Nigeria’s Favour Ofili competes to take first place during the women’s 200m round 1 athletics event at the Alexander Stadium, in Birmingham on day seven of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, central England, on August 4, 2022.

Mark and Tijani, reportedly came late for their kit inspection. But Team Nigeria is saying the charge is not true. 

The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in a statement, yesterday, said: “Team Nigeria’s powerlifters did not arrive late for their event at the Commonwealth Games. Based on speculation in the media, there was also no query about the kits as they were approved at the technical meeting held on August 1, 2022. 

“The decision to disqualify Latifat Tijani and Mark Onyinye Gift has been appealed by Nigeria to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).”

MEANWHILE, in para table tennis, Faith Obazuaye beat Malaysia’s Gloria Gracia 3-0 in the Women’s Singles Classes 6-10 Group 1, while Ifechukwude Christiana Ikpeoyi defeated Australia’s Daniela di Toro in the Women’s Singles Classes 3-5 Group 1. 

However, Chinenye Obiora succumbed to the superiority of India’s Sonalben Manubhai Patel.
 
In a men’s Singles Classes 3-5 Group 1 event, Nasiru Sule beat Australia’s Junjian Chen 3-0, while Alabi Olabiyi Olufemi was beaten 3-0 by another Australian, Lin Ma, in the Men’s Singles Classes 8-10 Group one. Isau Ogunkunle overwhelmed Sierra Leone’s George Wyndham 3-0 in men’s Singles Classes 3-5 Group 2 and in the men’s singles classes 8-10 Group 2, Tajudeen Agunbiade beat Chao Chee 3-1.
 
In the women’s high jump, Temitope Simbiat and Esther Isah are through to the final of their events, while Udodi Onwuzurike, Emmanuel Ojeli and Alaba Akintola are also through to the semifinals of the men’s 200m event.

Favour Ofili, who could not feature in the women’s 100 metres because of COVID-19 issues, has qualified for today’s 200m semifinals. She won round one heat four by finishing in 22.71 seconds. Her compatriot, Nzube Grace Nwokocha, was not that lucky as she finished sixth in heat 6.
 
In boxing, Ifeanyi Onyekwere fighting in the men’s super heavy category (+92) defeated Canadian Mouafo Feujio Marcel Jerome to progress to the semifinals of the contest. He will meet India’s Sagar Sagar, who also moved to the next stage of the weight class after beating Seychelles’ Keddy Evans Agnes.

Nigeria will feature in today’s women’s hammer throw final, with Oyesade Olatoye battling 12 other athletes for a medal. 

In the preliminary round held yesterday, Olatoye threw a distance of 61.74 to rank ninth among the finalists. Canada’s Camryn Rogers leads the pack with her 74.68 throws.

Premier League – Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United – The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain – May 7, 2022 Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo in action with Brighton & Hove Albion’s Pascal Gros

Match-by-match facts and statistics ahead of the first round of Premier League fixtures from Aug. 5-7 (all times GMT).

Friday, Aug. 5

Crystal Palace v Arsenal (1900)

* Arsenal will be involved in the opening game of a Premier League campaign for the fifth time. They have won thrice but were beaten 2-0 by Brentford in the 2021-22 season-opener.

* Four of the last six league matches between the two teams have ended in draws, with Palace and Arsenal winning one each.

Saturday, Aug. 6

Fulham v Liverpool (1130)

* Liverpool won six straight Premier League games against Fulham between 2012 and 2019, but were unable to beat them in the 2021-22 season, drawing 1-1 away and losing 1-0 at home.

* Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah became the first player in Premier League history to score on the opening weekend of five successive seasons with his goal against Norwich City last year, and could extend his own record with a strike against Fulham.

* Liverpool won five of their six games against promoted sides in the 2021-22 season.

Bournemouth v Aston Villa (1400)

* Promoted Bournemouth last played in the top flight in the 2019-20 season, when they finished 18th.

* Villa have won only one of their five opening day Premier League games against newly promoted teams (D1 L3), a 1-0 victory at Bournemouth in 2015-16.

* Bournemouth have won three of their four league meetings with Villa, all by a 2-1 scoreline (L1).

Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers (1400)

* After winning only three league matches in a run of 25 at Leeds, Wolves have won three out of their last four at Elland Road.

* Luke Ayling scored a 91st-minute winner to seal a 3-2 win for Leeds the last time the teams faced off in the league.

* Only one of the six Premier League meetings between the teams have ended in a draw, with Wolves winning three and Leeds winning two.

Newcastle United v Nottingham Forest (1400)

* Nottingham Forest are back in the Premier League after a 23-year absence.

* Forest have failed to beat Newcastle in eight Premier League meetings. (L5 D3)

* Forest have been busy during the summer transfer window, with former Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard one of 12 new recruits.

Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton (1400)

* Southampton have only won four Premier League away games against Spurs.

* Late goals by Mohamed Elyounoussi and Che Adams sealed a 3-2 victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in their last meeting.

* Spurs’ new signing Richarlison will miss the game after being suspended for one game for throwing a flare off the field while playing for Everton against Chelsea last season.

Everton v Chelsea (1630)

* Everton have won four of their last five home matches against Chelsea in the league (D1).

* Chelsea have won 27 out of 60 Premier League meetings (D20) between the teams.

* Everton forward Salomon Rondon is suspended after being sent off against Brentford last season.

Sunday, Aug. 7

Leicester City v Brentford (1300)

* Brentford will be seeking a first Premier League win over Leicester in their third attempt.

* Brentford are winless in their last 10 meetings with Leicester in all competitions (D1 L9) since a 3-2 win in League Division Two in March 1953.

* Leicester are yet to make a signing in the summer transfer window.

Manchester United v Brighton & Hove Albion (1300)

* United have won seven of their 10 Premier League matches with Brighton, including all five at Old Trafford.

* Brighton thrashed United 4-0 at the Amex Stadium when the teams last met in May.

* New United boss Erik ten Hag will take charge of the team in the league for the first time.

West Ham United v Manchester City (1530)

* After losing four home games in the league against City in which they conceded 17 goals, West Ham have drawn the last two, including a 2-2 stalemate in May.

* West Ham have beaten City only nine times in 42 Premier League meetings, with seven of those wins coming at home.

* New City signing Erling Haaland could make his Premier League debut for the champions.

Anthony Martial is set to miss Man Utd’s Premier League opener due to a hamstring injury leaving Erik ten Hag with a big decision to make regarding Cristiano Ronaldo’s involvement

According to Mirror, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is facing a late rethink over Cristiano Ronaldo’s involvement in their Premier League opener after an injury to Anthony Martial.

Ronaldo, who is pushing to leave the Red Devils this summer, has barely featured in pre-season after missing their tour of Asia and Australia for family reasons.

As a result, Hag that Martial would lead the line against Brighton this Sunday alongside Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford.

But Martial is now set to miss the opening game with a minor hamstring problem, according to UK Media

He was holding his leg as he left the pitch against Atletico Madrid in Oslo and now faces further tests to determine when he will return.

It is claimed the Frenchman, who starred in pre-season with several goals after returning from a loan spell at Sevilla, is hoping to return for the trip to Brentford on August 13 but may not feature until they face Liverpool  on August 22.

His absence gives  Hag a major decision to make regarding Ronaldo. The Portuguese superstar would be the obvious choice to lead the line but Rashford can also play as a central striker with Anthony Elanga waiting in the wings to fill his role out wide.

Ronaldo was also amongst a number of players criticised by Ten Hag this week for leaving Old Trafford before full time  in their pre-season friendly against Rayo Vallencano at the weekend.  

In an interview with Dutch media, Ten Hag branded their actions “unacceptable”.

The interviewer asked Ten Hag: “At the beginning of the conversation, we talked about how important it is for you to have players arrive on time and your attention to details. But Cristiano seems to arrive and leave whenever he wants, how do you manage that?”

A clutch of Nigeria Premier Football League teams including Akwa United, Sunshine Stars and Nasarawa United are the acknowledged top dogs as the Round of 16 matches of this year’s AITEO Cup competition take place on Saturday and Sunday in different centres of the Federation.

Niger Tornadoes, who squeezed through to this stage with a 6-5 penalty shoot-out defeat of two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba FC have a date with Green Beret FC at the FIFA Goal Project inside the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

Akwa United have an interesting fixture against Kogi United, who also experienced the lottery of penalty shoot-out before edging out ambitious Kanta United following a 2-2 draw in regulation time. The boys from Uyo eased their way to this stage with a 3-0 spanking of CAF Cup aspirants Remo Stars. Both teams are engaged in the only match of the men’s competition coming up on Sunday, and at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.

Sunshine Stars, big winners (5-1) over Rovers in the Round of 32, have a date with Katsina United at the Area 3 venue in the Federal Capital Territory, while Kano Pillars tackle DMD FC at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi.

Heartland FC, who ejected multi-titlists Enugu Rangers after penalty shoot-out in Benin City, will be up against Dakkada of Uyo at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba. Lobi Stars will square up against Akure City at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus on Saturday.

Nasarawa United, stretched taut by Sokoto United in a penalty shootout that eventually ended 11-10, will be up against inspired Bendel Insurance at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba, while El-Kanemi Warriors and Wikki Tourists will do battle in Jos.

In the women’s event, Cup holders Bayelsa Queens will trade tackles with Abia Angels in Akure on Sunday, with Nasarawa Amazons and Confluence Queens in a potentially explosive encounter at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja also on Sunday.

Heartland Queens, 2-1 winners over Dannaz Ladies in the earlier round, will be up against Delta Queens at the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode.

Last year’s runners-up FC Robo Queens, who dislodged Edo Queens 2-0 in the Round of 16, are rewarded with another big tie, this time against Royal Queens, who edged Osun Babes. Both teams take the pitch at the Abakaliki from 4pm on Sunday.   

AITEO CUP COMPETITION 2022

ROUND OF 16 FIXTURES (MEN)     

Green Beret Vs Niger Tornadoes – 06/08/22 – FIFA Goal Project – 4pm

Lobi Stars Vs Akure City Vs Niger Tornadoes – 06/08/22 – Enugu – 4pm

Heartland FC Vs Dakkada FC – 06/08/22 – Asaba – 4pm

Sunshine Stars Vs Katsina United – 06/08/22 – Area 3 Abuja – 4pm

Akwa United Vs Kogi United – 07/08/22 – Enugu – 4pm

DMD FC Vs Kano Pillars – 06/08/22 – Bauchi – 4pm

El-Kanemi Warriors Vs Wikki Tourists – 06/08/22 – Jos – 4pm

Bendel Insurance Vs Nasarawa United – 06/08/22 – Aba – 4pm

QUARTER FINAL FIXTURES (WOMEN)

Bayelsa Queens Vs Abia Angels – 07/08/22 – Akure – 4pm

Nasarawa Amazons Vs Confluence Queens – 07/08/22 – Abuja – 4pm

Delta Queens Vs Heartland Queens – 07/08/22 – Ijebu-Ode – 4pm

Royal Queens Vs FC Robo Queens – 07/08/22 – Abakaliki – 4pm

ROUND OF 32 RESULTS (MEN)

Bayelsa United 0 Green Beret 0 (4-5 penalties)

Enyimba International 0 Niger Tornadoes 0 (5-6 penalties)

Doma United 0 Lobi Stars 3

Akure City Academy 2 Bendel Insurance Feeders 1

Rangers Int’l 1 Heartland FC 1 (7-8 penalties)

Sunshine Stars 5 Rovers FC 1

Cynosure FC 1 Katsina United 3

Remo Stars 0 Akwa United 3

Kogi United 2 Kanta United 2 (5-4 penalties)

DMD FC 0 Housing Corporation 0 (4-2 penalties)

Zamfara United 0 Kano Pillars 5

Fulfill FC 0 El-Kanemi Warriors 1

Kwara United 1 Wikki Tourists 1 (3-4 penalties)

Bendel Insurance 1 Ottasolo FC 1 (4-3 penalties)

Sokoto United 1 Nasarawa United 1 (10-11 penalties)     

ROUND OF 16 RESULTS (WOMEN)

Bayelsa Queens 3 Niger Amazons 0 (W/O)  

Abruka Queens 1 Abia Angels 3 

Naija Ratels 0 Nasarawa Amazons 1 

Immaculate Queens 0 Confluence Queens 8 

Honey Badgers 0 Delta Queens 2

Heartland Queens 2 Dannaz Ladies 1 

Osun Babes 2 Royal Queens 3

Edo Queens 0 FC Robo Queens 2

The 2022/23 Premier League actions resume today with Arsenal travelling to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace in a London derby in their opening game.

For the third season in a row, Arsenal will begin their new campaign with a London derby; the Gunners eased to a 3-0 success at Fulham behind closed doors in 2020, but Brentford ran out convincing 2-0 winners over Arteta’s side in their first-ever Premier League fixture last term.

Patrick Vieira’s side thumped the Gunners 3-0 in this fixture only a few months ago, but Mikel Arteta has worked to plug the gaps in his Gunners XI during a productive summer.

Taking four points from a possible six against his former club last season, Patrick Vieira slammed the Emirates turf in frustration when his side gave away two points in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal before witnessing his side outclassing the Gunners in April.

By leading the Eagles to a 12th-placed finish last season and reaching the FA Cup semi-finals, former Invincibles captain Vieira earned a manager of the season nomination, and optimism is high around Selhurst Park under the Frenchman.

While witnessing Conor Gallagher return to Chelsea was a bitter blow, Cheick Doucoure and Malcolm Ebiowei are ready to make their mark in the English capital, and the end of pre-season was largely positive for Vieira’s side.

The Eagles enter this game after back-to-back wins over Queens Park Rangers and Montpellier HSC in friendly battles, and their only defeats of the exhibition period came at the hands of Liverpool and Manchester United.

Kicking off the season at Selhurst Park is just what the doctor ordered for Palace, who went unbeaten in their last six home games last season and remarkably managed to keep clean sheets in each of their last five – no mean feat with Arsenal, Man United and Manchester City all featuring in that list.

Fans will soon be able to get a glimpse of what went down at Arsenal during the 2021-22 season when their All Or Nothing Amazon Prime documentary is released, including that forgettable encounter at Selhurst Park for Mikel Arteta.

While returning to continental competition in the form of the Europa League constituted a successful season for the Gunners, there was a palpable sense of disappointment after their end-of-campaign collapse allowed Tottenham Hotspur to swoop in and nick the fourth and final Champions League spot.

However, if Arsenal’s pre-season is anything to go by, the Gunners will be a force to be reckoned with in the new season, as Chelsea fell victim to a 4-0 defeat to their London rivals in Orlando before a six-goal thumping of Sevilla in the Emirates Cup.

Gabriel Jesus scored a hat-trick on that day and represents one of two big-money acquisitions from Manchester City this summer, with Oleksandr Zinchenko also reuniting with Arteta in North London, but the Gunners boss has urged fans and players alike not to get carried away with pre-season results.

Fulham vs Liverpool

UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is considered a ‘GOAT’ in the fighting scene and brother, Mohammed Usman hopes to earn himself a spot in UFC following his elder brother’s footsteps.

Mohammed is set to fight in The Ultimate Fighter season 30 heavyweight finals, which takes place on Saturday’s UFC Fight Night. Should he wins, he’ll get his spot on the UFC roster next to his brother, champion Kamaru.

While many would shrink under the shadow of an older brother who is not only a UFC champion but also the No. 1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC. Mohammed welcomes the comparison, during a media day for Saturday’s upcoming matchup, he said, “I love it. He’s an Usman, it’s our last name. I’m here because of my brother, from the aspect of he started fighting before me.

“I had to put the work in to get here. Fighting is fighting. It’s not ‘Oh, Kamaru’s your brother, now let’s just push you up here you’re the winner of The Ultimate Fighter finale. You don’t have to fight these two hard monsters that are coming in at 265 pounds to be here. We’ll just put you in because your brother’s Kamaru Usman.’ That’s false.”

“Everything about fighting is yourself. That’s why I love it so much because as much as people speak about my brother, I’m still the one that has to come out here and compete and fight and win for me to be up here and you guys talk crap about me and tell me about my brother. If I don’t win I’m not even getting up here … I have to go out and win to get another ‘Oh, compared to your brother?’ Oh, thank you, I won, so yes, if I’m winning I’m doing great.”

Mohammed comes into his pivotal fight against fellow TUF finalist Zac Pauga with a 7-2 record, but will have to overcome the odds if he wants to earn the title of ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’

According to Vegas bookies, Mohammed comes into the match as an underdog while Pauga is the favourite to dominate.