Author: Nurudeen Obalola
Madison Keys fought her way back from a set down on Thursday to shock Iga Swiatek in a thriller and set up an Australian Open women’s singles final against two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka. The 19th seed battled through a thrilling semi-final on a final-set tiebreak against the world No.2 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 after Sabalenka swept aside Paula Badosa in straight sets earlier in the day. Five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek had not dropped her serve since the first round but was broken eight times by Keys, who saved a match point on her way to edging a titanic battle.…
By Korede James Nigeria’s Super Eagles B will now take on Equatorial Guinea in Group D of the 2024 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) disqualified Congo Brazzaville for fielding an ineligible player in the playoffs. CAF’s Disciplinary Board confirmed Congo’s disqualification in a verdict released on Thursday. The decision follows a formal complaint lodged by the Equatorial Guinea Football Federation (FEGUIFUT) and which was followed by an investigation. “The CAF Disciplinary Board has released a verdict on the matters involving the Federación Ecuatoguineana de Fútbol (“FEGUIFUT”) and the Fédération Congolaise de Football (“FECOFOOT”) following…
Manchester City have completed the signing of Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt. The 25-year-old Egypt striker, who cost Manchester City around €75 million, is the third January arrival for the English Premier League champions after defenders Abdukodir Khusanov and Victor Reis. “Manchester City are delighted to announce the signing of Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt,” the club stated on Thursday. “The 25-year-old Egyptian striker has completed a move to the Etihad Stadium on a four-and-a-half-year deal, meaning he will remain at the Club until the summer of 2029. “One of the most coveted young forwards operating in the European…
Real Madrid have become the first football club to generate more than €1 billion in annual revenue, according to analysis by Deloitte. The Spanish club retain top spot in Deloitte’s Money League study with revenue of €1.05bn (£883m) from a 2023-2024 season in which they won LaLiga and the UEFA Champions League. Manchester City are again second with revenue of £708m. They won an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title and the FIFA Club World Cup and European Super Cup last season. Paris St-Germain (£681m), Manchester United (£651m) and Bayern Munich (£646m) complete the top five. Aston Villa enter…
By Korede James Manchester City are in danger of crashing out of this season’s UEFA Champions League following their dramatic 4-2 defeat to PSG in Paris on Wednesday night. Two quick goals from Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland on 50 and 53 minutes respectively put City 2-0 ahead. Ousmane Dembele pulled a goal back for PSG in the 56th minute before Bradley Barcola made it 2-2 in the 60th minute. In the 79th minute PSG completed the comeback as Joao Neves put them 3-2 ahead. Goncalo Ramos then added the fourth goal for the hosts on 96 minutes. Ramos’ goal…
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has explained that he was criticising himself more than the players when he labelled his team as possibly the worst in the club’s history after Sunday’s 3-1 English Premier League defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford. United, who have lost seven of their 15 matches since Amorim took charge in November, are 13th in the Premier League. Amorim, 39, said he was frustrated for not being able to help his players produce better results. “It’s more for me, I was talking more about me than the players,” Amorim told reporters on Wednesday ahead of hosting Rangers in…
Iga Swiatek booked her second Australian Open semi-final with another spectacular display on Wednesday while Americans reached the last four of the men’s and women’s singles at Melbourne Park for the first time in 16 years. Defending champion Jannik Sinner was also at his impressive best as he dismantled local favourite Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 for his 10th victory over the eighth seed in as many matches and returned to the last four at Melbourne Park. Polish world number two Swiatek mowed down eighth seed Emma Navarro 6-1, 6-2 at Rod Laver Arena and faces another American in…
By Korede James Although they lost to South Africa in their final Group C fixture on Wednesday, Nigeria have qualified for the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup Super Six round. The Nigerian Junior Yellow Greens, who had made history by beating New Zealand dsys before, lost to South Africa by 41 runs in Malaysia on Wednesday. However, the team finished second with three points to advance to the next round. South Africa topped the group with six points after recording their third win, while New Zealand also advanced after beating Samoa. In the Super Six, Group 2, Nigeria will…
By Korede James Spanish women’s second division club Deportivo La Coruna Abanca have signed Super Falcons of Nigeria forward Blessing Nkor. Deportivo, also known as Deportivo Abanca, announced the signing of the 21-year-old on their website on Tuesday. “Dépor ABANCA strengthens its offensive part with the arrival until the end of the season of Blessing Nkor,” the club stated. “She arrived from Pyramids FC and in the 2023/2024 season played in Turkey’s top flight with Gaziantep Asya Spor, where she scored 12 goals. “An international with Nigeria in the youth categories, she made her debut last November with the senior…
By Korede James Victor Osimhen has said Galatasaray deserved more from their UEFA Europa League tie with Dynamo Kyiv on Tuesday. The Super Eagles striker was on target but Galatasaray surrendered a 3-1 lead at home to draw 3-3 with Dynamo Kyiv. Osimhen scored from the penalty spot to put the Turkish giants 3-1 before a brace from Andriy Yarmolenko drew the Ukrainian’s level. “We are disappointed. We thought we deserved more,” Osimhen, who is on loan from Napoli, told the Galatasaray website. “We need to take responsibility as a team. I think we all made mistakes. They also fought…