Germany have exited Euro 2024 following a heartbreaking 2-1 extra-time defeat to Spain in the quarter-finals. After a feisty but goalless first period, Spain hit the front in the contest when a Lamine Yamal pass found teammate Dani Olmo, who produced a brilliant first-time finish to beat Manuel Neuer. Aiming to keep their Euro 2024 dreams alive, the hosts pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages of the 90, and Germany got their rewards, with Florian Wirtz netting from close range to send the game to extra time. It looked as if the fixture was heading toward the dreaded penalty kicks until the final moments of extra time, when substitute Mikel Merino’s header hit the net and sent the hosts of the competition packing. La Roja have retained their 100% record at this tournament to date, and will look to make it a sixth straight victory when they face either France or Portugal in the semi-finals on Tuesday night. Following an impressive run in Euro 2024 up to this point, Die Mannschaft are the first Compiled by Adekunle Salami ATHENS hosted the first games of the modern Olympics in 1896, but there are many other hidden facts of the Olympic Games. As the 33rd Olympics draws near in Paris, France, Saturday Telegraph, hereby presents rules and historical facts of the games which comes up every four years. 20 Days to go: Amazing facts of the Olympic Games I investment partners and broadcast partners of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and the Sports Media have been commented for the very important roles they played in public acclaim of the league organisation for the 2023/24 season. Gbenga Elegbeleye, the NPFL Chairman cited the partners, GTI Assets Management and Startimes as partners that have added value to making Nigerians enjoy the NPFL last season. “This is the second season of working with GTI in providing financial support for the running of the league and creating a marketing strategy to attract investment in the league.
“Our Match Officials have been condemned to perform well because GTI has ensured timely payment of their indemnities and travel allowance as well as their accommodation and feeding such that they no longer have to depend on host clubs,” ex- plained Elegbeleye. The League Chairman pointed Elegbeleye hails GTI, Startimes, journalists for roles in NPFL success to the broadcast partnership with Startimes as a fulfilment of a pledge he made at the end of the 2022/23 season, adding “It is commendable that despite the signing of the contract almost midway into the season, Startimes were able to produce 76 live matches, “he said. He described the Sports Media as symbiotic partners whose roles are indispensable.
“Our relationship with the Sports Media is mutually benefi- cial because we offer very important roles to each other. The media needs our content to generate news and fol- lowers while we enjoy the publicity they bring to our games and exposure for our players,” Elegbeleye noted. Rangers International of Enugu emerged champions with a game in hand after beating Bendel Insur- ance 2-0 in Enugu on Matchday 37 and proceeding to win 2-1 against Gombe United in Jos on the last day where they were handed the trophy in a colourful ceremony witnessed by governors of Plateau and Enugu states. Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Mar- tinez was the hero as Argen- tina booked their spot in the Copa America semi-finals with a 4-2 penalty shootout win over Ecuador. After a 1-1 draw in normal time, the match went straight to penalties and Argentina got off to the worst possible start when captain Lionel Messi saw his chipped effort hit the crossbar. But Ecuador failed to take advan- tage, Martinez saving their first two spot kicks from Angel Mena and Alan Minda. Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez and Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister scored for Argentina, while former Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi stepped up to convert the winning penalty after John Yeboah had kept Ecuador’s hopes alive.
The underdogs had forced pen- alties with an injury-time equal- iser, Kevin Rodriguez heading an in-swinging cross past Martinez Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez had given Argen- tina the lead in the first half when he headed home from close range fol- lowing a corner.
Charles Ogundiya Defending champion of the annual AMAPRO Cup, Abrayasports, have qualified for the semifinal stage of this year’s edition after a penalty shootout win over Unicorn FC. The game ended goalless in the regulation time with Mustapha Ogungbenro the hero as he saved one of the penalties to give his team a 5-4 win. Also on Friday, Dickalo FA defeat- ed KFA on penalty after playing out a 1-1 draw in the regular 90mins. Martinez sends Argentina to semis after Messi’s penalty miss AMAPRO 2024: Defending champion Abrayasports seal last four slot The World Cup holders were far from their best in Houston and Ecuador missed a chance to level on the hour-mark when captain Enner Valencia hit the post from the pen- alty spot after Rodrigo De Paul was penalised for handball. Martinez, who taunted the Ecua- dor fans following his spot-kick saves in the shootout, turned to a large- ly-Argentine crowd in Houston fol- lowing Valencia’s miss and pumped his arms in their direction.
The former Arsenal goalkeeper has now faced 24 penalties for Ar- gentina and has conceded just 12 with nine saves and three off-target misses. Argentina, the 15-time winners of the Copa America, will face either Canada or Venezuela in the semi-fi- nals. Ecuador parted ways with man- ager Felix Sanchez after the defeat, despite the Spaniard having three years to run on his deal. “We thank Felix and his coaching staff for their work and profession- alism, and wish him success in his future endeavours,” the Ecuadorian Football Federation said in a state- ment. Dickalo took the lead in the fifth minute when Oke Samson headed home from a free kick. KFA however equalized in the 30th minute as Uthman Tajudeen took ad- vantage of Dickalo’s defence mixup to score restored parity with both teams however failing to get the winner, with the game leading to penalty. Thanks to incredible goalkeeping from Ozovehe Adeiza who stopped three penalties as Dickalo secured a 3-2 win to move to the semifinal stage.
It was a hard fought victory for NNL All Stars against Gateway FA, winning the game 2-1. *MOD – ERN Olympism was conceived by Pierre de Coubertin. The French- man also initiated the International Athletic Congress held in 1894 in Par- is. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was constituted on June 23rd 1894
. *The first Olympic Games took place in the 8th century B.C. in Olympia, Greece. They were held every four years for 12 centuries. Then, in the 4th century A.D., all pagan festi- vals were banned by Emperor Theodosius I and the Olympics were no more. *However, the athletic tra- dition was resurrected about 1500 years later: The first mod- ern Olympics were held in 1896 in Greece. *In ancient Greece, athletes didn’t worry about sponsor- ship, protection, or fashion – they competed naked. *Back then, the games lasted five to six months. * Women were only allowed to compete in the Olympics from 1900. *THE Olympics symbol con- sists of five Olympic rings used alone in one or several colours. *The five colours of the rings are mandatorily blue, yellow, black, green and red. The rings are interlaced from left to right. The blue, black and red rings are situated at the top, the yel- low and green rings are at the bottom. *THE Olympic symbol rep- resents the union of the five continents and the global meet- ing of athletes at the Olympic Games. *THE Olympic flag has white background with no border. The Olympic symbol is located in the centre with its five colours. *Olympic Motto: “Citius, Altius, Fortius” expresses the message of the IOC to all who belong to the Olympic Move- ment, telling them to excel in accordance with Olympic spirit. hosts to be knocked out at the last-eight stage of a European Championships.
