Sports
SuperSport To ReLive Zambia’s Emotional And Triumphant AFCON Success
SuperSport said it will Re-Live Zambia’s emotional and triumphant African Cup Of Nation (AFCON) victory against Ivory Coast on Saturday.
This will go to a whole new level on Saturday 30 May when SuperSport pays tribute to the emotional and triumphant 2012 Africa Cup of Nations success of Zambia with a special broadcast.
Hosted by anchors Lwazi Ziqubi and Thomas ‘TK’ Kwenaite, this programme will feature contributions, live via Zoom and Skype, from 2012 AFCON winning coach Herve Renard, Former FAZ President Kalusha Bwalya, 2012 AFCON Zambia captain Christopher Katongo and others.
Zambia’s run to glory at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations was one of the most fascinating and compelling narratives of the continental tournament, with Herve Renard’s team seemingly pulled along by destiny in paying honour to members of the Zambian team which were killed in a plane crash in 1993 near Libreville, Gabon – the venue for the 2012 AFCON final.
Chipolopolo, led by inspirational skipper Christopher Katongo, defied the odds from the start, topping Group A ahead of co-hosts Equatorial Guinea, Libya and Senegal, before trouncing Sudan in the quarterfinals and then narrowly squeezing past one of the tournament favourites, Ghana, in the semifinals.
The final saw them come up against a star-studded Ivory Coast team (featuring legends of the African game such as Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba), but Zambia held firm and ultimately triumphed in a dramatic penalty shootout, with defender Stophira Sunzu scoring the decisive kick for an 8-7 triumph.
It was Zambia’s first Africa Cup of Nations trophy and truly one of the most heart-warming and incredible football narratives of the 21st century.
“The spirit of that team really made the difference and I was fortunate to coach a Zambia squad bursting with fantastic players who oozed confidence and possessed commitment in abundance” said Renard on that Zambia 2012 squad.
The French coach also paid tribute to Zambian football legend Kalusha Bwalya, who was in charge of the Football Association of Zambia at the time: “To say that Zambia football is Kalusha Bwalya is an understatement. Wherever Zambia is mentioned in the world, football-loving people would instantly think of Kalusha. The 2012 team certainly regarded him as a model and symbol of national pride. They never disappointed him and, of course, he was with us every step of the way. Personally, I relate with him quite well, and I have every reason to do so.”
In the wake of the 2012 triumph, Chipolopolo talisman Katongo was named the BBC’s African Footballer of the Year. “This is a fantastic moment for me. I thank the people who voted for me. It is something I will never forget in my career,” he explained. “This means a lot for the young people and the young players who look up to me. I could not have achieved this without the support of my teammates.”
…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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