Fans have reacted to the potential bout between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury in December and many have warned the two-time heavyweight champion from taking the fight.

On Monday, Joshua accepted the challenge of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury after the latter called him out on social media on Monday challenging the British-Nigerian to a December Battle of Britain.

Joshua responded to Fury’s antics with his Twitter handle, “Yea calm. I don’t do the online discussions just for clout, so if you’re really about it shout @258mgt (Joshua’s management). I’ll be ready in December.”

However, under the same Joshua post, fans have cautioned the British-Nigerian to consider restraint.

Popular influencer, Daniel Regha wrote, “Anthony Joshua don’t get ahead of yourself, you are far from ready to fight Tyson Fury judging by your performance against Usyk in which you lost twice in a row; you are no doubt a great boxer, but you are not on Fury’s level yet. Act wise, rebuild yourself before taking on a challenge. No offense.”

Another user, @KingBalmainn commented, “I know you’re not a coward Anthony but sometimes there are battles you don’t fight physically. Tyson Fury is a different type of beast, to be honest.”

@currentiyke joked that Joshua wanted more punishments, “Lmaooo the one you’ve collected never satisfy you?”

Another Twitter user, @ogunsanyah did not think Joshua had any chance at all writing, “Lmao. You that Fury will beat like a lost ram. You that is fighting like you’re applying makeup. Like you didn’t see how aggressive Mike (Tyson) was during those awesome years.”

However, Olufemi Zosu believes Joshua should not be discouraged, “Why are you guys discouraging AJ? “Quitters Never Win and Winners Never Quit”. Joshua, just make a wish and believe in Jah it gonna come through.”

“About the Tyson versus Joshua fight, honestly, I feel Joshua is about to go on his third losing streak.

“Though Joshua is faster than Fury, Fury is still quite calm and collected. Joshua is going into this fight with anger in him and hunger for “revenge”, more like a comeback. Which to me, is not the best for now,” he said.

“If I were to be Joshua, I would go for a less competitive person first, before accepting to fight Fury. If you watch Joshua well, it’s quite evident he gives up quickly so I think Joshua is no match for Fury. But above all, I still wish my countryman the very best.”

Tomilola Isijola who enjoys combat sports and is a fan of UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya believes Joshua actually stands a chance.

“Tyson Fury one minute said he wants to retire and spend time with his family, and the next minute, he’s looking for an opponent to fight. It’s interesting the way he called Anthony Joshua out and I think it will be an exciting watch. It’s sounding like he’s asking Joshua to come and redeem himself.

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan celebrates setting a world record in the women’s 100m hurdles final during the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on July 24, 2022.

Reigning Nigeria, Commonwealth and World 100m hurdles champion, Tobiloba Amusan, will be hoping to win the last major global title of the outdoor season and get her hands, once again, on the iconic Diamond Trophy today in Zurich, venue of the 2022 Diamond League final.

The Nigerian began her historic run on the track with the Diamond League trophy last year when she sped to a then 12.42 seconds African record to win the high hurdles in Zurich.

That feat made her the first Nigerian athlete to win a Diamond League discipline at the final and be crowned the Diamond League champion for the year.

The 25 year old has not looked back since that historic run in Zurich last year September.

She started 2022 by successfully defending her African Championships title in Mauritius early June before travelling to Paris to smash her 12.42 seconds African record.

Amusan ran 12.41 seconds at the Diamond league meeting in Paris before storming Edo City in Nigeria to rewrite the 12.63 seconds Nigerian Championships record set in 1997 by Angela Atede in Lagos.

The reigning African champion ran 12.58 seconds to add the championships record to her collections before going to the biggest stage in world athletics to achieve a legendary status.

Amusan produced one of the biggest surprises of the World Championships when she sped to a world record of 12.12 seconds in the semifinals of the 100m hurdles, following it with a wind-assisted 12.06 seconds in the final to win gold.

The Nigerian went on to win the Commonwealth Games title in a Games record of 12.30 seconds and in the process became the first Nigerian track and field athlete to successfully defend an individual title at the Games.

Today, Amusan will be hoping to complete the task by successfully defending her Diamond League crown. She will, however, have to contend with reigning Olympic champion, Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn who, since winning the bronze in Oregon at the World Championships has been undefeated.

The Puerto Rican defeated Amusan at the Stockholm and Lausanne Diamond League meetings. She also won in Silesia and Brussels (where she ran a new 12.27 seconds personal lifetime best), setting meeting records at the three most recent meetings.

Amusan will also be up against Olympic silver medallist and former world record holder, Kendra Harrison, world silver medallist Britany Anderson, world indoor silver medallist Devynne Charlton and 2019 world champion Nia Ali.

President of Nigeria Football Federation and FIFA Council Member, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick has charged frontline candidates for this month’s NFF presidential election to conduct rancour-free, exemplary electioneering campaigns even as they seek the highest football-administration seat in the land.

On Wednesday, Pinnick met with current NFF 1^st Vice President Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi; current 2^nd Vice President/LMC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko and; current Chairman of Chairmen, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, who have all obtained forms to contest for the highest seat in Nigeria Football at the NFF Elective General Assembly scheduled for Benin City on 30^th September. 

The FIFA Council Member, who also sits on the CAF Executive Committee, told the trio to seek for votes in a most decent and respectable manner, and not invoke the spirit of do-or-die for the race.

“I have called this meeting to assure you all that I do not have a candidate in this race. Each and everyone of you is my candidate because we worked and walked together in the past eight years, seeking the best for Nigeria Football. I believe that you are all aiming for the position in order to be able to consolidate on the little gains that we were able to make and to preserve or even surpass our legacies.

“I urge you all to go about the campaigns with utmost decency, avoid any form of acerbic outpourings and remember that we are all belong to the same family that worked for the best interests of Nigeria Football for the past eight years. I wish each and everyone of you the very best with the voting college.”

Akinwunmi, who is also Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, is up against Gusau, who is also Chairman of the Zamfara State Football Association and Dikko, as well as a number of other aspirants including former international player Idah Peterside, CAF’s Head of Safety and Security, Christian Emeruwa and respected technocrat and former Chairman of Kano Pillars, Abba Abdullahi Yola.

“The desire to serve should never be a do-or-die affair. We remain one indivisible family committed to the growth of Nigeria Football. I will still be there to provide support and encouragement to whoever wins. As a Member of FIFA and CAF’s highest bodies, I am still a principal stakeholder in Nigeria Football. Our football deserves the best candidate with the best programmes that will take the game to higher heights.”

Other interested individuals have until midnight of Thursday, 8^th September 2022 to pick up their forms.

Bassey showed class with a top-notch defensive display and an assist during his debut Champions League game.

Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey made his debut Champions League appearance on Wednesday in Ajax’s comprehensive 4-0 rout of his former side Rangers at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam.

Bassey follows in the footsteps of Nigerian Icons, Nwankwo Kanu and Finidi George.

Ajax, under the new manager, Alfred Schreuder, began their UCL campaign on a winning note with Edson Alvarez, Steven Berghuis, Mohammed Kudus, and Steven Bergwijn getting on the score sheet for the four-time European winners.

Meanwhile, Nigerian defender Bassey proved his class during the entire game with an assist to show for his complete display.

Bassey played in the centre-back position alongside Jurrie Timber, with the duo of Daley Blind and Devyne Rensch on the left and right sides, respectively.

Bassey not only excelled in his defensive job for his club but he was also involved in their attacks.

In the 12th minute, Bassey was involved in Steven Bergwijn’s shot towards the edge of the post. Two minutes later, Bassey blocked his former teammate, Antonio Colak, from reaching the Ajax box.

With the offensive attempts from Ajax, they forced an attack that led to the second corner of the game, which also led to the opener. Alvarez put the hosts in front with a header to Steven Berghuis’s corner in the 17th minute.

Despite the departure of Ajax manager, Erik Ten Hag, the team seemed to be unchanged with their high-pressing style of play.

Four minutes later, Ajax put Jon McLaughlin, but the Rangers’ goalkeeper was quick to save the attempt. Another one-on-one attempt by both Blind and Kudus failed to get its last touch as the Rangers’ goalkeeper salvaged the chance.

Rangers’ players tried to resonate with the attacks from Ajax but failed to go past Blind in the 25th minute.

Berghuis, who assisted the first goal, scored the second from an assist from Mohamed Kudus that was deflected by James Sands in the 32nd minute.

Two minutes later, Ajax scored the third goal. It came from Bassey’s cross that got to Kudus, who spun past Rangers’ defender Tavernier before sending his shot past McLaughlin.

Towards the end of the first half, Bassey prevented Kent from making an attack with a shield on the ball.

In the second half, Rangers made a triple substitution with Leon King, Rabbi Matondo and Ryan King coming in.

In the 48th minute, Bassey gave away a free kick for an infringement on Matondo, but he prevented Sands from getting a clear header on goal.

A chance from Rangers to get a consolation got shrugged off after Colak failed to connect with Matondo’s cross in the 67th minute.

A minute later, Ajax launched an attack through Dusan Tadic, who sent a low pass to Berghuis, who struck from the right side of the box, but McLaughlin made a great save.

Rangers’ joy for a consolation goal was short-lived after Borna Barisic’s goal was ruled out for offside after Kent strayed marginally offside.

The last 10 minutes of the game saw Ajax score their fourth goal from new-signing Bergwijn who intercepted Goldson’s short pass and drove past McLaughlin to score. However, he couldn’t celebrate his Champions League debut goal for Ajax following a hamstring injury incurred while scoring the goal.

Elsewhere, Europa League winners, Eintracht Frankfurt continued their shoddy start to the season as they fell after 3-0 at home to Sporting Lisbon.

Second-half goals from Marcus Edwards, Trincao and Nuno Santos helped the visitors return to Portugal with three points in the bag.

Wolves had hoped to offer ex-Chelsea and Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa a contract if he passed a medical; Spanish striker did not qualify for a work permit because he has not played enough international games

Diego Costa has been granted his work permit for his proposed move to Wolves.

The former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid striker is flying to England on Wednesday evening with a medical taking place on Thursday.

If he passes his medical, Wolves will offer Costa a one-year contract and the 33-year-old will link up with Bruno Lage’s squad for the rest of the Premier League season.

Wolves hope to sign Costa in time for Saturday’s game at Liverpool after summer-signing Sasa Kalajdzic was ruled out by an ACL injury suffered during their win over Southampton last weekend.

Costa is a free agent after leaving Atletico Mineiro in January. He played 19 times and scored five goals for them in the 2021 season before his contract was terminated after just five months.

Despite being linked with fellow Brazilian side Corinthians, he has remained without a club. Last August, Marca reported he was close to signing a deal with La Liga mid-table side Rayo Vallecano. Costa has not played a single professional game since December of last year.

What has Costa been doing recently?

Since leaving Chelsea in the summer of 2017, Costa spent three-and-a-half years at Atletico Madrid, scoring 19 goals in 81 matches in all competitions, before his contract was mutually terminated in December 2020.

The forward joined Atletico Mineiro in August 2021 and scored five times in 19 games, but saw his contract terminated in January of this year.

Costa has spent the last eight months away from football but could make a stunning move back to the Premier League.

Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly’s last words to Thomas Tuchel before relieving him of his job has been revealed.

According to BILD, Boehly fired the German with the words: “We want to make a new start”.

His comments left Tuchel totally surprised and shocked.

Boehly took the decision one day after Chelsea lost 1-0 to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Tuchel leaves the club sitting in sixth place in the Premier League with 10 points.

The Blues began the campaign on a bad note and have already lost twice in the league to Leeds United and Southampton.

Rangers suffered a chastening return to the Champions League after a 12-year absence as Ajax ran riot in a 4-0 win in Amsterdam on Wednesday.

Edson Alvarez, Steven Berghuis, Mohammed Kudus and Steven Bergwijn were on target for the Dutch champions as they shrugged off the loss of a number of key players in the transfer window.

Rangers’ run to the Europa League final last season and victory over Ajax’s Eredivisie title rivals PSV Eindhoven, in qualifying for the group stage, raised hopes Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men could compete in a group also containing Liverpool and Napoli.

But after losing 4-0 to Celtic on Saturday, Rangers were blown away before half-time for the second time in a week.

Ajax brought in over 200 million euros ($199 million) in transfer fees for Antony, Lisandro Martinez, Sebastien Haller and Ryan Gravenberch in recent months.

However, they withstood interest in Alvarez late in the window from Chelsea and the Mexican opened the floodgates when he was left unmarked to head in a corner on 17 minutes.

Ajax look to have reinvested their transfer income wisely, including the signing of Calvin Bassey from Rangers.

The Nigerian international has been badly missed at the heart of Van Bronckhorst’s defence in the opening weeks of the season.

James Sands has deputised at the back due to a number of injuries at centre-back and it was the American international who deflected Berghuis’ shot into his own net to double Ajax’s lead.

Just like at Celtic Park at the weekend a two-goal deficit quickly became three for Rangers when Kudus’s storming run found the finish to match as he smashed in off the far post.

Van Bronckhorst responded with three substitutions at half-time and a change of system which held stem the flow of Ajax attacks.

However, Rangers were still undone by another self-inflicted blow for the fourth when Bergwijn latched onto Ryan Jack’s slack pass to round Jon McLaughlin and slot into an unguarded net for his eighth goal in seven games since returning to the Netherlands from Tottenham.

Super Falcons forward Monday Gift has linked up with Spanish Iberdrola side, UDG Tenerife.

Gift joined Tenerife from Nigeria Women’s Football League champions, Bayelsa Queens.

Tenerife confirmed her arrival with a short video on their Twitter handle.

The 20-year-old was in action for the Super Falcons in a friendly against world champions, United States of America on Wednesday morning.

Gift was part of Super Falcons’ squad to the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in Morocco.

She also represented Nigeria at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World in France in 2018.

Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, missed a penalty before he left the pitch with injury, as they demolished Liverpool 4-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday.

With five minutes left before the interval at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, the Super Eagles star was replaced by Giovanni Simeone after picking a knock.

Prior to his injury setback, Osimhen had missed a penalty in the 18th minute as his kick was saved by goalkeeper Allison after he was brought down in the box by Virgil van Dijk.

The former Lille player was a major doubt against the Premier League side, nonetheless, he was named in Luciano Spalletti’s starting XI – shouldering goalscoring responsibilities – while relying on support from Matteo Politano, Piotr Zielinski, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

As of the time of this report, Napoli have not stated the nature of Osimhen’s injury and the number of days he will spend on the sidelines.