NIGERIA
Despite recording a six-nil win against São Tomé and Principe in their final 2023 AFCON qualifier, Nigeria’s Super Eagles dropped from 39th to 40th in the latest FIFA Coca-Cola world ranking.
The ranking was published on FIFA’s official website on Thursday.
In Africa, the Super Eagles are sixth behind 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finalists Morocco (1st), 2021 AFCON winners Senegal (2nd), Tunisia (3rd), Algeria (4th) and Egypt (5th).
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been placed in Pot 2 ahead of the draw for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) revealed the pots on Thursday.
Other teams also placed in Pot 2 alongside the Super Eagles are Cameroon, Ghana, Mali, Burkina, Ghana and DR Congo.
Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro, believes the team’s striker, Victor Osimhen can win the Ballon d’Or in future.
Osimhen is among the thirty players nominated for the 2023 men’s Ballon d’Or.
The forward has also been nominated for the FIFA Best Men’s award.
Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying opponent, Zimbabwe has appointed Brazilian, Baltemar Brito as their new head coach.
According to the Zimbabwe Football Association, Brito would be assisted by Bongani Mafu and Genesis Mangombe.
Brito’s first assignment will be the friendly against Botswana thirtieth September.
The Harambe Warriors will face the Super Eagles in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on seventeen November in Harare.
Former Rivers United defender, Ebube Duru is close to completing a move to Europe.
Duru is currently unattached following the expiration of his contract with Rivers United.
According to the player’s agent, Aljosa Alibegovic, the defender is in advanced negotiation with the club.
Duru earned invitation to the Super Eagles for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sierra Leone in June.
Rangers have been assured of government support ahead of the 2023-24 Nigeria Premier Football League season.
The members of the Youth, Sports and Security Committee of the state gave the assurance when they visited the club’s management.
The delegation which was led by its chairman, Raymond Ugwu, urged the club’s management to work tirelessly in ensuring the team’s success in the new NPFL season.
Sports enthusiasts and managers should harness their potential and focus on sport-based entrepreneurship to make positive contribution to the society.
Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, gave the advice at the 2023 Industrial Leadership Seminar, orgainsed by the National Institute for Sports, Department of Sport Management Studies.
Ogunlende, said the Ministry would partner to develop a research related sport to create legacy activities to support the youths in the state and Nigeria at large.
INSERT: TRAINING (1) 21-09-2023
Cue in:
Cue out:
Also, Director of Sports University of Lagos, Professor Joseph Awoyinfa, urged the sports manager to be honest, and have a self evaluation, as it would pave a way for the growth of sports in the country.
INSERT: TRAINING (2) 21-09-2023
Cue in:
Cue out:
On his part, Chairman, Lagos State Football Association, Fuad Oki, described sport as an important enabler of sustainable development, charging the sports manager to focus on grassroot development.
This year’s Nigeria Cup Golf, a tournament established to celebrate the nation’s independence anniversary, will take off at the Golf section of Ikoyi Club 1938 on Saturday with fun and fanfare.
This is as all necessary arrangements to ensure the edition of the annual competition proceeds as planned have been put in place.
The Nigeria Olympic Committee NOC, has congratulated Nigerian sprint queen, Tobi Amusan for her incredible victory at the Diamond League.
Its President, Habu Gumel, also thanked Amusan for staying focused on her goal.
Amusan who took the first position at the Oregon Diamond League, previously won the title in 2021 and 2022.
Amusan won the race with a season’s best time of twelve point three-three seconds.
ENGLAND
Liverpool came from behind to beat LASK Linz as they made a winning start to their Europa League campaign.
LASK midfielder Florian Flecker struck a brilliant opener from the edge of the area on 19 minutes for the Austrians.
Darwin Nunez equalised from the penalty spot after Luis Diaz was fouled, before Diaz himself scored the winner from debutant Ryan Gravenberch’s cross.
Second half substitute Mohamed Salah added a third goal late on for Jurgen Klopp’s side to seal victory.
Burnley manager, Vincent Kompany, says top clubs like Manchester United are always one loss away from a crisis.
The Red Devils lost their last three games in all competitions going into Saturday’s game against Kompany’s side at Turf Moor.
United were beaten by Arsenal and Brighton in the league and Bayern Munich in the Champions League in their last three outings, but Kompany issued some support for Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag.
Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy will be open to selling his stake if it was in the best interest of the club.
Levy has been chairman since 2001 and his family are twenty-nine point eight-eight percent investors in Spurs’ majority shareholder ENIC, who own eighty-six point five-eight percent of the club.
Some Tottenham fans called for Levy to step down last season.
Tottenham chief scout, Leonardo Gabbanini has left ahead of further structural changes at the north London club.
Gabbanini played a key role over the summer in identifying targets and acting as a conduit between intermediaries and the club.
In a hectic few months that saw managing director of football Fabio Paratici leave following an investigation into financial irregularities in Italy and Ange Postecoglou appointed as new head coach, Gabbanini has been a key figure for the club over the summer.
Liverpool legend, Steven Gerrard has revealed his regret at leaving Liverpool months before Jurgen Klopp came in at Anfield and revolutionised the club.
Gerrard was offered a one-year contract extension by the Reds for the 2015-16 season, but turned it down in favour of MLS side LA Galaxy, after Liverpool’s manager at the time, Brendan Rodgers, told him that his playing time would be reduced in the forthcoming season.
With the benefit of hindsight, Gerrard, wished he could have stayed at Liverpool a season longer, and worked with Klopp.
Liverpool legend, Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal would never win the Premier League with Aaron Ramsdale alone, backing the loan acquisition of Brentford goalkeeper David Raya.
Raya came into the Gunners’ squad after the start of the season, and has played Arsenal’s last two matches, Sunday’s one-nil league win at Everton and Wednesday’s four-nil win at home to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.
It has led to debates about who the number one goalkeeper at Arsenal is, with both players keen to retain the position as Mikel Arteta’s side fight on multiple fronts.
Everton manager, Sean Dyche has been told by prospective new owners 7-7-7 Partners that it’ll take them time to complete the takeover from Farhad Moshiri due to Premier League regulations.
Dyche held his first meeting with 7-7-7 chief Josh Wander and his associates this week to discuss the way forward for one of England’s most revered clubs.
Everton, who have been in the top flight since the 1950s, are currently in the bottom three without a league win this season and Moshiri signed an agreement to sell his stake to the American investors.
Everton have said they are working with Merseyside Police to investigate a reported incident of racist abuse directed towards an Arsenal player.
It took place fifteen minutes into Everton’s one-nil defeat to the Gunners at Goodison Park.
Everton said the reported incident happened in the Lower Gwladys Street Stand near to the Bullens Road Stand.
England women captain, Millie Bright, says England players have come to an agreement with the Football Association after a dispute over performance-related bonuses.
The Lionesses were frustrated a deal was not agreed before talks were put on hold during the Women’s World Cup.
Bright said the squad are really positive things would be different moving forward.
OTHER LEAGUES
Former Ireland international, Jonathan Walters has slammed Scott McTominay’s ’embarrassing’ tracking back in Manchester United’s four-three Champions League groip stage defeat against Bayern Munich.
Furious club supporters already blasted the Scotland international for showing a ‘disgusting’ lack of desire to win the ball back just ten minutes after coming on at the Allianz Arena.
Just ten minutes into his cameo, McTominay lost the ball on the edge of Bayern’s area before showing urgency to win possession back.
FC Copenhagen goalkeeper, Kamil Grabara, has received death threats after posting a derogatory comment about Galatasaray on social media.
According to his wife, Grabara used an expletive to refer to Galatasaray, before editing the post to use a similar expletive to describe the game.
It came after Copenhagen threw away a two-goal lead in the final four minutes of normal time in Turkey.
Lionel Messi has taken aim at Paris Saint-Germain once again, as he claimed he was the only member of Argentina’s World Cup-winning squad not to be recognised by his club.
Messi and the Albiceleste beat France in Qatar last winter to win the 2022 World Cup while he was still at PSG.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s spell in Paris came to a sour end and left the French champions at the end of his contract in summer to join David Beckham’s Inter Miami in mid-July.
Saudi Arabia crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman says he does not care about accusations of ‘sportswashing’.
The Gulf kingdom has been accused of investing in sport and using high-profile events to improve its international reputation.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund led the takeover of Newcastle United last year and launched LIV Golf.
================================
OTHER SPORTS
In Tennis, Britain’s Andy Murray has defeated Chinese wildcard Ye Cong Mo to win his opening match of the Zhuhai Championships.
The former world number one battled “very humid” conditions to beat Mo 7-5, 6-3 and reach the last sixteen.
The opening set was competitive and on serve until Murray broke the Chinese wildcard in the final game to edge the set 7-5.
He will now face Aslan Karatsev, who beat Murray in their only career meting at the 2022 Sydney Classic final.
In Formula one, Lewis Hamilton will be convinced something’s up if Red Bull are not back at their normal level at this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.
Red Bull failed to win for the first time all year last weekend in Singapore, where Carlos Sainz triumphed for Ferrari.
In Rugby, Marcus Smith starts at full-back and captain Owen Farrell returns at ten in an experimental, much-changed England side to face Chile on Saturday.
Smith impressed in the position after coming off the bench in recent weeks, including in the Pool D win over Japan.
Farrell appears for the first time at France 2023 after a four-match ban.
==============================
=============================
RESULTS OF THE MATCHES PLAYED ON THURSDAY IN EUROPA LEAGUE- Group Stage.
===============================
Soccer action continues this weekend
=================================
IN PREMIER LEAGUE
ON SATURDAY.
Crystal Palace vs Fulham
Luton Town vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
Brentford vs Everton
Burnley vs Manchester United
ON SUNDAY
Arsenal VS Tottenham Hotspur
Brighton & Hove Albion VS AFC Bournemouth
Chelsea VS Aston Villa
Liverpool VS West Ham United
Sheffield United VS Newcastle United
===========================
IN SPANISH LA LIGA
ON SATURDAY
Girona VS Mallorca
Osasuna VS Sevilla
Barcelona VS Celta Vigo
Almería VS Valencia
ON SUNDAY
Real Sociedad vs Getafe
Rayo Vallecano vs Villarreal
Las Palmas vs Granada
Real Betis vs Cádiz
Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid
==========================
IN ITALIAN SERIE A
AC Milan VS Hellas Verona
Sassuolo VS Juventus
Lazio VS Monza
ON SUNDAY
Empoli VS Inter Milan
Atalanta VS Cagliari
Udinese VS Fiorentina
Bologna VS Napoli
Torino VS Roma
TODAY’S THOUGHT
“The man who has no imagination has no wings.” words from Muhammad Ali
securityandsafetymatters 