GLOBAL ASSOCIATION NEWS
The English Football Association are set to appoint current Financial Times diversity guru Yasir Mirza as the organisation’s new anti-discrimination chief.
Mirza will work closely with both mens and women’s England senior teams, and junior age sides, as their lead diversity and equality advisor.
The executive position has taken on major significance at the governing body in recent years given English football’s ongoing commitment to improving diversity.
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A record eight international players, six of them linemen from Nigeria, were assigned to NFL clubs on Thursday under the
league’s International Player Pathway program for the 2023 season.
Australia and France will also be represented at clubs by players starting with training camps in July.
After 38 athletes from 13 nations tried out at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, 13 were chosen for the 2023 program and spent 10 weeks training in Florida with a chance to showcase their skills in front of NFL scouts.
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NIGERIA
Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, is full of commendation for the Nigerian athletes to the just concluded African Under-eighteen and Under-twenty Athletics Championship in Zambia.
The athletes won seventeen gold, ten silver and nine bronze medals to finish in second place on the medal table behind South Africa.
Nigeria competed at the Meet with forty-one athletes while South Africa presented over a hundred athletes for the competition.
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A former Super Eagles Captain, Jay Jay Okocha, urges the Super Eagles to be more consistent and stable in their quest to maintain the team’s status as Africa’s number one.
The mercurial midfielder who gave the advice at the unveiling of the African Heroes Penalty Cup in Lagos, said the Super Eagles team had been less impressive in recent years missing important competitions like the World Cup.
On the contract extension of the current coach of Super Eagles, Jose Pesseiro, Okocha explained that he expected the Nigeria Football Federation would take an informed decision.
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Nigeria international, Victor Osimhen says he will never forget winning Napoli’s first Serie A title in over three decades after his goal finally pushed southern Italy’s biggest club over the line.
Osimhen’s 22nd league goal of the season earned Napoli a one-all draw at Udinese which was enough to win a first league crown since 1990.
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Former Golden Eaglets star, Akinkunmi Amoo, will appear at the District Court in Denmark twenty-third June on alleged charges bothering on sexual assault and other two unspecified others, journalist Osasu Obayiuwana posted on Twitter.
Amoo is reportedly in Nigeria after being granted permission by his club FC Copenhagen to visit his family and at the same time train with the Nigeria Football Federation’s medical staff.
The 20-year-old has been training with the Flying Eagles in Abuja as he continues his rehabilitation from a long-term knee injury.
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Golden Eaglets coach, Nduka Ugbade, has tasked his players to be more clinical and ruthless in front of goal as they go into the run-in for a quarter-final spot.
A win against Morocco would have secured a quarter-final slot for the Eaglets, but they were undone by a second-minute
Tochukwu Ogboji own goal, which handed Morocco progression into the knockout stage, with the Nigerians having to battle South Africa for the next available slot.
Nigeria remain second in Group B with three points and just ahead of their next opponent, South Africa, on goals difference.
Both countries will meet in their last group game on Saturday.
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South Africa head coach, Duncan Crowie says his players will give their all in the Group B clash against Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets on Saturday.
The Amajimbos lost their opening game at the 2023 Africa Under-seventeen Cup of Nations one-nil to Morocco.
The Amajimbos currently occupy the third position behind Nigeria in the group.
The clash against the Golden Eaglets will determine who joins Morocco in the quarter-finals of the competition.
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Four-time champions Enyimba are through to the next round of this year’s Federation Cup after dumping out Rivers United
five-four on penalties in their rescheduled round of sixty-four encounter in Uyo on Thursday.
The game went straight into penalties after regulation time ended goalless and while Enyimba converted all their spot
kicks, Farouk Mohammed missed the third for Rivers United as the remaining kicks were played out without mistakes.
Enyimba will now face another high-profile opponent in Plateau United in round thirty-two tenth May.
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Akwa United captain, Ubong Friday, says there is unity among the players as they push to secure a Nigeria Premier Football League Super Six spot.
The Promise Keepers suffered a setback in their quest to make the Super Six after going down to a one-nil defeat to Remo Stars.
Akwa United will entertain El-Kanemi Warriors on Saturday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.
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The Director, Tunwase School, Ikeja, Tolulope Kunle-Agboluaje wants Lagosians to engage in the acts of physical activities and sporting events in order to build a viable sporting culture in the state.
Kunle-Agboluaje who stated this at the 2023 Inter-House Sports Competition said the aims of the programme was to ensure children’s energy were diverted into sporting activities as this will combat recklessness in the community.
While stressing that sports serve as a great avenue to teach young students the importance of life skills, he said the event would assist students to make an impact in the society, noting that Parents should expose their children to sporting events.
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Also, the Chairman of the occasion, Tayo Beckley who stated that the event would go a long way in encouraging parents to allow their children to participate in sporting activities, said it would build confidence in them.
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The School’s Head, Nkechi Itua who also attributed the competition as a way to raise future champions for the state and Nigeria at large, said the platform was to build champions for athletics and to allow students to showcase their talent through sporting events.
Meanwhile, Red house emerged the over all winner, while Yellow house took second position and Blue house settled with third position.
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ENGLAND
Brighton gained sweet revenge for their defeat to Manchester United on penalties in the FA Cup semi-final on Thursday as Alexis Mac Allister scored from the spot in the dying seconds to earn a 1-0 win.
Classy Brighton dominated possession but lacked a cutting edge until Luke Shaw’s handball deep into injury time gave them a chance to take all three points.
The Seagulls beat United 2-1 in their first match of the season but suffered a painful defeat in last month’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on spot-kicks.
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Brighton boss, Roberto de Zerbi says there is a god of football” after his side beat Manchester United with a late penalty, eleven days after losing an FA Cup semi-final to them in a shootout.
De Zerbi who believed his team played better than Manchester United in both games, said last result was unfair.
He added that the team deserved to win the semi-final but lost on penalties.
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Crystal Palace boss, Roy Hodgson says changing managers late in the season is “strange” as new coaches do not have “magic dust” for struggling teams.
On Wednesday, Sam Allardyce replaced Javi Gracia as Leeds manager for the final four games of the season.
He and Hodgson are two of six Premier League managers who will finish the season on an interim basis.
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Everton manager, Sean Dyche, says the team’s captain Seamus Coleman is unlikely to play again this season because of a knee injury.
Coleman was carried off on a stretcher during Monday’s two-all draw at Leicester after colliding with Boubakary Soumare.
The full-back, said he would be “back soon” after a scan on his right knee revealed no anterior cruciate ligament damage.
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Premier League strugglers Everton are in talks over new investment into the club.
Conversations have taken place with MSP Sports Capital and seven hundred and seventy-seven Partners about providing finance for the club’s new stadium on Bramley Moore Dock.
Owner Farhad Moshiri told the fans’ advisory board the club was “not for sale” but he had been talking to “top investors of real quality”.
Seven hundred and seventy-seven declined to comment, while MSP did not respond when asked to comment.
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Javi Gracia has defended his record as Leeds manager following his sacking.
Gracia was replaced by Sam Allardyce this week with four games of the Premier League season remaining.
Leeds were nineteen in the table when Gracia took over from Jesse Marsch in February, and are currently seventeen above the relegation zone on goal difference.
Gracia, who was also in charge for an FA Cup fifth-round defeat by Fulham, earned wins against Southampton, Wolves and Nottingham Forest in his first six league games.
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Arsenal legend, Patrick Vieira, says his former club started losing games and conceding goals after losing one key player, William Saliba.
Saliba played a major part in Arsenal’s success this season, making his name as one of the best defenders in the Premier League this season.
The Frenchman is currently injured and has missed Arsenal’s last five matches.
Saliba is also expected to miss Arsenal’s next Premier League game against Newcastle this weekend.
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Chelsea legend Petr Cech has expressed sadness over the current situation of the club.
Cech still believes that winning just one match could turn the whole situation around for the Blues.
The former goalkeeper, who also served as Chelsea’s technical and performance advisor last summer, following the sack
of Thomas Tuchel, is hopeful his former club would improve.
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Manchester United’s transfer budget will only be one hundred million pounds even if they are bought by mega-rich Qataris.
Late last year the Glazer family announced they would be open to a takeover of the Red Devils or an injection of funds in exchange for a partial stake.
Friday was the third, and what is expected to be final, deadline for parties to make offers to buy the Old Trafford outfit, with Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe both submitting bids.
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Former Liverpool striker, Michael Owen, has insisted that the team are not in need of a complete squad overhaul this summer.
Liverpool came close to securing a prestigious quadruple last campaign, missing out on the Premier League and Champions League honours by the narrowest margins.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are currently in the fifth position on the Premier League table this season.
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Liverpool have emerged as frontrunners to land Alexis Mac- Allister, with his Brighton team-mates believing the midfielder is destined for Anfield.
Mac- Allister, integral in Argentina winning the World Cup, has suitors from across Europe after two stellar seasons on the south coast.
The expectation is that Mac Allister will seal a move this summer and his father and representative, Carlos, is handling the negotiations.
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Fulham captain, Tom Cairney has claimed that referee Stuart Attwell admitted he made a mistake over Liverpool’s match-winning penalty.
Liverpool clinched a narrow one-nil victory over the Cottagers thanks to Mohamed Salah’s thirty-nine minute penalty.
The spot-kick had been awarded after Issa Diop was adjudged to have fouled Darwin Nunez as the striker sprinted to steal the ball from the Fulham defender.
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Tottenham have confirmed their plans ahead of King Charles’ coronation, though Liverpool are yet to make an announcement over whether they will play the national anthem.
The Premier League have asked clubs to play God Save The King before matches this weekend to mark the coronation on Saturday.
Tottenham confirmed they will adhere to the Premier League’s request before their clash with Crystal Palace on Saturday.
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Leicester City boss, Dean Smith, says Jamie Vardy is proving the doubters wrong and is ready to deliver yet another piece of magic by keeping Leicester in the Premier League.
After a miserable season under former boss Brendan Rodgers, the player has come alive under Smith, scoring in each of his last two games and looking back to his old self.
With the change in the dugout the Foxes are once again looking to their talisman in the final four games of the season.
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Manchester City’s owners want to help Brazilian football grow financially after the group bought its thirteen club.
Bahia became the latest club to join the City Football Group.
The club competes in Brazil’s top national league and have won the title twice, most recently in 1988.
He said “journey” would take place “while staying true to its community, roots, members and the energy that makes Bahia and Brazilian football some of the most exciting in the world”.
City Football Group acquired a ninety percent stake in the Salvador-based club.
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Defender Laura Wienroither has become the fourth Arsenal player to suffer an anterior cruciate ligament injury this season.
The Austria international was carried off on a stretcher in Monday’s Champions League second-leg semi-final defeat by Wolfsburg.
Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema also have the same injury.
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OTHER SPORTS
Rory McIlroy began his challenge for a fourth Wells Fargo Championship title with an impressive three-under-par 68 at Quail Hollow on his 34th birthday.
Returning to competition for the first time since missing the cut at the Masters last month, McIlroy posted four birdies and a solitary bogey.
The world number three’s opening round left him two behind a group of three early clubhouse leaders.
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Andy Murray earned a place in the quarter-finals of the ATP Challenger Tour 175 event in Aix-en-Provence with a three-set win over Laurent Lokoli.
Murray secured a 6-4 5-7 6-3 victory with his sixth match point at the Open Aix Provence Credit Agricole.
The 35-year-old, who at 52nd is ranked 135 places higher than the Frenchman, made it back-to-back wins for the first time since Indian Wells in March.
He will face another Frenchman, Luca Van Assche, in Friday’s quarter-final.
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London Irish owner Mick Crossan has paid overdue April wages, just minutes before players were preparing to submit breach-of-contract notices.
Players and staff should have been paid last Friday, but were still waiting for their salaries on Thursday afternoon.
On the advice of the Rugby Players’ Association, the Exiles squad set a deadline of 17:00 BST on Thursday.
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OTHER LEAGUE
Napoli won their first Serie A title for thirty-three years as they drew with Udinese at Dacia Arena to spark jubilant celebrations back in Naples.
They last won the league in 1990 with a Diego Maradona-inspired side adding to their first title three years earlier.
Victor Osimhen smashed in a fifty-two-minute equaliser after Sandi Lovric had given Udinese a shock lead.
And Napoli held on to the point they needed to win their third Serie A title with five games to spare.
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Meanwhile, the city of Naples was transformed into an epic street party.
Roads were filled with people singing, dancing and hugging one another, while children played football around them.
People jumped in fountains in jubilation, while others waved huge Napoli flags as they darted about on their scooters.
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Real Madrid’s makeover from Ballon d’Or collectors to Golden Boy discoverers has been one of the most remarkable seen in football this century.
There was a time when the closest thing the club had to a chief scout was president Florentino Perez flicking through television channels to see who was playing.
The process of identifying the next acquisition often centered on Perez watching the World Cup or the Ballon d’Or ceremony and signing the winners usually breaking the transfer fee record in the process.
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La Liga President, Javier Tebas says Lionel Messi will earn less at Barcelona, if he makes a return from Paris Saint-Germain.
Tebas said for Messi to rejoin Barcelona, the La Liga side must also sell players for good amounts.
Messi is set to leave the Ligue 1 champions this summer when his current contract expires.
The Argentina captain was suspended by PSG this week, following an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia.
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Paris Saint-Germain are increasing security at the homes of Lionel Messi and Neymar following protests by fans.
Supporters gathered outside Neymar’s Paris home and chanted for him to leave the club.
Argentine Messi, is to leave PSG when his contract runs out in the summer, while Neymar, is out injured.
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Roma boss, Jose Mourinho says he wore a microphone to protect himself against the worst referee he has met in his life during his side’s one-all draw with Monza.
Mourinho criticised referee Daniele Chiffi after he sent off Roma’s Mehmet Zeki Celik in the ninety-six minute.
He received three red cards this season for disputes with officials, including one from Chiffi in September.
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Former Wales defender Chris Gunter has brought an end to his playing career.
AFC Wimbledon’s Gunter, announced his decision to retire two months after quitting international football, having won one hundred and nine caps.
The former Cardiff City and Tottenham full-back has already begun coaching with Wales and will take on an official role this summer.
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SOCCER ACTION CONTINUES THIS WEEKEND.
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In Nigeria Professional Football League
Akwa United vs El Kanemi Warriors
Bendel Insurance vs Shooting Stars
Dakkada vs Lobi Stars
Doma United vs Enugu Rangers
Enyimba vs Gombe United
Kwara United vs Nasarawa United
Niger Tornadoes vs Sunshine Stars
Plateau United vs Remo Stars
Rivers United vs Bayelsa United
Wikki Tourist vs Abia Warriors
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IN ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
ON SATURDAY
AFC Bournemouth vs Chelsea
Manchester City vs Leeds United
Tottenham Hotspur vs Crystal Palace
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Aston Villa
Liverpool vs Brentford
ON SUNDAY
Newcastle United vs Arsenal
West Ham United vs Manchester United
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IN SPANISH COPA DEL REY
Real Madrid vs Osasuna
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IN ITALIAN SERIE A
ON SATURDAY
AC Milan vs Lazio
Roma vs Inter Milan
Cremonese vs Spezia
ON SUNDAY
Atalanta vs Juventus
Torino vs Monza
Napoli vs Fiorentina
Lecce vs Hellas Verona
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IN FRENCH LIGUE 1
ON SATURDAY
Nice vs Rennes
Reims vs Lille
Lens vs Marseille
ON SUNDAY
Nantes vs Strasbourg
Lyon vs Montpellier
Troyes vs Paris Saint Germain
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