Sports Archives | Page 23 of 111

CAF Unveils New Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Trophy

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago03 mins

The Confederation African Football (CAF) has unveiled a new trophy for the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2024, a powerful symbol of the rise and recognition of women’s football across the African continent. Drawing direct inspiration from the iconic Men’s CAF Africa Cup of Nations trophy, the new design represents more than a piece of silverware; it is a celebration of equality, unity, and excellence. The launch of the new trophy forms part of CAF leadership’s goal of developing and growing Women’s Football in Africa and making African Women’s Football amongst the best in the world. The new trophy was celebrated on Wednesday night at an event hosted by CAF and long-term partner, TotalEnergies in Casablanca, Morocco. The trophy’s striking design, features identical petals spiralling upward, each one representing a participating national team. Together, they form the shape of a blooming flower, a timeless symbol of growth, empowerment, and beauty. This imagery captures the journey of African women’s football and the vibrant strength of its athletes. Emerging from the heart of this elegant floral form is a golden sphere, patterned subtly as a football. Adorned with a shiny gold map of Africa, the sphere reflects the continent’s ambition, pride, and global impact in the women’s game. Crafted in brilliant silver and matte gold, the body of the trophy is wrapped in a gold ring engraved with the CAF logo, affirming the confederation’s steadfast commitment to elevating the women’s game across all 54 member associations. The base, a pristine white marble pedestal with elegant gold-accented stripes, bears the name of the competition in refined matte gold lettering, cementing the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations legacy within the rich tapestry of African sport. As the next generation of African stars prepare to shine at the upcoming CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2024, this new trophy will serve as a beacon of aspiration, inspiring millions of young girls across the continent to dream, to believe, and to achieve on the global stage.

University of Pennsylvania Bans Transgender Women from Female Sports in Title IX Deal With Trump Administration

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago02 mins

The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) has agreed to prohibit transgender women from competing on women’s sports teams under a Title IX resolution reached with the U.S. Department of Education, which found UPenn had violated federal civil rights laws by allowing transgender swimmer Lia Thomas to compete in the 2021‑22 season. The agreement mandates that UPenn restore athletic records and titles to biological female athletes and issue personalized apology letters to those affected The deal follows a federal investigation triggered by Thomas’s historic NCAA Division I national title in women’s swimming, prompting scrutiny of the university’s eligibility policies. Under the terms, UPenn must adopt biology-based definitions of sex, bar male-assigned athletes from female facilities and teams, and publicly reaffirm compliance with Title IX Secretary of Education Linda McMahon hailed the resolution as a “great victory for women and girls,” attributing it to former President Trump’s executive orders aimed at protecting women’s sports . University President J. Larry Jameson acknowledged that while past policies complied with NCAA rules, the new directive ensures future alignment with federal requirements The case has reignited national debates on transgender participation in sports, with LGBTQ advocates warning of exclusionary impacts and others, including former swimmer Riley Gaines, celebrating it as a protection of fairness for cisgender women

Juventus Tables New Contact for Osimhen

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago12 mins

Serie A giants Napoli will definitely see Victor Osimhen depart this summer and there is increasing possibility of him joining Juventus. The Bianconeri were linked with the striker some months ago and now, they are back in the fray, with the forward struggling to attract suitable offers for himself. Gianluca di Marzio has reported that the Old Lady have two options for the striker’s department and while one is Jonathan David, the key target is Osimhen. They are serious about signing the Nigeria international and Igor Tudor is keen to have him in Turin. Contact between the two parties intensified over the weekend. Juve’s goal is to acquire the player’s approval for the transfer so that they can then agree a wage with the player. After that, they will negotiate with Napoli, who have inserted a release clause in Osimhen’s current contract but it is only applicable to clubs abroad.

Man City Crashes Out of Club World Cup

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago05 mins

Manchester City crashed out of the Club World Cup as Al-Hilal snatched a stunning 4-3 victory in extra time of a pulsating last-16 clash in Orlando. Marcos Leonardo grabbed his second goal with 112 minutes on the clock as the Saudi Arabian side produced a major upset. Bernardo Silva gave City a ninth-minute lead but Pep Guardiola’s side were punished for missing a series of chances as Leonardo and Malcom replied after the break. Erling Haaland sent the game to extra time but City needed another equaliser from Phil Foden after Kalidou Koulibaly headed Al-Hilal back ahead. City, who were caught repeatedly on the break, were undone again as Leonardo had the final say and the Saudi side will now play Fluminense for a place in the semi-finals. Guardiola, having taken the competition seriously, will rue a wasteful first-half display. His side started quickly with Ruben Dias heading straight at Yassine Bounou. The opening goal soon came, although it proved highly controversial with complaints of handball against Rayan Ait-Nouri and Ilkay Gundogan. Tijjani Reijnders cleverly played in Ait-Nouri but the ball appeared to brush the Algerian’s hand before he crossed. It then took two ricochets, the second off the shoulder of Gundogan, before Silva poked past Bounou. Al-Hilal players surrounded referee Jesus Valenzuela but the Venezuelan was unmoved. City should have extended their lead before half-time but Bounou denied Savinho, Gundogan, Josko Gvardiol and Jeremy Doku. Silva had a shot parried but, after riding their luck, Al-Hilal went close through Leonardo and Malcom. City failed to heed those warnings and were punished as Al-Hilal struck twice in the first seven minutes of the second half. The equaliser came as former City full-back Joao Cancelo drove in a low cross. Ederson pushed away and Malcom’s attempt on the rebound was blocked but the ball looped up for Leonardo to head in. City were stung again moments later as Al-Hilal quickly recycled the ball from a corner they were defending. Malcom broke from halfway and buried a low shot into the far corner. City needed to respond and did so as a Silva corner led to a goalmouth scramble. Haaland pounced from close range to level but, far from settling nerves, the Premier League side remained vulnerable. Malcom was brought down by Dias for what seemed a certain penalty only for an offside flag to spare City. It also took a good recovery tackle by Manuel Akanji to prevent Malcom getting in another shot and Mohamed Kanno fluffed a free header. City were inches away as Akanji headed against the post and Haaland’s follow-up was cleared off the line. Both sides had further attacks and Doku was pulled back seconds before the final whistle was blown. Guardiola raced onto the field to complain but the game was heading to extra time. City, who lost Haaland to injury, were stunned when Al-Hilal reclaimed the lead with Koulibaly’s powerful header. Yet the drama was far from over as Foden, having come off the bench to replace another substitute in the ineffective Rodri, exquisitely volleyed in from a Rayan Cherki cross. Al-Hilal refused to lie down and scored yet again as Leonardo pounced to settle the contest after Ederson had pushed away a header from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

Arsenal Submits Bid for Chelsea’s Madueke

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago03 mins

Arsenal has reportedly submitted a bid for Chelsea winger Noni Madueke this week in may be one of the biggest deals for the summer. Talks are said to have started and the England forward who Arsenal boss sees as the perfect player to bolster his attack ahead of the new campaign. Arsenal could certainly do with more options in attack and may use Madueke to replace Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard who were lacklustre last season. Now, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg the Gunners have made an offer to their London rivals as talks begin for the 23-year-old. “Understand Arsenal have already submitted an offer to Noni #Madueke. 23 y/o winger could leave Chelsea in the summer. Talks have started. #CFC “Madueke is one of several top profiles Arsenal are assessing for this position. Arsenal are still considering a transfer for Rodrygo should he wish to leave Real Madrid.” The Blues are due to sign Joao Pedro from Brighton, Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund and have already secured Liam Delap from Ipswich Town as manager Enzo Maresca reshapes his attack. Arsenal will see this as an opportunity to snap up Madueke who likely won’t be in Maresca’s plans heading into the new season. Despite this, the Italian boss has already stated his desire to keep Madueke at the club but a high bid could swiftly change his mind. “Noni is our player, you can read a lot of speculation at the moment but we consider Noni our player for the coming season,” Maresca said last month.

My Los Angeles 2028 Olympics Dream Is Still on Track, Says Inkosi Brou

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago04 mins

Despite exiting in the knockout stage of the individual men’s sabre event at the 23rd African Fencing Championships, Nigeria’s fencing sensation Inkosi Brou remains confident that his dream of qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games is still alive. Brou, Nigeria’s highest-ranked fencer at both junior and senior levels, showcased his talent at the continental tournament, which concluded over the weekend in Lagos. He advanced from the group stage, competing against a field of seasoned athletes. In the preliminary round, Brou defeated Guinea’s Conte Aboubacar 5-0 in his opening bout and overcame Algeria’s Akram Bounabi 5-3. He then lost 0-5 to Egypt’s Ziad Elsissy, bounced back with a 5-1 win over Niger Republic’s Ali Djibo, and concluded the group stage with a 0-5 loss to African champion Ahmed Ferjani of Tunisia. Despite the mixed results, Brou finished among the top three in his group of six, securing a spot in the knockout stage. In the first-round bout, Brou took an early lead against fifth seed Evann Girault of Niger Republic. However, a tactical error allowed his opponent to stage a comeback and win the closely contested match 15-11. Though disappointed with the outcome, the bronze medallist at the 2025 African Junior Championships remains undeterred in his Olympic pursuit. “I believe my 2028 Olympic dream is still intact. It’s a step-by-step journey, and I just need to stay consistent,” he said. Brou, the grandson of the late NAFDAC Director-General Prof. Dora Akunyili, described the recently concluded African Fencing Championships in Lagos as a positive development for the sport. He expressed hope that more events would be organized to raise awareness and participation among young Nigerians. “Hosting the continental tournament means a lot for fencing. It was well-organized and proved that Nigeria is capable of hosting more international fencing events,” he added. Acknowledging the challenges of competing in multiple international events, Brou—who made history as the first Nigerian fencer to win a medal at an international tournament—said: “Travelling and competing at this level is tough, especially with my Olympic aspirations. But with the support of my parents and coaches, I’m managing well. Hopefully, it will all pay off with a ticket to the 2028 Olympics.” He also acknowledged the enduring legacy of his grandmother: “Yes, my grandmother’s influence has opened doors for me. What she achieved continues to inspire and guide us. We’re trying to follow the path she laid down.”

World Fencing Federation Promises More Tournaments for Nigeria

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago04 mins

The International Fencing Federation (FIE) has lauded the Nigerian Fencing Federation for its outstanding organization of the 23rd African Fencing Championships, held at Charterhouse Lagos from June 25 to 29. The FIE also announced its intention to consider Nigeria as a host for future international fencing tournaments. During her first official visit to Africa, FIE Secretary General Gulnora Saidova praised the high standards of the facilities and the warm hospitality extended throughout the event. She noted that the impressive atmosphere and organizational excellence have positioned Nigeria as a strong candidate for hosting more global fencing competitions. “This is my first time in Nigeria, and I was truly impressed by the quality of the facilities and the professionalism of the organizers,” said Saidova. “It has given us confidence that Nigeria is capable of hosting more international competitions. The Deputy Governor’s commitment to supporting fencing in a country with such potential was particularly encouraging.” Saidova was part of a high-level FIE delegation that paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Governor, where she expressed optimism about the future of fencing in Nigeria. She emphasized that the enthusiasm shown by the Lagos State Government is a promising sign of institutional support for the sport. “The facilities here show that Nigeria can host even larger tournaments in the future. Based on my experience over the past few days, I am confident that the FIE will seriously consider Nigeria for major fencing events,” she added. Saidova also stressed the importance of government involvement in the sport’s development: “Nigeria is on the right path, but sustained government backing is crucial. Without it, the sport cannot thrive. There must be a genuine commitment to developing fencing, and this is vital for its success.” During the visit, she formally requested that fencing be recognized as a priority sport in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos State. She highlighted the sport’s potential to contribute to youth development and the broader progress of the state. “Fencing is an Olympic sport, and it presents a tremendous opportunity for Nigeria to enhance its presence at future Olympic Games. I kindly urge the government to grant formal recognition to fencing as a priority sport in Lagos State.” Saidova concluded by calling for government support in hosting an international fencing competition in Nigeria. She noted that the FIE aims to position Nigeria as a continental leader in the development of fencing, which could bring substantial economic benefits and promote long-term sustainability.

Mission X: Madugu Assures Super Falcons Will Continue to Improve After Win Over Ghana

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago03 mins

Head Coach Justine Madugu insisted on Monday that Nigeria’s Super Falcons must continue to improve in several areas, despite an emphatic 3-1 win over Ghana’s Black Queens in a friendly in Casablanca on Sunday evening. Goals by Mexico-based Chinwendu Ihezuo, Asisat Oshoala and captain Rasheedat Ajibade affirmed the Falcons’ supremacy over the Queens, at a closed-door game played at the Ziaida Palace Benslimane field. “The match gave us the opportunity of having the full squad together to really assess our strength as a team, and build on team cohesion, coordination and on various combinations. “It will always be work in progress, but we are very focused on our realisable and achievable target of Mission X. The girls are ready and are showing real hunger for victory and team spirit is high. We are looking forward to our first match on Sunday against Tunisia.” The victory over Ghana’s Black Queens extended Madugu’s stellar record with the Super Falcons. He was in charge when the Falcons easily surged past Ethiopia in the qualifying race for the 2024 Olympics, and also led the team to crush Cape Verde to secure qualification for the 13th Women AFCON, which kicks off on Saturday. Last year, Madugu led the Falcons to rout Algeria’s senior girls in two friendly matches in Ikenne and Lagos, and restricted France to an odd-goal victory in another friendly match in France in November. This year, Madugu has led the Super Falcons to a 2-0 win over Cameroon in a friendly game in Cameroon, and on Monday last week, picked a team that fought hard against Portugal in a 0-0 draw in Lisbon. “We will continue to work on our weak areas, and I believe that by the time of our first match, we will be ready,” Madugu added.