table, a third straight defeat is another huge blow to West Brom’s chances of survival with the Baggies now seven points adrift of safety and just 11 games remaining.

‘Fight until the end’
“We are going to fight until the end,” said Baggies boss Alan Pardew.

“The games coming up, looking at the calendar, this is our period. But it is not good saying they are good games, you’ve got to win them and that’s something we haven’t managed to do for a long time.”

Crucially for Chelsea ahead of a huge month on three fronts, Conte’s forward options were replenished as Olivier Giroud was handed his full debut, whilst club record signing Alvaro Morata made his return as a second-half substitute after nearly a month out with a back injury.

West Brom were dealt an injury blow themselves inside three minutes when former Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge limped off to be replaced by Jay Rodriguez.

Pardew insisted he had no problem fielding Rodriguez, who was charged by the FA on Thursday with using racist language towards Brighton’s Gaetan Bong last month, but has vowed to clear his name.

Rodriguez had by far the best chance of a bright start from the visitors when he latched onto Moses’s wayward defensive header, but dragged his shot wide with just Thibaut Courtois to beat.

Giroud passed up a huge opportunity to mark his Stamford Bridge bow in Chelsea blue with a goal when his weak right-footed effort was easily smothered by goalkeeper Ben Foster on 20 minutes.

But the French international made amends by providing the pass for the opener as a neat one-two opened the space for Hazard to fire his 14th goal of the season into the bottom corner.

West Brom only had themselves to blame for not getting back into the game early in the second period.

Salomon Rondon fired too close to Courtois after outmuscling Andreas Christensen despite Chelsea claims for a foul on the Dane.

And, from the resulting corner, Jonny Evans headed inches over the bar.

Moments later, Pardew’s men were 2-0 down as Moses latched onto Cesc Fabregas’s deflected pass to slot low past Foster.

Hazard then capped a welcome win when he cut inside before drilling a left-footed shot inside Foster’s near post.

The serenading of Conte then began, but far tougher tests await following Hull City’s visit in the FA Cup on Friday.

Firstly, Barcelona visit the Bridge in the Champions League last 16 in eight days time before back-to-back Premier League visits to Manchester to face United and City.

 

SPORTS

Under-17 World Cup To Be Held Yearly-FIFA

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Under-17 World Cup To Be Held Yearly-FIFA | Fab.ng

Big changes are coming in for the Under-17 World Cup tournament. FIFA, the sport’s governing body, just announced some exciting new updates. First up, the Under-17 World Cup will be played every year! Instead of happening every two years, it will now be held every year, starting in 2025. This means fans will get to see these talented young players compete more often.

Not only will the tournament happen more often, but it will also get bigger! Just like the Senior Men’s World Cup, the Under-17 version will now include 48 teams, up from the previous 16. This gives more countries a shot at glory.

Girls’ soccer is also getting a boost! The Women’s Under-17 World Cup will follow suit, becoming an annual event from 2025 onwards. Morocco will be the proud host for the next five years, and the competition will feature 24 teams, up from 16 previously.

“This followed a global call for expressions of interest in hosting both competitions, with a focus on leveraging the use of existing footballing infrastructure in the interest of tournament efficiencies and sustainability,”  FIFA said.

Germany took home the trophy at the last Under-17 World Cup in 2023, marking their first-ever championship at that level. Spain’s women’s team also had something to celebrate, winning their edition in 2022.

2017 u17 world cup final for Sale,Up To OFF 74%

The senior men’s World Cup took place back in 2022, with Qatar playing host. Looking ahead, Morocco gears up to co-host the prestigious tournament in 2030! This is an exciting time for international football.

FIFA has set aside $2.25 billion, to invest in growing the sport between 2023 and 2026. This is a big jump from their previous budget. FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, is confident they’ll exceed their financial target of $11 billion for this period.

Gianni Infantino also highlighted the fight against racism in football. FIFA plans to discuss and decide on these stricter anti-racism measures at their upcoming congress. They’ll work with member associations and regional groups to make sure the new rules are enforced worldwide.

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NEWS

Super Falcons Team Loses Formidable Goalkeeper To Death

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Super Falcons Team Loses Goalkeeper To Death | Fab.ng

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) expressed profound sadness on Saturday upon learning of the passing of former Super Falcons goalkeeper Bidemi Aluko-Olaseni. Ms. Aluko-Olaseni, who had been valiantly battling cancer for the past eight years, unfortunately, succumbed to the illness.

The NFF, in a heartfelt message posted on its social media platform, conveyed its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. The message further acknowledged Ms. Aluko-Olaseni’s contributions to the Super Falcons and expressed hope that her soul finds eternal peace.

The tweet read:

“We are sad to hear of the passing of former @NGSuper_Falcons goalkeeper Bidemi Aluko-Olaseni after an eight-year battle with cancer. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. May her gentle soul rest in peace.”

Bidemi Aluko-Olaseni’s time as the guardian of the net for Nigeria’s esteemed national women’s football team, the Super Falcons, was undeniably distinguished by her remarkable talent and prowess. Her exceptional skill as a goalkeeper was not only evident during her tenure with the national team. It also shone brightly during her stints with other prestigious Nigerian clubs. Some of them included the renowned Rivers Angels and the formidable Sunshine Queens. Her dedication and exceptional ability left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of both teammates and fans alike.

This news has undoubtedly cast a shadow over the Nigerian football community. Ms. Aluko-Olaseni’s dedication and resilience will be deeply missed. We join the NFF and the entire sporting world in offering our sincere condolences to her loved ones during this difficult time.

While her time on the pitch may have come to an end, the memories of Bidemi Aluko-Olaseni and her contributions to Nigerian football will undoubtedly live on.

Check out more updates here.

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SPORTS

Boniface, Osimhen, Surpass Ronaldo As World’s Best Strikers

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Boniface, Osimhen, Surpass Ronaldo World’s Best Strikers|Fab.ng

In a surprising turn of events, Nigerian forwards Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface have secured spots on a prestigious list ranking the world’s top 10 strikers, according to a recent ranking by SPORTbible. This accolade places Osimhen and Boniface ahead of legendary footballers Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski!

The list itself is led by the unstoppable Erling Haaland of Manchester City, followed closely by England’s captain Harry Kane. Kylian Mbappe snagged the third-place position.

Victor Osimhen, a star player for Napoli, secures a remarkable fourth place, while his compatriot, Victor Boniface, who is currently lighting up Bayer Leverkusen, claims a well-deserved seventh position, surpassing Ronaldo.

OneFootball on X: "Victor Boniface and Victor Osimhen have started for Nigeria together for the very first time 🦅 https://t.co/p3QqOrHvje" / X

The ranking continues, with Lautaro Martinez, Heung-Min Son, and Julian Alvarez claiming the eighth position. While Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski secured the ninth and tenth spots, respectively, their absence from the top ranks highlights the emergence of a new generation of footballing heroes.

The full list, as presented by the ranking source, is as follows:

  1. Erling Haaland
  2. Harry Kane
  3. Kylian Mbappe
  4. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
  5. Lautaro Martinez
  6. Heung-Min Son
  7. Victor Boniface (Nigeria)
  8. Julian Alvarez
  9. Cristiano Ronaldo
  10. Robert Lewandowski

While some may be surprised by the inclusion of the two Nigerians above established names like Ronaldo and Lewandowski, it’s important to remember that rankings are always subjective and often take into account current form, potential, and the specific criteria used for evaluation.

This ranking undoubtedly sparks an interesting conversation about the ever-evolving landscape of football and the emergence of new talents who are challenging the established order. It also prompts the question: with such a vast continent brimming with talent, are there other exceptional African footballers who deserve recognition but may not have been included in this particular ranking?

Check out more sports updates here.

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