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

On the day Victor Osimhen played his 100^th match for Napoli and also got a Nigerian national award of Member of the Order of Federal Republic, his Italian club, Napoli has placed a premium price on him.

An Italian news outlet, The Corriere dello Sport, in analysing the worth of the in-form striker valued him at over 160 million euros.  

His double strike in a 2-2 draw of Napoli against Bologna on Sunday has further extended his goal haul. There have been many suitors for his services.

PSG,Real Madrid, Manchester United.Liverpool, Newcastle all want him. Also knocking is Bayern Munich.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons will face the winners of Ethiopia versus Chad encounter in their quest to return to the football event of the Olympic Games after a 16-year absence.

That is one of the high-points of the draw for the African qualifiers of the women football event of the Paris 2024 Olympics conducted at the CAF headquarters on Tuesday.

The event lasted 18 minutes and five seconds. The first round of the qualifiers will be contested by 18 teams who are outside the top ranked seven at the last Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

One of the pairings of the first round is that of Ethiopia and Chad whose winners Nigeria will face.

If Nigeria wins, the Super Falcons in the third round face the winners of Uganda/Rwanda versus Cameroon.

The winners of that fixtures will face those of Guinea Bissau/Benin versus Guinea/Ghana.

The first round fixtures to be played on home and away basis from July 10 to 18 run thus:

The second round fixtures, also on home and away basis to be played in October run thus: