SPORTS UPDATE

[Edoman]

Novak Djokovic beats Roger Federer in straight sets to reach eighth Australian Open final as he aims his 17th Grand Slam (Photos)






Defending champion Novak Djokovic is on course to retain his Australian Open crown after eliminating his arch-rival Roger Federer from the semi-finals.
 
The Serbian superstar defeated his Swiss opponent 7-6, 6-4, 6-3 in two hours and 18 minutes at the Rod Laver Arena on Thursday to reach his eighth Australian Open final.
 

 
'It could have gone a different way, he started off really well,' said Djokovic. ' I was pretty nervous at the beginning. Respect to Roger for coming out tonight, he was obviously hurt and wasn't at his best in terms of his movement.
 

 
'It was probably not the best mindset from me at the beginning of the match. I was looking at how he was moving. I dug my way back and it was important to win the first set. I relaxed a bit after that. '
 
Novak Djokovic will face either Dominic Thiem or Alex Zverev in Sunday's final.

[Edoman]

Copa del Rey: Messi makes history in Barcelona’s 5-0 win over Leganés


 January 30, 2020


Barcelona captain, Lionel Messi, on Thursday night, made history in his side’s Copa del Rey 5-0 victory over Leganés.



Barcelona defeated Leganés at the Camp Nou to qualify for the quarter-finals of the competition, thanks to goals from Antoine Griezmann (1), Clement Lenglet (1), Lionel Messi (2) and Arthur Melo (1).

Messi’s brace against Leganés means the Argentine captain has now reach 500 wins as an FC Barcelona player as reported by Barcelona’s official website on Thursday.



The 32-year-old sits at the head of the ranking of wins, ahead of second placed Xavi Hernández (476) and Andrés Iniesta (459).

Messi claimed his first win as a Barça player against Espanyol on 16 October 2004.

Only one team has managed to avoid defeat against Messi – UDA Gramanet who won 1-0 in the Copa del Rey in 2004/05 in their only clash with the Barça number 10.

[Edoman]

Anthony Joshua's next fight opponent revealed as Kubrat Pulev and fight will be held May/June in UK






Boxing Champion Anthony Joshua's next fight will be against Kubrat Pulev, it has been confirmed.
 
Joshua beat Andy Ruiz Jr in their rematch last December in Saudi Arabia, and the three-belt world champion will have to defend his titles against his IBF mandatory challenger Pulev in his next fight, before taking on Oleksandr Usyk, who is the No.1 WBO contender according to his agent and promoter, Eddie Hearn.
 
                            
 
Eddie Hearn earlier this week admitted Saudi Arabia’s spending power would be the defining factor in determining the location of a possible bout between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua if they ever agreed to fight, but the Matchroom boss confirmed Joshua’s next fight will be in the UK around May or June, and not Saudi Arabia or Africa like he earlier claimed.
 
                  

'It’s close and if it was proving difficult to make, we would go into purse bids now at this stage, or they would order it,’ Hearn told Sky Sports about Joshua’s next fight against Kubrat Pulev.
‘We spoke to the camps and they basically said we need another two weeks and we’ll have it finalised.
‘Almost certainly that will be AJ’s next fight and almost certainly in the UK.
The main issue we have is Pulev wants to make as much money for that fight as he can.
‘There isn’t as much money for that fight in the UK as there is elsewhere, but AJ has given me the instruction that I boxed in New York, I boxed in Saudi, I would like to do this one in the UK.
‘Spurs, Emirates, Cardiff, Twickenham, everywhere is in play, but most likely end of May, early June, Joshua-Pulev in the UK.’
 
 

[Edoman]

Leo is the best' - Angel Di Maria insists Messi is superior to former team-mates Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Wayne Rooney






Paris Saint-Germain winger, Angel Di Maria has declared that his fellow Argentina team-mate and Barcelona icon, Lionel Messi is the greatest player on the planet.
 
The 31-year-old Argentine won the Champions League, La Liga, and two Copa del Rey trophies during four seasons at Real Madrid, where he partnered Cristiano Ronaldo. 
 
He also played alongside England's all-time record goalscorer Wayne Rooney at Manchester United.
 

 
After his move to Paris Saint-Germain, Di Maria became teammates with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but he has now insisted that his fellow countryman Messi is the best player on the planet.
 

 
'It was a dream to have the possibility to play with (Wayne) Rooney, (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic, Cristiano (Ronaldo), Leo (Messi)... they were players that I used on the PlayStation and I would never have imagined I'd get to play with them,' Di Maria told TyC Sports.
 

 
'I used to watch them and then to have the opportunity to play with them was really nice.
 
'Leo is the best of the four, Cristiano is a monster and Neymar is simply a joy for football. He's Brazilian and when he plays all he does is have fun.
 
'Ibra is crazy, a total character. On the pitch he might seem like a bad guy but he is awesome, a really good guy. I got along with him very well when he was here.
 
'Rooney is a quiet guy. I never thought he would be as strong as he is. With all the great players I have played with, it's hard to choose. But if I had to pick one, it would be Leo.'
 
Di Maria also tipped current PSG colleague Kylian Mbappe to European football's most prestigious individual prize. 
 
'Mbappe is a little animal,' Di Maria said. 'He has a great mentality. He's a good boy, always calm, and plays at a high level. Even with everything he has done, he can do more. If he continues with the mentality he has, I know that he will win the Ballon d'Or.'

[Edoman]

Arsenal complete loan signing of Cedric Soares from Southampton (Photos)






Arsenal have completed the signing of Portuguese defender Cedric Soares from Southampton on loan. 
 
The 28-year-old, who has six months remaining on his contract at Southampton, will be with Mikel Arteta's side on loan until the end of the season.
 

 
On completing his move before the January transfer window closed, he said: 'We were close a few years ago, so it's not the first time. It didn't happen that time but now thank God it came true. I'm super happy. 
 
'It was important for me in my career to come here. Southampton gave me the opportunity to play in the Premier League but obviously, it's amazing this step, to come here and play for Arsenal. 
 

 
'To be able to reach this point is unbelievable. I try to be a guy with energy, a player that goes up and down. 
 
'I like to consider myself a team player and yes, what can I say? It's difficult when you need to talk about yourself! But again, I will give my 100 per cent for the team and for the fans.'
 

 
Arsenal technical director Edu said: 'Cedric is a defender with good experience of the Premier League, and of course at international level. 
 
'He is another strong addition to our defensive unit who will provide our squad with quality. I know he is a player who plays with absolute full commitment and energy. 
 
 

 
 

[Edoman]

Ighalo becomes the first Nigerian to sign for Manchester United and will reportedly earn £130,000 (N62m) per week






Social media is currently awash with news of Odion Ighalo's surprise move to Manchester United. The English football giants late on Friday night agreed a deal with Shanghai Shenhua of China to sign Ighalo on a six months contract, making him the first Nigerian to officially play for the senior men's team.
 
Ighalo, born in Ajegunle, with stints at Udinese and Watford will reportedly earn about £130,000 (N62m) per week at his new club for the six months he will be at the club.
 
The deal doesn't include an option to sign, so Man U. has no obligation to keep him beyond six months if he doesn't perform well.

Ighalo will replace the injured Marcus Rashford in Manchester United's line up.
Congrats to him!!

[Edoman]

Ex-Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand visits Computer Village, Lagos.

Ferdinand was brought to Nigeria by Guinness and has been going on a media tour.

https://twitter.com/MobilePunch/status/1223299405211688960?s=19

[Edoman]

EPL: Solskjaer reveals why he signed Ighalo for Man United

 February 1, 2020


Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has revealed why the club signed 30-year-old former Nigeria international, Odion Ighalo.



Manchester United brought in Ighalo from Shanghai Greenland Shenhua on transfer deadline day.
Solskjaer said the Nigerian 2018 World Cup striker would help solve the goalscoring issues of the club.



Anthony Martial and teenage striker, Mason Greenwood have been used as United point men following the injury suffered by Marcus Rashford.

“It was very important. I thought, with Marcus out for so long, the demands on Anthony and Mason would be high,” Solskjaer told MUTV.

“We get an experienced goalscorer, top scorer in the Africa Cup of Nations last season. He’s a man with a big smile, a great personality and a big Manchester United fan.



“He’s going to savour this, enjoy this and give absolutely everything for us.”
Ighalo will spend six month at Old Trafford following the loan move.

[Edoman]

LaLiga: Real Madrid make history after 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid

 February 1, 2020


Real Madrid on Saturday made history in their La Liga 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid.



Zinedine Zidane’s side defeated Atletico at the Santiago Bernabeu, thanks to Karim Benzema’s lone goal.
According to OptaJose, the Los Blancos’ victory over Diego Simeone’s men means Zidane’s men have conceded just 13 goals after 22 LaLiga games this season.



It is their best defensive total at this stage in the competition’s history.
Real Madrid are on top of the La Liga table with a point ahead of second-place Barcelona.
They will now take on Osasuna in their next La Liga fixture.

[Edoman]

SPORT
EPL: Why I started Fernandes in Man United, Wolves clash – Solskjaer

 February 1, 2020


Manchester United boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has disclosed why he started new midfielder, Bruno Fernandes, in his side’s Premier League clash against Wolves on Saturday night.



Solskjaer said he decided to start Fernandes, who only joined the club on Wednesday from Sporting Lisbon because the Red Devils needed ‘fresh legs’.
He also stated that Man United fans wanted to see the Portuguese play for the Old Trafford club as soon as possible.



DAILY POST had reported that Fernandes signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with United.
When asked why he decided to start Fernandes, Solskjaer told Sky Sports before the kick-off: “Well, I think there is been loads of fans waiting for Bruno to come and the players as well.

“He’s been a very good influence since he is come. Of course, it is been a few hectic days for him, but I think just the boost of Fernandes being around has been good for everyone.



“He’s raring to go, he wants to play, and for us, we need some fresh legs as well. We have had 18 games in the last two months, and it’s quite a big demand for these boys.”

[Edoman]

Gary Neville slams Man Utd's "desperate" deadline day signing of Odion Ighalo






Ighalo was signed by Manchester United during the last hours before the January transfer window shut on Friday night, much to the surprise of football fans, as they expected a much more stellar name like Edison Cavani following Marcus Rashford's aggravated back injury.
 
                              
 
On the last day of the transfer window, United attempted to sign Bournemouth ace Joshua King, which failed, before making enquires for Danny Ings and Teemu Pukki - which were both rejected.The club then had to settle for  former Watford striker Odion Ighalo, 
 
According to Neville, a former captain of the club, United knew they needed a striker all summer but couldn't sign one, yet they waited till the last hours of the transfer window to get one over the line.
 
               

"I think Ighalo, they just needed a body in that area. Obviously Rashford is going to be out for a couple of months.
"I can't let the club off the hook though, unfortunately.
"The idea that Lukaku told us a couple of weeks ago that he'd said he was going to leave last February, March.
"That's nine months for the club to be able manoeuvre and get into a position to sign a striker for the club for the long term.
"They've ended up desperately doing one on deadline day. The boy might do very well, he might settle in, he might score goals and do a job for the club.
"But the fact the club are in that position, knowing that Sanchez and Lukaku were leaving for many, many months, tells me that Manchester United at this moment in time are struggling to navigate through the transfer market smartly." 
 

 
Ighalo netted 36 times in 90 Premier League appearances for the Hornets before he was sold for £20million to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua. He will team up with his new teammates this week once he has passed a medical.
 
 
 

[Edoman]

EPL: Referees under fire for ‘favouring’ Liverpool at Anfield

 February 2, 2020


Southampton manager, Ralph Hasenhuttl, has told Premier League referees to be “brave” when they officiate at Anfield.



Hasenhuttl feels his side should have had a “clear penalty” during their 4-0 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday.

Saints striker, Danny Ings, went down under a Fabinho challenge in the box, but referee Kevin Friend waved play on and the Reds took the lead through Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain moments later.



“You need brave decisions from the referee. To say ‘no goal and penalty’, here at Anfield, that won’t happen.

“In the first half there was a backpass to the Liverpool goalkeeper [not given], that’s another decision, maybe this is why it’s so difficult to win here.
“It is a clear penalty and in such moments the game can turn in our direction.



“Maybe the result is a little high but I would like to watch this game if we went one goal up,” Hasenhuttl told the media after the game.

[Edoman]

Ronaldo Becomes First Juventus Player To Score In Nine Straight League Games


Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties to take his tally to 10 goals in his last six games as Juventus beat Fiorentina 3-0.


The hosts were first awarded a spot kick for handball in the first half and Ronaldo swept home the penalty.


Ronaldo has now scored in nine successive Serie A games for Juventus, becoming the first player to do so since David Trezeguet in December 2005.


He has also scored 50 goals in just 70 appearances since joining the Italian giants in 2018.


The win strengthens Juventus' place at the top of the table, with 54 points from 22 games - six clear of Inter Milan.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/51349057

[Edoman]

Djokovic Wins 2020 Australian Open Men's Final

Novak Djokovic defeats Dominic Thiem 6-4 4-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 to win his 8th Australian Open
He does it! Novak Djokovic recovers from 2-1 sets down in a slam final for the first time to win his 8th Australian Open and 17th slam. He was struggling badly for much of the event, but he always finds a way. An incredible effort from Thiem, but it wasn’t enough. It rarely is against Djokovic.

Djokovic, 32, will begin his fifth stint — and 276th week — at No. 1 on Monday. Should he maintain his hold on the top spot in 2020, he is projected to pass Pete Sampras (286 weeks at No. 1) on 20 April and Roger Federer (310 weeks) on 5 October to set a new all-time record for most weeks at No. 1.

Thiem, who had also finished runner-up to Nadal at Roland Garros in 2018 and 2019, has now won seven of his 11 matches against the Big 3 of Nadal (2-2), Novak Djokovic (2-2) and Roger Federer (3-0) since the start of 2019.

The final was watched by a record 31,020 spectators on Rod Laver Arena and outside on the grounds watching the big screen, breaking the previous record of 30,753 fans set in 2019. Additionally, the total Australian Open tournament attendance for 2020 was also a record 812,174, bettering the previous 2019 mark of 796,435.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2020/feb/02/australian-open-mens-singles-final-novak-djokovic-v-dominic-thiem-live

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/djokovic-thiem-2020-australian-open-final-sets

[Edoman]

EPL: My players deserve this happiness – Mourinho reacts to Tottenham’s 2-0 victory over Man City

 February 2, 2020


Tottenham Hotspur boss, Jose Mourinho has said his players deserve special kind of happiness following their 2-0 win over Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.



Tottenham defeated Guardiola’s men at home, thanks to two goals from Steven Bergwijn and Son Heung-min.

“Fantastic week to work with the boys and so happy to see their happiness and the fans from a season that was not an easy one,” Mourinho was quoted by Football London as saying at his post-match.



“They deserve this special kind of happiness against a top team like City.”
“I felt early in November that the title goes to Liverpool. It is hard to win three in a row, but they are still a fantastic team with a fantastic manager,” he added.

“The way the table is, you get two wins, and you go straight up the table.
“We look up, but we also look down.



“If we lose Dele Alli, I cannot imagine. I know the players were fantastic, ready to give everything as they did. FA Cup in two days, let’s see.

“If the ball doesn’t go out, it doesn’t go out, and then you make the decisions. But the right decisions, not the wrong ones. The more time it takes, the more time to get it right. Should have been a red card.”

[Edoman]

SPORT
EPL: What Guardiola did to Man City players after 2-0 defeat to Mourinho’s Tottenham

 February 3, 2020


Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola locked his players in the dressing room for a 45-minute inquest after their 2-0 loss to Tottenham on Sunday, according to Mirror.



With the defeat, Pep Guardiola’s side are now 22 points behind league leaders, Liverpool in the Premier League table.

It was goals from new signing Steven Bergwijn and Son Heung-min that gave Jose Mourinho’s side all three points.



However, Guardiola did not criticise his stars during his post match press conference.

The Citizens had a better possession and more chances in the game but Ilkay Gundogan failed to convert a penalty, while star striker, Sergio Aguero hit a post and missed a sitter from six yards.

Things were made worse for the visitors when Oleksandr Zinchenko was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.



The Spaniard insisted that he was happy with his side’s performance when he finally emerged from the dressing room to conduct media interviews.
“I have no regrets about the performance,” Guardiola told Match of the Day 2.

“We lost a football match. Of course we had a lot of chances. At the end of the day you have to take it.



“In the second half we started well and created chances to score and didn’t do that.

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Footballer Kyle Walker dumped by mother of his children after fling with reality TV star










Manchester City star, Kyle Walker, as reportedly been dumped by the mother of his three children after his alleged affair with a reality TV star.

According to The Star, his partner of 10 years, Annie Kilner (pictured right) has moved on from Walker, 29, following his fling with Ex On The Beach star Laura Brown.

The couple had recently got back together in an attempt to work on their relationship, but Annie, 27, has now changed her Instagram bio to "Single mummy to my 3 angels."
 


In May 2019, reality star, Laura Brown told friends she felt exploited by the Manchester City defender after discovering he had a long term girlfriend, Annie Kilner.
 
She then messaged Annie Kilner, detailing their tryst in the back of his Bentley.
 
When the mother-of-three, Annie messaged back asking for proof, the Ex On The Beach star, who thought the defender was single when they met during a night out in Manchester in September 2018, reportedly sent a selfie of her and Kyle taken in their family home.
 


Describing their first date to The Sun on Sunday, she said: “We drove to a back street where he parked up and we got into the back together.”

She told her pal: “The next time we got together he treated me to a Starbucks from a drive-thru. Kyle told me that he was a dad but never said he was in a relationship.”
 
She also added: “I felt Kyle had exploited me by using his power and wealth.
 
The England international and Annie initially split in May 2019, but got back together to work on their relationship which didn't work out. 

 

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[Edoman]

They are unstoppable' - Pep Guardiola concedes EPL title to Liverpool as Man. City fall 22 points behind






Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola has accepted defeat in his side's defence of the premier league title they won in 2019, saying he will be focusing on other competitions now, after his side were beaten 2-0 by Jose Mourinho's Tottenham on Sunday night.
 
Steven Bergwijn scored a debut goal while Heung-min Son's scored again after Manchester City were reduced to 10 men following Oleksandr Zinchenko's red card, leaving Guardiola's side 22 points adrift of leaders Liverpool.
 
                                                    
 
Guardiola, whose team is still in the FA Cup, Carabao Cup final and UEFA Champions league believes the EPL title is all over for him.
'They are far away so they are unstoppable. They have a lot of points, we have dropped points quite similar to today.
'Our targets are to win the remaining competitions and qualify for the Champions League next season.' 
 
Guardiola also responded to claims he kept his players locked up in the away dressing room after the match for 40 minutes.
''No, I was not angry. Normally I don't like it if we don't play good, if we don't run or we don't fight,' said Guardiola.
'Never when we lose do I stay away from my players because I know them. But we lost the game so we talked about how to move forward and keep going. There's a lot of months to play.' 
 
He also took a thinly-veiled swipe at former Premier League chairman Richard Scudamore, who once said that City's dominance could affect the EPL's credibility ahead of last season after winning the title by 19 points in the previous campaign.
''The last two seasons they said City winning the title was bad for the Premier League and that it could not happen again,' said the City boss.
'They said someone has to stop City getting 100 points and winning it again. So now it is Liverpool you have to be concerned with about the Premier League.' 
 

[Edoman]

Nigerian, Rinsola Babajide wins Liverpool Women's Player of the Month award






Nigerian player, Rinsola Babajide has won the Liverpool Women's team player of the month award for the month of January, the club has announced on it's official website.
 
Babajide, who can represent Nigeria as well as England due to her dual citizenship, started all the three matches played by Liverpool last month, scoring four goals all of which came against Blackburn Rovers Ladies in an 8-1 win.
 
                  
 
The 21-year-old, a natural winger who can also play as a central striker, said: “I’m really honoured to be Player of the Month and thanks to all the fans that voted.

“I feel like our performances have been getting better all the time and two back-to-back wins show that. Now we need another three points and that would be massive for us.”

“It was the volley [past Blackburn] for me, though I’m not sure which one the fans enjoyed most,” she said about her favorite career goal.

“We just needed to hit the back of the net because we’ve been playing well without scoring so it’s a confidence boost for all of us.”
 

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[Edoman]

Chelsea stars Tammy Abraham & Fikayo Tomori pictured hanging out with Davido in Dubai (photos)






English footballers of Nigeria descent, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori, were pictured partying with Nigerian singer, Davido during the after party of the singer's brother's wedding in Dubai.
 
                            
 
The footballers who are in Dubai as part of their winter break, were spotted hanging out with Davido, months after they snubbed the Super Eagles to represent England internationally.
 
Davido is currently in Dubai for his elder brother, Adewale Adeleke's wedding and Chelsea won’t be playing till 17th of February so the players decided to hook up with the singer.

More photos below.