Sport
Wednesday, 08 November 2017 03:52
FIFA to reveal all 2026 World Cup votes, aims for clean bids
FIFA has pledged to publish all votes by soccer officials in the 2026 World Cup bidding race after corruption claims tainted the 2018 and 2022 contests. Publishing documents Tuesday to guide the process, FIFA explained how bidders must detail a strategy to respect human rights and labor standards in all construction projects linked to the expanded 48-team tournament. The North American bid by the United States, Canada and Mexico is strongly favored to be picked on June 13 in Moscow. The other bidder is Morocco. The 2026 contest is currently barred to European and Asian countries because Russia and Qatar…
Monday, 06 November 2017 03:20
Chelsea's Morata deals blow to United title bid
CHELSEA 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 0Alvaro Morata's second-half header secured Chelsea a 1-0 win over Manchester United in a compelling Premier League clash on Sunday as Jose Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge ended in defeat. Morata's brilliantly-taken header in the 55th minute was the difference on another frustrating trip to London for United, with six of their last seven away defeats coming in the capital. United pressed for an equaliser, with Mourinho throwing all his attacking options on from the bench, but they did not test Thibaut Courtois enough in the Chelsea goal, mustering just two shot on target in the…
Thursday, 02 November 2017 04:59
FIFA World Cup Trophy arrives Nigeria March 3
The original FIFA World Cup, which Nigeria’s Super Eagles and 31 other teams will be competing for at the 21st FIFA World Cup finals in Russia next summer, will arrive in Nigeria on Saturday, March 3, 2018. NFF General Secretary, Mr Mohammed Sanusi, said that confirmation had come from world football-governing body, FIFA, that Nigeria is among the countries where the iconic trophy would be visiting before next year’s major showpiece. “We have confirmation now. The World Cup trophy will be in Nigeria on 3rd March 2018,” Sanusi said. Nigeria became the first African country to qualify for the 32-team…
Tuesday, 31 October 2017 04:17
Saudi women to be allowed into sports stadiums next year
Saudi Arabia will allow women into sports stadiums as of next year, the kingdom's latest step toward easing rules on gender segregation - but they will be seated in the so-called family section, an area separate from the male-only crowd. Still, the decision, announced on Sunday, marks another incremental step toward greater women's rights in the kingdom. General Sports Authority described the decision as one that will allow "families" into the stadiums - a term authorities use to refer to the public spaces that accommodate women. These "family" sections are for women who are out on their own or who…
Sunday, 29 October 2017 02:22
Joshua stops Takam in 10th to retain heavyweight crowns
Britain's Anthony Joshua retained his IBF, WBA and IBO world heavyweight titles when he stopped bloodied challenger Carlos Takam in the 10th round in Cardiff on Saturday. Unbeaten champion Joshua opened up a dreadful cut above 36-year Takam's right eye in the fourth round and although the durable France-based Cameroonian battled on the fight was halted by referee Phil Edwards after a series of heavy blows. It was far from a straightforward night for Joshua in the Principality Stadium, however, as the 28-year-old appeared to suffer a broken nose in the second round after an accidental clash of heads with…
Saturday, 28 October 2017 03:37
Tiger Woods pleads guilty to reckless driving
Tiger Woods has been sentenced to a year's probation after pleading guilty to reckless driving. The professional golfer was arrested in May after officers found him slumped at the wheel of his parked Mercedes-Benz not far from his Florida home. A toxicology report found Woods had several legal medications in his system and marijuana's active ingredient. The 41-year-old golfer, who has 14 major men's golf titles, has not won a major championship since 2008. As part of Friday's plea bargain, he is required to attend a drug treatment programme and undergo drug testing. Woods has already completed 50 hours of…
Wednesday, 25 October 2017 04:22
Abia Warriors unveil new Brazilian coach
Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia are keen to give a good show in the Nigeria professional League next season and that has informed their decision to hire an expatriate coach to help improve their potential. The club on Tuesday formally unveiled Brazilian coach, Rafael Everton, as its new manager. At the short but impressive ceremony which took place at the Warriors home ground in Umuahia, Club Chairman, Mr Emeka Inyama, disclosed that the former Fluminense FC of Brazil playmaker has signed a two-year contract. Inyama said in signing Everton, Abia Warriors has given him the mandate to restructure and…
Tuesday, 24 October 2017 04:52
Ronaldo joins Messi as five-time winner of FIFA player award
Cristiano Ronaldo has caught up with Lionel Messi to become a five-time winner of FIFA's best player award. The Real Madrid forward was crowned player of the year on Monday at the FIFA Best ceremony at the London Palladium theater attended by runner-up Messi and third-placed Neymar. A second successive honor for Ronaldo was expected after a season in which the Portuguese eclipsed his award counterparts in the trophy stakes. As well as Spanish league and Spanish Super Cup success, Ronaldo scored twice in the Champions League final against Juventus to win European soccer's elite competition for the third time…
Tuesday, 24 October 2017 04:50
3sc sack Technical Adviser Amoo
Management of Shooting Stars Football Club has relieved the Team’s Technical Adviser, Mr Fatai Amao, of his post. The management equally said that it is reviewing the status of all the remaining technical crew members, saying that decision will soon be made on them. In a statement issued in Ibadan by the club Media Officer, Mr Jubril Arowolo, on Monday, the management confirmed that Amao will not be leading the team in the professional league campaign next season, noting that the team will forever be grateful for the former Technical Adviser’s commitment and input to the team. Jubril explained that…
Friday, 20 October 2017 03:39
Super Eagles’ Ekong, Mikel meet Buhari in Turkey
Super Eagles stars William Troost-Ekong and Mikel Agu met President Muhammadu Buhari and his Turkish counterpart Mr Recep Erdogan thursday when the Nigerian President visited Turkey. President Buhari is on a state visit to Turkey. Both Troost-Ekong and Mikel Agu feature for Bursaspor in Turkey and only this month helped Nigeria qualify for next year’s World Cup in Russia. There are several other Nigeria stars plying their trade in Turkey, following in the footsteps of the likes of all-time greats Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, Uche Okechukwu and Daniel Amokachi. Thisday
More...
Tuesday, 17 October 2017 04:02
For sale: Newcastle owner wants to sell Premier League club
English Premier League club Newcastle is up for sale. Newcastle owner Mike Ashley's company, St. James Holdings, released a statement Monday saying the decision was taken "to give the club the best possible opportunity of securing the positioning and investment necessary to take it to the next level." The 53-year-old Ashley bought Newcastle in 2007, clearing existing debts and securing the club's financial future at a troubling time. The club has been relegated twice in the intervening decade and there has been frequent discord with the fans. The statement said Newcastle has made a public announcement due to growing "press…
Tuesday, 17 October 2017 04:00
Tiger cleared by doctors to return to golf
Tiger Woods has been cleared to resume full golf activity with no restrictions by the doctor that performed back surgery on the 14-time major champion in April, ESPN reported on Monday. The 41-year-old American has only played six competitive rounds in the past two years while trying to recover from multiple back surgeries."He got a nice report and is allowed to proceed," Woods' agent Mark Steinberg said in the report. "He can do as much as he needs to do. Tiger is going to take this very, very slowly. This is good, but he plans to do it the right…
Monday, 16 October 2017 04:09
Sharapova wins first WTA title since return from ban
Maria Sharapova won her first WTA title in more than two years at the Tianjin Open on Sunday, showing plenty of grit and determination as she came from behind in each set to beat Belarusian teenager Aryna Sabalenka 7-5 7-6(8). The former world number one, who returned to the tour in April following a 15-month doping ban, started the stronger, breaking Sabalenka in her opening service game, but struggled on serve and soon found herself trailing 4-1 in the first set. The Russian managed to hold serve for the first time in the match at 4-2 and clung on grimly…
Monday, 16 October 2017 04:08
Federer brushes aside Nadal to win Shanghai Masters
Roger Federer brushed aside world number one Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-3 to win the Shanghai Masters on Sunday and register his fourth victory of the year over his Spanish rival. The Swiss world number two beat Nadal in the finals of the Australian Open and Miami Masters and in the last 16 at Indian Wells earlier this year, and never looked like losing to his long-time rival in Shanghai, firing 10 aces as he cruised to victory. Federer, the only man who can still stop Nadal ending the year as number one, took an hour and 12 minutes to claim…