KUALA LUMPUR — The 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Group B match between China and Vietnam on Oct. 7 will be held in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) disclosed this on Monday. The match will be China’s third match in the group. “The decision of a neutral venue was confirmed in light of the ongoing COVID-19 challenges faced by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) in organising its home...
Long Jumper, Ese Brume, has won the first medal for Nigeria at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The 25-year-old Nigerian athlete claimed the bronze medal in the women’s long jump at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on Tuesday. Brume achieved milestone with a 6.97m jump, two days after she qualified for the finals with a jump of 6.76m. While Germany’s Malaika Mihambo won the gold medal with a 7.00m jump, Brittney Reese of the United States...
PORT HARCOURT — Rivers Angels FC of Port Harcourt, Nigeria’s representative to the Total Energies CAF Women’s Champions League in Cote D’Ivoire, has been promised N1m per goal scored during competition. Amb. Desmond Akawor, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the send forth brunch in honour of the Rivers Angels, made the pledge on Wednesday at The Alfred Diette-Spiff Sports Complex, Port Harcourt. Akawor, who is also the Chairman of the People’s Democratic...
LAGOS — The Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Sola Aiyepeku, has tasked sports associations in the state to create more tournaments to promote grassroots sports development in the state. Aiyepeku made the call at the closing ceremony of a 3-day Chess Clinic organised by the Lagos State Chess Association for secondary schools in the six Education Districts in Lagos State. The event was held at the Sports Bar of the Teslim Balogun...
BENIN — The captain of Edo Queens, Onyebuchi Goodness, says she is hopeful that her team will defeat Osun Babes at the quarter-finals of the Aiteo Cup competition to be played at the Agege Stadium, Lagos. Her optimism was conveyed in a statement by the team’s media officer, Ogieva Ehiosun, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Saturday. The statement quotes the Edo Queens skipper, saying her confidence stemmed...
YENAGOA — Bayelsa Government has urged the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development to site its proposed University of Sports at Asoama in the Kolokuma/Opokuma council area of the state. Gov. Douye Diri made the call while playing host to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Development, Mr. Sunday Dare on Friday in Government House, Yenagoa. He urged the ministry to take advantage of the world-class facilities available at the state’s Sports Academy, Asoama....
TOKYO — The 2020 Olympic Games’ torch relay reached the host city of Tokyo on Friday to a muted reception. The torch began its final phase ahead of the lighting of the Olympic cauldron at the July 23 opening ceremony. This was the day after Japan decided to ban all spectators from attending the Games in Tokyo and neighbouring areas owing to the coronavirus. The public was then on Friday also asked not to line...
BERLIN — Goalkeeper Unai Simon saved two penalty kicks as Spain beat Switzerland 3-1 in a shootout on Friday to secure a place in the Euro 2020 semi-finals. Spain prevailed in the shootout as Mikel Oyarzabal scored the winner after Simon had saved from Fabian Schaer and Manuel Akanji. Ruben Vargas had fired high for the Swiss in the quarter-final game played in St Petersburg. Spain’s Sergio Busquets and Rodri also failed to score in...
LONDON — Andy Murray’s Wimbledon comeback ended in the third round on Friday with a straight-set defeat by Denis Shapovalov. He had won back-to-back matches at a grand slam for the first time since his hip problems started in 2017. The two-time Wimbledon champion therefore had Centre Court dreaming of home glories once again. But 10th seed Shapovalov was a step up from Nikoloz Basilashvili and Oscar Otte. Murray was comfortably beaten 4-6 2-6 2-6...
YENAGOA — Bayelsa -born Olympic-bound athlete Timma Godbless has appealed to stakeholders in Bayelsa, to encourage young athletes to excel and achieve their potential. 17 -year old Godbless, who hails from Aleibiri in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday. She said that the lack of motivation after major competition and poor nutrition, has been a challenge for many athletes, in Nigeria....
