GLOBAL ASSOCIATION NEWS
Organisers of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which starts in fifty days, say they are closing in on one million ticket sales.
More than eight hundred and fifty thousand have been sold for the event in Australia and New Zealand.
FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, said the 2023 is going to be a landmark moment for women’s football.
The World Cup, which features thirty-two nations, including England and the Republic of Ireland, starts on twentieth July with the final twentieth August.
==============================
The Women’s World Cup is still facing a TV blackout across Europe as some of the biggest footballing countries have not yet agreed broadcast deals for the tournament.
There is an overriding feeling within the sport that the offers being tabled by major broadcasters are below par.
FIFA President, Gianni Infantino described offers from broadcasters in the ‘Big Five’ European countries as ‘very disappointing’ and ‘a slap in the face’.
=======================================
NIGERIA
The Super Falcons will face either Ethiopia or Chad in the second round of the 2024 Paris Olympic football qualifier.
The draw for the qualifiers was held on Tuesday in Cairo, Egypt.
Ethiopia and Chad will face each other in the first round and the winner over two legs will take on the Super Falcons in the second round.
==============================
Ahead of their first game against The Netherlands on Wednesday at the Dream Cup Invitational tournament in Japan, head coach of Nigeria’s Under-fifteen side, Haruna Ilerika, says his objective at the competition is to get the best out of the boys and prepare them for the future.
==================================
The Interim Management Committee IMC has concluded plans to broadcast matches of the Nigeria Premier Football League Super Six playoff live.
Cable television channel SuperSports will transmit all the matches live.
The playoff is billed to kick off on Saturday, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos.
Bendel Insurance, Remo Stars, Sunshine Stars, Lobi Stars, Rivers United, and Enyimba will compete in the playoffs.
================================
The Technical Adviser of Confluence Queens, Whyte Ogbonna, has charged the New Direction Queens to make the state proud in the forthcoming Nigeria Women Professional League Super Six slated for Asaba, next week.
Addressing the team, Ogbonna, said the girls have what it takes to compete with others for the title in Asaba.
Confluence Queens is one of the six teams who have successfully booked the ticket for this year’s edition of the women football tournament.
====================================
A non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering underprivileged communities, Gloves For Africa is to create a boxing academy within the Makoko community.
According to Gloves For Africa, the academy will not only provide training in boxing but also foster discipline, mentorship, and personal growth among the children.
It says the aims is to create a sustainable platform that nurtures the dreams and aspirations of the children, providing them with opportunities for personal development and a brighter future.
The children were overjoyed as they received notebooks, pencils, and other supplies, which will enable them to pursue their education with renewed enthusiasm.
=======================
ENGLAND.
==========================
Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola has been named manager of the year by the League Managers Association.
It’s the third time Guardiola has collected the Sir Alex Ferguson Trophy, voted for by managers across all of the divisions.
The Spaniard also won the Premier League manager of the year award after his side clinched a third consecutive title and fifth in six seasons.
===============================
Manchester United forward Anthony Martial will miss Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City with a hamstring injury.
The France international sustained the injury in Sunday’s two-one win against Fulham at Old Trafford.
The club confirmed on Tuesday the tests revealed the player had suffered a muscle tear.
========================
Five men have been sentenced to a total of more than thirty years in prison after the Premier League brought about a historic private prosecution to clamp down on piracy and the illegal streaming of Premier League matches.
The individuals involved, aged between thirty and forty-six, operated one of the UK’s largest illicit streaming services and made millions of pounds selling TV sticks to over fifty thousand customers and resellers.
==================================
Andre Marriner has retired from refereeing after close to two decades as an official in the Premier League.
Marriner, took charge of a match for the final time in Arsenal’s five-nil win over Wolves, his three hundred and ninety-one in the top flight, before bringing the curtain down on his long career.
============================
Liverpool have appointed Jorg Schmadtke as the club’s new sporting director.
Schmadtke, replaces Julian Ward who has vacated the role after eleven years at Anfield.
The German’s most recent position was at Wolfsburg, where he was sporting director until February.
===================================
Chelsea announces the appointment of Chris Jurasek as the team’s new chief executive, while also confirming President of Business Tom Glick is leaving after less than a year in his role.
Jurasek will oversee all business areas at Chelsea and report to the board alongside co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley.
The Blues’ twelveth-place Premier League finish in owners’ the Clearlake group’s first season has led to Mauricio Pochettino being named head coach and tasked with improving their on-field fortunes.
==============================
Chelsea have pushed out close to four million pounds for every goal Joao Felix scored during his loan spell at the club and a staggering seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds per appearance.
New Blues boss, Mauricio Pochettino has already decided against triggering a permanent deal for Felix, who joined on loan from Atletico Madrid in January for an initial nine million pounds.
==============================
Everton midfielder, Jean-Philippe Gbamin’s agent, Bernard Collignon, says the player wants to leave Everton and end his “nightmare” at the club.
The Toffees signed the midfielder from Mainz for twenty-five million pounds in 2019, but his spell has been wrecked by lengthy injuries.
Gbamin played only eight games, including six in the Premier League, and currently on loan at Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor.
========================
Graham Potter is Crystal Palace’s first choice as the team search for a new manager.
Roy Hodgson’s short-term contract at Selhurst Park comes to an end this summer.
Hodgson, took over in March to guide his boyhood side to the end of the season after his successor in south London, Patrick Vieira, was sacked in March.
===============================
Arsenal and Aston Villa have entered the race to sign Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio on a free transfer this summer.
Asensio spent the last eight years at the Bernabeu, making two hundred and eighty-five appearances during this period, but he is set to leave the club next month when his contract expires after rejecting an offer to extend his deal.
==================================
Seven years on from their triumphant Premier League title win, Leicester City’s supporters are preparing to watch second tier football come the beginning of August.
The Foxes beat West Ham at the King Power on the final day, but Everton’s victory against Bournemouth confirmed their dreaded relegation to the EFL Championship.
It signals the end to a miserable campaign for Leicester that saw the 2021 FA Cup winners win just nine of their thirty-eight league matches.
==============================
Manchester City striker, Khadija Shaw has signed a two-year contract extension, committing herself to the club until 2026.
Shaw, scored twenty goals in twenty-two Women’s Super League appearances last season, helping the club to a fourth-placed finish.
The player who joined City from Bordeaux in 2021, also claimed the club’s Player and Goal of the Season awards.
========================
OTHER SPORTS
In Tennis; Second seed Daniil Medvedev was stunned by qualifier Thiago Seyboth Wild in a big French Open first-round shock.
The Russian battled windy conditions, “a mouthful of clay” and the Brazilian’s outstanding forehand in a 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (6-8) 2-6 6-3 6-4 loss.
Medvedev had arrived at Roland Garros in good form and in contention for the world number one ranking.
============================
Novak Djokovic wrote a political message about Kosovo on a camera lens after beginning his quest for a record 23rd men’s Grand Slam singles title with victory at the French Open.
Serbia’s Djokovic claimed a 6-3 6-2 7-6 (7-1) win over Aleksandar Kovacevic.
============================
In Golf; Jon Rahm says the Ryder Cup should be contested between the best of Europe and America, regardless of players’ LIV Golf status.
Rahm said he was sad he would not be able to renew his partnership with fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia.
Garcia is ineligible for the contest after resigning from the European Tour to join the Saudi-funded LIV Tour.
=============================
In Cricket; Worcestershire seamer Josh Tongue will make his Test debut against Ireland at Lord’s on Thursday in an England side that will also include Jonny Bairstow.
Tongue, has been picked ahead of Warwickshire all-rounder Chris Woakes.
===============================
In Rugby; France prop Mohamed Haouas has been sentenced to one year in jail for domestic abuse.
He was arrested for hitting his wife when he saw her smoking after telling him she had stopped.
The incident is likely to end any hopes Haouas had of being picked for September’s World Cup in France.
=============================
OTHER LEAGUES
Galatasaray has won the Turkish league title for the twenty-three time, after beating Ankaragucu four-one in Ankara.
Argentine forward Mauro Icardi scored twice while Baris Alper Yilmaz and Sergio Oliveira both found the net.
It is Galatasaray’s first league title since 2019 and puts them four ahead of Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce in the all-time winners list.
===============================
Roma boss, Jose Mourinho says “history does not win matches” but something has to give in Wednesday’s Europa League final against Sevilla.
Sevilla, record six-time winners, have never lost a Europa League final, while Mourinho has won all five European finals he has ever been involved in.
The winners of the final at Budapest’s Puskas Arena will play in next season’s Champions League.
===========================
Edwin van der Sar has resigned from his role as Ajax chief executive.
The former Manchester United goalkeeper joined the Eredivisie side’s board in 2012, becoming chief executive in 2016.
Ajax finished third last season to qualify for the Europa League play-offs, missing out on the Champions League for the first time since 2009.
================================
Real Madrid are eyeing up a surprise move for Espanyol striker Joselu.
The former Newcastle flop enjoyed a superb season at Barcelona’s city rivals, scoring sixteen LaLiga goals in thirty-two appearances despite the side’s relegation to the second tier.
While Real Madrid are considering their summer business as they look to bounce back from a disappointing season which saw them finish adrift of title winners Barcelona and knocked out of the Champions League by Manchester City.
================================
Real Madrid star, Karim Benzema has been offered a massive three hundred and forty-five million pounds two-year deal to join an unnamed Saudi Arabian side this summer.
His future at the Santiago Bernabeu is up in the air as he is yet to sign an extension to his deal which expires this summer.
=================================
Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper, Sergio Rico’s wife has posted a worrying message after her husband was left in a serious condition in hospital following a horse riding accident.
Rico suffered a head injury after falling off a horse and was transported to a hospital through helicopter in Seville.
==================================
Bayern Munich have signed Scotland midfielder Sam Kerr from Rangers, with the player agreeing a three-year contract with the German champions.
She moved to Rangers from Scottish champions Glasgow City in 2020 and helped them wrest the title away from her former club last season.
Kerr made thirty-nine appearances, scoring eight goals, this term as Rangers finished third, but won the League Cup.
==============================
Portuguese sports agent, Jorge Mendes has opened up on his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming they are still ‘close’ despite cutting ties in a professional capacity last year.
Ronaldo reportedly split from his long-serving agent after a disagreement over his bombshell Piers Morgan interview which led to his bitter Manchester United exit.
=================================
TODAY’S FIXTURES
====================================
IN EUROPA LEAGUE – FINAL
Sevilla vs Roma
IN FIFA UNDER-TWENTY WORLD CUP – ROUND OF 16
Brazil – Tunisia
Colombia – Slovakia
Argentina – Nigeria
England – Italy
securityandsafetymatters 