Category: Sports

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 says the 2020 National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Edo State has been postponed to 2021. At a briefing  on Monday in Abuja, PTF Chairman and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF),  Mr Boss Mustapha, said the postponement was to allow proper measures to be put in place. Mustapha said that with more than 12,000 participants expected at the event, there was need for the adjustment. “Over the past weeks, discussions have been held about safety issues pertaining to the National…

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As Diego Simeone keeps celebrating Atletico Madrid victories, Zinedine Zidane continues to look for answers to Real Madrid’s struggles. Atletico defeated Valencia 1-0 for a sixth win in a row in the Spanish league on Saturday, while Madrid lost to Alaves 2-1 at home for its third straight setback, dropping six points behind the city rival and having played one extra game. ”I don’t have an explanation,” Zidane said. ”We haven’t been consistent. We need to change this dynamic.” Lucas Perez scored in the first half and Joselu in the…

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The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, says the country’s new Sports Industry Policy will serve as catalyst for transforming sports into a big business sector when operational. The minister said this in Abuja at a seminar organised by the Federal Capital Territory chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN). Dare, who decried the lack of funds to properly run the over 36 sports federations and facilities in the country, stressed the need for private sector involvement. “We cannot continue to rely on budgetary allocation to run…

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……..As Argentina Football Legend Dies Aged 60 Football legend Diego Maradona, one of the greatest players of all time, has died at the age of 60. The former Argentina attacking midfielder and manager suffered a heart attack at his Buenos Aires home. He had successful surgery on a brain blood clot earlier in November and was to be treated for alcohol dependency. Maradona was captain when Argentina won the 1986 World Cup, scoring the famous ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in the quarter-finals. Argentina and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi…

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The head of African soccer, Ahmad Ahmad, has been banned from soccer for five years by FIFA following an ethics investigation by world soccer’s governing body. Ahmad, who is president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), had intended to stand in an election in March in which he would have faced a number of challengers. FIFA said in a statement the independent Ethics Committee has found Ahmad guilty of offering and accepting gifts and other benefits, and misappropriation of funds. FIFA had “sanctioned him with a ban from all…

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Liverpool FC moved level on points with Premier League leaders Tottenham Hotspur and thwarted Leicester City’s hopes of going top with an outstanding performance and victory at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp’s side remain behind Spurs on goal difference but the manner of the win sounded an ominous warning to those hoping to wrest the title away from the champions. Liverpool also established a new club record of 64 home league games unbeaten, breaking their previous best run, which was set between February 1978 and January 1981 and itself ended by Leicester.…

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Nineteen female referees from Africa have been selected to participate in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, to be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand, during a reserved period in the FIFA Women’s International Match Calendar between 10 July and 20 August 2023. The candidates will join the “Road to AUS/NZL” project, a programme which will determine the best to operate during the upcoming competition. They come from 15 CAF Member Associations and their names are as follows – Referees Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda), Lidya Tafesse Abebe (Ethiopia), Maria…

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………Egypt Beat Togo To Go Top Tunisia and Mali have joined 2019 finalists Senegal, holders Algeria as well as hosts Cameroon as the qualified teams for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). This was after both picked favourable results in match day four games. Tunisia progressed in spite of a 1-1 draw with Tanzania in Dar es Salaam, while Mali went through after a 2-1 victory away to Namibia. In Tanzania, the Carthage Eagles moved to 10 points on top of Group J after four matches and preserved their…

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The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone came back from 4-0 down to hold the Super Eagles of Nigeria to a shocking 4-4 draw in Friday’s Group L 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Benin City. The Eagles looked to be cruising in the first half thanks to a brace from Alex Iwobi and goals from Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen before the visitors started the fightback. The Eagles got off to a very good start in the 5th minute as Iwobi pounced on a loose ball to score…

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Several Super Eagles players on Wednesday in Benin expressed determination to secure the maximum points in their Match Day 3 fixture in the 2021 AFCON Qualifiers. The Super Eagles, Nigeria’s male senior football team, are up against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in Benin on Friday. The players told newsmen after their training session on Wednesday night at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium that they were focused in their desire to defeat their opponents. Italy-based Victor Osimhen, while noting that he was happy to be back to the team, said:…

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