Anderson Esiti’s first half goal and an Alex Iwobi brace in the second half gave the Super Eagles a morale boosting 3-0 win over Nigeria Professional Football League side Plateau United in a warm up game on Wednesday inside the National Stadium, Abuja. Coach Gernot Rohr lined up his wards for the practice game as he intensifies Nigeria’s preparations for Sunday’s all important Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Zambia in Ndola. After struggling to click into gear in the early parts of the game, Belgium based Esiti slotted home from close range after some neat build up play from the midfield exposed Plateau United’s defense.

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One of Russia’s largest sports clubs is awarding medals to fans who travelled to Berlin to watch its basketball team win a major tournament, but it’s caused anger among people who say it’s an insult to the country’s war veterans. CSKA Moscow beat Turkey’s Fenerbahce at Berlin’s Mercedes-Benz Arena in mid-May to win basketball’s Euroleague final, and the club has now said that anyone who can prove they were there is eligible for a medal “For the Capture of Berlin”, Dozhd TV reports. This follows last year’s trip to the finals in Spain, where fans were given medals “For the Capture of Madrid”, despite CSKA only finishing third. Supporters who bought tickets through the club will automatically be sent a medal, while those who got to the arena by other means need to show ticket stubs or social media photos, “and then we are happy to reward the heroes,” the club says.

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Russian high jumper Anna Chicherova has been stripped of her Beijing 2008 bronze medal for doping, but keeps her London 2012 gold. The 34-year-old is one of 98 athletes caught by the International Olympic Committee’s recent re-analysis of doping samples from the Beijing and London Games. Russia’s 2004 Olympic champion Yelena Slesarenko could be handed the bronze, although she would also need her samples re-analyzed.

Manchester United full-back Matteo Darmian could leave the club in January, says one of his advisers. According to ESPN, Darmian could leave having played just once under Jose Mourinho so far this season. Adviser Fausto Pari told Radio CRC: “We’ve got to see what United want to do. Italian clubs have tried [to sign him], but United closed the door immediately. “He’s playing little or nothing and it’s a shame because he’s an Italy international. If the situation doesn’t change by January, we’ll have to think of something. He risks also losing his place in the national team.”

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan could win his first Germany cap in almost a year this weekend. The 25-year-old, who missed Euro 2016 with injury, may face the Czech Republic on Saturday and Northern Ireland three days later. “It is great to be here again. I did not realise it was actually such a long time since my last game. But I know the feeling of a comeback well from the past few years. “I have not been successful with tournaments. This is not on purpose that I get injured shortly before. “It was extremely bitter to miss the past two major tournaments. Maybe that is why I want to be healthier and I am not thinking about Russia. I am just happy to be fit again and reach 100%, to stay healthy and enjoy the moment.”

Real Madrid forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale have ‘agreed new contracts’ at the Spanish club. According to reports, Wales international Bale has been offered a £91m deal as an incentive to reject a move to Manchester United next summer.  Ronaldo’s deal would keep him at the Bernabeu until 2021 and end interest from China or MLS.

UFC middleweight Josh Samman has died at the age of 28 following a probable drug overdose. The fighter spent five days in a Florida hospital and for two of those he was brain dead, says Dr Craig Mallak, chief medical examiner for Broward Country. He was moved to a hospice where he was declared dead on Wednesday morning. Dr Mallak said toxicology tests had been done and the cause of death would be listed as a probable drug overdose.

Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera has been called up to the Spain squad for the first time for their match against Italy tonight, but the 27-year-old said he thought the call-up was a hoax. According to Goal.com, Herrera was first told about the selection by club team-mate David de Gea and was not convinced by his initial phone call. Herrera said: “He said, ‘Come over here.’ ‘Here? But where’s here?’ I replied. “I didn’t realise at that moment. “[Spain manager Julen] Lopetegui told me that you will come with us,’ he said. I thought it was a joke, and even asked him if it was.”

Napoli owner Aurelio de Laurentiis says agents are a “cancer” on the game and insists players do not need them. “In Hollywood, the actor pays [the agent] himself. I don’t pay the agent. In soccer, why must I pay?” the Italian movie producer said. De Laurentiis said some transfer deals had fallen through due to disagreements with agents over players’ image rights. “You know, that’s a cancer of our domain,” he added. “Not every agent. But I don’t understand why you need an agent.”

All 23 invited players are now at the Super Eagles’ Bolton White Hotel and Apartments in Abuja as the countdown began for Sunday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zambia in Ndola. In camp now are: Captain Mikel John Obi, Ahmed Musa, Ogenyi Onazi, Carl Ikeme, Kingsley Madu, Musa Muhammed, Emmanuel Daniel, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Elderson Echiejile, Nosa Igiebor, Abdullahi Shehu, William Paul Ekong, Alex Iwobi, Kenneth Omeruo, Anderson Esiti, Jamiu Alimi, Wilfred Ndidi, Chisom Egbuchunam, Uche Agbo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Brown Ideye and Godwin Obaje. Coach Gernot Rohr and his assistants have been drilling them.

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Sparta Prague have told two of their players to train with the club’s women’s team after making “unacceptable” comments about a female match official at the weekend. Midfielder Lukas Vacha, 27, and goalkeeper Tomas Koubek, 24, made remarks about Lucie Ratajova in the wake of Sparta’s 3-3 draw with Zbrojovka Brno on Sunday, where Ratajova was an assistant referee. Koubek was reported to have said women belong “at the stove” while it was added that Vacha called her “the cooker”.

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Tyson Fury says he has been taking cocaine to help him deal with depression. Fury, who retired on Monday before later claiming it was a joke, says he has suffered mental health issues for years. The world heavyweight champion also said he has not trained since May. “I can’t deal with it and the only thing that helps me is when I get drunk out of my mind,” he told Rolling Stone magazine.

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FIFA are considering expanding the World Cup to 48 teams and will make a decision by 2017, president Gianni Infantino has confirmed. However, he suggested that 16 of those teams would go home after just one knockout match, and the remainder of the tournament would be played, as now, with a 32-team group stage, followed by a knockout phase. Infantino, speaking during an event at Bogota’s Sergio Arboleda university, said a final decision would be taken by the FIFA Council in January, Colombian media reported. A FIFA spokesman confirmed that the reports were accurate.

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Former Cameroon international Rigobert Song is in hospital after suffering a cerebral attack, a member of his family said. The family member also said the 40-year-old was “unconscious” when he was taken to Yaounde Central Hospital. On Monday, the hospital’s Emergency Centre director said Song will be flown to France for further treatment. Song was Cameroon’s captain and played 137 times for his country winning the African cup of nations twice. He has been working as a coach for Cameroon’s football federation following his departure as Chad coach.

Swansea City have sacked Francesco Guidolin as head coach and replaced him with former USA manager Bob Bradley. The Swans have not won in the Premier League since the opening day of the season and are 17th in the table. Bradley, who has also managed Egypt and Norwegian side Stabaek, leaves French second-tier team Le Havre to succeed Guidolin, who was appointed in January. American Bradley, 58, will take over a Swansea side who have lost their past three league matches and find themselves above the relegation zone only on goal difference. Guidolin has been under intense pressure – which was increased by Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Liverpool – and his sacking was announced on his 61st birthday on today. Three members of the Italian’s backroom staff – Diego Bortoluzzi, Gabrielle Ambrosetti, Claudio Bordon – have also left the Welsh club.

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Aston Villa have sacked Roberto di Matteo as manager after just 124 days in the job. Villa are now looking for their fifth boss inside a year after deciding to replace the Italian, who won just one of 11 Championship games in charge. Former Chelsea player and manager Di Matteo, 46, was appointed shortly after Chinese businessman Dr Tony Xia took over Villa on 2 June. Di Matteo’s assistant Steve Clarke will take over as caretaker manager. A club statement confirming the exit of former West Bromwich Albion boss Di Matteo said: “The club decided to act following a run of disappointing results which has the left the team occupying 19th position. “The club would like to place on record its appreciation to Roberto for all his efforts in helping rebuild the squad.”

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Enugu Rangers became Nigeria Professional Football League champions following their 4-0 victory against El-Kanemi on Sunday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu (Nigeria’s Cathedral of Soccer). The coach Imama Amapakabo’s men needed at least a draw to emerge as champions after Wikki Tourists and Rivers United had stuttered in the title race. And after Ferdinand Udoh’s full-time whistle sounded around Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium and it sunk in that Rangers had won their first Nigeria topflight title after 32-years.

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