Nigeria’s head coach Nduka Ugbade wants his side firing on all cylinders when they take on South Africa in a crucial Group B fixture at the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Constantine on Saturday night.

Nigeria need to avoid defeat against the South Africans to affirm their second place in the group, but Ugbade does not want his side taking chances and has affirmed they will be going for a win.

Looking back at their defeat at the hands of Morocco, Ugbade says they have worked to sharpen their forward line to ensure they convert the chances that come their way.

“We have put the defeat against Morocco behind our backs and we are fully focused on getting a good result against South Africa. We didn’t deserve to lose against Morocco because we dominated the game but couldn’t convert our chances,” said the coach during Friday’s pre-match press conference.

He added: “We want to be more effective, more prolific in front of goal. It is a bit confusing because when we were in Nigeria preparing, we were scoring so many goals but when we came here we are not doing that. Sometimes with these young ones it is about psychology and we have addressed that.”

Forward Charles Agada, who came on as a substitute against Morocco, said the players have sharpened their scoring boots over the last two days in training

Ugbade meanwhile admits it will be a tactical battle of wits against the South Africans, but remains confident they can do just enough to get over the line.

The competitors will arrive in Lagos on May 23 and travel to Auchi on May 24 to familiarise themselves with the area before the major event on May 27.

Organisers of the annual Okpekpe International 10km Road Race announced on Thursday that May 27 is the date for the ninth edition of the Gold Label international competition.

Briefing reporters in Benin, the Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, revealed the 2023 edition of the event is for two purposes.

“The first is for the prize money, while the second is to create awareness about cancer and the HIV.

“We are happy that the Okpekpe road race is kept alive as we are getting closer to our target to make the race an event of Diamond Label status.

“The 2023 race will have a gold label as we put in our best to make the race the best in the world.

“I will not be participating for a prize, but I will be running for a cause which is to create awareness for cancer.

“Apart from running for a prize, you can run for a cause. I encourage those that cannot run for the prize to run for a cause to encourage people to go for cancer screening and HIV testing for early detection.

“We have gone beyond the race as a sports event, as we have also brought in students to use sports to sharpen their knowledge and reduce social vices in the society,” Shaibu said.

The Edo deputy governor, however, assured the prospective athletes of adequate security throughout the duration of the event.

“Adequate security measures have been put in place to ensure that all residents and visitors, including athletes, coming into the state for the race are all safe and protected,” he added.

Also speaking, Zack Amodu, the race director, said they are expecting athletes from about 10 countries for the competition.

Amodu said they expected the athletes to arrive in Lagos on May 23, from where they would proceed to Auchi on May 24 to familiarise themselves with the environment before the main event on May 27.

“Last year we organised a technical officiating course for officials with a view to enhancing the pool of technical officials we already have in Nigeria.

“We are delighted to set the pace for road races in Nigeria and to become the first to have its course measured by a World Athletics-certified measurer and the first to be granted a label status,” he said.

In his remarks, the event’s chief marketing officer, Mike Itamuagbor, said the event is now a Gold Label race because it has gone international.

“The road race this year has added a few innovations as we will be partnering with Edo University, where about 200 students will work as volunteers for the event in the areas of accommodation, medicals, and, media,” he said.

Also, the Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Yusuf Ali, said the Okpekpe road race has brought much honour to Nigeria.

An exceptional 2022/2023 season for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has seen him linked with a move away from Italian Serie A Champions Napoli but club President De Laurentiis has announced he “will not sale this summer”

The 24-year old scored his 22nd Italian Serie A goal of the season in the 1-1 draw at Udinese to help Napoli end a 33-year wait for another league title on Thursday May 4.

With the league top-scorer linked to Manchester United, Chelsea and PSG, De Laurentiis has come forward with his plan for the Summer.

While featuring on Rai Sport show ‘Cinque Minuti’, after their confirmation as champions of Italy, Napoli President De Laurentiis said “I will not sell Victor Osimhen this summer – no way!”.

This comments will notify potential suitors for the Nigerian striker that if Napoli must do business then a significant transfer fee must make its way into the clubs account.

Before then, Osimhen will look forward to banging more goals in the five remaining league games to win the Serie A top scorer award for the 2022/2023 season. Inter Milan forward Lautauro Martinez is in hot chase and has scored 19-goals, just 3-goals short of the Napoli forward.

Speaking further on his plans to keep the clubs shape and push for even more successes next season, the Naples based outfit President confirmed a contract extension offer has been tabled before manager Luciano Spalleti.

“He’s a legend I’ve been chasing for at least ten years. I finally brought him to Naples after the Covid crisis and I hope to open a cycle with him, because he is a great leader. I exercised the clause for the renewal of the contract, now it’s up to him to say the word,” De Laurentiis added.

Lionel Messi apologised to Paris St Germain and his team mates on Friday after being suspended for making a trip to Saudi Arabia earlier this week and missing a training session as a result.

French media reported that Messi was suspended for two weeks after an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia when he was supposed to train with the squad the day after the Ligue 1 leaders’ 3-1 defeat  at home to Lorient on Sunday.

“I sincerely believed that I would have the day off after the game as had been happening in previous weeks. I had this trip organised and I couldn’t cancel it, I had already cancelled it before,” Messi said in a video on Instagram.

“I apologise to my team mates and I’m waiting for what the club wants to do with me,” added the Argentina forward.

PSG boss said earlier on Friday that he had nothing to do with the club’s decision to suspend Messi, who is set to miss the next two matches at Troyes and home to Ajaccio as they look to keep their Ligue 1 lead intact.

“We’ll see when Leo returns, we’ll see what happens. Obviously there will be discussions with the entire club, but also with Leo,” Galtier had said at a press conference.

PSG are five points clear of Olympique de Marseille with five matches left in the season.

Messi has received a formal offer to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal next season, a source close to Argentina’s captain said, with a contract renewal at PSG not on the cards for the World Cup winner who turns 36 next month.

The oil-rich nation appointed Messi its tourism ambassador last year and he visited Jeddah in May 2022.

He returned in January to play a friendly match with PSG against a team of Saudi League stars, when he faced great rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

Bayelsa United Football Club dominates the nominee list for the Player of the Month Award for March/April in the Nigeria Premier Football League.

The list was published on the official social media handle of the Nigeria Professional Football League, with the likes of Izuchukwu Chimezie (Plateau United), Cyril Olisema (Akwa United), and Chukwuemeka Obioma (Enyimba) all cutting.

Three players of the six nominees represent Bayelsa United, which accounts for 50% of the list, featuring Robert Mizo, Alex Oyowah, and Stephen Wisdom, all of whom started in the 2-1 win over Sunshine Stars on MatchDay 16.

Head coach Deprieye Teibowei will be elated to see his players get recognized for their performances for March and April, with the team winning four of their seven games within that period, losing twice, and drawing once.

Bayelsa is closer to the top three spots (3 points away) than they are to the relegation zone (9 points away), with the next two games against reigning champions Rivers United, and Niger Tornadoes crucial to where they stand at the end of MatchDay 18.

Rafael Nadal will miss next week’s Italian Open as he has yet to regain full fitness from the hip injury he sustained at January’s Australian Open, casting further doubt over his participation at Roland Garros.

Nadal, a 14-time Roland Garros champion, skipped the ongoing Madrid Open and has also missed tournaments at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Barcelona.

“I’m very sorry to announce that I will not be able to be in Rome,” the 36-year-old Spaniard said in a statement on social media.

“You all know how much it hurts to miss another one of the tournaments that have marked my professional and personal career for all the love and support of the Italian tifosi.

“Despite having noticed an improvement in recent days, there have been many months without having been able to train at a high level and the re-adaptation process has its times and I have no choice but to accept them and continue working.”

Nadal has competed at Roland Garros every year since winning the first of his men’s record 22 major titles in Paris in 2005. The tournament begins on May 28.

Napoli sealed their first Serie A title in 33 years as Victor Osimhen’s strike earned a 1-1 draw against Udinese.

Having missed the chance to win the title in front of their own fans on Sunday, Napoli went into Thursday’s clash at Dacia Arena knowing a point would be enough to claim their first Scudetto since the Diego Maradona era.

Fittingly, it was talisman Osimhen – with his 22nd league strike of the season – who scored the goal to claim Napoli’s third Serie A crown, cancelling out Sandi Lovric’s opener.

Unlike Napoli’s local rivals Salernitana, Udinese did not quite have the same commitment to postponing Napoli’s party, which is sure to be one for the ages

Napoli’s contingent of travelling fans were making all the noise in the opening stages, though their enthusiasm was dampened when Lovric planted a brilliant finish into the top-right corner in the 13th minute.

Aiming to snap a three-game scoreless streak in Serie A, Osimhen forced a save from Marco Silvestri soon after, while partner in crime Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had a penalty appeal dismissed following a VAR review.

Osimhen went close with a header just after the half-hour, though Napoli were fortunate that Lovric had been unable to beat Alex Meret for a second time at the other end a moment earlier.

Napoli’s number nine would not be denied again, though, and after Silvestri palmed out Kvaratskhelia’s low effort, Osimhen slammed home an equaliser seven minutes into the second half.

Osimhen thought he had made it 2-1 with 23 minutes remaining, only for the goal to be disallowed due to a foul in the build-up.

Luciano Spalletti’s tension on the touchline was clear, but his team stayed calm on the pitch as they saw out a draw that will go down in their history.

Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia, and the rest of Spalletti’s squad are going down in Napoli history. Perhaps they will never quite have the legacy of El Diego, but they will forever hold a special place in the hearts of the Azzurri faithful, who were last able to celebrate a title way back in 1990.

Napoli have been crowned Serie A champions with five games left to play – only two teams in the three-point for a win era had previously won the title with five games to go (Juventus in 2018-19 and Inter in 2006-07). The only shame for Napoli is that they did not manage to cap their title procession off with a win.

Lionel Messi has received a formal offer to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal next season, a source close to Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain said on Thursday. Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo is a key member of the Al Hilal.

The offer from the Saudi club is the only one Messi has received so far, the source added. Argentine media have reported that the offer is worth around $400 million a year.

Al-Hilal did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside of normal business hours.

The 35-year-old Messi has also been linked in the media with a move back to boyhood club Barcelona, with the United States’ Major League Soccer club Inter Miami also being touted as a possible destination.

He was suspended by his current club Paris St Germain at the start of the week after making an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia, French sports daily L’Equipe reported on Tuesday, adding that PSG had decided against exercising an option to renew his contract for a third season.

Messi is a Saudi ambassador for tourism and his long-time rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, signed for Saudi club Al-Nassr in December in a deal reported to be worth around $220 million per year.

A second source close to Messi told Reuters the suspension was imposed after the forward told PSG he would not stay in Paris following this season and felt the club lacked a project.

The source added that PSG had no training scheduled on Monday and the decision to hold a session was taken only after Messi was already in Saudi Arabia.

A source close to PSG denied this, telling Reuters Messi travelled without permission from the French club and despite there being a training session scheduled on Monday.

The source did not comment on whether Messi had already told PSG he intended to leave at the end of the season.