NIGERIA
World Athletics, the global governing body for the sport, has given Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, the nod to hold today’s emergency congress in Abuja.
The emergency congress, which was called by the AFN to tackle some constitutional issues, has stirred controversy from some of the board members, who claim it did not meet the constitutional requirement of fifteen days notice.
AFN First Vice President, Tafida Gadzama, had written to the body’s president, Tonobok Okowa, warning against violating the federation’s constitution with regards to the emergency congress.
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Nigeria defeated Italy in an end-to-end encounter at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023 on Wednesday, courtesy of Salim Fago Lawal’s diving header and Jude Sunday’s last-gasp finish.
The result means the Flying Eagles qualify for the knockout stage on six points while the Azzurri are on three points after two games apiece in Group D.
Both sides had chances in the first half, with Tommaso Baldanzi testing the hands of Kingsley Aniagboso. The first goal arrived just after the hour.
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Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze received his first call-up to the England squad on Wednesday as Raheem Sterling was omitted for Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia.
This could end the dream of many Nigerians who have been hoping for him to represent the Super Eagles at senior international level.
Eze, who was born in Greenwich, South London to Nigerian parents is also eligible to play for Nigeria, but the England call-up may end that possibility.
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Former Wolfsburg sporting director, Jorg Schmadtke has admitted he regrets cashing in on Nigeria international Victor Osimhen too soon during his time at the club.
Osimhen arrived the Bundesliga club after scoring ten goals for Golden Eaglets side that won the FIFA Under-seventeen World Cup in 2015.
The striker was allowed to join Belgian Pro League club, Sporting Charleroi on loan after going sixteen games without a goal at Wolfsburg.
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Former Golden Eaglets coach, John Obuh has called on those in charge of the major football clubs in Abia State, Abia Warriors and Enyimba, to consider merging them.
Obuh, a former Akwa United boss, who also managed the likes of Enugu Rangers and Kwara United, pointed out that Enyimba does not have its history preserved anywhere.
He said there was no need to keep the two Abia clubs as separate entities, calling for the merger for better services and output.
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Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has congratulated Enyimba International Football Club of Aba for qualifying for Nigeria Professional Football League, NFPL, Super Six competition.
Ikpeazu who gave the commendation, charged the team to complete the performance by defeating the other five teams in the competition and emerge the champions.
Enyimba qualified for the Super Six competition after finishing third behind Bendel Insurance and Remo Stars.
Rivers United, Lobi Stars and Sunshine also qualified to compete for the Super Six trophy.
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A chieftain of the All Progressives Party APC, Lagos State, Fuad Oki, has been elected Chairman of Lagos State Football Association LSFA.
Oki defeated the incumbent Vice Chairman, Tade Azeez, by thirteen votes to one.
The election conducted at the main bowl of the Mobolaji Johnson Arena had all the delegates of the five divisional constituencies.
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Alexander Volkanovski believes that Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira will compete against one another again in the future.
Throughout the course of their rivalry, Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira have fought each other four times.
The first two meetings came in kickboxing, and the third in mixed martial arts.
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ENGLAND
Lautaro Martinez scored twice as Champions League finalists Inter Milan came from behind to beat Fiorentina and win their second consecutive Coppa Italia title.
Fiorentina opened the scoring at Stadio Olimpico after just three minutes when Nico Gonzales drilled in a cross.
Martinez equalised from a tight angle in the 29th minute.
The striker got the winner eight minutes later with a volley.
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Brighton’s Julio Enciso scored a fantastic equaliser as the Seagulls confirmed Europa League qualification with an entertaining draw against champions Manchester City.
Phil Foden opened the scoring for Treble-chasing City, squeezing the ball beyond Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke on the goalline after Erling Haaland’s assist left goalkeeper Jason Steele stranded.
Brighton deservedly levelled through 19-year-old Enciso’s stunning strike, which arrowed into the top corner from 25 yards.
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Eberechi Eze has been called up to the England squad for the first time for next month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia.
Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling has been left out by mutual decision after talks with boss Gareth Southgate, as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tyrone Mings and Lewis Dunk have also been recalled.
Chelsea trio Reece James, Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell miss out through injury, while there is no place for Arsenal’s Ben White, Tottenham’s Eric Dier, Everton’s Conor Coady or AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori.
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England manager, Gareth Southgate has offered strong backing to banned striker Ivan Toney and questioned why he is not allowed to train with his club Brentford.
Toney, who made his Three Lions debut against Ukraine in March, has been banned for football for eight months after breaking Football Association betting rules.
He can not return to training with Brentford until four months before the ban ends meaning he must train alone until September.
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Former Liverpool defender, Jamie Carragher and Manchester United legend Gary Neville have revealed their favourite games of the season.
Unsurprisingly, Carragher picked Liverpool’s seven-nil mauling of Manchester United as his favourite match of the season.
While Neville, the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France was his top match of the football season.
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Manchester United’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Supporters Club have urged fans not to sing offensive chants when they host Chelsea in the Premier League on Thursday.
Recent meetings between the two clubs have been marred by homophobic slurs.
Meanwhile, Manchester United forward, Marcus Rashford is expected to return to the team for Thursday’s clash with Chelsea as Erik ten Hag’s side look to seal Champions League qualification.
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Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag has mischievously refused to dismiss speculation linking the team with a sensational move for Neymar.
The Brazil star is understood to have been made available by Paris Saint-Germain this summer with United one of a number clubs contacted over a possible transfer.
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Arsenal star, Bukayo Saka says they are “hurt” to have lost this year’s Premier League title to Manchester City.
The Gunners led the way for most of the season, but collapsed during the final weeks of the campaign.
Mikel Arteta’s men recorded only two wins in the last eight fixtures and their one-nil defeat at Nottingham Forest confirmed City as champions.
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Chelsea’s struggles should serve as a warning for Manchester United before their takeover, says boss Erik ten Hag.
Chelsea were taken over by Todd Boehly last summer and have spent more than £600m in two transfer windows.
However, the 12th-placed Blues have endured a torrid season and are guaranteed to record their lowest points total in the Premier League era.
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Chelsea owner, Todd Boehly will cut his day-to-day involvement at the club by half after they endured a poor season despite a six hundred million pounds outlay on new players.
The Blues will finish the American businessman’s first season in control in the bottom half of the Premier League.
Boehly is now spending just twenty per cent of his time on the running of the Stamford Bridge club down from fifty per cent in the months straight after his May 2022 takeover.
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On-loan Chelsea forward, Joao Felix has made it clear he wants to stay at Stamford Bridge.
The Portugal international said he would love to stay in West London when his loan deal ends at the end of the season.
Felix moved to Stamford Bridge on a six-month loan from Atletico Madrid in January after he fell out of favour with Diego Simeone.
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Newcastle United are set to agree a multi-year deal worth around twenty-five million pounds per season with Saudi events company Sela to become the club’s main shirt sponsor.
Discussions have been taking place with several potential sponsors in recent months and an announcement is now expected, with Sela replacing betting firm Fun888, who signed a six point five million pounds per year deal in 2017.
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Chelsea have extended England’s Euro 2022-winning midfielder Fran Kirby’s contract by a year to 2024.
She is Chelsea’s leading women’s goalscorer, having scored one hundred and ten times in one hundred and seventy-five appearances.
Kirby, who joined the club from Reading in 2015, signed a two-year deal in 2021 with the option of a further twelve months.
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OTHER SPORTS
A former Olympian Marilyn Chua, says there is a “toxic and negative” team culture in Malaysian swimming, following a poor showing at the Southeast Asian Games.
Chua, who competed at the two thousand Olympics, spoke out ahead of the Asian Games this year in China.
She said the national swimming team lacked unity, leadership, fairness and transparency in its selection process.
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In Cricket, Australia bowler Mitchell Starc has rejected suggestions by Stuart Broad that the 2021-22 Ashes in Australia was a “void series” because it took place under Covid-19 restrictions.
England bowler Broad said their four-nil loss was not the “real Ashes” because of curbs on travel and socialising.
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In Rugby, Former England coach Eddie Jones says he is going to love returning to Twickenham when he coaches the Barbarians against a World XV.
It will be the first time Jones returned to the stadium since he was sacked in December.
Jones departed after a run of five wins in twelve games in 2022, with fans booing at the end of their autumn campaign.
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OTHER LEAGUE
British heavyweight Boxer Anthony Joshua has hit out with some rather cryptic comments, which appear to be criticising the organisation of the sport.
In doing so, he echoes comments made by George Foreman and Mike Tyson.
Joshua, is a former unified heavyweight champion and he made a winning but unconvincing comeback last month by beating Jermaine Franklin on points.
He is also prepping for a future showdown with Deontay Wilder.
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Former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta will leave Vissel Kobe after five years at the Japanese club.
The 39-year-old will play his final match for the side on 1 July, midway through the J-League season.
Iniesta, who has made just three substitute appearances so far this season for league leaders Vissel, has no plans to retire immediately.
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Real Madrid’s players and fans showed support for Vinicius Jr as they beat Rayo Vallecano 2-1 at the Bernabeu.
The win was the club’s first match since their Brazilian forward was racially abused at Valencia on Sunday.
Vinicius missed the match through injury and Real’s players took to the pitch in his number 20 shirt, while the captains of both teams wore armbands carrying anti-racism messages.
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Spain left-back Jordi Alba will leave Barcelona this summer after the Spanish champions agree to mutually terminate his contract a season early.
Alba, joined the club in 2012 from Valencia and won six La Liga titles, five Copa del Rey trophies and the Champions League in 2015.
He made four hundred and fifty-eight appearances for the Catalan club, including twenty-nine this season as Barcelona won La Liga.
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PSV Eindhoven head coach, Ruud van Nistelrooy has left before the final game of the season because of “a lack of support within the club.
Van Nistelrooy won the Dutch Cup and Dutch Super Cup after taking over the role in March 2022, as PSV said talks about his future were set for Sunday but the he subsequently resigned.
The club, who are second in Eredivisie, said they “regretted” his decision.
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Al Nassr forward, Cristiano Ronaldo says the Saudi Pro League could become one of the top five leagues in the world.
Ronaldo arrived from Manchester United in January in a deal worth more than two hundred million euros.
He is convinced that the quality of football in Saudi Arabia can match that in Europe.
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TODAY’S FIXTURES
IN ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester United vs Chelsea
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IN SPANISH LA LIGA
Mallorca vs Valencia
Osasuna vs Athletic Bilbao
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