An earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale was recorded on Monday, May 29 in the San Juan Province, where Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will do battle with their Argentine foes for a quarterfinal ticket at the ongoing Fifa U20 World Cup.

According to Argentine newspaper Cronista, the province of San Juan registered this Monday a tremor of 4.8 degrees on the Richter scale with a depth of 129 kilometers, which was also felt in Mendoza, San Luis, Córdoba and La Rioja .

The National Institute for Seismic Prevention reported that the tremor occurred at 1202 hours, and it was felt 156 kilometers east of the city of San Juan, 181 kilometers north of the city of San Luis and just over 50 kilometers from Chepes, La Rioja.

Local authorities are alert and monitoring the situation to rule out possible aftershocks and guarantee the safety of the population.

Six matches have already been held at the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan, including Argentina’s 5-0 win over New Zealand and all the group matches involving the United States.

The Flying Eagles will face the most successful nation in FIFA U20 World Cup history, Argentina at the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan on Wednesday, with the game scheduled to start at 2200 hours.

Nigeria have met the Argentines once in previous editions of the Fifa U20 World Cup, in Netherlands 2005, where they were beaten 2-1 by a team inspired by Lionel Messi.

Nigeria international Kelechi Iheanacho hopes to be back in the English Premier League soon after Leicester City were relegated to the Championship on Sunday.

With Southampton already relegated and Leeds United not having their fate in their own hands, the other team looking likely to be relegated were Leicester and Everton.

Though the Foxes claimed a 2-1 win over West Ham United in the final game of the 2022/23 season, it was not enough to keep them in the topflight as fellow strugglers Everton also managed a 1-0 win over Bournemouth, a vital victory enough to keep the Toffees in the Premier League ahead of the Foxes.

Despite limited playing time this season with 1,121 minutes of action in the Premier League, the Super Eagles forward had 10 goals contribution (five goals and five assists) for the Foxes.

In a video uploaded on the club’s Youtube channel, the 26-year-old could not hide his displeasure at Leicester’s relegation but hoped the club would be back to topflight football soon.

“I don’t even know how I feel right now. I’m so disappointed. I don’t know what to say. I want to thank the football club, the fans, and everyone that supported us right from the start till now. I know it is a hard one to take. Whatever it is, we would keep going and stay strong, and hopefully, we would get back up.

“It is a downturn now. Nobody is really happy at this time. It is about timing for the club and everyone. We just need to take a chill and move on. It is not what we want. We can’t go back now thinking about it. We just have to move forward.

“The fans were really amazing and even till the end they were just clapping and showing their support. It is a hard one to take but I just want to thank them for all their support and for everything they’ve done for the club. We will just try our best to come back up.”

Liverpool legend Michael Owen has hailed Taiwo Awoniyi for his late-season goal flurry, which was a huge factor in helping Nottingham Forest avoid relegation in the just concluded 2022/23 English Premier League season.

Awoniyi found the net for the fourth game in a row as Nottingham Forest were forced to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace on Sunday as he finished the season with 10 goals on his active return to the English topflight.

Just past the half-hour mark, the Nigeria international beat the offside trap, composed himself after dislodging a defender before slotting beyond Eagles goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.

And in doing so, he became the first Nottingham Forest player to score in four consecutive appearances in the Premier League since 1995.

Awoniyi started his run of good form when he notched a brace against Southampton, he scored another brace against Chelsea, once against Arsenal and was also on target against Crystal Palace, which was his sixth goal in four games over the past couple of weeks.

Reviewing the Crystal Palace versus Nottingham Forest encounter, Owen said on Premier League Productions, “He (Awoniyi) scored half a dozen goals, six in four, at just the right time, just when you need him. Forest again I think they will be even better next season.”

Despite missing a part of the season through injury, he finished as the club’s highest goal scorer with 12 goals in all competitions, one goal more than Brennan Johnson, who had 11.

Awoniyi was on target against seven different teams in his first season in the Premier League, namely West Ham United, Fulham, Liverpool, Southampton, Chelsea, Arsenal and Crystal Palace, putting Forest 1-0 up in each game.

As a result, the Super Eagles striker became the first player since the 2004/05 season to open the scoring more times in a single season for a newly promoted club.

Awoniyi initially joined Liverpool in 2015, but inability to secure a work permit resulted in several loan moves for the Nigerian striker, before he was eventually signed by German club Union Berlin, where he later moved back to England with Forest after the Tricky Trees gained promotion to the EPL last season.

Vincent helped the Miami Heat make NBA history as they became the first-ever eighth seed to qualify for the NBA Playoffs final

D’Tigers guard Gabe Vincent was not at his best on Monday, but his 10 points helped the Miami Heat hold off and defeat the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference playoff finals.

The Heat thrashed the Celtics 103-84 to win the series 4-3 and book their date against the Denver Nuggets.

Before Game 7, Vincent had said, “We’re making history in any which way. Which side of history do we want to be on?”

The Boston Celtics had become just the fourth team in NBA history to rally from 3-0 in a playoff final. They looked to have found a way to beat the Heat, but the 2020 NBA finalists made history as they became the first No. 8 seed to go all the way to the finals in a complete NBA season.

Vincent played all the matches except Game 5, which he missed because of an ankle injury. Game 3 was his standout performance, as he poured in 29 points, making six of nine three-point shots. It was a career-best for the 26-year-old undrafted out of college in 2018.

Jimmy Bulter led the Heat with 28 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Caleb Martin added 26 points, while the other Nigerian on the Heat roster, Bam Adebayo, who plays for the USA, added 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Their final opponent is the formidable Denver Nuggets, who swept the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals 4-0.

The Argentine will begin his new role on 1 July 2023, on a two-year contract, with a club option of a further year.

Chelsea Football Club have officially confirmed that Mauricio Pochettino will become head coach of their men’s team from the beginning of the 2023/24 season.

In an official statement released by the Blues on Monday, the former PSG coach will begin his new role on 1 July 2023 on a two-year contract, with a club option of a further year.

Since the exit of the former owner, Roman Abramovich Chelsea have been a shadow of themselves despite the huge investment in players and coaches, the last being Frank Lampard, who was hired in an acting capacity after Graham Potter was hired.

With the past experiments not working, Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, Chelsea’s co-sporting directors, expressed firm belief Pochettino will turn around the fortunes of the West London club with his wealth of experience.

They said: ‘Mauricio’s experience, standards of excellence, leadership qualities and character will serve Chelsea Football Club well as we move forward. He is a winning coach, who has worked at the highest levels, in multiple leagues and languages. His ethos, tactical approach and commitment to development all made him the exceptional candidate.’

Owners Todd Boehly, Behdad Eghbali, José E. Feliciano, Mark Walter and Hansjörg Wyss added:

“’The sporting team conducted a diligent and thoughtful process that the Board is proud of. We are delighted that Mauricio will be joining Chelsea.

World-class

Pochettino, a world-class coach with a proven track record, is ready to bring his dynamic and engaging playing style to Chelsea.

Pochettino’s selection has sparked enthusiasm among fans and players alike, as he is known for his ability to extract the best from his players and build a strong team spirit.

Pochettino’s high-energy approach to the game has earned him a well-deserved reputation for producing attractive and offensive football.

Throughout his coaching career, his emphasis on developing young talent within a coherent squad structure has resulted in extraordinary success.

Having previously coached in the Premier League, as well as in Spain and France, Pochettino brings a wealth of experience to Chelsea. His most recent spell at Paris Saint-Germain saw him guide the team to a Ligue 1 title and the Coupe de France, further cementing his credentials as an accomplished manager.

Joining Pochettino at Chelsea will be a dedicated coaching staff, including Jesus Perez, Miguel d’Agostino, Toni Jimenez, and Sebastiano Pochettino.

This team of professionals will provide invaluable support as they work together to restore the lost glory of Chelsea.

Senegal U20 women’s national team clinched the first ever WAFU-A U20 Women’s Cup title following a comprehensive 3-0 victory over hosts Sierra Leone at the Southern Arena in Bo City on Monday.

The encounter, which served as the third and final round of matches of the maiden age-grade women’s championship in the region, witnessed a convincing display from the Senegalese to silence the home fans.

Senegal went into the title-deciding match of the four-nation competition with high hopes against the hosts, having a secured 4-0 win over Guinea Bissau and a 3-1 victory over Guinea.

Sierra Leone, on the other hand, needed an outright win to be crowned champions, following a 1-1 draw with Guinea before a recent 2-1 victory over Guinea Bissau to snatch the coveted trophy.

It was the Senegalese who went ahead first inside the opening 60 seconds of the tie through taliswoman Hapsatou Diallo. 18 minutes later, Coumba Sylla Mbodji doubled the advantage to hand the visitors a two-goal at the break.

Senegal’s Hapsatou Diallo won the Player of the Match award after her early opener stirred the Terranga Lionesses to success.

After the resumption, Sierra Leone gave their best but could not find a breakthrough until the 83rd minute when Sagidatou Diallo compounded the woes of the hosts to seal the coveted crown.

Earlier, Guinea defeated Guinea Bissau 2-0 to end their campaign on a winning note and emerged as vice champions.

After a barren first half, Nana Camara gave the Guineans the long-sought lead in the 80th minute before Aminita Bangoura completed the win with her last-gasp finish in additional time.

Guinea’s Nana Camara was named the Woman-of-the-Match after she inspired the Guineans to victory over Guinea Bissau.

On individual awards, Hapsatou Diallo of Senegal claimed a double prize as she won the Best Player of the Tournament and Highest goal scorer gong with five goals in three matches.

Senegal’s Khady Faye was also named the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament, having conceded only one goal in three games, while hosts Sierra Leone got the Fair Play award.

Africa’s representatives at the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup Gambia, Tunisia and Nigeria will face tricky opponents in the round of 16 following the conclusion of the group phase of the competition.

Unbeaten Gambia finished top of Group F to progress to the knockout phase and they have booked a last 16 date against Uruguay who finished second in Group E with six points.

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles made it to the round of 16 as one of the best third placed teams and they have booked a tough date against hosts Argentina in San Juan. Argentina finished top of Group A with a 100 percent record, winning all their matches.

Despite facing a possibly tough duel, head coach Ladan Bosso says they will battle to ensure they get to the final.

“We have to fight for the trophy. I think it is still open. Everybody can be there, and I believe we have the capacity to be there. We are into the knockout stage, and in the knockout stage, there is an approach, we can employ for it, and we hope we’d have our plans executed accordingly,” the tactician noted.

Meanwhile, Tunisia who also progressed as one of the best third placed teams will take on Group D toppers Brazil in La Plata in the round of 16. Argentina enjoyed a 100 percent record in the group phase.

Round of 16 fixtures for African teams:

• Brazil vs Tunisia – Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona, La Plata, May 31
• Argentina vs Nigeria – Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan, May 31
• Gambia vs Uruguay – Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades, Santiago del Estero, June 1