SPORTS
A series of Nigerian football icons including Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, and John Mikel Obi were left out of the 25 greatest African athletes of the 21st century list.
In the 25 greatest African athletes of the 21st century list released by American publication, ESPN, Ethiopia’s long-distance runner, Kenenisa Bekele is said to be the greatest athlete the continent has ever seen from the year 2000 to date, followed by a Kenya distance runner, Eliud Kipchoge.
Cameroonian football icon, Samuel Eto’o is the first footballer to appear on the list as he occupies the third spot, followed by a swimmer from Zimbabwe, Kirsty Coventry, and Ethiopian female distance runner, Tirunesh Dibaba.
Surprisingly, only five Nigerian athletes made it into the 25 greatest African athletes of the 21st century list. They are: Asisat Oshoala who is ranked 9th on the list, Israel Adesanya ranked 15, and Perpetua Nkwocha ranked 20th.
Other Nigerians on the list are: Former UFC Welterweight Champion, Kamaru Usman ranked 23rd, and New York Giants legend Osi Umenyiora ranked 24th.
To the surprise of many, in the list in which Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba, and even Perpetual found a spot, Kanu and Obi who won everything the aforementioned players won and more, weren’t included.
Kanu won league titles in Nigeria, Netherlands (multiple times), and of course at Arsenal (twice). He also won the Champions League once with Ajax and played in the final twice. To crown it all, he won Africa its first gold in football at the Olympics (1966). Yet, he wasn’t deemed fit for a place on the list.
The same argument can be applied to Mikel Obi who also won virtually everything in both club and international football. He even won a bronze medal at the Olympics, a title other footballers who made the list can’t boast of.
Based on the key factors that were used to compile the list which includes the performance of the athletes and the number of major titles won since 2000, it is understandable that the highly skilful Jay Jay Okocha didn’t make the list but can the same be said about the exclusion of Kanu Nwankwo and John Mikel Obi?
![[Full list] Pre-Season: Ten Hag names Man Utd’s squad to clash with Rangers](/media/k2/items/cache/6f5fd9dabf1d9aaa5020ca99679d8bdf_L.jpg)
Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag has named a 26-man squad to face Rangers in today’s pre-season friendly tie.
Ten Hag included the likes of Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Andre Onana in his squad to face Rangers at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium.
This clash is Man United’s second of the pre-season campaign following Monday’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Rosenborg in Norway.
Man United’s squad against Rangers:
GOALKEEPERS:
Dermot Mee
Andre Onana
Radek Vitek
DEFENDERS:
Sonny Aljofree
Harry Amass
Rhys Bennett
Jonny Evans
Will Fish
Louis Jackson
Sam Murray
Habeeb Ogunneye
Maximillian Oyedele
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Leny Yoro
MIDFIELDERS:
Casemiro
Toby Collyer
Jack Fletcher
Hannibal
Samuel Mather
Mason Mount
James Scanlon
FORWARDS:
Amad
Ethan Ennis
Joe Hugill
Jadon Sancho
Ethan Wheatley
[DailyPost]
Teenage gymnast Shoko Miyata has been pulled from Japan’s team for the Paris Olympics after being caught smoking and drinking, officials said Friday.
The 19-year-old, a world bronze medallist and captain of Japan’s women’s gymnastics team for the Games, was sent home from their training camp in Monaco and admitted she had violated their code of conduct.
“With her confirmation and after discussions on all sides, it has been decided that she will withdraw from the Olympics,” Japan Gymnastics Association (JGA) secretary general Kenji Nishimura told reporters in Tokyo.
Nishimura said the association had been told that Miyata was seen smoking in a private setting in Tokyo some time at the end of June or beginning of July.
She also reportedly drank alcohol in a room at Japan’s national training centre.
Smoking and drinking are both illegal under the age of 20 in Japan.
Nishimura said it was not clear whether Miyata was at a party or drinking alone.
“Being a member of the Japan national gymnastics team is a position where you have high demands on you all the time,” said JGA chairman Tadashi Fujita.
Fujita said that Miyata was already back in Japan after leaving the team’s camp and that the JGA would give her support.
Nishimura said she had “looked exhausted” at the camp in Monaco.
“She understands the importance of the rules and she looked sincere in facing up to her behaviour,” he said.
“It has been tough for her but she has talked openly and honestly about it.”
Miyata won bronze in the balance beam at the 2022 world championships in Liverpool.
She won the all-around title at Japan’s national championships earlier this year.
The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics will be held from July 26 to August 11, 2024, PUNCH Online reports
AFP
Highly-rated former UFC welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman has opened up on his retirement plans after losing his last three bouts.
Usman has been struggling for form and consistency. He has been out of action since losing to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in 2023.
He has, however, expressed his desire to return to the welterweight division, but open to opportunities in the middleweight division.
Usman said: “It’s an interesting sport. I’ve never been in a sport like this. For me, I made my career being a welterweight…. But, for the right fight, the middleweight makes sense,
He admitted that he is edging towards the end of his career and he wants to finish strongly.
He said, ” know I’m at the tail end, let me finish the career the right way and then decide what else I want to do. So, I’m just getting healthy right now… Oh yes, (I’ll face one of them next).”
The 37-year-old made his UFC debut in 2015 and went on to win his first nine bouts in the promotion and a welterweight title against Tyron Woodley in 2019.
He defeated numerous high-profile fighters like Colby Covington, Jorge Masvidal, and Gilbert Burns to defend his title.
The Nigerian nightmare’s reign ended in 2022 when he suffered a knockout loss to Leon Edwards.
He also lost the rematch against the same opponent in 2023 before suffering another loss in his debut in the middleweight category against Chimaev.
Usman holds the record for most wins in UFC welterweight history and has established himself as one of the best fighters of his generation
He became the NCAA Division II national champion at 174 pounds in 2010, finishing the season with a 44–1 record and 30 straight wins.
Former president, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Melvin Pinnick has revealed his preference for expatriate coaches.
Pinnick appointed Franco-German, Gernot Rohr to manage the Super Eagles for the majority of his reign in charge of the Super Eagles.
American tactician, Randy Waldrum also took charge of the country’s women’s national team, Super Falcons.
Pinnick, who is currently a FIFA council member, said his reason for being averse to indigenous coaches stemmed from lack of respect for them by the players.
“Yes, the Nigerian coaches have the requisite knowledge and the technical ability, but modern football is beyond that in managing players.
“Will the national team players respect the coach? The sad thing is that they don’t,” he said in an interview on Arise TV.
The NFF is still hunting for a foreign coach to tinker with the Super Eagles.
[DailyPost]
French Ligue 1 giants, Paris Saint Germain, are in the pole position to sign Super Eagles of Nigeria striker, Victor Osimhen, in this summer transfer window.
The future of Victor Osimhen has been uncertain since last December following his contract extension with Napoli which comes with an agreement that the Nigeria international is free to leave if a suitor pays his release clause.
Osimhen’s release clause in the contract which will expire on June 30, 2026, is said to be worth around €130 million. The said amount has scared most of his suitors away including Chelsea who initially looked like the favourites to sign him.
Even Arsenal and Manchester United who were reportedly ready for a player and cash swap deal with Napoli are yet to submit any concrete deal for the 25-year-old forward.
A post by transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano on his X page earlier today, July 17, confirmed that PSG and Napoli are in advanced talks over the future of Victor Osimhen.
If the ongoing talks are a success, Osimhen will become a direct replacement for French forward, Kylian Mbappe, who left the Parc des Princes for Real Madrid on free this summer.
The transfer expert wrote: “Paris Saint-Germain are advancing in talks with Victor Osimhen’s camp as their interest is now getting concrete.
“Osimhen is keen on joining PSG and open to the move if they can agree on a deal/fee with Napoli.
“He’d be very high on PSG’s list if one centre striker left.”
Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, a former NBA player and father of Basketball Hall of Fame guard Kobe Bryant, has died at the age of 69, La Salle University announced on Tuesday.
Bryant played at the Philadelphia school from 1973-1975 and coached the Explorers from 1993-96 after a career that saw him play from 1975-1983 for the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, then-San Diego Clippers and Houston Rockets as well as in Europe.
“We are saddened to announce the passing of La Salle basketball great Joe Bryant,” the school said in a statement. “He was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed.”
Bryant, a forward, played in Italy from 1983 to 1991 before closing his playing days with French side Mulhouse in 1991.
For his NBA career, Bryant averaged 8.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists a game.
As a head coach, Joe Bryant went 40-24 over parts of three seasons with the Women’s NBA Los Angeles Sparks. He also coached in Asia on clubs in Tokyo, Hokkaido, Bangkok and Fukuoka.
Kobe Bryant, born while his father was playing for the 76ers, was a five-time NBA champion, two-time Olympic gold medal winner and the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player who spent his entire NBA career from 1996-2016 with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Lakers legend Bryant, an 18-time NBA All-Star guard, was killed in a 2020 helicopter crash at age 41.
A new set of champions have been crowned at Wimbledon 2024, here’s the full list of winners including Carlos Alcaraz and Great Britain’s Henry Patten.
Alcaraz successfully defined his Wimbledon title in the men’s singles with a dominant 6-2 6-2 7-6 victory over Novak Djokovic.
Barbora Krejcikova made history for the Czech Republic over in the women’s singles as she conjured up a 6-2 2-6 6-4 win over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini.
Meanwhile, there were British champions in the men’s doubles, wheelchair singles and wheelchair doubles thanks to Patten, Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid.
Who won the Wimbledon titles this year? Full list of winners from 2024
Alcaraz and Krejcikova became champions in the men’s singles and women’s singles respectively, pocketing £2.7m in prize money each.
British tennis player Patten, meanwhile, teamed up with Finland’s Harri Heliovaara and they landed the men’s doubles title after a remarkable final on Centre Court.
Patten, 28, and Heliovaara, 35, won 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (10-8) 7-6 (11-9) against Australian 15th-seeds Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson, saving three Championship points on their way to victory.
It secured a British winner in the men’s doubles for the second straight year after Neal Skupski paired up with Dutchman Wesley Koolhof to land the 2023 title.
Fellow Brit Hewett, meanwhile, clinched both the wheelchair singles and doubles titles in what he described as ‘the best day’ of his life.
Wimbledon 2024 winners
- Men’s singles – Carlos Alcaraz
- Women’s singles – Barbora Krejcikova
- Men’s doubles – Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara
- Women’s doubles – Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova
- Mixed doubles – Hsieh Su-Wei and Jan Zielinski
- Wheelchair men’s singles – Alfie Hewett
- Wheelchair women’s singles – Diede de Groot
- Wheelchair quad singles – Niels Vink
- Wheelchair men’s doubles – Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid
- Wheelchair women’s doubles – Yui Kamiji and Kgothatso Montjane
- Wheelchair quad doubles – Niels Vink and Sam Schroder
- Boys’ singles – Nicolai Budkov Kjær
- Girls’ singles – Renáta Jamrichová
- Boys’ doubles – Alexander Razeghi and Max Schönhaus
- Girls’ doubles – Tyra Caterina Grant and Iva Jovic
- Boys’ U14 singles – Takahiro Kawaguchi
- Girls’ U14 singles – Jana Kovačková
- Gentlemen’s invitation doubles – Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan
- Ladies’ invitation doubles – Kim Clijsters and Martina Hingis
- Mixed invitation doubles – Mark Woodforde and Dominika Cibulková
He defeated Spain’s Martin de la Puente 6-2 6-3 before partnering up with Reid to beat Japanese duo Takuya Miki and Tokito Oda 6-4 7-6 (7-2).
Elsewhere in SW19, Hsieh Su-Wei and Jan Zielinski won the mixed doubles title with a 6-4 6-2 victory over Santiago Gonzalez and Giuliana Olmos.
Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova secured the women’s doubles trophy with their 7-6 7-6 win against Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe.
[Newspot]
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has announced a cash reward of N50 million to Rangers International Football Club of Enugu, winners of the 2023/2024 Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL.
The governor announced this when he treated the Nigerian champions to a state banquet at the Government House, Enugu, during the weekend, thanking them for etching Enugu State on the African and global map.
“We are indeed very proud of you. I cannot tell you enough what this NPFL title that you have brought right here before us represents and means to us.
“Rangers International transcends generations; it is a unifying factor for us. It is not just about winning a trophy or about making us proud. It is putting Enugu State in the hearts and minds of the people of this country and beyond.
“You have made us proud and we will in turn also make you happy. We are going to provide the sum of N50 million to you in addition to other non-cash rewards that will implant you in our state and immortalise you,” he stated.
He further said: “I commend the General Manager, who has guided this team with a deep sense of purpose and also fuelled your optimism, reinforcing the ‘Never Say Die’ spirit that you are all known for. I thank most sincerely the coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, who through his professional ethics and consistency, has continued to do us proud.
“The captain and all the players, you are a true embodiment of the ‘Never-Say-Die’ spirit. The fans are not left out. I also commend the commissioner, who has shown deep commitment to the success of Rangers through his tireless efforts and sacrifice.
“However, recall that I had always said to you that success abhors complacency. We still have quite a huge space in our trophy cabinet.”
So, we still need more. I am sure we are all getting ready for the CAF Champions League and other tournaments.
“Let me assure you that we will never get tired of supporting you. If anything, we are going to double down and reinforce our support.”
The commissioner for Youth and Sport Development, Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu, who hailed Rangers for the successful title chase, thanked the governor for his personal and official support that transformed the club.
Also, the general manager and CEO of Rangers International, Amobi Ezeaku, who went down memory lane, appreciated Governor Mbah for taking Rangers as his special pet project.
“For two years, the club played away from home, but in a twinkle of an eye, the club came back to the Cathedral. That is why 28th December 2023 when we returned to the Cathedral will forever be engraved in the hearts of not just Ndigbo, but all true lovers of Rangers and football.
“Today, we thank you for easing the stress of our trips, for approving for corporate sponsors to get on board, for coming to watch our matches, and for braving the turbulence of the weather on that day to fly to Jos to witness the lifting of this trophy.
“It is also under you that the Rangers jersey is proudly instituted at the FIFA museum in Zürich, Switzerland. It is under you that the Rangers jersey is now known at the headquarters of African Football in the 6th of October City, Giza, Egypt. And as we speak, Rangers have been nominated in many categories by the league bloggers award,” Ezeaku said.
England captain Harry Kane has described it as tough and painful losing the Euro 2024 final to Spain.
Substitute Mikel Oyarzabal scored a dramatic late winner as Spain triumphed in Sunday’s Euro 2024 final, beating England 2-1 to win the Euro championship.
England had come from behind in the 73 minutes through Cole Palmer but their resurgence in the game was cut short as Oyarzabal, the Real Sociedad forward, turned in a cross in the 86th minute to hand Spain a record fourth European Championship crown.
This leaves Kane at the age of 30 still looking for the first trophy of a career so rich in goals.
Speaking after the match, Kane said that his team lacked the momentum to push on after drawing level.
“Losing in a final is as tough as it gets… We done really well to get back in the game at 1-1 and then we couldn’t use our momentum to push on… It’s as painful as it can be in a football match.”
On the future of manager Gareth Southgate who hinted he might step down if England failed to win Euro 2024, Kane said, “Gareth will go away and take time to decide. We wanted to win it for him.”
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Carlos Alcaraz produced a stunning performance to defeat Novak Djokovic 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-4) to win a second consecutive Wimbledon title at Roland Garros on Sunday.
It was also a second consecutive meeting between both players in the final with Alcaraz earning another victory over the veteran Djokovic.
The 37-year-old Djokovic struggled to cope with Alcaraz’s powerful serve as the Spaniard produced one of the best performances of his short career to win the title in style.
Djokovic was aiming to equal Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon men’s titles but he will be disappointed with his performance in the final.
Alcaraz produced late perfect volleys and thunderous forehand winners to stun Djokovic.
He has now won his fourth career Grand Slam after winning the US Open in 2022, Wimbledon in 2023 and French Open and his triumph at Roland Garros in 2024.
He also became the 2nd man in the Open Era to win his first 4 Grand Slam Finals after Roger Federer.
He is just the sixth man to win the French Open and Wimbledon back to back.
Alcaraz described his triumph as a dream come true.
He said, “It is a dream for me, winning this trophy,” said Alcaraz at the trophy ceremony. “In an interview when I was 11 or 12 years old I said my dream was to win Wimbledon, so I am repaying my dream. I want to keep going but it is a great feeling to play in this beautiful court and to lift this amazing trophy. This is the most beautiful tournament, the most beautiful court and most beautiful trophy.”
He is delighted to join the group of players to have won the French Open and the Wimbledon Open in the same year.
“It is a huge honour for me to be part of those players who have achieved Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year. They are huge champions. I don’t consider myself as a champion yet, not like them, but I will keep going to build my path, my journey. It is a huge honour for me.”
Spain earned a late 2-1 win over England to win the 2024 European Championship trophy in Berlin on Sunday night.
The La Furia Roja capped off their impressive performances in the competition with glory after a pulsating encounter.
The first half ended goalless as both sides struggled to get hold of the game before the clash burst into life immediately after the restart.
Lamine Yamal, who had a quiet first half, set up Nico Williams to finish past Jordan Pickford after the England defense suffered lack of concentration in the 47th minute.
The young star became the youngest male footballer to play in a major international tournament final. He surpassed Pele (17 years, 249 days) at the 1958 World Cup.
Substitute Cole Palmer came off the bench to score a brilliant leveller after he was set up by Jude Bellingham.
Another substitute, Mikel Oyarzabal became the hero for Spain with the winning goal in the 86th minute to break England’s heart and set Spain on course for an historic triumph.
Dani Olmo produced a stunning goal line clearance to preserve Spain’s lead as they held on to win their fourth European Championship trophy.
Spain are the first country to win the men’s European Championships four times after their triumph in 1964, 2008, 2012 and 2024.
England’s agonising 58-year trophy drought continues as they switch attention to the 2026 World Cup.
Lamine Yamal was named the young player of the tournament after a return of one goal and four assists, while Rodri was named the player of the tournament.
Meanwhile, A total of six players will share the Golden boot award after they all scored three goals in the competition.
Harry Kane, Spain’s Dani Olmo, Georgia’s Georges Mikautadze, the Netherlands’ Cody Gakpo, Slovakia’s Ivan Schranz and Germany’s Jamal Musiala will share the award.
In the past, UEFA used assists as the tie breaker which could have seen Spain’s Dani Olmo emerge as the top scorer but it was announced at the beginning of the tournament that the award would be decided only on goals.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will have to spend way beyond their means to maintain French tactician, Herve Renard as Super Eagles coach.
Herve Renard made a name for himself in the coaching world when he led two different African countries, Zambia and Ivory Coast to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2012 and 2015 respectively.
The 54-year-old France tactician is currently the head coach of France Women’s national team. He has announced that he would step down from the role after the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Hence, a series of national teams are lining up for his signature including the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Egypt and the United States of America.
A source from the NFF confirmed according to the Vanguard that the football federation has contacted Herve Renard. The source revealed that the Frenchman is demanding $180,000 which is equivalent to 253 million naira. He also demanded other unnamed conditions which were not revealed.
The source was quoted as saying: “Yes, the NFF has made contact with Renard for the Super Eagles job, but the biggest stumbling block is that he is demanding a salary of $180,000 (a month), which in Naira is almost close to 300 Million.
“This will be the highest ever paid to a coach and the NFF just cannot afford this.
“This may well be a wild goose chase.”
Note that the former Super Eagles of Nigeria head coach, Jose Peseiro was initially paid $80,000 per month on the job. This salary was later slashed to $50,000 per month and months of debt at a point.
Reports claimed that Finidi George who resigned from the job in June, barely two months after his appointment, earns just 5 million naira as the coach of the Super Eagles.
Recent reports claimed that the NFF has recommended Herve Renard and two other coaches to be considered for appointment. It is now left to be seen who the federation will settle for.
The Super Eagles’ head coach is expected to be named before August as the national team will begin their 2025 AFCON qualification campaign in September.
Super Falcons of Nigeria midfielder, Jennifer Echegini, has completed her move to the French D1 Arkema side, Paris Saint-Germain women’s club.
Jennifer Echegini started her football development at SCE Nijmegen, a club in her country of birth, the Netherlands.
The 23-year-old midfielder went on to play for Charlton Athletic, Millwall Lionesses, and Arsenal youth club.
Between 2019 and 2023, Echegini played college football in the United States at Mississippi State Bulldogs, and at Florida State Seminoles.
Italian Serie A women’s club, Juventus, gave the midfielder her first professional contract in 2024.
Months later, Juve decided to sell her to Paris Saint Germain women’s club for an undisclosed fee after scoring 10 goals in 16 games for the Italian side.
After completing her move to the French club, Jennifer Echegini said: “I am experiencing a great moment in my career today. Signing for Paris Saint-Germain is a huge source of pride. I am very proud to join a club that is recognized around the world for its ambition and excellence.
“I can’t wait to get started and I can’t wait to give the best of myself to try to win, with my teammates and for the supporters, as many trophies as possible.”
Note that Jennifer Echegini is part of coach Randy Waldrum’s Super Falcons Olympics squad. The Falcons are currently preparing for the tournament in Sevilla, Spain.