Author: The Nation

• Nigerian striker rallies Toffees for survival

Alex Iwobi said he and his Everton teammates won’t let Sunday’s defeat derail the positivity around the Club following strong recent performances – and has called on everyone to be ready to go again at Wolves.

The Blues battled to a 2-2 draw at Leicester City two weeks ago before dismantling high-flying Brighton 5-1 at the Amex seven days later. On Sunday, though, they came up against a ruthless treble-chasing Manchester City side and fell short in a 3-0 defeat.

Though Iwobi admitted it was a disappointing afternoon, he said the squad won’t dwell on the result – especially with their two crucial final matches of the season on the horizon.

“It was always going to be a hard game against one of, if not, the best team in the Premier League right now,” the winger told evertontv. “We can’t be too down. We have to take the positives, we still managed to create chances. We just weren’t able to take them.

“They scored two goals and a free-kick that you can’t do anything about. We’ll learn the lessons and go again.”

Meanwhile, Blues boss Sean Dyche speaks to evertontv following Goodison encounter.

In many press conferences this season, Dyche has spoken of the need to not get too high or too low on the back of results, instead emphasising the need to implement a consistent way of working to deliver the squad’s long-term goals.

“We just have to take the positives [from the City game],” he added. “We created a few chances against them and I’m sure against Wolves and Bournemouth we will be able to do it again.

“We had a big high against Brighton, and we aren’t going to stay too disappointed about this result against Manchester City. Football comes around really fast, and we have another game coming up soon, we will have to prepare for that.”

Despite the disappointing nature of the result of Sunday, a large portion of the Goodison Park crowd remained in the stadium beyond the final whistle to applaud and vocally support the Everton players as they exited the pitch.

That was a sign of solidarity that was greatly appreciated by Iwobi and his teammates: “The fact they are sticking behind us even with a disappointing result shows what the Everton fans are like and how much they care about the Club. It’s only right we fight for them – fight for us as well.

“Everton is a club that has to stay in the Premier League, and we want to be part of that history – one that stays up and never goes down.”

Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi should brace for a tough time as Leicester have reportedly taken the drastic step of cancelling their end-of-season awards night with the club staring down the barrel of relegation to the Championship.

According to The Telegraph, the focus will remain firmly on their make-or-break run-in, despite the provisional date for the awards ceremony being set for next week.

In a further move certain to raise alarm bells at the King Power Stadium, Leicester’s players are also believed to be careering head-first toward a significant salary cut.

Indeed, the same publication claims that wages will be slashed by up to 50 per cent in the event the club drops into the second tier over the coming weeks.

The relegation clauses in the contracts are said to range between 35 and 50 per cent for all players, although this is standard procedure for many Premier League sides.

And despite Leicester still being in with a shot at survival, it has also surfaced that their scouts have started to openly search for Championship transfer targets.

The Telegraph reported that Martyn Glover, the club’s head of senior recruitment, and his staff are monitoring the progress of young players in the second division.

Cameron Archer and Aaron Ramsey, both of whom are on loan at Middlesbrough from Aston Villa, are said to be viewed as the perfect type of signing for Leicester.

In the wake of last week’s chastening 5-3 defeat by Fulham, manager Dean Smith looked to lay down the law to his squad by cancelling their scheduled day off.

The group had been due a free day after the loss at Craven Cottage, although Smith opted to haul them back to their training base less than 24 hours later.

AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli hopes to have Rafael Leao back for today’s Champions League semi-final, second leg against city rivals Inter in which the Rossoneri will attempt to overturn a 2-0 deficit.

Star Portugal winger Leao missed the first leg with a thigh injury and also sat out Milan’s 2-0 loss to Spezia in Serie A at the weekend, a game which Brazilian winger Junior Messias and Bosnian midfielder Rade Krunic also missed.

“He is doing better, like Messias and Krunic,” Pioli said when asked about Leao’s fitness at the pre-match press conference. “If everything goes as it should, they’ll be available to train this afternoon and for the match tomorrow.

“If he takes part in the whole training session, he will play from the start.”

Algerian international midfielder Ismael Bennacer has already been ruled out for Milan after coming off injured in the first leg.

Inter won last week’s game thanks to two goals in the opening 11 minutes, from Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

That was Inter’s third consecutive win over their neighbours, all achieved without conceding a goal.

Whoever progresses from the tie will be the first Italian team to reach the final since Jose Mourinho’s Inter won the trophy in 2010.

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed Anthony Joshua could still face Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia this year, even if Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk doesn’t happen.

Joshua recently fought for the first time in eight months, as he defeated Jermaine Franklin by unanimous decision in April.

Fury and Usyk were in talks for a fight that would crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion in two decades, but they could not agree on financial terms.

Hearn previously revealed an epic card proposed to him in the Middle East and has now insisted the organisers are ‘deadly serious’ about staging both fights on the same night.

“The situation is Saudi Arabia would like to do Fury against Usyk and AJ against Wilder that are on the same night,” told The Fight Is Right. “I went out there two weeks ago and they are deadly serious. I’ve done two big fights with them before. I know they deliver.

“As I understand it, they have been doing their own negotiations with Deontay Wilder, which have gone very well.

“They have been talking to Usyk for a year because obviously he boxed AJ over there.

“They know the rough kind of numbers we want based on what we received for the Andy Ruiz fight and the Usyk fight in Saudi Arabia.

“Fury is another story altogether, but not my business. All I’m concerned about is doing the deal for AJ against Wilder.

“If they can’t get Usyk and Fury over the line, they will still do AJ against Wilder. They want this big quartet though.”

Doubts emerge over the fight last week when Wilder was arrested and booked on a charge of possession of a concealed weapon. He was released after posting a $35,000 bond.

If the fight does go ahead, Fury expects the American to come out on top, as he said in a press conference while on holiday in Tenerife.

As the deadline for registration ended yesterday for the first WTT Contender Series in sub-Saharan, there are indications that

Some top 20 ranges of the world ranking are expected to make the list of confirmed players for the first WTT Contender Series in sub-Saharan Africa in Lagos

To be held after the World Championships taking place in Durban, South Africa, players will begin hunting for ranking points to secure their places at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France.

WTT organisers are optimistic that the Local Organising Committee (LOC) populated experienced organisers of ITTF events in the past, are capable of hosting a befitting tournament with the supportive Lagos fans.

According to the LOC Event Director Dr. Kweku Tandoh, the quality of players already signifying interest to be in Lagos attest to the fact that the city has become one of the hubs of top class table tennis in the world, adding the LOC are working hard to ensure a smooth event.

“We have hosted several ITTF events in the past, and the experience we had acquired in the course of staging these befitting events has qualified us to deliver world class tournaments,” he said.“ We are not surprised that players are eager to come to Lagos because the feedback from our previous events have shown that we are doing things right.

“The leadership of the LOC has mandated us to again deliver another seamless tournament that will continue to make Lagos one of the places to be when you are talking of top level table tennis events in the world,” Tandoh added.

Already, some local players aiming to pick their slots among the contenders have been warming up across Nigeria as the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) is planning a national trials to select some of the local-based players that will team up with their foreign compatriots in the main event scheduled for June 12 to 18 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium

Organizers of the ninth edition of the gold label Okpekpe International 10km Road Race have restated that the May 27 historic event will be conducted strictly in accordance with the rules and regulations of World Athletics.

The organizers also warned intending runners that the use of the temporary timing chip that will be attached to their running bibs is compulsory.

“The race number and temporary timing chip are linked to the name and finishing time such that allowing another person to compete with your number will result in disqualification of the other person and your exclusion from next year’s event,” Zack Amodu, the race director said.

Amodu revealed distance markers will be placed at each kilometers mark, adding pre-race technical meeting with the international elite athletes and their representatives will hold a day to the race.

“This is very crucial to the successful organisation of the race because it is where all arrangements for the race viz the warm-up schedule, configuration of refreshment stations and how to reach the finish line in case of drop-out among other things are communicated to the international and local elite athletes,” he noted.

According to Amodu, the elite athletes are also free to provide their own refreshments and can nominate at which stations they shall be made available to them.

“We are sticking, again, with the recommendation of World Athletics that personalised bibs with names of the elite athletes will be provided for them to wear on race day,” he said.

Amodu who is confident of another hugely successful race on May 27 in Okpekpe, said organisers are ready with the additional responsibility that comes with organising a gold label race.

“This will be the first gold label 10km road race to be organized in Nigeria and we are up to the task of organising another world class event,” Amodu assured.

The Okpekpe international 10km road race is the first road running event in Nigeria to be granted a label status which signifies its world class status.

Lawal, Adijat lead Nigeria’s medal charge

Nigeria began her quest for 2024 Olympic Games qualification with a big statement as Lawal Rufiatu and Olarinoye Adenike Adijat won three gold and three silver medals respectively at the on-going 2023 Senior Africa Weightlifting Championship in Tunisia yesterday.

The championship also serves as the 2024 Paris Olympics qualifier.

Competing in the 59kg women category, Rafiatu won three gold medals in Snatch, Clean and Jerk and Total while Adijat claimed all the three silver medals in the same category.

Team Nigeria’s Joy Eze (71kg women) and Edidiong Umofia (73kg men) will be on the stage today.

Nigeria’s 5th athlete, Akano Desmond (89kg men) will round off Nigeria’s participation in the championship on tomorrow, May 17.

The athletes expressed optimism and assured Nigerians of a good outing.

Speaking with Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, media, Olarinoye Adijat and Edidiong Umofia said the athletes are not under pressure to perform adding that they aspire to begin the Olympic Games qualifiers on a high note.

“It is one of the championships we need to participate in to get our Olympic Games qualification ticket. We have done our best in camp, the president and his board supported us and we hope to begin high,” Olarinoye said.

On his part, Umoafia looked forward to his competition today.

“We are not under pressure. We are in competition spirit and we hope to start high as we begin the Olympic Games qualification journey.

“No competition or championship is an easy one. You have to be on top of your game. Prepare well and ask for God’s grace. All the athletes are ready to compete,” he stated.

After the exciting moments in Owerri, Heineken’s Cheers to All Fans campaign is going full throttle with a big splash in Abuja and Warri.

The bustling city of Aba and the ancient Benin City are also in line for mega viewing experiences as the UEFA Champions League enters its most crucial stage with finalists in view

Football enthusiasts can now look forward to exciting moments and unforgettable experiences as Heineken brings the magic of Europe’s premier club competition to life.

Still in the race for a place in the final are football powerhouses Inter Milan, AC Milan, Manchester City, and defending champions Real Madrid who are all fired up after their first-leg games.

Fans in Warri can join in the excitement today at De Clouds Sports Lounge at Osubi Close, near the airport, the same day Oris Lounge, Aba and Rehab Lounge Benin will be pumped up for the Milan derby.

In Abuja, Pappie’s Meatro in Jabi will be the centre of attention tomorrow for the titanic clash at Etihad Stadium between Man City and Real Madrid.

Heineken’s extended Cheers to All Fans campaign has been a standout attraction of this season’s UCL, redefining fan engagement by promoting inclusivity and breaking free from stereotypes.

On these special nights of football, Heineken promises an unparalleled viewing experience that captures the essence of the beautiful game.

Fans and loyal consumers alike can expect a lively atmosphere filled with banter, premium beer, and top-notch music from star artists as well as quiz competitions, entertaining jokes and opportunities for all to win fantastic prizes.

Sampson Oloche, Portfolio Manager – Premium Lager at Heineken, expressed his excitement for the campaign’s expansion to Abuja, Warri, Aba and Benin City: “We are committed to taking our campaigns to as many cities as possible, we know the people in Abuja, Benin, Aba and even Warri all like football and as well Heineken, so we are happy to be in these places. If there is one thing I can promise, it is an unforgettable night for the fans and our consumers.”

As the UEFA Champions League reaches its most thrilling stages, Heineken remains dedicated to providing a world-class football viewing experience that unites and celebrates fans from all walks of life.

• Chelsea scouts watch Nigerian against Monza

Transfer speculation continues to surround Victor Osimhen at Napoli and scouts from a Premier League club were reportedly in attendance to monitor his performance during Luciano Spalletti’s side 2-0 loss to Monza in Serie A on Sunday.

As per Il Mattino, two representatives from Chelsea were present at the Stadio Brianteo to watch Osimhen in the flesh, ahead of what is lining up to be a ‘bidding war’ for the 23-goal Nigerian.

However, both the collective and individual performance from Napoli and Osimhen wasn’t particularly impressive against Monza as the Partenopei slipped to their first defeat in eight games across all competitions.

“The Chelsea scouts did not pick the right day for it,” wrote Il Mattino.

Still, the interest in Osimhen, particularly from the Premier League remains strong. As well as Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle are also said to be monitoring his situation. Erik ten Hag’s side are reported to be leading the race for his signature.

Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain remain among the frontrunners to land Osimhen’s service, whilst there had, at previous points, been interest from Germany, namely from Bayern Munich.

This summer is said to be the turning point in Osimhen’s Napoli career. If a reasonable offer comes in, Napoli will be inclined to sell, according to Il Mattino, however, if it doesn’t, it is possible that Osimhen remains at the Stadio Maradona for the time being, given that he still has two years left on his current contract.