Anthony Joshua is a huge favourite going into Saturday’s world heavyweight title defense against Carlos Takam but the Englishman is readying himself for a long hard battle.
Super Eagles goalkeeper Trainer has confirmed Vincent Enyeama’s return to the team is almost certain but asserts he’s not guaranteed an automatic place.
Anthony Joshua believes late stand-in Carlos Takam represents a tougher night’s work than Kubrat Pulev who pulled out just 11 days before they were due to clash in Cardiff.
Former captain and goalkeeper of the Super Eagles Vincent Enyeama have been handed a lifeline by the coach of the Lille team Marcelo Bielsa following his return from a six months injury lay off.
Anthony Joshua’s fight with Kubrat Pulev has been cancelled after the Bulgarian suffered an injury in training with Carlos Takam stepping in as a replacement.
Pulev was due to challenge for Joshua’s IBF and WBA heavyweight world titles on October 28 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium but a damaged shoulder has wrecked those plans.
Frenchman Takam, who is ranked No 3 by the IBF, on Monday night finalised a deal to step in at late notice and will enter the fight as a heavy underdog, with the 36-year-old having lost three of his 39 fights.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn said: ‘I received a call late afternoon to inform me that Pulev had injured his shoulder and maybe ruled out of the fight – this was later confirmed by his doctor. IBF rules state that the mandatory will go to the next fighter in line which is Carlos Takam.
‘When the Pulev fight was announced I made a deal with Takam’s team to begin camp and be on standby for this fight. When I called them this evening they were overjoyed and good to go.
It’s a difficult position for AJ having prepared meticulously for the style and height of Pulev, he now faces a completely different style and challenge in Takam – this hasn’t happened in his career before but he is ready for all comers on October 28.’
Pulev’s withdrawal is the latest frustration for Joshua, who was due to meet Wladimir Klitschko in a blockbuster rematch of his thrilling win in April before the Ukrainian retired.
But with more than 70,000 tickets already sold for his 20th professional fight, the show will at least go ahead. A crowd the region of 80,000 is expected, meaning the clash will break the world indoor record for a fight, last set in 1978 when Muhammad Ali fought Leon Spinks in front of 63,315 people at the at the New Orleans Superdome.
Nigeria’s home-based Eagles Sunday suffered a 4-1 humiliating loss to Ghana in the final match of the 2017 WAFU Nations Cup.
Ghana defeated Nigeria 4-1 to retain the WAFU Nations Cup on Sunday.
Abingah, then Sarfo again scored from the penalty spot in the 60th and 77th minutes respectively.
However, Abingah, who had been booked early on in the game, was called in for a second bookable offense and he was sent off on 91 minutes.
Playing with 10-men, two minutes later, Maxwell Konadu’s men still managed to sneak one more goal in.
Cobbinah tapped in Ghana’s fourth from inside the box after Nigeria’s goalie Ikechukwu Ezenwa fumbled a shot and his defender failed to clear.
But, Nigeria did get a consolation in added time, with Rabiu Ali converting one of many free kicks the Eagles won after the sending off.
Earlier in the tournament, Two second-half goals from Nigerian league top scorer Tony Okpotu and Peter Eneji secured Nigeria a 2-0 victory over hosts Ghana and a place in the semifinals of the West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup of Nations on Monday night.
Ghana had been assured of a first-place finish in Group A after victories over Guinea and Mali in their first two games but their sub-regional arch-rivals, Nigeria needed maximum points after draws in their opening two games.
Ghana thus secured back to back titles and picked the $100,000 prize money, while Nigeria who finished second got $50,000.
Earlier in the day, Niger defeated Benin Republic 2-1 to win bronze and $25,000 prize money.
Ghana vs Nigeria on any day at any level in international football is a cracker and a giant-screen classic, the two teams meet in the WAFU Cup final on Sunday.
