Chelsea’s Spanish winger Pedro has had surgery, following a shoulder injury he sustained during Saturday’s FA Cup final defeat by Arsenal. Pedro had replaced forward Christian Pulisic in the game which Chelsea lost 2-1, after the American, who scored in the first half, pulled up with a hamstring problem. “The surgery went well, I will be back soon. It was a pity not to win the FA Cup. Thank you all for your support,” the 33-year-old Pedro said on...
Two Italian girls whose video of their rooftop tennis game went viral have received a surprise visit from Roger Federer. The video of Vittoria Oliveri and Carola Pessina playing on the rooftops of neighbouring buildings in Finale Ligure during the COVID-19 lockdown garnered over 10 million views. The girls thought they were preparing for another media interview when they were asked about their favourite players. “Roger Federer. If I were to meet him, I will jump on him,...
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer heaped praise on his team after they sealed a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League. They got a nervy 2-0 win at direct rivals Leicester City on the final day of the 2019/2020 English Premier League (EPL) season. Manchester United, who at one point looked doubtful of clinching even a Europa League berth, finished third after winning six and drawing three of their last nine league games. The...
The Anambra State Football Association (AnSFA) Electoral Committee for 2020 State Board and Local Football Councils Elections has postponed the exercise indefinitely. The elections were billed to hold on Monday and Tuesday in Awka Obinna Dike, the Head of the Media and Publicity Sub-committee, announced the postponement in a statement on Sunday night in Awka. He said the postponement was sequel to the letter from the Anambra government which directed that the elections be shelved...
Rangers FC of Glasgow in Scotland have signed Nigeria’s international defender Leon Balogun on a one-year deal. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Scottish giants announced the signing of the Super Eagles’ defender on its website www.rangers.co.uk. “Rangers are today delighted to announce the signing of Nigerian international defender, Leon Balogun, on a one-year deal, with Rangers having an option for a further year. “Balogun, 32, arrives in Glasgow with experience both in...
Ndubuisi Egbo, the Nigerian coach who guided Albania’s KF Tirana to top flight triumph in their centenary year, has made history as the first African coach to lead a European team to a league title, and qualification for the UEFA Champions League — or any European competition, for that matter. For a team that has now won the Albanian league title 25 times — more than any other club in the country — Tirana being...
■ Nigerian Nneka Ede is labeled as the first woman to own a European sports club following her purchase of the Portuguese club, Lusitano Ginásio Clube. Nigeria’s female entrepreneur Nneka Ede has become the first African woman to own a European football club after she pulled off a deal last June enabling her to own the 108-year-old Lusitano Ginásio Clube that is participating in Campeonato de Portugal (the Portuguese third division). In her own words...
Real Madrid clinched a record-extending 34th La Liga title with one game to spare by beating Villarreal 2-1 at home on Thursday — thanks to two goals from their leading scorer Karim Benzema. Real have 86 points after 37 games, seven more than deposed champions Barcelona, who were beaten 2-1 at home to Osasuna. Benzema fired through the legs of Villarreal keeper Sergio Asenjo to put Madrid ahead after 29 minutes and then converted a...
Cristiano Ronaldo converted two penalty kicks, both awarded for handballs and the second in the last minute on Saturday, as Serie A leaders Juventus twice hit back to draw 2-2 with Atalanta. The draw helped the defending champions to move closer to a ninth successive Serie A title. The Portuguese forward took his league tally to 28 goals this season as Juventus went eight points clear of second-placed Lazio with six matches to play. Atalanta...
Raheem Sterling struck a hat-trick as Manchester City crushed Brighton 5-0 at the AmEx Stadium in the 2019/2020 English Premier League (EPL) on Saturday. Second-placed Manchester City had lost their previous three away games but never looked likely to extend that streak against a Brighton side that struggled from the outset. Sterling, who has now netted 27 goals in all competitions, opened the scoring in the 21st minute. That was when he collected a nod-down...
