27 Sports Monday, June 24, 2019 Nigeria need late Ighalo goal to break down debutants Burundi Nigeria’s Kalu ‘stable’ after collapsing in training ALEXANDRIA: Nigeria needed a late goal from sub- Samuel Chukwueze and Alex Iwobi although most stitute Odion Ighalo to claim a 1-0 win over a brave crosses were cut out by the Burundi defense. Paul Burundi side playing their first-ever match at the Africa Onuachu was closest in the 14th minute with a header Cup of Nations on Saturday. Ighalo, set free by Ola which forced a good save by Jonathan Nahimana. Aina’s clever flicked pass, side-footed the ball past Nigeria replaced captain John Obi Mikel with Ahmed Burundi goalkeeper Jonathan Nahimana in the 77th Musa just before the hour in a bid to add to some minute, four minutes after coming on in the opening speed to the attack but they continued to fail to make Group B match. the final pass count. However, one moment of inspira- It was tough on Burundi who refused to be over- tion settled the game. Aina wrong-footed the Burundi awed and enjoyed slightly the better of the first half, defense with his backheeled pass and left Ighalo to with Frederic Nsabiyumva heading against the cross- place a perfect finish wide of the goalkeeper. bar from a set-piece. “We couldn’t have produced a In another development, Nigeria forward Samuel better performances because Burundi were very Kalu is in a “stable condition” after collapsing during organized,” said Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr. “We training due to dehydration, the Egyptian Football knew Burundi were unbeaten in the qualifiers, and we Association said, amid a sweltering start to the Africa knew the first matches would be difficult. These teams Cup of Nations. “The health situation of Nigeria’s play- don’t have anything to lose, they know us and know er Samuel Kalu is stable after undergoing the neces- how to organize against us.” sary medical tests following his fall during his team’s Fearless and uninhibited, Burundi gave as good as training due to a heart muscle failure,” the Egyptian FA they got in an entertaining first half as they forced wrote in a statement. Daniel Akpeyi to make two difficult saves and hit the The Bordeaux player was suffering from “dehy- crossbar. Cedric Amissi had Burundi’s first chance dration after losing a large quantity of fluids” on when he latched onto a ball sent over the top of the Friday, it added, before stating that Kalu “is in a Nigeria defense and unleashed a powerful volley which stable condition and can play” against Burundi in Akpeyi did well to block. Akpeyi was also tested by Alexandria on Saturday. It is the first time the tour- Gael Bigirimana’s swerving 30-metre free kick, before nament is being played across June and July, with a looping Frederic Nsabiyumva header from a set- temperatures in Egypt expected to hover between piece bounced off the top of the crossbar. 35 and 38 Celsius (95-100.4 Fahrenheit) over the ALEXANDRIA: Nigeria’s players celebrate their victory during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) football Nigeria were dangerous down the flanks with next month. —Agencies match between Nigeria and Burundi at Alexandria Stadium on June 22, 2019. — AFP penalty. Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese made amends Briefs Clinical and ruthless for giving it away by saving Jesus’s spot-kick. “We car- ried on creating chances even at 5-0,” said assistant coach Cleber Xavier. Captain Alves said Brazil Brazil please coach improved in every match during the pool stage. “We’re Real eye women’s team improving: from the first to the second, to the third MADRID: Real Madrid will launch a women’s team SAO PAULO: Brazil coach Tite praised his team’s match,” said the Paris Saint-Germain full-back. effectiveness as the hosts stormed into the Copa which will compete in the top flight from next season, The manner of victory also allowed Brazil to get Spanish media reported. Spanish newspaper El Pais America quarter-finals as Group A winners following back in the good books of a notoriously demanding said Madrid have purchased CD Tacon, based in the Saturday’s 5-0 thrashing of Peru. Brazil had been public. They were jeered at half-time against Bolivia in Spanish capital who have won promotion to the Liga jeered by their own fans in their opening two pool a match they went on to win 3-0. And the boo-boys Iberdrola, for 400,000 euros. The club will be matches - a 3-0 win over Bolivia and 0-0 draw with were back for their goalless stalemate with Venezuela. absorbed by the 13-times European champions and will Venezuela - but it was all cheers in Sao Paulo as they “When you manage to score a goal, it calms you down train and play at Real’s training ground. Madrid secured top spot. “We were creative, precise, clinical and gives you continuity for the rest of the match,” declined to comment on the reports. Real have long and effective,” enthused Tite. “It was one of the best” said Alves. “And when the goal doesn’t come, it seems been criticized for not having a women’s team while matches during his reign in terms of keeping the ball to create anxiety.” For Peru, they now face a tense wait their biggest rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid reg- and getting in behind the defense, he added. to find out if they will make it into the knock-out ularly compete for titles. — Reuters And he recognized that it was the Selecao’s fast stages. start that made the difference, taking the lead after just Venezuela leapfrogged them with a 3-1 win over 12 minutes through Casemiro. “Since we scored in the Bolivia and Peru are now hoping to finish as one of the first half we had to maintain that tempo,” he said. “We two best third-placed teams. Jefferson Farfan said “it Kuwait to host GCC Games kept the same attitude and we were still creating was one of the toughest” matches of his life, but worse chances in the 47th minute of the second half.” The still for goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, whose horror gaffe KUWAIT: Head of the organizing committee for GCC game was over as a contest by half time after further cost Peru the second goal. He was also partially at fault women’s Games Sheikha Naima Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- goals from Roberto Firmino and Everton. for the first and third and gaveaway the late penalty. SAO PAULO: Brazil’s coach Tite is pictured during the Sabah said on Saturday that the sixth session of Gulf A Dani Alves strike early in the second half piled “The whole team spoke with Gallese, he’s calm, he has Copa America football tournament group match women sports would begin next October in Kuwait. In more misery on Peru and even after Willian scored in everyone’s support,” said Farfan. “Obviously we all against Peru at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on a news statement, Sheikh Naima added that competi- the last minute, Gabriel Jesus won a stoppage time made mistakes. Everyone played badly today.” —AFP June 22, 2019. — AFP tion would possibly include equestrianism, with the aim of developing women’s role in sports. The competition includes so far 10 games except for equestrianism. Kuwait hosted the first edition of GCC women’s Games Giampaolo hope to in 2008, under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Uruguay and Chile Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. —KUNA turn clock back for set for high-stakes fallen giants Milan WCup in ASEAN’s sights Copa America clash BANGKOK: Southeast Asian nations could launch a MILAN: New AC Milan coach Marco Giampaolo said joint bid to host the 2034 World Cup, Thailand’s foreign Saturday he was ready to seize the opportunity to turn RIO DE JANEIRO: Fireworks could be in store when minister said Saturday, a bold play to bring the biggest the clock back for former European greats AC Milan reigning champions Chile and record 15-time winners sporting show on earth to a football-mad region for the days before taking over at the San Siro. The 51-year- Uruguay meet in the Copa America today at Rio de first time. The only Asian hosts of the World Cup so far old former Sampdoria boss replaces Gennaro Gattuso Janeiro’s Maracana stadium. It will be the fourth edi- have been Japan and South Korea, in 2002. China is widely seen as the next Asian frontrunner to hold the on a two-year deal reported to be worth two million tion running of the oldest continental competition in tournament, with its massive sporting market, wealth euros ($2.2 million) annually. international football in which the South American and infrastructure to match. But the 10-country “I worked really hard to get this chance,” Giampaolo, rivals meet and memories are still fresh of the contro- Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc, who will take over on July 1, told Milan TV. “Milan are versy surrounding their stormy 2015 clash. meeting in Bangkok this weekend, is keen to steal a the most successful and one of the most important Uruguay, then the reigning champions, finished the march on the regional superpower. “Government sec- clubs in Europe. This is a great opportunity for me. quarter-final encounter in Santiago with nine men tors think this can happen... 15 years from now,” “Milan’s history speaks of a club that always sought the after Edinson Cavani and Jorge Fucile were given Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai told reporters after beauty in football and the aesthetics along with the their marching orders in a 1-0 defeat.