The Edo State government in southern Nigeria has announced it will pay its women’s team Edo Queens the same as its men’s side, Bendel Insurance. The state own both teams with the men’s side playing in the Nigerian second tier and the women’s in the Women’s Premier League. “We believe that there should be no discrimination between the male and female teams,” deputy governor Philip Shaibu said.
Anthony Joshua says he will not be happy with his legacy in boxing if he fails to become a world champion again. The 30-year-old Briton lost three of the four heavyweight belts to Andy Ruiz Jr in June and the pair will fight again on 7 December in Saudi Arabia.
Luis Enrique, whose daughter died from bone cancer in August, is returning as Spain manager five months after stepping down for personal reasons. Enrique resigned in June after 11 months in the job and announced in August that his nine-year-old daughter, Xana, had died. The 49-year-old former Barcelona boss was replaced by his assistant, Robert Moreno.
Former Manchester United and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is in talks to replace Mauricio Pochettino as Tottenham manager. Pochettino, 47, was sacked as Spurs boss on Tuesday after five years in charge of the north London club. The Argentine led Spurs to the Champions League final last season, where they lost to Liverpool.
Tottenham have sacked manager Mauricio Pochettino after five years in charge of the Premier League club. Spurs have made a disappointing start to the current campaign and are 14th in the Premier League. It is believed that Jose Mourinho is a strong contender to replace the 47-year-old.
Repsol Honda have confirmed that Moto2 champion Alex Marquez has signed a one-year deal to join his brother Marc as Jorge Lorenzo’s replacement for 2020.
Eden Hazard scored twice as Belgium continued their perfect record in Euro 2020 qualifying with a thumping win over Russia. The Red Devils, who had already qualified, were three goals up by half-time through Eden Hazard’s double and a strike by his brother Thorgan.
A hat-trick from Famara Diedhiou helped Senegal win 4-1 away to eSwatini as the second round of group games in 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying got underway. In other matches on Sunday, in-form Lille striker Victor Osimhen struck twice to help Nigeria win 4-2 away to Lesotho. There were also wins for Burkina Faso, Mali, Uganda, South Africa, Congo Brazzaville, Guinea, Benin and 2021 Nations Cup hosts Cameroon.
A nerveless Stefanos Tsitsipas came from a set down to beat Dominic Thiem on a thrilling final-set tie-break and become the youngest winner of the ATP Finals in 18 years. The Greek, 21, won 6-7 (6-8) 6-2 7-6 (7-4) to claim the biggest title of his fledgling career.
Spain’s six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez won the final race of the season in Valencia to round off a superb campaign. Marquez, who secured his latest world title by winning in Thailand in October, made it 12 wins for the season after starting second on the grid. “It’s been a perfect season,” said Marquez. “It will be difficult to repeat.”
Finland’s men have qualified for a major tournament for the first time in their history and striker Teemu Pukki could barely believe it. Actually, the whole of Finland could barely believe it. Friday’s 3-0 victory over Liechtenstein means the Eagle-owls will be at Euro 2020 next summer, after securing second spot in qualifying Group J, behind winners Italy. Jasse Tuominen’s first-half strike and a Pukki double – one from the penalty spot – ended a run of 32 failed qualifying campaigns for either the World Cup or European Championship, and sparked jubilant scenes.
Nigeria international goalkeeper Francis Uzoho has undergone successful surgery after sustaining knee ligament damage last month. Uzoho, 20, suffered the injury after the hour mark during the Super Eagles’s 1-1 friendly draw with Brazil in Singapore and had to be carried off on a stretcher. His Cypriot club Omonia Nicosia confirmed the extent of the injury and that the Nigerian was facing an extended lay-off.
Nigeria missed out on a chance to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games football tournament when they were held 0-0 by South Africa at the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo on Friday. Unmarked Sunday Faleye wasted a great chance to snatch victory for the Nigerians in the final minute of their last Group B game by heading a cross wide when a goal seem inevitable.
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Women footballers in Spain’s top division will strike this weekend in a dispute over pay. Almost 200 players from 16 clubs voted to strike in October after more than a year of failed negotiations. They are demanding a professional agreement that regulates minimum working conditions, rights to minimum wages and measures for maternity.
Cristiano Ronaldo took his tally to 98 international goals as his hat-trick against Lithuania moved Portugal to within one win of a place at Euro 2020. The 34-year-old Juventus forward could become only the second man to reach 100 international goals if he scores twice against Luxembourg on Sunday.
Spain’s all-time top goalscorer David Villa will retire next month, at the end of Japan’s J-League season. The former Barcelona striker will end a 19-year career, in which he won the 2010 World Cup and 2008 European Championship with his country.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic says his two-season stint at LA Galaxy made him “feel alive again” as he confirms he will leave the Major League Soccer side. The former Sweden striker, 38, scored 52 goals in 53 starts for LA Galaxy since arriving in March 2018.
Thierry Henry has taken over as coach of Major League Soccer side Montreal Impact. The former France and Arsenal striker has signed a two-year deal, which has an option for 2022, with the club. Henry, who was sacked as Monaco manager in January, spent four and a half years with MLS side New York Red Bulls before retiring as a player in December 2014.
Both prosecution and defence will appeal over former Nigeria international Dickson Etuhu’s sentence after he was found guilty of attempted match-fixing. A Swedish appeals court handed down its ruling and sentencing on Wednesday with Etuhu and his lawyers saying immediately they would launch an appeal.
Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva has been banned for one match and fined £50,000 after an FA commission accepted he “did not intend” a tweet about team-mate Benjamin Mendy to be “racist”. Silva compared Mendy to the character on a packet of Conguitos – a chocolate brand available in Spain and Portugal.
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