Barely a month after the international wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport suffered the loss of almost all its lighting cables to yet-to-be-identified perpetrators, airport authorities have caught another cable thief in the act.

According to reports, vigilant guards on duty at the Nigeria Air Force headquarters gate managed to apprehend one of the three culprits as he attempted to dig up the underground armoured cable at the airport. Regrettably, the other two thieves managed to escape, leaving behind a trail of suspicion and concern.

Confirming this latest incident, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) issued a statement through its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Abdullahi Yakubu-Funtua.

He said: “AT about 01:35hrs on July 21, 2023, the guards on duty at the Nigeria Airforce HQ NADC gate halted three cable thieves along the airport road by NADC perimeter fence who were sighted digging the FAAN underground armoured cable with the aid of a digger, shovel and cutlass.

Tukur Mamu: Lawyers, journalists, others barred from ex-terrorists negotiator’s trial
“On sighting the guards, they took to their heels. A guard however opened fire on them, aiming at the shoulder of Usman Musa. Usman Musa, 28 years old, a native of Adamawa State, residing at Ijora sustained gunshot wounds. He was subsequently arrested and taken to 661NAFH Ikeja.

“He is presently receiving treatment at General Hospital Oyingbo while his other two accomplices escaped. Usman Musa will be properly interrogated after he has stabilised.”

The Authority however believed that this incident could be a relevant clue to unravelling the earlier theft of the Runway Lighting at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport recently.

Recalled that the earlier theft of cable lighting worth several millions of naira at the airport recently led to the suspension of 10 senior officials at the various relevant departments of FAAN while the permanent secretary at the ministry of aviation, Dr Emmanuel Meribole directed a committee set up to investigate the theft.

Managers don't matter. Just ask the best manager in the world.

"I will tell you a secret," Pep Guardiola said in October. "The main thing is the quality of the players." He went on: "I try to figure out things, but at the end the players ... the success we had is because we have top players. This is the secret, no more than that."

Now, "managers don't matter" is a bit of a rhetorical overstatement. Manchester City wouldn't have won as many points last season if you were managing the team. Meanwhile, Chelsea probably wouldn't have finished higher in the table had they given you the reins rather than Frank Lampard after firing Graham Potter. Rather, what Guardiola is suggesting is that talent is the main driver of team success. Framed another way, player skill overwhelmingly decides what wins games. In fact, the authors of the book "The Numbers Game" found that player skill (as represented by wages paid) accounts for 70% of team performance. Somewhere in that remaining 30% sits the effect of the manager, along with other factors like, say, the random, and flummoxing bounce of the ball.

Managers do matter -- just way less than we think. And the limited impact makes that impact even harder to measure. In a league without a salary cap, and with massive team-to-team financial inequality and vastly differing team-building ideals, we can't just look at where a team finished and say, "The best manager finished first, the worst manager finished 20th."

Instead, we have to try to control for all of the other factors that influence winning. We can't do that with anything resembling precision because of all of the unknown factors that influence winning -- for example, is a player great because he's inherently great or because the manager deployed him in a way that made him great? -- so we're going to try a slightly different exercise.

And so, I've ranked and tiered all 20 Premier League managers by how confident I'd be that they would improve the 10th-richest team in the Premier League.

No-doubt improvers

Among the 20 managers in the Premier League, there are only two who I'm sure would improve the 10th-best team in the Premier League beyond their talent level. And those are the two best managers in the world: Pep Guardiola (Man City) and Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool). This exercise requires a ton of projection, and I really only have a small degree of confidence in all of the other tiers, but there's really no argument that anyone else belongs in this tier.

That said, such is the shape-shifting nature of managerial influence that there are some arguments against both of these coaches being in this tier.

With Pep, it's simply that we've never seen him do it. He's by far the most successful and most influential modern manager in the world. The ClubElo coach ratings also rank him as the best coach -- by a combination of how good his teams were and how much they improved after he arrived -- in the history of the sport. It's just that, well, he first had maybe the greatest player and the greatest midfield in the history of the sport at the same time, at Barcelona. At Bayern Munich, well, they have so much more money than everyone else, and they've won every league title since he left. And at Manchester City, he has the near-unlimited funding of a sovereign wealth fund.

I raised this idea to a former Premier League manager a few months ago, and he ... completely rejected it. Guardiola is easily the best coach we've ever seen at maximizing top-level talent, but as he suggested, so many other teams farther down the table have adopted some of his principles, too. If Brighton can play possession soccer and succeed with it, you can't really say that Pep Guardiola wouldn't do a great job at Brighton.

Klopp, meanwhile, has never coached the richest team in his own league. He's the last manager to beat Bayern Munich and Manchester City across a full domestic season. And he did a fantastic job at Mainz before Borussia Dortmund, too. Last season was probably his "worst" season as a manager -- he didn't really seem to figure out how Liverpool should play until the last couple of months -- but on the whole, he's just fantastic. One of the all-time greats. He's probably the best culture-builder in the sport, too.

These guys both now have decade-plus track records of success across multiple leagues, multiple countries and multiple tactical eras. No one else on this list comes close to that.

Failed at PSG -- but succeeded (almost) everywhere else

Mauricio Pochettino (Chelsea) and Unai Emery (Aston Villa) are sort of the anti-Guardiolas. Like every other manager in Paris since Qatar took over, they both flamed out at PSG. But the rest of their careers have mostly seen steady improvements at lesser-resourced clubs.

Pochettino was fine with Espanyol; then he seemed to transform Southampton into one of the most exciting teams in the Premier League, and then he seemed to transform Tottenham into one of the most exciting teams in the Premier League. We've already seen him succeed with two teams right around the realm of resources we'd be restricting him to in this exercise.

So why am I not more confident? Well, Ronald Koeman was quite successful for Southampton right after Poch, and this was during the club's golden age of recruiting. Then: How much credit should he get for coming in at Tottenham right when homegrown Harry Kane was blossoming into a superstar?

Emery, meanwhile, failed at Arsenal, but it's not like Mikel Arteta immediately did much better; they were awful the following season, too. Plus, taking over for Arsene Wenger was a near-impossible job, given that he was the last remaining capital-M manager, the kind who had a say in everything major that happened at the club. Outside of that, Emery has overseen improvements at Almeria, Valencia, Sevilla, Villarreal, and now Aston Villa. The latter featured an incredible in-season turnaround last year -- but how much credit should he get for it?

I'm pretty confident that neither Emery nor Pochettino would make our hypothetical team worse. I'm less confident in just how much they'll improve the performance.

Bruno Fernandes’ first outing as Manchester United captain may have come as a shock, but the Portugal star says he is honoured to be given the job on a permanent basis.

Fernandes’ raised eyebrows said it all when manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed that he would stand in for skipper Harry Maguire during a press conference video call before United played Paris Saint-Germain in 2020.

The 28-year-old captained United 45 times last season in Maguire’s prolonged absences, and was the obvious choice when Erik ten Hag decided to take the armband off the England defender this summer.

Fernandes said: ‘The first time was in the Champions League against PSG. I was a little bit surprised by Ole, but obviously I said to him at the time it's just such an honour for me.

‘I still have the armband and the shirt from that game, because I wanted to keep it for me, because this is something that is not for everyone.

Chiamaka Nnadozie is making headlines in the ongoing Women’s World Cup after her save from the penalty spot earned the Super Falcons a point against Canada at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium

Super Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum has heaped praises on Chiamaka Nnadozie following her crucial role in Nigeria’s goalless draw against Canada on Friday morning, Soccernet.ng reports

Nnadozie was awarded the Man of the Match after her starring role in the clash against the Olympic Champions, earning the Super Falcons a point.

Waldrum’s Falcons put up a spirited display against the CONCACAF nation in their first game of the 2023 Women’s World Cup at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

The game’s key moment came in the 50th minute when the Paris FC goalkeeper denied Canada’s all-time scorer Christine Sinclair from the penalty spot.

Nnadozie also made other vital saves to keep the Super Falcons in the game. Following this, Waldrum was full of praise for his goalkeeper after the game.

“Chiamaka has done this before, and I will say this, and I will embarrass her in front of you all, but I think she’s one of the best young goalkeepers in the World right now,” Randy said

The draw result now has both Canada and Nigeria trailing Australia with two points. The co-hosts had earlier beaten the Republic of Ireland in the group’s other game.

Randy Waldrum’s side will play Australia in their next game on Thursday, July 31, at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

[soccernet]

FC Barcelona have an obvious weakness in their squad, as they do not have a natural right-back capable of performing at the level that Xavi wants. Sergino Dest and Julian Araujo will be available to Xavi for the next season, but the club is looking for a more impactful player in this position.

In fact, according to SPORT, the Catalan club hierarchy is clear that the next signing for Barcelona should be a right-back, and an attacker or attacking midfielder can be obtained later if time and money allow it.

More precisely, the Catalans are looking for an option that would not cost too much, specializes in playing at the right-back position, and, if possible, also has room for further growth. One such option that meets this criteria and has been identified by the club is Real Valladolid’s Ivan Fresneda.

Xavi and his coaching staff are planning to go into the next season by moving Kounde into the center of the backline. The club is already taking steps in this regard, but the key here is the transfer of Clement Lenglet to Tottenham. The negotiations for his sale are getting increasingly complicated because the two clubs are unable to come to an economic agreement.

Meanwhile, Deco has a list of fullbacks and is of the opinion that the club should go for a player keeping both the present and the future in mind. Joao Cancelo is still an option, but the finances involved in his transfer make an approach for him difficult for the club.

Thus, Ivan Fresneda remains the favorite target of the club in this regard. However, there are a number of Premier League clubs already interested in the youngster, and Valladolid may have to make a decision about him soon.

[barcanewsnetwork]

With the start of the Premier League season now just three weeks away, Liverpool may have to appoint a new club captain.

The current skipper, Jordan Henderson, appears set to leave the club after the Reds agreed a $15m (£12m/€14m) deal with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq (as per the ECHO).

Virgil van Dijk, who was previously third in line behind Henderson and the now-departed James Milner, looks like the natural successor.

It just so happens that Manchester United, the Reds' arch-rival, has made a change too, but this one wasn't enforced.

Erik ten Hag has opted to take the armband off center-back Harry Maguire, who slipped well down the pecking order last season, and award it instead to Bruno Fernandes.

Fernandes is used to leading the team out — he did so on 42 occasions last season — but this is a momentous step nonetheless, one that left Maguire 'extremely disappointed' (via Eurosport). 

The Portuguese is doubtless a magnificent player, scoring 64 goals and providing 54 assists in 185 games for the club since his $89m (£68m/€80m) move from Sporting in January 2020. He featured in the PFA Team of the Year in 2020/21 and has twice been voted player of the year by United's fanbase.

But still, his attitude, and consequently the decision to award him the captaincy, have to be called into question.

There was no better reflection of this than his conduct on United's trip to Anfield in March for what was arguably the biggest game of their season.

As United came apart in the second half, conceding six times to fall to a historic 7-0 drubbing, Fernandes unraveled.

He went down holding his face in an attempt to get Ibrahima Konaté punished even though the Frenchman didn't make contact, he appeared to push the linesman as he grew frustrated at a delay and he stopped in his tracks after Stefan Bajčetić went past him, which pundit Ian Wright called the 'last straw' (via Mirror).

 

Sky Sports' Gary Neville even claimed while on commentary duty that Fernandes asked the coaching staff to bring him off, though the player himself insisted this wasn't the case.

"I think some of his behavior in the second half has been a disgrace," Neville, one of Fernandes' predecessors as captain, said.

In a scathing attack on the attacking midfielder, Neville also dubbed him 'embarrassing' and 'a shambles'.

Another United legend in Roy Keane offered a similarly damning verdict, suggesting he'd let his teammates down.

"Fernandes' body language was nothing short of disgraceful," the Irishman said. "He's a really talented boy but he's your captain. So much talent but his body language of waving his arms about and not running back? You wouldn't be happy with him in your dressing room."

The United players needed leadership more than ever in this scenario, but instead, Fernandes' behavior was nothing short of petulant.

It seemed that he almost gave up, regardless of whether or not he requested a substitution, and you wonder how the squad can be expected to rally behind someone who may desert them when the going gets tough.

Ultimately, Erik ten Hag has made a mistake in his appointment, and Liverpool has seen the evidence first-hand.

[Liverpool]

Man United are on track to earn £17million from their pre-season tour this summer, Football Insider has learned.

The Red Devils began their pre-season schedule in Norway last Wednesday (12 July), where they beat rivals Leeds United 2-0.

Erik ten Hag’s side then travelled to Scotland and secured a 1-0 win over Lyon at Murrayfield Stadium a week later.

The Manchester club are now in the United States ahead of games against Arsenal, Wrexham, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.

Their tour is then rounded up with two matches in two days in August against Lens and Athletic Club at Old Trafford and Aviva Stadium.

United’s summer plans will see them travel over 16,000 miles, playing eight games in five countries.

While the air miles may negatively impact the squad, playing in multiple countries and stadiums means the Red Devils are set to reap commercial benefits from their tour having signed multiple sponsorship agreements.

The tour is sponsored by Snapdragon – a technology company that signed a global partnership deal with United last summer.

They have agreed to sponsor United’s 2023 tour and are also the match sponsors for the clash with Wrexham in San Diego on Tuesday (25 July).

On top of fees from Snapdragon’s sponsorship, United are set to earn a participation fee for competing in the Soccer Champions Tour exhibition series in the United States.

Combined with a cut of matchday revenues and ticket sales, Football Insider has learned that United are set to earn between £17-18million for their tour this summer.

Eight days after finishing their pre-season schedule in the Republic of Ireland, United are set to open their Premier League campaign with a home match against Wolves.

[footballinsider247]

Paris Saint-Germain are ready to hijack Manchester United's move for Rasmus Hojlund after indicating their willingness to pay £55million for the 20-year-old Atalanta frontman during private discussions with his agents. The Red Devils have already agreed personal terms with the Denmark international forward but the club are yet to submit a formal bid despite initial discussions with the Italian club.

United are thought to have floated the idea of including players within a swap deal proposal but Atalanta had no interest in signing Fred, Donny van de Beek or Mason Greenwood on loan.

Instead, the Serie A outfit will command a huge fee for one of the hottest commodities in European football meaning United's financial muscle will be seriously put to the test following the signings of Mason Mount and Andre Onana.

PSG are in continuous dialogue with Hojlund's representatives and sporting director Luis Campos is ready to sanction a big-money transfer this summer.

[express.co.uk]

George Kambosos Jr. vs Maxi Hughes fight breakdown

‘Ferocious’ Kambosos vs ‘Maximus’ Hughes

Exceptionally strong relations have existed between the Commonwealth realms of Australia and the United Kingdom for 250 years, but none of that will matter this weekend as Aussie George Kambosos Jr. and Briton Maxi Hughes clash in an IBF Eliminator in Oklahoma on Saturday, July 21.

The 12-round lightweight contest will be shown live on Sky Sports at 2:30am on Sunday morning for UK fight fans and the rest of the world can watch on ESPN.

Despite their enduring alliance, Australia and England have a fierce sporting rivalry existing in cricket, and now it turns to boxing this weekend in the States, but who will win this intriguing matchup between an aggressive Aussie and a skilled Englishman? Read on the find out…

‘Ferocious’

George Kambosos’ career-best split decision win over Teofimo Lopez in 2021 was voted as ESPN Upset of the Year. With that shock win, he scooped up three world titles including the Ring Magazine belt. He began 2022 as king of the lightweights, a division that includes the likes of Devin Haney, the aforementioned Lopez, Vasily Lomachencko, Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia and Isaac Cruz.

‘Ferocious’ is aggressive and vicious. He holds his hands down low and his punches are explosive as he leaps into them when throwing. The overhand right he put Lopez down with is his favourite shot and landed it multiple times in their fight.

He utilises his quick jab a lot and doubles and triples it up. It’s an effective tool for him to set up bigger shots, he follows his jabs up with straight and overhand rights, uppercuts and even left hooks. Everything comes off that jab at high speed. He distracts you with that lead hand to land the bigger backhand, all in the same move.

He is light on his feet, because he has to be, as he doesn’t have a high guard to protect himself. He has a glimpse of that Mayweather style of holding the left arm in a sling and the right tucked in the chest in that kind of Philly Shell stance. He moves his head quickly and often employs the pull back-counter.

Against Devin Haney, who he was decisioned twice by last year, he was bettered by the skill, speed and accuracy of the undisputed lightweight champion. The first fight was competitive, GK managed to win at least four rounds, but the rematch saw Haney almost play with the Aussie, having already downloaded all the data he needed during the first fight to only give away one or two rounds.

He fought three unified world championship contests within 11 months, but now he’s back in the ring after a bit of a break, nine months on.

‘Maximus’

Hughes has fought at least twice per year for the last four years. He routinely fought every six months, with fights in March and September in 2021 and 2022. This time though, he has been out the ring for 10 months, but he has had 15 months away before and managed to come straight back with a win.

The southpaw is a tricky, schooled boxer, with a tight guard, good movement, and all-round neat and tidy boxing skills.

He doesn’t possess a great deal of power, with only one knockout from his last seven wins. Those seven victories were all very respectable, including Jono Carroll, Viktor Kotochigov, Ryan Walsh and Kid Galahad. He collected WBC International, British and IBO World titles over the course of his previous five fights.

He is ranked in the top 15 with the WBC and IBF, and holds the IBO World lightweight title, but he hasn’t been a lineal and unified WBA ‘Super’, IBF, WBO World champion like Kambosos has.

However, the 33-year-old is enjoying an Indian summer in his career after all seemed lost after his British title knockout defeat to Sam Bowen in 2018. But the determined contender didn’t give up, instead he teamed up with trainer Sean O’Hagan and got back to winning ways, which has led him right here to the biggest fight of his career.

Betting Odds

Hughes is the underdog at 11/4 and Kambosos is favourite to win with odds of 3/10. A draw at 16/1 odds is fairly low, so it appears some are left unsure as to who comes out on top in this intriguing contest.

For more odds and betting tips visit these top bettings sites in Australia.

Predictions

Kambosos has had that experience at the very top of the world stage. He has gone up against elite fighters in Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney.

Hughes cannot claim to have experienced that highest echelon and will be up against the hardest opponent of his career so far.

Well-rounded Hughes will make life difficult for Kambosos, I have no doubt, but I envisage the Australian being better in nearly every department, maybe not in defence though.

Kambosos will be on the front foot while Hughes will be moving his upper trunk, holding his guard high and pot shotting back, pivoting to his right constantly.

I just feel that the speed and aggression of Kambosos will be the key factor in getting the win. He should be able to land those shots, not all the time, but enough to be able to wear Hughes down and catch him cleanly at times.

Hughes has been stopped twice before, a long time ago now, but I think the speed of the Aussie will create the same result.

Verdict

Kambosos to win via stoppage in rounds 5-8

[britishboxingnews]