SPORTS
Manchester United players have had to resort to wearing replica kits during matches as the approved Adidas clothing is too tight for them.
As a result, the sportswear giants are now scratching their heads trying to find a solution after a number of complaints from Red Devils stars. None of the United players are believed to have worn the official home socks since the second game of the league season back in August.
According to Mail Sport, the tight kits have been an issue for just about every player in the squad, including goalkeeper Andre Onana. The Cameroon international had initially donned the professional shirt, designed to be tighter than the one made for fans, but sources now claim he has opted to change to the looser, replica fit of the supporters shirt.
Onana stuck with the adidas-approved gear until October's 2-1 win away at Sheffield United. From that point onwards, the £47.5million shot-stopper has bid farewell to the old shirt and welcomed a more comfortable new one.
Ironically, a kit-related issue plagued United's goalkeeper last season when David de Gea claimed his kit was too baggy. Alterations have clearly been made without Onana's wider frame in mind and as a result the 27-year-old is suffering.
A plethora of outfield stars have even gone to manager Erik ten Hag with their complaints over the fact that the socks feel too tight on their calves. A number of United players often cut holes in the back of their socks anyway, but Ten Hag's men have opted to wear the fan-issued socks for now ever since August's 2-0 defeat away at Spurs.
Mauricio Pochettino Speaks On His Confidence To Keep The Squad Happy
Adidas are expected to have sorted the problem within the next month. One source told MailSport the German sports titans are planning to make some "light amendments."
Image:
Michael Regan/Getty Images)It is unclear how much of United's poor form can be put down to the kit troubles, with the Red Devils losing five of their opening 10 league games this term. Their last outing came in the form of a humiliating 3-0 defeat on their own patch against local rivals Man City.
[mirror.]
Alex Greenwood will return to Manchester City for more medical checks after sustaining a head injury in England's defeat by Belgium in the Women's Nations League.
The defender was treated for almost 12 minutes on the pitch after clashing heads with Belgium forward Jassina Blom in Leuven on Tuesday.
She was then taken off on a stretcher but was later seen walking around.
City said Greenwood had "been carefully monitored" since the incident.
They added that the 30-year-old centre-back, who was replaced by Chelsea's Jess Carter, "is alert and well and will return home later on Wednesday ahead of a review with our medical team".
"It was not nice to see her in pain," Lucy Bronze said after the 3-2 loss.
England full-back Bronze told ITV4: "Obviously when it's a head injury, it's something you can't take lightly. The medical team were superb on the pitch, making sure she was safe, so I just wish her a good recovery."
There was concern from team-mates who stood around Greenwood offering support as she received treatment from the medical staff and took on oxygen.
Blom also received treatment on the pitch and her head was bandaged up before she was allowed to continue playing.
At full-time Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman confirmed Greenwood was "conscious and talking" before adding "she's all right - when she's walking, she's all right".
[BBC]
Nigeria’s top-ranked squash players in the men’s and women’s categories Onaopemipo Adegoke and Rofiat Abudulazeez qualified for the third round of the ongoing Prime Atlantic Squash Open, National Daily Newspaper reports.
The second edition of the Prime Atlantic Squash Open – a four-day event, served off at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Surulere, Lagos Tuesday.
Adegoke, who is the defending champion in the men’s category, walked over Matthew Jimoh just as Gbenga Olowoyo advanced to the next round in the absence of his opponent, Femi Shedara.
In other men’s results, Ismail Abubakar defeated Abdulraheem Durosilorun in three straight sets 11-6, 11-6, 11-2.
In the women’s second round, Abudulazeez, Abdulraheem Khadija, Mistura Durosilorun, Blessings Isaac, Riskat Ahmed, Jadesola Olatunji, Grace Okon Udeme James, Awawu Balogun, Ruth Okoro Rebecca Auta and Ibukunoluwa Ajani all qualified for the third round.
Speaking with newsmen after the first round of matches, tournament director, Wasiu Sanni expressed delight at the level of competitiveness of the players.
“The first edition was very impressive and we had Adegoke emerge as champion.
“This edition is more elaborate and that’s why we believe it is going to me more competitive,” Sanni said.
“The quality of performance on display from these players has been terrific and aside that we hope to use tournaments like these to catch them young for the future.
“Now that squash is now an Olympic sport, we hope to nurture them so we can have good representatives for Nigeria in 2028.”
Nigeria’s No.5 in the women’s category, Durosilorun also remained confident of reaching the rounds of 32 when day two of the event serves off on Wednesday (today), National Daily Newspaper gathered.
[NationalDaily]
Former Tottenham Hotspur attacker Darren Bent has insisted that Manchester United would have ‘no chance’ of bringing in Aston Villa manager Unai Emery to replace Erik ten Hag as the club’s new manager.
Ten Hag is under significant pressure at Man United following a slow start to the 2023-2024 campaign.
His team currently sit in the eighth position on the Premier League table after their recent derby defeat to Manchester City.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, are flying under Emery and are fifth in the Premier League, just four points behind leaders Tottenham Hotspur.
When asked if Emery could be tempted to swap Aston Villa for United, Bent told talkSPORT: “He wouldn’t leave Aston Villa now. He wouldn’t.
“Not with that mess that’s going on [at Man United]. He is not leaving. No chance. At the minute, he’s at a stable football club who are going in the right direction.
“I don’t know what’s going on at Man Utd. Listen, Man United are a bigger club, I have no doubts about that, but right now Aston Villa are in a more stable position and look better than Man United.”
He added, “Do you think Eddie Howe would leave Newcastle to go to Man Utd? Absolutely not.”
[DailyPost]
Super Eagles and Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen, has been nominated for the 2023 CAF Men Player of the Year award.
The 24-year-old was instrumental to Napoli’s success last season, as the club won Serie A for the first time in 33 years. Osimhen also won the Golden Boot, scoring 26 goals and becoming the highest-scoring African in the league. He was also named the best striker in the league.
At the 2023 Ballon d’Or award held on Monday, Osimhen ranked 8th on the men’s list, thus becoming the highest-ranked Nigerian player ever.
Also on the list is current holder, Sadio Mane, and Liverpool Forward, Mohamed Salah.
The Awards Gala is scheduled for December 11, 2023, in Marrakech, Morocco.
See Full List
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria and SSC Napoli)
Ramy Bensebaini (Algeria and Borussia Dortmund)
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria and Al Ahli)
Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso and Bayer Leverkusen)
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon and SSC Napoli)
Vincent Aboubacar (Cameroon and Besiktas)
Ibrahima Sangare (Cote d’Ivoire and Nottingham Forest)
Seko Fofana (Cote d’Ivoire and Al Nassr)
Chancel Mbemba (DR Congo and Olympique Marseille)
Fiston Mayele (DR Congo and Pyramids)
Mahmoud Abdel Moneim “Kahraba” (Egypt and Ahly)
Mohamed Abdelmonem (Egypt and Al Ahly)
Mohamed ElShenawy (Egypt and Al Ahly)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt and Liverpool)
Mohammed Kudus (Ghana and West Ham United)
Thomas Partey (Ghana and Arsenal)
Serhou Guirassy (Guinea and VfB Stuttgart)
Yves Bissouma (Mali and Tottenham Hotspur)
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain)
Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco and Olympique Marseille)
Hakim Ziyech (Morocco and Galatasaray)
Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco and Manchester United)
Yahya Jabrane (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)
Yassine Bounou (Morocco and Al Hilal)
Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco and Sevilla)
Peter Shalulile (Namibia and Mamelodi Sundowns)
Sadio Mane (Senegal and Al Nassr)
Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal and Tottenham Hotspur)
Percy Tau (South Africa and Al Ahly)
Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Tunisia and Ferencvaros)
[Vanguard]
The organisers of the annual ‘Warri Again Concert’, Brownhill Investments Company Limited, have dragged David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, to court, demanding N2.3 billion, over an alleged breach of agreement/contract entered into between them.
Naija News reports that Brownhill Investments Company Limited, owned by a former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, filed the suit marked EHC/183/2023 before the Delta State High Court in Effurun.
The claimant, through its lawyer, Kelechi Onwuegbuchulem, is asking the court to award N2 billion as general damages against Davido and his his music label, Davido Music Worldwide Limited.
The organisers also asked the court to award against Davido the sum of N150 million as legal and professional fees and an additional sum of N30 million as the cost of filing the suit.
It also wants the court to order the singer “to tender a public apology on all the 1st defendant’s social media accounts/handles and in two national daily newspapers for four consecutive days, to the claimant and attendees.”
In its statement of claim, the claimant stated that sometime in early 2023, Davido approached Pinnick, when they met at the Abuja Airport and asked to be engaged for the 19th edition of the ‘Warri Again Concert’ event to be held on October 6, 2023.
The claimant said Pinnick was hesitant to grant the request, he eventually did and they agreed on N70 million as Davido’s performance fee.
It said that thereafter, the sum of US$94,500.00 (an equivalent of N70m) was paid on April 6, 2023, and the same was duly acknowledged by the defendants.
It said after the payment, Davido did a promotional video ahead of the event but he eventually failed to show up on the day of the event.
The claimant stated that it expended humongous resources on print and social media adverts and promotions for the event, adding that on September 29, 2023, precisely a week before the slated date of the event, a formal letter of reminder was sent to the Davido in respect of the event, which contained flight itinerary of the private jet chartered to personally convey him and his team to and from Warri, Delta State for the event, thereby incurring additional expenses of $18,000.
It stated, however, that all attempts to reach Davido and his team on the day of the event, October 6, 2023, were futile, adding that it kept the private jet chartered to convey Davido and his team to Warri at the Airport in Lagos on standby should they eventually show up.
Consequently, Pinnick’s company is asking for the payment of $94,500 as full payment for engaging the services of Davido.
Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi has confirmed his plan to return to Barcelona.
The 36-year-old admitted that his departure from the Nou Camp in 2021 left a “bitter taste”.
Messi bid farewell to Barca as their financial struggles made it impossible for the club to fund a contract extension.
He joined Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent and when presented a chance to rejoin the Catalans this summer, he opted to sign for Inter Miami.
Messi has not had the chance to bid a proper farewell to Barcelona fans and he has now confirmed his intention to fix that situation after winning his record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or in Paris on Monday evening.
“There was a bitter taste when I left and I don’t like that. I’d like to change the way the story ended.
“I deserve to say goodbye to the people that gave me so much joy. If it happens I’ll be very happy to be there of course,” he told reporters.
The world football governing body, FIFA, has slammed a three-year ban on former president of the Spanish Football Association, Luis Rubiales on Monday, October 30.
This means that Luis Rubiales who has been wrapped in legal battles after planting a kiss on the lips of Spanish forward, Jenni Hermoso following Spain’s triumph over England in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, no longer has the right to participate in any form of professional football for three years.
Initially, the world football governing body, temporarily banned him from football for 90 days before he reigned as Spanish FA president in September.
After carrying out disciplinary procedures on Luis Rubiales, FIFA found the 46-year-old Spanish football administrator guilty of breaking Article 13 of its disciplinary code.
While Rubiales maintained that the kiss he planted on the female footballer’s lips during the 2023 Women’s World Cup medal presentation ceremony was “mutual” and “consensual”, Hermoso claimed the kiss was not consensual and filed a lawsuit which has been upgraded to a criminal suit.
While confirming Rubiales’ three-year ban from every football-related activities, FIFA said the case concerned “events that occurred during the Fifa Women’s World Cup final on August 20, 2023, for which Mr. Rubiales had been provisionally suspended for an initial period of 90 days”.
FIFA added: “By the relevant provisions of the Fifa disciplinary code, he has 10 days in which to request a motivated decision, which, if requested, would subsequently be published on legal.fifa.com. The decision remains subject to a possible appeal before the Fifa appeal committee.
“Fifa reiterates its absolute commitment to respecting and protecting the integrity of all people and ensuring that the basic rules of decent conduct are upheld.”
Even though Luis Rubiales has been banned by FIFA, the criminal suit against him in connection with the kissing scandal which has been filed in a national court in Madrid will continue.
During the hearing in September, the court ordered him not to go 200 meters close to Hermoso.
Nigerian talismanic striker, Victor Osimhen has insisted that he is contented at Italian Serie A club, Napoli, despite all the uncertainty concerning his future.
Recall that Victor Osimhen finished last season as Serie A’s top scorer after recording 26 goals which helped Napoli to win the Serie A title for the first time in 33 years.
Due to his prolific performance last season, Osimhen was reportedly on the wish lists of Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, and Chelsea.
However, the clubs couldn’t do much as Aurelio de Laurentiis, the president of Napoli, insisted on receiving more than £100 million in exchange for the Nigerian international.
While the interested parties moved on to other targets, Osimhen stayed in Naples and started the 2023–2024 season with a respectable six goals and one assist from ten games.
As the 24-year-old approaches the final two years of his contract with Napoli, amid trouble in coming to an agreement with the club regarding a contract renewal, his long-term future is still far from certain.
Additionally, Osimhen was the subject of two odd Napoli TikTok videos that appeared to mock the striker. The club reportedly issued a private apology to the player after the striker’s agent threatened to sue the team over the incident.
On the other hand, Napoli’s president had made hints that Osimhen would be sold in 2024 if he did not agree to a new deal. It was reported that this had put Chelsea and Liverpool, who are reportedly in the lead to sign Osimhen, on red alert.
However, Victor Osimhen insisted in a recent Twitch interview with Mario Balotelli and Emiliano Viviano that he is “happy at Napoli”.
He added: “People don’t know how difficult it is to play in Serie A. From a tactical and physical point of view, it’s one of the most difficult leagues to play in.”
The Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) giants which are the Niger Tornadoes, will be looking for their first away victory of the season as they host their Chief-rivals, the Sporting Lagos FC, on Sunday (today).
The match is scheduled for Sunday, October 29, 2023, at the Onikan Arena in Lagos. The Sporting Lagos has already earlier lost their last two away games against the Abia Warriors (2-0) and the Rangers (2-0).
Sporting has not won in three matches played so far in the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL). The Niger Tornadoes will be hoping to capitalise on their strong performance at home last week to pick up maximum points.
This will be the first time the two teams will face each other in the NPFL, with the Tornadoes currently in seventh position and the Sporting Lagos team in 12th position respectively.
[https://news.ng/]
More...
THE General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation Dr Mohammed Sanusi has told the Super Falcons they cannot afford to miss out on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The nine-time African champions have not qualified for the women’s football event of the Games since 2008, and they face Ethiopia in Abuja on Tuesday as they seek to return to the global competition.
The first leg of the qualifying tie ended 1-1 in Addis Ababa last Wednesday, with Rasheedat Ajibade equalising for the Super Falcons after the hosts had taken a shock lead.
Sanusi, who watched the Super Falcons train at the Turf Arena in Abuja ahead of the return leg, reminded the African queens that they are an elite team that should be at the biggest events.
“The whole world still talks about how you captivated everyone at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand during the summer,” Sanusi told the players yesterday.
“The Government of Nigeria, the NFF and all stakeholders remain very proud of you. The NFF loves you and is happy with your outing and general conduct at the World Cup, on and off the field of play.
“Now, it is time to destroy this vexed issue of Olympics jinx. The last time you attended the Olympics was in 2008, in China. That was a long time ago. Missing three consecutive tournaments is enough; we have to take our place in Paris.
“I am happy with your game in Addis Ababa and I know you have the capacity to finish off the job here in Abuja on Tuesday.”
The Super Falcons trained at the Turf Arena on Friday and yesterday before moving to the MKO Abiola National Stadium today.
Tomorrow, both the Super Falcons and Ethiopia will have their official training sessions on the turf of the MKO Abiola National Stadium match venue.
The winners of the tie on aggregate will take on the winners of the Cameroon vs Uganda fixture in the third round of the qualifying series.
Uganda, who narrowly eliminated Rwanda in the first round, defeated the Indomitable Lionesses 2-0 in the first leg in Kampala on Thursday.
[NaijaTImes]
SOUTH AFRICA secured a hard-fought 12-11 victory over New Zealand last night to clinch a record fourth Rugby World Cup title in France.
Handre Pollard kicked four penalties to help the Springboks to the historic success against their bitter rivals at a rain-soaked Stade de France in Paris.
It was a nerve-wracking, edgy battle where defence ruled and the All Blacks lost captain Sam Cane to a first-half red card for a high tackle.
But South Africa prevailed to win a third successive knockout match in this tournament by a point and add to their titles in 1995, 2007 and 2019.
“The last three games have been quite tough, each one we have played has been a final and each one we have won by one point,” player of the match Pieter-Steph du Toit said in his post-match interview.
“As a team we like drama. It has helped us through the last few years, it shows the resilience of this team.
“We are honoured to play for the whole of South Africa and the Springboks. When we go back home it will be a warm welcome for us.”
The game drew a number of high-profile stars from other sports, including tennis stars Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic among the 80,000 spectators, and South Africa captain Siya Kolisi described how much this triumph meant to his people back home.
“Honestly, people who are not from South Africa don’t understand what this means for our country,” he said.
“It’s not just about the game on the field. Our country goes through such a lot. We are the hope they have.”
[NaijaTimes]
Jude Bellingham’s stunning double snatched Real Madrid a 2-1 comeback victory at Barcelona in his first La Liga Clasico on Saturday.
The England international, who has started his Madrid career in remarkable goalscoring form, unleashed a rocket into the top corner from distance after Ilkay Gundogan had sent hosts Barcelona ahead at the Olympic Stadium.
Bellingham then fired home a second in stoppage time to silence Barcelona fans and reach 10 goals in the top flight this season.
Barcelona hit the woodwork twice and had the better of the game but Bellingham, La Liga’s top goalscorer, is in unstoppable form and inevitably made his mark in his first Clasico.
Bellingham’s brace sent Madrid to the top of La Liga, ahead of Girona on goal difference, with both teams four points ahead of Barcelona in third.
The Catalans were boosted by the returns of Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde and Raphinha from injury, with Xavi naming them on the bench, but Frenkie de Jong and Pedri did not recover in time.
His counterpart Carlo Ancelotti selected Ferland Mendy at left back over Eduardo Camavinga and Fran Garcia, once again deploying Bellingham in the number 10 role as he got his first taste of arguably the world’s biggest club football match.
However it was another midfielder playing for the first time in the Clasico who broke the deadlock — Barcelona’s summer arrival Gundogan.
The former Manchester City man was sharpest when Aurelien Tchouameni intercepted Ferran Torres’ pass, diverting it back into his own area.
Centre-back David Alaba tried to clear but was thoroughly unconvincing and Gundogan read his intentions, hopped onto the ball and swept past Kepa Arrizabalaga in the sixth minute.
– Post denies Barca –
Fermin Lopez, one of the emerging young Barcelona La Masia academy products who has broken into the first team, slapped a shot against the post after the intense Gavi pressed high to win the ball back.
Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger hammered wide from nearly 40 yards out as Madrid were held off by the hosts, with winger Vinicius Junior getting into tangles with Gavi and Ronald Araujo, deployed at right-back to try and shackle him.
Gavi, Gundogan and Lopez controlled the midfield, with Joao Cancelo’s more advanced position allowing Barcelona additional defensive security.
Barcelona struck the woodwork again when Inigo Martinez headed Lopez’s inch-perfect cross against the post early in the second half, with Arrizabalaga thwarting Araujo on the follow-up.
Madrid were reduced to long-range efforts but eventually one ripped into the net to level the score, with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen saved a Tchouameni piledriver but he could not keep out Bellingham’s blast, pulling Madrid level in a game they had struggled to find a foothold in.
With the game heading towards an unsatisfying draw for both sides, Bellingham intervened decisively — in the right place at the right time to shoot through Ter Stegen’s legs after Luka Modric diverted Dani Carvajal’s cross into his path.
[OpinionNigeria]
World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury beat mixed martial arts fighter Francis Ngannou in a split decision after their boxing bout went the distance in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
Ngannou knocked Fury down in round three but the 35-year-old British fighter, though shaken, was able to continue.
The undefeated Fury earlier this week laughed off his opponent as a “big fat sausage” but afterwards acknowledged that the 37-year-old Cameroonian had effectively kept him off-balance.
“He’s a very awkward man, and he’s a good puncher and I respect him a lot,” Fury said of Ngannou, adding that it was “probably one of the toughest” fights he has had in a decade.
Fury was the overwhelming favourite against boxing novice Ngannou.
“This was my first boxing match, great experience –- I’m not giving any excuse,” Ngannou said in a ringside interview.
“I know I come up short, I’m going to come back and work harder… now I know I can do this.”
Fury’s WBC heavyweight belt was not on the line in the “Battle of the Baddest” in the Saudi capital Riyadh, but Saudi officials nevertheless hoped it would further boost the Gulf kingdom’s reputation as a top-flight boxing destination.
With all parties desperate to lend the contest some sporting legitimacy, the WBC had fashioned a “Riyadh Champion” belt to allow the winner to strut around the ring at the end with something other than a big, fat pay cheque.
Fury has been linked with a £50 million ($60.6 million) payout from Sunday’s exhibition bout, while he has said in the British press that Ngannou will earn £10 million.
[Vanguard]