Sports - NewsNow Nigeria

Man City to face 115 charges in EPL, Premier League CEO reveals

26Apr

By Ofomata EdidiongNo Comments

Sports

Man City to face 115 charges in EPL, Premier League CEO reveals

The Premier League CEO, Richard Masters, has confirmed that Manchester City's hearing for the 115 financial charges is imminent. This announcement was made by Masters on Friday during a press conference held by European Leagues in London. No specific dates for the hearing were provided at the time. In February 2023, City was formally charged with 115 separate alleged violations of the Premier League's Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations spanning from 2009 to 2018. The reigning champions have vehemently refuted these charges. City's extensive history of charges sets them apart from recent cases involving clubs like Nottingham Forest and Everton.

Mikel Arteta Denies Personal Involvement in Kai Havertz Signing

26Apr

By Ofomata EdidiongNo Comments

Sports

Mikel Arteta Denies Personal Involvement in Kai Havertz Signing

Arsenal's coach, Mikel Arteta, has clarified that the decision to recruit Kai Havertz was a collective one. During a media briefing, Arteta emphasized that the choice was made in conjunction with the sporting director, Edu, and other key figures at the club. Havertz made the switch from Chelsea during the summer transfer window for a reported fee of approximately £65m. Despite facing initial challenges adapting to life at the Emirates Stadium, Havertz has since excelled, scoring 11 goals and providing five assists. Regarding the Havertz signing, Arteta remarked, “It wasn't solely my call, it was a decision we arrived at together. “Our alignment with the club's vision was strong, and in terms of the sports aspect, we presented a suggestion. “Numerous individuals were involved in the pr...

26Apr

By Ofomata EdidiongNo Comments

Sports

Agent Reveals: Ndah’s Transfer to Orlando Pirates Thwarted by Injuries

According to Mike Makab, the agent of Olisa Ndah, his client's dream of playing abroad was hindered by recurrent injuries. Last summer, Ndah, who impressed while playing for Orlando Pirates in South Africa, was a target for Serie A and Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs. However, the 27-year-old struggled to maintain a consistent presence on the field for the Bucs due to his injury woes. Makab expressed his belief that Ndah has been unfortunate in dealing with injuries. He stated, “He is very unlucky. Every time Olisa starts to hit his stride, he gets hit with these annoying injuries.” “Thankfully, they are not severe, but they do disrupt his flow as a player. “Let me tell you this: Whenever Olisa has been performing well consistently, we've received genuine interest from foreign clubs.” ...

Outrage from Man Utd’s Rashford as Criticism Escalates

26Apr

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Sports

Outrage from Man Utd’s Rashford as Criticism Escalates

Expressing frustration, Marcus Rashford, the Manchester United striker, has condemned the disparagement he has faced this season as “nothing short of abuse.” Having netted only eight goals in 40 appearances this season, the 26-year-old has come under intense scrutiny from both fans and analysts. Responding to a post on X, previously known as Twitter, decrying the treatment he has received as “appallingly harsh” and “inhumane”, Rashford voiced his exasperation at the excessive level of criticism. He articulated, “It is clearly a form of abuse that has been incessant for months. This has to stop.” Despite securing 30 goals across all competitions in the previous season, Rashford found himself relegated to the bench for two games by manager Erik ten Hag following a lackluster performance ...

Nasarawa Amazons Express Joy Over Abdulwaheed’s Call-Up to Flamingos

26Apr

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Sports

Nasarawa Amazons Express Joy Over Abdulwaheed’s Call-Up to Flamingos

The invitation of midfielder Farida Abdulwaheed to join the Flamingos has been met with celebration by the Nigeria Women Football League team, Nasarawa Amazons. A key player, Abdulwaheed is among the 25 selected by head coach Bankole Olowookere to represent Nigeria in the 2024 FIFA U-17 World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso. Sharing their excitement on social media, Nasarawa Amazons posted, "Congratulations to Nasarawa Amazons FC midfielder, ABDULWAHEED FARIDA, who just received her first call-up to the Nigeria women’s national Under-17 football team (The Flamingos) for the upcoming Dominican Republic 2024 FIFA U17 Qualifier match against Burkina Faso." The statement continued, "Congratulations dear and we all wish you all the very best, Go and make us proud." Abdulwaheed has consis...

Rivers United’s Victory Over Katsina United Pleases Eguma

26Apr

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Sports

Rivers United’s Victory Over Katsina United Pleases Eguma

Stanley Eguma, the technical adviser of Rivers United, expressed satisfaction with his team's hard-fought win against Katsina United. The Pride of Rivers secured a 2-0 victory over the Chanji Boys in their rescheduled matchday 28 fixture held on Thursday. Goals from Deputy Echeta and Kazie Enyinnaya sealed the win for Rivers United. Eguma credited a tactical adjustment for the success in the match. Reflecting on the game in a post-match interview, Eguma said, "This was a challenging match." "Katsina United adopted a defensive approach that made it tough for us to break through," he added. He further mentioned, "My players gave their all, and we had to make tactical changes to find the breakthrough. We scored one goal in the first half and doubled the lead in the second half." ...

Duty for Nigerian officials in CAF Confederation Cup

26Apr

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Sports

Duty for Nigerian officials in CAF Confederation Cup

Mohammed Sanusi, the Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has been appointed as the match commissioner for the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final second-leg match between Dreams FC of Ghana and Egypt’s Zamalek. Chukwudi Callistus Chukwujekwu, another Nigerian official, will be serving as the referee assessor for the encounter. This important match will take place at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, Ghana, on Sunday. In the first leg held in Cairo last weekend, Dreams FC, who are competing for the first time in the tournament, managed to secure a 0-0 draw against Zamalek. Dreams FC has maintained an undefeated record at home in the competition with three wins and a draw. The team is in need of a win to secure a spot in the final of the CAF Confederation Cup. ...

Important Announcement: Rivers United’s Remaining Fixtures Schedule Released by NPFL

26Apr

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Sports

Important Announcement: Rivers United’s Remaining Fixtures Schedule Released by NPFL

NPFL has officially disclosed the dates for the pending league matches involving Rivers United. In addition, a brief hiatus has been planned to facilitate the completion of Rivers United's outstanding games, as confirmed by the NPFL. Following the conclusion of matchday 32 this weekend, the league will temporarily halt its proceedings. Action is set to resume with matchday 33 fixtures on the weekend of May 25-26. According to NPFL's directive, the rescheduled matches for Rivers United have been strategically arranged to optimize travel logistics, with game dates structured around the proximity of venues. Hence, Rivers United's upcoming away games against Remo Stars, Kwara United, and Sunshine Stars (originally matchdays 21, 23, and 27, respectively) have been rescheduled for May 5, May...

Two crucial matches that could determine the fate of the EPL title for Man City and Arsenal, according to Redknapp

26Apr

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Sports

Two crucial matches that could determine the fate of the EPL title for Man City and Arsenal, according to Redknapp

According to Jamie Redknapp, a former England midfielder, Arsenal's chances of winning the remaining games will hinge on their performance in the North London derby against Tottenham this Sunday. In spite of that, Redknapp acknowledges that even a victory for Arsenal might not be enough to prevent Manchester City from clinching the Premier League title. Following a convincing 4-0 win against Brighton, City now trails the Gunners by just one point and still have a game in hand. The upcoming matches against all three title contenders, starting with their rivals Arsenal, will be crucial for Tottenham's role in the title race. Redknapp stated during a Sky Sports broadcast: “Tottenham’s influence in the title race can't be underestimated, can it? “Their match against Arsenal this Sunday is...

Not Striving to Emulate Messi, Claims Musiala

26Apr

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Sports

Not Striving to Emulate Messi, Claims Musiala

Insisting that he has no ambitions to be the next Lionel Messi, Bayern Munich's creative force, Jamal Musiala, believes that endeavor would be an insurmountable challenge. Considered as one of the most promising talents in global football, the 21-year-old Musiala has been earmarked as a potential contender for the prestigious Ballon d’Or accolade in the years to come, reminiscent of Messi's achievements in the past. In an interview with Marca, Musiala was asked about the parallels drawn between him and Messi. His response was, “I don’t think I can draw any comparisons with Messi; it’s a task that verges on impossibility.” “I believe any comparison to Leo or any other player is futile. I approach my career one year at a time, continually striving to enhance my abilities and secure vict...