By Ayomide Otitoju Ten standout athletes from the MTN CHAMPS grassroots athletics initiative are representing their states at the 2024 National Sports Festival, currently taking place in Ogun State from May 16 to 30. Their participation follows the successful conclusion of MTN CHAMPS Season 3, which featured regional meets in Benin (March 13–15), Lagos (April…
By Ayomide Otitoju Real Madrid has officially appointed Xabi Alonso as the club’s new head coach, with the Spanish tactician set to take over from Carlo Ancelotti on June 1, 2025, the club announced on Sunday. Alonso, 43, will lead the team for three seasons, until June 30, 2028, and his first assignment will be…
Novak Djokovic joined tennis greats Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors in the exclusive 100-title club after a dramatic comeback win over Hubert Hurkacz in the Geneva Open final on Saturday. The 38-year-old Serb battled for over three hours to claim a 5-7, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/2) victory, marking his first tournament triumph since capturing Olympic…
By Ayomide Otitoju What was meant to be a showcase of Ogun State’s sporting and infrastructural progress turned into a moment of national embarrassment as athletes at the newly renovated MKO Abiola Stadium were forced to compete in complete darkness following a sudden power outage. The incident, which occurred during one of the evening events…
The prestigious Ballon d’Or award ceremony will see equal representation for male and female players for the first time in its history, organisers announced on Monday. Scheduled for September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, the revamped ceremony will include six awards each for male and female footballers, with new honours introduced for…
By Ayomide Otitoju Carlos Alcaraz captured the 2024 Italian Open title on Sunday, defeating world number one Jannik Sinner 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 in a commanding performance that underlined his status as a top contender for the upcoming Roland Garros tournament. Alcaraz, who will move up to world number two in Monday’s ATP rankings, won his…
Crystal Palace stunned Manchester City on Saturday with a 1-0 triumph in the FA Cup final, securing their first-ever major trophy in a landmark moment at Wembley Stadium. Eberechi Eze scored the decisive goal, while goalkeeper Dean Henderson delivered a heroic performance to deny City and compound a turbulent season for Pep Guardiola’s side. Eze…
Paolini delivered a commanding performance to become the first Italian woman in four decades to win the Italian Open, defeating American Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-2 in Saturday’s final. The 29-year-old Paolini, a late bloomer on the WTA circuit, thrilled the home crowd at Foro Italico with a straight-sets victory to secure her second career WTA…
A court in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday ordered the dismissal of Ednaldo Rodrigues as president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), citing legal issues surrounding his employment agreement. Rodrigues had previously been suspended in 2023 following a court ruling that found irregularities in his 2022 election. However, he was reinstated after a Supreme Court…
