Sports

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos became the first defender to score in two UEFA Champions League finals on Saturday night, and, in doing so, he equalled a record held by Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi.

The Spaniard opened the scoring to help Los Blancos go 1-0 up against crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid, before Yannick Carrasco equalised for the Rojiblancos in the second half, with Real eventually claiming the title after emerging victorious from a penalty shootout.

As a result, Ramos became the fifth player to have scored in two UEFA Champions League finals, and has now scored in as many finals as Eto'o (2006 and 2009) and Messi (2009 and 2011).

Overall, there are only five players who have scored in two finals since the inception of the new Champions League format in 1992 – the other two are Cristiano Ronaldo (2008 with Man Utd & 2014 with Real) and Raul Gonzalez (2000 & 2002).

Daniele Massaro (AC Milan, 1994), Karl-Heinz Riedle (Dortmund, 1997), Hernan Crespo (AC Milan, 2005), Filippo Inzaghi (AC Milan, 2007) and Diego Milito (Inter Milan, 2010) all scored two goals in a single Champions League final.

Real legend Alfredo Di Stefano still holds the record for hitting the back of the net in the most European Cup – the predecessor of the Champions League – finals, having scored in five for Los Blancos (in 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, and 1960).

Soccer Laduma

Details

Rita Akana

31.May.2016

Hits: 2582

A stunning injury-time free-kick from Dimitri Payet gave France a 3-2 friendly victory over Cameroon in Nantes on Monday.

The West Ham midfielder curled a shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa just two minutes after the visitors had levelled the match at 2-2.

Blaise Matuidi's volley following a fine run from Kingsley Coman had put the hosts in front before Vincent Aboubakar levelled just two minutes later for a Cameroon side who posed a consistent threat on the break.

Olivier Giroud was booed by some supporters outside the Stade de la Beajouire, with several making their frustrations over Karim Benzema's omission quite clear, but he responded with a fine finish from a Paul Pogba cross for hishis fifth goal in four starts to put France ahead.

Giroud missed a good chance for a second but was given a largely warm reception when he was replaced by Andre-Pierre Gignac just after the hour, as France began to push forward in earnest in search of a goal to safeguard their third win in a row.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting equalised against the run of play in the 88th minute after a Laurent Koscielny error but Payet's superb strike secured a third win in a row for Didier Deschamps' side, who face Scotland on Saturday in a final Euro 2016 warm-up game.

The home side began brightly but Cameroon almost snatched the lead with 13 minutes played, Hugo Lloris forced to make a fine one-handed stop low to his left after Karl Toko Ekambi cut infield and aimed for the far corner.

France went ahead on 20 minutes with their first moment of real attacking quality. Coman skipped away from Edgar Salli down the left and clipped the ball towards the penalty spot, where Matuidi was on hand to volley left-footed past Ondoa.

But the lead lasted just two minutes. Nyom made amends for his earlier sluggish defending by drilling a fine low cross towards the six-yard box, and Aboubakar arrived unchallenged at the near post to turn the ball beneath Lloris.

Pogba spurned a great chance to put France back ahead, flashing a header wide of the right-hand post when unmarked 12 yards out, but Giroud made sure of an advantage before the break.

Juventus star Pogba created space down the right before bending a superb cross towards the penalty spot, and Giroud steered a stylish first-time finish past Ondoa.

The Arsenal man was thwarted by Ondoa just before the hour mark after bustling his way into the penalty area, prompting a few more jeers from sections of the crowd, and Pogba saw a curling effort superbly clawed away by the 20-year-old goalkeeper before N'Golo Kante drilled the rebound wide.

Substitute Cabaye was denied by a sprawling Ondoa when picked out by a fine Payet pass, and they were hit with a sucker-punch a minute later, as Koscielny's slip allowed Choupo-Moting to latch onto Anatole Abang's pass and slot past Lloris.

But Payet had the final word, curling a fantastic free-kick beyond the reach of Ondoa from 25 yards out to secure the win.

Details

Rita Akana

30.May.2016

Hits: 2141

The Director of Aspire Football Dreams Project, Cameroon, Thomas Nkono is urging young boys of 13 years to registration for the Aspire Football Dreams Project to try their luck at grabbing a scholarship that would enable them to realize their dream of becoming professional footballers while going to school or learning a trade.

The Project in its eighth edition in Cameroon was launched in March would be closed by the end of June with coordinators in 40 sites expected to register about 704 children each all over the national territory making a total of 28,160 for a pre-test.

Following the pre-test, the 176 players selected would be divided into 16 teams to play 8 matches at the end of June from which 30 players would be selected to take part in the finals in Yaoundé in July.

To ensure professionalism and objectivity in the selection, two groups of coaches from Europe and Qatar would oversee the finals for the selection of two or three players and the best player from Cameroon would be announced.

As is the tradition, former Director of FC Barcelone Training Centre who doubles as the Director of Aspire Football Dreams Qatar who detected Lionel Messi, Jeffren Suarez, Perdro Roderiguez Ledesma would be present at the finals.

The selected players are expected to spend about three weeks in Qatar to participate in the world finals with other selected players from 14 countries.

Youths from Aspire, FC Barcleone and other European teams invited to the grand finale in Qatar.

Details

Rita Akana

30.May.2016

Hits: 2359

Bamenda’s Yong Sports Academy YOSA this Sunday May 29, 2016 joined 17 other teams across Cameroon to open the second round of the professional football league one. At the Ngandjui Gason stadium in Bafang, Lion Blesse was programmed to receive YOSA. The appointment was kept with Sama keneth deputy coach for YOSA leading a 21man delegation to the Haut Nkam Division West Region. After 25mins of play, a classical assist from Nkwenti Festus will give Kongnyuy Jude team captain for YOSA an opportunity to get the opener.

Few minutes to the end of the first half, Lion Blesse got an opportunity from a sport kick from an unsporting conduct that hit the cross bar and was pushed away by goal keeper Mbem Leopold of YOSA. Despite exhausting all substitution chances, both teams fail to get a goal during the second 45minutes thus giving YOSA the privilege of clinching the precious three points of the day.

Talking to the press Sama Keneth, Sama Keneth maintained that he remains in his deputizing function despite obtaining a clean sheet in four matches in the absence of his boss Ndumbe Bosso who was out of the country for a refresher course in the area in question.

Ndumbe who watched the game from the tribune joined the team to Bamenda and is expected to go back to work on Monday May 30 to begin preparations ahead of the day 19 fixture against APEJES of Nfou. YOSA left Bafang with three points moving their tally to 31 in 18matches. Considering all nine matches played, the YOSA is now ranked third. Lion Blesse with 16 points stays on spot 16. Here are other results recorded across the country

Details

Bakah Derick

29.May.2016

Hits: 2020