Two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has opened up on his decision to confront some students who disrespected him during a visit to Loughborough University.

The former world heavyweight champion is currently training for a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia.

Before travelling to Saudi, AJ spent time at the campus practicing. During his stay, some students criticized him for not fighting fellow Brit Tyson Fury.

The former Olympic gold medallist changed tactics for his upcoming fight, recruiting experienced trainer Robert Garcia.

The appointment of Garcia was followed by switching his training centre from Sheffield to Loughborough University, and that is where he recently confronted those students who mocked him.

Addressing the incident, Joshua shows some regret but is ultimately happy with his decision to threaten those shouting abuses.

He told JD Sports about the incident as part of his continued ‘Road to Undisputed’ campaign, “I told the guys, listen, I’m here to work, I’m not here to play games.

“I’ve shown you the ultimate respect since I’ve been here. If you lot want to start going down this path of trading words and trading whatever it’s fine with me.

“I’m going to ask you; how would you like it if I break your jaw?

“I didn’t want to address it like that. But I did really feel bad for any other students that those guys do that to that don’t have the courage to address them and tell them that’s wrong what you’re doing.

“I wanted to speak to them and address them. The questions I asked, ‘how would you like it if I said certain things?’”

On the challenge of winning his titles back for a second time, Joshua admits he got it wrong the first time around.

“The fight with Usyk, he busted my a** for some rounds. I have to take that defeat like a man as well. I hold myself accountable,” said AJ.

“I’m someone who can admit when I’m wrong and hold my head high when I’m right. In the fight last September, he was right, and I was wrong.

“Simply, I have to reverse that role on August 20. I don’t like to overcomplicate the situation because there’s simplicity in genius.

“Sometimes, if you keep things simple, you can achieve great things. So I’m just going to keep things simple, move forward, and the date will soon come.”

Usyk vs Joshua 2 is scheduled for August 20 in Saudi Arabia.

Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo’s preferred transfer move has been revealed.

According to the Daily Mail, Ronaldo is reportedly open to a controversial switch to Atletico Madrid this summer.

The Portugal captain wants to join a club with a chance of winning the UEFA Champions League and is interested in a move to the Spanish LaLiga giants.

The 37-year-old is desperate to carry on playing in the Champions League and has eyes on lifting Europe’s top prize for a sixth time.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is reported to be willing to take a hefty pay cut of 30 per cent wage reduction in order to join Atletico.

Ronaldo had since informed Man United that he wants to leave Old Trafford this summer after the Premier League giants failed to qualify for the Champions League.

Wimbledon – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain – June 30, 2021 Venus Williams of the U.S. in action during her second round match against Tunisia’s Ons

Former world number one Venus Williams will make her singles comeback after nearly a year at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. that begins next week, organisers said on Thursday.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion accepted a wildcard for the July 30-Aug. 7 WTA 250 event a day after announcing she will also compete at next month’s WTA 1000 event in Toronto, where she will be joined by her sister Serena.

Venus, 42, last played a singles match at the Chicago Women’s Open in August 2021, losing in the first round to Hsieh Su-Wei.

Her most recent return to the court was when she teamed up with Britain’s Jamie Murray and reached the second round in the mixed doubles at Wimbledon.

Sadio Mane is the 2022 African Player of the Year, emulating his idol El Hadji Diouf as the second Senegalese to win back to back CAF awards.

The Senegalese forward, who inspired Senegal to their historic first Africa Cup of Nations title in February as well as guiding the Teranga Lions to this year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar, beat strong opposition from his countryman Edouard Mendy and former Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah.

“I am so excited to win this award. There are so many players that deserved this award, but I have been chosen. I am honoured and I thank everyone for this,” he told CAF Online.

Thursday’s award was Mane’s second, having won in 2019 when the event was hosted and held in Hurghada, Egypt.

The 30-year-old Mane scored 23 goals for Liverpool in all competitions last season before moving to Bayern Munich in Germany this summer.

It was a big night for Senegal who also won National Team of the Year and for Aliou Cisse who was named the Coach of the Year. Simba’s Senegalese import Pape Sakho also walked away with the Goal of the Year.

Mane expressed his joy at this and said, “I cannot explain this. It is so far the best year of Senegalese football. To collect all these awards, you have to believe first. It was hard work and we never stopped dreaming. We continued working hard and finally we got it.”

Mane and Senegal will be hoping to continue this spirit in Qatar when they make their third appearance at the global showpiece.

Hildah Magaia was the hero for the Southern African giants as they won the continent crown for the first time after losing in five finals

South Africa were crowned 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champions after securing a 2-1 win over Morocco at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Saturday night.

Hildah Magaia’s second half brace inspired Banyana Banyana to a narrow victory over the tournament hosts who grabbed what proved to be a consolation goal through Rosella Ayane.

It was a battle between two teams which were defeated in the tournament with Banyana having reached the final after edging out their Southern African rivals, Zambia 1-0 in a semi-final clash on Monday.

On the other hand, Morocco, who were making the first appearance in the Wafcon final, had caused an upset when they defeated reigning African champions Nigeria 5-4 on penalties on Monday after a 1-1 draw in another semi-final clash.

Recently crowned Caf African Women’s Coach of the Year Desiree Ellis recalled Nomvela Kgoalo to the starting line-up and the 26-year-old operated in Banyana’s midfield alongside Refiloe Jane and Linda Motlhalo.

 Ellis’ counterpart, Reynald Petros made one change to the team which faced Nigeria as Imane Saoud made her second start of the tournament – operating as one of the front three. 

The two teams cancelled each other out in the opening 20 minutes of the eagerly anticipated encounter with most of the ball being played in the middle of the park with neither side being able to create clear-cut chances. Both goalkeepers were not seriously tested with the lively Jane battling with Lionesses of Atlas’ influential playmaker Sanaa Mssoudy for control of the midfield. 

The match began to open up just after the half-hour mark and the first real chance of the game fell for Magaia who was sent through on goal by Jermaine Seoposenwe’s incisive pass, but the former was denied by goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi. The hosts did threaten when Fatima Tagnaout set up Ayane who fired wide of the target from inside the box and the score was 0-0 at half-time. 

Banyana looked dangerous on the counter with the Lionesses of Atlas attacking in numbers after the restart with Petros’ side looking to break the deadlock. However, the hosts were left vulnerable at the back and Seoposenwe ran onto a long ball from Jane, before cutting inside and set up Magaia who made no mistake – beating Er-Rmichi with a low shot from inside the box to make it 1-0 to South Africa in the 63rd minute.

Morocco responded by surging forward in numbers – leaving space behind their defence and they were punished by Banyana again. This time Karabo Dhlamini delivered a cross which was slightly deflected, but the ball fell kindly for Magaia who fired past Er-Rmichi from close range to make it 2-0 to South Africa in the 72nd minute with the Lionesses of Atlas defence exposed. 

Tagnaout, who had been quiet in the second half, burst into life in the closing stages of the game and the left-footed player set up Ayane whose first-time shot beat eventual 2022 Wafcon Goalkeeper of the Tournament Andile Dlamini to make it 2-1 – making it a nervy finish for Banyana with 10 minutes left. However, South Africa were able to contain Morocco in the dying minutes of the game and ultimately, they emerged as 2-1 winners.

When Zambia pulled off a major shock by beating Nigeria 1-0 on Friday to win the bronze medal at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, it marked the second time that the Super Falcons have failed to make it to the podium at the flagship championship for women’s football in the continent.

While they have won nine times in the 12 editions of the tournament, they made one other podium appearance when they beat Cameroon 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the third place match at the 2008 edition.

But on another instance in 2012, Cameroon beat them 1-0 at the losers’ final match just as Zambia did Friday night.  

The Copper Queens clinched the third position for the first time in their history thanks to an unfortunate own goal by the Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie in Casablanca.

The goal inadvertently scored by the Super Falcons shot-stopper Nnadozie was enough for the Zambians to claim their first medal in the history of the tournament. 

The Queens got the better of the record title holders Nigeria who paid the price for their profligacy and finished outside the top three for the first time in ten years.

Bruce Mwape’s ladies showed early glimpses of an upset in the game with some delightful display which paid off on the half hour mark.

But the Super Falcons were a constant threat with Ngozi Okobi Okeoghene and Christy Ucheibe failing to score from decent opportunities.

A thunderous strike from Evarine Katongo from the edge of the box struck the woodwork but Nnadozie could not deal with the rebound as the ball hit her to enter the net on 29 minutes.

Nigerian star Gift Monday struck the post before Zambia goalkeeper goalkeeper Hazel Nali produced an amazing save to stop Ashleigh Plumptre’s freekick just before the break.

Nigeria came into the second half with a different attitude as they tried to get the equaliser but the Zambians dealt with any threat that came their way. 

The Copper Queens held onto their lead to ensure the bronze medal remained theirs with Nigerian finishing outside the top three since the 2012 tournament in Equatorial Guinea.

Goalkeeper David de Gea said he hopes to remain at Manchester United and help the Premier League club end their trophy drought after a “disaster” of a season.

De Gea’s contract expires in June 2023 and the Spaniard, who joined from Atletico Madrid in 2011, said he was open to signing an extension.

“If they let me stay I will stay, for sure. I’m really comfortable, happy, and hopefully before I leave we can win something more,” De Gea told reporters on Friday, adding that he had yet to open discussions about a renewal.

United endured a torrid campaign last season in which they failed to qualify for the Champions League after finishing sixth with 58 points – their lowest in the Premier League era.

The club also failed to win any silverware, extending their trophy drought to five years.

“We cannot do the same because it was a disaster,” De Gea said. “It was very tough, embarrassing sometimes.

“Some games were a mess. It was painful, unacceptable. Sometimes, you have to feel pain to go up and keep going.”

United play Aston Villa in a pre-season friendly in Perth later on Saturday before taking on Atletico Madrid in Norway on July 30.

They kick off their league campaign at home to Brighton & Hove Albion on Aug. 7.

Golden Boot winner, Rasheedat Ajibade

The Super Falcons’ aspirations may not have been fully met at the just concluded Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, they however came out with some positives.

Apart from Asisat Oshoala winning of the Women’s African Footballer of the Year for a record fifth time, Rasheedat Ajibade was on Saturday named as joint winner of the Golden Boot for the top scorer.

She shares the honour with South Africa’s Hilda Magaia and Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebak who was also named the player of the tournament.

The three players finished the tournament with three goals each.

Asisat Oshoala has dedicated her record fifth CAF African Player of the Year award to her Nigerian Super Falcons teammates, who she hailed as the best international team in the world.

Oshoala saw off Cameroon’s Ajara Nchout Njoya and Zambia’s Grace Chanda to win the coveted award again at the CAF Awards 2022 in the Moroccan capital of Rabat

In so doing she now goes clear of compatriot Perpetua Nkwocha, standing alone on five African Player of the Year titles.

CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe presented the award to the Super Falcons and FC Barcelona star, who was overjoyed to yet again hear her name called to receive the prized trophy reserved for Africa’s best player.

“I had to fight hard to get to this point. I would like to thank all my teammates and my friends at my club FC Barcelona. Muchas gracias. I also have to thank my friends in the national team.

“You are the best teammates in the world. in football, there are many lessons and I would like to send a message ‘we can fall back, but we can get back up’,” said Oshoala in hailing the courage shown by the Super Falcons after being reduced to nine men to still take their semifinal against Morocco all the way to the penalty shootout.

Asisat Oshoala and the Super Falcons have qualified for the next edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup after reaching the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies WAFCON.

At club level, Oshoala also reached the final of the European Champions League with FC Barcelona.