Sport
Sunday, 14 October 2018 03:59
AFCON Qualifiers: Super Eagles trounce Libya 4-0
Odion Ighalo silenced his critics on Saturday as he scored a hat trick to help Super Eagles to a comprehensive 4-0 trouncing of Libya in the Match Day 3 encounter of Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series. Ighalo who had persistently been criticised for his poor goals’ return in the national team colours was at his best; scoring three goals that helped Nigeria to their first home win in AFCON qualifiers. Ighalo scored the first of his three goals from the penalty spot barely four minutes into the game and that was all Nigeria could boast of all through the…
Monday, 24 September 2018 04:12
Tiger Woods caps off amazing comeback with a win
For so many years, the scene was familiar. This time, it was surreal. “I can’t believe I pulled this off,” Woods said Sunday during the trophy presentation at the Tour Championship, where he gave thousands of delirious fans at East Lake, and millions more around the world, what they wanted to see, and what they thought they might never see again. And at that moment, Woods was overcome with emotion and paused. After two back surgeries six weeks apart, he couldn’t lie down, sit or walk without pain. Golf was the least of his concerns, so much that he once…
Sunday, 23 September 2018 03:38
Boxing: Anthony Joshua knocks out Povetkin
Anthony Joshua has successfully defended his IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight titles after a feisty seventh-round knockout over Alexander Povetkin on Saturday night The Nigeria-born British boxer didn’t look comfortable in the early rounds as blood smeared across his face, while Povetkin enjoyed a flying start to proceedings. He, however, held on and in the seventh round he did the needful to become the first ever man to knock out Povetkin in a boxing bout In the seventh round, Joshua landed a huge combination of punches to get Povetkin in trouble and send him crashing down to the mat. Povetkin…
Friday, 21 September 2018 05:53
NFF: Pinnick re-elected in landslide victory
Mr Amaju Pinnick has been re-elected president of Nigeria Football Federation for another four-year term having emerged tops in Thursday’s poll in Katsina. Pinnick secured in a landslide victory at the Congress in Katsina, winning 34 of the 44 votes cast. Pinnick’s victory is historic as it is the first time in the history of NFF that an incumbent will be getting a second consecutive term in office via a democratic process. Though Sports Minister Solomon Dalung was absent at Thursday’s poll, observers from FIFA and CAF were in attendance to validate the election Amaju Pinnick – 34 votes Aminu…
Thursday, 20 September 2018 05:05
Ronaldo weeps after Juventus red card
A tearful Cristiano Ronaldo was controversially sent off as Juventus claimed a hard-fought win at Valencia. The Portuguese forward, making his Champions League debut for Juve, appeared to grab Valencia defender Jeison Murillo's hair as they tangled off the ball midway through the first half and referee Felix Brych consulted his assistant behind the goal before showing the five-time Champions League winner a straight red card. Ten-man Juve rallied and took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Miralem Pjanic scored from the penalty spot, and shortly after the break, the Bosnian midfielder stroked home another spot-kick.Valencia were then…
Tuesday, 18 September 2018 04:35
FIFA, CAF name observers to NFF elections
World football–ruling body, FIFA on Monday named Messrs Luca Piazza and Solomon Mudege as its observers to Thursday’s elections into Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Executive Committee 2018-2022. Mudege is FIFA’s Senior Manager for Development Programmes (Africa), while Piazza is a senior official in FIFA President’s office. A statement by Mr Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Communications on Monday, also said Confederation of African Football (CAF) designated a member of its Executive Committee, Sita Sangare, as its observer to the big event. It said this was communicated through a letter addressed to the NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi and signed by…
Sunday, 16 September 2018 04:42
Golden Eaglets qualify for U-17 Africa Cup of Nations
Nigeria’s U-17 team, Golden Eaglets, will be among participating teams at 2019 U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Tanzania in May. Eaglets secured their berth after they edged past arch-rivals Ghana 3-1 on penalties after fulltime scores stood at 1-1. Ghana’s Black Starlets went in front in the 54th minute after a goalless first half, which they dominated. However, Eaglets fought back to draw level 1-1. Both teams had chances to get the winner before full time, but there were no more goals. In the penalty shootout, Eaglets triumphed 3-1 and will thus join seven other teams to battle for…
Monday, 10 September 2018 03:37
Serena Williams fined $17K for rules violations at US Open
Serena Williams was fined a total of $17,000 for three code violations during her loss to Naomi Osaka in the U.S. Open final. On Sunday, a day after the match, the tournament referee’s office docked Williams $10,000 for “verbal abuse” of chair umpire Carlos Ramos, $4,000 for being warned for coaching, and $3,000 for breaking her racket. The money comes out of her prize money of $1.85 million as the runner-up to Osaka, whose 6-2, 6-4 victory on Saturday made her the first tennis player from Japan to win a Grand Slam singles title In the second set’s second game,…
Monday, 10 September 2018 03:36
US Open 2018: Novak Djokovic beats Juan Martin del Potro to win title
Novak Djokovic produced an impeccable performance to beat Juan Martin del Potro in the US Open final and win his 14th Grand Slam title. The 31-year-old Serb won 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 to earn his third triumph in New York and equal American great Pete Sampras' haul of major trophies. Djokovic, who won Wimbledon in July, will climb to fourth in the world after back-to-back Grand Slam victories. Only great rivals Roger Federer (20) and Rafael Nadal (17) have won more. Argentine third seed Del Potro, 29, was playing his first Grand Slam final since winning the 2009 US Open,…
Sunday, 09 September 2018 04:10
Osaka claims U.S. Open title after Serena meltdown
Naomi Osaka became Japan’s first Grand Slam singles champion after she thumped Serena Williams 6-2 6-4 in a controversial U.S. Open final on Saturday, with the American suffering a mesmerizing meltdown after being handed a code violation. It was drama-filled conclusion to a final that was rich with storylines but will now go down as one of the most controversial Grand Slam finals of all time. There was much riding on the match for both women, with Osaka bidding to become the first man or woman from Japan to lift a Grand Slam singles title and Williams poised to equal…
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Sunday, 09 September 2018 04:08
AFCON Qualifiers: Ahmed Musa leads Nigeria to victory over Seychelles
Ahmed Musa justified the captain’s armband handed to him on Saturday as he scored the opening goal in the Super Eagles’ 3-0 win over Seychelles in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series. Super Eagles who lost their opening game of the qualifiers against South Africa 15 months ago, needed victory on Saturday to get back on track in their quest to make it to AFCON 2019. The Coach Gernot Rohr’s side started brightly against Seychelles and they did not have to wait for too long as Musa continued from where he stopped from the World Cup in Russia; giving…
Friday, 07 September 2018 03:40
Minister inaugurates National Anti-Doping Committee
Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung, on Thursday inaugurated members of National Anti-Doping Committee (NADC) with a charge on them to ensure Nigeria’s compliance with anti-doping policies. The minister said that the inauguration had placed Nigeria in the league of nations, committed to promoting clean competition in sports. Dalung listed the terms of reference of the committee to include: working on the necessary executive and legislative instrument for the establishment of National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs). He said the committee would act as an Extra-Ministerial Department/Agency that would promote and coordinate the country anti-doping activities in line with World…
Tuesday, 04 September 2018 03:51
AFCON Qualifiers: Three Super Eagles stars ruled out of tie
Three Super Eagles players from the original roster of the 24 invited for the September 8 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Seychelles have been ruled out of the crucial tie. The affected trio as announced by Nigeria Football Federation on their official twitter handle are Ola Aina, Alex Iwobi, and William Troost Ekong. It is understood that Torino wing-back Ola Aina pulled out of international duty with Nigeria after sustaining a muscular injury. The player on loan from Chelsea limped off during the 1-0 Serie A win over SPAL on Sunday night. According to reports from Italy, more…
Monday, 03 September 2018 04:14
Serena Williams hits 18 aces in US Open win; Isner into QF
Serena Williams’ yells of “Come on!” crescendoed right along with the tension in a fourth-round U.S. Open match that began as a rout and suddenly became riveting. When she ripped a backhand winner to claim the third set’s opening game Sunday, Williams let out her loudest shout of the day, leaning forward and rocking both arms. This turned into a test, and she passed it. Williams reached the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows for a 10th consecutive appearance — she wasn’t there last year because she gave birth to her daughter during the tournament — by picking her level up after…