NIGERIA
World football body FIFA has announced its plan to pay prize money directly into the players’ accounts of the winners of the ongoing women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand.
FIFA Secretary-General, Fatma Samoura, confirmed this in a viral video on social media saying the policy change is due to unpaid allowance issues involving Nigeria’s Super Falcons.
The Falcons head coach, Randy Waldrum, had earlier revealed that some players were owed “per diem and bonuses” from two years ago.
==================================
Super Falcons will take on European champions Three Lionesses of England in the round of sixteen of the 2023 FIFA women’s World Cup.
The round of sixteen clash, which will be played seventh August, was confirmed after England thrashed China six-one in their final Group D game on Tuesday.
The Super Falcons booked their place in the knockout round after playing a goalless draw with debutants Republic of Ireland on Monday.
Meanwhile, co-hosts Australia who finished ahead of the Super Falcons in Group B will take on Denmark in the round of sixteen.
================================
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Dosu says he is confident the Super Falcons can eliminate England in the round of sixteen of the ongoing 2023 Women’s World Cup.
The Atlanta Olympic gold medalist, said the Super Falcons would pull one of the greatest upset of the competitions against England.
================================
Super Falcons striker, Gift Monday has expressed gladness after making her FIFA Women’s World Cup debut in the goalless draw with Republic of Ireland on Monday.
Monday was substituted in for star player Asisat Oshoala in the sixty-eight minute at the ongoing World Cup.
She almost made an assist in added time as she took on several Irish players before passing the ball to Rasheedat Ajibade who fired a rather tame effort at Ireland goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan.
=================================
Bendel Insurance have completed the signing of Ezekiel Tamara ahead of the upcoming Nigeria Premeir League season.
Tamara who signed for an undisclosed fee with the Benin Arsenals, was unveiled after a successful medical with the club.
The midfielder left Shooting Stars after the expiration of his contract at the end of 2022-23 Nigeria Premeir League season.
============================
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has inaugurated the sixteen man Local Organising Committee of the 22nd National Sports Festival to be hosted by the state in 2024.
Abiodun also noted that the state is more than prepared to surpass previous editions and the acheivment recorded during the last festival that was held by the state in 2006.
He made this known during the inauguration of the Organising Committee of the National Sports Festival.
==============================
Turkish club, Adana Dermispor are prepared to sell Nigeria international, Henry Onyekuru this summer.
Onyekuru joined the Blue Lightnings on loan from Greek club, Olympiacos on a season long loan deal last summer.
The move was made permanent last month.
==================================
The Nigeria Wrestling Federation, NWF says it is ready for the second edition of Governor Douye Diri National Wrestling Classics scheduled for forth Aug in Bayelsa.
Over eight hundred Wrestlers across the country from states and clubs would compete for honours at the classics.
President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali, stated this in Yenagoa, saying Nigerians should expect wrestling at its best.
===================================
Team Nigeria has emerged overall winner of the maiden African Admiral Porbeni Canoe Race championships at the Jabi Boat Club in Abuja, Nigeria.
The championship began last Thursday and ended with no fewer than 100 athletes from five African countries including, Ghana, Senegal, Sao Tome and Principe, Togo and the host, Nigeria, taking part in the four-day event.
Team Nigeria amassed a total of 21 medals, including 14 Gold, six silver and one bronze to emerge the overall winners of the event.
==================================
Lagos State government, has unveiled the programme for the forthcoming Cycling Lagos Championship scheduled to hold from twenty-first to twenty-eighth October, saying it would help in promoting healthy lifestyle among residents of the state.
Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Oluwatoyin Gafaar, commended the event’s organisers for creating awareness on the use of bicycle as a means of transport in this era of fuel subsidy removal, which has increased the cost of transportation.
Moses who spoke through Director, Sports Development, Kolawole Moses, reaffirmed the commitment of government in promoting grassroots sports development at all levels.
===============================
IN WOMEN’S WORLD CUP.
England women, Lauren James has produced a sensational individual performance as England entertained to beat China six-one and book their place in the round of sixteen of the Women’s World Cup as group winners.
It was a display worthy of their status as European champions and James once again lit the stage alight in Adelaide with two sensational goals and three assists.
The win took England to nine points after three games and also top of the group.
===============================
Denmark have booked their place in the round of sixteen with a two-nil win over Haiti to finish second in Group D behind England.
Haiti were undone by a penalty for a third game in a row, with Pernille Harder scoring from the spot after Dayana Pierre-Louis’ handball.
Sanne Troelsgaard sealed the Danes’ progression to the knockout stages with a second goal deep into injury time.
Denmark face Group B winners and co-hosts Australia in Sydney on Monday.
================================
Defending champions the USA have suffered a huge scare against Women’s World Cup debutants Portugal before scraping through to the round of sixteen.
The Stars and Stripes are yet to fire at the tournament and, after being held by the Netherlands in their previous match, suffered another frustrating draw that raised questions about their hopes of winning.
In the end the USA were relieved to hear the full-time whistle, the point enough to take them through as runners-up to the Netherlands, who thrashed Vietnam seven-nil.
==================================
ENGLAND
Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp says it is not helpful that the transfer window is open nearly three weeks longer in Saudi Arabia than in Europe.
The transfer deadline in Europe’s top leagues is on first September, while Saudi Arabia’s runs until twenty September.
It means the Middle East country’s clubs can still add to their high-profile signings this summer when European clubs cannot.
===============================
Also, Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, has claimed Manchester City is the only team that can realistically aim to win the Premier League title next season.
Ahead of the new season, Klopp has admitted that his team can only challenge Manchester City, who he rates at the favourites to retain their crown.
==================================
New Manchester City signing, Mateo Kovacic has bullishly predicted that lifting a first Champions League crown means the club can dominate Europe for years to come.
The midfielder, who signed from Chelsea earlier in the summer, has four European medals from his time at Stamford Bridge.
======================================
Chelsea have signed teenage French midfielder, Lesley Ugochukwu from Rennes on a seven-year deal for twenty-three point two million pounds.
Ugochukwu, made forty-seven Ligue 1 appearances for Rennes and has also featured in the Europa League.
His arrival comes after Chelsea boss, Mauricio Pochettino recently said the Blues needed to add to their midfield.
=====================================
A Supercomputer has predicted the positions some of the top clubs in the Premier League will finish next season.
The 2023/24 Premier League season would commence eleventh August, with Manchester City taking on Burnley.
According to the Supercomputer, there would be a four-team title race including Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.
=================================
Manchester United midfielder, Casemiro, has named the three footballers he considers to be the greatest of his generation.
According to Casemiro, they are Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.
=================================
Manchester United defender, Lisandro Martinez believes it will not be a bad thing if his old Ajax teammate, Andre Onana turns Manchester United into a fight club.
Onana showed his abrasive side when he made his second appearance for United in the three-two defeat to Borussia Dortmund in Las Vegas.
Minutes after replacing Tom Heaton at half-time, United’s new goalkeeper, lambasted Harry Maguire for giving up a chance to Dortmund.
====================================
Manchester United defender, Brandon Williams has emerged as a target for Championship side Leeds United as they bid to make an immediate return to the top-flight.
Williams missed a large portion of the previous campaign due to injury but then found first team action hard to come by under Erik ten Hag.
The defender, who has made over fifty appearances for the Red Devils after coming through the academy, briefly played under Leeds boss, Daniel Farke at Norwich City during the 2020-21 campaign.
====================================
Southampton have rejected Liverpool’s improved bid of forty-one million pounds plus add ons for midfielder Romeo Lavia.
The Saints have remained unmoved in their assessment of the player, who they value at fifty million pounds.
Jurgen Klopp’s side had come back to their negotiating table on Tuesday following the rejection of their initial thirty-seven million pounds bid last week.
==================================
Tottenham will launch a raid on Barcelona with two stars reportedly in their sights.
The club are looking to bolster their backline and midfield and could take advantage of the pair being on Barcelona’s fringes.
They were among the only first-team players not to feature in Barcelona’s three-nil win over Real Madrid in Arlington.
===================================
Liverpool star, Trent Alexander-Arnold says he is ready to step up and lead the team into their new era after being made vice-captain.
Alexander-Arnold was told during an open training session in Singapore that he would be deputy to new skipper Virgil Van Dijk, who takes over from long-serving Jordan Henderson after his controversial exit to Saudi Arabia.
The right back, said he is relishing the chance to take on more responsibility and guide the team towards trophies.
===============================
Fulham are in talks to sign Jamaica international winger Demarai Gray from fellow Premier League side Everton.
Gray, joined the Toffees from Bayer Leverkusen for one point seven million pounds in 2021 and has gone on to make seventy-five appearances and score twelve goals.
Crystal Palace, Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas and clubs in Saudi Arabia have also been interested in signing Gray.
==================================
OTHER SPORTS
In Athletics; Australian sporting darling Peter Bol has been cleared of blood doping six months after failing a drug test.
The 800m runner, who shot to national fame at the Tokyo Olympics, has been under a cloud since testing positive for synthetic EPO in January.
After a long investigation, Australia’s sporting watchdog has said fresh testing of the sample was negative.
==================================
In Golf; Tiger Woods has joined the PGA Tour’s Policy Board as a player director in a move which will give golfers a bigger say in major decisions.
Woods’ appointment follows the merger between the Tour, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and the DP World Tour in June that left players blindsided.
The 15-time major winner becomes the board’s sixth player director, joining Rory McIlroy and four others.
==================================
In Tennis; Spectators at the DC Open were warned that Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina would not shake hands with Victoria Azarenka.
During the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Svitolina has refused to shake hands with opponents from Russia or Belarus.
Belarusian Azarenka was booed after Svitolina beat her at Wimbledon and to avoid a repeat, the scoreboard showed a message during Svitolina’s 7-6 6-4 first-round win in Washington DC.
======================================
In Netball; England produced their best performance of the Netball World Cup so far to beat Fiji and confirm their place in the semi-finals.
The Roses were dominant in attack and cohesive through the court in an 89-28 win in South Africa.
Eleanor Cardwell scored 40 from 41 attempts and Helen Housby 26 from 28 as England outpaced their opponents.
===================================
In Rugby; England will not use Saturday’s World Cup warm-up game with Wales in Cardiff as a “selection shoot-out”.
Head coach Steve Borthwick will confirm his 33-man squad for the tournament in France on Monday morning, three weeks before the World Rugby deadline.
==================================
OTHER LEAGUES.
Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly ready to escalate tensions with Real Madrid as they consider making a formal complaint to FIFA over their pursuit of Kylian Mbappe.
Real Madrid have long made no secret of their desire to make Mbappe the new jewel in their attack.
Mbappe is at war with PSG as he refuses to take up the option of a contract extension, meaning he is set to be a free agent at the end of this season.
==================================
Also, PSG are reportedly expecting an offer from Chelsea for Kylian Mbappe following a phone call between Chelsea’s owner, Todd Boehly and PSG president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
Chelsea would face stiff competition for his signature with Real Madrid ever keen and Al-Hilal’s two hundred and fifty-nine million pounds offer still on the table, with the Parisians determined to get as much money as they can for the France captain.
===================================
Barcelona have made a sensational attempt to sign Kylian Mbappe from PSG by offering them Ousmane Dembele and two other players.
A reputable agent visited the Parisians but they declined as they were not interested in the latter two stars.
Dembele’s contract expires next summer and he has rejected an extension from Barcelona amid interest from PSG.
====================================
Bayern Munich manager, Thomas Tuchel has lifted the lid on his emotional goodbye with Sadio Mane, as the Senegalese star prepares to end his one-year stint in Germany with the team.
Mane arrived at the Allianz Arena last summer for thirty-five point one million pounds, having reached the Champions League final months before with Liverpool where he won every possible honour under Jurgen Klopp.
He is set to bring an end to his time with Bayern Munich after a bitterly disappointing spell that saw him score just twelve goals in thirty-eight games.
==================================
Inter Miami star, Lionel Messi is the footballer with the most Guinness World Records.
The British reference book announced that the Argentine surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo on the log for the most record titles.
Messi is said to have forty-one records to his name, while Ronaldo falls just one short at forty.
==================================
TODAY’S THOUGHT
Success is no accident, it comes from studying, hardwork, perseverance, and sacrifice, most of all, it comes from a love of what you do….words from Pele.
securityandsafetymatters 