NIGERIA
Some members of the Super Falcons to the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand have arrived in the country following their elimination from the tournament against England on Monday.
The Lionesses knocked Nigeria out 4-2 in a last-16 penalty shootout in Brisbane, with Chloe Kelly scoring the decisive spot-kick after Desire Oparanozie and Michelle Alozie have both missed for the Africans, following a 0-0 draw over 120 thrilling minutes.
In a video shared on Super Falcons, Twitter handle, the players including Rasheedat Ajibade, Osinachi Ohale, Tochukwu Oluehi, Gift Monday, Rofiat Imuran and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie were apparently leaving their somber mood behind, showing signs of pride in themselves as they departed Down Under.
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The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has assured that the Super Falcons will get their prize money from the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and other monies they are owed.
The Federation said it has no issues with the players, adding that it has assured them before the World Cup they would be paid all the monies owed them.
It promised to pay the players once the World Cup money is paid by the Federation of International Football Federation, FIFA.
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Super Falcons defender, Ashleigh Plumptre has been included in the Team of Round of 16 at the ongoing 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup by popular statistics website, Whoscored.com.
The left-back was the only Super Falcons and African player who made the shortlist.
Plumptre put up an impressive display in the Super Falcons’ penalty shootout defeat to the Three Lionesses of England.
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Lagos State Government has assured the Confederation of African Football, CAF, of her preparedness to provide good sporting facilities and enabling environment to boost the interest of Nigeria in co-hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with the Republic of Benin.
Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat gave the assurance while receiving the Confederation of Africa Football Inspection Team who were on a courtesy visit.
Dr. Hamzat noted that the state has all it takes as one of the centres in successfully hosting the African Cup of Nations.
He added that Lagos State had in the past hosted the under-17 and under-20 World Cup football competitions, which gave her an insight into the protocols of hosting.
Speaking earlier, the Leader of Nigeria’s Bid Delegation for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027, Mainasara Illo said the Team was in Lagos to inspect football facilities that have been proposed for the hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations 2027.
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Shooting Stars will battle Beyond Limits in the final of the ValueJet pre-season tournament.
The Shooting Stars thrashed Remo Stars 3-0 in the second semi-final encounter.
Nigeria National League side, Beyond Limits defeated Kwara United 4-3 on penalties after playing out a 2-2 draw in the regulation time.
The coach Gbenga Ogunbote’s led side played out a goalless draw against the academy side during their opening match of the tournament.
The final of the competition will hold on Thursday, at the Remo Stars Stadium.
Winner of the competition will get a cash prize of two million naira.
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Flying Eagles defender Solomon Agbalaka has joined Russian club PFC Sochi on a season-long loan deal.
The youngster linked up with the Russian Premier League club from Nigeria National League side, Broad City.
Agbalaka reportedly turned down offers from German and Belgian clubs to team up with Sochi.
He was part of the Flying Eagles squad at the 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nation.
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Former Akwa United defender James Ajako has joined Moroccan club FUS Rabat.
Ajako, who joined FUS Rabat on a free transfer, signed a three-year contract.
He severed ties with Akwa United at the end of last season following the expiration of his contract
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Nigerian international, Samuel Chukwueze has declared he joined Serie A giants AC Milan to win trophies.
He ended his five-year stint at LaLiga club Villarreal to team up with AC Milan last month.
Chukwueze made his unofficial debut in Milan’s friendly win against Monza.
He was officially unveiled to the club’s supporters on Wednesday.
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Nigerian international, Victor Osimhen did not train with his teammates on Wednesday as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.
Osimhen sprained his ankle during a practice match on Tuesday.
The Partenopei announced that Osimhen received treatment for the injury.
The Serie A champions will hope that the striker shakes off the injury before the start of the new season.
Napoli will travel to Frosinone for their opening game of the season on 17th August.
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KAA Gent manager, Hein Vanhaezebrouck, has played down talks that he has issues with Nigerian forward, Gift Orban, after he kept him out of the starting line up in their league matches.
The manager has stirred intrigue within the KAA Gent camp with his rotation strategy that keeps Gift Orban on the bench.
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A Turkish publication, Yeni Safak, has revealed that Nigeria international Wilfred Ndidi has sought opinion from two former Fenerbahçe players, Joseph Yobo and Emmanuel Emenike, amidst reports that the Leicester City midfielder is close to joining the Turkish giants.
Fenerbahçe are in talks with the English club for the signing of Ndidi before the end of the transfer window.
The Yellow Canaries are working on bolstering their midfield ahead of the new season and have identified the Nigerian as a top target.
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The sixth Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation Invitational Taekwondo Open on Saturday at the Indoor Basketball Hall of the M.K.O Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
According to the foundation, 100 youth athletes, comprising 64 men and 36 women, from six Abuja-based clubs are confirmed for the event.
The FCT Taekwondo Association sanctioned event will use an electronic display scoring system, while the competition will be in a round robin format to ensure participants get enough exposure and experience.
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UFC 185-pound world champion, Israel Adesanya, is expected to return to the Octagon in September at UFC 293 with middleweight rankings stalwart, Sean Strickland, as his opponent.
Adesanya against Strickland will be the main event of UFC 293 inside the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. Australia.
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IN WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
England Star, Lucy Bronze says the team’s ability to find a way to win during the Women’s World Cup has only added to the squad’s belief.
The Lionesses edged past Nigeria on penalties in the last 16 and have coped with the loss of key players during matches.
Bronze believes that Sarina Wiegman’s players have built confidence through the tests they have overcome.
England, who face Colombia in the quarter-finals on Saturday, are favourites to win the Women’s World Cup for the first time.
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ENGLAND
The Premier League is investigating potential financial rule breaches by Chelsea.
Chelsea were fined £8.6m by Uefa in July for breaking Financial Fair Play rules as a result of “submitting incomplete financial information” between 2012 and 2019.
Those breaches were reported by the new Stamford Bridge ownership following the club’s sale in May.
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Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has chosen Reece James as the team’s new captain.
James replaces Cesar Azpilicueta, who left Stamford Bridge this summer.
James wore the armband during Chelsea’s pre-season tour and the academy graduate now has it on a permanent basis.
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Chelsea are willing to let their goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga join Bayern Munich before the summer transfer window closes.
This comes after Bayern Munich opened talks with Chelsea over a potential deal for Kepa.
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Former Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil has been announced as the new manager of Wolves, replacing Julen Lopetegui on a three-year deal.
Lopetegui’s exit from Molineux was confirmed just three days before the 2023-24 Premier League season begins.
O’Neil led Bournemouth to 15th last season but was sacked on 19th June.
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West Ham United have agreed deals for Manchester United’s Harry Maguire and Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse worth about £60m in total.
Each deal is thought to be worth in the region of £30m.
Maguire, struggled for first-team opportunities at Old Trafford last season and has been stripped of the captaincy this season.
Maguire joined Manchester United in August 2019 for a world record £80m for a defender.
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Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of USA international goalkeeper Matt Turner from Arsenal on a four-year contract.
Turner joined Arsenal from New England Revolution in the summer of 2022 but played back-up to number one Aaron Ramsdale.
He made seven appearances for the Gunners last season.
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Former Chelsea and England midfielder Ross Barkley has joined Premier League new boys Luton Town on a free transfer.
He capped 33 times by his country, was a free agent after leaving Ligue 1 club Nice this summer.
Top-flight newcomers Luton begin their first-ever season in the Premier League on Saturday with a visit to Brighton.
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Manchester City are interested in West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta.
The Brazilian joined the Hammers from Lyon for £36.5m last summer and was instrumental in the club winning the Europa Conference League.
Manchester City have made an initial approach to the Hammers but are yet to make a bid.
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Burnley have signed midfielder Sander Berge from Sheffield United for a fee in the region of twelve million pounds.
The Norway international joins on a four-year deal at Turf Moor and becomes manager Vincent Kompany’s 11th signing of the summer.
Berge joined the Blades from Genk in 2020 for a club-record £22m fee and made 109 appearances.
The newly-promoted Clarets begin the 2023-24 Premier League campaign against defending champions Manchester City, at Turf Moor on Friday.
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Former Arsenal defender, Bacary Sagna believes Kai Havertz can prove to be the next Robin van Persie at the club.
Havertz joined the Gunners from London rivals Chelsea last month in a £65million deal.
He spent three years with the Blues, showing glimpses of his abilities, but has been criticised for a lack of goals and assists having been used in a variety of different positions under multiple managers.
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Lee Mason, the referee who was sacked after making a big blunder in an Arsenal game last season has been reinstated by the Professional Games Match Officials Limited PGMOL.
Mason has been rehired by the referees’ body to help train new officials.
He will work with officials at Premier League, EFL and Women’s Super League, but will “operate specifically on Leagues One and Two.”
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OTHER SPORTS
In Cricket; Australian Spencer Johnson took three wickets on an eye-catching Hundred debut as Oval Invincibles thrashed Manchester Originals by 94 runs.
The 27-year-old left-arm quick finished with extraordinary figures of 3-1 from 20 balls, regularly bowling over 90mph as Originals were dismissed for 92.
His spell was the most economical 20-ball effort in The Hundred.
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In Boxing; Anthony Joshua says boxing “clearly has a problem” with doping after Dillian Whyte failed a voluntary drugs test and was pulled out of Saturday’s all-British heavyweight contest.
Joshua, 33, will instead fight Robert Helenius at London’s O2 Arena, with the 39-year-old Finn taking the fight at just a week’s notice.
For the third time in 12 months, boxing is facing serious questions about the sport’s credibility and its anti-doping protocols.
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In Golf; Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm of Spain have had their places on the European team for this year’s Ryder Cup confirmed.
The pair secured their spots on captain Luke Donald’s panel through the European Points List.
Four-time major winner McIlroy will be playing in his seventh consecutive Ryder Cup while it will be a third in a row for Rahm.
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In Tennis; British number one Katie Boulter was swept aside in straight sets by American teenager Coco Gauff in the second round of the National Bank Open.
Boulter, 27, had not dropped a set in coming through two qualifying matches and her main-draw opener in Montreal.
But she lost 6-2 6-2 to 19-year-old Gauff, who will face Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova or the returning Caroline Wozniacki in the last 16.
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In Cycling; Great Britain’s Emma Finucane claimed her first major title as she took gold in the women’s sprint at the Cycling World Championships in Glasgow.
Finucane put in superb ride to beat Germany’s Lea Friedrich in the first two races of their best-of-three final.
The 20-year-old was also part of the British team to take silver in the women’s team sprint.
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In Rugby; Hooker Dewi Lake will captain a completely new Wales side to face England at Twickenham with centre Joe Roberts winning his first cap on Saturday.
Warren Gatland has made 15 changes to the team that defeated England 20-9 in Cardiff.
Lake will lead Wales for the first time after taking over the captaincy from Jac Morgan.
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OTHER LEAGUES
Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie on Wednesday joined Saudi Arabian outfit Al Ahli in a 12.5 million euro move from Barcelona.
Al Ahly have already signed Brazilian star Roberto Firmino from Liverpool, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy from Chelsea, and Riyad Mahrez from Manchester City.
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Former Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has signed with United Arab Emirates Pro League side Emirates Club.
The Spaniard left Japanese side Vissel Kobe midway through the J-League season on 1st July.
He made 134 appearances for the Japanese club, winning the domestic Emperor’s Cup in 2019 and the Japanese Super Cup the following year.
His new club begin their campaign against Al-Wasl on 19th August.
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Rangers bounced back from domestic defeat by securing a one-goal first-leg advantage over 10-man Servette in Champions League qualifying.
Labelled a “mega game” by Michael Beale, his pumped players delivered an electric opening following the weekend defeat at Kilmarnock.
James Tavernier netted a composed penalty before Cyriel Dessers bundled in his first goal for the club in the opening 15 minutes.
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TODAY’S THOUGHT
“You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them…..Words from….Michael Jordan.
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