NIGERIA
Reigning Nigeria Professional Football League champions Enyimba played out a one-all draw against Rangers in a pre-season friendly on Sunday.
Rangers took the lead in the first half through Philip Clement before defender Austin Opara scored an own goal towards the end of the encounter.
The match was played at the Uyo Township Stadium.
Both teams used the encounter to test their readiness for the new season.
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Goalkeeper Mohammed Galadima has joined Kano Pillars ahead of the 2023-24 Nigeria Professional Football League season.
Galadima teamed up with Abdullahi Maikaba’s side for an undisclosed fee.
The Olympic Eagles goalkeeper signed a one-year contract with the Sai Masu Gida.
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Akwa United head coach, Fatai Osho says his team will be ready for the start of the new season.
Osho took charge of the Promise Keepers two months ago.
The young tactician said the building process of a formidable team that will challenge for honours is still in progress.
The Promise Keepers played out a one-all draw against Bayelsa United in a pre-season friendly in Uyo.
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Akwa United have debunked claims, Wisdom Fernando has left the club.
The winger was reported to have left the club with the hope of securing a move abroad.
The Uyo club claimed the player still has a subsisting contract that will last till the end of the 2023-24 football season.
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Zachary Baraje has been confirmed head coach of Nigeria National League side, FC Ona Pal.
Baraje is saddled with the responsibility of mentoring the young players and the team’s backroom staff.
The veteran coach led Plateau United to the Nigeria Professional Football League title in 2016.
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Congo Premier League Champions, AS Otoho have completed the signing of Bolaji Sakin.
Sakin joined the Congolese club from newly promoted Nigeria Professional Football League side Katsina United.
The former Rivers United forward signed a one-year contract with the club.
Sakin is expected to earn one thousand and two hundred dollars as monthly salary.
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Super Eagles forward, Taiwo Awoniyi has welcomed another child with his wife, Taiye Jesudun.
The baby arrived on Saturday, on Awoniyi’s birthday.
Awoniyi had a memorable birthday as he came off the bench and pulled one back for Nottingham Forest in their 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in Saturday’s Premier League fixture.
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The World Athletics says women’s 100m hurdles world champion and record holder, Tobi Amusan, has not yet been cleared to compete at this year’s World Championships, which begins this weekend in Budapest, Hungary.
Amusan was provisionally suspended last month by the by the Athletics Integrity Unit for missing three whereabouts tests.
Head of Communications of World Athletics, Nicole Jeffery, in a statement advised that reports appearing in Nigeria that say Tobi Amusan has been cleared to compete in Budapest are wrong.
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The D’Tigers are upbeat about their chances of qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which pre-tournament championship begins at the Convention Centre of Eko Hotels, Lagos, today.
Nigeria take on Senegal in their first game of the qualifying series by five in the evening.
Speaking on the competition, the players, led by Coach Mike brown, said it presents another opportunity to show they are among the best teams in the world.
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IN WOMEN’S WORLD CUP.
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England women defender Lucy Bronze, says reaching semi-finals of major tournaments is what England “are known for”.
The Lionesses will compete in their third successive Women’s World Cup semi-final on Wednesday against co-hosts Australia, having beaten Colombia 2-1 in the last eight.
Bronze, played a key role in reaching all three, having had a breakout tournament in 2015.
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England’s Lauren James will miss the quarter-final and a potential semi-final of the World Cup after being banned for two matches by FIFA.
James was sent off after she stood on the back of Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie in England’s last-16 victory.
The 21-year-old’s initial yellow card was upgraded to a red card after a review by VAR, with James the first Lioness to be sent off under Sarina Wiegman.
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ENGLAND
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Chelsea and Liverpool played out a thrilling draw at Stamford Bridge as both sides delivered a prime example of why they are doing battle over £110m Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo.
A highly entertaining encounter showcased the attacking quality of both sides while the defensive deficiencies illustrated why Caicedo has become a prized target.
Liverpool dominated the early stages, Mohamed Salah striking the bar before the Egypt forward delivered a stunning pass for Luis Diaz to slide home the opening goal after 18 minutes.
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Tottenham began life after Harry Kane with an entertaining two-all draw against Brentford on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
Kane’s move from his boyhood club to Bayern Munich was confirmed on Saturday, and goals from Cristian Romero and Emerson Royal earned new Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou a point on Sunday.
Brentford, who began the league campaign without talisman Ivan Toney, had taken the lead through Yoane Wissa after Bryan Mbeumo’s penalty cancelled out Romero’s opener.
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Everton have condemned the social media abuse suffered by striker Neal Maupay following Saturday’s Premier League defeat by Fulham at Goodison Park.
Maupay missed several chances in the 1-0 loss and later posted a screenshot of the abuse he received on Instagram.
Visitors Fulham added their support for the player, saying they stand with Neal Maupay and support Everton’s message to report, condemn and highlight such abuse.
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Manchester United midfielder Fred has completed a move to Turkish side Fenerbahce.
The Brazil international, who joined United from Shakhtar Donetsk for £47m in 2018, called his time at Old Trafford “a true dream”.
It is understood United will receive £8.62m, with an additional £4.31m in potential add-ons.
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Former Chelsea defender Scott Minto has heaped praise on Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka following his impressive performance against Nottingham Forest in Saturday’s Premier League encounter.
Minto said Saka, who scored a goal for Arsenal against Nottingham Forest, was old school in how honest he is.
Two goals from Saka and Eddie Nketiah ensured Mikel Arteta’s side defeated Forest at the Emirates.
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Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has hit out at Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola’s treatment of Erling Haaland during the Citizens’ 3-0 Premier League win over Burnley on Saturday.
Manchester City defeated Burnley at Turf Moor in their Premier League opener at the weekend.
During the encounter, Haaland scored a brace in the first 36 minutes of the match but seemingly complained about a lack of service towards the end of the first half.
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Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has drawn up a list of four players to replace defender Harry Maguire at Old Trafford.
Maguire is set to leave Manchester United this summer transfer window.
It emerged last week that West Ham United have agreed to sign the England international from Manchester United for £30 million.
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OTHER SPORTS
In Tennis; World number one Iga Swiatek lost 6-2 6-7 6-4 to Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals of the Canadian Open.
The match was disrupted in the second-set tie-break when the Rednex novelty classic Cotton Eye Joe began blaring out of the court speakers during play.
Reigning French and US Open champion Swiatek produced an error-strewn display against against the American.
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In Golf; Lilia Vu produced a composed display to win the Women’s Open at Walton Heath, her second major title of 2023.
Vu, the Chevron Championship winner in April, clinched victory by six shots from England’s Charley Hull.
The American, 25, began the final round tied with Hull for the lead and shot a five-under 67 containing six birdies.
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In Cricket; Jamie Smith’s maiden fifty in The Hundred helped Birmingham Phoenix beat leaders Oval Invincbles by 41 runs for their first win of the season.
Highly-rated 23-year-old Smith hit an elegant 60 from 33 balls and Moeen Ali a 26-ball 33 in Phoenix’s 160-8.
Chris Woakes then set the tone on his Hundred debut in an impressive bowling performance by the hosts.
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In Boxing; Former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has delivered a seventh-round knockout of Robert Helenius in their heavyweight affair making it his first KO win since he defeated Kubrat Puliev.
Joshua was originally set for his third clash with Whyte at the O2 Arena, having lost to his fellow Briton as an amateur before knocking him out in 2015.
However, Whyte returned an adverse finding in a drug test last week, leading him to be pulled from the main event.
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OTHER LEAGUES
Harry Kane says he did not want to finish his career with any “regrets” following his move to Bayern Munich.
The England captain left Tottenham after 19 years on Saturday to join the German champions for an initial £86m.
He made his Bayern debut as they lost 3-0 to RB Leipzig in the German Super Cup later in the day.
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Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe has returned to first-team training and likely to stay at the French champions this summer.
The France forward, had not been training with the first-team squad and was left out of PSG’s 0-0 season opener with Lorient on Saturday.
He has been in a contract stand-off amid a desire to join Real Madrid but could now extend his contract at PSG.
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Real Madrid defender Eder Militao has injured an anterior cruciate ligament in the 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.
The Brazilian, is the second Real player to sustain the same injury this week, following goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois on Thursday.
Militao was forced off early in the game after hyperextending his left knee.
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Champions Celtic held off a spirited Aberdeen to make it two wins out of two in the Scottish Premiership.
Liel Abada scored the visitors’ opener after VAR overturned an offside decision but Bojan Miovski levelled from close range.
Kyogo Furuhashi pounced on a dreadful defensive lapse by Nicky Devlin to fire Celtic back in front and Matt O’Riley sealed victory late on.
Aberdeen threatened through Leighton Clarkson’s shot wide at 2-1 and remain on one point after two games.
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Roberto Mancini has resigned as manager of Italy after five years in charge.
The Italian, took charge of the team after they failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and led them to victory at Euro 2020, beating England on penalties in the final at Wembley.
The team went on a world record 37-game unbeaten run but then failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
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RESULTS
PREMIER LEAGUE ON SATURDAY
Arsenal 2 – 1 Nottingham Forest
AFC Bournemouth 1 – 1 West Ham United
Brighton & Hove Albion 4 – 1 Luton Town
Everton O – 1 Fulham
Sheffield United 0 -1 Crystal Palace
Newcastle United 5 – 1 Aston Villa
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PREMIER LEAGUE ON SUNDAY
Brentford 2 – 2 Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea 1 – 1 Liverpool
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TODAY’S FIXTURES
Man Utd VS Wolves
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TODAY’S THOUGHT
“Just keep going. Everybody gets better if they keep at it.””..Words from Ted Williams.
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