Author: Brila

REIGNING WORLD CHAMPIONS Germany will not defend their crown after been eliminated at the World Cup group stages following a 2-0 defeat to South Korea. Deep into the six minutes of added time, Korea took the lead through a Young Gwon-Kim finish which was initially chalked off for offside but later awarded following a VAR review. With Manuel Neuer upfield, the Koreans snatched another with mere seconds remaining as Heung-Min Son tucked the ball into an empty net sparking wild celebrations among the already-eliminated Koreans. Mexico, who beat Germany 1-0 in their opening fixture, have joined table-toppers Sweden…

Super Eagles Captain John Mikel Obi has expressed his profound gratitude to Nigerians following the massive support received by the Eagles during their Russia 2018 World Cup campaign. The Super Eagles started their World Cup campaign on Thursday, 16th June and ended on 26th June when they lost the final group game to Argentina. Mikel took to his Social media page to express their immense appreciation. Below are the excerpts from Social media: We fought until the end and we are all hurting with you. Your support has driven us throughout the World Cup and we cannot thank you enough.…

Naby Keita has been allocated the No.8 jersey for Liverpool – and the midfielder has revealed how he was left astounded when Steven Gerrard handed it over to him. The 23-year-old, who will formally complete his transfer to the Reds on Sunday, July 1, will become the first player to wear the number since May 2015, when Gerrard left the club for LA Galaxy. And Keita has revealed how he was surprised by the Anfield legend – then the club’s U18s manager – on his first visit to Melwood last August once the club had agreed on a…

Super Eagles Goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa will be heading back home from Russia with Lionel Messi’s Matchday shirt, after failing to taste any World Cup action. Ezenwa received Lionel Messi’s shirt after the Eagles painful loss to the South Americans in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday Night. Messi scored a stunning goal against Nigeria to break the deadlock – and open his account for the tournament – before Marcos Rojo bagged a late winner to book their spot in the last-16 of the World Cup. At the full-time whistle, there was a complete contrast of emotions. As the Argentina stars celebrated…

Coach Hector Cuper has left his role as Egypt Manager after they were knocked out of the World Cup at the group stage without picking a single point. Cuper led Egypt their first World Cup finals for 28 years, finished bottom of Group A and failed to pick up a point. A 1-0 defeat by Uruguay was followed by 3-1 loss to Russia and ended with Monday’s 2-1 defeat by Saudi Arabia. The 62-year-old Cuper’s contract with the Egyptian Football Association has ended and it is reported that he will not be getting a contract renewal.

Super Eagles forward Odion Ighalo has tendered his sincere apology to Nigerians over his missed chances cost Nigeria a massive defeat against Argentina on Tuesday Night. In a chat with www.brila.net after the encounter in Saint Petersburg, Ighalo said he is indeed sorry for the missed chances even though it was a teamwork. Ighalo missed a one-on-one seven minutes from time, with Armani keeping out the shot down low, and Etebo then sent a free-kick into the side-netting as the South Americans were left badly exposed at the back. “Playing in the World Cup is the dream of…

Former Super Eagles defender Ifeanyi Udeze has insisted that Marcos Rojo’s handball in the Argentina box during the Group D’s World Cup final match is a clear penalty. Rojo headed the ball onto his own hand in the box after a Super Eagles cross from the left flank before Odion Ighalo shot wide. Referee Cuneyt Cakir consulted the VAR and deemed the incident unworthy of a penalty, and 10 minutes later, Rojo struck a late winner for the Albiceleste to put them second in Group D at Nigeria’s expense. “It was a clear penalty for me,” Udeze who was in the Stadium spoke to Nigerians via…

Le Abiceleste of Argentina Skipper Lionel Messi has admitted they suffered a great deal against Nigeria before they could go into the knockout stage. Messi opened scoring for the South Americans after 14 minutes with a superb goal and he was named Man of the Match. “We suffered a lot, we did not expect to suffer this much and so it was a huge relief when we scored the winner,” he said. “It was a difficult match, but fortunately we went through.” Coach Jorge Sampaoli praised the courage of his team. “The players were really…

Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr has shifted focus to winning the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations after leading the Eagles to an early exit at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Nigeria’s elimination is the third group stage elimination from the global football showpiece since they made their debut in 1994, where they reached the knock-out stages. And although the 64-year-old Rohr admitted that his side put in their best in the tourney, he has expressed his displeasure for their failure to move to the next round of the competition. After admitting a lack of experience, the…

Lionel Messi said on Tuesday he had not expected to suffer so much against Nigeria, but that he and his Argentina teammates were always confident about winning the crucial World Cup clash. The Barcelona forward opened the scoring with a fine goal in the dramatic 2-1 win over Nigeria that sent the South Americans through to the knockout stages behind Croatia in Group D. “We already knew we were going to win, we were confident that God would help us, that all would turn out well. But we did not expect the complication of the draw, of suffering so much,”…