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Olympics Disqualification: It Is My Career!, Okagbare Blasts Nigeria’s Sporting System

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Blessing Okagbare, one of the 12 Nigerian athletes cleared to compete in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics competition has lamented the “flawed” sport system in Nigeria.

Furious Okagbare who is making her fourth appearance at the Olympics games blamed Nigeria’s administrator for the disqualification of 10 Nigerian athletes by Athletics Integrity.

Green White Green (GWG) had reported that the 10 athletes “are not eligible to compete because the minimum testing requirements under Rule 15 of the Anti-Doping Rules were not met by ‘Category A’ Federations”.

In her reaction, Blessing Okagbare, noted, “I have said it before and I will say it again. If you do not know the sport, not passionate about it/us (the athletes), then you have no business there as an administrator.

“The sport system in Nigeria is so flawed and we athletes are always at the receiving end of the damages.

“They were busy fighting over power, exercising their pride over puma contract/ kits forgetting their major responsibility “THE ATHLETES”.

“It’s sad that this cycle keeps repeating its self and some people will come out to say I am arrogant for speaking my truth. It is my career!

The names of the disqualified athletes include Knowledge Omovoh, Ruth Usoro, Favor Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, Glory Patrick, Yinka Ajayi, Tima Godbless, Chidi Okezie, Chioma Onyekwere and Annette Echikunwoke.

Meanwhile, a total of 12 Nigerian athletes including Blessing Okagbare have been cleared by the Integrity unit of the World Athletics Council and are eligible to compete at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympic games.

“These athletes are Blessing Okagbare, Ese Brume, Tobi Amusan, Divine Oduduru, Nwokocha Grace, Patience Okon George, Enoch Adegoke,Imaobong Nse Uko, Itsekiri Usheoritee,Enekwechi  chuckwuebuka, Emmanuel Ojeli and Samson Nathaniel.

“Reigning Nigeria sprint queen and 100/200m record holder, Blessing Okagbare tops the list of 12 athletes the Athletics Integrity Unit has cleared to compete in the athletics event of the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympics which begins on Friday”.

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See The Four Countries That Have Qualified For AFCON 2025 Group Stage Qualifiers

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Four more countries have just secured their places in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) group stage qualifiers after the second leg matches of the preliminary stage on Tuesday, March 26.

Liberia, South Sudan, Chad, and Eswatini are the last countries to enter the group stage of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers, thanks to their aggregate win in a two-legged encounter.

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The said countries had to enter the group stage of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers through the preliminary round due to their poor placement in the African ranking.

Eswatini almost lost the opportunity to qualify for the group stage qualification round as they struggled to draw 2-2 with Somalia in the second leg of the preliminary round. But their 3-0 win over Somalia in the first leg was all they needed to scale through 5-2 on aggregate.

Chad completed a home-and-away smashing of Mauritius before booking themselves in the group stage. They won the first leg 1-0 and finished it with a 2-1 second-leg win to scale through 3-1 on aggregate.

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Liberia made it to the group stage after defeating Djibouti 2-0 in the first leg and then drawing 0-0 in the second leg, which added up to a 2-0 aggregate victory.

South Sudan knocked out Sao Tome and Principe via an away goal rule after scoring a goal in their away 1-1 draw. The second leg, which was at home, ended in a 0-0 draw.

The four aforementioned countries will now join 44 other countries in the group stage of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers. The qualifiers will produce 24 national teams for the tournament proper in Morocco next year.

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What I Will Do After My Retirement From Football – Lionel Messi

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I Won't Rule Out Playing At 2026 World Cup – Messi

Renowned Argentine football star Lionel Messi recently shared insights into his retirement plans.

During an interview on the Big Time Podcast, Messi offered glimpses into his future endeavours as he approaches the latter stages of his career.

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Since joining Inter Miami in the summer of 2023, Messi has significantly impacted with 16 goals and seven assists in 19 appearances across various competitions.

However, the 36-year-old has also grappled with injury issues, including a recurring hamstring problem and a recent knee injury, leading to concerns about his longevity in the sport.

Reflecting on his retirement plans, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner emphasized his self-awareness. 

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He acknowledged that he evaluates his performances critically, always striving to maintain his high standards and not shying away from admitting when he falls short.

Messi stated his preparedness to retire from football when he feels incapable of performing at his peak or finding joy in the game, irrespective of his age.

Messi said, “I am very self-critical of myself. I know when I’m good, when I’m bad, when I play well, and when I play badly. When I feel it’s time to take that step, I will take it without thinking about age.

“I know that moment I feel I am no longer ready to perform, that I am no longer enjoying myself or helping my teammates.

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BrickHall School Students Show Prowess At 2024 Inter-House Sports

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Brickhall school interhouse sport

Brickhall School has conducted its 2024 inter-house sports competition, drawing cheers from staff, students, and parents of one of Abuja’s top-rated schools which has in the past also distinguished itself for its academic prowess.

The 2024 annual inter-house sports competition was held amid glitz and glamour at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

GWG.ng reports that this year’s edition of the inter-house sport was rated the best by both students and parents as it granted the students the privilege to showcase their talents.

There was a variety of colourful activities for the pupils, students and parents at the event at the national stadium.

Spectators present at the event cheered the children in the primary and secondary sections as they competed in marches, shot put, track and relay race, sack race, and egg race among others.

Some students who spoke to newsmen affirmed their optimism about representing Nigeria in the near future saying that their outing at the Brickhall inter-house sports competition was only the beginning for them to pursue careers in sports.

Chidumaga Daniel, a student of Brickhall school remarked, “It was awesome, it was incredible to say the least, it was fantastic. I personally enjoyed it to be honest.”

Another student, Laura Obayemi said, “It was very interesting; a lot of drama, we thought a house was going to win; the house we thought will come last are now in front.”

Michelle Omenogor commented, “It was remarkable, there were lots of events, we had some in school and the other day we came to the stadium to rehearse. Today’s events were just out of the ordinary and the relay race in which I partook was actually very nice.

Chima Uzonwafor said, “I feel very good because things like these are not easy to do. You have to be very athletic and there is a lot of competition here. So I’m just glad I at least got something.”

Parents were also not left out of the event as they participated in some of the sporting activities with much zest and excitement.

One of the Brickhall School parents, Ogochukwu Ebu remarking about the inter-house sports said it was fantastic, “this is the first time we are using the national stadium and it was all inclusive. Practically all the students in the school had something to do and these teens were so amazing. They ran the full track. It’s excellent, the atmosphere is absolutely amazing.”

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Chairman of the event Ayuba Hamman said, “Sport is a skill, it is from this very period that you have to start exposing these youths to sport. It’s a profession now. People could train and become gainfully employed in sports. 

“They are the ones making the money now. We need to go back to those days when we used to have the principals’ cup and so on. Most of our runners in those days were found from school.

At the end of the games, Amber House emerged in first position, followed by Jasper House which and Lapis House which came third. 

While in the primary category, Jasper House came first, Amber came second while Lapis House came third.

GWG.ng reports that Brickhall School is one of the top schools in the FCT and had previously distinguished itself by winning academic prizes for schools in Abuja.

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List Of Countries That Qualified For Euro 2024 Via Play-Offs

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All the national teams that will participate in the forthcoming 2024 European Championship (Euro 2024) have been confirmed after Tuesday night play-off games.

Robert Lewandowski’s Poland, Ukraine, and Georgia are the last set of countries to book themselves a place in the Euro 2024 which will take place in Germany in less than three months.

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The competition will commence in Munich, Germany, on June 14, 2024 and the final of the tournament will take place in Berlin on July 14, 2024.

Poland qualified for the tournament after beating Wales via a penalty shootout following a 0-0 draw in regulation time.

Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona and his national teammates will now battle for the Euro 2024 title in Group D which features Netherlands, Austria, and France.

As for Ukraine, they secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Iceland courtesy of second-half goals from Viktor Tsyhankov and Mykhailo Mudryk.

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Chelsea’s Mudryk will lead Ukraine to battle for the title in Group E which houses Belgium, Slovakia, and Romania.

Georgia booked themselves a place in the Euro 2024 for the first time in the history of the country after breaking the hearts of the Greek players via a penalty shootout.

Georgians will have a taste of European football in Group F against Turkey, Portugal, and the Czech Republic.

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2024 Copa America Draw: All You Need To Know

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The draw for the group stage of the 2024 Copa America has been released hours after the conclusion of the 2023-2024 CONCACAF Nations League on Sunday night, March 24, 2024.

The 2024 Copa America group stage draw was confirmed after the United States beat Mexico 2-0 to win the CONCACAF Nations League.

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Note that the 2024 Copa America will feature members of South America’s football ruling body CONMEBOL, and members of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF).

The 2024 Copa America will be hosted by the United States across 14 host cities from June 20 to July 14. It will feature 16 national teams – 10 from South America, and six from North America.

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The winners of the next edition of the tournament will face the winners of the 2024 UEFA European Championship in the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions (Finalissima).

Lionel Messi’s Argentina are the reigning champions of the Copa America and also the rebranded Finalissima which was last played at Wembley Stadium in 2022 before they went on to win the FIFA World Cup that same year.

Below is the group stage draw for the 2024 Copa America:

Group A:

Argentina
Peru

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Chile
Canada

Group B:

Mexico
Ecuador
Venezuela
Jamaica

Group C:

United States
Uruguay
Panama
Bolivia

Group D:

Brazil
Colombia
Paraguay
Costa Rica

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All African Games: See Nigeria’s Position On The Medals Table (Top 5)

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The Nigerian contingent to the 13th All African Games held in Ghana, finished second on the overall medals table at the end of the tournament.

GWG.ng reports Team Nigeria finished with a total of 47 gold, 33 silver and 40 bronze medals across 25 sports at the competition.

The Nigerian team won its highest medal haul in weightlifting, winning 32 medals—16 gold, 10 silver, and six bronze.

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Athletics was Nigeria’s second most productive sport at the Games, with 22 medals won.

Nigeria got 11 medals from wrestling, 8 gold medals in a day in boxing, while arm wrestling also produced 13 medals.

Despite Nigeria’s impressive outing at the tournament, it was Egypt who finished tops on the medals table with 189 medals, comprising 101 gold, 46 silver and 42 bronze.

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South Africa placed third on the medals table with 106 medals — 32 gold, 32 silver and 42 bronze medals.

Algeria finished third with 29 gold, 38 silver and 47 bronze medals, while Tunisia completed the top five.

The next edition of the African Games will be held in Cairo, Egypt, in 2027.

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The Inconsistent Narrative: Chelsea FC’s Season Review And An Unpredictable End

By Joshua Aziken

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Chelsea

With the 2023/2024 season nearing its end, Chelsea FC are in a precarious position. They have the opportunity to salvage the season or squander it completely. Chelsea’s American chairman, Todd Boehly, has endured a rough start to his reign following the successful takeover from Roman Abramovich, the Russian billionaire sanctioned after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The first season proved forgettable, with Chelsea recording their worst finish in over 20 years. They were knocked out of both domestic cups in the first round and suffered an embarrassing Champions League quarter-final defeat to Real Madrid. With that in mind, Chelsea fans entered the new 23/24 season with renewed hope and aspirations. The appointment of Mauricio Pochettino initially signaled an upward trajectory, but that optimism has since soured for some fans.

Preseason

The preseason began with a significant player exodus, including Christian Pulisic, Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Mateo Kovacic, Kai Havertz (the Champions League final match-winner), club legends N’Golo Kante and Cesar Azpilicueta (“Dave” to Chelsea faithful), academy products like Loftus-Cheek, and, perhaps most controversially (and potentially a blessing in disguise), Mason Mount. Several players went out on loan, likely to see their time at SW6 cut short in the summer, including then-record signing Romelu Lukaku, the world’s most expensive goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, Hakim Ziyech, Lewis Hall, and Ian Maatsen (who left in January).

Chelsea have been inconsistent this season

Given the numerous departures, Chelsea knew they had to invest heavily in replacements. With Nkunku and Malo Gusto already signed, they were aware of their understaffed defense, especially. A horrific blow came with the injury of French defender Wesley Fofana just before their American tour. However, Chelsea acquired Nicholas Jackson, a striker from Villarreal, who impressed in preseason under Mauricio Pochettino. Just a few days before the big clash with Liverpool in West London, and as things were progressing well, a serious injury struck new signing Christopher Nkunku.

Signings

One defender and one attacker short, with midfield deficiencies exposed, Chelsea knew they had to act decisively in August. They splashed the cash for French defender Axel Disasi just days before the Liverpool game, a match where he would leave his mark by scoring the first goal of the Pochettino era.

Just two days before the game, Chelsea and Liverpool were locked in a transfer battle for Moises Caicedo. Chelsea had pursued his signature all summer but consistently fell short of Brighton’s asking price. Liverpool submitted a record-breaking bid readily accepted by Brighton. All that remained was Caicedo’s approval to move to Merseyside. Klopp even publicly stated they had agreed on a deal with Brighton. However, their plans hit a snag – Caicedo’s loyalty to Chelsea led him to reject Liverpool.

Chelsea simply had to offer a more substantial bid, which they did, securing Caicedo’s signature. With a deal for Tyler Adams almost done but pulled out of at the last minute, Chelsea needed another midfielder. In a move that could be pure coincidence or a deliberate jab at Liverpool, they signed Romeo Lavia, a long-term target for their rivals. With the summer window nearing closure, Chelsea needed an attacker. To everyone’s surprise and utter confusion, they acquired Pep Guardiola’s highly talented youngster Cole Palmer from Manchester City. Palmer has proven to be a revelation for Chelsea.

Premier League

Chelsea began the first two months of the Premier League season in a similar fashion to how they ended the last – highly inconsistent and disappointing to fans.

Their performances were a far cry from the promise shown in preseason. However, with the turn of October and the arrival of new shirt sponsors “Infinite Athlete,” Chelsea started to show signs of improvement.

Palmer has been one of the major discoveries for Chelsea in 2024

They played better, scored more goals, and even managed a win against rivals Spurs. Impressive draws against title contenders City and Arsenal demonstrated Chelsea’s ability to compete. Unfortunately, Chelsea’s inconsistency reared its ugly head again. Irritating losses, underwhelming performances, and significant injuries to key players like Carney, Nkunku, Cucurella, Chilwell, and club captain James saw them slip out of European qualification positions and plummet down the table. With Nicholas Jackson away representing Senegal in the African Cup of Nations, Pochettino had a significant challenge on his hands.

He needed to utilize all available resources to save not only Chelsea’s season but also his job. With a resurgent Nicholas Jackson returning, Cole Palmer establishing himself as a top young talent, and midfielders Gallagher, Enzo, and Caicedo finding their rhythm, Chelsea seems to be on the right track and within striking distance of reclaiming their season.

Domestic Cups

Cup competitions offered a valuable pathway back into European competition, and Chelsea knew they had to take both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup seriously. They did just that.

For the Carabao cup, thejourney to Wembley began smoothly with victories against Wimbledon, Brighton, and Blackburn, all without the need for penalty shootouts.

However, a tougher challenge emerged in the form of Newcastle at Stamford Bridge. Nkunku finally made his long-awaited debut in this match, but it was Mykhailo Mudryk, a player fans felt deserved more playing time over Raheem Sterling, who emerged as the hero for Chelsea. They went on to win the tie.

A two-legged semi-final against Middlesbrough followed. Chelsea missed numerous chances in the first leg but made amends in the second, scoring six goals at home to secure a place at Wembley.

Unfortunately, despite being the younger team on the pitch, Chelsea fell short at Wembley once again. Countless missed opportunities and a late winner by Virgil van Dijk condemned them to a sixth consecutive Wembley final defeat, earning them the unenviable label of “Billion-pound bottle jobs” from Gary Neville saying they lost to “Klopp’s kids” which he apologized for and it later turned out that Chelsea had the younger team at both kick off and after the final whistle.

Undeterred by the Carabao Cup disappointment, Chelsea faced rivals Leeds in the FA Cup, following a victory over Preston. The match started poorly with a Leeds goal within the first ten minutes. However, Chelsea displayed their newfound resilience by completing a comeback with a winning goal from Connor Gallagher. This set up a repeat of the 2021 FA Cup final against Leicester.

Chelsea started strong in the final, with goals from Cucurella and Palmer. Despite creating numerous chances in the first half, particularly through Raheem Sterling (including a missed penalty), they failed to capitalize.

A freak own goal by Disasi and a sublime effort by Malvidi for Leicester meant the game went into extra time. However, with Leicester reduced to ten men after Doyle’s red card, Chelsea seized the opportunity. Carney scored a dramatic 90th-minute winner, and Noni Madueke added another to secure a return trip to Wembley, this time against Manchester City for the semi final.

Final Stretch

With both the league and FA Cup still up for grabs, Chelsea’s season remains very much alive. Despite many writing them off for the FA Cup semi-final against City, Chelsea, who are yet to lose to them this season, believe they can pull off another victory and book a return trip to Wembley. This could potentially end the season with not just a trophy but also a Europa League spot for next season.

In the Premier League, Chelsea currently sits in 11th place with 39 points, just five points behind London rivals West Ham in seventh and with two games in hand. This gives Chelsea fans a reason to believe that their season can still be salvaged and a European place secured. However, Pochettino and his young squad face a significant challenge – they must perform exceptionally well in both the FA Cup and the league to transform a potentially disappointing season into a successful one that lays the foundation for a strong 2024/2025 campaign.

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Former Chelsea Defender ‘Dribbled’ By Wife To Raise Twins Not Fathered By Him Seeks Divorce

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Geremi Njitap, the former Chelsea footballer, has initiated divorce proceedings after learning that he unknowingly raised twins for over a decade that were not biologically his.

The 45-year-old athlete had been married to Toukam Fotso Laure Verline for twelve years.

According to reports from The UK Sun, court documents from Geremi’s native Cameroon outline Toukam’s alleged destructive behavior in their marriage, citing “repeated lies” and “abject behavior” as reasons for the dissolution. Shockingly, the documents reveal that Toukam falsely claimed the twins born in June 2008, four years prior to their marriage, were Geremi’s own offspring, which led to their decision to wed.

However, a recent DNA test exposed the truth, confirming that the children were actually fathered by Toukam’s previous partner. This revelation has shattered the couple’s marital harmony, leading Geremi to pursue legal action to end their union.

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Meanwhile besides the news of Geremi Njitap seeking divorce over the paternity fraud,

Edema Fuludu, ex-Nigerian international, has urged the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to offer fellow former Super Eagles player,  George Finidi, the senior national team job.

Jose Peseiro vacated the post after leading Nigeria to the final of  African Cup of Nations tournament in Côte d’Ivoire which the Eagles lost to the hosts 1-2

Fuludu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday that with Super Eagles 2-1 victory over Black Stars of Ghana in a friendly match on Friday, Finidi had shown that he is the right man for the job.

According to him, the leadership of NFF should look within the shores of the country in the appointment of a new gaffer for the Eagles.


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FA Cup Semi-Finals: Slight Adjustment As New Time Is Revealed

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FA Cup Semi-Finals

The FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley Stadium are now confirmed, with Manchester City taking on Chelsea on April 20th at 5:15 PM, followed by Manchester United versus Coventry City on April 21st at 3:30 PM.

The slight timing adjustment for the latter match, originally set for 4 PM, was due to concerns raised by the Metropolitan Police. Despite some discontent among stakeholders, the later kick-offs aim to maximize television viewership.

These fixtures follow a season packed with standout performances and incidents. Manchester United’s journey included a significant win over Liverpool, albeit marred by Amad Diallo’s subsequent ban. Chelsea’s path featured a defeat by Crystal Palace, prompting Raheem Sterling to issue an apology. Such events underscore the intense competition and emotional rollercoaster experienced by teams leading up to the FA Cup semi-finals.

The anticipation for these matches is palpable, with fans eagerly awaiting the showdown between top-tier teams at Wembley Stadium. The clash between Manchester City and Chelsea promises to be a spectacle, with both sides aiming to secure a spot in the final. Likewise, Manchester United’s encounter with Coventry City is expected to be fiercely contested, despite the timing adjustment. As the semi-finals draw near, excitement mounts among football enthusiasts worldwide.

The FA and broadcasters navigate logistical challenges and stakeholder concerns as they finalize arrangements for the semi-final matches. The decision to alter the kick-off time for the United-Coventry clash reflects the careful balance between accommodating various interests while ensuring the smooth execution of the event.

With Wembley Stadium set to host these high-stakes encounters, all eyes are on the participating teams as they vie for a coveted spot in the FA Cup final.

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