Sports
World Cup finalists set to carry summer momentum into the new LaLiga season
The 2018 World Cup final was unlike almost any other. There were six goals for the first time since 1966 and while champions France logically raced to Paris with the trophy in tow, Croatia were just as warmly welcomed back in Zagreb, having massively exceeded expectations.
In total, there were 11 LaLiga players celebrating their summer achievements the following morning, and LaLiga should relish the prospect of these players carrying their positive momentum into the 2018/19 domestic season.
Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid): Atleti will be especially happy with the 22-year-old’s performances. Lucas began last season as Los Rojiblancos’ backup centre-back but played so well as a left-back following an injury to Filipe Luis that he was called up to Didier Deschamps’ France squad. In Russia, he picked up two assists, including one in the final, which will have made Diego Simeone gush with pride.
Sime Vrsaljko (Atletico Madrid): Lucas was included in many fans’ and publications’ ‘XI of the tournament’, but so was his Croatian teammate Vrsaljko. The right-back was influential in both defence and attack for his country, laying on an assist in an ever-present campaign.
Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid): Atleti will also be pleased that Griezmann, who has pledged his future to the club, was a key factor in France’s attack. As well as his four goals and an MVP award in the final, he demonstrated the kind of defensive commitment that those at the Wanda Metropolitano love to see.
Thomas Lemar (Atletico Madrid): The Frenchman, who signed for Atleti from Monaco just before the tournament, was named on the bench in the final having previously featured against Denmark in the group stages. With Lemar joining Griezmann and Diego Costa in Simeone’s impressive attacking line, Atleti fans are in for a treat this season.
Samuel Umtiti
Samuel Umtiti (FC Barcelona): The Frenchman’s defensive solidity was a real highlight but he also pitched in with a key goal, the only goal of the game in the semi-final vs Belgium. ‘Samu’ signed a new contract this summer, ensuring that Barça can count on his quality as they look to defend their LaLiga Santander title this season.
Ousmane Dembele (FC Barcelona): While not a starter in Russia, 21-year-old Dembele made an impact for the champions from the bench and his World Cup experience should help him further develop as he looks to breakout at the Camp Nou this season.
Ivan Rakitic (FC Barcelona): One of Zlatko Dalić’s team’s most influential players. The 30-year-old showed last season that he can play in a variety of positions and further demonstrated his versatility in Russia, which will delight Barça coach Ernesto Valverde as he looks to consolidate his midfield following the departures of Andres Iniesta and Paulinho.
Luka Modric (Real Madrid): The standout performer of the tournament and winner of the Golden Ball for the best player at Russia 2018. There is talk of him winning the 2018 Ballon d’Or and a strong start to the 2018/19 LaLiga campaign for Real Madrid will strengthen his case.
Mateo Kovačić (Real Madrid): Modric’s teammate for club and country was an important part of Croatia’s run to the final, playing in the first five matches and helping his team to close out their victories. The 24-year-old is going into his fourth season as a Real Madrid player and will be keen to impress new coach Julen Lopetegui.
Raphael Varane
Raphael Varane (Real Madrid): Real Madrid’s representative on the winning France team added the World Cup to his honours list, which already includes four Champions Leagues, three Club World Cups, three UEFA Super Cups, two LaLiga titles, two Spanish Super Cups and a Copa del Rey… and he’s still only 25! Already one of the most decorated players in world football, he could finish his career with more medals than anyone in history, the prospect of which should see him attack the start of the 2018/19 LaLiga season with the same hunger as always.
Steven Nzonzi (Sevilla FC): The sole Sevilla player to get his hands on the World Cup after coming on in the second half of the final to help Les Bleus close out the match and to stave off the Croatian fightback. He’ll return with sky-high confidence as Sevilla look to improve on their seventh-place finish last season in Pablo Machin’s first season at the helm.
…reaffirms MTN Nigeria’s support following ‘draw’ with Zimbabwe.
MTN Nigeria, the official telecommunications partner of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), has reiterated its unwavering support for the Super Eagles following their spirited draw with Zimbabwe in the World Cup qualifier match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
Building on the momentum from their recent victory against Rwanda, MTN Nigeria had expressed strong backing for the national team ahead of the crucial fixture. Tobe Okigbo, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Corporate Services & Sustainability Officer, stated before the game, “We are confident in the team’s ability to make Nigeria proud and qualify for the World Cup.”
Despite the draw, MTN Nigeria’s CEO, Karl Toriola, maintained a positive outlook. “While tonight’s outcome wasn’t what we hoped for, we remain steadfast in our support for the Super Eagles. This result is just part of the journey towards World Cup qualification, and we believe in the team’s resilience and ability to succeed,” Toriola said.
The match showcased the Super Eagles’ grit and determination as they found their rhythm against the Zimbabwean side. Nigeria scored the first goal, demonstrating their prowess and fighting spirit, although the match ultimately ended in a draw. This result has added to the excitement of Nigeria’s path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
MTN Nigeria, which signed a deal with the NFF in 2021 as the Official Telecoms Partner, has been a constant pillar of support for Nigerian football for over two decades. The company’s commitment extends from grassroots to national levels, investing significantly in the development of local football.
“Our support for the Super Eagles and all national teams is part of our long-standing tradition,” Toriola added. “We are building a sustainable legacy of collaboration, growth, and development in the football space. Tonight’s result doesn’t change our belief in the team’s potential to make all Nigerians proud on the global stage. We believe in our Eagles.”
As the Super Eagles regroup and prepare for their next qualifier, MTN Nigeria has called on all Nigerians to rally behind the team. The company emphasized that this is a crucial time for unity and continued support, expressing confidence that the Super Eagles will overcome this challenge and strive towards securing a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Sports
Portugal Football Club Signs on 19-Year-Old Nigerian- born Footballer, Yaqub Usman-Malah
Reporter: Sandra Ani
Brito Sporting Club of Portugal, a football club founded in 1956, has signed an official contract with a United Kingdom-based highly-talented, young Nigeria-born footballer, Yaqub Usman-Malah.
The official unveiling of the young promising footballer was carried out on Saturday, January 4, 2025.
Yaqub, born in Nigeria in 2006, is a budding Nigerian talent with unquantifiable promise and potential.
Prior to his official contract with Brito Sporting Club of Portugal, he was a student and a trainee player with the Brooke College Football Academy in the United Kingdom.
At Brooke College Football Academy, Yaqub had an impressive goal average of 17 goals in 32 matches with no injuries in 116 training days, cumulating into 2, 270 minutes of on-field action.
A clear testimony of his outstanding performance at the Academy was provided by the lead coach of the Under-17B team Yaqub played with.
The lead coach, Tomasz Wasylik, described Yaqub as a ‘well-liked person’ and a role model to his teammates due to his professionalism and unmatched work rate.
The Lead Coach further stated that Yaqub has played in National School Cup competitions against other colleges and programmes in the 2023/2024 session and is a good ‘tactical player’, ‘technically good” and can ‘play in multiple positions on the field’.
It is expected that Yaqub will live to the potential and promise identified by Coach Tomasz Wasylik of the Brooke College Football Academy and achieve greatness in his new club.
“While looking forward to the display of his unarguable skills and boundless stamina, we wish Yaqub a successful career and a place in the halls of football greatness across the globe,” Yaqub’s father, Mr Usman Malah said in a statement issued to the media, on Wednesday 8, 2025.
Man City counts 28 trophies in the last 10 yearsQNET, an Asian direct selling giant and Manchester City, a top Football club in and outside England, are celebrating 10 years of partnership with great results.
The anniversary was part of the 26th V-Malaysia Conference (VCON) at Penang in Malaysia.
The long-standing partnership will see QNET continue as Official Direct Selling Partner for City’s men’s and women’s teams, according to Techeconomy report.
This partnership marked a significant milestone in May 2018 when City welcomed QNET as the first sleeve partner in the Women’s Super League.
Throughout the next phase of this partnership QNET will continue to provide City-led football clinics to communities around the world, as well as engaging with consumers and distributors through this relationship with City.
In a message to the leaders of QNET and the 8,000 VCON participants from over 30 countries, Ferran Soriano, the chief executive officer of Manchester City FC, said they are pleased to achieve great milestones that would not have been possible without the support and the commitment of everybody at QNET, “and every single one of you. I do remember back in 2014 when I met the leadership of QNET for the first time, and we discussed our plans, our ambitions, and we promised a lot.
“We promised that Manchester City would be a great football team, and that they would play beautiful football. Now, 10 years since then, we hold 28 trophies. I have to be honest and say that when we promised we were going to do well, we didn’t think we were going to win 28 trophies.
“We’re excited now we’re starting a new season, and guess what? We want to win again, and if we do, it would be another record. Maybe we can win the fifth Premier League in a row. Obviously, something that hasn’t happened before. I can promise that we will fight for all the trophies like you fight for all your objectives. Manchester City and QNET have the incredible power to engage people from every country, create a sense of community and empower individuals and teams to achieve their aspirations”.
He promised Manchester City’s support to the QNET brand to achieve even more successes in the coming years.
Trevor Kuna, the CEO of QNET said that the partnership with Manchester City has made positive impacts on the business.
QNET’s grass-roots business model enables ordinary people from all walks of life to start their own business with minimal overhead.
With hard work and dedication, QNET distributors, known as Independent Representatives (IRs) have the opportunity to become economically self-sufficient, raising the standard of life for their families and communities.
QNET is driven by two important philosophies: RYTHM (Raise Yourself to Help Mankind) and InService.
Meanwhile, the highlight of the QNET and Manchester City celebration was the presentation of a 10-year partnership anniversary plaque by John Kirton, senior partnership marketing manager, Manchester City Football Club to the QNET team.
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