The Nairobiinsights &all the current and trending news & : SPORT https://nairobiinsights.co.ke/rss/category/sport The Nairobiinsights &all the current and trending news & : SPORT en Copyright 2024 Nairobi Insights& All Rights Reserved. Bad News for Arsenal:Saka's injury explained and time likely to be out https://nairobiinsights.co.ke/bad-news-for-arsenalsakas-injury-explained-and-time-likely-to-be-out https://nairobiinsights.co.ke/bad-news-for-arsenalsakas-injury-explained-and-time-likely-to-be-out Bukayo Saka left the field early in the first half with a hamstring injury.

Just like a previous hamstring injury while playing for England, it looked like he did his hamstring while putting a cross in.

Hamstring injuries are one of the more frequent and recurring injuries for football injuries. He was seen clutching the lower hamstring muscle here.

It's extremely hard to predict time-length of muscle injuries based on video, but the reaction and the use of crutches points towards at least a muscle strain, rather than tightness.

This is more likely a grade 1/2 hamstring strain. Would be very unlucky if he suffered a grade 3, but that is more correlated with injuries higher up on the hamstring.

Possible Recovery Times:

Grade 1: 2-4 weeks 

Grade 2: 4-6 weeks 

Grade 3: 8-10 weeks

Scans will be necessary to confirm the severity of the injury. Hopefully, it isn't too bad.

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Sun, 22 Dec 2024 08:25:54 +0300 john
Former champions Ghana in desperate fight for AFCON survival https://nairobiinsights.co.ke/former-champions-ghana-in-desperate-fight-for-afcon-survival https://nairobiinsights.co.ke/former-champions-ghana-in-desperate-fight-for-afcon-survival
Embattled Ghana coach Otto Addo says they must beat Sudan in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Tuesday to have a chance of reaching the 2025 finals.

"We have to win," the 49-year-old in a second stint as Black Stars boss told reporters after they were held 0-0 at home by Sudan in a third-round Group F clash.

Four-time African champions Ghana squandered several glaring chances to break the deadlock in Accra, and trail leaders Angola by seven points and Sudan by two halfway through qualifying.

The top two finishers after matchday 6 in November secure places at the 24-team finals of a competition Ghana last won in 1982 in Tripoli. They last failed to qualify 21 years ago.

Ghana face a desperate fight for survival in Libyan city Benghazi, where Sudan are temporarily based as they cannot play at home with a civil war raging in the vast northeast African country.

"Where we finish is in our hands," added Otto, referring to a team captained by Mohammed Kudus of West Ham, but missing another Premier League midfielder, injured Thomas Partey of Arsenal.

Here, Citizen Digital highlights five other matchday 4 qualifiers scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, including former champions Tunisia seeking revenge for a shock home defeat by Comoros.

Kenya vs Cameroon

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana was mobbed by football fans in Uganda last month after a Group J clash with Zimbabwe, who could not play at home as they lack a suitable venue.

But Ugandan supporters of the Old Trafford club will not be able to see him playing in Kampala on Monday because Kenya, 4-1 losers in Yaounde, are hosting the return match behind closed doors.

Kenya cannot play at home due to stadium renovations and their reasons for barring spectators include cost cutting, ensuring the safety of Onana and preventing Ugandans backing Cameroon.

Libya vs Nigeria

It will concern caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen that Nigeria took 86 minutes in Uyo before Fisayo Dele-Bashiru scored the only goal to sink Libya in Group D.

He was spoilt for choice when it came to forwards, with the seven he chose in the absence of injured star Victor Osimhen all playing for top-five European leagues clubs.

But Ademola Lookman, the lone African contender for the 2024 Ballon d'Or, and his Super Eagles teammates misfired, and now face the Mediterranean Knights in an intimidating Benghazi venue.

Mauritania vs Egypt

Mauritania coach Amir Abdou is puzzled after his team was described by Egypt counterpart Hossam Hassan as "playing hard and with violent interventions".

"We committed fewer fouls than Egypt and received the same number of yellow cards (three)," he told reporters after a 2-0 Group C loss in Cairo to the runaway leaders.

Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah, scorer of the Pharaohs' second goal, will miss the return match on an artificial Nouakchott pitch because Hassan does not want to risk his captain being injured.

Congo vs South Africa

South Africa coach Hugo Broos has warned his squad that Congo Brazzaville are likely to be a very different proposition at home after suffering a 5-0 matchday 3 drubbing in Group K.

"The Congolese are technically good and very dangerous when they play at home," said the 72-year-old Belgian, who coached Cameroon to the 2017 AFCON title.

Broos will be hoping for another five-star showing from midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who shrugged off fears of rustiness due to lack of club game time by scoring twice.

Comoros vs Tunisia

The major matchday III shock came when Tunisia surrendered a 16-match winning streak at home in AFCON qualifiers by losing 1-0 to Comoros.

Rafiki Said from French second division club Troyes completed a mid-second half counterattack by slamming a low shot into the far corner from inside the box.

Comoros are 82 places below Tunisia in the world rankings and lack an international-standard stadium, so they will host the return match in Ivorian commercial capital Abidjan.

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Sun, 13 Oct 2024 14:12:22 +0300 Sharon Koech
Noussair Mazraoui Undergoes Heart Procedure, Set to Miss Weeks of Action for Manchester United https://nairobiinsights.co.ke/noussair-mazraoui-undergoes-heart-procedure-set-to-miss-weeks-of-action-for-manchester-united https://nairobiinsights.co.ke/noussair-mazraoui-undergoes-heart-procedure-set-to-miss-weeks-of-action-for-manchester-united

Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui is set to miss several weeks of action following a heart procedure, as confirmed by club sources. The news comes after a concerning incident during the team's recent match against Aston Villa, where Mazraoui was substituted at half-time during the goalless draw. Following the game, he reported experiencing heart palpitations, prompting immediate medical attention.

As a precaution, Mazraoui withdrew from the Morocco national squad ahead of the international break, prioritizing his health over international duties. The club has since revealed that he underwent a corrective procedure to address the issue, which is expected to sideline him for several weeks as he recovers. The situation highlights the importance of player health and safety, especially when it comes to conditions that can impact the heart.

Mazraoui's absence will be felt by Manchester United as they navigate a challenging fixture schedule. Known for his pace and defensive skills, the 25-year-old has been a key part of the team since joining, contributing both defensively and in attack. His versatility allows him to play in various defensive roles, making him a valuable asset to manager Erik ten Hag.

The club is expected to provide updates on Mazraoui’s recovery and potential return date, but in the meantime, his teammates will need to step up to fill the gap left in defense. United will hope for a swift and successful recovery for Mazraoui, as they continue to aim for a strong performance in both domestic and European competitions this season. Fans and players alike are rallying behind him during this challenging time, emphasizing the importance of community and support within the sport.

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Thu, 10 Oct 2024 17:56:12 +0300 Kipkoech Koros
Ghost Mulee Identifies Key Tactical Flaw in Harambee Stars' Draw Against Zimbabwe https://nairobiinsights.co.ke/ghost-mulee-identifies-key-tactical-flaw-in-harambee-stars-draw-against-zimbabwe https://nairobiinsights.co.ke/ghost-mulee-identifies-key-tactical-flaw-in-harambee-stars-draw-against-zimbabwe Following Harambee Stars' goalless draw against Zimbabwe in their opening 2025 AFCON qualifier, former Harambee Stars coach Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee has voiced his concerns about the team's performance and tactical choices.

The match, held in Uganda due to stadium issues in Kenya, ended without a win, leaving many fans and stakeholders feeling disappointed and frustrated, as it was seen as a missed opportunity for the team.

A major talking point has been coach Engin Firat’s decision to bench all three of the team’s recognized strikers, a move that has been met with widespread criticism from fans and analysts alike.

In his comments, Mulee highlighted the absence of a clear goal-scoring threat, criticizing the team’s approach throughout the match. “We didn’t dare to field a striker. We lacked someone hungry for goals, a true predator,” Mulee stated, as reported by Mozzart Sport. 

He further elaborated, “It’s Firat’s tactics, and I don’t want to dwell on that too much, but from what I saw, I don’t think we would have scored at any point in that game.”

Mulee, who has previously coached Harambee Stars and Tusker FC, expressed his frustration with the team’s setup, particularly the decision to play some players out of their usual positions. He specifically mentioned Duke Abuya, who was used as a striker despite traditionally excelling in a deeper attacking role.

“I saw Duke Abuya playing as a striker. Historically, he plays behind the striker. When you put him in front, it becomes difficult for him to perform effectively, unlike a natural striker,” Mulee explained.

The former coach argued that one of the natural strikers—Jonah Ayunga, Benson Omala, or Masoud Juma—should have been fielded to provide the necessary attacking edge and create goal-scoring opportunities.

“Perhaps Ayunga, Omala, or Avire—someone who knows how to score goals. That was our main issue. I wouldn’t necessarily say that Firat’s tactics were entirely poor, but the absence of a striker was a significant problem,” Mulee commented. 

While he did not directly condemn Firat’s tactical approach, Mulee made it clear that he would have handled the game differently, stressing that an out-and-out striker was essential for a match of such importance. 

“As a coach, I wouldn’t approach a game like this without a dedicated striker. Omala has been playing there, Avire has experience in that role, and they both know how to find the back of the net,” Mulee concluded.

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Tue, 10 Sep 2024 00:04:05 +0300 Sharon Koech