Sports
Lionel Messi goal felt like a hammer blow but Chelsea have recovered from self-inflicted setbacks against Barcelona before
It felt like a hammer blow, felt like it should be some sort of defining moment in another epic tie between these clubs.
Self-inflicted setbacks always feel like that, always seem to promise crueller repercussions, always seem to have greater significance.
That is why despondency was etched deep, not just into Andreas Christensen’s features but into Antonio Conte’s, into the outstanding Willian’s, into the thousands who poured from the Bridge deflated.
A solitary defensive aberration, punished by the regal composure of Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi, means the odds now favour Barcelona’s progression to the last eight. Of course they do.
Yet not only can Chelsea go into battle brandishing a record of eight games against Barcelona without defeat, not only do you have to go back a dozen years for their last reverse in the Nou Camp, there was enough in this captivating opening leg to give Conte considerable grounds for optimism.
Willian’s performance, for a start.
In a first half which featured territorial domination form Barcelona but a marked reluctance and inability to get Thibaut Courtois involved, sweetly-struck Willian efforts hit an upright apiece.
On both occasions, Marc-Andre ter Stegen was statically powerless as first his left and then his right post came to the Barcelona keeper’s assistance.
Willian was the wild card in Conte’s pack, one cutting run from deep ended only by the naked cynicism of Ivan Rakitic.
That is why it was no surprise when he sent Chelsea ahead.
Despite the clanging warnings of the first half, Willian was allowed to linger in his own exclusion zone just outside the penalty area for a corner.
When it reached him, via Hazard, there was only one item on the agenda and it was a finish that will get better with every viewing.
The dart to the side of Sergio Busquets gave him the room, the inside of his right boot did the rest, bending his hit around Rakitic and around colleague Antonio Rudiger.
It will go down as a finish in keeping with Willian’s status as a Chelsea performer – under-rated.
Willian has to be a key factor in Conte’s gameplan in the Nou Camp in three weeks’ time.
His fantastic contribution here would have been of even greater significance had Christensen not inexplicably sent a defensive cross-field pass into the path of Iniesta who eluded a desperate and ill-advised Cesar Azpilicueta and not only teed up Messi’s duck-breaking strike, but teed up what should be an epic second leg in Barcelona.
It should not be one that Chelsea approach with a lack of confidence despite Messi’s equaliser and despite some indifferent domestic form.
Possession and heat map-wise, it will be more of the same but with 73 percent of the ball here and with 887 passes to Chelsea’s 325, Barcelona had four fewer attempts at goal.
Even with Messi’s ball-on-remote-control brilliance, there was a distinct lack of incisiveness in this Barcelona display and even saddled with the thankless task of being a false nine, Eden Hazard showed enough to suggest he will be a considerable threat on the Catalan counter.
Likewise Willian, who might actually have headed off Barca’s comeback had he found N’Golo Kante at the end of one particularly threatening breakaway.
But this was, unsurprisingly, a contest of fine margins, just as the renewal in Barcelona is likely to be, just as it was back in 2012 when Chelsea, with ten men after the dismissal of John Terry, recovered from two goals down to draw and go through to the Champions League final.
Examples of recovering from self-inflicted setbacks do not come much starker than that.
Similar heroics will be required next month but for all the despondency after one costly moment, do not put those heroics past them.
Captain of the Super Falcons, Rasheedat Ajibade, has said the team is determined to become the best women’s football team in the world.
Ajibade spoke yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a reception hosted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in honour of the Falcons following their victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The Nigerian ladies clinched their 10th continental title after a hard-fought campaign, further cementing their status as Africa’s most successful women’s team.
Ajibade, in an emotional speech, said the team’s goal goes beyond continental glory.
“We’re not content to rest on our laurels. Our vision is bold. We want to become the best women’s football team in the world,” the Atletico Madrid star said.
She described herself as “a proud daughter of Nigeria” and paid tribute to the dreams of young girls across the country who look up to the team.
“This victory is not just a trophy. It is a testament to the unyielding spirit of Nigeria. It is a celebration of every young girl in our villages, towns, and cities who dares to dream,” she said.
Ajibade, who spoke on behalf of the team, coaches, and technical crew, thanked the Federal Government for its support and appealed for continued investment in women’s football.
President Tinubu, in his address, conferred national honours of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on all 24 players and the 11-member technical crew.
The President also approved the allocation of three-bedroom apartments to each team member under the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme and a cash reward of the naira equivalent of $100,000 for each player, while members of the technical team received $50,000 each.
He praised the Falcons for lifting the nation’s spirit and inspiring unity through their performance.
“You have inspired millions, especially young girls who now see proof that their dreams are valid and achievable,” Tinubu said.
“You have inspired me too. You represent the hope of today, tomorrow, and the day after. You ignited that hope. And we will continue to encourage you and the next generation.”
The President said the Falcons’ WAFCON victory was not just a sporting feat but a symbol of the courage, discipline and resilience that define Nigerians.
“Your victory represents more than a sporting accomplishment. It is a triumph of courage, determination, discipline, and consistency,” he said.
The reception was attended by top government officials, sports administrators, and stakeholders in the football community.
A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has congratulated the Super Falcons on their historic 3-2 comeback victory over hosts Morocco in the final of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.
The Falcons, who came from two goals down to seal the win in Rabat, clinched their 10th WAFCON title—further cementing their status as the most successful team in the history of the competition. Reacting to the victory, Oseni described the performance as “a warrior’s triumph that speaks volumes about the indomitable Nigerian spirit.”
In a statement issued by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele in Ibadan, the lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency said the team’s resilience should serve as a symbol of hope and unity for the entire nation. “They refused to surrender. That comeback from two goals down defines who we are as Nigerians—strong, focused, and unstoppable when united,” he said.
The Falcons had gone behind in the 13th minute when Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak capitalised on a loose ball to fire past goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie. The hosts doubled their lead through Sanaâ Mssoudy before halftime, putting Nigeria on the back foot before the break.
However, second-half goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and Jennifer Echegini turned the game on its head, securing victory for Coach Justin Madugu’s side and avenging their 2024 semi-final loss to the North Africans. Oseni also hailed Madugu’s tactical brilliance, describing him as “the architect of a new chapter in women’s football in Nigeria.”
The lawmaker who also chairs the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) joined other national figures, including President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, in celebrating the Falcons. The President had earlier taken to his verified social media accounts to praise the team’s performance, declaring, “Mission X: Complete!” while Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos, described it as a flawless display of Nigerian spirit.
Oseni urged the Falcons not to rest on their laurels but to build on the momentum ahead of their title defence and the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. “This is just the beginning. You have inspired millions of girls across the continent. Keep flying the flag and keep making Nigeria proud,” he added.
He also called on sports authorities and private stakeholders to invest more in women’s football, noting that the team’s success was proof of the untapped potential in the sector. “We have global stars in the making. Now is the time to give them the platform and support they truly deserve,” the lawmaker submitted.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons produced a thrilling comeback to defeat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Saturday, clinching their record-extending 10th continental title.
The win was sweet revenge for Justin Madugu’s side, who were eliminated by the Atlas Lionesses in the semi-finals of the previous edition.
Despite a bright start by the Falcons, it was the Moroccans who struck first in the 13th minute. A loose ball fell kindly to tournament top scorer, Ghizlane Chebbak, who rifled her effort past Chiamaka Nnadozie to hand the hosts an early lead.
Nigeria tried to respond through Ijamilusi Folashade, but her tame effort was easily gathered by Moroccan goalkeeper, Khadija Er-Rmichi.
The hosts doubled their lead in the 28th minute when Fatima Tagnaout released Sanaâ Mssoudy, who drove into the box and fired a low, left-footed strike beyond Nnadozie to make it 2-0.
Morocco maintained their advantage into the break as both sides went into the dressing room with the scoreline firmly in the hosts’ favour.
The Super Falcons returned with renewed purpose in the second half, stepping up their intensity and putting the Moroccan defence under sustained pressure.
Nigeria nearly pulled one back when a collision between Er-Rmichi and defender Nesryne El Chad almost gifted the Falcons a goal, but the Moroccan defence cleared their lines in time.
The pressure eventually paid off in the 63rd minute when a ball hooked back into the area by Ijamilusi struck the arm of defender Nouhaila Benzina, resulting in a penalty. Esther Okoronkwo stepped up and calmly converted from the spot to halve the deficit.
Eight minutes later, Okoronkwo turned provider, sprinting down the right flank before cutting back a well-timed pass for Ijamilusi, who made no mistake from close range to level the tie at 2-2.
The Falcons completed their sensational comeback in the 88th minute when Jennifer Echegini reacted quickest to a deep free-kick, stabbing home from close range to spark wild celebrations on the Nigerian bench.
The victory sees Nigeria reinforce their dominance in African women’s football, securing their 10th WAFCON title and reasserting their status as the queens of the continent.
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