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FIFA World Cup qualifiers: Argentina Suffer Shocking Loss Against Paraguay

FIFA World Cup qualifiers: Argentina Suffer Shocking Loss Against Paraguay

Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Brazil’s Vinicius Junior had frustrating nights in South American World Cup qualifying. While Messi could not help his team avoid a 2-1 defeat at Paraguay, Vinicius Junior missed a second-half penalty as Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw at Venezuela on Thursday.

Argentina will remain on the top of the 10-team round robin competition with 22 points in 11 matches. Brazil are provisionally in third place in the standings with 17 points.

Also, on Thursday, Ecuador beat Bolivia 4-0. The Ecuadorians remain in fifth position with 16 points, while Bolivia are in eighth place with 12 points.

The 11th round of South American World Cup qualifying will continue on Friday with second-place Colombia visiting Uruguay and the bottom two teams in the standings, Peru and Chile, facing off in Lima.

Argentina played in Paraguay with the hosts having banned local fans from wearing any Messi shirts in the home crowd. TV footage of the match in Asuncion showed that the vast majority of the local crowd was wearing Paraguay’s red and white colours, with no Messi shirts visible in the local broadcasts.

Messi had few opportunities to touch the ball during the first half, but saw Lautaro Martinez open the scoring in the 11th minute with a crossed shot. The goal was allowed after a video review.

Paraguay scored the equaliser with a bicycle kick by Antonio Sanabria in the 19th minute, shortly after defender Gustavo Gomez hit the bar with a header.

The hosts continued to apply pressure, and gave the Argentine star some heavy marking. Messi showed he was upset with Brazilian referee Anderson Daronco for not sending off Paraguay’s Omar Alderete for his aggressive tackles.

It was Alderete who scored Paraguay’s winner with a header in the 47th minute, which put Paraguay back in contention for a spot in the next World Cup.

Vinicius Junior is still without a goal in six matches of World Cup qualifying.

He had the chance to score a potential winner after he earned the penalty in the 67th minute but his low spot kick was saved by goalkeeper Rafael Romo and the Brazil forward then shot wide from the rebound.

Brazil had the best chances in the first half, with Vinicius hitting the post once after dribbling three Venezuelans and shooting from the edge of the box. But it was Raphinha who opened the scoring from a free kick in the 43rd minute.

Venezuela brought on 21-year-old Telasco Segovia at half time and the substitution had an immediate effect as he equalised in the 46th minute with a powerful shot from the edge of the box.

Venezuela went down to 10 men in the 89th minute after Alexander Gonzalez was sent off for hitting both Gabriel Martinelli and Vinicius Junior in the face.

Ecuador beat Bolivia with goals by Enner Valencia (26th minute), Gonzalo Plata (28th and 49th) and Alan Minda (61st).

 

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U-13 JOF Kids Cup: B.Unit Boys To Battle Versity Boys In Final

All roads lead to the Sports Centre of the University of Lagos in Akoka, Yaba, Lagos as the final ceremony of the 5th edition of JOF U-13 Cup

 

Finalists have emerged in the ongoing 6th edition of the U-13 JOF Kids Cup Championship.

After gruelling two semi final crackers on Saturday at the Ojo Oniyun playground in Ebute Metta, Lagos, B. Unit Boys of Lagos Island and Versity Boys also from Lagos Island will slug it for the star prize on Sunday 27 April 2025.

The two finalists indeed justified their places in the final judging from their performance since the first blast of whistle in the grassroots football tournament a few weeks ago.

It was not surprising, however, to see B.Unit Boys triumph over Strong Dove of Orile after they both played 2-2 in the regulation time. The penalty shootouts ended 4-2i n favout of the winners.

Versity Boys on the hand beat First Class Boys 3-1 to book a ticket in the final.

The third place match will see Strong Dove taking on First Class Boys.

The U-13 JOF Kids Cup Tournament is organised by the Lagos State Grassroots Football Association and sponsored by JOF Nigeria Limited, a wholly indigenous Nigerian company, which prides itself in the development of talent of the Nigerian youth.

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NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko to Declare Niger Delta Sports Festival Open, as Commission Backs Initiative

 

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has thrown its full support behind the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF), recognizing the event as a significant platform for discovering and nurturing emerging sporting talent.

The Chairman of the NSC, Shehu Dikko, will officially declare the festival open, underscoring the Commission’s commitment to promoting grassroots sports development across every region in Nigeria.

Speaking ahead of the Festival, Bukola Olopade, Director General of the NSC, praised the initiative and called on more states to adopt similar programs to expand Nigeria’s talent pool.

“The Niger Delta Sports Festival represents a vital platform for discovering and nurturing raw talent,” Olopade stated.

“We encourage more states to adopt similar initiatives to expand the talent pool and strengthen Nigeria’s sporting future.”

In a major boost for the event, the NDSF on Friday unveiled PremiumTrust Bank as the official bank of the festival.

The event is scheduled to take place from April 1 to 8 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, bringing together athletes from across the region to compete in various sporting disciplines.

The Niger Delta Sports Festival aims to showcase budding talents, foster regional unity, and promote youth engagement in sports.

 

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JOF Kids Cup: Strong Dove, B. Unit Boys, Versity Boys, First Class Boys Lock Horns In Saturday’s Semi Finals 

JOF U-13 Cup: Teams Battle For Final Tickets

 

The battles from the final tickets among the last set of four teams of the ongoing 6th U-13 JOF Kids Cup now shifted to Ojo Oniyun playground, Ebute Metta, Lagos on Saturday.

This is coming after the Round of 8 matches were decided at the Lekki playground and Ojo Oniyun playground on Wednesday.

Strong Dove of Orile beat Miracle FC of Ijesha 1-0 to book a place in the semi finals, while B. Unit Boys from Mainland stopped Oloto Babes in tension-soaked tie that ended 3-2 at Lekki playground.

Versity Boys of Lagos Island ran away victory with 4-3 goals during the penalty shootouts after they had played a 1-1 game in the regulation time against ThankGod Boys of Oko Baba, while First Class Boys from Lagos Island beat Solution Boys 4-2.

According to the semi final fixtures released to the media by organisers, Lagos State Football Association, Strong Dove will settle scores against B. Unit Boys in the first semi-final tie, which kicks off by 12 noon, while Versity Boys will go to war against First Class Boys in the second semi final game on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Ojo Oniyun playground, Ebute Metta will be agog on Saturday with more spectators expected to watch the matches than any other day since the tournament began a few weeks ago.

The Lagos State Football Association, the joint organisers of the competition, has invited members of the JOF Under-13 Soccer Tournament Committee to watch the kids displaying their God-given talent on the field of play.

The U-13 JOF Kids Cup is sponsored by JOF Nigeria Limited, a wholly indigenous Nigerian company, which prides itself in the development of talent of the Nigerian youth.

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