GLOBAL ASSOCIATION NEWS
The latest round of Euro 2024 qualifiers happens this month – with all the home nations and the Republic of Ireland in action.
Not every team will be playing qualifiers in June, with the Netherlands, Croatia, Spain and Italy competing in the Nations League finals instead.
======================================
NIGERIA
Former Minister for Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare has expressed his wish for the Interim Management Committee (IMC) to run the abridged league for two more seasons.
Dare, who averred that the success achieved in the just concluded season will shoot the Nigeria Premier League to the top of the continent, commended IMC’s dedication, fearlessness, and transparency in the conduct of the league.
======================================
Super Falcon’s captain Onome Ebi, is set to participate in her sixth Women’s World Cup at the Australia & New Zealand 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Ebi, who is 40 years old and has won the African championship four times, shared her secrets to maintaining her longevity with FIFA and expressed her ambitions for the upcoming tournament in July.
Nigeria has qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup nine times, and Ebi has played in five of them. When asked what motivates her to continue playing at the age of 40, Ebi said it’s her passion for the sport.
In the upcoming tournament, the Super Falcons will compete against Australia, the Republic of Ireland, and Canada in Group B.
======================================
Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, has warned that Sierra Leone will come out fighting against his team as it will be the major lifeline to qualify for the 2023 AFCON.
Nigeria are second in Group A with nine points from four matches, while Sierra Leone are third on five points.
In November 2020, the Eagles were pegged back 4-4 by a remarkable Sierra Leonean comeback in Benin City, before both teams played out a scoreless draw in the reverse tie in Freetown.
======================================
Central African Republic will slug it out against Angola as they seek a place in next year’s at Stade de la Reunification on Saturday.
The hosts head into this one aiming to record a third consecutive win, while the away side go in search of a first victory since the turn of the year.
Angola were made to rue several missed opportunities following a 1-1 stalemate against the Black Stars of Ghana when the teams locked horns at Estadio de in March.
======================================
Nigeria has been selected as one of the 16 countries to take part in the inaugural Giants of Africa Youth Basketball Festival.
Other countries are the host Rwanda, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Somalia, Uganda, Botswana, Ghana, South Sudan, Morocco, Cameroon and Mali.
The festival, set to take place from thirteenth to nineteenth August in Kigali, will bring together more than 250 youths from the 16 countries to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the foundation.
=====================================
Nigeria and Rwanda are in a neck-and-neck race for a final spot at the ongoing Kwibuka Women’s T20 tournament in Kigali as the round-robin stage of the competition comes to an end on Friday.
After four wins each, both countries currently have eight points on the leaderboard, six points behind leaders Uganda and either of the teams will join the Victoria Pearls in Saturday’s final when they play their last match of the round-robin today.
======================================
ENGLAND
Manchester City’s Treble winners are available for England’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Malta.
Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, John Stones and Kalvin Phillips joined the squad after City won the Champions League final.
This is according to Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, saying all five are fit to play in Friday’s game but he is “yet to decide if that’s a good decision”.
======================================
Champions Manchester City will kick off the Premier League season Eleventh August at promoted Burnley.
Luton Town’s first top-flight match since 1992 is at Brighton, when fellow promoted club Sheffield United host Crystal Palace.
Mauricio Pochettino’s reign as Chelsea manager begins at home to Liverpool thirteen August.
New Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou takes his side to Brentford that day.
Manchester United start the season against Wolves at Old Trafford fourteenth August.
Meanwhile, the 2023-24 Premier League season concludes 19th May 2024.
==========================================
West Ham have rejected Arsenal’s first bid for England midfielder Declan Rice.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta made Rice one of his main transfer targets, with suggestions that a deal was close.
It is understood the initial offer for the player has left the Hammers unimpressed as it contains a number of clauses.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are making an improved offer of one hundred million pounds for Declan Rice after seeing their first bid rejected by West Ham.
========================================
Chelsea are trying to secure the signing of Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo in a deal worth in excess of eighty million pounds.
The Ecuadorian international has been the centre of debate in recent weeks as a number of Premier League clubs prepare to battle it for his signature.
=========================================
Negotiations around the potential sale of Manchester United are still taking place with multiple parties.
United were negotiating exclusivity with Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.
It follows growing speculation Sheikh Jassim’s bid is likely to succeed.
Meanwhile, exclusivity had not been granted and talks were continuing with interested parties.
=====================================
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has claimed that Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani’s takeover bid for the Premier League giants will imminently be confirmed as successful.
Ferdinand, said the bid would go through within the coming days, if not “the coming hours.”
The Qatari businessman is bidding for the club alongside Britain’s richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
=======================================
Former Manchester United and Tottenham forward Alan Brazil has expressed surprise that Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount is not pushing for a move to Arsenal.
Mount reportedly agreed personal terms with Manchester United, and several reports claim that the Blues’ youth team product prefers a move to Old Trafford to other suitors.
Manchester United are now in talks with the Blues over transfer fees for the England international.
=======================================
Arsenal midfielder Jorginho is trying to convince his former Chelsea teammate Kai Havertz to join Arsenal this summer.
Jorginho has been telling the German to dump Stamford Bridge and move to the Emirates.
Multiple reports in Europe suggest that Arsenal is pushing hard to add Havertz to their payroll this summer to bolster their attack.
========================================
England midfielder, Jude Bellingham says he had “goosebumps” and his “heart was close to stopping” when he was told Real Madrid wanted to sign him.
Bellingham who was unveiled at the Santiago Bernabeu as a Real Madrid player on Thursday, said his sensational move to Real Madrid had nothing to do with money.
=========================================
Greater Manchester Mayor has said it was a “disgrace” that Manchester City fans were forced to “walk miles” to get to the Champions League final.
Andy Burnham accused organisers of “massively” letting down English football supporters “year after year” and “they have had enough of it”.
He made the comments after reports Manchester City and Inter Milan fans had to walk up to five miles to get to Istanbul’s Atatürk Olympic Stadium.
=======================================
Manchester City defender Kyle Walker could be heading for a shock move to newly promoted Sheffield United, despite the England international garnering interest from Saudi Arabia.
The treble winner is wanted by his former hometown club, Sheffield United, where he started his career, making thirty-five appearances for them before joining Tottenham in 2009.
The newly promoted side are rivalled in their interest in Walker by clubs in the Saudi Pro League.
==========================================
Fulham star, Tosin Adarabioyo will leave the club this summer.
The Nigeria-born defender refused to sign a new contract and the Whites are now prepared to sell him.
Adarabioyo’s contract will expire next summer and Fulham does not want to lose him for free.
The player has interest from clubs in England and France.
===================================
Former Scotland, Manchester United and Leeds United defender Gordon McQueen has died at the age of seventy after suffering from dementia.
After starting his career with St Mirren, McQueen was sold to Leeds and would go on to help win the English league title in 1974, the FA Cup with Manchester United in 1983.
==================================
OTHER SPORTS
In Tennis; Andy Murray reached the Nottingham Open quarter-finals with a 6-3 7-5 victory over France’s Hugo Grenier to cap a record-breaking day for British tennis.
Murray’s win came after Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart and Jodie Burrage joined Heather Watson in the women’s last eight – the first time four British women have reached the quarter-finals of the same WTA Tour event.
Burrage’s 7-5 6-3 victory over world number 21 and Australian Open semi-finalist Magda Linette was arguably the standout result.
===================================
Shoes worn by NBA legend Michael Jordan in the famous “Flu Game” of the 1997 NBA Finals were sold at auction for $1.38 million.
According to Goldin memorabilia marketplace, the sneakers were part of history for Jordan and the Bulls, who won six NBA titles in the 1990s.
The Bulls and Utah were tied in the 1997 best-of-seven NBA Finals at two wins each ahead of game five, when Jordan felt ill, feverish and dehydrated due to a stomach virus but played for Chicago anyway.
===================================
In Golf; The US Open first round featured record lows, two holes-in-one and a charging Rory McIlroy as the tournament returned to Los Angeles after a 75-year absence.
Californians Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele lead on eight under after recording the US Open’s first 62s.
Former champions Dustin Johnson and McIlroy led the chase but bogeyed their last holes to end six and five under on a day of unusually low scoring.
===================================
In Arthletics; Karsten Warholm and Jakob Ingebrigtsen shone on home soil at the Oslo Diamond League, while Britons Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita finished tied fourth in the women’s 100m.
Warholm clocked the fourth-fastest 400m hurdles time in history as he won in 46.52 seconds at the Bislett Stadium.
Compatriot Ingebrigtsen thrilled the crowd by setting a European men’s 1500m record of three minutes 27.95 seconds.
===================================
In Rugby; Bristol Bears have signed four new players, including Saracens and England prop Hannah Botterman.
Botterman, 24, has won 35 caps for the Red Roses and joins after six years with Premier 15s rivals Sarries.
She is joined by Worcester centre Meg Varley, 23, and Scotland fly-half Meryl Smith and prop Ellian Clarke, both 22, from Edinburgh University.
===================================
OTHER LEAGUES
Spain’s Joselu pounced with two minutes remaining to snatch a 2-1 win over Italy on Thursday and set up a Nations League final against Croatia.
Luis de la Fuente’s side shaded a tight battle in Enschede to progress to Sunday’s decider, where Zlatko Dalic’s outfit are waiting after beating hosts the Netherlands on Wednesday.
Yeremy Pino sent La Roja ahead after three minutes but Ciro Immobile netted from the penalty spot to level and the game seemed destined for extra-time before Joselu prodded home from point-blank range.
===================================
Lionel Messi scored after barely a minute as he guided Argentina to a 2-0 friendly win over Australia in Beijing on Thursday evening.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner curled in from the edge of the area after just 81 seconds following slack defending by the Socceroos.
In front of a crowd of more than 50,000 adoring fans, Messi nearly notched a rapid second but lashed into the side netting from a tight angle.
===================================
Kylian Mbappe on Thursday said staying at Paris Saint-Germain was his “only option for now” after the France superstar told the club he would not be extending his contract beyond 2024.
Mbappe told a news conference ahead of Friday’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Gibraltar in Portugal.
=====================================
Napoli have confirmed the appointment of Rudi Garcia as their new manager.
He will now take a year away from the game in order to prioritise his family after a demanding year in football.
===============================
Lionel Messi has scored his fastest career goal as Argentina comfortably beat Australia two-nil in a friendly in Beijing.
Captain Messi, opened the scoring after one minute and nineteen seconds, curling a finish into the top left corner from the edge of the box.
German Pezzella doubled the world champions’ lead with a header in the 68th minute.
==================================
Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala has noted that the era of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s European dominance has come to an end.
The Germany international is enthusiastic about the new generation, as the iconic forwards have both left European football.
Argentine icon Messi decided to play his football in the United States, with MLS side Inter Miami his next destination, while Ronaldo departed Europe last January, joining Saudi giants Al Nassr.
=================================
TODAY’S FIXTURES
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Finland vs Slovenia
Andorra vs Switzerland
Gibraltar vs France
Belarus vs Israel
Denmark vs Northern Ireland
Greece vs Republic of Ireland
Kosovo vs Romania
North Macedonia vs Ukraine
San Marino vs Kazakhstan
Malta vs England
===============================
ON SATURDAY
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Norway vs Scotland
Cyprus vs Georgia
===============================
ON SUNDAY
UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE
Netherlands vs Italy
Croatia vs Spain
securityandsafetymatters 