Sport
Sunday, 13 December 2020 05:17
Anthony Joshua knocks out Kubrat Pulev, retains world heavyweight title
Anthony Joshua has beaten his mandatory challenger, Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev, by a knockout in the ninth round to retain his three world heavyweight championship belts — after a year away in a title defence. Joshua regained the WBA, WBO and IBF titles in a rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr. last December in Saudi Arabia, after being stopped by the Mexican-American in an upset at Madison Square Garden that summer. Joshua, born to Nigerian parents, beat the Bulgarian at the Wembley stadium on Sunday morning, to hand Pulev his second defeat in his professional boxing career. The first round saw both…
Friday, 04 December 2020 05:22
Nigeria ‘struggles to handle its athletic talents’ - Abbas A. Abass
Bahraini athlete Abbas Abubakar Abbas was just 16 years old when he was scouted to swap allegiances from Nigeria, the country of his birth. Now he is one of four Nigeria-born sprinters recruited on unique security force salary schemes who are targeting 4x400m mixed relay gold for Bahrain at next year's postponed Olympics. The 24-year-old, who won bronze at last year's World Athletics Championships in the mixed relay event, has no regrets about his swap. "In Nigeria we have many talents but we don't know how to handle them," he told BBC Sport Africa "Of all the athletes I used…
Friday, 27 November 2020 05:41
‘A genius’: Huge crowds bid farewell to Maradona
Football legend Diego Maradona has been buried in a private ceremony after a day of emotional scenes in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires. Only around two dozen relatives and close friends attended the final ceremony on Thursday. But earlier huge crowds turned out to pay their respects, with many weeping, blowing kisses and praying as they filed past his coffin. Maradona died of a heart attack on Wednesday aged 60. His death triggered mourning around the world but nowhere was it felt more fiercely than in a country that saw him as a national hero. Maradona's coffin - draped in…
Thursday, 26 November 2020 04:36
Maradona was a genius on the pitch - but his life outside of it would destroy him
The Argentinian legend, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, passed away at his home in Buenos Aires at the age of 60 on Wednesday after suffering a heart attack having had successful brain surgery earlier in November. Maradona played for some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Barcelona in and Napoli in, as well as captaining Argentina's national team, leading them to glory at the 1986 World Cup. He was renowned for his tenacious and skilful style of play, scoring the famous 'Hand of God' goal against England in the 1986 quarter-finals, followed…
Tuesday, 24 November 2020 05:41
Suspension of African football boss opens field for new faces
Suspension of Confederation of African Football chief Ahmad Ahmad on Monday has thrown wide open the future leadership of the regional soccer governing body, with his ban from the game coming just months before CAF’s presidential elections. Ahmad had already been endorsed by 46 of the continent’s 54 football associations and looked certain to be re-elected in March 2021 but the five-year ban, announced by FIFA’s Ethics Committee, means there will now be a scramble for power. FIFA said in a statement that Ahmad was found guilty by the independent committee of offering and accepting gifts and other benefits, and…
Wednesday, 18 November 2020 05:46
Nigeria top group, as Mali, Tunisia join list of Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers
Mali and Tunisia added their names to the list of countries qualified for the next Africa Cup of Nations finals on Tuesday, joining holders Algeria and 2019 runners-up Senegal who had booked their berths over the last two days. Mali made sure of a top two finish in Group A after a 2-1 win in Namibia, where Sekou Koita and Moussa Doumbia scored in the first half, while Tunisia’s 1-1 draw in Tanzania was enough to ensure they will finish in the top two in Group J. Tunisia will go to the finals in Cameroon in 2022 for a 15th…
Saturday, 14 November 2020 05:13
Africa Cup of Nations: Nigeria left stunned by Sierra Leone fightback
Sierra Leone fought back from 4-0 down away to Nigeria to draw 4-4 in their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier after a spectacular comeback in Benin City. It was one of six qualifying group fixtures on Friday for the finals which will now take place in Cameroon in 2022. In other matches, Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech struck twice for Morocco as they secured a home victory along with Tunisia, Mali, Niger, and South Africa. Nigeria 4 Sierra Leone 4 The Super Eagles were coasting towards a third win from three in Group L after racing to a 4-0 lead inside…
Tuesday, 10 November 2020 04:38
Magnate billionaire to run for leadership of CAF
South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe has been nominated as a candidate for the leadership of the Confederation of African Football as the race for the top post in African soccer gathers momentum. Motsepe’s candidacy was announced by the South African Football Association at a news conference on Monday with support from Botswana, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. “His business acumen makes him a revolutionary choice to change the landscape of African football and make the game on the continent more profitable,” said SAFA president Danny Jordaan. Motsepe was not present at the announcement. The 58-year-old mining magnate is the third candidate,…
Tuesday, 06 October 2020 05:24
NFF appoints new Falcons coach, assistants
Nigeria Football Federation has appointed former Trinidad and Tobago coach, Mr Randy Waldrum as the new head coach of Super Falcons. Waldrum’s appointment was announced in a statement by Communications Department of NFF on Monday. His appointment comes a year after former coach, Mr Thomas Dennerby, resigned from the Falcons job. According to NFF, Phillips Consulting helped in Waldrum’s appointment. The statement quoted NFF President, Mr Amaju Pinnick, as saying the new coach would take Falcons to the next level. “The predominance of Super Falcons on African continent has never been in doubt, with nine titles out of 11 editions…
Saturday, 26 September 2020 05:34
NFF appoints new coaches for men, women national football teams
Nigeria Football Federation has appointed new technical crews for men and women U-17, U-20 national teams. This was contained in a statement by NFF’s spokesperson, Mr Ademola Olajire, on Friday. The statement was titled, ‘NFF appoints Danjuma, Bosso, Olowookere to head coaching crews of National Teams’. The composition saw the return of one-time U-20 Boys’ Head Coach, Mr Isah Bosso, with Mr Christopher Danjuma retaining U-20 Girls’ lead role, and Mr Bankole Olowookere emerging as Head Coach of the U-17 girls, Flamingos. Former international defender, Mr Oladuni Oyekale will serve as the first assistant to Bosso at the U20, with…
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Tuesday, 22 September 2020 04:43
FIFA approves $1.2m for mini stadium in Kebbi
Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has approved $1.2 million for the construction of a mini stadium of 5,000 sitting capacity in Kebbi State. Secretary General of Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Mr Muhammad Sanusi, made this known on Monday at the foundation laying ceremony of the stadium in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi state capital. “FIFA has approved $1.19 for the construction of 267 seats mini stadium with the extension capacity of 5000 seats. “The project is expected to be completed in six months.” Sanusi, said the stadium, designed to accommodate a maximum of 5,000 seats, would at initial phase house 267…
Sunday, 13 September 2020 05:29
Naomi Osaka comes back, beats Azarenka for 2nd US Open title
After one errant forehand in the first set of the U.S. Open final, Naomi Osaka looked at her coach in the mostly empty Arthur Ashe Stadium stands with palms up, as if to say, “What the heck is happening?” In response to another wayward forehand against Victoria Azarenka seconds later, Osaka chucked her racket. It spun a bit and rattled against the court. Surprisingly off-kilter in the early going Saturday, Osaka kept missing shots and digging herself a deficit. Until, suddenly, she lifted her game, and Azarenka couldn’t sustain her start. By the end, Osaka pulled away to a 1-6,…
Saturday, 05 September 2020 04:39
Former Super Eagles defender dies at 48
Former Super Eagles defender and one-time player of both Stationery Stores and Shooting Stars, Mr Ajibade Babalade died on Friday. Babalade passed on after suffering cardiac arrest. He was aged 48. His death came as he was reportedly being taken to University College Hospital in Ibadan. He was survived by a wife and three children who are reportedly based in the United States. Late Babalade featured for Super Eagles in their third-placing Senegal ’92 outing. He also propelled the Shooting Stars to the last final edition of African Cup of Champions Clubs in 1996 which the following year changed to…
Tuesday, 01 September 2020 04:58
Former Nigeria goalkeeper dies at 26
A former goalkeeper of Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, Mr John Felagha, is dead. He died in Senegal on Sunday, according to the Nigeria Football Federation. He was aged 26. NFF expressed condolence with the family of the late player in a tweet on Monday. The football federation tweeted, “Former National U17 and U20 goalkeeper John Felagha has died. “Felagha died on Sunday in Senegal. He was aged 26. The federation expressed its condolences with the family of the late player. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.” Felagha was a member of Golden Eaglets squad who won silver at the…