IN NIGERIA
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Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigress has edged Uganda 71-67 to progress to the final of the FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket 2024.
The Nigerians, who walked away with a win in the nail-biting semifinal fixture at Pretoria University in South Africa, secured a ticket for the FIBA Under-nineteen Women’s Basketball World Cup 2025 in Czechia alongside Mali.
Uganda had their work cut out facing Nigeria, despite having won the sides’ fixture in the Group Phase, with the Friday’s victory coming as sweet revenge.
Nigeria will on Saturday face off against Mali in the final, looking to avenge Nigeria’s men’s defeat to fellow West Africans in the quarterfinal.
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Nigeria’s Under-eighteen Men’s Basketball team, the J’Tigers are out of the 2024 Afrobasket Under-eighteen Championship, following their 81-70 loss to Mali in the quarterfinals.
The Malians who took the fight to their Nigerian counterparts from the onset of the game, won the first quarter 23-19 and led through the break at 40-38.
All efforts by the J’Tigers to take control failed as Mali eventually won the game which was played in Pretoria, South Africa.
The winners and runners-up of the championship will qualify for the FIBA World Championship billed for Switzerland.
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The Federal Government says youth games is veritable tool for grassroots sports development in the country.
President Bola Tinubu stated this at the opening of the 8th National Youth Games at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.
Tinubu said the government was committed to all round development of the youths, saying government would continue to give priority attention to the discovery of sporting talents for national honours.
He assured that his administration would continue to provide the needed resources for sports development in the country.
The president spoke through the Minister for Sports Development, John Enoh.
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The Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh says the National Youth Games holds special significance as a beacon of hope for the revitalisation of the sports industry in Nigeria.
Enoh said this in Asaba at the opening of the 8th edition of the Games at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta.
He emphasised the importance of grassroots sports development in nurturing young talent and strengthening the country’s position in global sports.
The minister reiterated the role of grassroots sports development in building a strong sports sector, noting that this event plays a pivotal role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
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Nigeria’s Falconets’ journey at the FIFA Under-twenty women’s World Cup has ended following a two-one defeat to Japan in the round of 16 in the early hours of Friday.
Goals in each half from Miyu Matsunaga and Maya Hijikata sealed the win for the 2018 Under-twenty women’s champions and place into the quarter-finals.
Falconets goal was scored by Olushola Shobowale deep in stoppage time which was just a consolation goal.
The result means Japan has now beaten the Falconets in their last three meetings at the Under-twenty World Cup (2012, 2016, 2024).
Japan has now joined hosts Colombia, USA, Brazil, North Korea, Spain, USA and Germany in the quarter-finals.
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Randy Waldrum has resigned from his position as head coach of Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, Super Falcons.
The 67-year-old cited his wife’s heath issues as reason for his decision to step down from the post.
Waldrum was appointed Super Falcons head coach on October 5, 2020.
He guided the team to fourth position at the 2022 Africa Women’s Nations Cup in Morocco.
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Former Super Eagles head coach, Samson Siasia believes the team is still lacking a midfielder in the mould of Jay Jay Okocha.
Okocha was one of the highly celebrated midfielders during his time with the Super Eagles.
Nigeria have struggled to produce another playmaker since his exit from the national team.
Siasia in his assessment of the current Super Eagles said the team is well equipped in other areas but lacking a playmaker.
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Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen has observed his first training with Galatasaray.
Osimhen who completed a loan move to the Turkish Super Lig champions from Napoli, joined his international teammates in training after penning his contract Galatasaray.
He could make his debut for Galatasaray against Caykur Rizespor on Saturday.
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Some basketball fans in Lagos have commended the Nigeria’s Under-18 female basketball team, J’Tigress for their superlative performance at the ongoing Afrobasket Championship in South Africa.
J’Tigress beat Egypt, 66-51 to book their semifinal ticket and would play Uganda for a place in the final which would guarantee an automatic ticket to the FIBA Under-18 World Championships scheduled to be held in Switzerland.
The fans in separate interviews said the victory was well deserved, saying the team did well to beat a well coordinated Egyptian team and should keep up the good work.
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ENGLAND
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Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag has dismissed Cristiano Ronaldo’s latest criticism and says the outside noise around the club does not bother him.
Asked about the veteran forward’s comments ahead of Saturday’s trip to Southampton, Ten Hag said Ronaldo had said the same thing.
Ten Hag confirmed full-back Luke Shaw, who has not featured for his club this season despite making three appearances for England during Euro 2024, is still not available.
Striker Rasmus Hojlund will also miss the game as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury sustained during the summer tour of the United States.
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Tottenham midfielder, Rodrigo Bentancur has been charged by the Football Association for using a racial slur about team-mate Son Heung-min.
Bentancur later apologised on Instagram and said his comments were a “very bad joke”.
The FA said the Uruguay international had been “charged with an alleged breach of FA rule E3 for misconduct in relation to a media interview”.
Bentancur has until 19th September to respond to the charge.
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has signed a new three-year contract with the club.
The Spaniard was set to be out of contract at the end of the season but has now committed to a deal until 2027, prior to Sunday’s north London derby at Tottenham.
He led Arsenal to victory in the FA Cup final at the end of the 2019-2020 campaign to claim his first major trophy as a manager.
Gunners sporting director Edu added Arteta’s contract gave the club “stability and clear direction as we aim for new heights”.
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Manchester City’s trial on one hundred and fifteen charges of breaking Premier League rules is set to begin on Monday.
Those charges will be heard at an independent hearing, which is set to start on Monday at an unknown location, subject to any late legal delays.
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Oasis guitarist, Noel Gallagher says it is a proper honour to design Manchester City’s new fourth kit, which was inspired by his band’s 1994 debut album Definitely Maybe.
Gallagher, who has been supporting City for fifty years, said he took about five seconds to agree when City’s kit manufacturer Puma approached him at a game with the idea of co-designing a new strip.
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American businessman, John Textor is making progress in his bid to buy Everton but the club say there is some work to be done to complete the transaction”.
Crystal Palace co-owner Textor has been granted a period of exclusivity as he aims to buy Blues owner Farhad Moshiri’s majority stake in the club.
Textor compared owning Everton to becoming President of the USA.
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English footballer, Andros Townsend has completed a move to Antalyaspor from Luton Town after the Turkish club’s transfer registration embargo was lifted.
The winger signed a contract with Antalyaspor in August but Fifa had banned the Super Lig club from registering players.
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West Ham women have signed Finland international Oona Siren from LSK Kvinner on a two-year deal.
The midfielder made nineteen top-flight appearances for the Norwegian club, providing four assists.
The 23-year-old becomes manager Rehanne Skinner’s eighth signing of the summer.
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OTHER LEAGUES
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Club president, Pablo Longoria says Marseille looked at all the information when signing Mason Greenwood from Manchester United and that he has no regrets over the deal.
Greenwood left Old Trafford in a twenty-six point six million pounds deal with the French club in August, signing until 2029.
Serious charges against Greenwood, including attempted rape and assault, were dropped in February 2023.
Marseille faced criticism from the local mayor, who described the move as not acceptable when the club’s intention to sign the forward, who spent last season on loan at Getafe in Spain, went public.
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OTHER SPORTS
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In Tennis, Rafael Nadal has pulled out of this month’s Laver Cup, saying he believes there are other players who can help the team deliver the win” for Team Europe.
The 38-year-old Spaniard has not played since his defeat alongside compatriot Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals of the men’s doubles at the Paris Olympics in August.
A 22-time Grand Slam singles champion, Nadal did not confirm any specific injury or health concerns but he has previously indicated 2024 would be his last season
The Laver Cup, contested between Team Europe and Team World, starts in Berlin on 20th September.
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In Formula one, Lando Norris says he wants to try to earn the world title on merit, despite McLaren asking his team-mate Oscar Piastri to support the Briton if necessary.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella told BBC Sport the team would “bias” their operations towards Norris as they seek to win the drivers’ title and the constructors’ championship this season.
Norris heads into this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix 62 points behind championship leader Max Verstappen of Red Bull, with a maximum of 232 points available in the remaining eight races.
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In Rugby, Centre Emily Scarratt will start her 100th game for England on Saturday against New Zealand in the first fixture at the newly named Allianz Stadium.
The 34-year-old is set to follow Sarah Hunter and Rochelle Clark in becoming the third England player to make 100 starts, and is one of five changes from the starting XV that defeated France 38-19 in Gloucester last weekend.
In a new-look front row, Mackenzie Carson, Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah Bern all come in for Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne and Maud Muir.
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TODAY’S FIXTURES
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SPANISH LA LIGA
Real Betis vs Leganés
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SOCCER ACTION CONTINUES THIS WEEKEND
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IN NIGERIA PROFESSIONAL FOOTBAL LEAGUE
ON SATURDAY
Akwa United vs Abia Warriors
Remo Stars vs Sunshine Stars
ON SUNDAY
Rivers United vs Heartland Owerri
Katsina United vs Bendel Insurance
Bayelsa United vs Kano Pillars
Shooting Stars vs Plateau United
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IN ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
ON SATURDAY
Southampton vs Manchester United
Brighton vs Ipswich Town
Crystal Palace vs Leicester City
Fulham vs West Ham United
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest
Manchester City vs Brentford
Aston Villa vs Everton
Bournemouth vs Chelsea
ON SUNDAY
Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Newcastle United
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ON SATURDAY
Mallorca vs Villarreal
Espanyol vs Deportivo Alavés
Sevilla vs Getafe
Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid
ON SUNDAY
Celta de Vigo vs Real Valladolid
Girona vs Barcelona
Las Palmas vs Athletic Club
Atlético Madrid vs Valencia
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IN ITALIAN SERIE A
ON SATURDAY
Como vs Bologna
Empoli vs Juventus
AC Milan vs Venezia
ON SUNDAY
Genoa vs Roma
Atalanta vs Fiorentina
Torino vs Lecce
Cagliari vs Napoli
Monza vs Inter Milan
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Champions are not made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them a desire, a dream, a vision….words from Muhammad Ali.
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