Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, has revealed that his father, Pa Michael Obi, was abducted by unknown men, before their last Group D match at the 2018 World Cup. Mikel Obi bravely led out the team against Argentina, four hours after he spoke with the men who kidnapped his father.
Pa Michael was abducted along the Makurdi-Enugu road on his way to a funneral and his kidnappers demanded N10million from the Tianjin TEDA midfielder to free him.
Tennis legend Roger Federer has signed a deal with Japanese clothing company Uniqlo after ending his decades-long partnership with Nike. The new contract is reportedly worth $300m (£228m) over the next 10 years and was signed after Federer’s deal with Nike expired in March. The tennis star donned the Japanese brand at his Wimbledon match on Monday, but for now has kept his Nike shoes. The 36-year-old Swiss player first signed with Nike in 1994. Sports news site ESPN reported the price tag of Federer’s new deal, but Uniqlo has not shared the specific terms.
Joachim Low will remain as Germany manager despite their shock early exit from the World Cup in Russia. The defending champions finished bottom of Group G after losing 2-0 to South Korea – the first time Germany have gone out in the first round of a World Cup since 1938. Low – who was named Germany manager in 2006 – extended his contract a month ago until 2022. Germany had reached at least the semi-finals in their last four World Cups.
Brazil 2 – 0 Mexico
Belgium 3 – 2 Japan
Brazil and Belgium advance to Quarterfinals
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has signed a new five-year contract with the club. The 26-year-old Egypt international joined the Reds for £34m from Roma last summer and has scored 44 goals in 52 appearances for the club. His new deal, which runs until 2023, does not contain a release clause. “It demonstrates two things very clearly – his belief in Liverpool and our belief in him,” said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. Salah was the top scorer in the Premier League last season, netting 32 goals – the most by a player in a 38-game campaign – to win the Golden Boot. His performances also helped him win last season’s Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award and Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year.
Basketball star LeBron James has agreed to join the Los Angeles Lakers in a four-year deal worth $154m (£116m), his agents have announced. His move from the Cleveland Cavaliers ends months of speculation. James, who became a free agent on 1 July, is widely considered the best basketball player in the world. Last month, the 33-year-old sports superstar played in his eighth consecutive NBA finals, losing to Golden State. “Thank you Northeast Ohio for an incredible four seasons,” said James on his Instagram account. “This will always be home.”
Andres Iniesta, who scored Spain’s winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final, has announced his retirement from international football following the team’s exit against Russia. The 34-year-old came on as a substitute as Spain lost 4-3 on penalties to the hosts in the last 16 on Sunday. Iniesta’s last kick for his country was to score in the shootout in his 131st – and final – international outing. “It is a reality that is my last match with the national team,” he said.
Spain 3 – 4 Russia (Russia won on penalties, 1 – 1 AET)
Croatia 3 – 2 Denmark (Croatia won on penalties, 1 – 1 AET)
Russia and Croatia advance to Quaterfinals
France 4 – 3 Argentina
Uruguay 2 – 1 Portugal
France and Uruguay advance to Quaterfinals
Iran World Cup striker Sardar Azmoun has retired from international football at the age of 23, claiming his mother has become seriously ill because of the insults he has received. Azmoun – nicknamed the ‘Iranian Messi’ – had scored 23 goals in 33 games for his country before the tournament. He did not find the net in Russia as Carlos Queiroz’s side finished third in Group B behind Spain and Portugal. Azmoun described his decision to stop playing for Iran as “painful”.
Everton striker Wayne Rooney has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Major League Soccer club DC United. He will officially complete his move when the US mid-season transfer window opens on 10 July. There is no transfer fee but it is understood DC United have agreed a compensation package with the Toffees. The 32-year-old’s deal is worth £10m, meaning he becomes the highest paid player in DC United’s history.
Saturday 30 June
France vs Argentina – Kazan Arena, Kazan – 3pm
Uruguay vs Portugal – Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi – 7pm
Japan 0 – 1 Poland (Group H)
Senegal 0 – 1 Colombia (Group H)
England 0 – 1 Belgium (Group G)
Panama 1 – 2 Tunisia (Group G)
Belgium and England advance from Group G
Colombia and Japan advance from Group H
The Super Eagles of Nigeria’s home kit at the 2018 world cup in Russia created a lot of attention. It sold off the day it was officially released with so many fans queueing up to buy. It was also adjudged the best kit at the tournament. A few do not know that Super Eagles had in the past wore a variant of this jersey although this new one is much better.
Sporting Lisbon have sacked coach Sinisa Mihajlovic – just nine days after he was appointed by the club. The Serb had said his first objective for the troubled club was to “do better than last year” but on Wednesday night the club said he had been dismissed. A group of 50 fans reportedly attacked players and staff in May, after the club missed out on a Champions League place on the final day of the season.
Italian giants AC Milan have been banned from European football for one year for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations. Milan had qualified for the group stages of this season’s Europa League after finishing sixth in Serie A. UEFA said the club, which spent £200m on transfers last summer after a takeover, breached rules around requirements for clubs to break even.
South Korea 2 – 0 Germany (Group F)
Mexico 0 – 3 Sweden (Group F)
Serbia 0 – 2 Brazil (Group E)
Switzerland 2 – 2 Costa Rica (Group E)
Brazil and Switzerland advance from Group E
Sweden and Mexico advance from Group F
Denmark 0 – 0 France (Group C)
Australia 0 – 2 Peru (Group C)
Nigeria 1 – 2 Argentina (Group D)
Iceland 1 – 2 Croatia (Group D)
France and Denmark go through in Group C
Croatia and Argentina go through in Group D
Achilles the cat, who has correctly predicted the score of all three World Cup matches played so far in St Petersburg, tipped Nigeria to beat Argentina. Achilles, who resides in the city’s Hermitage museum, was held aloft for photographers then placed on a table in front of two bowls of food marked with Nigeria and Argentina flags. After moments of deliberation, Achilles chose Nigeria, eating hungrily from the bowl.
Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, has finally opened up about the tug of war between Manchester United and Chelsea for his services in 2005. Mikel Obi was 18 at the time and was pictured in a Red Devils’ jersey, after impressing at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the Netherlands. There was then a twist in the story, as he claimed he was forced to sign for the Old Trafford side and wanted to join the Blues.
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