Rio 2016 organisers have revealed the medals that will be competed for at this summer’s Olympics. A total of 2,488 medals, each weighing 500g, have been produced – with 812 gold, 812 silver and 864 bronze. They were made with “sustainability at their heart”, say organisers. The gold medals are free from mercury, the silver and bronze medals are made from 30% recycled materials, and half of the plastic in their ribbons is from recycled plastic bottles.
Dunga has been sacked as Brazil head coach after their shock exit from the Copa America. Dunga, who captained Brazil to World Cup success in 1994, was named national coach for a second time in 2014. But the team were knocked out in the group stage of the Copa America for the first time since 1987 as they lost 1-0 to Peru in Massachusetts on Sunday. Dunga, 52, had previously been in charge from 2006 to 2010, winning the Copa America in 2007.
Tuesday 14th June, 2016:
Austria 0 – 2 Hungary
Portugal 1 – 1 Iceland
West Ham have signed winger Sofiane Feghouli from Valencia on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee. The 26-year-old Algeria international spent six seasons at the Spanish club, scoring 42 goals in 243 appearances. The 2012 Algerian Footballer of the Year, Feghouli has 40 caps and has played in three major tournaments. He is the Hammers’ second signing this summer following Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Havard Nordtveit, who joins on 1 July. Feghouli told the West Ham website: “I am very happy to sign for the Hammers and for Slaven Bilic. The history of the club is important for me in my decision.”
Manchester derby:
Manchester United v Manchester City 10 September 2016
Manchester City v Manchester United 25 February 2017
Merseyside derby:
Everton v Liverpool 17 December 2016
Liverpool v Everton 1 April 2017
North London derby:
Arsenal v Tottenham 5 November 2016
Tottenham v Arsenal 29 April 2017
A.F.C. Bournemouth vs Manchester United
Arsenal vs Liverpool
Burnley vs Swansea City
Chelsea vs West Ham United
Crystal Palace vs West Bromwich Albion
Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur
Hull City vs Leicester City
Manchester City vs Sunderland
Middlesbrough vs Stoke City
Southampton vs Watford
All fixtures are scheduled for 3pm Nigerian time on Saturday 13 August, but are subject to change.
Monday 13 June, 2016:
Spain 1 -0 Czech Republic
Republic of Ireland 1 – 1 Sweden
Belgium 0 – 2 Italy
Five-times World Cup winners Brazil lost 1-0 to Peru to exit the Copa America at the group stage for the first time in nearly 30 years. Brazil had not been beaten by Peru in 16 previous meetings and needed just a point to reach the quarter-finals. But substitute Raul Ruidiaz scored a 75th-minute winner at Foxborough Stadium in Massachusetts, with Brazil complaining it went in off his hand. Ecuador beat Haiti 4-0 to make the last eight for the first time since 1997. Brazil failed to score against Peru or Ecuador either side of an emphatic 7-1 victory over Haiti. Asked if he feared for his job, Brazil boss Dunga said: “I am only afraid of death, I am not afraid of that. “When you work for the Brazil national team you have to know the criticism will mount when you don’t get results, but internally we know what we are doing.”
Monday 13 June, 2016:
Spain vs Czech Republic 2pm
Republic of Ireland vs Sweden 5pm
Belgium vs Italy 8pm
Tuesday 14 June, 2016:
Austria vs Hungary 5pm
Portugal vs Iceland 8pm
Saturday 11 June, 2016:
Albania 0 – 1 Switzerland
Wales 2 – 1 Slovakia
England 1 – 1 Russia
Sunday 12 June, 2016:
Turkey 0 – 1 Croatia
Poland 1 – 0 Northern Ireland
Germany 2 – 0 Ukraine
Saturday 11 June, 2016:
Albania vs Switzerland 2pm
Wales vs Slovakia 5pm
England vs Russia 8pm
Sunday 12 June, 2016:
Turkey vs Croatia 2pm
Poland vs Northern Ireland 5pm
Germany vs Ukraine 8pm
*Time = Nigerian (GMT+1)
Dimitri Payet’s spectacular late winner gave hosts France victory over Romania in the opening match of Euro 2016 amid a huge security operation at the Stade de France. On an emotional evening at the same venue where suicide bombers struck in the November attacks that killed 130 people across the city, Payet ensured the game ended on a high note with a sensational 20-yard strike. France, who triumphed in their last two major tournaments on home soil – Euro ’84 and the 1998 World Cup – are favourites to win this time too. But after hitting the post early on through an Antoine Griezmann header, they struggled to find any fluency against a resolute Romania side, who also created good chances.
Former Nigeria coach Shuaibu Amodu has died at the age of 58, the national football federation has announced. Nigeria’s technical director, Amodu, who had four spells as coach of the Super Eagles, had complained of chest pains on Friday. Amodu led Nigeria to qualification for the 2002 and 2010 World Cups, but was sacked before the tournaments started. His death comes three days after that of ex-Nigeria captain and coach Stephen Keshi, who died aged 54. Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick said: “This is another tragedy too many. We are still talking about Keshi’s death, and now Amodu is gone. I’m short of words.” Amodu was to have replaced Sunday Oliseh, who resigned as the country’s coach in February, but he declined on health grounds. He rose to prominence when he guided BCC Lions of Gboko to win the Africa Cup Winners’ Cup in 1991. He also coached top South African club Orlando Pirates between 1996 and 1997. Amodu qualified the Super Eagles for the FIFA World Cup in 2002 and 2010, but did not lead the team to the finals. He also qualified the Beach Soccer National Team for the 2006 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, but did not lead the team at the finals as he refused to travel to Brazil.
Sunderland defender Patrick van Aanholt has signed a new four-year contract with the Premier League club. The 25-year-old Netherlands international helped the Black Cats avoid relegation last season. “Patrick was an outstanding performer last season, contributing not only solid defensive performances, but also assists and vital goals,” said Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce. The left-back arrived at the Stadium of Light from Chelsea in 2014. He has scored five goals in 69 appearances, including four in the Premier League last season. “It is fantastic to be able to secure the long-term services of such a talented footballer and athlete, who will hopefully continue to improve here for many years to come,” added Allardyce.
Liverpool striker Christian Benteke says he may have to consider his future if it becomes clear that he does not feature in Jurgen Klopp’s plans. Since October, Benteke started just 13 of 52 matches and was used sparingly as a substitute having fallen behind compatriot Divock Origi. “At 25 years old, I’m neither old nor young but it’s important to play,” the Belgium striker said. “I still have a contract at Liverpool and I’d like to stay there, if I remain in the coach’s plans. “If that’s not the case, it will become difficult to stay. I’ll think about if after the Euros.”
Maria Sharapova has responded to her two-year ban on her Facebook page and says she will appeal. She wrote:
“Today with their decision of a two-year suspension, the ITF tribunal unanimously concluded that what I did was not intentional. “The tribunal found that I did not seek treatment from my doctor for the purpose of obtaining a performance-enhancing substance. The ITF spent tremendous amounts of time and resources trying to prove I intentionally violated the anti-doping rules and the tribunal concluded I did not. “You need to know that the ITF asked the tribunal to suspend me for four years – the required suspension for an intentional violation — and the tribunal rejected the ITF’s position.” “While the tribunal concluded correctly that I did not intentionally violate the anti-doping rules, I cannot accept an unfairly harsh two-year suspension. “The tribunal, whose members were selected by the ITF, agreed that I did not do anything intentionally wrong, yet they seek to keep me from playing tennis for two years. I will immediately appeal the suspension portion of this ruling to CAS, the Court of Arbitration for Sport. “I have missed playing tennis and I have missed my amazing fans, who are the best and most loyal fans in the world. I have read your letters. I have read your social media posts and your love and support has gotten me through these tough days. “I intend to stand for what I believe is right and that’s why I will fight to be back on the tennis court as soon as possible.”
Maria Sharapova has been banned for two years by the International Tennis Federation after failing a drugs test. The Russian was provisionally banned in March after testing positive for meldonium at January’s Australian Open. The heart disease drug, which 29-year-old Sharapova says she has been taking since 2006 for health issues, became a banned substance on 1 January 2016. The ITF said the ban would be backdated to 26 January 2016, the day when she provided the positive test.
Manchester United have completed the signing of defender Eric Bailly from Villarreal. Cote d’Ivoire defender Eric Bailly will sign a four-year deal at Old Trafford, subject to obtaining a work permit.
Eric Bailly on joining Manchester United: “It is a dream come true to be joining Manchester United. To play football at the highest level is all I have ever wanted to do. “I want to progress to be the best that I can be and I believe working with Jose Mourinho will help me develop in the right way and at the right club. I am looking forward to meeting my new team-mates and to starting this new chapter of my life.”
Jose Mourinho on Eric Bailly: “Eric is a young central defender with great natural talent. He has progressed well to date and has the potential to become one of the best around. “We look forward to working with him to help nurture that raw talent and fulfil his potential. Eric is at the right club to continue his development.”
Former Nigeria’s player and coach, Stephen Keshi, has died at the age of 54, the Nigeria Football Federation has said. A former captain of the Nigeria national team, Keshi was one of only two men to win the Africa Cup of Nations both as a player and a coach. He also managed Togo and Mali, and his playing career included spells for Nigerian sides ACB of Lagos and New Nigerian Bank of Benin, Belgian sides Lokeren and Anderlecht, French side RC Strasbourg and USA side Sacramento Scorpions. He is thought to have suffered a heart attack, local media reported. As a player, Keshi was part of the Super Eagles team that won the Nations Cup in 1994 and narrowly missed out on a World Cup quarter-final place the same year. He coached the national side over three spells, leading Nigeria to the 2013 Nations Cup title in South Africa and the last 16 at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. His contract was not renewed after the World Cup but he later returned on a match-by-match deal following the team’s failure to reach the 2015 Nations Cup finals. He was then sacked as caretaker coach but reinstated after intervention from then Nigeria president Goodluck Jonathan. He was sacked for a final time last July.
This is the full statement from Chelsea on the settlement of the Eva Carneiro case:
“Chelsea is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement with Dr Carneiro which brings her employment tribunal proceedings against the club and Jose Mourinho to an end. “The club regrets the circumstances which led to Dr Carneiro leaving the club and apologises unreservedly to her and her family for the distress caused. We wish to place on record that in running onto the pitch Dr Carneiro was following both the rules of the game and fulfilling her responsibility to the players as a doctor, putting their safety first. “Dr Carneiro has always put the interests of the club’s players first. Dr Carneiro is a highly competent and professional sports doctor. She was a valued member of the club’s medical team and we wish her every success in her future career. “Jose Mourinho also thanks Dr Carneiro for the excellent and dedicated support she provided as First Team Doctor and he wishes her a successful career.”
Naija Sports Crib 