Author: Olukayode Oke

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan has been cleared of doping violations with the provisional suspension on her lifted. This means the Nigerian medal hopeful will take part in the World Championship billed for Budapest, Hungary. A statement by Athletics Integrity Unit, AIU, noted that Tobi Amusan has not committed any offence and therefore, her “provisional suspension has now been lifted with immediate effect.” A panel of the Disciplinary Tribunal, by majority decision, has today found that Tobi Amusan has not committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) of three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period,” the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said in a…

Lionesses coach Sarina Wiegman would be considered by the Football Association (FA) as a possible successor to England men’s manager Gareth Southgate. Wiegman was appointed to the role in 2021 and has led England to the Women’s World Cup final a year after they won Euro 2022. With Southgate’s contract expiring in 2024, FA chief executive Mark Bullingham has suggested the Dutch coach will be in the frame when they consider options to take over as Three Lions boss. Bullingham said on Thursday: “People always say it is the best man for the job or the best Englishman. Why does…

Ousmane Dembele has taken up the number 10 jersey at Paris Saint-Germain after Neymar’s departure. The French star joined the French champions last week in a long-drawn and rather farcical move away from FC Barcelona. Dembele had originally chosen the No. 26 jersey, however, after the departure of Neymar to Al-Hilal, the winger has now taken over the number 10 jersey. Demeble’s move to PSG came under a lot of scrutiny over the last few weeks after Barca and the player went back and forth regarding the release clause, so much so, that Dembele’s agent Moussa Sissoko is reportedly planning to…

US head coach Vlatko Andonovski has resigned after the team’s worst performance at a Women’s World Cup. The four-time winners were knocked out by Sweden in the last 16 on penalties at this year’s tournament. It was the team’s earliest exit from a World Cup – they had finished at least third at every other edition. “Vlatko worked tirelessly for this team and has been a strong and positive leader for our women’s program,” sporting director Matt Crocker said. “We’re grateful for everything he has contributed to US Soccer and know he has a bright future in the sport.” Andonovski…

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has had “successful” surgery on a knee injury he picked up in pre-season, the club announced on Thursday. The Belgian international “has successfully undergone surgery today to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee,” Real said in a brief statement. The club added that Courtois will start his recovery programme “in the coming days” but did not specify how long it would be before he is able to play again, amid fears that he may be out for almost the entire season. Courtois was injured in training a week ago and his…

Former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lionel Messi has been nominated alongside Man City’s duo of Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne for the 2022–23 UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award. Messi scored four goals and made four assists in seven games for PSG as they crashed out in the round of 16 last season. He led Argentina to their World Cup success in December 2022. Erling Haaland scored the first goal in the 5-4 penalty shootout win over Sevilla in the Super Cup on Wednesday. The Norwegian scored 12 goals to finish as the top scorer last season as City…

Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise has signed a new four-year deal with the club amid interest from Chelsea. On Tuesday, it was reported that the Stamford Bridge club had activated a release clause in the region of £35m for the French Under-21 international. But Palace chairman Steve Parish confirmed on Thursday that the London-born 21-year-old would be staying put. Olise joined from Reading on a five-year-deal in 2021 but was in Chelsea’s youth system before leaving aged 14. Palace manager Roy Hodgson said: “We have been concerned. One is concerned if a club the size of Chelsea’s stature start to…

Nottingham Forest manager, Steve Cooper has said Taiwo Awoniyi is not fully fit yet. Awoniyi passed a late fitness test to be included in the matchday squad for last weekend’s away trip to Arsenal The Nigeria international came off the bench to score in the 2-1 defeat to the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium. Cooper provided more updates on the striker fitness and his teammate Moussa Niakhite ahead of the Saturday’s home clash against Sheffield United ”Both (Awoniyi and Niakhite) have had minutes in different ways and forms. Last week Taiwo came on at Arsenal, which was a slight risk…

Manchester City have defeated Sevilla on penalties to win the UEFA Super Cup following their treble-winning success, last season. The UEFA Champions league winners claimed a nervy 5-4 win on penalties. Cole Palmer scored in the 64th minute to equalise for Pep Guardiola’s side as a 1-1 draw forced the tie to penalties. Sevilla’s Nemanja Gudelj hit the bar after nine successful penalties from both sides. The win ensured Manchester City added another trophy to their cabinet days after losing to Arsenal in the Community Shield.

Elias Gora, a retired sport administrator on Wednesday said athletes of Tobi Amusan’s pedigree owed it a duty to the society to do the right thing at the right time. Gora, a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) against the backdrop of Amusan’s suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU). NAN reports that if the suspension is not upturned, Amusan could miss the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, from Aug. 19 to 27, as the global body has debunked reports that Amusan had been cleared…

Jurrien Timber has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his right knee and will undergo surgery in the coming days, Arsenal have confirmed. Timber, 22, limped off the pitch in the 50th minute of the Gunners’ 2-1 victory against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. The Netherlands international signed from Ajax for £34m last month. In a statement, Arsenal said Timber “will be out of action for a period of time” without specifying a duration. The club added: “The support and expertise from our medical team and everyone at the club will now be focussed on Jurrien’s rehabilitation programme, to ensure he recovers…

Chelsea Women’s forward Sam Kerr has been nominated for the 2023 PFA Women’s Players’ Player of the Year Award alongside Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw and Aston Villa’s Rachel Daly. The trio is part of the six-woman nominees’ list released by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), on Wednesday. Below are the six players nominated for the award. Sam Kerr (Chelsea) Last year’s winner, Sam Kerr, was part of the Emma Hayes-led Chelsea Women’s team that won the WSL for the fourth consecutive season, scoring 29 goals in 38 appearances for the Blues. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa) Rachel Daly was named the…