GLOBAL ASSOCIATION NEWS
The Union of European Football Associations UEFA, has confirmed a transfer fee can only be spread across a maximum of five years of a player’s initial contract.
The new regulation, which comes into force first July, follows Chelsea’s recent trend of signing players on long-term deals.
A number of players have been signed to such deals with Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk joining on eight-and-a-half year deals in January.
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Also, UEFA says the 2025 Women’s Champions League final will be played at Lisbon’s Estadio Jose Alvalade, Portugal,
UEFA’s executive committee also decided that the Greek capital of Athens and the Polish city of Wroclaw would stage the Europa Conference League Final in 2024 and 2025.
Those matches are expected to be played at Athens’ Agia Sofia Stadium and WKS Slask Wroclaw.
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Women’s football teams and players are set to feature in Football Manager for the first time in the video game series’ history.
Only men’s teams have featured in the popular Sports Interactive game since 2004.
The studio director at Sports Interactive, Miles Jacobson, said the FM25 cycle will see the long-awaited introduction of women’s football.
The studio first committed to adding women’s football to the series in 2021.
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NIGERIA
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has debunked the news making the rounds that it has renewed Super Eagles Manager, Jose Peseiro’s contract.
There are reports that Peseiro’s contract has been extended till after next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.
The reports also said the NFF gave the Portuguese a minimum of a semifinal finish in Cote d’Ivoire to get added time on the job.
NFF Media Director, Ademola Olajire, said the Federation has not begun the process of reviewing the Super Eagles handler’s contract, which current deal expires this week.
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Sani Faisal has rejoined Katsina United after a successful loan spell with Kwara United.
Faisal played a key role in Kwara United beating relegation last season.
Kwara United’s hopes of making the move permanent have proved abortive, as his parent club is counting on him for next season.
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The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development in Ondo, Bamidele Ologunloluwa, says the state will organise a six-team competition to discover talents for Sunshine Stars football club.
He said the proposed Super-6 competition would feature six indigenous teams from the state, from where talents would be selected for Sunshine Stars FC.
Also the Executive Committee Member, Nigeria Football Federation, Dele Ajayi, said sponsorship was the major problem of organising football tournaments in the state.
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Super Eagles defender, Bright Osayi-Samuel says he is aware of Bournemouth and Brentford’s interest in his services.
Osayi-Samuel has been tipped to leave Turkish Super Lig giants, Fenerbahce this summer.
Bournemouth and Brentford have expressed strong interest in the right-back.
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Japanese club, Shonan Bellmare have terminated the contract of Nigerian international, Mikel Agu.
Mikel joined the Japanese J1 club last summer, signing a two-year contract.
The player who was plagued by persistent injuries, made just one appearance for the club.
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The Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, is preparing a ‘special squad’ to battle for relay tickets of this year’s World Championships holding in Budapest, Hungary, in August
The national trials to select the nation’s flag bearers to the World Championships set to hold at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, from fifth to seventh July.
The AFN’s ‘special squad’ is expected to depart for Lome, Togo, to participate in the Region 2 Athletics Championships with the hope of picking the relay tickets to Budapest.
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Nigeria’s senior men’s rugby national team, Black Stallions, have been pitted against world champions, South Africa and some other tough countries in the African men’s Sevens Rugby Olympics 2024 Qualifying Championship billed for Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe, from sixteenth to seventeenth October.
Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, said the other countries to jostle for the Olympics ticket with Nigeria are Uganda, hosts, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Zambia, Kenya, Madagascar, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Namibia, Algeria and Cote d’Ivoire.
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Former Nigerian boxer, Jeremiah ‘Jerry’ Okorodudu, died at a private hospital in Lawanson, Lagos on Wednesday night after battling with foot ulcer that left him bedridden for weeks.
Okorodudu’s wife, Adenike, confirmed the news of his death but said the hospital was not willing to release her husband’s corpse until the outstanding N600,000 medical bill is paid.
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ENGLAND
Arsenal have signed Germany forward, Kai Havertz from Chelsea for sixty-five million pounds.
Havertz becomes Mikel Arteta’s first signing of the summer as the Spaniard looks to push on after the Gunners’ second place finish last season.
The German signed a “long-term deal” at Emirates Stadium, three years after joining the Blues from Bayer Leverkusen for seventy-one million pounds.
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Also, Arsenal are on the verge of signing their number one target Declan Rice after agreeing a deal in principle with West Ham worth one hundred and five million pounds.
Having tabled their third offer, comprising of one hundred million pounds in guaranteed cash plus a further five million pounds in bonuses, officials from both clubs were locked in advanced talks on Wednesday with a view to ironing out the finer details of the deal’s structure.
Arsenal’s offer proposed the guaranteed portion of the fee be paid over the course of four years.
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Senegal goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy has left Chelsea after three years to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli.
Mendy, is the latest high profile player to move to the country and follows former Blues teammates, Kalidou Koulibaly and N’Golo Kante.
He won the Champions League in 2020-21 and kept forty-nine clean sheets in one hundred and five games.
Mendy was later named Uefa’s goalkeeper of the season and Best Fifa men’s keeper for 2021.
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Chelsea are in advanced talks to sign Brazilian forward Angelo from Santos.
Negotiations are ongoing between Chelsea and Santos for Angelo’s transfer.
Also, Former Chelsea star, Florent Malouda has stated his view on why top players are leaving Chelsea this summer.
The former France international said the club are selling ‘better’ players to rival clubs because those players do not believe in the vision and project under Todd Boehly.
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Manchester United will reportedly step up interest in Moises Caicedo by making a formal approach to Brighton this week for the eighty million pounds rated midfielder.
Erik ten Hag made no secret of his desire to upgrade his options in midfield, with Mason Mount and Declan Rice two targets.
Ten Hag is a fan of Ecuador international Caicedo and with United at an impasse with Chelsea having had three bids rejected for Mason Mount.
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Manchester United goalkeeper, David de Gea has raised eyebrows with a mysterious tweet just two days before his contract expires at the club.
The Spaniard, has played five hundred and forty-five times in all competitions for the Red Devils since joining for around nineteen million pounds in summer 2011.
He has been first-choice between the sticks for almost all of that time but was criticised this season for several costly mistakes.
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Arsenal midfielder, Jorginho has expressed surprise over the speculation linking him to a move from the club this summer.
The midfielder who confirmed his decision to stay at the Emirates this summer, said he looked forward to his first full season at Arsenal.
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Liverpool have held talks with representatives of RB Leipzig star Dominik Szoboszlai’, but his sixty million pounds release clause ‘expires on Friday’.
Szoboszlai was one of the standout performers in the Bundesliga last season and has also been of interest to Newcastle.
The Reds are exploring a deal to sign him this summer, while accepting it will be a difficult move to get across the line.
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Liverpool star Andy Robertson has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire MBE, for services to football, charity and young people.
The Scotland captain was pictured receiving his royal honours from Prince William during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.
Robertson was presented with the MBE by the Prince of Wales before sharing a laugh with one another.
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Tottenham midfielder, Harry Winks is closing in on a move to Leicester City for a fee of about ten million pounds.
Winks has dropped down the pecking order at Tottenham in recent seasons and spent last season on loan in Italy with Sampdoria.
The Tottenham academy graduate has earned ten caps for England but last played for the Three Lions in 2020.
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Premier League new boys, Luton Town, have announced the signing of Nigerian-born forward Chiedozie Ogbene.
Ogbene joined Luton Town following the expiration of his contract with Sky Bet Championship club Rotherham United.
He scored nine goals and provided four assists in all competitions for Rotherham United last season.
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Manchester United footballer, Antony has spoken for the first time since his former partner accused him of domestic violence and making threats.
Gabriela Cavallin, a DJ and influencer, filed a report with police in Brazil earlier this month, alleging ‘domestic violence, threat and bodily injury’ against Antony.
Antony has now responded with a statement, saying he was ‘falsely accused’ and has been ‘suffering in silence’ as investigations continue.
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England’s Lucy Bronze feels “sad” some of her Barcelona team-mates will miss the Women’s World Cup after making themselves unavailable due to a dispute with Spain coach Jorge Vilda.
Bronze added that it was sad that they are missing out on something that was a huge moment in any footballer’s career to make a difference.
Midfielder Patri Guijarro, defender Mapi Leon, forward Claudia Pina and keeper Sandra Panos will not feature.
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OTHER SPORTS
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In Tennis, World number seven, Coco Gauff has thrashed Britain’s Jodie Burrage, to reach the quarter-finals of the Eastbourne International.
American Gauff proved a step up in class for Burrage as she overpowered her 6-1, 6-1 in exactly an hour.
Burrage lost ten games in a row against the excellent Gauff, who will face doubles partner Jessica Pegula next.
In the men’s event, Britain’s Liam Broady was beaten 6-2, 6-4 by Mikel Ymer of Sweden.
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In Golf, Spanish professional golfer, Sergio Garcia says his feud with former Ryder Cup team-mate Rory McIlroy is over after the pair resolved their differences at the US Open.
McIlroy voiced opposition when players, including Garcia, joined LIV Golf.
The PGA Tour and DP World Tour agreed a shock merger on six June with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which is behind LIV Golf, and Garcia, wanted peace between the tours sooner.
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In Cricket, a lacklustre display from England and an ominous unbeaten eighty-five from Steve Smith gave Australia much the better of the first day of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s.
After England won what appeared to be a crucial toss in dank conditions, their bowling lacked penetration and fielding again included costly errors.
And Smith, looking determined after missing out in both innings of Australia’s victory in the first Test, capitalised to move the tourists to 339-5.
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In Rugby, England international, Lucy Packer has signed a new deal with Premiership Women’s Rugby club Harlequins.
Packer scrum-half has made seventy-one appearances across five seasons with Quins, and helped the side win the league title in 2020-21.
She made her international debut in 2019 and featured for the Red Roses at the 2021 Rugby World Cup, starting the final defeat by New Zealand.
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OTHER LEAGUES
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Roma manager, Jose Mourinho has been handed a ten days suspension as punishment for comments he made about referee Daniele Chiffi.
Mourinho, said Chiffi was “the worst referee he have met in his life” after a match against Monza on third of May.
The Portuguese has also been fined forty-three thousand pounds.
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Bayern Munich star, Sadio Mane has broken his silence on the extraordinary scrap with team-mate Leroy Sane last season.
The former Liverpool man, who was recently voted the most disappointing player in the Bundesliga last term, lashed out at his Bayern Munich team-mate, punching him in the face after a three-nil defeat by Man City at the Etihad in April.
Mane who has now reflected on the ugly incident, said the team would try to fight together to help the club achieve its goals next season.
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Bayern Munich are lining up a second spectacular bid for Harry Kane after their initial six hundred million pounds swoop was firmly rebuffed.
Harry Kane is open to joining the Bavarian powerhouse and it has been reported that he has ‘reached an agreement in principle’ with the club.
Meanwhile, Tottenham are adamant that their talisman is not going anywhere and in some scenarios would rather lose him for free next summer when his contract expires than sell him.
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Former Paris Saint-Germain star, Angel di Maria, has revealed that playing alongside compatriot Lionel Messi at Argentina national team and PSG is the best thing that has happened in his glittering career so far.
Di Maria, played just a season with Messi during their time together at PSG.
Di Maria started twenty-two out of thirty-one matches across competitions for the French Ligue 1 champions.
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