Sports

Ex-International and member of Super Eagles 2002 World Cup team, Justice Christopher, is dead. He was 40. Christopher reportedly died after he slumped in his hotel in Gwolshe, off Tudunwada Ring Road, Jos, Plateau State, on Wednesday. The Nation learnt the defensive midfielder died with no sign of sickness or illness. The country’s football governing body, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed his death. Christopher played for several clubs including Katsina United, Sharks F.C., Bendel Insurance, Antwerp (Belgium), Levski Sofia (Bulgaria), Trelleborgs FF (Sweden), Alania Vladikavkaz (Russia) and Herfølge Boldklub (Denmark). Christopher captained the Nigeria U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles,…

2022 W/C Playoff: Eguavoen Lists Musa, Ighalo, Sadiq, Okoye, Lookman, Bassey, 26 Others In Provisional Squad For Ghana Clash Technical Adviser Augustine Eguavoen has called up Captain Ahmed Musa, deputy captain William Ekong, midfielder Wifred Ndidi and forwards Moses Simon and Kelechi Iheanacho in a Super Eagles’ provisional list of 32 for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 play-off round against the Black Stars of Ghana. Also called up are goalkeepers Maduka Okoye and Daniel Akpeyi, defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi and Abdullahi Shehu, midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, and forwards Victor Osimhen, Odion Ighalo and Samuel Chukwueze. Leicester…

Premier league side Chelsea won the Club World Cup for the first time after an extra-time victory against Brazilian club Palmeiras. A 117th-minute penalty in Abu Dhabi by Kai Havertz - who scored their 2021 Champions League winner - means the Blues have now won every trophy possible under owner Roman Abramovich. Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring with a header in the second half before Raphael Veiga levelled from the spot. Palmeiras defender Luan was sent off in added time.  

FIFA approves Ademola Lookman nationality switch to Nigeria. Leicester City winger Ademola Lookman has had his application to change nationality to represent Nigeria instead of England approved by FIFA. The 24-year-old is on loan at the King Power Stadium from RB Leipzig, having previously represented Everton and Charlton Athletic. Lookman has not represented England’s senior team, but was an Under-19, Under-20, and Under-21 youth international. He was part of the squad that won the Under-20 World Cup in 2017. Growing up in Peckham, both his parents are Nigerian. His path follows that of Alex Iwobi, who declared for Nigeria after…

Chelsea midfielder, Hakim Ziyech, has announced his retirement from Morocco’s national team. The decision comes after Ziyech was left out of Morocco’s squad for their Africa Cup of Nations campaign last month. Last year, Morocco head coach Vahid Halilhodzic accused the 28-year-old of faking an injury to get out of playing a friendly and criticised the midfielder’s behaviour. Ziyech, who has 40 caps for Morocco, has not featured for the national side since June and has now made himself unavailable for the foreseeable future. “Obviously I understand them but I will not return to the national team,” Ziyech told Abu…

Sadio Mane netted the winning spot-kick as Senegal beat Egypt 4-2 on penalties to clinch their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations after a 0-0 draw. The Liverpool forward had seen a seventh-minute penalty saved by Egypt keeper Gabaski but Mane held his nerve when he returned in the shootout. Chelsea's Edouard Mendy denied Mohanad Lasheen to give Mane the chance to win it in Yaounde's Olembe Stadium. Gabaski had made three good saves from Senegal's Bamba Dieng in extra time.

English Premier League side Watford have sacked boss Claudio Ranieri after 14 games and less than four months in charge. The Italian, 70, was appointed on 4 October but managed only seven points from 13 Premier League games. Last Friday's 3-0 home defeat to Norwich saw Watford drop into the bottom three with 18 matches left and prompted Ranieri's departure. A club statement said a change was needed to give a new appointment time to lift Watford out of trouble. "The Hornets' board recognises Claudio as a man of great integrity and honour, who will always be respected here at…

Augustine Eguavoen has stepped down as the interim coach of the Nigeria national team. This follows the Super Eagles’ 1-0 defeat to Tunisia in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 clash on Sunday. Eguavoen had led the three-time champions to three straight wins against Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau. However, they fell short against a Covid-stricken Tunisian team in the knockout stages. “What happens next is that I’m the interim coach and Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). “I will go back to my position and allow the NFF (to) make a decision on the way…

Nigeria have crashed out of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a 0-1 loss to the North African side, Tunisia. A goalkeeping error from Maduka Okoye gave the Carthage Eagles the goal just two minutes into the second half. More to follow…