IN NIGERIA

The Super Eagles has suffered a one-nil defeat to reigning champions Senegal in their opening Group D match at the Africa Nations Championship, CHAN, in Tanzania on Tuesday.

A defensive lapse with just fifteen minutes remaining allowed Senegal to capitalise, netting the game’s only goal from their sole shot on target.

Christian Gomis scored for Senegal, calmly slotting the ball into an empty net after the Nigerian defence failed to clear a seemingly harmless midfield pass.

Despite dominating possession with fifty-eight percent compared to Senegal’s forty-two percent, the Super Eagles were unable to convert their advantage into goals.

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle says it is important for his team to improve their performance or face an early exit from the 2024 African Nations Championship, CHAN.

Chelle pointed out that his players were not aggressive against the Senegalese.

The gaffer also stated that they need to improve mentally.

The game against Sudan will hold at the Amman Stadium, Zanzibar next week Tuesday.

Enyimba head coach, Stanley Eguma has expressed his desire to win the Nigeria Professional Football League title or pick a continental ticket at the end of the season.

Having finished sixth last season, Eguma, who won two league titles with his former side Rivers United, told the club’s website that he’s determined to transform Enyimba this ongoing season.

====================

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has disclosed that he would love to see Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman join the Gunners this summer.

The Nigerian international, who tendered his transfer request to Atalanta, has been heavily linked with a move to Inter Milan.

Wright stated that Lookman has improved massively with his football.

====================

D’Tigress player, Amy Okonkwo has been included in the FIBA AfroBasket 2025 All Star Team.

The All Star Team was announced on the X handle of FIBA women’s AfroBasket on Tuesday.

Okonkwo played a key role in D’Tigress’ successful run to this year’s AfroBasket in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The other four players who made the All Star Team are Sika Kone from Mali, Cierra Dillard from Senegal, Delicia Washington from South Sudan and Jane Asinde from Uganda.

=====================

Tunisia’s Essid Wassim, has defeated Nigeria’s Muiz Adegoke in the Under-nineteen singles final of the ITTF Africa Youth Cup.

Wassim’s strong performance highlighted his skill and focus, leaving Adegoke struggling to keep up with the pace and intensity of the match.

The 19-year-old right-hander, ranked 130 in the world, reclaimed the spotlight with a dominant display after losing his title in a previous championship.

Using a shakehand grip and attacking style, Wassim secured a 4-0 victory over Adegoke 11-3, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7.

Adegoke’s defeat in the Under-nineteen final earned him silver and sent ripples through the table tennis community, creating space for new contenders.

====================

In the girls’ Under-nineteen final, Egypt’s Younes Mariam, Africa Youth Cup’s first champion, beat compatriot Zaki Nour 4-0 (11-7, 11-7, 11-8, 11-4, 14-13).

Top-seeded Younes remained unbeaten throughout the championship, proving her dominance and consistency in African youth table tennis.

In the Under-fifteen boys’ singles final, Uganda’s Joseph Sebatindiral beat Sharif Nsereko 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 11-5) to win gold.

Algeria’s Tania Morice won the Under-fifteen girls’ singles final, defeating Uganda’s Jemimah Nakawala 3-2 (5-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-6).

Former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, praised the talent and potential showcased by young African players at the tournament.

======================

IN ENGLAND

Aston Villa has agreed a deal to sign Nice striker Evann Guessand for twenty-six million pounds plus four point three million pounds in add-ons.

The 24-year-old Ivory Coast forward scored twelve goals last term and was named player of the season as Nice finished fourth in France’s Ligue 1.

He is expected to have a medical at Villa on Wednesday.

Villa, who finished sixth last season to qualify for the Europa League, open their Premier League campaign at home to Newcastle United on Saturday, 16th August.

Former Arsenal footballer, Thomas Partey has been granted conditional bail after being charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

The 32-year-old Ghanaian appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, charged with five counts of rape against two women, and a charge of sexual assault against a third woman.

The alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2022 when he was playing for the north London club, Arsenal.

He was charged four days after leaving Arsenal when his contract expired at the end of June.

His next appearance is at the Old Bailey on 2nd September.

=========================

Manchester United has made a bid for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko with the overall package potentially rising to seventy-three point eight million pounds.

The offer includes a guaranteed payment of sixty-five point two million pounds.

The Red Devils are yet to get a response but believe it is an appropriate valuation for the 22-year-old Slovenia forward and that he is keen to move to Old Trafford.

Manchester United are willing to let Rasmus Hojlund leave the club in order to make space for Sesko to come in.

Newcastle United also want Sesko and have made a bid in the region of sixty-nine point five million pounds as they continue negotiations with Leipzig.

=======================

Sheffield Wednesday’s players will fulfil their opening game of the Championship season against Leicester City on Sunday.

The Owls have had a tumultuous off-season as players and staff have had wages delayed during May, June and July, registration embargoes have been issued, the North Stand at Hillsborough has been closed because of concerns over its structural integrity and boss Danny Rohl has left the club.

Sunday’s game at Leicester is being televised and Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust plans to protest against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the fixture.

=======================

OTHER LEAGUES

Rangers manager Russell Martin says he is really proud of his side’s response as they delivered amazing energy and real moments of quality in their three-goal first-leg win against Viktoria Plzen in Champions League qualifying.

The Ibrox boss heavily criticised his players’ mentality and egos after Saturday’s Scottish Premiership draw at Motherwell, and eyebrows were raised when captain James Tavernier and Nicolas Raskin were among four players dropped for this tie.

Djeidi Gassama scored a brace and Cyriel Dessers netted a goal for Rangers to make it three-nil win.

===================

England international Mason Greenwood is close to a return to international football after being granted citizenship and given a Jamaican passport.

Greenwood has not played an international since his only England cap against Iceland in September 2020.

Having secured a Jamaican passport only a change from the Football Association to the Jamaica Football Federation is required for Greenwood to be cleared to feature in next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Bermuda and Trinidad and Tobago.

Greenwood left Manchester United after charges against him, including attempted rape and assault, were dropped in February 2023.

Lyon has signed midfielder Tyler Morton from Liverpool for fifteen million pounds.

Morton joined Liverpool’s academy aged seven and was handed his senior debut in 2021.

The 22-year-old struggled to force his way into the first team on a regular basis, making fourteen appearances across all competitions, and spent time on loan in the Championship with Hull and Blackburn.

He helped England’s under-21 side win the European Championship earlier this summer.

=====================

Feyenoord has signed defender Anel Ahmedhodzic from Championship side Sheffield United on a four-year deal.

The 26-year-old made one hundred and fourteen appearances for the Blades after joining in July 2022 from Swedish side Malmo.

He joins Feyenoord, who finished third in the Eredivisie last season, after they submitted an offer worth fifteen point six million pounds.

====================

Wrexham has signed Wales striker Kieffer Moore on a three-year contract from Championship rivals Sheffield United.

The fee for the 32-year-old is undisclosed but reports suggest the deal is worth two million pounds.

Moore is Wrexham’s eighth summer signing as they prepare for their first season in the second tier since 1982.

=======================

Former Porto captain Jorge Costa has died at the age fifty-three after having a cardiac arrest at the club’s training centre.

The defender led the Portuguese club to Champions League glory under manager Jose Mourinho in 2004 and won fifty caps for Portugal.

Costa spent a season on loan at Charlton in the Premier League in 2001-02 and retired from playing in 2006.

========================

OTHER SPORTS

In Cricket, Grace Harris hit a stunning unbeaten 89 from 42 balls as London Spirit began their title defence with a boundary-laden 17-run win over Oval Invincibles in The Hundred.

The Australian put on 100 with Cordelia Griffith, who made 50 from 29 balls, as Spirit posted 176-5, their highest total in the women’s competition at Lord’s.

Facing a daunting chase, Invincibles lost captain Lauren Winfield-Hill second ball but regrouped with former Australia skipper Meg Lanning leading the charge.

Despite a 77-run third-wicket stand with Marizanne Kapp and Lanning’s stunning 85 from 51 balls giving them a glimmer of hope, Invincibles came up just short on 159-4.

The 15 sixes in the match were a record for the women’s tournament, Harris’ antics gave Spirit an 8-7 edge in that category but, more importantly, the win in the season opener.

======================

In Rugby, Australian rugby bosses have confirmed that the so-called ‘Giteau’s Law’, which restricted how many overseas-based players previous Wallabies coaches could pick, has been scrapped.

La Rochelle’s Will Skelton, Taniela Tupou, Tom Hooper and Langi Gleeson who will play for Racing 92, Exeter and Montpellier respectively next season – are among those who may benefit.

Australia said head coach Joe Schmidt would favour players at one of their four Super Rugby franchises if they are of equal calibre to an option outside their borders.

===========================

In Cycling, British sprinter Matthew Richardson wants to become the fastest track cyclist of all time as he aims to break the two hundred metres flying start time trial world record in Turkey next week.

Richardson, who switched his allegiance to Great Britain from Australia after the Paris Olympics last summer, is attempting to break the record that stands at 9.088 seconds.

He is one of three British cyclists bidding to break records on the same track on 14th August, with Charlie Tanfield attempting the elite hour mark and para-cyclist Will Bjergfelt taking on the C5 category hour milestone.

Richardson, who was born in Maidstone, Kent and moved to Western Australia aged nine, won two silver medals and a bronze for Australia last summer before switching his nationality.

The 26-year-old said he was confident going into next week and that the record would fall below nine seconds soon, a feat that requires speeds of more than eighty kilometres hours.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life….words from Muhammad Ali