NIGERIA
In a thrilling encounter at the Suncorp Stadium, the England Women’s National Team emerged victorious against Super Falcons 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw at the end of 90 minutes and extra time.
The tension-filled match took place in the round of 16 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
England’s solid defence and composed penalty-taking secured their place in the quarter-finals despite getting a player sent off towards the end of the 90-minute regulation time.
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President Bola inubu has commended the Super Falcons following their elimination from the ongoing 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
Tinubu, hailed the Super Falcons for their display against England, insisting that they made Nigeria proud on the global stage.
The Super Falcons crashed out at the Women’s World Cup after losing 4-2 via penalty shoot-out against England in the Round of 16 tie on Monday.
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The First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has commended the Super Falcons for their superb performance in their match against the England team.
Senator Tinubu said she was very proud of the girls, who she said played their hearts out in the Round of 16 encounter of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup.
She described the match as a tension-soaked encounter, saying the Nigerian girls were no push overs.
Also, the Senate commended the Super Falcons for their performance at the on-going 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The commendation was sequel to a point of order raised by Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, during plenary on Monday.
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Super Falcons striker, Desire Oparanozie, has apologised to Nigerians over her missed spot kick in the nine-time African champions’ penalty shootout defeat to England in the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Oparanozie, who was Nigeria’s first penalty taker, shot wide from the face of the goal as Michelle Alozie also failed to convert her spot kick.
Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has expressed sadness over their inability to progress to the quarterfinals of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
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Super Falcons head coach, Randy Waldrum has expressed his desire to remain in charge of the team.
The American had a bitter fight with the Nigerian Football Federation in the build-up to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Waldrum criticised his employers in two separate interviews and was saved from sack by the sports ministry.
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In a display of unwavering support and admiration, Africans across the continent took to social media to hail the Super Falcons, despite their disappointing exit from the 2023 Women’s World Cup on Monday.
Nigeria beat co-hosts Australia 3-2 and held Canada and Ireland 0-0 respectively to reach the last 16 courtesy of a well-deserved second-place finish in Group B that was tagged ‘Group of Death’.
However, their remarkable journey hit a roadblock on Monday in a gripping last-16 encounter against England.
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Sporting Lagos head coach, Paul Offor, said his team will cope with the full season format of the 2023-24 Nigeria Professional Football League season.
Offor admitted that it would be a big challenge for his young side but is confident of achieving success.
The NPFL board agreed to return to the 38-match schedule ahead of the upcoming season.
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Ligue 1 club Montpellier have completed the signing of former Flying Eagles forward Jerome Akor.
Akor joined the former Ligue 1 champions from Norwegian club Lillestrom.
The striker, who signed a four-year contract, has been assigned jersey Number. 8.
Akor will be the second Nigerian to play for Montpelier, following in the footsteps of former Super Eagles winger John Utaka.
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Nigerian international, Frank Onyeka has signed a new four-year contract with Premier League club Brentford, with an option for an additional 12 months.
Onyeka joined the Bees from Danish SuperLiga club FC Midtjylland in 2021.
The 25-year-old has made 41 Premier League appearances since his arrival in west London.
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The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Monday, hosted the D’Tigress of Nigeria to a reception at the State House, Abuja.
Tinubu, who hailed the team, said their sterling performance on the basketball court is a testament to hard work, discipline and commitment to excellence.
She added that the efforts will inspire countless individuals, especially women, to pursue their dreams.
Her Special Adviser on Media, Busola Kukoyi, in a statement said the officials of the Basketball Federation also presented a medal and jersey to the First lady.
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It was goals galore at the Nigerian National League (NNL) relegation playoff, which began yesterday at the Sanni Abacha Stadium, Kano.
Sokoto United and FWC Champions of Abuja started the goals’ rain with a five-goal thriller, which the boys from the Caliphate won by 3-2 to keep alive their hopes of remaining in the NNL.
Highly-rated Edel FC of Awka crumbled like a pack of cards, losing 0-4 to Hensards of Yenagoa, with Coach Godwin Anosike of Edel blaming the poor start on the depletion of his squad.
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Anthony Joshua will fight at London’s O2 Arena as planned on Saturday, with promoter Eddie Hearn set to announce Dillian Whyte’s replacement imminently.
Whyte returned “an adverse finding” from a doping test last week, meaning the heavyweight rematch was cancelled.
Joshua, reacted “calmly” to the news of the cancellation of the fight after the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association informed promoters Matchroom and boxing authorities of Whyte’s test result.
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The Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, is still hoping the provisional suspension of reigning world 100m hurdles record holder, Tobi Amusan, would be lifted on time for her to make the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
The federation, included her name, and that of U.S.-based sprinter, Godson Brume, on the list of athletes that will fly the nation’s flag in Budapest.
The competition will run from nineteenth to twenty-seventh August.
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IN WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
England have scraped through to the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Nigeria despite Lauren James’ red card.
Georgia Stanway fired wide with the opening penalty but Nigeria missed their next two efforts and the European champions secured their spot in the last eight when Chloe Kelly smashed in the winning kick.
In an outburst of frustration, James stamped on Michelle Alozie’s back in the 87th minute after losing possession and was rightly shown a red card following a video assistant referee (VAR) review.
England were given an almighty scare but face Colombia or Jamaica next on Saturday.
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England women manager, Sarina Wiegman, says Lauren James “lost her emotions” when she was sent off during England’s win over Nigeria in the Women’s World Cup last 16.
James, who has three goals and three assists in Australia, was sent off following a VAR review for stamping on Michelle Alozie’s back in the 87th minute.
The midfielder, will play no further part in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, following her red card against Nigeria.
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Co-hosts Australia have reached the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals with a clinical win over Denmark in the last 16 at a packed Stadium Australia.
Caitlin Foord put the Matildas ahead in the 29th minute, finishing from a tight angle following a great pass from Mary Fowler.
Hayley Raso added a second in the 70th minute with a driven finish after good work from Emily van Egmond.
Australia will face either France or Morocco in the last eight on Saturday.
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Morocco coach Reynald Pedros is eyeing a shock win over a France team he “knows perfectly” in the last 16 of the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup.
Prior to becoming Morocco boss, the ex-France international won five major titles managing a Lyon side containing six of the current French squad.
Morocco are ranked 72nd in the world by Fifa, 67 places below France, who are unbeaten in this World Cup so far.
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ENGLAND
Tottenham have rejected Bayern Munich’s latest offer for striker Harry Kane.
Bayern Munich had hoped to agree a deal for the England skipper but it is understood the two sides remain apart in their valuation of the 30-year-old.
The Bundesliga champions had suggested if their bid for Kane was unsuccessful on this occasion they would move on to other transfer targets.
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Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah’s agent Ramy Abbas, says Salah is committed” to Liverpool, amid speculation about a potential big money move to Saudi Arabia.
Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiah claims Al-Ittihad made an approach and offered a two-year contract worth £155m to Salah on top of a £52m transfer fee.
Salah, signed a new three-year deal last summer which runs until June 2025.
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Liverpool have had a third bid rejected for Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia.
The latest offer for the Belgian is believed to have been about £46m including add-ons, with Southampton reportedly wanting £50m.
Lavia was an unused substitute when Southampton started their Championship campaign with a 2-1 win against Sheffield Wednesday on Friday.
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West Ham are keen on Manchester United pair Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay, while Gianluca Scamacca has left the club to join Atalanta.
Italy striker Scamacca, moves to Serie A on a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee.
West Ham are yet to make a signing this summer despite selling Declan Rice to Arsenal in a deal that could end up being worth £105m.
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Manchester United defender Raphael Varane says new injury time and dissent rules are “damaging our game” and players are “not being heard”.
Matches will have more injury time this season to more accurately reflect stoppages in play, while players and managers were warned they face tougher punishments for poor behaviour at games.
The new added time rule was criticised by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
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OTHER SPORTS
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In Tennis; Britain’s Dan Evans won the first ATP 500 title of his career by beating Tallon Griekspoor in the Citi Open final in Washington DC.
Evans, now the world number 21, triumphed 7-5 6-3 against the Dutchman after a 90-minute rain stoppage.
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In Cricket; Manchester Originals beat Birmingham Phoenix by 49 runs to earn their first victory of this year’s men’s Hundred.
Jos Buttler top-scored with 43 and Usama Mir hit a lively 32 not out as Originals posted 160-8 at Old Trafford.
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In Cycling; Great Britain have won four gold medals on day five of the UCI Cycling World Championships.
Kieran Reilly took the men’s elite BMX freestyle park for the first gold, while Ethan Vernon kick-started the track team with gold in the men’s elimination race.
In the men’s B sprint, para-cyclist Neil Fachie eased to victory with pilot Matthew Rotherham.
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In Rugby; Wales forwards Dafydd Jenkins and Ryan Elias are set to miss the remaining two World Cup warm-up games after being forced off during the 20-9 win against England on Saturday.
Wales say nobody in the 48-man squad has been ruled out of the tournament.
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In Athletics; Megan Keith admits she took “a bit of an odd” route into top-level athletics given her teenage years were spent having “a fair bit of success in quite a short time in orienteering”.
She is one of eight Scots in the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team going to this month’s World Championships in Budapest.
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OTHER LEAGUES
Roma manager, Jose Mourinho has denied trying to provoke the club’s bosses with a picture on his Instagram account but admitted things are “not OK”.
Mourinho, and his staff can be seen embracing an invisible player after Roma failed to sign a striker to cover the injured Tammy Abraham.
Abraham suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury last season.
The image was posted at the end of Roma’s pre-season training camp in Portugal a week ago.
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Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar Junior, has informed the club that he wants to leave the club this summer.
According to Sky Sports, the player is eyeing an unlikely return to Barcelona.
Neymar’s dream might be difficult to realize, as Barcelona are dealing with financial problems at the moment.
The Brazilian also has three years left on his PSG contract.
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TODAY’S THOUGHT
It is not about how hard you can hit. It is about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward…Words from Sylvester Stallone.
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