Sports
Jay-Jay Okocha Reveals His Most Memorable Goal At PSG

Former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, has revealed that his debut goal, an equaliser against the French side, Bordeaux, was the most memorable during his time at the Ligue 1 giants.
Okocha was signed by PSG from Turkish club Fenerbahce in the summer of 1998 at a record fee of 18 million dollars, making him the most expensive African player at the time.
The 48-year-old, reflecting on his time at PSG, said the transfer to the Parisians had successfully raised his worth as a player, an experience he was grateful for.
“PSG is a club that really touched my life and raised the bar for me. In 1998, I was approached to join PSG and I can say that my former club Fenerbahce made it difficult to leave,” Okocha told NAN in Lagos.
READ ALSO: AFCON 2021: Jay Jay Okocha Names One Player Nigeria Didn’t Miss
“The club made it difficult because I just renewed my contract with them for three years. So, they didn’t want to release me to PSG.
“For me, I see the contract as a lifetime opportunity and PSG as one of the best clubs in the world. So, I was interested and I had to leave for PSG even before the negotiations ended.”
Okocha added, “I can remember joining PSG without pre-season training and I did not immediately play until the fourth match.
“I was on the bench against Bordeaux and we were losing by 0-1, five minutes to the end of the match, the coach, Alain Giresse, called me to play and I scored a fantastic goal.
“After the goal against Bordeaux, the club knew that I was ready for the challenge.
“While I was at PSG, I played alongside great players like Ronaldinho de Gucho, Nicolas Anelka and the present manager, Mauricio Pochettino, among others.
“I had a great experience at PSG and that is why till today, I am one of the ambassadors of the club and I feel so fortunate.”
Okocha won the 1997-98 Coupe de France during his time at PSG.
The former Super Eagles captain played a total of 84 games for PSG and scored 12 goals across all competitions.
READ ALSO: 2022 World Cup: Nigeria’s Jay-Jay Okocha Gets New Appointment
Sports
PSG To Play First Intercontinental Cup Final In December
European Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain will play their first-ever Intercontinental Cup final in Doha, Qatar, on December 17, FIFA announced on Sunday.
Their opponents will only be determined four days earlier in the final playoff, called the Challenger Cup.
This will pit Egyptian club Pyramids, the African champions, against the winner of the match between Central American champions Cruz Azul from Mexico and the future winner of the Copa Libertadores.
READ ALSO:Ballon d’Or: PSG Win Best Team Of The Year
The South American tournament is currently in the semi-final stage and includes two Brazilian sides.
Palmeiras are up against LDU Quito of Ecuador, while Flamengo take on the Argentinian side Racing.
The Copa Libertadores final takes place on November 29.
READ ALSO:Ligue 1: PSG Captain Marquinhos Out With Thigh Injury
From 1960 to 2004, the Intercontinental Cup pitted the champions of Europe and South America against each other.
In 2005, it was renamed the Club World Cup to include other continental champions, but that competition was relaunched this year as a quadrennial tournament featuring 32 teams, with Chelsea as the inaugural winners of the new format.
The Intercontinental Cup was relaunched in its new form last year when Real Madrid beat Mexican club Pachuca.
AFP
Sports
La Liga: Barca Beat Real Sociedad 2-1 As Yamal Returns
Lamine Yamal returned from injury to help Barcelona beat Real Sociedad 2-1 on Sunday and move to the top of La Liga by one point.
After Real Madrid were thrashed 5-2 by rivals Atletico Madrid in a derby on Saturday, Hansi Flick’s side had the chance to claim pole position above Xabi Alonso’s side.
Alvaro Odriozola gave Real Sociedad the lead against the run of play in the first half, but Jules Kounde headed the Spanish champions level.
Yamal, who missed the last four games with a groin injury, created the winner for Robert Lewandowski just moments after coming on as a second-half substitute.
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Barcelona held the game at the Olympic Stadium, where they have played for the last two seasons, after the city council refused them a permit to reopen their Camp Nou home earlier in the week.
Flick handed 17-year-old attacking midfielder Dro Fernandez his debut, also starting Roony Bardghji on the right wing and bringing in veteran Wojciech Szczesny for injured goalkeeper Joan Garcia.
Barcelona dominated the ball in the first half but found it hard to beat Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro.
The Spain international made a fine save to deny Marcus Rashford in the early stages.
READ ALSO:LaLiga: Mourinho Speaks On Replacing Ancelotti At Real Madrid
On loan from Manchester United, Rashford is finding his footing at Barca and played a superb through ball for Robert Lewandowski, who fired across the face of goal from a tight angle.
Real Sociedad hit Barca with a sharp counter-attack to open the scoring after 31 minutes.
Former Real Madrid defender Alvaro Odriozola applied the finishing touch to Ander Barrenetxea’s cross.
Barcelona stepped up a gear and found Remiro in their way again, with the goalkeeper superbly palming away a Kounde cross which was deflected towards his goal.
Remiro also tipped a Bardghji effort away for a corner, which led to Barcelona’s equaliser.
READ ALSO:EPL: Arsenal Snatch Late 2-1 Win Against Newcastle
Rashford, who provided an assist from a corner against Real Oviedo in midweek, whipped it to the near post, where Kounde powered home a header.
Yamal’s return
Flick replaced Dro with Dani Olmo at half-time and also brought on Yamal before the hour mark, after the teenager recovered from his groin issue.
Voted second best player in the world at the Ballon d’Or gala on Monday, Yamal made an instant impact.
The 18-year-old burst into the box and crossed for Lewandowski to head home off the post, just over a minute after his introduction.
READ ALSO:LaLiga: Real Madrid Miss Chance To Go Top After Villarreal Defeat
Szczesny made a good save from Oyarzabal as La Real gave Barcelona a couple of scares, while Remiro denied Rashford and Olmo with two more good saves.
The game grew increasingly chaotic, and both sides hit the crossbar in quick succession.
Kounde, daydreaming in midfield, was robbed and Real Sociedad worked the ball to Takefusa Kubo, who crashed a shot against the woodwork.
Then Barcelona broke away and Ferran Torres teed up Lewandowski, who battered the crossbar when well placed to put the game to bed, but the hosts were not punished.
Barcelona host Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday, also at the Olympic Stadium.
AFP
Sports
EPL: Arsenal Snatch Late 2-1 Win Against Newcastle
Arsenal staged a late comeback to beat Newcastle 2-1 thanks to a stoppage-time header from Gabriel Magalhães at St James’ Park, on Sunday.
The game looked to be slipping away from the visitors after Nick Woltemade scored one for Newcastle in the 34th minute.
Arsenal had dominated the opening half but failed to find the net despite good chances from Eberechi Eze and Leandro Trossard.
READ ALSO:Theo Walcott Changes EPL Prediction, Names Team To Win UCL This Season
The London club were left frustrated when a penalty awarded for a foul on Viktor Gyökeres was overturned following a VAR review.
Newcastle had weathered the storm with the help of goalkeeper Nick Pope.
Mikel Merino rose to nod home from close range in the 84th minute to level, setting up a frantic finish.
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Arsenal pushed with everything they had and were ultimately rewarded deep in stoppage time when Martin Ødegaard’s corner found Gabriel, who rose highest to head the winner in the sixth minute of added time.
Arsenal’s late victory will feel like a statement of character for Mikel Arteta’s side, who move on with a precious away win after dominating long spells of the match but having to fight until the final whistle to secure the three points.
Newcastle will take encouragement from a dogged defensive display.
Arsenal now have four wins, one draw, and one loss in six Premier League games. They sit in the second position on the table, while Newcastle is in 15th.
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