Mauritius has become the first African country to prematurely end its season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Burundi league to go on until virus spreads….
Burundi’s football federation (FFB) says domestic competition will continue until coronavirus spreads, after introducing fresh measures in a bid to finish the season amidst the pandemic. The FFB decided to continue the season after a meeting with clubs on Sunday, whereupon players were told not to celebrate goals together and to keep their distance from referees. In addition, players have been instructed to wash their hands before a match and to not shake hands with officials or other players.
Nigerian goalkeeper shot in arm recuperating….
The goalkeeper for Nigerian top-flight side Abia Warriors, Charles Tambe, is making a “good recovery” after being shot in the arm by robbers in Ibadan on Friday.
Coronavirus: Pep Guardiola’s mother dies….
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola’s mother, Dolors Sala Carrio, has died aged 82 in Barcelona after contracting coronavirus. “Everyone associated with the club sends their most heartfelt sympathy at this most distressing time to Pep, his family and all their friends,” said Manchester City on social media.
Ex-marathon champion arrested for drinking during curfew….
Kenya’s former world marathon record holder Wilson Kipsang has been released on bail after being charged for breaking a nationwide curfew imposed to control the spread of coronavirus. Kipsang, who claimed the world record during the 2013 Berlin marathon, is a police officer. He pleaded guilty in a court on Friday after a night in police cells and was released on bail of 5,000 shillings.
FIFA could move age limit for Olympics men’s football tournament to 24….
FIFA could raise the age limit for the men’s football tournament at next summer’s rearranged Olympic Games in Tokyo to 24 from 23. The sport’s governing body has recommended moving the limit to accommodate players eligible for this year’s Games, which were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Kobe Bryant inducted into Naismith Hall of Fame….
Kobe Bryant will be posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The five-time NBA champion died, aged 41, in a helicopter crash in January alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others. Los Angeles Lakers great Bryant retired in 2016; he was the NBA Most Valuable Player in 2008, was Finals MVP twice and earned 18 All-Star selections.
Stephen Kenny to replace Mick McCarthy as Ireland manager….
Stephen Kenny is to succeed Mick McCarthy as Republic of Ireland manager with immediate effect, the Football Association of Ireland has announced. Kenny, 48, was already set to replace McCarthy, 61, after Euro 2020 but the postponement of the play-offs and the tournament itself until 2021 because of Covid-19 has accelerated the FAI plan. McCarthy was appointed for a second spell in charge in November 2018.
Anthony Joshua’s world title defence against Pulev postponed….
British heavyweight Anthony Joshua’s defence of his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO world titles against Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev has been postponed. The fight was scheduled to take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, 20 June. A statement from Joshua’s promoter Matchroom Boxing said a new date for the fight “was being worked on”. Matchroom added it was “continuing to explore the possibility” of hosting the bout at the same venue at a later date.
Barca hope to do Neymar / Griezmann exchange with PSG….
Barcelona hope to strike a part-exchange deal for Neymar that would see Antoine Griezmann join Paris Saint-Germain this summer. The Catalan club are prepared to let Griezmann go after just one season to help fund the priority signings of Neymar and Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez, as the financial crisis brought on by coronavirus bites at the Nou Camp. They are said to value the France star at €100m and will look to sell him elsewhere if neither the player nor PSG, who reportedly value Neymar at €150m, have any interest in such a deal.
Coronavirus: Zaha opens properties to NHS staff….
Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha has been using his company Zo Properties to help temporarily house health workers who are battling the Coronavirus outbreak. Along with business partner Obi Williams, the Ivorian forward put out a tweet to NHS workers in England offering free accommodation.
Coronavirus: Former Marseille president Pape Diouf dies….
Former Marseille president Pape Diouf has died aged 68 after contracting coronavirus, the club have announced. The Senegalese was president between 2005 and 2009 when Marseille finished second in Ligue 1 twice and reached two French Cup finals. They went on to win a first French league title in 18 years in 2010.
Champions League & Europa League suspended indefinitely….
All Champions League and Europa League matches have been suspended “until further notice” by Uefa because of the global coronavirus pandemic. All national team games in June have also been postponed, including play-off matches for Euro 2020 – already postponed to 2021 – and qualifying matches for the Women’s Euro 2021. The European governing body’s 55 member associations met on Wednesday. The Premier League is suspended until at least 30 April.
Wimbledon cancelled due to coronavirus….
Wimbledon has been cancelled for the first time since World War Two because of the coronavirus pandemic. The tournament was due to be played between 29 June and 12 July. The entire grass-court season has been abandoned, and there will be no professional tennis anywhere in the world until at least 13 July. Wimbledon is the latest major summer sporting event to be called off, with Euro 2020 and the Tokyo Olympics postponed for 12 months.
Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics new dates confirmed….
The Tokyo Olympic Games will start on 23 July, 2021 and run to 8 August after being postponed for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) executive board met on Monday to make the decision. The Olympics will still be called Tokyo 2020 despite taking place in 2021. The Paralympic Games, originally due to start on 24 August, 2020, will now take place between 24 August and 5 September, 2021.
Jay Jay Okocha wins best EPL goal by a Nigerian….
Austin Jay Jay Okocha’s strike against West Ham United on April 19, 2003, has been ranked the best Premier League goal scored by a Nigerian beating Nwankwo Kanu, Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi and other strikes to the award. The ranking was done by the English Premier League.
Odion Ighalo wins Goal of the Month award….
Manchester United striker, Odion Ighalo, has won the club’s March Goal-of-the-Month award. The Nigerian striker won his first award at the Old Trafford club after his sparkling effort goal against LASK in the Europa League. Man United made this known in a statement on its official website on Saturday.
Harry Kane wants season ended by June….
Harry Kane fears the Premier League season may not be completed following the coronavirus pandemic unless it has reached a conclusion by the end of June. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin admitted this weekend the European football season “would probably be lost” if it won’t restart by the end of June at the latest.
Xavi says he is ‘ready’ to manage Barcelona….
Xavi believes he is ready to manage Barcelona but insists there cannot be any “toxicity” in the dressing room. The midfielder spent the majority of his playing career with Barcelona, from 1998 to 2015, playing more than 700 matches. During his time at the club he won eight La Liga titles and lifted four Champions League trophies and also played a crucial role in Spain’s three successive major tournament wins at Euro 2008, World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012.
Coronavirus: Gebrselassie donates to Ethiopian fund….
Ethiopian athletics legend Haile Gebrselassie has donated nearly $50,000 to a committee set up to fight the spread of coronavirus in his homeland. The Covid-19 National Resource Mobilisation Committee was launched by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday in Ethiopia, where there are currently 21 reported cases. “It’s not time to profit but to save lives,” said Haile. “We need to support the government at this crucial time and support one another.”
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