The Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) has suspended its football league for four weeks after the number of confirmed cases in the country increased from three to eight. According to a statement by The NFF “the shutdown affects all on-field activities the various National Teams, the Nigeria Professional Football League, the other Leagues, youth football programmes and even street football.”
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Coronavirus: English football suspension extended until at least 30 April….
English football will be suspended until at least 30 April because of the continued spread of coronavirus. All games in England’s Premier League, EFL, Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship, and all fixtures in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, are currently postponed. The Football Association has also agreed that the current season can be “extended indefinitely”. Under current rules the season had been scheduled to end on 1 June.
Ibrahimovic launches fundraisers to help fight coronavirus pandemic….
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has launched a fundraiser to help fight coronavirus and has called on fellow footballers to help “kick this virus away”. The AC Milan striker plays in Italy, the country so far worst affected by the pandemic other than China. It appears Ibrahimovic has made two 50,000 euro donations.
Coronavirus: Sadio Mane makes donation to Senegal health….
Liverpool forward Sadio Mane has made a donation of 30 millions FCFA – around 45,000 euros – to the national committee fighting against coronavirus in his home country of Senegal. The Reds’ player decided to make the donation “spontaneously when he saw the evolution of the situation” with the increase of Covid-19 cases in Senegal, his agent said. Mane also shared a video on social media where he asked his compatriots to take coronavirus “extremely seriously”.
Coronavirus: CAF confirms CHAN postponement….
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has postponed next month’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) over concerns around the coronavirus pandemic. The fate of the tournament, for African players based in their own leagues, had been in doubt after defending champions Morocco pulled out, while host nation Cameroon had already asked CAF for a delay. It had been set to run between 4-25 April.
Coronavirus: Joshua-Pulev world heavyweight title fight could be rearranged….
Anthony Joshua’s world heavyweight title fight against Kubrat Pulev on 20 June could be moved to July, says promoter Eddie Hearn. The 30-year-old Briton is due to defend his WBA, WBO and IBF belts at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. “We do have a potential date in July but, right now, we are hoping June 20 can remain the date,” Matchroom Boxing’s Hearn said. Bulgarian Pulev, 38, is the mandatory IBF challenger to take on Joshua.
Coronavirus: French Open tennis moved to September….
The French Open has been moved to September and October as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The event at Roland Garros was due to be played from 24 May to 7 June, but instead will take place between 20 September and 4 October. That means it will begin just one week after the completion of the US Open in New York.
Roger Mayweather dies aged 58….
Roger Mayweather, former world boxing champion and uncle and trainer to Floyd, has died aged 58. He was a two-weight world champion in stellar 72-fight career that spanned 17 years. He then became the trainer to his nephew Floyd Mayweather who famously built himself into boxing’s top attraction and its pound-for-pound best fighter during the 2010s.
Coronavirus: Nigeria postpones National Sports Festival….
The 20th National Sports Festival billed to flag off in Benin City, Edo State, this weekend has been postponed. The Minister for Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, made the announcement on Tuesday via his official Twitter handle. The minister, who had earlier revealed that the sports ministry was meeting with the counterparts in the health ministry, confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate postponement of the biannual multi-sporting event to a later date yet to be decided.
Coronavirus: Mikel Obi quits Trabzonspor….
Ex Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has had his Trabzonspor contract terminated through mutual consent the club have confirmed. Mikel will not be paid compensation and has agreed to give up all forward-looking rights and receivables. The midfielder’s contract would have run until 2021 had he stayed on at Trabzonspor.
Coronavirus: Euro 2020 postponed until next summer….
Euro 2020 has been postponed by one year until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. European football’s governing body made the decision during an emergency video conference involving major stakeholders on Tuesday. The tournament, due to take place from 12 June-12 July this summer, will now run from 11 June to 11 July next year. The postponement provides a chance for European leagues that have been suspended to now be completed.
Douala and Rabat chosen for African club finals….
The Cameroonian city of Douala has been chosen to stage this season’s African Champions League final, while the Moroccan capital Rabat will host the Confederation Cup final. It is the first time the finals will be played in neutral venues. Last June, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) abandoned two-legged finals in favour of a one-match finale. “The two cities got the nod following evaluation of… key facilities such as infrastructure, accommodation (and) medical amongst others,” a CAF statement read.
Coronavirus: Ghana football suspended….
All football in Ghana has been put on hold because of the coronavirus outbreak. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) took action on Sunday evening following an announcement from President Nana Akufo-Addo, ordering a suspension of public gatherings, including sports events.
Coronavirus: South Africa suspends football and cricket….
Football and cricket activities in South Africa are being suspended as the country seeks to minimise the impact of coronavirus. On Sunday, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa declared coronavirus a national disaster, and the South Africa Football Association (SAFA) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) have responded by suspending their sports in the country. Any gatherings for football of 100 people or more are now banned, while all forms of cricket have now been terminated for a 60-day period.
CIES Football Observatory says Liverpool have most valuable squad in Europe….
Liverpool have the most valuable squad in the transfer market from Europe’s top-five leagues, according to research group CIES Football Observatory. With an aggregated value of 1.4bn euros the Reds top the list ahead of fellow Premier League side Manchester City in second. Chelsea are fifth, while Manchester United and Tottenham are in the top 10.
Coronavirus: Manchester United’s Paul Pogba sets up fundraiser….
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has set up a fundraising page and pledged financial support to Unicef to help children affected by coronavirus. After turning 27 on Sunday, Pogba set up the birthday fundraiser to “help fight this war against Covid-19”.
Coronavirus: Toronto Wolfpack stand down squad after four players self-isolate….
Toronto Wolfpack have suspended training and stood down their entire UK-based squad after four players experienced symptoms of coronavirus. The players have gone into self-isolation and Toronto’s action means it’s almost certain their fixture against Wakefield next weekend will be postponed. Toronto say they are now awaiting a directive from the Rugby Football League, who has instructed clubs to continue playing matches, in line with government guidelines.
Coronavirus: van Dijk fears Liverpool fans will not see Premier League title win….
Virgil van Dijk says he would be “gutted” if the coronavirus outbreak stops Liverpool fans watching the team win the league title for the first time in 30 years. The Premier League has been suspended until April 4 with Liverpool 25 points clear at the top of the table. Despite the uncertainty of how, or if, the season will be completed, Van Dijk has pledged to bring the title to Liverpool’s fans.
Coronavirus: Ferrari shuts down production….
Ferrari has shut down production at its Formula 1 and road-car factories in Italy for two weeks as a result of the coronavirus crisis. It is part of a wider lockdown that began last week across badly-hit Italy. Ferrari said the decision had been made “for its employees’ wellbeing”. Chief executive officer Louis Camilleri said: “It is out of our respect for them, their peace of mind and of their families that we have decided on this course of action.” Staff who have laptops and the possibility to continue to work from home will do so, with Ferrari planning on being shut down until 27 March.
Coronavirus: Germany’s Maximilian Schachmann wins as Paris-Nice ends early….
Germany’s Maximilian Schachmann held on to win Paris-Nice as the race finished a day early because of coronavirus. On Friday, organisers announced the cancellation of Sunday’s finale, a day after the French government banned gatherings of more than 100 people. So Saturday’s 166.5km route from Nice to the summit finish at Valdeblore la Colmiane was the final stage.
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