Sport
Saturday, 02 December 2017 03:27
World Cup favourites spared tough groups in Russia
The favourites to win next year's World Cup in Russia were given navigable paths to the last 16 with the coaches of Germany, Brazil, Argentina and Spain having reason to feel reasonably optimistic after Friday's draw. Even hosts Russia, the lowest-ranked of the 32 nations taking part, breathed a sigh of relief after learning they will open the 21st edition of the tournament against Saudi Arabia before tackling Egypt and Uruguay in Group A. Holders Germany will open their bid for a fifth title against dark horses Mexico, with Sweden, conquerors of Italy in last month's playoffs, and South Korea…
Saturday, 02 December 2017 03:26
Twitter reacts to Nigeria’s World Cup pairing
Nigeria have been paired with Argentina, Iceland and Croatia in the Group D of the 2018 Fifa World Cup. The 2013 African champions begin their quest for glory against Croatia in Kaliningrad on June 16, 2018. But the Super Eagles will play La Albiceleste for the fifth time in the group stage of the quadrennial showpiece with previous fixtures in the 1994, 2002, 2010, 2014 editions. Having defeated Jorge Sampaoli’s men 4-2 in a friendly encounter at the Krasnodar Stadium in November, football enthusiasts took to social media to express their reactions to the draw which took place at the…
Saturday, 02 December 2017 03:24
Nigeria, 4 other Africa’s reps at 2018 World Cup to get N175m each for preparation
Confederation of African Football (CAF) has said it would grant financial subsidy of $500,000 (about N175 million) to all five African representatives at the forthcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup. The continental football governing body said the decision was taken by its Executive Committee and other stakeholders on the sidelines of 2018 FIFA World Cup draws in Moscow on Friday. “At its last meeting held on Nov. 16 in Rabat, Morocco CAF Executive Committee decided to set up an ad hoc committee chaired by CAF First Vice President, Kwesi Nyantakyi,” the continental football body said in a statement on Friday. “The…
Friday, 01 December 2017 03:29
Woods returns with solid round and good start in Bahamas
Tiger Woods looked a lot better in his return to golf than he did when he left. Playing for the first time since his fourth back surgery, Woods returned from a 10-month layoff with a 3-under 69 on a breezy Thursday in the Bahamas that left him three shots behind Tommy Fleetwood after the opening round of the Hero World Challenge. "For me, I thought I did great," Woods said with a smile. And in a sign that he was ready to get back into the mix, he was far from satisfied. Unlike a year ago, when Woods ended a…
Friday, 01 December 2017 03:27
Everton name Allardyce as manager
Everton have named former England boss Sam Allardyce as their manager on an 18-month contract, the Premier League club said on Thursday.Allardyce replaces Dutchman Ronald Koeman, who was sacked last month after the Merseyside club dropped into the relegation zone. "I’ve always thought Everton was a great club. Obviously, the club has gone through a difficult spell and hopefully I can put that behind us as quickly as possible and start looking upwards again," Allardyce said in statement. "Ultimately, it’s the ambition of the club, the ambition of the owner and the Board, allied to the fact that it’s Everton…
Tuesday, 28 November 2017 03:19
Super Eagles coach, Rohr, gets two-year contract extension
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Mr Amaju Pinnick, announced monday that Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Mr Gernot Rohr, has been given a new contract till 2020 after he guided Nigeria to next year’s World Cup in Russia. Pinnick announced Rohr’s new deal at the launching of a short code – *1945# – which will be used for all campaigns at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia. He also disclosed the coach has been paid his salaries till December 2017. Rohr, 64, signed an initial two-year deal in July 2016 with the provision of an extension if he qualified…
Sunday, 26 November 2017 03:01
Mazembe retain African Confederation Cup title
TP Mazembe Englebert, of the Democratic Republic of Congo, retained the African Confederation Cup on Saturday, a goalless draw at South Africa's SuperSport United in the second leg of the final in Pretoria securing their 2-1 win on aggregate. It was the fifth major continental title inside a decade, and the third in successive seasons for the Congolese club who were also African Champions League winners in 2015. Both sides ended with 10 men as the game descended into a tempestuous affair in the closing stages, with Mazembe defender Kabaso Chongo and SuperSport's midfielder Thuso Phala both being sent off…
Sunday, 26 November 2017 02:58
Messi signs new contract with Barca until 2021
Lionel Messi has signed a new contract with Barcelona until 2021, the Liga leaders confirmed, ending speculation that the five-times world player of the year could leave the club where he has spent his entire career for free next June. "FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi signed on Saturday morning a new contract that will keep the Argentine superstar at the Club through the 2020/21 season," said a statement from Barca, posting a picture of Messi signing the deal alongside president Josep Maria Bartomeu. "The buyout clause was set at 700 million euros (626.25 million pounds)."Messi, 30, agreed the new contract…
Saturday, 25 November 2017 02:41
Oscar Pistorius jail term for killing Reeva Steenkamp more than doubled
A South African court has increased Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius's jail sentence for killing his girlfriend to 13 years and five months. Prosecutors had argued that the six-year term for murdering Reeva Steenkamp was "shockingly light". Ms Steenkamp's parents were "emotional" as they watched the ruling at home on TV, a spokeswoman said. "They feel there has been justice for Reeva. She can now rest in peace," Tania Koen told Associated Press. "But at the same time, people think this is the end of the road for them... the fact is they still live with Reeva's loss every day," Ms…
Thursday, 23 November 2017 03:36
Nigeria to take exciting crop of young talent to Russia
Nigeria are the only one of Africa's five representatives from the last World Cup who return for the 2018 edition in Russia and will be looking to better their place in the last 16 in Brazil. A crop of exciting youngsters headline a team representing Africa’s most populous nation and who will play at the World Cup for the fifth time, having mostly underachieved in the past. Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Henry Onyekuru and Moses Simon represent a new generation that has emerged since the 2014 finals as Nigeria surprisingly qualified easily from a tough group that included Algeria, who…
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Wednesday, 22 November 2017 04:00
FIFA hands down life ban to three
Fifa has given life bans to the former presidents of the Guam, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan football associations for corruption. Guam's Richard Lai, Venezuela's Rafael Esquivel and Nicaragua's Julio Rocha have been banned from all football-related activities for life. Football's world governing body began investigating Lau when he pleaded guilty to fraud in the USA in April.Esquivel and Rocha also pleaded guilty to fraud in May 2015. That was in the relation to the awarding of broadcasting and marketing contracts.Esquivel was a vice-president of the South American confederation Conmebol and Rocha is a former Fifa development officer. Lai is also a…
Tuesday, 21 November 2017 03:35
Wimbledon champion Novotna dies after battle with cancer
Czech tennis player Jana Novotna, who won the 1998 Wimbledon championship after falling short in two previous finals, has died at the age of 49 after a long battle with cancer. The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) said on Monday Novotna died on Sunday surrounded by her family in the Czech Republic.In a career spanning 14 years that included 24 WTA singles titles and 76 doubles titles, Novotna won her only singles grand slam at Wimbledon in 1998 after losing in the 1993 and 1997 finals. She won the hearts of fans around the world when she burst into tears after…
Thursday, 16 November 2017 03:42
Nigeria promises to avoid pay disputes at the World Cup
Nigeria's football federation (NFF) has signed an agreement with its players which it says will avoid the bonus and pay rows that have blighted the team's past World Cup campaigns. In a statement, NFF described it as an "historic and binding agreement that will eliminate all manner of rancour and distractions around Nigeria's preparation and participation" at the World Cup in Russia next year. Nigeria, who have qualified for their sixth World Cup, have reached the round of sixteen three times and been eliminated in the group stage twice. Super Eagles were involved in a protracted dispute ahead of the…
Wednesday, 15 November 2017 03:54
Super Eagles defeat Argentina 4-2 in glamour game
Nigeria’s Super Eagles inspired by captain Mikel John Obi humbled Jorge Sampaoli’s Argentina 4-2 inside the new Krasnodar Stadium in Russia on Tuesday night. Arsenal star, Alex Iwobi scored twice as the Eagles fought back from 2-0 down against an Argentina side that was without five time Ballon D’OR winner, Lionel Messi, to secure a stunning victory Sevilla star Ever Banega had beaten a poorly positioned Daniel Akpeyi in goal for Nigeria and who didn’t arrange his wall properly in the 14th minute to give Argentina the lead. Sergio Aguero scored the Albiceleste's second 8 minutes later after he finished…