Former Newcastle United boss Chris Hughton on Wednesday was named as technical advisor with the Ghana national team ahead of their 2022 World Cup qualifying play-off against Nigeria.

The Ghana FA said the new manager was Otto Addo, who previously had a stint with German giants Borussia Dortmund as assistant coach.

“Former Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton has been appointed as technical advisor to the newly constituted Black Stars technical team led by Otto Addo,” the Ghana FA announced on its official website.

Hughton is a former Ireland International and his last coaching job was with Nottingham Forest, who fired him in 2021.

The home and away World Cup qualifying play-off will take place in March.

The four-time African champions are looking to qualify for a fourth World Cup.

D’Tigress will be hoping to get their Group B 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament campaign to a great start when they face world No.7 China in their opening game at the Ranko Žeravica Sports Hall, Belgrade on Thursday (today).

The full team arrived Belgrade on Tuesday and would be hoping to shake off the jetlag and lack of comprehensive camping in their opening game against China.

The team will be without influential point guard Ezinne Kalu, who had been ruled out of action for six months following a knee injury in November, leaving the team with only one proven guard, Promise Amukamara.

Speaking ahead of the game, head coach Otis Hughley Jr. said they would have to defend properly and be quick in transition against the Chinese, who had better time to prepare.

“To do well at this tournament we have to defend well for sure, if we can defend well and take our shots, then we will be fine,” Hughley said at the pre-match press conference monitored by our correspondent.

“China scored eight three points in Serbia in a training game.

“China have been practicing. They are probably the only country who have all their players in one country, so they’re able to pull their players away whenever they want. They’ve spent at least two weeks in practicing and we started on Tuesday, so we’re still trying to figure out who we are.

“It’s a tough loss (being without Kalu) but we have some good players that can do all the things she does but we’re just going to need to play a little bit differently. We’re a little short-handed but we’re still going to put five players on the court and play as hard as we can.”

Captain of the side, Adaora Elonu, says the team are focused on their assignment.

“Keeping us focused is the least of our worries, we’ve been together for a while, we the players are familiar with each other, so, it’s just to go out there and play hard. We’re going to be focused on ourselves and try to compete the best way we can.”

D’Tigress are currently ranked No.15 in the world.

Andy Murray marked his return to the top 100 for the first time since 2018 with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 win over Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik at the Rotterdam tournament on Wednesday.

Former world number one, and three-time major winner, Murray had too much court guile for world number 31 Bublik who won his maiden ATP title in Montpellier at the weekend.

“There were some tough moments in the first set for both of us,” said wildcard Murray, now at 95 in the world.

“I just managed to come through at the end of it. Some great returns off some big second serves from him at the end and I did a good job. 

“It’s not easy playing against someone like that, huge serves, a lot of drop shots and you’ve got to keep your focus and I did that well tonight.”

Murray next faces third-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime after the Canadian overcame a slow start to beat qualifier Egor Gerasimov of Belarus, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.

The former Nigerian international is seeing his dreams of coaching his fatherland come true just over a decade after quitting active football

Newly-appointed Super Eagles head coach Emmanuel Amuneke has expressed his gratitude to Nigerians and the Nigerian Football Federation for considering him for the job.

The NFF, on Monday, announced the decision to snub Portuguese manager Jose Peseiro and instead name Amuneke as the coach of the three-time continental champions.

The former Barcelona winger will work together with interim Technical Adviser Augustine Eguavoen, as well as with assistants Salisu Yusuf, Joseph Yobo, and Alloy Agu.

While remaining coy about the details of the contractual agreement between him and the federation, Amuneke is aware it is a privilege to serve his fatherland.

“I’m always available to serve my country,” Amuneke said,

“I’m grateful to Nigerians and the Federation for looking in my direction. For now, there’s no use speaking much; when it’s time, I will grant an interview about the job.”

Amuneke enjoyed a beautiful playing career, winning titles with Egypt’s Zamalek, Barcelona, and Sporting Lisbon.

But his finest moments came with the Super Eagles and the Dream Team as he scored the crucial goals that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and Atlanta ’96 Olympics football gold for Nigeria.

Amuneke was named the African Footballer of the Year in 1994 and the BBC African Footballer of the Year two years later.

An injury forced Amuneke to quit football in 2004, and the former left-winger took to coaching after earning his licence.

He handled both Julius Berger and Ocean Boys before he was drafted as an assistant coach to Manu Garba for the Golden Eaglets’ side that won the 2013 FIFA u-17 World Cup.

Two years later, Amuneke guided the cadet team to defend the title in Chile as the head coach, cementing his status as an astute youth coach.

And he successfully made the step up to international football after leading Tanzania to qualify for the 2019 Afcon, the country’s second-ever appearance at the tournament.

The 51-year-old’s immediate assignment will be to help Nigeria qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar by beating Ghana’s Black Stars over two legs in March.

The Super Eagles stars were brilliant, as the Gers won a second consecutive game in five days

Nigerian trio Leon Balogun, Calvin Bassey, and Joe Aribo were impressive as Rangers cruised to a 2-0 over Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership. However, it was a sad night for Balogun after he was taken off just after 15 minutes because of an injury.

The Gers faced the Hibs in their 26th game of the season. Rangers were always favourites going into the tie as the champions had already accrued two times of their opponents’ points.

Rangers defender James Tavernier eased the Gers into the game after scoring a penalty in the 8th minute to put the champions ahead.

However, the Gers had their joy cut short in the 14th minute after Balogun had to leave the game due to an injury.

Nevertheless, they kept it tight at the back and saw out the first half without conceding.

Hibernian came out guns blazing in the second half, but Bassey was astute on the night, with a 79 per cent pass accuracy and winning almost all his duels.

Three minutes from the hour mark, Alfredo Morelos doubled Rangers’ lead, which was enough to secure all three points.

Aribo put in a decent shift in midfield, with 57 touches and 87 per cent pass accuracy. The Super Eagles star was taken off for Aaron Ramsey in the 75th minute.

Despite the victory, Rangers are still second on the log, a point away from Celtic.

The two former internationals will team up on the coaching bench to guide the 2013 Afcon kings to Qatar 2022

Super Eagles interim Technical Adviser Augustine Eguavoen has opened up on the relationship between him and former Tanzania head coach Emmanuel Amuneke.

Eguavoen and Amuneke were part of the Super Eagles squad that lifted the Africa Cup of Nations trophy at Tunisia ’94.

Eguavoen was a senior member of that team, having made his debut in 1987 and claimed bronze at the 1992 Afcon and silver at the 1988 edition.

Amuneke only made his Super Eagles’ debut on the eve of the 1994 Afcon, but his influence was crucial to winning the Cup as he scored both goals in the 2-1 defeat of Zambia in the final.

Their paths have crossed again after the Nigeria Football Federation, on Monday, appointed Amuneke as chief coach to work together with Eguavoen, who led the Eagles to the Round of 16 of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Salisu Yusuf, Joseph Yobo, and Aloysius Agu form the remaining part of the coaching crew.

Eguavoen is convinced there would be no problem working with someone he considers family and whose introduction would make the Eagles even better.

“Amuneke is my younger brother and we have worked together for so long,” the NFF Technical Director said.

“I think his coming into the team will add a lot of value also.”

Eguavoen and Amuneke’s primary assignment will be to guide the Eagles past Ghana over two legs in the race for a World Cup ticket in March.