The erstwhile Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has disclosed that he deliberately did not support his party’s candidate in the 2022 Osun State governorship election to avoid confusing voters in the state.

Aregbesola, a two-time governor of Osun, spoke during a radio programme on Tuesday in Ilesha.

According to him, politics of bitterness and boastful exclusion of him and his supporters by the then ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state prevented them from supporting the re-election bid of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.

“There is nothing like exclusivity when it comes to politics or elections. All interests matter and are important. When I wanted to run for a second term as governor in 2014, I ensured that even the bigwigs of the opposition party joined us.

“I rallied everybody because we knew how important it was to have a strong and formidable party going into the elections. That was why we were able to achieve success.

“But in a situation when some individuals decide to exclude some people, ostracise them and want to even throw them out of the party, that (defeat) is what you would get. I have no power or control over the decision of where anyone wishes to vote or support in a political contest.

“Politicians or party men and women constitute only 10% of the electorate. The success of any election rests on the level of how people are able to embrace others, irrespective of their convictions or personal aggrandisement to others.”

He added, “They (Oyetola and others) never wanted us, and our existence gave them a constant headache. There was even a video that trended at the time when they said anyone who was not invited to their campaign and comes around would bear the consequences of whatever happens to him/her.

“They did not want me. That was why I stayed away. In order not to create confusion as to who I was supporting or supported in the governorship election, I had to stay away.”

Oyetola, who lost the election and failed to get redress both at the tribunal and Supreme Court, was recently appointed as the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy by President Bola Tinubu.

The Debt Management Office (DMO) sold T.bills valued at N406.10 billion across its auctions in July 2023.

This was contained in the FMDQ Markets Monthly Report for July seen by Nairametrics.

The amount represents 0.39% (N1.59 billion) Month-on-month (MoM). An increase in the value of T-bills sold across its auctions in June 2023 (N404.51 billion).

Similarly, the DMO reopened two (2) 10Y, one (1) 15Y and one (1) 30Y FGN Bonds worth N657.84 billion in July 2023.

The report noted that the total sale represented a 182.73% oversubscription of the amount offered, and a 39.03% (N184.68 billion) MoM increase on the amount sold in June 2023 (N473.16 billion) for the same FGN Bond maturities.

FMDQ noted that the CBN did not conduct any public OMO Bills auctions in July 2023.

Corporate bonds:

According to the report, there were no corporate bonds listed on the FMDQ Exchange in July 2023 compared to N17.50 billion worth of corporate bonds listed in June 2023.

• “As a result, the total outstanding value for corporate bonds remained unchanged at N1,757.95 billion in the review month,” it said.

Commercial Papers:

The report stated that the total value of Commercial Papers (CPs) quoted on the FMDQ Exchange in July 2023 was N117.32 billion, representing a MoM increase of 42.85% (N35.19 billion) from the value of CPs quoted in June 2023.

• “Quoted CPs were issued by institutions from various sectors including Financial Services (5), Manufacturing (4), Real Estate (3), Agriculture (2), Chemical Supply & Oil Field Services (2), Commodities Trading (1), Public Sector (1), Telecommunications (1) and Consumer Staples (1).
• As a result, the total outstanding value of CPs increased MoM by 14.10% (N117.32 billion) to N949.26 billion,” it said.

Secondary market turnover:

According to the report, secondary market turnover on the FMDQ Exchange in July 2023 was N19.92 trillion, representing a MoM decrease of 8.37% (1.82 trillion) and a YoY increase of 0.81% (N0.16 trillion) from June 2023 and July 2022 figures, respectively.

It noted that Foreign Exchange (FX), Money Market (MM), and CBN Bills transactions dominated secondary market activity, accounting for 73.98% of the total secondary market turnover in July 2023.

• “Total spot market turnover for all products traded in the secondary market was N18.47 trillion in July 2023, representing a MoM increase of 3.68% (N0.66 trillion) from June 2023 figures. 
• The MoM increase in total spot market turnover was driven by an improvement in turnover across MM and FI transactions which increased MoM by 16.35% (N0.90 trillion) and 12.16% (N0.91 trillion), respectively, despite the MoM decline in FX transactions by 24.34% (N1.16 trillion). 
• The uptick in MM turnover was driven by an increase in Repos/Buybacks, offsetting the MoM decline in Unsecured Placement/Takings transactions. Likewise, the improvement in FI turnover was driven by a MoM increase across all FI products, excluding CBN Special Bills and FGN Bonds which decreased in the review period,” the report noted.

According to the report, Spot FX market turnover was N3.61 trillion ($4.66 billion) in July 2023, representing a MoM decrease of 24.34% (N1.16 trillion) from the turnover recorded in June 2023 (N4.77 trillion).

• “In the FX Market, the US Dollar appreciated against the Naira, with the spot exchange rate ($/₦) increasing by 22.94% ($/N143.60) to close at an average of $/N769.51 in July 2023 from $/N625.90 recorded in June 2023. 
• Further, exchange rate volatility decreased in July 2023 as the Naira traded within an exchange rate range of $/N740.08 – $/N803.90 compared to $/N464.67 – $/N770.38 recorded in June 2023,” the report said.

Fixed Income: The report stated that the (FI) market turnover was N8.43 trillion in July 2023, representing a MoM increase of 12.16% (N0.91 trillion) from the turnover recorded in June 2023 (N7.52 trillion).

• “The MoM increase in the FI market turnover was driven by the 52.55% (N0.94 trillion), 63.75% (N0.98 trillion), and 402.37% (N0.03 trillion) uptick in turnover across T.Bills, OMO Bills, 
• Other Bonds which offset the MoM decrease in CBN Special Bills and FGN Bonds transactions by 57.36% (N1.00 trillion) and 1.24% (N0.03 trillion), respectively,” the report noted.

The Cottagers have agreed to pay £12m up front for the Argentine with a further £3m in add-ons.

However, the 29-year-old is yet to agree to the move despite the chance to double his salary to around £70,000-a-week at Craven Cottage.

Ocampos is reluctant having grown settled in Spain and will soon have the chance to play Champions League football after winning the Europa League in May.

Fulham believe they will ultimately get their man having switched their focus from Callum Hudson-Odoi after they failed to agree a fee with Chelsea.

The Cottagers are also chasing an additional striker and have sounded out Germany international Fullkrug.

The 30-year-old Werder Bremen frontman is one of a host of options being looked at including Flamengo’s Pedro, Atalanta’s Duvan Zapata and Paris Saint-Germain’s Hugo Ekitike.

Marco Silva also wants a midfielder, with Everton’s Alex Iwobi reportedly of interest, and is chasing a further full-back despite the £15m signing of Leicester City’s Timothy Castagne.

AC Milan’s Fode Ballo-Toure, Union Berlin’s Josip Juranovic and Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters are some of the additional defenders being discussed in west London.

[standard]

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has subtly confirmed the exit of Super Falcons’ coach to the just concluded Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Randy Waldrum, from his position as the country’s senior women national team manager.

Yesterday, the NFF charged its technical committee to search for new handlers for the team ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics’ qualifiers. Waldrum and the federation had a frosty relationship on the eve of the World Cup, but the country’s subsequent impressive performance at the championship papered over the feud. However, there were rumours after the championship that the NFF would not renew the American’s contract, which expired with the competition.

Speaking while inaugurating the recently constituted NFF Technical Committee in Abuja, the federation’s president, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, tasked them to constitute fresh technical crews for most of the national teams, and provide direction for them.
 
He said: “The Super Falcons are back from the FIFA World Cup with aplomb, but we must remember that they have 2024 Olympics and 2024 Women AFCON qualifying matches shortly and should start to prepare for those games. The home-based professionals have qualifiers for the CHAN and the male and female U17 and U20 teams have qualification matches of high importance in a few months to come.”
 
Gusau promised that the NFF would support the committee to accomplish its work while emphasising that meetings could be either physical or by video conference.
 
Responding, Chairman of the committee, Sharif Rabiu Inuwa, stated that the committee would discharge its duties with every sense of responsibility and be guided by the vision of the Gusau-led administration to work proactively and energetically to ensure the real growth of the game of football in Nigeria in all its aspects and ramifications.

[Guardian]

The second day of the US Open didn’t turn out to be one of those days when seeds drop like ripe cherries. Indeed the favourites of the bookmakers and the public came up with emphatic wins.

Daniil Medvedev was the first to step onto court, where he stayed no longer than 1 hour and 14 minutes to put away Hungarian Attila Balazs 61 61 60 in the swiftest grand slam match of his career. His next opponent will be Cristopher O’Connell, who won the all-Australian clash against  Max Purcell in four sets. 

Sacha Zverev faced a much tougher challenge in the person of Aleksandar Vukic, one of the hot players of the American summer, finalist in Atlanta. The German played consistently and never relented pressure, earning a three-set win 64 64 64. In the first two sets he only conceded one break point, and broke Vukic once per set. He snatched an early break in the third game of the third set as well, but the Aussie broke back in the eighth game. He also had a chance to move ahead 5-4, but Zverev eventually succeeded in snatching a second break and closed off the match with a comfortable serve hold.

Andrey Rublev won in three sets against French lucky loser Arthur Cazaux, ranked 119. The 21-year old Frenchman set up a valiant fight in the first two sets, serving proficiently, hammering forehands and frequently raiding the net. Rublev kept his bearings though, and after prevailing in a close second set tiebreak, cruised away. 64 76 61 the final score. In the second round he is awaited by yet another French player: veteran Gael Monfils, who defeated Taro Daniel in four sets. That will be some match.

Among the other seeds, Cameron Norrie scored a convincing win, 62 64 62 over the young Russian talent Alexander Shevchenko, conceding and saving only one break point in the whole match.

Though not seeded, after a year which has been hindered by physical issues, Matteo Berrettini, US Open semi-finalist in 2019, played his best tennis to dismiss 29^th seed Ugo Humbert in three sets, 64 64 62. His greater overall power and some excellent returning made the difference, as well as his service, which got him through a few critical moments, such as the eighth game of the first set, when he saved three break points. By steering the gameplay away from Humbert’s most impressive weapon, his leftie two-handed backhand, he retained control of the match. Berrettini too will face another Frenchman in the second round: Arthur Rinderknech, who beat Diego Schwartzman 63 64 62.

We conclude with the feats of tennis greats: Stan Wawrinka, and John Isner, who joined their fellow veterans, Andy Murray and Gael Monfils, in the second round. The Swiss, US Open Champion 2016, just struggled in the first set, which he won in a battled tiebreaker, against Yoshihito Nishioka, and then cruised away to win 76 62 64. John Isner showed he is in no hurry to enjoy retirement and in three sets, 64 63 76, breezed past Argentine Diaz Acosta, currently ranked above him at 94. When rankings do not tell the whole story.

In the second round Long John will be up against Michael Mmoh, the American wild card who set up the greatest upset of the afternoon, knocking out 11^th seed Karen Khachanov, who is still struggling to get back to his best form after injury.

Isner vs Mmoh will be an enthralling generation clash to look forward to.

[ubitennis]

Manny Pacquiao wants to return to boxing for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino has announced.

The legendary Filipino eight-weight world champion retired from the sport following his defeat to Yordenis Ugas in 2021, but has since hinted at a possible return.

Pacquiao previously quit boxing to allow him to focus solely on his political career in the Philippines, where he is a senator.

However, he was unsuccessful in his run to become President of his home country in 2022.

As a result, the boxing icon has since returned to the ring for exhibition bouts.

But now, according to the Philippine Olympic Committee president, Pacquiao is eyeing a more serious return.

“Senator Pacquiao’s camp reached out saying our Filipino ring idol wants to fight in Paris,” Tolentino said in a statement.

Pacquiao is now 44 and would be 45 at the time of the games.

This rules him out of the main route of qualification – next month’s Asian Games – which has an age limit of 40.

However, Pacquiao could still qualify through one of the two Olympic qualifying tournaments that will take place early next year, or possibly through the Universality rule.

Previously, the competition was solely for amateur boxers, but this changed in 2016.

The rule change has led to mixed results, with Thailand’s former IBF flyweight world champion Amnat Ruenroeng being a notable name who suffered a humiliating defeat to an amateur at the Rio 2016 games as he struggled to adjust to the style needed to win the three-round fights at the tournament.

However, at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, rising pro heavyweight prospect Bakhodir Jalolov won super-heavyweight gold.

Time will tell if Pacquiao ends up participating, and whether he could end his career by bringing home Olympic gold for his country.

[talksport]

Venus Williams suffered her worst US Open defeat of her career on Tuesday night when Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen beat the two-time US Open champion 6-1, 6-1.

“I mean, I think first I have to give credit to my opponent,” said the American. “I mean, there wasn’t a shot she couldn’t make. Even when I hit really amazing shots, she just hit a winner or a dropshot, so…

“I don’t think I played badly. I think it was just one of those days where it’s just unlucky.

“My preparation was definitely minimal. But I don’t think that it necessarily affected the bulk of my performance. I think there are just shots where my footwork wasn’t really there. A lot of backhands I missed where my feet just weren’t there. That’s normal when you don’t spend a lot of time on the court.

“But I really have to give credit to her. It was just incredible, honestly. I mean, if she can play like that, you imagine that she can be in the top 10 or perhaps No. 1 or maybe win a Grand Slam, something like that, if she can play at this level.”

“I think that’s the best I ever saw Greet play. I don’t know. I mean, that’s great for her to reach that level.

“For me, I haven’t played a lot of matches this year, so the times I could play, I gave it my all. I got a handful of matches. It wasn’t the year I was expecting, but I gave it everything I had.””For me, I haven’t played a lot of matches this year, so the times I could play, I gave it my all. I got a handful of matches. It wasn’t the year I was expecting, but I gave it everything I had.”

No. 1 seed and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz followed Williams’ defeat by easily advancing to the second round when his opponent Dominik Koepfer was forced to retire with the Spaniard leading, 6-2, 3-2.

“Well, I felt great during the match,” said Alcaraz in his media conference. “I start pretty well. Really focus. Honestly, I didn’t expect to play such a great level the beginning, the first round, here in the US Open.”

“I am very, very happy with the level, even if Domi had to retire. Have to see myself and hopefully to keep that level into the next round.”

Earlier in the day session, both third seeds had easy wins in Ashe Stadium – Daniil Medvedev won 6-1, 6-1. 6-0 while Jessica Pegula won 6-2, 6-2.

Upsets on the day were: No. 21 Donna Vekic, No. 24 Talon Griekspor, No. 27 Anastasia Potapova, No. 12 Barbora Krejcikova, No. 11 Karen Khachanov, and No. 27 Borna Coric.

More to follow….

Promoter Frank Warren is adamant in his belief that Daniel Dubois was unfairly disadvantaged by referee Luis Pabon’s decision to deem a pivotal punch as a low blow during his controversial fight with Oleksandr Usyk.

At the same time, the veteran head of Queensberry Promotions suggested that his client could have shown greater resilience after getting knocked down for a second and final time.

Last Saturday night in Wroclaw, Poland, Ukraine’s Usyk successfully defend his WBO, WBA, IBF, and IBO titles, stopping London’s Dubois in the ninth round after landing a jab that forced Dubois to take a knee, which led to referee Pabon counting Dubois out.  

But Usyk had to overcome a shaky fifth round in which Dubois landed a right hand to the body that caused Usyk to bowl over in obvious pain. Much to Warren and Team Dubois’ dismay, Pabon ruled the punch as low blow. The public’s reaction to the kerfuffle has been fierce, with opinion seemingly divided on the legitimacy of the punch.

Warren has vowed to appeal the decision by filing a protest with the WBA, which sanctioned the fight.  

In a recent interview, Warren took issue with Pabon’s conduct not only in the fifth round but also his pre-fight instructions to both fighters, which Warren found wanting. Warren also insisted that Dubois’ punch did not strike Usyk below his navel.

“The referee got it wrong,” Warren told iFL TV. “That punch was legitimate. The referee didn’t even stop to even think about it. He just said low blow. And automatically gave him three minutes and forty-six seconds of recovery time, which is well over a round. …Usyk, to his credit, said he would’ve got up if the referee hadn’t done that. And he would’ve been able to get up and box on, so you got all this time, and it was wrong.

“He got it so wrong, Pabon. I mean, he was the referee of the second [Usyk vs.] Joshua fight as well, and it was a similar situation where Joshua caught him with a good body shot and the same thing happened there. He’s also, by the way, the WBA’s official committee chairman, so he’s got to excuse himself from this appeal that we’re putting through. He won’t be able to sit on it.”

Some fans and pundits have accused Dubois of commiting boxing sacrilege by "quitting" against Usyk and have pointed to Dubois' previous defeat to Joe Joyce in 2020, when Dubois reacted similarly, taking a knee and the full 10-count.

Warren suggested that Dubois could have taken a page from WBC titlist Tyson Fury’s book as far as “grit” is concerned. Fury famously got up from a right hand blow in the 12th round in his fight with Deontay Wilder in 2018.

“He went down from two shots that no one had expected and which I would have like to see him get up from,” Warren said of Dubois. “Well he did get up for one and the second one I would’ve liked to see him get up from. What happened in that round changed the whole dynamic of the fight. And the bottom line is, if you want to be the best, you've got to want to grit your teeth and you gotta look at videos of Tyson Fury on the floor and what he did to get up and get back in the fight, cuz that’s what you got to do.

“But that doesn’t take away the fact that it was 100% a wrong decision by the referee. He did not instruct the fighters or certainly didn’t instruct Daniel or the fighters correctly and he’s got it wrong.”

[boxingscene]