Sports
Mane and Salah complete comeback after Sane stunner in New York
Sadio Mane’s stoppage time penalty completed a fine comeback win for Liverpool in New York.
While Mohamed Salah scored within 70 seconds of his introduction to hit the goal trail again.
Salah netted 44 times last season and he picked up where he left off as he headed home within two minutes of coming on against Pep’s pups.
He turned the game single-handedly and Manchester City ’s rookie defence could not cope with him as he was denied a second by a goalline clearance.
Leroy Sane showed he is over his World Cup disappointment by coolly finishing to give City the lead on 57 minutes before Salah struck six minutes later.
Both sides had chances to score more and Liverpool’s teenage keeper Caiomhin Kelleher saved brilliantly from Sane, while 17-year-old Curtis Jones headed just over for the Reds.
And the Reds snatched the win at the death after a dominant spell, with Mane burying the penalty after Dominic Solanke was fouled.
1. Mohamed Salah is back with a bang
Salah needed just 70 seconds to announce his return when he came off the bench to score Liverpool’s equaliser against Manchester City.
The Egypt star got a huge cheer when he came on and showed no ill effects for his shoulder injury in the Champions League Final when he headed home. The crowd inside the MetLife Stadium loved it and for many of them he was the reason they had come.
They chanted his name, willing him to score again. Salah only returned to pre-season training on Friday and Jurgen Klopp will be delighted to see the double Player of the Year pick up where he left off last season.
2. Loew clanger confirmed
What a clanger Joachim Loew dropped by not taking Leroy Sane to the World Cup.
Germany lacked pace and width as they embarrassingly crashed out of the tournament in the group phase. Sane has both of those qualities – and an eye for goal as he demonstrated against Liverpool.
Bernardo Silva played him in with a lovely defence-splitting pass and he left Virgil van Dijk for dead to race through and finish expertly.
How Loew could have done with Sane in Russia, but Germany’s loss is most certainly Manchester City’s gain and the winger will play a big part in the opening of the Blues’ title defence with so many of their World Cup players still building up their fitness.
3. Shake it off
Taylor Swift struck a wrong note with Liverpool and City. The US singer is to blame for the poor state of the pitch at the MetLife Stadium.
The grass surface was only put down at 5am on Tuesday after Taylor Swift performed here at the weekend. The grass was in terrible condition with patches of sand everywhere. Quite a bit of rain had also fallen on it and the ball skidded on the surface.
Neither Jurgen Klopp nor Pep Guardiola will be surprised to learn that the pitch will be ripped up after this match and a new one will be laid for Real Madrid’s friendly against Roma here on August 7. Let’s hope they get it sorted for the World Cup Final here in eight years’ time.
4. America’s love affair with the Premier League appears to be on the wane
The days when Manchester United played in front of a US-record crowd of 110,000 seem a long time ago. Even they, with their global appeal, have not come close to selling out their games.
Indeed, their match against AC Milan was switched from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena to the smaller StubHub in Carson because of poor ticket sales.
Liverpool and Manchester City have also struggled to attract big crowds and the 52,635 crowd was 30,000 short of capacity. Perhaps the Premier League should give the US a break next summer and let the interest in it grow again.
5. Curtis Jones could be Liverpool’s latest homegrown talent
Jones caught the eye with his energy and confidence against City. Despite being 17, the attacking midfielder was not overawed about playing on such a big stage.
But then Jones does not appear fazed by anything and he made his Under-23s debut in January and began training with the senior squad towards the end of last season.
He had a taste of the big time when Klopp named him on the bench for the Merseyside derby. Jones headed over from one chance and appealed in vain for a penalty when he went down under a challenge from Cameron Humphreys. He is definitely one to keep an eye on.
Former Arsenal star, Jack Wilshere, has sent a message to the Gunners ahead of their UEFA Champions League final with Paris Saint-Germain.
Arsenal will take on the French Ligue 1 giants in the Champions League final this year in Budapest on Saturday evening.
Mikel Arteta’s side had lost 3-1 on aggregate against PSG in the Champions League semi-final stage last year.
Speaking on TNT Sports (via GOAL), Wilshere remembered Arsenal about their last year’s defeat to PSG and urged them to use it as a revenge to get a win against Luis Enrique’s side when both sides meet again this weekend.
“Now that the Premier League is over the line, I know that the Premier League was the one. I know that Mikel wanted that. I know that the boys wanted that,” Wilshere said.
“Now you have to go through some tough times and learn from it. I hope that the Champions League semi-final [PSG 3-1 Arsenal] last year hurt them enough that they can go on and use that [against PSG].
“I think when you are on the pitch, and you are playing against your direct opponent, you learn so much about them. And to face them next year, they will be better for that.”
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.
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