NIGERIA

Nigerian Champions, Enyimba FC on Sunday, suffered a 4-3 loss at Libyan side, Al Ahli Benghazi in a 2023/2024 CAF Champions League preliminary round first-leg clash.

Striker, Chijioke Mboama had put the Peoples Elephants ahead as early as the third minute but the lead could only last five minutes before the Libyans got an equaliser.

Left-back, Imo Obot diverted a cross into his own net to gift Al Ahli Benghazi a 2-1 lead three minutes before the break.

The second half produced more goals, with Eze Ekwutoziam and Murphy Ndukwu canceling Al Ahli Benghazi’s leads to put the score at 3-3 before a heartbreaking stoppage time winner for the hosts secured a 4-3 first-leg result.

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Nigeria Premier Football League side Remo Stars suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Medeama SC in the first leg of their CAF Champions League qualifying match in Cape Coast, Ghana on Sunday.

The Ikenne side travelled to Ghana with the hope of getting a good start on their first appearance in the continent’s elite competition but a first-half goal from Jonathan Sowah was all the Ghanaian Champions needed to secure the advantage.

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Nigeria’s girls U-18 handball team, was crowned champion of the IHF Women’s Trophy Africa Continental Phase after defeating Guinea in the final of the competition in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

The coach Shittu Agboola’s tutored girls stood tall by recording a comfortably 33-18 victory over Guinea to win the Continental Phase of the 2023 IHF Women’s Africa Trophy International.

The victory means that Nigeria will be the only African representative at the IHF Women’s Trophy Intercontinental Phase later this year.

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Two Nigerian sprinters, Ushoritse Itshekiri and Seye Ogunlewe, could not survive their 100m semifinal events.

While Ogunlewe placed 5th in his semifinal race with 10.12secobds, Itsehekiri finished 8th in his semifinal with a time of 10.19secs.

AFN board member and Performance Director, Victor Okorie, shortly after the race said the athletes may not have prepared themselves adequately for the championships.

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Nigeria’s hope of grabbing a medal in the women’s long jump event faded away, as Ese Brume finished 4th in the final.

Though, she recorded a Season Best with a jump of 6.84m, it was not enough to give Nigeria a medal.

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Nigeria will from September 11 to 18 battle with Egypt, Zambia, Benin Republic, Morocco, Libya, South Africa, Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire and hosts, Tunisia, at the 2023 African Table Tennis Championships, which will also serve as qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

According to the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), billed to play in the women’s event are Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia, South Africa, Zambia, Uganda, Algeria, Mauritius, and Benin Republic.

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The 2023 Olumide Oyedeji Basketball Camp begins today at the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The championship, which will end on August 25, according to the organisers, Olumide Oyedeji Youth Foundation, is aimed at discovering the next generation of basketball stars for Nigeria.

The foundation said the 2023 event would feature hundreds of children from Lagos, Osun, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, and Ekiti states, as well participants from other geo-political zones, who are between the ages of five and 18 years.

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The Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) has confirmed that over 178 players from 11 countries, including the United States, Cameroun, Kenya and Zambia, among other countries, will arrive the country this week.

This is ahead of the inaugural President’s Cup and PANASA/Winifried Awosika Foundation Africa Youth Championships in Lagos.

The competition, with $32,000 as prize money, will hold from twenty-fourth August 24 to 28 at Orchid Hotel, Ikota-Lekki, Lagos and Chrisland School No. 4, Olubunmi Owa Street, Off Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

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IN WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

Spain won the Women’s World Cup for the first time in their history with skipper Olga Carmona sweeping in the only goal for a deserved 1-0 victory over England in Sunday’s final.

In front of a crowd of nearly 76,000 at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Spain were the more accomplished side and had more chances, including missing a second-half penalty.

Spain’s triumph is vindication for Jorge Vilda and the Spanish football federation, who stuck with the coach even after 15 players last year said they no longer wanted to represent their country under him.

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Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmati on Sunday won the Golden Ball for the best player at this year’s Women’s World Cup after her side beat England 1-0 in the final.

The versatile 25-year-old Barcelona star had a phenomenal tournament, playing in every game and was a cornerstone of Jorge Vilda’s side.

Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa took out the Golden Boot for the tournament’s top scorer with five goals.

England’s hugely impressive goalkeeper Mary Earps, who saved a penalty in Sunday’s final, won the Golden Glove while the best young player award went to teenage Spanish striker Salma Paralluelo.

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Spain World Cup winner Alexia Putellas says Fifa should “take note” at disputes surrounding the women’s game.

The 2021 and 2022 Ballon d’Or winner said issues around the world were “sapping” the energy of players.

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Sweden scored twice to deny co-host Australia the bronze medal at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup for the fourth time at the Suncorp Stadium in the third-place play-off in Australia.

After losing 3-1 to England in the semifinals, the Matildas were in high hopes to clinch the bronze medal for the first time.

However, a goal each from Fridolina Rolfo, and Kosovare Asllani were enough to secure the Swedes their fourth third-place finish, and dashed the Australians dreams.

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ENGLAND

West Ham United claimed a rousing London derby win against big-spending Chelsea despite playing almost 30 minutes with 10 men.

The Hammers were 2-1 ahead when defender Nayef Aguerd, who opened the scoring with an early header, was sent off in the 67th minute for his second bookable offence.

But Chelsea could not force an equaliser with their numerical advantage and then conceded a late third through Lucas Paqueta’s penalty in the fifth minute of added time.

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West Ham United manager David Moyes says there was “never any doubt” about playing Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta in the 3-1 win against Chelsea.

The 25-year-old is being investigated by the Football Association for potential betting rule breaches and as a result his mooted move to Manchester City has reportedly been put on hold.

But he was lively against Chelsea and scored a late penalty to seal the win.

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Bournemouth have signed midfielder Tyler Adams from Leeds United for a fee understood to be in excess of £20m.

Adams, 24, who has signed a five-year deal, only joined Leeds from RB Leipzig on a five-year contract last summer.

However he has moved on following the Elland Road club’s relegation from the Premier League last season.

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Crystal Palace are interested in signing Manchester United’s England goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

The 26-year-old was on loan last season at Nottingham Forest but they have signed the United States’ Matt Turner from Arsenal as their number one.

It is believed Henderson’s move to Palace would be a loan with an obligation to buy.

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It is only two games into the new season but Everton are already bottom of the Premier League table and the problems are piling up for Sean Dyche.

The Toffees lost 1-0 against Fulham in their opener and were taken apart 4-0 at Aston Villa on Sunday to sink to the foot of the division.

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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes said his side deserve an apology after not being awarded a penalty early on in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Tottenham.

The score was level at 0-0 when no action was taken for a handball by Cristian Romero that turned Alejandro Garnacho’s shot behind for a corner.

United benefitted from a controversial call in their favour to beat Wolves 1-0 in their opening game of the season.

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OTHER SPORTS

In Tennis; Coco Gauff captured the biggest title of her career on Sunday, powering past Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-4 to win the WTA Cincinnati Open.

The 19-year-old American rushed to her box to hug her team members after securing victory at the 1000-level event over French Open runner-up Muchova in just under two hours.

Gauff was broken while serving for the straight-sets win, but two games later threw her hands up in joy after converting on her fourth match point.

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In Athletics; Katarina Johnson-Thompson claimed a stunning heptathlon gold at the World Championships in Budapest to complete a remarkable turnaround in her career.

The Briton, now a two-time world champion, feared injury may end her career just months after her 2019 win.

But Johnson-Thompson, whose Achilles rupture four years ago marked the start of a difficult period, has rediscovered her spark and this gold is her reward.

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Botswana’s new sprint sensation Letsile Tebogo paid tribute to the African sprinters who have paved the way for him to become the first man from the continent to reach the podium in the event.

This is after claiming the silver medal in the 100m final at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

He even went as far as suggesting he would have offered up his place to South Africa’s Akani Simbine, who was disqualified from the semifinals after a false start, if he could have.

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In Netball; Maties got the defence of their title off on a winning note when they beat newcomers Wits on the first day of the 2023 Varsity Netball tournament at the Wits Sports Hall in Johannesburg.

There were also victories for UFS-Kovsies over Madibaz, UP-Tuks over UJ and NWU over UWC.

The first bumper weekend continues tomorrow at the same venue.

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In Cricket; India beat Ireland by 33 runs in Malahide to clinch the three-match T20 series with a game to spare.

Having been put in to bat by the home side, the tourists finished their innings strongly to post 185-5, with Ruturaj Gaikwad top scoring with 58.

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OTHER LEAGUES

Lionel Messi has been hailed as the “best in the world” as he scored a 10th goal in seven games to help his Inter Miami side to their first trophy.

The 36-year-old Argentinian fired into the top corner from outside the box to give Miami the lead against Nashville SC in the Leagues Cup final.

Fafa Picault levelled in the second half to send the game to penalties.

Miami sealed a 10-9 shootout win when Drake Callender saved Nashville goalkeeper Elliot Panicco’s spot-kick.

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Defending La Liga champions Barcelona marked their first home game at the city’s Olympic Stadium with a 2-0 win over Cadiz.

The Spanish giants are playing at the ground while the Nou Camp is refurbished and it looked like they would have to settle for a draw.

But Pedri opened the scoring late on after receiving a superb pass from ex-Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan.

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Battling Kilmarnock inflicted Celtic’s first cup loss under Brendan Rodgers to set up a Viaplay Cup quarter-final meeting with Hearts.

During his first spell at Celtic, Rodgers picked up this trophy on three occasions, along with two successes in the Scottish Cup.

But his side struggled to create openings against their energetic Premiership hosts and Marley Watkins touched in the only goal on 59 minutes.

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At least seven people died and 27 others were hospitalized Sunday in southeastern Brazil when a driver lost control of a bus carrying football fans on a mountainous road.

According to fire officials, the accident occurred on a highway near Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais state.

Passengers said the driver cried out that he had no brakes shortly before losing control.

More than 40 fans of the Corinthians football club of Sao Paulo were on the bus, returning from a match the night before in Belo Horizonte.

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

Leadership, like coaching, is fighting for the hearts and souls of men and getting them to believe in you….Words from Eddie Robinson.