Sports News

By Ikem Aginam Many Africans follow football almost like a “religion”. It is the most popular sport played throughout the continent. For the fans, it is always a pleasure and delight to watch their country grace the biggest football event every four years – the FIFA World Cup. Unfortunately, there can only be 32 teams at the FIFA World Cup, ...

Croatia have defeated England to qualify for the final of  the ongoing World Cup in Russia. Final score:  Croatia 2 – England 1. The final comes up on Sunday between France and Croatia. England scored first in the first half.  Croatia equalised in the second half and scored the winning goal in the second half of extra time. Kieran Tripper’s ...

France have made it to the final of the ongoing World Cup tournament in Russia. After more than 90 minutes of physical, European soccer, Les Bleus defeated Belgium and its “golden generation,” 1-0, to earn a spot in the World Cup final for the third time in the last six quadrennial tournaments.

Both France coach Didier Deschamps and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris on Monday in St Petersburg said Tuesday’s semi-final showdown was a game they could win if they did all that was necessary. Belgium and France will meet in an epic 2018 FIFA World Cup semi-final fixture at the St Petersburg Arena, with Sunday’s final match at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow ...

A Kenyan referee who had been due to officiate at the ongoing World Cup in Russia has been handed a life ban after being caught in a bribery sting. Aden Marwa was filmed receiving a 600-dollar bribe during Confederation of African Football (CAF) assignment in Ghana. He is one of 22 referees sanctioned by CAF in an unprecedented clean up, ...

When France face Belgium on Tuesday, fighting for a place in the World Cup final, Les Bleus will find well-prepared enemies who know them extremely well, according to dpa. Chelsea winger Eden Hazard learned his trade with Lille, while Yannick Carrasco, Thorgan Hazard and Michy Batshuayi have also played in Ligue 1 at some point in their career. Defender Thomas ...

For a Croatia squad laden with talent from around Europe’s top clubs, one figure still loomed large entering this tournament: 1998. That was the year Croatia, led by Davor Suker in its first World Cup appearance, made a stunning run to the semifinals in France, finishing third after a difficult loss to the French in the final four. The current ...

England does not particularly care, really, how ‘it’ comes home. Harry Kane penalties or Harry Maguire headers work just fine. On Saturday it was the latter — and a second goal by Dele Alli — that carried England past Sweden, 2-0, and into the World Cup semifinals. The ‘it,’ of course, is the World Cup trophy, and it is now ...

Neymar’s Brazil crashed out of the World Cup on Friday, leaving the tournament virtually to European teams and making a global tournament, now looking like a UEFA show. After France had dumped out Uruguay, Brazil were the last South American team left, but they failed to live up to expectations. They also  failed to erase the pain of their humiliation ...

Belgium have defeated  Brazil in the second quarter-final match which just ended in Russia.. Belgium will now meet France in the semi-finals. Full-time: Belgium 2-1Brazil Details later.