Sports

Los Angeles (U.S.), Feb. 14, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Tiger Woods said on Wednesday that he decided not to play a recent European Tour tournament in Saudi Arabia because he wanted to keep his “travelling down”. Four of the world’s five top-ranked players, Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau, …

Liverpool (UK), Feb. 7, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Champions Manchester City returned to the top of the English Premier League (EPL) with a 2-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday. Manchester City dislodged Liverpool with the win even though both have 62 points. But Manchester City have the upper hand …

Barcelona (Spain), Feb. 7, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) A second half strike by winger Malcom secured for FC Barcelona a 1-1 draw with visiting Real Madrid on Wednesday at the Nou Camp. The result left their Copa del Rey semi-final pairing evenly poised after the first leg. The Brazilian winger, who started …

Barcelona (Spain), Feb. 2, 2019 Lionel Messi dragged FC Barcelona back from two goals down by scoring twice to snatch a 2-2 draw at home to Valencia in a thrilling encounter on Saturday. The draw interrupted the La Liga leaders’ streak of eight consecutive league wins. Valencia, who hit the …

Paris, Feb. 2, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Cesc Fabregas netted his first goal with Monaco to give the struggling principality side their first Ligue 1 win in seven games as they beat visiting Toulouse 2-1 on Saturday. The Spanish midfielder, who joined from Chelsea last month, fired home in the second half. …

Berlin, Feb. 2, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund drew 1-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. However, they increased the gap with second-placed Bayern Munich to seven points after the champions’ shock loss at Bayer Leverkusen. Borussia Dortmund initially looked impressed by Eintracht Frankfurt’s tough, physical game but that lasted …

Madrid, Feb. 1, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) FC Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign 20-year-old Brazilian Emerson from Atletico Mineiro for 12 million euros (£10.5 million) and the right back will join the club in July. The Spanish champions said on Thursday that the Brazil Under-20 international will spend the rest …

By Victor Okoye Abuja, Jan. 31, 2019 Spanish giants, Barcelona Football Club, on Thursday confirmed the signing of Nigerian international, Asisat Oshoala, on loan from Chinese Women’s Super League outfit Dalian Quanjian. According to reports on the club’s official website, the 24-year-old completed her move after passing her medicals on Thursday, …

  England, Jan. 28, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Holders Chelsea have been drawn to face Manchester United in the FA Cup fifth round, a repeat of last year’s final. With Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool already out of the competition, Monday’s draw means that, at most, only two of the top six …

Abuja, Jan. 27, 2019 Three-time champions, Nigeria, will know their group phase opponents at the 32nd Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals on April 12.  The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that April 12 has now been approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the staging of the …

Munich (Germany), Jan. 27, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Champions Bayern Munich had to work hard for more than an hour before beating VfB Stuttgart 4-1 in the Bundesliga on Sunday for their seventh straight league win. They now stay six points off leaders Borussia Dortmund. The Bavarians, who face Liverpool in the …

Paris, Jan 26, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Managerless Monaco crashed to another defeat on Saturday, going down 2-0 away to Dijon the day before their former coach returns to the club to try and save them from relegation. Leonardo Jardim will take charge again on Sunday, just three months after he was …

London, Jan. 25, 2019 Chelsea set up a League Cup final against Manchester City with a penalty kicks shootout victory over Tottenham Hotspur after the tie ended 2-2 on aggregate at Stamford Bridge on Thursday. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Chelsea won 2-1 on the night with N’Golo Kante …

The First Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Seyi Akinwunmi, has made a clarion call on football stakeholders and enthusiasts to show greater interest in and strive to participate in the ongoing electoral processes in the local councils and Football Associations of the 36 States and the FCT. …

Paris, Jan. 24, 2019 Brazilian forward Neymar was substituted in tears after suffering what appeared to be a right ankle injury as Paris St Germain (PSG) beat Racing Strasbourg 2-0 on Wednesday. The Brazil striker left the pitch after an hour in a French Cup last 32 game after receiving …

Madrid, Jan. 21, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Spanish giants FC Barcelona on Monday announced the surprise loan signing of Kevin-Prince Boateng from Italian side Sassuolo until the end of the season. The La Liga leaders confirmed the arrival of the German-born former Ghana international in a statement. They added that the club …

Turin (Italy), Jan. 21, 2019 Cristiano Ronaldo missed a second half penalty kick for Juventus but it did not matter as the Serie A leaders brushed aside Chievo 3-0 in a top-versus-bottom clash on Monday. The Turin side were already two goals ahead when Ronaldo saw his spot kick brilliantly …

Madrid, Jan. 21, 2019 Soccer superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo is due in court in Spain on Tuesday to answer charges of evading taxes during his nine-year reign as Spanish side Real Madrid’s all-time highest scorer. The Portuguese striker is expected to plead guilty after he struck a deal last year with …

Huddersfield (England), Jan. 20, 2019 Manchester City barely broke a sweat as they easily beat bottom club Huddersfield Town to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to four points on Sunday. Danilo’s deflected shot gave City the lead in an opening half in which they were not at …

London, Jan. 19, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Arsenal revived their hopes of a top-four finish in the 2018/2019 English Premier League (EPL) by securing a comfortable 2-0 derby win at home to toothless Chelsea on Saturday. First half goals by Alexandre Lacazette and Laurent Koscielny gave the Gunners the win which helped …

Los Angeles, Jan.16, 2019 LeBron James will not travel with the Los Angeles Lakers for the team’s upcoming road games to Oklahoma City and Houston, ESPN reported on Wednesday, citing agent Rich Paul. James strained his left groin on Christmas Day against the Golden State Warriors and has missed 11 …

Madrid, Jan. 12, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) FC Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde says the club are looking to sign a centre forward in the January transfer window after selling Munir El Haddadi to Sevilla. The league leaders want back-up for Luis Suarez after Sevilla agreed a one-million-euro ($1.15-million) deal to buy Spain …

London, Jan. 12, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Skilful finishes from Pedro and Willian earned Chelsea a 2-1 win over battling Newcastle United in the English Premier League (EPL) on Saturday at Stamford Bridge in London. The win kept the London side safely in the top four. A pinpoint lofted pass from David …

London, Jan. 9, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Tottenham Hotspur gained a slender advantage over London rivals Chelsea on Tuesday in their League Cup semi-final meeting as Harry Kane’s penalty kick earned them a 1-0 win at Wembley. Kane’s 26th minute penalty kick, his 160th goal for the club, means Mauricio Pochettino’s side will …

The Presidency has disclaimed as fake news, a press release to the effect that President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the arrest and prosecution of the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, President, Amaju Pinnick. A statement by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), said that “anyone familiar …