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sports Eagles must qualify for 2019 AFCON, says Abdullahi Super Eagles defender, Shehu Abdullahi, says the team must now fight hard to secure a place in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon after their early ouster from the <strong>2018</strong> FIFA World Cup in Russia, reports Completesportsnigeria. com. The Eagles have failed to qualify for the last two AFCONs despite their pedigree as one of the strongest teams on the continent. Gernot Rohr’s men already face a tough task in their bid to make it to Cameroon after losing their first qualifying fixture 2-0 at home against South Africa. The Bursaspor of Turkey defender reckons that the team must concentrate on reaching Cameroon after their exit from the <strong>2018</strong> World Cup in the first round. “It is important that we qualify for the next AFCON in Cameroon. We have not played in the competition for some time now and we can’t afford to miss the next one,” Abdullahi told CSN. “I believe we have a team that can get the job done despite all the odds. The teams in our group won’t hand us the ticket on a platter of gold, so we have to work very hard to beat them to it.” The three-time AFCON champions will face Seychelles in their qualifying game on September 7 in Victoria. Wimbledon: Federer, Serena target progress Roger Federer and Serena Williams will be expected to maintain their flawless progress at Wimbledon as the title favourites head into the fourth round looking to survive the tournament’s giant-killing carnage on <strong>Monday</strong>. Federer has been in imperious mood in pursuit of his ninth Wimbledon crown, while Williams is rounding into form just as the seven-time champion’s rivals have collapsed all around her. The status quo has been challenged like never before in the women’s singles, with nine of the top 10 seeds crashing out before the Wimbledon last 16 for the first time in the Open era. In the men’s draw, third seed Marin Cilic, fourth seed Alexander Zverev and sixth seed Grigor Dimitrov have all fallen. But it’s business was usual for Federer as the defending champion took his consecutive sets won at Wimbledon to 29 in a third round dismissal of Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff. Federer’s 175th win from 200 career grass-court matches saw him overtake Jimmy Connors as the most successful male player on the surface. Next, the Swiss star faces French 22nd seed Adrian Mannarino for a place in the quarter-finals. World number two Federer, eyeing a 21st Grand Slam title, has won all five of his previous meetings with Mannarino, a 30-year-old journeyman who has never been past the last 16 at a major. Although Federer is approaching peak form, he knows world number one Rafael Nadal — yet to drop a set in his first three matches — and three-time Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic — playing his way back to his best this week — are lurking as potential final opponents. French Open champion Nadal, bidding for a first Wimbledon title since 2010, plays Czech world number 93 Jiri Vesely, while Djokovic takes on Russian world number 40 Karen Khachanov. “Novak and Rafa, all these guys are still in the draw,” Federer said. “At the end of the day I feel on our side not that much has happened. I know on the women’s side more so. “In the past it has made me nervous when I’ve seen bigger guys go out. “I feel like, ‘OK, it’s me next time’. I didn’t feel the effect this time.” Federer’s tie is one of 16 fourth round matches across the men’s and women’s events in a frenetic day of action at the All England Club. Idris Adesina Nigerian-born New Zealand mixed martial artist Israel Adesanya on Saturday defeated American Brad Tavares by unanimous decision to win their Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight fight in Las Vegas. •Super Eagles stars, Shehu Abdullahi (2nd left) and Ahmed Musa (2nd right) receiving the key of the TVS tricycle from Simba Group’s Branch Manager, Sunil Korde. Photo: TVS •Japan’s Kei Nishikori returns to Australia’s Nick Kyrgios during their men’s singles third round match of the <strong>2018</strong> Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London … on Saturday. Photo: AFP MONDAY, JULY 9, <strong>2018</strong> Adesanya beats Tavares in UFC welterweight fight The fight, which was his first headline fight in the UFC, saw the 28-year-old declared winner by the three judges after the fifth round. The judges scored the 185-pound contest, which headlined The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated Finale, 50-45, 50-45 and 49-46 in favour of the Lagos-born fighter. The win takes his streak in the MMA to 14-0 and 3-0 in the UFC. His first fight in the UFC was a knockout win over Rob Wilkinson in February before a unanimous win over Marvin Vettori in April. Tavares (17-5) is the first fighter in the UFC ranked higher than him. “All the pundits and experts said, ‘Is it too soon? He’s only had two fights in the UFC,’” Adesanya said after the fight. “Tavares is a tough dude. He’s got Ray Sefo, a New Zealand legend, in his corner. I’m only getting warmed up, I have yet to start. I hurt him twice and he adjusted very well at the beginning. But I was able to adjust as well. It was a good chess match. “I’m happy with the performance. Five rounds and my gas tank was on point. I got the reserve tank still ready to go another three rounds.” He said after three fights in the space of six months he wants to take some time to rest and return to the octagon to face the winner of the Uriah Hall/Paulo Costa bout at UFC 226. TVS supports Shehu Abdullahi Foundation 63 The official tricycle and motorcycle partners of the Super Eagles TVS have thrown their weight behind Shehu Abdullahi’s initiative to support the less-privileged in the society through its recent donation of a tricycle to the foundation. The Eagles defender invited the public to a charity match to raise money for the Shehu Abdullahi Foundation at the Sokoto Township Stadium on Thursday. TVS was one of the sponsors of the event. The match, which attracted thousands of football fans and top dignitaries, saw Team Ahmed Musa (led by Leicester City’s Ahmed Musa) beat Team Shehu Abdullahi (led by Bursaspor of Turkey defender, Shehu Abdullahi)4-1. Musa had thrown the crowd into delirium when he scored two of the goals that gave his side victory over his fellow Eagles teammate. An elated Abdullahi tweeted after the match, “It’s nice, giving back to the society. I appreciate you all. It was a success. Thanks.” TVS also used the opportunity to put their branded Eagles products, particularly the tricycles and motorcycles on display. “I need some rest but I am waiting for whoever wins – especially Uriah Hall. He’s just cloud chasing, he keeps talking so we’ll see. But even if the Brazilian wins, I’ve been chewing erasers since I was a kid so it’s nothing new to me.” All three of Adesanya’s wins have come in <strong>2018</strong>. A former professional kickboxer, he has 12 career knockouts in MMA. Omeruo dismisses Gent move Super Eagles World Cup defender Kenneth Omeruo has dismissed rumours he will quit Chelsea to join Belgian club KAA Gent. “At the moment, I have not decided where I will be playing next season as I still need to speak to Chelsea, so any news right now about an agreement with any club is not true,” he told SCORENigeria “My agents are in talks with several clubs in the event my future lies away from Stamford Bridge.” Omeruo, who has yet to make a Premier League debut with Chelsea in his six years on the books of the London club, has expressed his desire to settle his future on a more permanent basis following several loan spells. His impressive performances in Russia only helped to increase interests from several clubs in Europe. “The truth is I am looking to settle down permanently after several loan moves, but no agreement has been reached with any club at the moment,” he said.
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