Sport
Friday, 06 October 2017 03:53
Late Kane goal fires lacklustre England to World Cup
Harry Kane's stoppage time goal earned England a 1-0 victory over Slovenia on Thursday and a place at next year's World Cup finals although his last-gasp effort barely masked a sterile Wembley display by the hosts. England skipper pounced from close range to convert Kyle Walker's cross in the 94th minute after a night of frustration for Gareth Southgate's misfiring team in a half-full stadium. A draw would have sufficed thanks to Slovakia's 1-0 defeat away to Scotland but Kane's effort, his 14th of the season in all competitions for club and country, at least prevented the inevitable boos that…
Thursday, 05 October 2017 04:04
Three African countries on brink of World Cup qualification
Nigeria, Egypt and Tunisia could all book their spots at next year's World Cup in the penultimate round of African qualifiers at the weekend but the other two slots will only be decided next month. A home victory over Zambia – a side they beat away at the start of the group phase – will be enough to see Nigeria return to the finals after reaching the second round in Brazil in 2014. Last month's convincing 4-0 win over Cameroon, inspired by the return of Victor Moses to the team, saw them eliminate the reigning African champions and establish a…
Wednesday, 04 October 2017 03:58
110 local, international golfers converge in Ibadan for ‘Mesiogo Open’
Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan No fewer than 110 golfers, both local and international, are expected to participate in the maiden edition of Ibadan Mesiogo Open starting today, October 4. Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Abayomi Oke, who made the disclosure on Tuesday in Ibadan, said the competition is being organized in conjunction with the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes and 3e Actuaries. Oke explained that 69 local golfers and 41 foreigners from 18 countries are being expected to be part of the competition that ends on Sunday, October 8, 2017. He said the competition will start with IMEGA…
Monday, 02 October 2017 03:48
Nigeria’s Falconets thrash Tanzania 6-0
Nigeria Women’s U-20 team, the Falconets, are through to the next round of the 2018 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. Falconets booked their passage in style as they thrashed their Tanzanian counterparts 6-0 in Dar es Salam on Sunday. Having recorded a 3-0 win in the first leg tie a fortnight ago in Benin City, Edo State, Falconets posted a 9-0 aggregate win over the East Africans. In Sunday’s second leg tie played in Dar es Salam, four goals came in the first half and two in the second half as Falconets romped to the massive win. Rasheedat Ajibade…
Monday, 02 October 2017 03:40
Mersey misery as Koeman's Everton lose and Liverpool draw
Everton manager Ronald Koeman is under mounting pressure after they lost 1-0 at home to Burnley on Sunday, while Liverpool drew 1-1 at Newcastle United as the Merseyside clubs continued to struggle in the Premier League. Liverpool's latest slip allowed Arsenal, who beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0, to leapfrog them into fifth place as the chasing teams scrambled to keep up with the ferocious pace set by the Manchester clubs who are five points clear at the top. City and United have 19 points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur on 14, after they won 4-0 at Huddersfield Town on Saturday,…
Friday, 29 September 2017 03:54
Malawian referees banned for $20 match-fixing
Media reports in Ghana indicate that four football referees in Malawi have been found guilty of match fixing after receiving $20 between them to fix a game. The referees allegedly received $20 between them to fix a match, but returned $15 to the team involved in the bribe because it failed to win the encounter. According to GhanaSoccerNet, referee Aziz Nyirenda, assistant referees Limbani Chisambi and Stephano Gomani, and fourth official Jimmy Phiri were all found guilty. The four fixed a national cup match between lower league teams, Nchalo United and Chitipa United. The match-fixing scandal was revealed after Nchalo…
Monday, 25 September 2017 04:02
WAFU Cup: Black Stars black out Super Eagles, lift Cup
Black Stars of Ghana emerged champions of 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations on Sunday after they thrashed Super Eagles 4-1 at Cape Coast Stadium. Stephen Sarfo who was voted as man-of-the-match scored a brace for Black Stars while Atinga and Cobbinah scored a goal each for the hosts. Rabiu Ali scored a stunning free kick late in the game, but it could not change anything as the Super Eagles settled for second place. PT
Sunday, 24 September 2017 04:13
Manchester City too strong for Palace as United labour
Manchester City ran riot in the second half at the Etihad to thrash Crystal Palace 5-0 in the Premier League on Saturday, while Manchester United made hard work of their 1-0 win at Southampton. City were second-best for much of the first half but Leroy Sane's goal just before halftime gave them the momentum to go on to rout Palace who became the first side in English Football League history to lose their opening six games of the season without scoring. United were far less convincing in their success at Southampton but Romelu Lukaku's first-half goal was enough to ensure…
Saturday, 23 September 2017 03:16
Golf: Tiger progressing but still no timetable for return
Tiger Woods is not hitting full shots and has no timetable for his return to competitive golf after undergoing his fourth back surgery in April, the former world number one said on Friday. In a wide-ranging post on his website that included thoughts about those affected by recent hurricanes and the earthquake in Mexico City as well as congratulations to outgoing U.S. Masters Tournament chairman Billy Payne, Woods said he is sleeping better and no longer has nerve pain going down his leg. "I'm starting to hit the ball a little further – 60-yard shots. I have not taken a…
Wednesday, 20 September 2017 04:10
Burkina Faso challenges FIFA order to replay fixed game
Burkina Faso Football Federation has challenged FIFA's ruling to replay a World Cup qualifying game because the referee was corrupt. Burkina Faso filed an appeal against a November replay of South Africa's 2-1 win over Senegal last year, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Tuesday. The federation called the ruling "abuse of power" by a FIFA World Cup organizing committee panel. FIFA had never before ordered a game to be played again because of match-fixing. Its investigation found that neither South Africa nor Senegal were involved in the fixing, and the referee was likely manipulating the match for…
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Wednesday, 20 September 2017 04:08
Devils' Boyle diagnosed with cancer, expects to keep playing
Brian Boyle hopes to play hockey again soon after being diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, a type of bone-marrow cancer that the New Jersey Devils' team doctor said can largely be treated with medication. The 32-year-old forward was diagnosed with CML after bloodwork at the start of training camp showed irregularities from last season. Boyle said based on what team doctor Michael Farber and others have told him, he expects to live his life under normal conditions. That includes getting on the ice with his new team after signing a $5.5 million, two-year contract in the offseason. Boyle said on…
Tuesday, 19 September 2017 03:51
WAFU Cup: Super Eagles beat Ghana, qualify for semi-final
Home-based Super Eagles have qualified for the semi-final of ongoing WAFU Cup of Nations with a crucial 2-0-win on Monday night over the Black Stars of Ghana. After poor displays against Mali and Guinea in their earlier group games, Super Eagles were condemned to beat hosts and fierce rivals, Ghana, in the encounter to stay alive in the sub-regional competition. It did not start so well for Coach Salisu Yusuf-tutored side as they fired blanks all through the first half while Guinea were already a goal up in the other game against Mali. Things, however, took shape as the Eagles…
Tuesday, 19 September 2017 03:48
British cyclist pedals around world in 78 days, smashing record
A British endurance cyclist has smashed the Guinness World Record for the fastest circumnavigation of the planet on a bicycle, riding 18,000 miles (29,000km) in under 80 days. Mark Beaumont cycled for 18 hours a day and burned more than 9,000 calories every 24 hours as he crossed Poland, Russia, Mongolia, China, Australia and the United States. "It’s literally about riding to the next horizon," the Scotsman said on Monday after completing his marathon ride under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. "I've barely walked for two-and-a-half months." A crash in Russia on the ninth day in which he broke…
Monday, 18 September 2017 03:31
Manchester United 4-0 Everton
Romelu Lukaku scored against his former club as Manchester United thrashed Everton to move joint top of the Premier League.Wayne Rooney's return to Old Trafford ended in a dismal defeat - embossed by three late goals - which sent Everton into the bottom three. The Toffees have endured a dire start to the season and have not scored a goal in any of four successive defeats in all competitions.Antonio Valencia smashed a shot past Jordan Pickford from 25 yards to put Jose Mourinho's side into an early lead which rarely came under threat.Rooney, United's record goalscorer, had Everton's two best…