Sport
Sunday, 30 July 2017 03:44
Emirates Cup: Iwobi shines in Arsenal’s five star performance
Super Eagles’ Alex Iwobi was on target as Arsenal ran riot in their first match in a four-team friendly tournament at the Emirates Stadium in London, England on Saturday. A brace from Theo Walcott and one goal each from Olivier Giroud and Iwobi, including an own goal saw Arsenal thrashing Benfica 5-2. Arsenal’s new signing, Alexandre Lacazette also made his Gunners home debut in the Emirates Cup. Lacazette, introduced to a huge roar, had few chances to impress in his brief cameo, but the French international is likely to start against Sevilla on Sunday. Franco Cervi and Eduardo Salvio were…
Sunday, 30 July 2017 03:43
Stampede kills 2 at World Cup final stadium in South Africa
Fans at a soccer match in a South African stadium that hosted the 2010 World Cup final tried to push through the gates on Saturday, causing a stampede that killed two people. One person was critically injured and 16 others had minor injuries in the accident at FNB Stadium in the Soweto area of Johannesburg, the stadium management said in a statement. It said it is conducting an investigation with police. The stampede happened during a game between top South African teams Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. Many people were reportedly unaware of what had happened, and the match continued…
Monday, 24 July 2017 02:34
Akwa United move to second spot; other NPFL Match Day 30 results
Akwa United have momentarily moved to the second spot on the Nigeria Professional Football League standings following their 2-1 win over Nasarawa United on Sunday. Though Akwa United were conceding at home for the first time in seven games, they were nonetheless happy to get all three points that have taken their total haul to 50 from 30 games. Ubong Friday and Christian Pyagbara got the goals for Akwa United in Sunday’s Match Day 30 contest. In Ibadan, Shooting Stars FC secured a slim 1-0 win over Enyimba International. The solitary goal for the Oluyole Warriors was scored by Adebayo…
Monday, 24 July 2017 02:33
England win Women's World Cup in thrilling finish
England won their fourth Women's World Cup when Anya Shrubsole took six wickets to clinch a nine-run victory over India amid delirious scenes at a packed Lord's on Sunday. The home side looked in danger of defeat as India chased down their total of 228-7, but an astonishing spell of seam bowling by England's vice-captain turned the game on its head in the most nail-biting of finishes. India were coasting on 191-3 when Shrubsole took the key wicket of Poonam Raut, lbw for 86, and the inexperienced middle order collapsed to 219 all out in the 49th over. Apart from…
Monday, 24 July 2017 02:31
Brazil's 1982 World Cup goalkeeper Peres dies
Waldir Peres, the much-maligned goalkeeper in Brazil's 1982 World Cup side, died of a heart attack on Sunday, his former club Sao Paulo said. He was 66. Peres will always be remembered for a calamitous mistake in Brazil’s opening match against the Soviet Union when he let a 30-metre strike from Andrei Bal squirm through his hands to give the Soviets the lead. Brazil recovered to win 2-1 and Peres performed competently in victories over Scotland, New Zealand and Argentina. However, they lost 3-2 to a Paolo Rossi-inspired Italy and were eliminated in the second round. Peres, who won the…
Saturday, 22 July 2017 03:01
CAF appoints Pinnick member of emergency committee
President of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has been handed extra duties following his inclusion in the CAF Emergency Committee on Friday. The decision to include him in the Emergency committee was taken at the just concluded CAF Extraordinary General Assembly holding in Rabat, Morocco. The proposal for his appoint had earlier made but finally rectified at the Assembly. Pinnick is also President, Organising Committee for the Africa Cup of Nations. While CAF standing Committees were reduced from 19 to 11, Fouzi Lekjaa, a member of CAF Executive Committee was appointed 3rd CAF Vice President even as he retains his…
Saturday, 22 July 2017 02:59
Pele's son's in jail on drug trafficking charges in Brazil
A son of Brazilian soccer legend Pele has returned to jail to serve a sentence of more than 12 years on drug trafficking and money laundering charges. A Brazilian court Friday ordered Edson Cholbi do Nascimento returned to jail after turning down his appeal. He is a former goalkeeper with Pele's old club Santos and was first arrested in 2005, though he remained free pending the outcome of his appeals. In 2014 a court convicted him to 33 years in prison. That sentence was later reduced to 12 years, 10 months. In late February he turned himself in to complete…
Thursday, 20 July 2017 04:08
Sunshine Stars win in Port Harcourt; other NPFL Match Day 30 results
Sunshine Stars of Akure have secured their second consecutive away win in the Nigeria Professional Football League as they stunned Rivers United 1-0 in Port Harcourt on Wednesday. The Akure Gunners in their previous away match beat ABS FC 4-2 in Ilorin and the Coach Duke Udi tutored side showed that was no fluke as they secured vital three points again, this time in Port Harcourt. Battling to avoid the drop, Wednesday’s away win has given Sunshine Stars some breathing space as they have now moved up to 14 spot and they could be as high as 11th if they…
Thursday, 20 July 2017 04:06
African Cup going out of Africa? Radical changes proposed
African Cup might be going out of Africa. United States, China or Qatar could be asked to host the African Cup of Nations in radical changes proposed Wednesday to give the continent's biggest soccer tournament the global exposure it craves. The proposals were set out in a presentation to the Confederation of African Football by Philippe Antoine, as spokesman for Marketing and TV working group. Antoine told delegates that "the idea of inviting three or four teams from other continents, in addition to 20 or 21 African teams taking part, was also seen favorably ... as was the hypothesis of…
Monday, 17 July 2017 03:36
Nigeria League Review: FC Ifeanyi Ubah win Oriental derby
FC Ifeanyi Ubah snatched a lone goal victory in the Oriental Derby clash against Enyimba FC on Sunday in the Nigeria Professional Football League. The solitary goal in the derby clash was scored by Godwin Obaje 10 minutes into the second half of the game played in Nnewi. Incidentally, Enyimba lost by the same odd margin when they came calling in Nnewi last season and they were unlucky yet again on Sunday. In Lagos, Stephen Odey was the hero for MFM FC on Sunday as he scored the only goal that gave the Olukoya Boys a precious lone goal victory…
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Sunday, 16 July 2017 15:02
Wimbledon 2017: Roger Federer beats Marin Cilic to win record eighth title
Roger Federer became the first man to win Wimbledon eight times and extended his record to 19 Grand Slam titles with victory over Croatia's Marin Cilic. The Swiss third seed won 6-3 6-1 6-4 as seventh seed Cilic struggled with blisters on his left foot and broke down in tears during the second set. Federer, 35, finished the contest in one hour and 41 minutes to claim his first Wimbledon title since 2012. He becomes the oldest man in the Open Era to win the Wimbledon title. BBC
Sunday, 16 July 2017 02:23
Eight dead at Senegal football stadium
Eight people have died and at least 49 are injured after a wall collapsed at a football stadium in Senegal. It happened at Demba Diop stadium in the capital, Dakar, at the end of the League Cup final between Stade de Mbour and Union Sportive Ouakam. Fighting started between rival fans and police responded by using tear gas, which led to panic, a stampede, and the wall collapse. Some fans were throwing projectiles including stones at others. Pictures circulating online appear to show people scrambling over a low wall amid clouds of gas. Local news agency APS reported that ambulances…
Saturday, 15 July 2017 15:51
Muguruza blows away Venus to take first Wimbledon crown
Garbine Muguruza clinched a maiden Wimbledon title on Saturday with a stunning 7-5 6-0 demolition of Venus Williams, whose dreams of a fairytale victory at the age of 37 were blown apart in a devastating second set. After some tense early exchanges, the Spaniard cut loose, winning nine straight games to claim a second grand slam title to add to last year's French Open. The 23-year-old fell to floor in celebration after clinching victory in an hour and 17 minutes. It was her second Wimbledon final, having lost to Venus's sister Serena on the same stage in 2015. “Two years…
Wednesday, 12 July 2017 04:04
Striker Solanke completes Liverpool move
England youth international striker Dominic Solanke has completed his move to Premier League side Liverpool after his contract with champions Chelsea expired, the Merseyside club have said. The 19-year-old, who was a part of Chelsea's youth academy since 2004, scored four goals during England's under-20 World Cup triumph in June and was named Player of the Tournament. Solanke made just one senior appearance for Chelsea in 2014 and was loaned out to Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem for the 2015-16 campaign. Liverpool did not specify the length of Solanke's contract or the fee for the teenager. "It feels amazing and everyone…