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EPL: Why We Lost 4-0 to Brighton – Rangnick

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Manchester United interim manager, Ralf Rangnick, has explained why his team lost 4-0 against Brighton in Saturday’s Premier League tie.

Moises Caicedo put Brighton into the lead after just 15 minutes, before Marc Cucurella doubled the lead for the homeside four minutes after the re-start.

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Pascal Gross and Leandro Trossard added the goals which underlined Brighton’s dominance against Man United.

After Trossard’s goal, Cristiano Ronaldo was caught laughing by the TV cameras, while Man United fans chanted ‘you’re not fit to wear the shirt’ at their crestfallen players.

Reacting to the outcome of the result, Rangick said at his post-match press conference that Man United gave Brighton too much space during the encounter and they were punished.

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To start with, it’s important that we apologise to our supporters who came all the way from Manchester to Brighton.

READ ALSO: EPL: Roman Abramovich Makes Demands From Chelsea’s New Owners

“It was a terrible performance. From the first until the last minute it was not enough; we can only apologise for this performance and a humiliating defeat.

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“[Monday’s win over Brentford] was a different game, we just gave too much time and space. We were never in a position where we could stop them playing through our lines. We told the players to be as compact as they could, but we couldn’t stop it.

“I don’t think they ignored the game plan, but we weren’t able to stop them.

“We gave them too much space and if you do that against a technically good team like Brighton, you will get punished.”

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Nigerian Women Are Built Different, Says Ogoke After D’Tigress Win As Practising Surgeon

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arah Ogoke, a practising surgeon and veteran member of Nigeria’s national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, has hailed the mental strength and resilience of Nigerian women after the team clinched a historic fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title.

Speaking during an interview with Arise TV on Tuesday, Ogoke credited discipline and resilience as the major factors in how she’s been able to combine her medical career and playing basketball.

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I’m built different. Nigerian women are built different. We do amazing things and the impossible. My secret is nothing short of discipline, resilience, determination, hard work, and focus,” she said.

The 35-year-old veteran, who specialises in podiatric medicine, the diagnosis and treatment of foot and ankle conditions, was named in the squad months after giving birth and suffering the loss of her father last year. She revealed that she had taken time off her medical duties to join the team for the tournament.

READ ALSO:Gov Aiyedatiwa Gifts Ondo-born Super Falcons Player N30m, House

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Absolutely, I’m using my vacation days to be here. My job is waiting for me when I go back,” she said.

Ogoke, who holds a degree in biology, drew parallels between the discipline of medical training and elite sport.

The four years that I spent in medical school, I learnt how to work diligently and steadily on a specific skill set over the course of a long period of time. That can be translated to the skills necessary to be successful in basketball.”

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A key figure in Nigeria’s basketball resurgence over the past decade, Ogoke has been part of every AfroBasket-winning squad since 2017. She attributed the team’s sustained dominance to the grit and mentality of Nigerian women.

READ ALSO:WAFCON: You’ve Inscribed Nigeria’s Name In Gold – FG To Super Falcons

The blood we have in our veins as Nigerian women is different. We have the tenacity, pride, grit that we just refuse to lose. We’ve held our crown since 2017, and we don’t plan on giving it up soon.”

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Reflecting on the final match where Nigeria was tied 41-41 at halftime against Mali, she revealed a wake-up call from the coach, Rena Wakama, pushed the team to step up.

Coach Rena wasn’t nice about it at all. She told us, ‘We were the better team, but this team here came to beat us. They didn’t come for vacation or just to be here. Their objective was to beat us, and if we let that happen, then let them do it.’ That woke us up, and we played like the team that we are.”

READ ALSO:Fire At Egbin Power Station Damages TCN Transformer

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Now, with Nigeria qualified for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, Ogoke says her focus and that of the team is on reaching new heights on the global stage.

“I see playing for Nigeria as a privilege and not a right. Every year that they reach out to me and ask me to be a part of the programme, I’m thankful because they don’t have to call me. Now that we’ve qualified for the World Cup, we’re hoping to build on our success at the Olympics and, by God’s good grace, bring home a medal.”

Following the team’s victory, President Bola Tinubu on Monday, gifted the D’Tigress $100,000 to each of the players, $50,000 each for the 11-man coaching and technical team, and bedroom flats at Renewed Hope Estate for every member of the team and coaching staff.

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NPFL: Bendel Insurance Announce Departure Of 25 Players

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Bendel Insurance have announced the departure of 25 players ahead of the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, season.

Captain Meyiwa Oritseweyinmi, Austin Ogunye, and Bernard Ovoke are among the top stars who have left the Benin Arsenal.

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Other key players, who left the club are Moses Abioye, Uche Collins, Michael Enaruna, and Uche Collins.

READ ALSO:NPFL: Go For Victory, Enabulele Tasks Bendel Insurance FC

The Benin City club are expected to make new signings to replace the departed players before the commencement of the new campaign.

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Insurance finished in a respectable fifth position last season with 56 points from 38 games.

They will face El-kanemi Warriors in their opening fixture of the new season.

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PHOTO: Okocha Hosts Ex-coach Clemens Westerhof In Lagos

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Nigerian football icon Jay-Jay Okocha recently hosted his former Super Eagles coach, Clemens Westerhof, at his Lagos home.

Westerhof, who posted photos from the visit on Instagram on Friday, called it an “unforgettable night of my life” and thanked Okocha for his warm hospitality.

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Westerhof, a Dutch national, managed the Nigerian national team from 1989 to 1994.

READ ALSO:AFCON 2021: Jay Jay Okocha Names One Player Nigeria Didn’t Miss

Under his leadership, the Super Eagles won their second Africa Cup of Nations title in 1994 and made their FIFA World Cup debut the same year, impressively topping a group that included Argentina, Bulgaria, and Greece.

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Okocha made his national team debut during Westerhof’s tenure and later became one of Nigeria’s most iconic footballers.

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