SPORTS

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced that former President Barack Obama has joined NBA Africa as a strategic partner President Obama will help advance the league’s social responsibility efforts across the continent, including programs and partnerships that support greater gender equality and economic inclusion. In this capacity, President Obama will have a minority equity stake in the new venture, …

Belarus Premier League side FC Vitebsk have said the drowning of Nigerian footballer Kelvin Odenigbo was an “accident.” The club doctors on Monday explained that following forensic examinations, no violent marks were seen on the 20-year-old’s body. “According to the results of the forensic medical examination, no violent marks were found on the football player’s body, there are no traces …

Nigerian footballer Kelvin Odenigbo has been found dead after the 20-year-old drowned in a lake in Belarus. His Belarusian club FC Vitebsk confirmed the sad incident, explaining that he drowned in Lake Beloye. The football club “Vitebsk” reported that on June 5, 2021, on the lake “Beloye”, in the area of ​​the tourist base “Verasy”, OSVOD employees found the drowned …

Ex-Wolves and Nigeria midfielder, Seyi Olofinjana, has been named technical director at Switzerland’s most successful club Grasshopper Zurich. The 40-year-old will oversee the football department at the newly-promoted Super League outfit and immediately find the right candidate to fill the ‘position of the head coach’ . The former Stoke City, Hull City and Cardiff City player was snapped from English …

Formula1 team McLaren has signed Ugo Ugochukwu, a promising teenage driver who was recently crowned FIA European karting champion. The agreement provides McLaren Racing with an option on Ugochukwu services into the future, supporting the driver’s development and evolution as he progresses through the junior categories of motorsport. McLaren, in press release, said: “McLaren Racing today [22 March 20221] announced …

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have signed a deal for two world heavyweight title unification fights, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn said on Monday. Confirming the agreement, Hearn told ESPN, a US television channel that broadcasts exclusively sports programmes round the clock: “The hard part is always getting everybody to put pen to paper. “But this was a major effort from …

Leading South African businessman Patrice Motsepe emerged on Friday as the new President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). He took over from Ahmad Ahmad of Madagascar, whose tenure ended in controversy. “Africa needs collective wisdom, but also the exceptional talent and wisdom of every (national football association) president and every member nation,” Motsepe, Founder and Executive Chairman of …

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have agreed to a world title unification fight, promoter Bob Arum confirmed on Wednesday evening. The all-British bout between 32-year-old WBC champion Fury and Joshua, 31 – who holds the IBF, WBO and WBA titles – will see all four belts contested in a heavyweight fight for the first time. After Joshua beat Kubrat Pulev …

  Two-time Unified World Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua has stepped up the fighting talk and warned Tyson Fury he relishes going to war in the ring as the pair moves closer to a heavyweight mega-fight. ”I’d rather die in battle, so I can go to the heavens where the warriors lie than go to battle and try to hide and …

By retaining his IBF, WBA, and WBO titles, Anthony Joshua has given boxing lovers around the world, and particularly in Nigeria, something to cheer, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has said.  Femi Adesina, the President’s spokesman in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, said Buhari made his feelings known while celebrating the decisive victory of the Nigerian-born boxer over Kubrat Pulev …

The Argentine football legend, Diego Armando Maradona, died aged 60 on Wednesday, after a life that showcased the good, the bad and the ugly of the human condition. But he will mostly be remembered for his footballing exploits which transcended the sport. Our Contributing Editor, Michael Nnaji, looks back on his life. My first recollections of Diego Maradona were during …

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona has passed away at the age of 60 after suffering a cardiac arrest, according to multiple reports. He had a heart attack at his home just two weeks after leaving hospital where he underwent brain surgery. Days after celebrating his 60th birthday, the Gimnasia coach had been hospitalised after complaining of low spirits and fatigue …

Confederation of African Football (CAF) president, Ahmad Ahmad, has been banned for five years by FIFA for breaching various codes of ethics, according to a statement released by the global football body’s ethics committee on Monday. The 60-year-old, who is also a vice-president of FIFA, was found guilty of breaching four separate articles of the organization’s ethics code, including abuse …

Didier Drogba – one of the greatest players ever to come out of Africa – received the 2020 UEFA President’s Award from UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin at the UEFA Champions League draw ceremony in Geneva on Thursday (1 October).  The 42-year-old former Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker, described by Čeferin as “a leader and pioneer”, follows famous names such as …

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the year 2020 has been characterised by irregular European football schedules, cancellations and new rules. For the fans it has meant their not being able to support their favourite teams in person at stadiums across Europe. Not forgetting that in the German Bundesliga, Bayern Munich emerged domestic champions and as well as dominating …

Yemi Babalola* writes on the ongoing tussle between Lionel Messi and Barcelona on the star player’s intention to leave the club that discovered, nurtured and brought the Argentine footballer to global fame and immense wealth It is no longer news that Lionel Andrés Messi, who is arguably the world’s best football player, has made known to Barcelona that he wants …

Michael Ojo, a Nigerian basketball player who previously played for Red Star Belgrade, died at the age of 27 during a training session in the Serbian capital on Friday, the club said. “We are deeply saddened by the news”, Red Star’s spokesperson Igor Vujicin told AFP. The club couldn’t confirm the cause of death, but local media reported that Ojo …

Arsenal football club is one of Europe’s topflight sides that has been a shadow of itself in the last few seasons, especially since the departure of their long-time manager Arsene Wenger. The departure of Wenger brought about the signing of former Villareal manager Unai Emery by the English side. Unai Emery inherited an Arsenal side who were Europa league finalists, …

The year 2020 for football fans would be unforgettable due to the delays and cancellations of leagues and competitions across the world. UEFA champions league was not left out of the affected tourney due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic that has affected every aspect of life. Now that the competition is back, it comes with some new changes …

After 30 years of hurt, Liverpool Football Club are – to use a phrase coined by former Manchester United Manager, Alex Ferguson – “back on their perch”. Last week they were crowned English Premier League champions basically with their legs on the sofa. They were confirmed winners after Chelsea Football pipped Manchester City 2-1 which ensured Liverpool had an unassailable …