Author: Nurudeen Obalola
Anuoluwapo Opeyeri of Nigeria has won the 2025 All Africa Senior Badminton Championship men’s singles title in Douala, Cameroon. He defeated Egypt’s Adham Hatem 2-0 (21-7, 23-21) in Sunday’s final to claim a remarkable fifth consecutive gold medal in the event. Opeyori began his run to gold with a 2-0 victory over Algeria’s M. Ouchefoun in the round of 32, and followed up with another straight-sets victory against Reunion’s T. Cougouille in the round of 16. He also defeated Zambia’s Kalombo Mulenga, Mauritius’ Georges Paul in the quarter-finals and Morocco’s Driss Bourroum in the semi-finals to reach Sunday’s final. “This…
By Korede James Manchester United were beaten for a third time this season by Tottenham Hotspur, who won their English Premier League clash 1-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday. The Red Devils handed Denmark-born striker with Nigerian heritage Chido Obi-Martin his senior debut in the defeat, the 17-year-old striker coming on in stoppage time as the side’s only substitute. Obi-Martin, who joined from Arsenal this season and has been scoring regularly for United’s youth sides, was one of several youngsters included in Ruben Amorim’s squad on Sunday due to injuries to some first team players. James Maddison was…
By Korede James Liverpool restored their seven points lead over Arsenal in the English Premier League title race with a hard-fought 2-1 win against Wolves at Anfield on Sunday. Mohamed Salah continued his impressive scoring run as he doubled his side’s lead (his league-leading 23rd goal this season) after Luis Diaz had opened the scoring. The Egypt international has now scored in six consecutive games for Arne Slot’s men. Also, Salah’s strike against Wolves is his 101st in the Premier League at Anfield, level with Wayne Rooney’s tally for Manchester United at Old Trafford. Only Thierry Henry (114 at Highbury)…
Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo has said Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi could be available for next weekend’s English Premier League clash with Newcastle United. Awoniyi was ruled out of Forests’ 2-1 defeat at Fulham on Saturday due to concussion protocols. The Nigeria international, who has managed just one goal in 19 Premier League appearances this season, was involved in a nasty collision towards the end of Forest’s midweek FA Cup win over Exeter City, in which he scored. He also suffered a broken nose but has been undergoing the fitting of a protective mask to wear once he…
By Korede James Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has claimed that Leicester City were unlucky to lose to Arsenal at the King Power in Saturday’s English Premier League clash. A late double (81st and 87th minutes) from substitute Mikel Merino handed Arsenal a 2-0 win against a Leicester side that suffered their third straight defeat. The defeat left Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men 19th in the table, two points from safety, while Arsenal are four points behind Liverpool, having played a game more than the Reds. Reflecting on the defeat, Ndidi praised his teammates for their effort against a ‘top team’.…
By Korede James Rivers United missed the chance to close the gap on Remo Stars after 1-0 defeat to Enyimba in a week 24 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clash in Aba on Saturday. The defeat leaves Rivers United, handled by former Enyimba and Super Eagles head coach Finidi George, in third place, 10 points behind leaders Remo Stars. For Enyimba, it is a return to winning ways after losing back-to-back games. Imo Obot scored the only goal four minutes before the end of the first half. The People’s Elephant are 10th in the league table, well off the title-chasing…
By Korede James Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey’s strike proved to be the match winner as Fulham defeated top-four hopefuls Nottingham Forest 2-1 at Craven Cottage in the English Premier League on Saturday. It was Bassey’s first league goal in his 24th appearance for the Cottagers this campaign. The last time he scored was in the 2-1 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford last February. Also in action in the encounter were Nigeria internationals Alex Iwobi and Ola Aina who both made their 25th league appearances. Bassey scored in the 62nd minute to put Fulham 2-1 ahead after Chris…
By Korede James A second half brace from Mikel Merino earned a depleted Arsenal side a 2-0 victory against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium in the English Premier League on Saturday. The Gunners are now four points off leaders Liverpool in the league table, with the Reds in action on Sunday. Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester remain in the relegation zone in 18th place, two points from safety. Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi was in action for Leicester City, making his 16th appearance in the English top flight this campaign. Going into the tie, the discussions had centered around…
Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner accepted a three-month ban in a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and said Saturday the agreement ends a case that was “hanging over me” since his two positive doping tests nearly a year ago. WADA, which was seeking to ban the three-time Grand Slam champion from the sport for at least one year, had challenged a decision last year by the International Tennis Integrity Agency not to suspend Sinner for what the ITIA judged was accidental contamination by a banned anabolic steroid last March. Sinner’s explanation — that trace amounts of Clostebol in his doping sample was due to…
By Nurudeen Obalola Kenyan runner Edwin Kibet has emerged as the winner of the 2025 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, while Ethiopia’s Guta Meseret Hirpa was the first woman to reach the finish line on Saturday morning. The victories for Kibet and Hirpa continued a long tradition of athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia sweeping the top prizes of the prestigious annual race held in Nigeria’s commercial capital. Kibet beat over 60,000 participants of the 42 kilometre race, completing the run in <span;>2 hours 14 minutes 6 seconds to clinch the $50,000 prize. Fellow Kenyans finished second and third behind Kibet,…