Watford have reappointed Quique Sanchez Flores as manager after announcing the exit of Javi Gracia. Sanchez was in charge of Watford for the 2015-16 campaign before leaving at the end of the season. Fellow Spaniard Gracia, whose coaching team have also left, had been in charge since January 2018 – making him the first Hornets boss to last more than one full season since 2013.
Brazil’s Travel and Tourism Institute named former player Ronaldinho Gáucho as the country’s new Tourism Abassador on Thursday. There is just one slight snag with that – the ex-Barcelona is unable to leave the country.
As the Super Eagles of Nigeria prepare to face Ukraine in a friendly game on Tuesday September 10, some players that were called up for the game have excused themselves from the game for various reasons. Captain Ahmed Musa is the latest to join the group of injured players. Before him, Tyronne Ebuehi and Wilfred Ndidi had pulled out because of injuries.
Ayomide Bello has become the first female canoeist from Nigeria to qualify for the Olympics. Bello, 17, won the C1 200 event at Africa’s Tokyo 2020 qualifiers in Morocco.
Two-time Olympic 800m gold medallist Caster Semenya has joined a South African women’s football team. The 28-year-old is unable to compete without taking testosterone-reducing drugs following a rule change by the IAAF, athletics’ governing body. It means she cannot defend her 800m World Championship title in Doha this month – though she is fighting the rule change through the courts.
Serena Williams has another opportunity of winning a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title after beating Elina Svitolina to reach the US Open final. The American, 37, overpowered the Ukrainian fifth seed to win 6-3 6-1. Williams, seeded eighth, is aiming for her first Grand Slam win since giving birth in September 2017.
A video shared by Amaechi Nwoye Uba on Facebook shows where suspected Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) members were rough handling Sen Ike Ekweremadu. The incident is believed to have taken place in Nuremberg, Germany. Ekweremadu was dragged around and stoned with different objects, mostly eggs, around the venue of the event.
Former Super Eagles striker (and later coach) Samson Siasia has been banned for life and fined $50,000 by FIFA for agreeing to the manipulation of matches. Siasia was coach of Nigeria between 2010-2011 and for a spell in 2016 but the time period when FIFA believes he committed his infractions is unclear. He has also served as coach of the country’s Under-20 and Under-23 sides.
Super Eagles of Nigeria coach, Gernot Rohr, has invited 23 players for the upcoming international friendly against Ukraine to be played on September 10. Kelechi Iheanacho and Semi Ajayi have been recalled to the team after missing the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Tyronne Ebuehi is back to the team after coming back from a long injury lay off. Emil Maduka Okoye and Joe Aribo are invited for the first time. Daniel Akpeyi, John Ogu and Shehu Abdullahi who were at AFCON 2019 are dropped. Continue reading
Liverpool beat Chelsea 5-4 on penalties to win the UEFA Super Cup today at Istanbul, Turkey. The match ended 2-2 after extra time. Congrats to the Reds.
Africa and Nigeria’s soccer legend Austin “Jay jay” Okocha turns 46 today. Okocha made his Super Eagles debut in 1993 against Cote D’Ivoire in Abidjan during a world cup qualifier game. He played for Nigeria 73 times scoring 14 goals in an international career that spanned about 14 years and ended in 2006. He became the Super Eagles captain just before the 2002 world cup. Okocha won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria in his debut tournament in Tunisia and also won the Men’s Soccer Goal Medal at the Atlanta Olympics with Nigeria U-23 team in 1996. In 2004, he won the the African Cup of Nations Golden Boot and Best player awards in Tunisia.
Jose Mourinho has left his job as Manchester United manager after two and a half years in charge. The Portuguese, 55, won the FA Cup and the Europa League at Old Trafford. But United are sixth in the Premier League, 19 points behind leaders Liverpool, who beat them 3-1 on Sunday. “A caretaker-manager will be appointed until the end of the season while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new, full-time manager,” United said in a statement. “The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future.”
Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante has signed a new five-year deal to keep him at the club until 2023. The France international, 27, has scored three goals in 81 Premier League appearances for the Blues after joining from Leicester City in 2016. Chelsea won the league title in Kante’s first season at Stamford Bridge and he was named the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year. “It has been two beautiful years and I wish for more to come,” he said.
Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has confirmed his retirement from playing, ending “an amazing 20 years”. The Ivory Coast striker, 40, had two spells at Chelsea, scoring 164 goals in 381 games and winning four Premier Leagues and the 2012 Champions League. He spent the last 18 months of his career with US side Phoenix Rising, the club he co-owns. “After 20 years, I have decided to put an end to my playing career,” he told BBC World Service’s Sportshour.
Australia bid farewell to an emotional Tim Cahill as he made his 108th and final appearance in 3-0 win against Lebanon at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. Cahill, 38, came on in the 82nd minute, after two goals from Martin Boyle and a Mathew Leckie strike had all but sealed the win for the hosts. Despite failing to score on the night he finishes his international career as Australia’s record goalscorer with 50.
Kylian Mbappe injured a shoulder as world champions France beat Uruguay in a friendly in Paris. Paris St-Germain forward Mbappe was unable to continue after landing awkwardly after a challenge from Uruguay goalkeeper Martin Campana. Earlier in the first half, Mbappe had missed a clear-cut chance, clipping wide when through on goal.
Paris St-Germain forward Neymar played for only six minutes as Brazil edged out Cameroon in Milton Keynes. Neymar suffered an adductor muscle injury while taking a shot and was replaced by Everton’s Richarlison. And the Toffees forward proved to be the match-winner, powering home a header on the stroke of half-time.
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