Ola Aina makes history with Forests over Liverpool 

Nigerian defender Ola Aina starred for 90 minutes in Nottingham Forest win over Liverpool on Saturday.  His compatriot Taiwo Awoniyi was on the bench for the entire duration of the tie. Liverpool dropped points for the first time this season after a second-half stunner from Callum Hudson-Odoi earned Forest their first victory at Anfield in 55 years. Arne Slot’s side were yet to concede a league goal this term, before the introduction of Hudson-Odoi from the Forest bench, with Nuno Espirito Santo masterminding the unlikely 1-0 win. The substitute scored the winner in the 72nd minute after Liverpool’s retreating backline offered him the time and space to measure a shot from 20 yards. He obliged, bending a perfectly precise strike beyond Alisson at full stretch into the far corner. Ryan Yates was a workhorse in the Nottingham Forest midfield Liverpool, with lofty ambitions in Slot’s first season in charge, created plenty but lacked any cutting edge as every final pass or attempted finish failed to hit the mark. Their 14 shots at goal – five on target – were a sign of the home side’s obvious dominance, but unlike the opening three weeks of the campaign where they scored seven times, they were unable to convert such superiority into goals.

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Bundesliga: Boniface fires brace in Leverkusen win 

Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface netted a brace in Bayer Leverkusen’s 4-1 drubbing of Hoffenheim on Saturday.  The Nigerian forward returned to Bundesliga action after failing to score during the international break.  Before the break, the Boniface had reclaimed his starting shirt in the team, and he started for them against Hoffenheim alongside compatriot Nathan Tella. Die Werkself were the favourites to claim the win, and they enforced their authority early on. They created the better chances from the start, and it took them just 17 minutes to get the opener.  Boniface was the creator, as he sent a nice pass to Martin Terrier, who converted calmly to make it 1-0.

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Victor Moses resumes training at Luton Town 

Former Super Eagles midfielder Victor Moses has resumed training with his new club, Luton Town FC.  The 33-year-old posted pictures of his training at the new club on Friday. Moses said: “I’m looking forward to it. “I had a few offers from Europe, but I said to my agent that I set my mind on staying over here, and here we are. I’m very pleased and honoured to be at this club and I just can’t wait to get going. “I spoke to Rob before I came, I spoke to the directors and they told me the plan and the history of the club, and I just want to be part of the success. “I want to come here and enjoy my football, work hard for the club and for the team, and get back to where we belong in the Premier League.”

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Maradona medical team’s trial postponed until 2025

An Argentine court on Thursday delayed to March 2025 the long-awaited criminal trial of seven of the eight medical professionals accused of negligence in the death of Argentina football legend Diego Maradona. The trial was set to start next month, after a previous postponement in May, but is now on track to begin on March 11 next year, according to a ruling seen by AFP. Maradona died in November 2020 at age 60 while recovering from brain surgery for a blood clot, after decades of battling cocaine and alcohol addictions.  He was found dead in bed two weeks after going under the knife, in a rented house in an exclusive Buenos Aires neighborhood where he was brought after being discharged from hospital.  He was found to have died of a heart attack.  In 2023, an Argentine appeals court said that neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov and six others, including nurses, would stand trial in the matter, rejecting an appeal. One of the nurses, Gisela Dahiana Madrid, has asked to be tried by jury separately, and her trial will proceed as planned on October 2. Prosecutors have accused the eight medical professionals of providing “reckless” and “deficient” home treatment to Maradona. A panel of 20 medical experts convened by Argentina’s public prosecutor concluded in 2021 that Maradona “would have had a better chance of survival” with adequate treatment in an appropriate medical facility. They risk prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years. 

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Joshua, Tyson Fury, Usyk battle for British Boxing Award

Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Okeksandr Usyk have been shortlisted for the British Boxing Awards next month. The awards ceremony will host some of the biggest names in British boxing and the celebrity world on November 8 in London as it celebrates the achievements in the sport. It is the first time that all levels of British boxing, from the grassroots gym volunteers to the international superstars, will be recognised at one flagship event. Former Team GB and professional boxing star Nicola Adams has been named as the host for the event, with some breakthrough stars also bidding to win some of the awards on offer. Now, the shortlist has been revealed for the awards up for grabs, with the categories sweeping through multiple levels of the sport. In some of the top awards, Joshua and Fury are among those shortlised to win Male British Boxer of the Year, as well as the likes of Jack Catterall, Callum Smith and Lawrence Okolie. Also in the running for the award are Chris Billam-Smith, Liam Smith, Joshua Buatsi, Nick Ball and Chris Eubank Jnr. In the Women’s Award, Katie Taylor is the lead name, with the likes of Natasha Jones, Savannah Marshall and Chantelle Cameron also hopeful. The other names on the list include Caroline Dubois, Ellie Scotney and Sandy Ryan. Usyk comes into the conversation in the International Boxing Champion of the Year category, with Joshua, Fury and Deontay Wilder also shortlisted. Canelo Alvarez, Billam-Smith and Imane Khelif are also on the list.   There are plenty more commendations up for grabs in the Grassroots Boxing Hero, Out of the Ring Award, Best Brand of the Year, Inspirational Role Model and a Lifetime Achievement Award categories. Michael Buffer and Lennox Lewis are both shortlisted in the British Boxing Broadcaster or Journalist category, while Lewis is again mentioned, alongside the likes of Amir Khan and David Haye in the Insprational Role Model shortlist. Khan and Frank Bruno are shortlisted for the Out of the Ring Award for their work with their foundations, and Misfits make the Business of the Year shortlist alongside the likes of Queensberry and Matchroom – Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn are also sortlisted for the Promoter of the Year Awards. ‘This is an incredible shortlist,’ host Adams said following the announcement. ‘The British Boxing Awards is shining a light on the people and organisations contributing to the phenomenal growth of the sport. Boxing champions, both in and out of the ring, will be recognised. ‘This is a major first for the sport in the UK and I am incredibly excited to be hosting this event. It is going to be a special night. Good luck to all of the nominees.’

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Butler-Oyedeji wins PL2 Player of the Month for August

Nathan Butler-Oyedeji has been named the Premier League 2 Player of the Month for August. The 21-year-old Arsenal forward won the award after he contributed to six of his side’s 11 goals, scoring four times and assisting twice in his three PL2 matches to take the Gunners top of the table. “It feels good. It feels like an honour,” Butler-Oyedeji told the club’s official website. “I’m happy to win the award and, most importantly, help my team-mates through the month of August. “I just try to get my head down and I have good players playing the chances through to me. My focus from the start of the season has been to be a bit more productive and deadly in front of goal.  “Everyone’s on the same page. Everyone knows what they’re doing, like one vehicle, selfless and playing for the team and that shows in the results.” Butler-Oyedeji’s impressive month began with a goal against Manchester United, before netting twice at Wolverhampton Wanderers and then ending the month with another versus Aston Villa.  His form not only enabled Arsenal to win all three matches in August, but means he is the current leading PL2 scorer. Butler-Oyedeji topped an eight-man shortlist that was selected by the Premier League’s Football Development Panel.

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Haaland nets Premier League player award for August

Erling Haaland has won the Premier League Player of the Month award for August following his electric start to the season for Manchester City, while Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has snared the Manager of the Month gong.Haaland, after a summer of rest, roared into life at the outset of the domestic league season, banging in consecutive hat-tricks to sit on seven goals after just three games.The Norwegian – if he can stay fit – already appears the early favourite to win the Premier League Golden Boot with his nearest current challengers – Mo Salah, Noni Madueke, Bryan Mbeumo and Luis Diaz – already four back, on three goals each.Haaland – as part of a City team that have made an ominous, 100% start to their 2024/25 Premier League campaign – scored in the opening-day win over Chelsea, before grabbing trebles against first Ipswich, and then West Ham.While on Norway duty in the recent UEFA Nations League international break, Haaland added another strike to his already bulging season tally against Austria.The other nominees on the list had been Salah, Mbeumo, Amadou Onana, Cole Palmer, David Raya, Bukayo Saka and Danny Welbeck.City’s next test is a home meeting with Brentford on Saturday, before they host Inter in their opening UEFA Champions League tie of the season, a mouthwatering repeat of the 2023 final, which City memorably won in Istanbul.The Citizens then play Arsenal at the Etihad on September 22 in a match that could already hold big implications for the title race.

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Jackson extends Chelsea contract until 2033

Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson has penned a two-year contract extension that ties him to the club until 2033 at Stamford Bridge, the Premier League side announced on Friday. The 23-year-old joined Chelsea from Villareal in June 2023 on an eight-year deal and went on to score 17 goals in all competitions last season. He has begun this campaign with two goals in four appearances. “I am feeling very good and am very happy to sign a new contract and stay at the club,” Jackson said in a statement. “It feels great the club has confidence in me. I am working very hard. I am very happy to extend my contract and stay here for many years.”

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