IN NIGERIA
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Team Nigeria has secured its second medal in powerlifting at the ongoing Paralympic Games in Paris.
Esther Nworgu, won silver medal in the women forty-one kilograms category, after Eniola Bolaji, won bronze in badminton.
Nworgu lifted an impressive one hundred and eighteen kilograms to secure the silver medal.
Nworgu was narrowly beaten by China’s Zhe Cui, who lifted one hundred and nineteen kilograms to set a new Paralympic Games record, taking the gold.
Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, has congratulated Esther Nworgu, who clinched the silver medal in women’s up to 41Kg power lifting at the ongoing Paralympics in Paris, France.
In a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the Minister, Diana-Mary Nsan, Enoh said Nworgu’s feat is heart-warming, historic and inspiring.
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Meanwhile, Team Nigeria’s Isau Ogunkunle, has continued his impressive run at the Paris 2024 Paralympic after qualifying for the semi-finals of the men’s Singles Class 4 Table Tennis.
Ogunkunle defeated the home favourite, Maxime Thomas, recovering from a set down to win 9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-6.
This is the second match he is emerging tops against a top seeded player.
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The duo of Super Eagles players, Kelechi Iheanacho and Maduka Okoye have arrived at Super Eagles’ camp in Uyo ahead of the team’s clash against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic.
Twenty-two players are now at the disposal of caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen.
The remaining player, Victor Osimhen, is expected in camp on Thursday.
The Eagles will take on Benin Republic on matchday 1 on Saturday, 7th September and face Rwanda on Tuesday, 10th September on matchday 2.
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Tickets for Saturday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles and the Cheetahs of Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo will go on sale on Friday.
While the VIP tickets will go for three thousand naira each, fans who opt for the regular stands will pay one thousand naira each.
Match ticket sale-points, according to the NFF Marketing and Sponsorship department, include Uyo Township Stadium; Government Primary School, Obio Etoi; and other sale-points would be designated by Thursday.
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Benin Republic head coach Gernot Rohr says his side will be up against a stronger Super Eagles side in Uyo on Saturday.
The Cheetahs defeated the Super Eagles 2-1 the last time both teams met in June.
Rohr is aware that the three-time African champions will be seeking revenge this time around.
Meanwhile, Benin Republic defender Mohamed Tijani has been ruled out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie against the Super Eagles
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President, Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Ibrahim Gusau has urged organisers of the annual Nigeria Pitch Awards to ensure the integrity of the project was not compromised.
Gusau also charged the organisers to maintain the high standards for which the awards are known.
Speaking in his office while receiving the President, Nigeria Pitch Awards Shina Phillips, and Chief Operating Officer Nelson Olafisoye, NFF President said the federation had always endorsed the awards.
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Akwa United have confirmed the acquisition of seventeen new players from various clubs within and outside Nigeria.
The players according to their positions are; two goalkeepers, six defenders, five midfielders and four strikers.
Akwa United will kick off their 2024-25 NPFL campaign against Lobi Stars at the Lafia City stadium on Saturday 7th September, 2024.
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Bendel Insurance Football Club has unveiled thirteen new players to fortify the team ahead of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League season.
The Benin Arsenals will host Rivers United in their first match of the new season on Sunday, 8th September at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
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Sunshine Stars’ long-serving captain and former Nigeria junior international, Sunday Abe has announced his retirement from active football.
Abe announced his retirement on Wednesday in Akure.
He explained that he was retiring after thoughtful consideration of playing active football for about two decades.
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Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen has completed the loan transfer to Galatasaray.
Osimhen joined the Turkish Super Lig champions from Serie A club Napoli.
The Partenopei retain an option to extend his contract to June 2027 if they do not complete a sale by next summer, which gives them a stronger bargaining position.
Osimhen will wear jersey number forty-five at his new club.
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Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman who plays for Atalanta, has been nominated for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award.
Lookman was nominated alongside stars like Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Bukayo Saka.
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Nigerian international Wilfred Ndidi is a contender for Leicester City’s Goal of the Month award for August.
Ndidi is nominated alongside six of his teammates; Jamie Vardy, Jordan Ayew, Harry Wink, Chris Popov, Facundo Buonanotte and Wout Faes.
The Nigeria international was nominated for his goal in the Foxes four-nil Carabao Cup win over Trammere Rovers.
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Two-time runners-up, Nigeria’s under-20 women football team, the Falconets, on Thursday lost 1-3 to Germany in their second Group D match at the ongoing 2024 FIFA Under 20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.
The match was played at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogota, Colombia.
The Nigerian girls could not keep up with the pace of the German side in the encounter.
The win propelled the Germans to the top of the group with six points from two games, while Nigeria sits in second place with three points following their matchday one win over South Korea.
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Nigeria’s Under-18 boys’ basketball team, the Junior D’Tigers, lost their opening match to Egypt by 70-57 on Wednesday night in the ongoing Afrobasket U18 competition in Pretoria, South Africa.
The young Nigerians had taken the lead, winning the first quarter 17-14.
Egypt took the second quarter and, therefore, led the match with scores 37-32 in their favour at halftime.
Nigeria’s Junior Tigers pushed hard to reduce the gap to 52-48 at the end of the third quarter and the toll of their lack of rest took hold of them in the last quarter.
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Nigeria is preparing to compete in the World Beach Sambo Championships, organised by the International Sambo Federation, in Casablanca, Morocco, from 7th to 8th September.
This follows an impressive performance at the 18th African Sambo Championship in Egypt, where Nigeria made a significant impact by securing five medals during the three-day event held at the Cairo International Stadium.
However, due to financial constraints, the Sambo Association Nigeria, was only able to fund the participation of one athlete, Charity Jatau, a gold medalist at the African Games and World Championships, in the global tournament in Morocco.
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ENGLAND
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Six players who helped England reach the Euro 2024 final are on the thirty man shortlist for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
Captain Harry Kane, midfielders Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Declan Rice, and forwards Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer are in the running for the prestigious prize, awarded to the best male footballer in 2024.
The Spain and Barcelona winger, Lamine Yamal is also in the running.
Argentina and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner who claimed the prize in 2023, and five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo, does not make the list this time.
The award is voted for by a jury of journalists from each of the top one hundred countries in the Fifa men’s world ranking.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Paris on 28th October.
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England women trio Lauren James, Lucy Bronze and Lauren Hemp are among the nominees for the women’s Ballon d’Or, awarded to the best female footballer in 2024.
All three players played in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, where the Lionesses were beaten by Spain.
Spain World Cup winner and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati, who won the award in 2023, is also on the list of thirty.
Chelsea, the 2023–24 Women’s Super League champions, are in the running for the club of the year prize along with Barcelona, NJ/NY Gotham FC, Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain.
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Liverpool star, Luis Diaz says it will be difficult for the team to cope if Mohamed Salah leaves Anfield next summer.
Diaz expressed that it would be a significant blow if Salah chose not to accept a new contract with the club.
The Egyptian star is nearing the end of his contract, which expires in the summer, and there are no indications that the 32-year-old will receive a substantial offer.
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Chelsea have been cleared by the Premier League for the sale of two hotels to a sister company to keep them compliant with profit and sustainability rules.
The Blues published their accounts in April, revealing the sale of the Millennium and Copthorne hotels next to Stamford Bridge for seventy-six point five million pounds in an effort to help them avoid a potential one hundred and sixty-six point four million pounds loss.
The hotels changed ownership from Chelsea FC Holdings to BlueCo 22 Properties, two companies under the control of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital ownership.
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England star, Angel Gomes says he has been on a difficult journey since leaving Manchester United to better himself as a player and person.
Gomes, who plays for Lille, is one of four uncapped players called up by interim England manager Lee Carsley for Nations League games away to the Republic of Ireland on Saturday followed by Finland at Wembley.
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Manchester City defender, Kyle Walker says former Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas started crying in front of them when he was sacked by chairman Daniel Levy in December 2013.
Walker, who spent eight years at Spurs between 2009-17, described his former manager as a nice person.
The defender said he would never, ever forget the moment Villas-Boas addressed his Spurs team following his sacking, revealing that members of the squad also broke down in tears.
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Manchester United women have signed Norway forward Celin Bizet from Tottenham on a three-year deal.
United triggered the release clause in her Spurs contract which is believed to be about sixty thousand pounds.
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OTHER LEAGUES
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Scotland captain, Andy Robertson says the squad must perform in the Nations League if they want to feel the love again from fans after a poor Euro 2024 campaign.
Steve Clarke’s squad host Poland at Hampden on Thursday in Nations League A before a trip to Lisbon on Sunday to play Portugal.
It is the national side’s first match since a disappointing group-stage exit in Germany where they earned just one point from three games.
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Valencia striker, Rafa Mir has been released on bail following his arrest on suspicion of sexual assault.
Mir appeared in court in Valencia on Wednesday after he was arrested on Monday.
The judge ordered Mir’s conditional release and will now investigate whether there is enough evidence for Mir to stand trial.
The Spaniard is not allowed to leave the country while the investigation remains open.
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OTHER SPORTS
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In Tennis, Jack Draper’s breakout run at the US Open reached new heights as the Briton fought his way past Alex de Minaur to reach a first Grand Slam semi-final.
The 22-year-old showed all of his youthful talent along with grit and determination to win 6-3, 7-5, 6-2.
He received treatment for a leg problem early in the second set, while Australian 10th seed De Minaur seemed hampered by injury issues of his own.
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Still on Tennis, Czech Karolina Muchova has overcome illness to reach her second consecutive US Open semi-final with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Muchova left the court after wrapping up the first set with ease, ran off court at 2-1 and again at 3-2 in the second and was seen by the doctor and physio at 4-3.
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In Cricket, Australia has cruised to a seven-wicket win over Scotland at the Grange in the first T20 international of their three-match series.
Having been put in to bat, the hosts set a target of 155 with opener George Munsey top scoring with 28.
But despite losing Jake Fraser-McGurk for a duck on debut, Australia scored freely during the powerplay, reaching a record score of 113-1 in the first six overs.
The sides meet again on Friday and Saturday for the final two games of the series.
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In Rugby, Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney says Felix Jones’ resignation as England defence coach after only seven months is deeply disappointing, as he confirmed the Irishman’s departure.
Jones joined the set-up after securing a second successive Rugby World Cup with South Africa last autumn.
Sweeney said the RFU are looking to move on after Jones’ resignation came out of the blue.
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In Cycling, Australia’s Kaden Groves sprinted to his third victory of this year’s Vuelta a Espana on stage seventeen in Santander.
Ben O’Connor maintained his five-second advantage over Primoz Roglic in the leader’s red jersey as they finished safely together in the bunch.
But it was a nervous day for the peloton in the rain as they were only able to catch the breakaway inside the final three kilometres of the one hundred and forty-one point five kilometres stage from Arnuero.
Several riders made late attacks until Groves’ Alpecin-Deceuninck team hit the front with two hundred metres remaining.
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TODAY’S FIXTURES
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IN CAF AFRICA CUP OF NATION QUALIFIERS
Tunisia VS Madagascar
Central African Republic VS Lesotho
Algeria VS Equatorial Guinea
Ghana VS Angola
Guinea-Bissau VS Eswatini
Congo VS South Sudan
Malawi VS Burundi
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IN UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE
Azerbaijan vs Sweden
Portugal vs Croatia
Scotland vs Poland
Belarus vs Bulgaria
Northern Ireland vs Luxembourg
Denmark vs Switzerland
Serbia vs Spain
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
MENTAL WILL IS A MUSCLE THAT NEEDS EXERCISE, JUST LIKE MUSCLES OF THE BODY….. WORDS FROM LYNN JENNINGS.
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