Sports Archives | Page 52 of 58

Usyk handcuffed, detained in Poland

Our Reporters7 months ago7 months ago03 mins

Video footage of three-belt heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in handcuffs and being escorted by police at John Paul II International Airport in Krakow, Poland, set off alarms, but has been quickly followed by statements that Usyk is freed. “Dear Friends: A misunderstanding took place. It was quickly resolved. Thanks to all who got concerned. Thanks to Ukrainian diplomats for the efficient support,” Usyk wrote in a statement sent to BoxingScene and other news outlets by his manager, Egis Klimas. “And respect to Polish police for conducting their obligations with no regards to height, weight, reach and regalia. Thanks God for everything.” Usyk’s wife also posted on Instagram that “everything is fine. Oleksandr will explain everything later. Nothing criminal.” In the brief video footage, as many as four police officers are seen escorting the handcuffed Usyk toward an elevator. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on “X” that he was involved in Usyk’s freedom, posting, “I spoke with Oleksandr Usyk on the phone after he was detained. I was disappointed by this attitude towards our citizen and champion. “I instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko, to immediately look into all the details of the incident at Kraków airport. Now, everything is fine, our champion has been released, and he is no longer being detained. In the photo, he is with our Consul General in Kraków right after being released.” Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) was reportedly traveling to London to attend Saturday’s IBF heavyweight championship fight between two fighters he’s previously defeated, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois. Usyk, after surrendering his IBF belt earlier this year rather than fight his mandatory contender, is headed to a Dec. 21 rematch with former WBC champion Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia.

NYG: Team Lagos increases medal sweep

Our Reporters7 months ago7 months ago03 mins

Team Lagos continued to soar in the 2024 National Youth Games taking place in Delta State with the state athletes making an impressive sweep of medals. David Akinade has defied all odds by landing a gold medal for Team Lagos in the Shot Put event at the ongoing National Youths Games in Asaba, Delta State. Akinade showed resilience, putting up an impressive performance against his opponents in the Shot put F42/44 by throwing 7.74 in the event, defeating his counterparts from Delta and Edo states. Akinade coming into the games as a first-timer and winning a gold medal, shows the commitment of the Lagos State government to sports development and indeed, a state that nurtures and breeds talents providing an enabling environment for people with disability to thrive. Still in Athletics, the trio of Fashola Abiodun, Akinwuwo Oladeji and Soliu Simbiat also recorded four medals in their events. Abiodun won a silver medal in the 100 metres boys while Soliu Simbiat settled for bronze and Oladeji scooped two gold medals in the 100 and 200 metres respectively. Oladeji is now working hard to surpass the feat he recorded three years ago, with other events slated for tomorrow. In boxing, Lagos’s four pugilists, Agboola Oyindamola (F), Bello Olamide Lawal (M), Yakubu Sofiat (F) and Bolarinwa Michael (M) progressed to the finals in their different weight categories. The four pugilists will be competing in 40kg, 42kg, 42kg and 44kg respectively during the final bouts at St.Patrick’s College, Asaba, on Wednesday, Similarly, the Lagos Girls Basketball team has set up a final battle against the hosts, Delta. The girls will do everything within their power to upstage their opponents and add another gold to Team Lagos’ medal haul. Lagos Hockey team are also set for a South-West derby, seeking qualification for the final, in the semifinal clash with Osun State.

Ronaldo’s Al Nassr fires coach Castro

Our Reporters7 months ago7 months ago02 mins

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi club Al Nassr announced the departure of Portuguese coach Luis Castro on Tuesday, a day after starting their AFC Champions League Elite campaign with a disappointing draw. Monday’s 1-1 stalemate with Iraq’s Al Shorta in the Asian competition compounded a slow start to the domestic season with the current contract of Ronaldo, 39, due to expire next summer. “Al Nassr can announce that head coach Luis Castro has left the club,” said a statement posted on X. “Everyone at Al Nassr would like to thank Luis and his staff for their dedicated work during the past 14 months, wishing them the best of luck for the future.” Castro, 63, is the third coach to depart Al Nassr since Ronaldo’s groundbreaking arrival in early 2023 on a contract that was said to net him 400 million euros over two-and-a-half years. Frenchman Rudi Garcia quickly left that April, followed by a brief stint by Croatian coach Dinko Jelicic before Castro was appointed in July last year. The highly decorated Ronaldo is yet to win a Saudi trophy with the Riyadh club, with his sole silverware so far being last year’s Arab Club Champions Cup. Al Nassr, who finished a distant second in the last Saudi Pro League season, have drawn twice in three matches at the start of the new campaign. Ronaldo’s arrival heralded a rash of high-profile signings by Saudi clubs last year, with Neymar and Karim Benzema among those opting for the oil-rich, conservative kingdom.

Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania to Co-Host CHAN 2024

Our Reporters7 months ago7 months ago02 mins

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has confirmed that Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania will co-host the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) from February 1 to February 28, 2025. This announcement was made by FUFA Executive Committee member Rogers Byamukama during the unveiling of the new Uganda Cranes kit ahead of the AFCON Qualifiers. Byamukama revealed that the East African trio, were granted hosting rights by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to hold the CHAN tournament, to serve as a preparatory competition for their larger goal of hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). He also highlighted that CAF had sent several inspection teams to assess the preparedness of Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania before granting the hosting rights. Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania were awarded joint hosting rights for the 2027 AFCON in September 2023. Hosting CHAN 2024 will be a critical test run to ensure the three nations are fully equipped to handle the scale of a major tournament like AFCON. The CHAN tournament, which began in 2009, exclusively features players who are actively competing in their national leagues, making it distinct from AFCON, where players from international leagues also participate. The tournament brings together 18 African nations, and Uganda has qualified for six of the seven editions since its inception, although they have yet to progress beyond the group stages.

CHAN 2024 to hold in February

Our Reporters7 months ago7 months ago01 mins

The Confederation African Football (CAF) has confirmed the dates of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 final tournament. The African Nations Championship (CHAN) according to the CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe will be played between 01 – 28 February 2025. The first round of Qualifiers will be played on the weekend of 25-27 October 2024. CHAN is scheduled to be hosted in East Africa. CAF will communicate in due course stadiums and other venues to be used for the competition. On Sunday, CAF President visited some of the venues in Kenya that are being prepared for CHAN. While noting the progress made and the commitment of the Government of Kenya, Motsepe said there was a need for everyone to work together with speed to ensure that all venues and facilities are ready for the Competition. Senegal are the current champions of CHAN after they defeated hosts, Algeria two years ago in Algiers.

Ahmed Musa reveals plans to return to NPFL

Our Reporters7 months ago7 months ago02 mins

Former Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has revealed plans to return to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). The pacy winger gave this hint in a post on his official X handle on Tuesday. He asked; “Let’s go again, which of this teams do you wish for me to sign?” Musa was loaned to Kano Pillars in the 2009–10 season where he set the league record scoring multiple crucial goals as Pillars finished second. Hereford held the record for the highest goals ever scored in one season in the history of the Nigeria Premier League until November 2011. Musa became the first Nigerian to score more than once in a FIFA World Cup match, after scoring twice against Argentina in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Musa is also the first Nigerian to score in two FIFA World Cup competitions, after scoring another brace against Iceland in the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Super Falcons’ Okobi welcomes new baby

Our Reporters7 months ago7 months ago01 mins

Super Falcons and Levante Las Planas of Spain midfielder Ngozi Okobi has welcomed a new baby. The player revealed this as she displayed the baby bump on her X handle on Tuesday. She wrote; “Congratulations to me. “I am in my new season.” Okobi has played for the Nigerian team albeit the under 17 squad since 2008 and got her first senior call up immediately after the U-17 tournament in 2010. The forward registered her first international goal against Zambia where she aided Nigeria trounce the hosts 6–0 at the 2014 African Women’s Championship.

Joshua, Fury fight must happen in 2025 – Hearn

Our Reporters7 months ago7 months ago05 mins

The much-awaited heavyweight bout between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury must “definitely” take place by the end of 2025 or it will never happen, said promoter Eddie Hearn. A super-fight between two generational stars of British boxing has been mooted for several years but always stalled during negotiations. Joshua, 34, challenges Daniel Dubois for the IBF belt at Wembley Stadium on Saturday and Fury, 36, takes on Oleksandr Usyk – who holds the three other recognised world titles – in December’s rematch. “I do think AJ-Fury will happen regardless of whether Fury wins or not, but the size of the fight depends on their next two results,” Hearn told BBC Sport. In June, Joshua urged Fury to fight him while both boxers are still “fresh” but said he will not “sit around and wait” for his fellow British heavyweight. Asked whether there is a deadline of next year, Matchroom’s Hearn replied: “Yes, definitely.” With substantial investment into boxing from Saudi Arabia, there is new hope the bout will finally materialise. “If AJ beats Dubois and Fury beats Usyk, you’ve got the biggest fight in the history of the sport ever. If one loses and the other wins, it’s still a monster fight,” Hearn added. Joshua broke down in tears after a second consecutive defeat by Usyk in 2022, but worked himself back into a world-title mandatory challenger position with a four-fight winning streak. If he beats Dubois he will emulate greats Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitschko and Evander Holyfield by becoming a three-time heavyweight world champion. “The magnitude of the achievement will be something incredible if he can pull it off,” Hearn said. “We’re two wins away from undisputed and one win away from getting a fight to be undisputed. I truly believe he will still do it.” Joshua must first come overcome Dubois in front of a British post-war record of 96,000 fans, which will top the 94,000 set by Fury v Dillian Whyte in 2022. After Saturday’s event, around 480,000 spectators will have watched Joshua headline in six UK stadium fights. “People always ask me where the next AJ is coming from. You have to understand, this person is a one-off and there will never be another one,” added Hearn. “Whatever you think of his boxing ability, in terms of how he has transcended the sport, changed boxing by opening up stadium fights as part of the norm, it will never be repeated.” Joshua became world champion in 2016. He lost the title to Andy Ruiz Jr in June 2019 before winning the rematch just six months later. Dubois, 27, will make a first defence of the title he won after he was upgraded from interim to full world champion when Usyk vacated the IBF belt. Although Dubois challenged Usyk in front of 40,000 fans in Poland last year, Hearn feels it “takes a specific kind of individual” to handle the pressure of topping a Wembley Stadium bill. “The media attention and frenzy, all the moments before the bell on fight night – you’ve got to hold your nerve when you walk through that tunnel in front of 96,000 people,” said Hearn. “For AJ this is bread and butter. He’s been there before and done it but he’s got the hunger and the desire. “Forget the money in the bank, he badly wants to become world champion again.”