Sunday 3 May 2015:

Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote claims he still harbours hopes of one day buying Arsenal. The Nigerian has an estimated fortune of 15billion US dollars (£10.4billion) and is reported to have wanted to buy into the Gunners when former director Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith was selling her shares in 2010. Arsenal’s current majority shareholder is American tycoon Stan Kroenke, who remains committed to the Barclays Premier League club for the long-term. Uzbek magnate Alisher Usmanov controls around 30 per cent and has also expressed no desire to offload any of his stock. Nevertheless Dangote, whose business interests include sugar, flour and oil, remains keen to become part of the Emirates Stadium club sometime in the future. Speaking to Bloomberg, he said: ‘I still hope, one day at the right price, that I will buy the team. ‘I might buy it, not at a ridiculous price but a price that the owners won’t want to resist. I know my strategy.’ Dangote, though, added no imminent bid was in the pipeline. ‘We have 16billion dollars-worth of investments in the next few years. Right now I want to take my own business to a certain level. Once I finish on that trajectory, then maybe,’ he said. Dangote, however, suggested Arsene Wenger’s side should be achieving more. He added: ‘(Wenger) needs to change his style a bit. They need new direction.’

Just under three hours until kick-off in the first Champions League semi-final between champions of Italy Juventus and defending European champions Real Madrid in Turin. Former Real Madrid keeper Bodo Illgner believes criticism of Gareth Bale this season has been unfair. Illgner, who played when Real beat Juventus in the 1998 Champions League final, adds: “If he’s not 100% fit that’s a very big issue for him. But he made a very good impression in the last match at Seville so I think he will start tonight and will have a good performance. “He’s shown what’s capable of for Real Madrid in the cup final and the Champions League final last season.”

Former world number one Tiger Woods admits he has had a “brutal” three days following the split with girlfriend Lindsey Vonn. On Sunday the high-profile couple announced they had “mutually decided to end our relationship”. The timing was not great for Woods, coming on the ninth anniversary of the death of his father Earl, and as a result he has had trouble sleeping. “Obviously it does affect me. It’s tough. These three days have been brutal on me,” said the 39-year-old at his press conference ahead of this week’s Players Championship, his first appearance since the Masters a month ago.

Chelsea midfielder Oscar has suffered a training ground injury which has ruled him out of this summer’s Copa America in Chile, Brazil coach Dunga says. “Oscar got an injury in his last training session with Chelsea, we spoke with (Chelsea manager Jose) Mourinho and the doctor at Chelsea and his recuperation will take time and he won’t be at his best during the Copa America,” Dunga added. “After the Copa America we have the World Cup qualifiers, and we thought it best for him to be ready for the qualifiers.”

Juventus host Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday looking to reach their first final since 2003. The Old Lady secured their fourth straight Serie A title at the weekend so will go into the tie full of confidence and are now able to focus solely on their bid for a third Champions League triumph. Their last victory came when a team containing the likes of Alessandro Del Piero, Fabrizio Ravanelli and Didier Deschamps beat Ajax on penalties in the 1996 final. Meanwhile, Real Madrid have won the famous trophy on four occasions since then including last year after a 4-1 win over neighbours Atletico Madrid after extra time in the final – and are bidding to become the first team in the Champions League era to retain the trophy. They required a late winner from Javier Hernandez to reach this stage though. The Mexican’s goal at the Bernabeu was all that separated Real and Atletico after 180 minutes.

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Manny Pacquiao could face disciplinary action from Nevada boxing officials for failing to disclose a shoulder injury before his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. The Nevada state attorney general’s office is to investigate why Pacquiao ticked ‘no’ a day before the fight on a commission questionnaire asking if he had a shoulder injury. “We will gather all the facts and follow the circumstances,” said Nevada Athletic Commission chairman Francisco Aguilar on Monday. “You want to make sure fighters are giving you up-to-date information.” Pacquiao could be fined or suspended for not answering the question accurately on the form he filled out himself just before Friday’s weigh-in. He went on to lose a unanimous points decision to Mayweather in the richest fight ever. He is also expected to undergo surgery later this week to repair a “significant tear” in his rotator cuff (shoulder muscles), according to Los Angeles orthopaedic surgeon Dr Neal ElAttrache, who examined Pacquiao on Monday.

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The Palestinian Football Association is seeking the suspension of Israel from world football. A proposal to that effect has been included on the agenda for FIFA’s annual congress in Zurich and would need a 75% majority to succeed. Palestine has complained that Israel has continued to hamper its football activities through restrictions on the movement of their athletes between the Gaza Strip and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israel cites security concerns for restrictions it imposes but says it has eased travel for Palestinian athletes between the territories. It is unlikely to succeed after FIFA president Sepp Blatter said last month he opposed the move, which needs three-quarters of votes to pass if a ballot is allowed. Palestinian officials insist Israel’s football federation should be punished for restrictions imposed by security forces which limit movement of players, opposing teams and equipment. Earlier in the meeting in Zurich, Blatter — who met several times in recent weeks with Palestinian football leader Jibril Rajoub — is scheduled to update on his mediation between the two federations. Talks began in 2013. Blatter said ahead of meeting Rajoub in Cairo last month that suspending a member “is always something which harms the whole organization.” FIFA suspensions prevent a member’s national and club teams taking part in international matches and meetings, and block FIFA funding.

Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein would consider withdrawing from the FIFA presidential election to allow a single candidate to challenge Sepp Blatter. The Jordanian is currently standing against Blatter, Michael van Praag of the Netherlands FA and former Portugal international Luis Figo. “The important thing is that we support the person who has the best chance of making a change in FIFA,” he said. “At some point there will be a discussion about that.” Blatter, 78, is seeking a fifth term as president, with FIFA’s 209 member associations set to vote in the election on 29 May. Prince Ali, an outgoing member of the governing body’s executive committee, believes they could be faced with a straight choice between two candidates. Speaking to the BBC’s World Football programme at the Soccerex convention in Jordan, he added: “I have tremendous respect for both the [other] challengers. “We all have our different approaches but I think we have one common goal and that’s about the need for change in FIFA. “It’s never about one person and that’s been the case for me from the very beginning.”

Former Chelsea captain and assistant manager Ray Wilkins picked their best team from 2005 to the present as below:

Do you agree with him?

Chelsea have announced plans for a parade on Monday, May 25 to celebrate winning the Premier League and Capital One Cup this season. Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge gave the Blues an unassailable lead at the top of the table and a first Premier League title in five years. A statement on the club’s official website read: “Following our success in winning the Barclays Premier League and with agreement from London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and the Metropolitan Police, we can confirm that a victory parade will be held on Bank Holiday Monday, May 25, commencing at 12pm.” The first-team squad will be joined on the open-top bus parade through west London by players and staff from Chelsea’s academy, who this season won the FA Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League. Three coaches will leave the west entrance of Stamford Bridge before travelling east along Fulham Road before going to Eel Brook Common, where the parade will finish.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says the Premier League title is his reward for the risk he took in returning to Stamford Bridge for a second spell. Eden Hazard’s goal gave Chelsea the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace that saw them crowned as champions. Mourinho also said he will stay for as long as owner Roman Abramovich wants. He said: “When you go back to where you had success before you risk a bit of your prestige and your history. I risked it but I can say we won again.” Mourinho won two titles in his first stint in charge and claimed his third after coming back to Chelsea at the start of last season. He said: “I could choose another club in another country where it is easier to be champion but I chose the most difficult league in Europe where I was happy before. “In my country, Portugal, we say don’t go back to where you were happy before because it is a risk. “But I have taken that risk and I’m so happy because I won another Premier League 10 years later in my second spell. “To win titles with two generations, 10 years apart, I feel I have a place in Chelsea’s history”

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini says Chelsea have matched the feats of his side last season – but without City’s attacking flair or goals. Chelsea won the Premier League title after a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, having already lifted the League Cup. Pellegrini says it was not done with the same swagger as City a year ago. “It is important for the fans to play attractive football. We did exactly the same that Chelsea did this year, but we scored 158 goals last year,” he said. “We scored more goals in another style.” Pellegrini spoke after his City side clinched a 1-0 win over Tottenham thanks to a goal from Sergio Aguero which effectively secured a Champions League place. The 61-year-old Chilean says he will not deviate from his attacking approach to the game, even though Jose Mourinho’s team have taken the title off them. “This team continues as the most scoring team,” Pellegrini added. “That side is important, to continue winning in that sense.”

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has stripped Robin van Persie of penalty duties after Saturday’s miss cost his side against West Brom. Asked if Van Persie would continue as first-choice penalty taker, Van Gaal said: “No. He is now at the end of the road.” “It is always [the same],” he added. “Wayne Rooney has missed also, so when you miss, you are at the bottom again.” West Brom’s 1-0 victory was United’s third league defeat in succession. Van Persie, 31, had the opportunity to equalise Chris Brunt’s 63rd-minute opener from the spot after referee Anthony Taylor ruled Saido Berahino had handled in the box. But Baggies keeper Boaz Myhill guessed right and palmed the Dutchman’s effort to safety, helping West Brom to a second straight win at Old Trafford.

Chelsea secured the Premier League title by beating Crystal Palace 1 – 0 at an ecstatic Stamford Bridge. Jose Mourinho’s side needed three points to complete the triumph that has become an inevitability in recent weeks as they moved out of sight of their rivals to reclaim the crown from Manchester City, who are 13 points adrift despite their win at Tottenham.

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Bournemouth won the Championship title with a comfortable 3 -0 victory at Charlton, as Watford slipped up late on against Sheffield Wednesday in a game that ended 1 -1. Watford had been on course to win the league but Atdhe Nuhiu’s late equaliser denied them three points and the Cherries took advantage at The Valley. Two goals from Matt Ritchie and one for Harry Arter sealed the win and capped a memorable season for Eddie Howe’s side. They finished a point clear of Watford at the top of the table. Bournemouth will take their place in the top flight of English football having been close to liquidation in 2008 and a game away from going out of the Football League in 2009. Under manager Howe, they have now earned three promotions, two of which have come in the past three seasons, and a spot in the top division for the first time in the club’s history. Howe, 37, also joins a select band of managers to guide a team through the Football League and into the top flight, where they will earn an estimated £120m from their promotion.

Watford also joins Bournemouth in the promotion to premier league. Norwich, Middlesbrough, Brentford and Ipswich will engage in play-offs to determine the third team that will gain promotion to the premier league.

Flying Eagles and Enugu Rangers midfielder, Obinna Nwobodo, has been ruled out of next month’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand after he suffered a cruciate ligament injury at the 2015 African Youth Championship, africanFootball.com reports. The midfielder suffered the knee injury in the final of the competition against hosts Senegal and he will now be sidelined for as long as nine months. The 18-year-old Nwobodo was named on a provisional 35-man squad for the World Cup, but he has now been effectively ruled out of the competition, which begins in New Zealand on May 30. To sad for the young man. We wish him quick recovery.

Nigeria were the victors in the women’s 4x200m IAAF/BTC World Relays, Bahamas 2015, winning in 1:30.52 to take two seconds off the national record they set earlier this year. World bronze medallist Blessing Okagbare led the team off before the baton was passed to Regina George, Dominique Duncan and Christy Udoh. Jamaica finished a distant second in 1:31.73, one-and-a-half seconds slower than their time from last year, but one place higher on the podium. Germany were third in 1:33.61 while China set an Asian record of 1:34.89 in fourth. Pre-event favourites USA looked to be on course to successfully defend their title from last year, after Shalonda Solomon, Kimberlyn Duncan and Jeneba Tarmoh had built up a comfortable lead on the first three legs. But then disaster struck on the final changeover between Tarmoh and Allyson Felix. The Olympic 200m champion couldn’t quite get a solid grip on the baton as Tarmoh then bumped into her before Felix fell to the ground, their medal hopes dashed. There was drama too for the host nation as their second changeover was well outside of the zone. The Bahamas carried on and eventually crossed the line in second place, but they were soon disqualified.

Manny Pacquiao blamed a shoulder injury for his defeat by Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas, claiming it stopped him from using his right hand, BBC reports. American Mayweather, 38, outclassed his Philippine rival at the MGM Grand and was awarded a wide unanimous decision. Pacquiao, 36, said he thought he did enough to win the fight, despite most observers agreeing with the verdict. “Three weeks before the fight I got a tear in my right shoulder,” he said. “It got better but it wasn’t 100%.” Pacquiao said he wanted to have an injection in the shoulder before the fight but the Nevada Athletic Commission refused.

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Juventus clinched their fourth straight Serie A title after a hard-fought victory over Sampdoria secured courtesy of Arturo Vidal’s first-half header. The Turin club needed only a point at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium to win their 31st Scudetto but got all three. Chile midfielder Vidal scored the decisive goal when he met Stephan Lichtsteiner’s cross to head in. It handed Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri the title in his first season in charge of the club. Allegri, 47, was appointed Juventus coach last summer after Antonio Conte quit the club a day after his players returned for pre-season. Conte, now managing the Italian national team, said he left because it “may be more difficult to keep winning with Juventus” in the future. But ex-Milan boss Allegri has not struggled in his debut season with the Old Lady. Juve wrapped up the title, ahead of second-placed Lazio, with four games of the season remaining, having lost just three times in this campaign to date. Vidal found the net just after the half-hour mark when, unmarked at the back post, he got on the end of Lichtsteiner’s ball from the right and planted a header back across goal and into the net. Allegri, who also won the Serie A title in his first season in charge of Milan in 2010-11, will now attempt to complete a treble with Juventus in the rest of the campaign. Juve face European Cup holders Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday, and also play Lazio in the Italian Cup final.