Sports
Super Eagles’ World Cup Hope Alive, Says Yobo
Former Super Eagles skipper, Joseph Yobo, has urged Nigerians not to write off the Eagles’ qualification to the 2026 World Cup as their fate is not sealed yet.
He stated this in an interview on the sidelines of the Troost-Ekong Charity match held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos, on Monday.
Yobo, a former Everton FC of England defender, urged Nigerians to get behind the team in their quest to reach the 2026 World Cup coming up in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Super Eagles face a dire situation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, in fourth position from six matches in their qualifying Group C with seven points.
Nigeria is currently six points behind South Africa, who lead the group with 13 points, with four games left in the series.
Eric Chelle’s men must win all their remaining four matches to qualify.
The Eagles will play Rwanda at home, South Africa away in September, while their last two games involving Lesotho will be away and the Benin Republic at home in October.
Yobo said that the Eagles being in a tight corner would still qualify.
“Tough space, but there is a possibility, we have been in that space before; for this team, they should know how to grind out results.
“They need to play as a group united and ensure that they get the result needed, it doesn’t mean we have to play well, getting a win is the most important thing.
“If we drop any point from the group again, then we are out of the race,” he said.
Yobo expressed confidence in the current class of the Super Eagles and their ability to turn the tables.
“I believe in this set of players because I have been an Assistant Coach with them and I know what they can do.
“Sometimes these types of circumstances wake us up, maybe we play for a couple of games more,” he said.
On his future in a coaching role, Yobo was yet to decide what the future holds for him as a coach, adding that the role was not enticing to him.
“I have tried coaching, but not too good experience.
“I have played, I have been the leader and the captain of the team for my club. I don’t really think I am ready for it because coaching has to be enticing before you get into it.
“I am a vocal person, and I am also close to all coaches I have interacted with before, so sometimes it is something I don’t want to say.
“The football world should make coaching more enticing so that the players who retired will want to come back and coach, but we are not there yet,” he said.
“Until they start bringing the senior players back to the league.
“The former players should be part and make them have the feelings that they can coach may be it will get better.
“I have been in that space, I have tried it and love it, but will I sacrifice my personal business for a coaching job now? I don’t think so,” he queried.
Yobo described his experience at Everton FC of England as indelible in his history.
“I have mixed feelings when I was invited to be part of the Everton FC movement to a new stadium, but I couldn’t make it to the opening of the new stadium.
“I spent nine years at Goodison Park, and it has been part of me. I was emotional because I am familiar with every space in the stadium, from the changing room to the pitch.
“I am happy that they are moving to a bigger and better stadium because football is business.
“Goodison Park is a small stadium with 40,000, now they are moving to a bigger space for more business opportunities and more views,” he said..
“My debut with Everton FC was the most special moment for me in the club, the last game was also special,” he said.
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Sports
World Cup 2026: Messi Pinpoints What Argentina Did Wrong Against Cape Verde
Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, has pinpointed what his team did wrong against Cape Verde during both sides’ World Cup Round of 32 encounter.
The match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes at the Miami Stadium, but Argentina went on to win 3-2 in extra time.
Diney Borges’ own goal ensured Lionel Scaloni’s side eliminated the Blue Sharks from the competition.
Speaking at his post-match interview after the game, Messi admitted that Argentina couldn’t press Cape Verde properly during the encounter.
According to him, Scaloni’s side was also disjointed against the African side, and their lines were far apart.
“I think we couldn’t press them well, our lines were kind of far apart at times,” Messi said via FIFA’s website.
“When we wanted to jump from the defensive pivot, it was too far a distance for the center-backs, and we ended up a bit disjointed.
“They always had an extra man because we couldn’t match up, and that’s why they kept the ball and made us run, because we couldn’t press them properly.”
Sports
‘We Dignify Our Country’ — Bubista Hails Cape Verde’s Historic World Cup Run
Cape Verde head coach Bubista has said they can be proud of their historic run at the FIFA World Cup 2026, Completesports.com reports.
The Blue Stars bowed out of the competition following a 3-2 defeat to defending champions Argentina in Miami.
Blue Stars Put Up Brave Fight
Argentina took the lead twice in the keenly contested encounter and the West Africans answered both times, but with ten minutes to play in extra time a Lionel Messi corner led to an own goal from Diney Borges that sent La Albiceste into the Round of 16.
Messi opened the scoring shortly after the first hydration break, calmly lifting the ball over the advancing Vozinha after bringing down Lisandro Martinez’s precise pass over the top.
Cape Verde equalised in the 59th minute through Deroy Duarte.
Vozinha made several key saves, including blocking Messi from point blank range to send the game to extra time
It took the Albiceleste just two minutes of extra time to retake the lead. Lisandro Martinez collected a loose ball from a corner kick and lashed over Vozinha at the near post.
Cape Verde refused to surrender. Left-back Sidny Lopes Cabral produced one of the goals of the tournament, curling a sensational effort into the top corner from the edge of the box to draw Bubista’s side level for the second time in the contest.
Messi’s corner however caused an own goal that saw Argentina through to the last 16.
Bubista Thumbs Up Players
Bubista said Cape Verde, who were making their maiden World Cup appearance, had dignified themselves with their performances in the competition.
“We dignify what our country is. We drew twice against the world champions, we took it to extra time… More than anything, it’s being proud of our players who were dignified in the World Cup. We showed our identity,” Bubista was quoted by FIFA.com.
Sports
World Cup 2026: Ghana’s Performance Was Below Average —Gyan
Former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan has delivered a candid assessment of Ghana’s performance following the team’s 1-0 defeat to Colombia, describing the display as below the expected standard and insisting the South Americans fully deserved their victory.
Ghana’s hopes of advancing at the FIFA World Cup came to an end after Colombia capitalised on a first-half opportunity to secure the only goal of the match, sending the Black Stars out of the tournament.
Reacting to the outcome, Ghana’s all-time leading scorer said the Black Stars lacked the intensity and attacking determination required in a match of such importance.
“Today’s performance was below average, no sense of urgency,” Gyan was quoted by Ghana sport platform Joy Online.
Gyan expressed concern about Ghana’s inability to commit enough players forward, particularly after falling behind, noting that the Black Stars struggled to pose sustained attacking threats inside the Colombian penalty area.
“We (Ghana) did not have men in the box.”
Also Read:World Cup 2026: Semenyo Calls On Black Stars To Be More Aggressive With Referees After England Penalty Row
He contrasted Ghana’s approach with that of Colombia, saying the South Americans maintained their attacking intent even after taking the lead instead of merely defending their advantage.
“Colombia were ahead but kept fighting to score more.”
Summing up the contest, the former Sunderland and Al Ain striker conceded that Colombia were the better side on the day.
“To summarise everything, Colombia deserved the win.”
Gyan’s comments add to the growing post-match analysis following Ghana’s exit from the tournament, with several players and football analysts pointing to the team’s struggles in the attacking third despite signs of improvement in defensive organisation under newly appointed head coach Carlos Queiroz.
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