Tag: Sports - Page 34 - African News Today

Burnley, Brighton Join the Race to Sign Musa

7Feb

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

English Premiership, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Burnley, Brighton Join the Race to Sign Musa

Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa is drawing attention from other Premier League sides as he is yet to agree terms with West Brom. After being invited over by manager Sam Allardyce, the 28-year-old free agent and former Leicester City forward arrived in the country on Tuesday and underwent medical tests ahead of training at West Brom on Wednesday. The Nigeria international forward is understood to have impressed Allardyce and his coaching staff, who were hoping he would sign a contract until the end of the season and bolster their attacking options. However, Albion’s Chinese owners have stretched their budget to the limit in the January window and are now struggling to release more funds to sign Musa. Albion brought in Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Arsenal, Okay Yukuslu from Celta ...

Ajax Goalkeeper Onana Suspended One Year for Doping

5Feb

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Africa, Cameroon, Sports, Youths

Ajax Goalkeeper Onana Suspended One Year for Doping

Ajax’s Cameroonian international goalkeeper Andre Onana has been suspended for one year for doping, the Dutch club said on Friday. The club said in a statement Onana had “mistakenly” taken his wife’s medicine which had led to the banned diuretic Furosemide appearing in his urine. Ajax said they had hoped Onana would receive a shorter ban because the substance was “arguably” not a performance booster. “On the morning of October 30, Onana was feeling unwell,” the club said in a statement. “He wanted to take a pill to ease the discomfort. Unknowingly, however, he took Lasimac, a drug that his wife had previously been prescribed. “Onana’s confusion resulted in him mistakenly taking his wife’s medicine, ultimately causing this measure to be taken by UEFA against the goalkeeper.” ...

Ighalo Completes Transfer to Saudi Club Al Shabab

4Feb

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Ighalo Completes Transfer to Saudi Club Al Shabab

Former Super Eagles strike, Odion Ighalo has joined Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Professional Football League club Al Shabab on a two-and-a-half-year deal. The Nigerian forward joined the club from Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua. The club announced the deal in a tweet on its Twitter handle on Thursday. The tweet read, “Al Shabab has been signed with the Nigerian Odion Ighalo @ighalojude (Ex. Man United striker) for a two and a half years.” The 31-year-old left Premier League giants Manchester United after his loan deal with the club expired last month. Ighalo scored five goals in 23 appearances for Manchester United. The striker will the wear the number 89 shirt for Al Shabab. Reports say the former Watford player snubbed offers from clubs in Spain, England ...

Onyekuru Delighted to Maintain his Goal Form for Galatasaray

3Feb

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Onyekuru Delighted to Maintain his Goal Form for Galatasaray

Nigerian forward Henry Onyekuru is excited to keep getting the goal for Galatasaray on his return to the Turk Telecom Stadium. The Nigerian scored first for the Fathi Terim’s side in the 3-0 win over champions Istanbul Basaksehir on Monday night. The pacy forward converted a cross from Ryan Donk on the stroke of half-time. The 23-year-old striker bagged a brace in the 2-1 away win against Gazientep FK last week. He has now extended his goal tally for the Turkish giants to three goals in his opening two appearances. Onyekuru who formerly lined up for Anderlecht took to the social media to celebrate the win. He tweeted, “What a week! Happy to be back in the stadium and contribute with another goal! All praises to God!” Their next match would be league game against title ...

2Feb

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

English Premiership, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Ndidi, Vardy Ruled Out of Fulham Tie

Leicester City would be without Jamie Vardy and Wilfred Ndidi when they face Fulham tomorrow in the EPL. The key Leicester City pair both missed Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Leeds, the club’s first loss in 10 matches , but neither will have overcome their injury problems in time to provide Brendan Rodgers with a boost ahead of the trip to the capital. Vardy is in the process of recovering from a hernia operation and could return to training later in the week. Ndidi, meanwhile, suffered a minor hamstring tear in the 1-1 draw at Everton and is not due to be back in action until next week. After the loss to Leeds, Rodgers said it was clear his side would have benefitted from their involvement. “I think everyone watching the game could see there were certain moments where those two playe...

Joel Matip Ruled Out of Season with Ankle Injury

2Feb

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Cameroon, English Premiership, News, Sports

Joel Matip Ruled Out of Season with Ankle Injury

Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp has disclosed that Cameroonian defender, Joel Matip is set to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines which will rule him out of the remainder of the 2020-2021 season due to an ankle ligament injury. The defender sustained the injury in a challenge with Tottenham Hotspur’s forward, Son Heung-min during the first half of the Reds 3-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur stadium. Further examination on the extent of the injury has shown the defender will play no further role in Liverpool’s quest to defend their Premiership title. Liverpool had suffered injury crisis with fellow centre-backs Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk out of action due to long-term injuries; however, Klopp’s defensive options have been bolstered by the deadline-day arrivals of Ben Davies and Ozan...

Eze Good Enough To Play For England – Hodgson

1Feb

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

English Premiership, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Sports, Youths

Eze Good Enough To Play For England – Hodgson

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson believes Eberechi Eze will be good enough to play for the England senior side but is not yet ready to make the step up, according to Sky Sports Eze grabbed his third goal of the season in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Wolves to continue his fine start at Selhurst Park following a summer switch from QPR. The 22-year-old is eligible to play for Nigeria but is currently part of Aidy Boothroyd’s England Under-21 squad, although he missed the recent games in November with an injury. When Hodgson was in charge of the national team, he had to convince Jack Grealish to pick the Three Lions over the Republic of Ireland and the Aston Villa captain has forced his way into Gareth Southgate’s plans ahead of the Euro’s later this year. And with Eze now in a simi...

30Jan

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

English Premiership, Interview, News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Why I Shunned Ajax Move – Ajayi

West Bromwich Albion defender has explained his quest for first-team football made him reject an opportunity to join Ajax. The 27-year-old centre-back started his career at Charlton Athletic academy and was promoted to the senior team in 2012. During his time at the Valley, the Super Eagles star also spent time on loan with Dartford before moving to Arsenal permanently in 2013. The defender spent two years with the Gunners but did not get a chance to feature for the senior team and had to leave the Emirates Stadium. Ajayi went on trial at Ajax before sealing a deal with Cardiff City and has revealed why he decided not to join the Dutch side despite their interest to sign him. “When I left Arsenal, they allowed me to go and train at clubs and have a look at clubs and explore ...

BREAKING: CAS Reinstates Ahmad as CAF President

29Jan

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Africa, Madagascar, News, Sports

BREAKING: CAS Reinstates Ahmad as CAF President

Madagascar’s Ahmad Ahmad has been reinstated as President of Confederation of African Football (CAF) following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Ahmad was banned by FIFA in November for five years after football’s world governing body found him to have breached several of its ethics codes. The Malagasy appealed his decision at CAS, which issued a preliminary ruling on Friday. Ahmad is still ineligible to contest CAF’s presidential elections in March however, since the CAS decision came after both the CAF’s Governance Committee and FIFA ‘s Review Committee met earlier this week to discuss the eligibility of candidates. CAF says it will hear Ahmad’s appeal in full on March 2, with a decision issued before the CAF presidential elections on 12 March. “Due to a risk...

Ighalo Announces Exit from Manchester United

26Jan

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

English Premiership, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Ighalo Announces Exit from Manchester United

Former Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, has announced his departure from Manchester United. He made the announcement in an emotional farewell message posted on his social media handles. In the message, the prolific striker said it was hard to leave Old Trafford, saying it was a pleasure to play for the Manchester club. The 31-year-old striker’s loan from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua expires at the end of this month. The Nigeria international joined United in January last year on an initial six-month deal that was later extended to 12 months. Ighalo scored five goals in 18 appearances during the 2019-20 campaign as he proved a useful back-up option for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He posted, “It’s so hard to see this dream come to an end. But I give God the glory for helping ...