Umtiti Heads France into First Final in 20Years

Samuel Umtiti fired France into her first World Cup final in 20 years last night when the FC Barcelona defender headed home the lone goal of the semi final clash with Belgium at the St Petersburg Stadium.

There was no doubt that the Belgians were the more attack conscious of the two teams but at the end of 90 minutes it was Les Blues that grabbed the first final ticket of Russia 2018.

France will now have to wait for the winner of today’s second semi final between Croatia and England at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow to know who to play in the final scheduled for Sunday at same venue in the Russian capital city.

After being dominated in the first half, due to an awesome Eden Hazard brilliant display, France took responsibility and the control of the match after half-time.

After Raphael performed heroics Varane in the quarter-finals against Uruguay, this time it was Umtiti’s 51st header that made the difference from an Antoine Griezmann’s corner at the near post. After out jumping Marouane Fellaini, Umtiti simply flicked the header beyond Thibaut Courtois in goal for Belgium. Belgium took early control of midfield with France content to sit deep and eliminate the threat of counter-attacks from Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne.

But it was by no means a purely negative approach as the French offered their own danger on the break, perfectly illustrated when Paul Pogba’s delivery sent Kylian Mbappe racing towards goal and Belgium were thankful their keeper Courtois was alert to snuff out the danger.

The first real opening came in the 16th minute when De Bruyne hooked the ball into the path of Hazard whose shot was just wide of Huge Lloris’s far post.

Hazard was dangerous again moments later when he cut in from the left and unleashed a rasping drive which clipped off the back of Raphael Varane and just over the bar.

From a Belgium corner, Toby Alderweireld tested Lloris with a smart shot on the turn but as the half progressed France began to create more.

Olivier Giroud flashed a header just wide and Mbappe set up Benjamin Pavard whose low shot was kept out by the outstretched leg of Courtois.

It was a fascinating first half and all that was missing was a goal but one came soon after the break.

Late into the second half Fellaini flashed a header just wide and Axel Witsel forced a good save out of Lloris as Belgium pushed forward for an equaliser and France hung on in six minutes of stoppage time to book their place in the final. Forty-two African countries were present in Asaba, Delta State on Tuesday for the Delegates Registration Meeting (DRM) as the countdown to the Africa Senior Athletics Championships dubbed Asaba 2018 continues.

The elated African officials expressed delight having been served a glimpse of what to expect at the CAA Asaba 2018 which will take place from August 1-5 at the newly-completed Stephen Keshi Stadium in the heart of Delta State.

Apart from the Olympic Games, Asaba 2018 is one of the few places they are having a DRM and the officials across the continent praised the Local Organising Committee, LOC headed by Chief Solomon Ogba for raising the bar with the great idea.

Speaking to journalists after the DRM, the Kenya Team Leader, Abraham Mutai reiterated that they are taking the Asaba 2018 championships very seriously as they are plotting to emerge as the overall champion in the five-day event.

“For your information, World Champion Julius Yego is coming with us to Asaba so you know we as a nation is taking this championship very serious. In South Africa two years ago, we were number two but this time we want the number one position and we hope our dream will comes true,” the Kenyan representative stated.

Mutai added that while Kenya would be looking to consolidate on their strengths which is in the long-distance races, they will be working towards conquering new grounds; especially in the field events and some short distant races including the 100m where he admitted that Nigeria remains a force to be reckoned with.

On his part, the scribe of the Ethiopia Athletics Federation, Bililign Mekoya, who is representing his country at the DRM in Asaba said he was very impressed with the superb facilities in place; adding that Ethiopia who are coming with the largest contingent would be gunning for as much medals as possible.

“We have seen the facility and it is new; so we are happy, we are targeting many medals as possible especially in the long distant races. We are bringing some new athletes and the experienced ones also, we are looking forward to a nice championship’ he posited.

Over 52 African countries are expected at the 2018 African Senior Athletics Championships.