Category: Sports

Sports

N30bn Alleged Misuse: NWC member threatens to sue APC Chair, Adamu

Aminu Imam

A member of the national working committee (NWC) of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Salihu Lukman, has given one week ultimatum to the National Chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, to render account on the usage of over N30 billion. Lukman, who is the National Vice-Chairman, North-West, in an open letter to Adamu, titled: “Restoring Constitutional Order in APC – Not Negotiable”, claimed that the monies were proceeds from the sale of nomination forms to aspirants that vied for various elective seats in the recently held general elections. The NWC member remarked…

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FG postpones 7th National Youth Games

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
Football

The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (FMYSD) has postponed the forthcoming 7th National Youth Games (NYG) billed for Asaba, Delta in February. In a statement by Mohammed Manga, Director of Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, quoting Ismaila Abubakar, the Permanent Secretary, the postponement was due to the upcoming General Elections. “The postponement is due to logistics and time constraints, especially, taking cognisance of the commencement of the General Elections slated for February 25, 2023. “While regretting all the inconveniences the postponement might cause…

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FIFA urges all member nations to name one stadium after Pele

Aminu Imam

The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has urged all its 172 member nations to name one of their stadiums after the Late Brazilian football icon, Pele. Gianni Infantino, FIFA president made the appeal at a 24-hour public wake for Pele which began on Monday at the Santos’ Urbano Caldeira Stadium. Speaking at the procession, the FiFA President said the best way to immortalise Pele and his impact on football was to make sure his name appear in stadiums in all countries. “We’re going to ask every country in the…

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Pele, Brazil’s skilled soccer star who charmed the world, dies at 82

Aminu Imam

Pele, the magical Brazilian soccer star who rose from barefoot poverty to become one of the greatest and best-known athletes in modern history, died at the age of 82, his daughter said on Instagram, yesterday. The soccer maestro had been in and out of hospital in recent months after a tumor was found on his colon. Pele, whose given name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento, scored a world record 1,281 goals, and is the only player ever to win the World Cup three times. With sublime skills and a winning…

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Qatar 2022: Argentina beat France in epic final, wins first World Cup in 36 yrs

Aminu Imam

Lionel Messi crowned his stellar career with victory in the World Cup yesterday, as Argentina beat France on penalties in a final for the ages, triumphing 4-2 after Kylian Mbappe’s hat-trick ensured the game ended level following extra time. A truly remarkable game saw Messi and Mbappe both live up to their billing, with Messi scoring twice and Mbappe becoming the first player since England’s Geoff Hurst in 1966 to net a World Cup final hat-trick in a game that ended 3-3 after extra time. Messi had opened the scoring…

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2022 World Cup tournament finally kicks-off in Qatar

Aminu Imam

The long-awaited Qatar 2022 World Cup officially commenced yesterday, with a colourful opening ceremony and eye-catching folkloric shows, blends of music with magnificent lighting inside the Al-Bayt stadium. Veteran Hollywood actor, Morgan Freeman, who kicked-off the opening ceremony in front of the country’s royals,  narrated the event’s opening segment titled: ‘The Calling’, telling viewers ‘we all gather here in one big tribe’, as fans descended on Doha city centre for the opening game. Morgan Freeman spoke with Qatari entrepreneur, Ghanim al Muftah – a FIFA World Cup Ambassador who was born…

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Qatar World Cup: “Fans will survive without alcohol”, Infantino replies critics

Aminu Imam

FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, says football fans going to matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup “will survive” if they’re not allowed to have alcohol. Infantino stated this yesterday, during a press conference to usher in the World Cup in Doha, Qatar. Qatar, hosts of the Mundial, had earlier announced that fans will not have access to alcoholic beverages within stadiums. Citing similar laws in some European countries, Infantino backed the decision of the Arab nation. Qatar, accused of buying the World Cup hosting rights, has also been in the…

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Qatar 2022 World Cup: The big kick-off finally gets under way

Aminu Imam

After a 12-year build-up engulfed by a desert storm of controversy, the World Cup finally kicks off in Qatar today, with Lionel Messi aiming to crown his glittering career by winning the football’s greatest prize. Recall that the first ever World Cup was held in the Arab world – and the first staged outside of the northern hemisphere’s summer window – gets under way at the 60,000-capacity Al-Bayt Stadium, where hosts Qatar take on Ecuador in Group A. It marks the start of a month-long football extravaganza which embattled Qatari…

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Chelsea sack commercial director over “inappropriate messages”

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
CHELSEA

Chelsea said they have terminated the employment of commercial director Damian Willoughby with immediate effect. The English Premier League side said Willoughby’s sacking came after receiving evidence he had sent “inappropriate messages” before his appointment. Willoughby began working at Chelsea earlier this month following the club’s take-over by an investment group led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. “Evidence of inappropriate messages sent by Mr Willoughby, prior to his appointment at Chelsea FC earlier this month, has recently been provided to and investigated by the club,” a club spokesperson told…

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Federer assures he won’t become a tennis ghost after retirement

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
Roger Federer

Roger Federer brings down the curtain on his illustrious career later this week but the Swiss maestro has assured his millions of fans that he would not become “a tennis ghost”. Back in London, down river from where he won a record eight Wimbledon titles, the 41-year-old said he had no intention of walking away from a sport he has graced for so long. Speaking to reporters at London’s O2 Arena, where he twice won the ATP Finals title, the Swiss was emotional at times as he explained the decision…

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