Sports Archives | Page 51 of 58

Dubois demolishes Joshua in ‘Battle of Britain’ to retain title

Our Reporters7 months ago7 months ago02 mins

Britain’s Daniel Dubois demolished compatriot and two-times world champion Anthony Joshua with a fifth-round knockout to retain his IBF world heavyweight boxing title at a packed Wembley Stadium. Dubois sent his fellow Briton to the canvas in the opening round with a stinging right, the referee delivering a standing eight count, and the 27-year-old proceeded to tear up the pre-fight predictions as swiftly as he ripped into his opponent. Joshua was on the ropes again in round two but managed to ride out the storm before round three came crashing down around him again. With Dubois landing more banging right-handers, Joshua’s defence failed to protect him and he was literally on the ropes as he took another count. Joshua could barely stand at the end of the fourth, after going down again with two minutes remaining, and he lasted just 59 seconds of the fifth with the rebuilding of his career suddenly in ruins. “I’ve only got a few words to say: Are you not entertained?,” declared Dubois after the biggest win of his career. “I’m a gladiator, I’m a warrior to the bitter end. I want to get to the top level of this game and reach my full potential. “I’ve been on a rollercoaster ride. This is my time, this is my redemption story, and I’m not going to stop until I reach my full potential.” Organisers said a British post-World War II record of 96,000 spectators attended the fight at London’s Wembley Stadium.

UK-based boxer Arenyeka tips Joshua to beat Dubois

Our Reporters7 months ago7 months ago02 mins

United Kingdom-based Nigerian boxer Eworitse Ezra Arenyeka has tipped Anthony Joshua to stream roll Daniel Dubois in their face off for the IBF World title today. Arenyeka, whose fought Ben Whittaker in June believed Joshua has what it takes to triumph over his opponent. “Yeah, AJ versus Daniel Dubois, it is going to be a tough fight. “Daniel Dubois in the last two fights was really looking great, same with AJ. He’s really found new form. “Dan Dubois got the dynamite and same as AJ, so let’s see how it plays out. “For me, I’ve got my home boy, AJ. So I think AJ is going to do the business. It’s going to be a great night of boxing. “It’s not going to be easy but I believe AJ wins in the late rounds. May be eight or the ninth round,” Arenyeka opined. Arenyeka currently competes in the light-heavyweight division. In 2019, he won the ABA’s Elite Cruiserweight Eastern Counties Championships and in 2022, he won the Nigerian Super Middleweight Title.

Ex-Super Eagles’ goalie bags coaching certificate

Our Reporters7 months ago7 months ago01 mins

Former Super Eagles and Enyimba FC of Aba goalkeeper, Dele Aiyenugba is now a certified coach. The Kwara United FC goalkeeper became a certified coach after the completion of his coaching course at the National Institute For Sports (NIS). Aiyenugba returned to Nigeria ahead of the 2020-21 season to play for Kwara United after 13 seasons in Israel with four teams. His son, Daniel Aiyenugba, is also a goalkeeper. The two played against each other when Kwara United played against Beyond Limits in the semi-finals of the Value Jet Cup in Ikenne, in August 2023.

120 players drilled at FIFA Talent Development Scheme

Our Reporters7 months ago7 months ago04 mins

The Nigeria Football Federation has successfully completed a two-week training program for the National U15 Boys, otherwise known as Future Eagles in Abuja. This is in line with FIFA’s Talent Development Scheme (TDS) initiative aimed at creating a sustainable legacy for long-term talent development in the country. Head of TDS delegation in Nigeria, Mr. Nasiru Jibril, a former Nigeria international, said the program is a welcome development which will serve as a pathway for every child within the ages of 12-15 to showcase themselves and be discovered. With the main goal of the TDS project being to help raise the standards of national-team football around the world for both men and women, which is driven by FIFA’s desire for a long-term dedication to global talent development, Jibril said he is confident the program will form the major plank for supplies to our senior national teams in no distant time. “Talent Development Scheme (TDS) is a project initiated by FIFA in all countries of the world to benefit places like Africa. Presently, we are trying to go round and give every single child the opportunity to showcase their talent. “Players from the ages of 12, 13, and 14 are the ones we are bringing to this center so we can pick the best out of them and build them into a group where the national teams will be getting supplies from. From 2025, the U17 AFCON will become an annual project, and if there is no program like this, any country may struggle in assembling the best legs to represent her.” Also speaking, Head Coach of Nigeria’s U15 national team, Mr Patrick Bassey said the process of recruitment has been transparent with merit as key factor, without any form of bias or sentiments. “In the selection of the players, there has not been any sentiment; every player that was scouted and brought here has the talent, the skill and the commitment to the game. I believe these players will be very useful to the nation in the long run.” A total of 120 players divided into two batches were invited to camp for the first phase of the program, with 40 players to be selected for another schedule before the end of the year, according to Coach Bassey.

Super Eagles retain spot on FIFA ranking

Our Reporters7 months ago7 months ago02 mins

Nigeria’s Super Eagles retained her 39th position the World football governing body, FIFA, monthly ranking. The formers African kings secured 1489.02 points to keep her place in August. Nigeria however have slipped from fifth best team in Africa to six. They are currently trailing Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire and Tunisia. Nigeria will hope to bounce to reckoning in the next round of matches of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers in November. The Nigerian side also hope to win the remaining six games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers when the qualification series resume in January. Meanwhile, it is getting tighter at the summit. After respectively being beaten 2-1 away to Colombia and 3-1 at home to Italy, Argentina (1st) and France (2nd) will be looking nervously in their proverbial rear-view mirrors. Spain (3rd) and England (4th) are looming large in pursuit, with Brazil (5th) and Belgium (6th) hot on their heels. Yet, despite the tremors, the top ten remains unchanged, continuing to be rounded off by the Netherlands (7th), Portugal (8th), Colombia (9th) and Italy (10th). The next FIFA Men’s World Ranking will be published on 24 October.

Lagos SWAN in shock over Adeyinka Adebayo’s demise

Our Reporters7 months ago7 months ago04 mins

The Lagos State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (Lagos SWAN), is deeply shocked and saddened by the passing of one of its esteemed members, Adeyinka Adebayo- a head of sports desk at Eko FM/Radio Lagos until his death. The news of his death as announced on Tuesday night, has left the association and the wider sports journalism community in shock and mourning. Until his passing, Adeyinka Adebayo was a Director at the Lagos State Ministry of Information and an unwavering member of Lagos SWAN. Members have continued to mourn and celebrate Adebayo for his professionalism, commitment, and contributions to the growth of sports journalism in Lagos State. Reacting to the news, Debo Oshundun, Chairman, Lagos SWAN, expressed deep sorrow over the loss. “I am devastated. ‘Yinka was among my greatest supporters and confidant. He was very close to me, and his passing has left me deeply saddened. “I called him Woli Agba, I am lost for words in describing what his death means to me personally and Lagos SWAN as an organisation,” Oshundun said. According to Oshundun, the late Adebayo was a multifaceted individual who left a lasting impact on Lagos SWAN members as a mentor, friend and colleague. He believes his legacy of dedication and kindness will continue to resonate within the sports writing fraternity and ensure his memory endures. Dapo Sotuminu, former Group Sports Editor of Compass Newspapers, said, “Apostle Yinka Adebayo, may your soul rest in perfect peace. May the good Lord take care of the children you left behind. A good guy just left us” . Ace broadcaster and CEO of AfroSports, Deji Omotoyinbo said “Terrible news A real gentleman. Rest in peace Yinka.” Former Lagos SWAN Chairman and Sports Editor of Vanguard Newspaper, Tony Ubani wrote, “Yinka is, without doubt, the definition of a gentleman I have met. He was compassionate and humble, with a contagious smile. God has called him back to his Kingdom, where there is no pain or cry. Rest in peace, my man of God, as I usually called him.” Another respected member of Lagos SWAN and current Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Nneka Ikem Anibeze, remarked that Adebayo was too young to die! Condolence messages have continued to pour in from members as well as heartfelt condolences to the family and friends for the strength to bear this irreparable loss while they pray for his soul to rest in perfect peace.

Labbadia may return as Super Eagles manager

Our Reporters7 months ago7 months ago01 mins

German coach Bruno Labbadia may have sorted out contractual issues with the NFF to now take charge of the Super Eagles. Labbadia announced “New chapter” accompanied by the Nigerian flag on his Instagram this afternoon. He was to have led the Super Eagles in 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda before the NFF announced that talks broke down over who will be responsible for the payment of his taxes in Nigeria and Germany. Labbadia himself was not particularly pleased his appointment was made public by the NFF when a full agreement was not in place. The Super Eagles will play a double-header against Libya next month in continuation of the AFCON qualifying series.

Sports

Why Polish guards handcuffed Usyk at airport

Our Reporters7 months ago7 months ago02 mins

Polish Border Guard Major Jacek Michałowski has explained that the use of handcuffs against Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk at the airport in Kraków was not a detention but a precautionary measure. They were later removed immediately. Michałowski said that Usyk and another man were withdrawn from the flight, and as a result, they lost their passenger status. He said that the men did not want to go to the gate when airport security called for them. “They did not want to go to the gate when called by the airport security service, so we were called to deal with this issue,” he added. The border guard reported that the use of handcuffs was due to the men’s excessive gestures. “The handcuffing was related to the gentleman’s posture; both men were gesticulating a lot because they were unhappy that they missed their flight. Therefore, the handcuffing was a completely precautionary measure; in the office, the handcuffs were removed immediately,” explained Michałowski. After Usyk was transferred to the office, the handcuffs were immediately removed.