Category: Sports

Chelsea defender, Fikayo Tomori, has revealed he opted to play for England over Nigeria because they were the first to hand him a senior international call-up. England coach, Gareth Southgate, included Tomori and fellow Chelsea player, Tammy Abraham, in his 25-man squad for their Euro 2020 qualifier against the Czech Republic and Bulgaria. According to the 21-year-old, “England is such a big nation, as well as Nigeria and Canada, so I think I was going to be happy with whoever called me up – but it’s nice it is England,”…

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Former Nigeria international, Osaze Odemwingie, has been admitted into the Professional Golfers Association. The former Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion forward shared contents of his admission statement on social media. “I am very proud to become a member of this great association (PGA),” the 38-year-old added. “Congratulations, as of today your registration with the PGA has been accepted and a place on the PGA Training Programme and University of Birmingham Foundation Degree in Professional Golf Studies has been allocated to you. “Your amateur status has now been relinquished and…

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Super Falcons captain, Asisat Oshoala, scored the winner as Barcelona beat Sporting de Huelva 1-0 in their Spanish Primera Iberdrola clash on Sunday. Oshoala’s goal condemned Huelva with Nigeria’s Peace Efih, Ghana’s Princella Adubea, Equatorial Guinea’s Oluwatobiloba Olanrewaju and Gambia’s Fatoumata Kanteh to a fourth league defeat. With Sunday’s goal, Oshoala has now scored four goals in five league matches this season for Barcelona. The win sees Barcelona retain the summit of the log on goal difference with 13 points from five matches, while Huelva are 13th with three points…

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Sports Minister, Sunday Dare and former Super Eagles’ midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, have hailed the Super Eagles’ performance in their one-all draw with Brazil in their international friendly in Singapore. Eagles took the lead after 35 minutes when Joe Aribo found space in a packed penalty box to rifle in a low shot past Manchester City’s Ederson. Brazil equalised three minutes into the second half when Casemiro fired home from close range, after he was quickest to react when a Marquinhos header came back off the woodwork. Reacting to the outcome…

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Adama Traore’s late double stunned Manchester City, who suffered a shock 2-0 defeat at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday that left them eight points behind Premier League leaders, Liverpool. Wolves forward Traore struck twice in the final 10 minutes to condemn the champions to their first home league defeat since they lost to Crystal Palace on Dec. 22. Yet it was City’s second defeat in their last four league games following the 3-2 loss at Norwich City last month and it will increase Liverpool’s belief that they can win…

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Emmanuel Bonaventure Dennis, the Nigerian wonder kid whos brace against 13 times champions of UCL, Real Madrid, was born on 15th of November 1997. The 21-year-old who began his career at Accademia di Abuja in Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, plays as a striker for Belgian First Division A side Club Brugge and the Nigeria national team. In March 2016, Dennis signed with Ukrainian Premier League club Zorya Luhansk. He made his debut in a game against Olimpik Donetsk on 24 July 2016, where he scored the opener in a 3–0 victory. Dennis started the season on the bench mostly before being given his UEFA Europa…

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Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal in this season’s Champions League, sealing a 3-0 win for Juventus over Bayer Leverkusen in their Group D game in Turin on Tuesday. Ronaldo blasted in the third goal in the 89th minute to extend his record to 127 strikes in the competition to add to Gonzalo Higuain and Federico Bernardeschi’s earlier efforts. Juventus move top of Group D, level on four points with Atletico Madrid, who defeated Lokomotiv Moscow 2-0 in Russia. The Italian champions had been held 2-2 by the Spaniards at…

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Anthony Joshua says he has been forced to make “drastic changes” to his lifestyle in a bid to win back the heavyweight titles he lost to Andy Ruiz earlier this year. Joshua, the former IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight world champion, was knocked out by Ruiz in New York in June in one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. Dethroned champion Joshua says the magnitude of the loss has forced him to evaluate every aspect of his life as he prepares to face Ruiz in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia on…

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Argentine legend Diego Maradona will take over as coach of Superliga side Gimasia, the club announced on its Twitter account on Thursday. “Welcome Diego! Every corner of the most beautiful club in the world greets you,” the La Plata-based club said. The former Argentina coach quit his job at Mexican second-division outfit Dorados in June for health reasons after just nine months in charge. His new club, officially known as Gymnastics and Fencing, is currently bottom of Argentina’s 24-club Superliga, with just one point from five matches. Maradona’s appointment at…

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Former Nigeria Professional Football League chairman, Oyuki Obaseki, is dead. According to The Punch, Obaseki died at the age of 75 after a protracted illness in Benin City, Edo State on Sunday. TheThe football administrator, according to sources had been sick for over three years until his death. He was the second vice-chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation from 2007 to 2009. Obaseki is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren.

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Liverpool taught newly-promoted Norwich a lesson on the opening night of the new Premier League season with a 4-1 win at Anfield on Friday to lay down an early marker in the title race. Norwich captain Grant Hanley’s hapless own goal just seven minutes in set the tone for what could be a long season for the Canaries before Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Divock Origi made it 4-0 at half-time. Teemu Pukki pulled a goal back for Norwich in the second half as Liverpool took their foot off…

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Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has retired from the national team. He retired following the third-place finish of the Super Eagles at Egypt 2019 AFCON. Mikel took to his verified Instagram page to make the announcement. Spotting his photo in the national colours, the former Chelsea ace wrote: “Egypt is a country where I’ve started and have finished my National career. “In 2006 I played my first official championship for my country. 2019 African Cup of Nations marks my last championship for National Team with Super Eagles. “My national career…

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Segun Odegbami, an ex-international, said on Sunday that the semi-final between Nigeria and Algeria at the ongoing African Cup of Nations would be tough. Odegbami made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ota, Ogun State. He noted that the Super Eagles needed to listen to their coach and technical crew as the match between them and the Desert Foxes of Algeria “would be hard.” “Our success when the Green Eagles played against Algeria in the final of the 1980 Nations Cup that we won by 3-0…

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The Super Eagles of Nigeria are through to the semi-finals of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations after defeating the Bafana Bafana of South Africa 2-1 at the Cairo International Stadium. In the game dominated by the Nigerian side, Villareal’s hitman, Samuel Chukwueze and Udenese of Italy’s defender, William Troost-Ekong got their names in the score-sheet to seal Nigeria’s place in the last four

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Africa Cup of Nations newcomers Madagascar pulled off a stunning upset of Nigeria on Sunday with a 2-0 win over the three-time former champions to clinch a place in the last 16. Coach Gernot Rohr says “there’s no shame” losing to Madagascar after his highly-rated side crashed 2-0 to Madagascar in their final group B game on Sunday at the Africa Cup of Nations ongoing in Egypt. Rohr’s wife is from the Indian Ocean Island. A goal from LalainaNomenjanahary and a deflected  free-kick  from  Carolus Andriamahitsinoro saw debutants Madagascar finish…

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President Muhammadu Buhari has approved some of the funds for the Super Eagles campaign at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. The payment came after the players staged a protest on Tuesday over their outstanding bonuses and allowances at the Helnan Palestine Hotel in Egypt. The Nigerian Football Federation’s Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi, confirmed that the federation received part of the money on Tuesday morning and immediately started the process to convert the money to US dollars to pay the players. He said, “We want to specially thank…

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Nigeria’s Super Falcons star and FC Barcelona Ladies forward, Asisat Oshoala, is surely celebrating her arrival in the big league as she bought herself a brand new 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class for the summer. Oshoala’s new car described as a ‘wonder on wheel’ is valued at $33,100 (N11m) according to the thecarconnection.com. She proudly uploaded pictures of her newly acquired machine on her Instagram page status with a caption, “New summer legs. Landed and sitting pretty.” The former African footballer of the Year recently joined FC Barcelona women’s team on a…

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After a ressurgence that earned the Super Falcons a victory over highly-rated South Korea on Wednesday, the Nigerian side now targets a draw against host France in the final group match. The Super Falcons had boosted Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the next round in the ongoing FIFA Women World Cup in France with a 2-0 victory over South Korea. The first goal arrived in the first half when South Korean defender Kim Doyeon kicked the ball into her own net following strong pressing by Falcons striker Desire Oparanozie. Barcelona’s…

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Enyimba International FC beat Akwa United 3-0 to end the NPFL Super Six Championship Playoffs with 12 points from 5 matches and claim the 2018/2019 Nigeria Professional Football League title.

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Super Eagles Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr on Sunday named his final 23-man squad to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, leaving out Kelechi Iheanacho and Semilogo Ajayi. Iheanacho, who struggled for regular playing time at English Premier League outfit Leicester City in the 2018/2019 season, failed to convince Rohr he was worthy of a place in the final list. Ajayi, who was a standout performer for Rotherham United in the SkyBet Championship in England, could not displace more experienced players to make the team to Egypt. The News Agency of…

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Portuguese talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo added the inaugural Nations League title to the Euro 2016 triumph as Portugal pip Netherlands 1-nil in Porto on Sunday. The Dutch defensive pairing of Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt largely kept Cristiano Ronaldo quiet, but Valencia winger Goncalo Guedes proved the match-winner as his rocket-like shot fired past Jasper Cillessen in the Netherlands goal. Portugal had the advantage of an extra day’s rest and not being forced to extra time against Switzerland in their semi-final as the Dutch were, in seeing off England…

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Andy Ruiz Jr might have produced one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight history on Saturday, but his pay cheque was distinctly lightweight, compared to Anthony Joshua’s. The Mexican stunned Britain’s WBA, IBF and WBO champion to shake up heavyweight boxing’s established order in dramatic style. Ruiz is understood to have made only around £5m from the fight at New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden, The SUN has reported. Compare that to the whopping £20m Joshua is thought to have made and you see just how wide the gulf in class between…

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Andy Ruiz Jr produced one of the biggest shocks in the history of heavyweight boxing to rip Anthony Joshua’s IBF, WBO and WBA world heavyweight titles from him and tear up the division’s proposed plot lines. In a truly remarkable fight at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Ruiz floored Joshua four times en route to a seventh-round stoppage which stunned this famous arena and handed the Briton his first defeat as a professional. Joshua was a 1-25 favourite with bookmakers and will now join the likes of Lennox Lewis and…

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Thousands of English football fans draped in their team’s colours gathered in Madrid ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final between Liverpool and Tottenham, many still desperately seeking tickets for the match. In the central Sol square, several men held up handmade signs reading “Buy tickets” as chanting supporters from both sides walked past, many carrying beers, with temperatures already approaching 30 degrees centigrade. Among them was Kemam Kalkavar, a Turkish engineer and lifelong Liverpool fan who flew from Ankara with a group of friends for the match and was willing…

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has named his 23 players for the Champions League final, with all travelling players set to feature in the match-day squad. Klopp and his players will fly out to Madrid on Friday, ahead of a press conference and training session later in the day. The final is then on Saturday—meaning the Reds have flown out a day later than they did to Kyiv last year, as the boss bids to keep the pre-game routine as normal as possible for the players. In the build-up to the final there had…

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HS Media Group, Nigeria’s foremost marketing and production company, has won the Rights to market the 32nd African Cup of Nations starting in Cairo on June 21. It will be broadcast on NTA terrestrial television channels across Nigeria. This remarkable development will be sealed with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) at a signing ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. The Africa Cup of Nations is Africa’s biggest football tournament, where Nigerian fans can look forward to an enthralling continental football fiesta.

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Football fans have criticised Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, over the inclusion of Leicester City’s out of favour forward, Kelechi Ihenacho in his 25man list for the tournament slated for next month in Egypt. Fans speaking on a popular Lagos based Sports Radio yesterday evening, lambasted Rohr for bringing into the team “a player whose performance at club and the national team has dwindled below acceptable levels. Among several others, a caller questioned angrily if the national team is a “platform to revive a player’s failing career. Coach Gernot Rohr…

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With Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane having made his admiration of the England international clear, the Telegraph writes that “his goal-scoring feats have clearly registered” with the club’s powers that be and suggests the door has been left open to a move. Although the publication stresses that Tottenham have “repeatedly made it clear” that Kane, under contract until 2022, is not for sale, the Mirror reports that that won’t deter Madrid next summer. It reports that the Liga champions are “plotting a huge £150 million move,” with Zidane’s comments suggesting Kane…

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El Marino Sports Club, Lagos has elected a new executive committee to steer the affairs of the Club in the next one year. The election of the new executive committee was part of the activities of the club’s 2016 Annual General Meeting (AGM) which took place in Ibadan recently. The club also drew 1 – 1 with the University of Ibadan All Stars in a friendly football match which took place at the football pitch of the Polytechnic Ibadan. During the keenly contested election, Mr. Seyi Adefarati was elected as…

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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) team top the medal table at the ongoing maiden edition of ministry of interior games, showed supremacy over their counterparts from across the agencies in the ministry by clinching so far 56 Gold medals, 12 silvers and 9 Bronze; followed by Nigeria Police Force with 6 Gold Medal at Ministry of Interior game in Kaduna. The five days event, which closes on Saturday 29th October 2016, is aimed at integrating the five agencies in the ministry through sports. According to the Director…

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Chelsea supporters taunted Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho with chants of “You’re not special anymore!” as his Stamford Bridge return yielded a humiliating 4-0 defeat on Sunday. With seven major titles across two spells, Mourinho is Chelsea’s most successful ever manager, but his return to his old stomping ground ended in one of the most chastening results of his career. Pedro Rodriguez opened the scoring after just 30 seconds and Chelsea did not look back, Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante completing an emphatic Premier League victory. It was…

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