The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a significant 60% increase in the prize money for the winner of the CHAN tournament currently ongoing in Algeria.

The 7th edition of the tournament is happening in Algeria and has reached the quarter-finals stage. The final will be played on Saturday, February 4, 2023, at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers.

The decision, which has been confirmed by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, is in line with the organisation’s strategy to increase the commercial value of all African competitions.

This year’s CHAN winner will receive prize money of US$2,000,000 compared to the US$1,250,000 received by the previous champion two years ago.

The total prize money allocated for the tournament has been increased to US$7,900,000 from the US$5,450,000 that was paid to all the countries that participated in the previous edition of the tournament two years ago held in Cameroon.

The runners-up of the CHAN 2022 tournament will get US$800,000 while the third and fourth-placed teams will receive US$500,000 each.

The four sides that fail to progress beyond the quarter-finalists will get US$400,000 each while the two countries that finish second in the groups of three teams will earn US$300,000 each, the same amount as countries that finish third in groups of four teams.

The bottom-placed teams in all the groups will earn US$200,000 each.

The CHAN 2022 tourney started on January 13 and the final is scheduled to be played at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers on February 4.

Nathan Ake scores a fine goal at the Etihad Stadium

Manchester City knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup at the Etihad Stadium as the fourth round kicked off on Friday night, with Nathan Ake the unexpected star of the show with the only goal.

The Gunners made a bright start and right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu stung the palms of City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega after only a few minutes. Leandro Trossard was the architect of a few moves down the left in those early stages, exposing City’s preference to have right-back Rico Lewis operate as an auxiliary central midfielder.

The hosts caught their first sight of goal courtesy of a loose ball that threatened to let Erling Haaland in. Matt Turner was quick to rush out, but as the ball popped up into the air, Haaland attempted the acrobatic – think Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs England in 2012 – but Tomiyasu dropped back onto the line.

Midway through the first half, Ortega’s strong left hand stopped Trossard putting Arsenal ahead after the £27m Belgian drove in-field from his flank. City had their own chance from a Belgian soon after when Kevin De Bruyne whipped a left-footed shot just wide of the far post.

Trossard made another Arsenal chance when he put a teasing cross into Eddie Nketiah at the near post, with the in-form striker sending his flick just wide. It didn’t really feel like an action-packed first half, yet the opportunities kept coming as Haaland missed the target under pressure from Gabriel.

Trossard aside, none of the big players on either side had particularly stood out in the first 45 – the likes of Haaland, De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez and Bukayo Saka had all be disappointingly quiet.

Given that, it was perhaps fitting that the eventual breakthrough came from an unlikely source. Substitute Julian Alvarez changed things by taking on a shot from distance that rebounded off the post. Jack Grealish recycled it and found left-back Ake, who passed the ball into the far corner of the goal like a seasoned striker.

Both managers made numerous changes to try and shift the balance of the game in their favour as the minutes ticked away. It achieved little as far as the spectacle was concerned, breaking up any potential for a bit of rhythm or momentum.

City dug in in the closing stages, squeezing Arsenal out whenever the Gunners threatened to make something happen in or around the box – in particular Ortega made a couple of vital smothers when Arsenal sub Gabriel Martinelli injected some pace for the hosts.

Australian Open – Women’s Singles Final – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 28, 2023 Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka celebrates winning her final match against Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina

List of Australian Open women’s singles champions since the event began in 1922 (Australian unless stated):

2023 Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) bt Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan) 4-6 6-3 6-4

2022 Ash Barty bt Danielle Collins (U.S.) 6-3 7-6(2)

2021 Naomi Osaka (Japan) bt Jennifer Brady (U.S.) 6-4 6-3

2020 Sofia Kenin (U.S.) bt Garbine Muguruza (Spain) 4-6 6-2 6-2

2019 Osaka bt Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) 7-6(2) 5-7 6-4

2018 Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) bt Simona Halep (Romania) 7-6(2) 3-6 6-4

2017 Serena Williams (U.S.) bt Venus Williams (U.S.) 6-4 6-4

2016 Angelique Kerber (Germany) bt S. Williams 6-4 3-6 6-4

2015 S. Williams bt Maria Sharapova (Russia) 6-3 7-6(5)

2014 Li Na (China) bt Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) 7-6(3) 6-0

2013 Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) bt Li 4-6 6-4 6-3

2012 Azarenka bt Sharapova 6-3 6-0

2011 Kim Clijsters (Belgium) bt Li 3-6 6-3 6-3

2010 S. Williams bt Justine Henin (Belgium) 6-4 3-6 6-2

2009 S. Williams bt Dinara Safina (Russia) 6-0 6-3

2008 Sharapova bt Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) 7-5 6-3

2007 S. Williams bt Sharapova 6-1 6-2

2006 Amelie Mauresmo (France) bt Henin 6-1 2-0 (retired)

2005 S. Williams bt Lindsay Davenport (U.S.) 2-6 6-3 6-0

2004 Henin bt Clijsters 6-3 4-6 6-3

2003 S. Williams bt V. Williams 7-6(4) 3-6 6-4

2002 Jennifer Capriati (U.S.) bt Martina Hingis (Switzerland) 4-6 7-6(7) 6-2

2001 Capriati bt Hingis 6-4 6-3

2000 Davenport bt Hingis 6-1 7-5

1999 Hingis bt Mauresmo 6-2 6-3

1998 Hingis bt Conchita Martinez (Spain) 6-3 6-3

1997 Hingis bt Mary Pierce (France) 6-2 6-2

1996 Monica Seles (U.S.) bt Anke Huber (Germany) 6-4 6-1

1995 Pierce bt Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (Spain) 6-3 6-2

1994 Steffi Graf (Germany) bt Sanchez Vicario 6-0 6-2

1993 Seles (Yugoslavia) bt Graf 4-6 6-3 6-2

1992 Seles bt Mary Joe Fernandez (U.S.) 6-3 6-4

1991 Seles bt Jana Novotna (Czechoslovakia) 5-7 6-3 6-1

1990 Graf bt Fernandez 6-3 6-4

1989 Graf bt Helena Sukova (Czechoslovakia) 6-4 6-4

1988 Graf bt Chris Evert (U.S.) 6-4 6-4

1987 Hana Mandlikova (Czechoslovakia) bt Martina Navratilova (U.S.) 7-5 7-6(1)

1986 no competition

1985 Navratilova bt Evert 6-2 4-6 6-2

1984 Evert bt Sukova 6-7(4) 6-1 6-3

1983 Navratilova bt Kathy Jordan (U.S.) 6-2 7-6(5)

1982 Evert bt Navratilova 6-3 2-6 6-3

1981 Navratilova bt Evert 6-7(4) 6-4 7-5

1980 Mandlikova bt Wendy Turnbull 6-0 7-5

1979 Barbara Jordan (U.S.) bt Sharon Walsh (U.S.) 6-3 6-3

1978 Chris O’Neil bt Betsy Nagelsen 6-3 7-6(3)

1977 (Dec) Evonne Goolagong Cawley bt Helen Gourlay Cawley 6-3 6-0

1977 (Jan) Kerry Melville Reid bt Dianne Fromholtz Balestrat 7-5 6-2

1976 Goolagong Cawley bt Renata Tomanova (Czechoslovakia) 6-2 6-2

1975 Goolagong Cawley bt Navratilova (Czechoslovakia) 6-3 6-2

1974 Goolagong Cawley bt Evert 7-6(5) 4-6 6-0

1973 Margaret Court bt Goolagong Cawley 6-4 7-5

1972 Virginia Wade (Britain) bt Goolagong Cawley 6-4 6-4

1971 Court bt Goolagong Cawley 2-6 7-6(0) 7-5

1970 Court bt Melville Reid 6-1 6-3

1969 Court bt Billie Jean King (U.S.) 6-4 6-1

1968 King bt Court 6-1 6-2

1967 Nancy Richey (U.S.) bt Lesley Turner Bowrey 6-1 6-4

1966 Court bt Richey (walkover)

1965 Court bt Maria Bueno (Brazil) 5-7 6-4 5-2 (retired)

1964 Court bt Turner Bowrey 6-3 6-2

1963 Court bt Jan Lehane O’Neill 6-2 6-2

1962 Court bt Lehane O’Neill 6-0 6-2

1961 Court bt Lehane O’Neill 6-1 6-4

1960 Court bt Lehane O’Neill 7-5 6-2

1959 Mary Carter Reitano bt Renee Schuurman Haygarth (South

Africa) 6-2 6-3

1958 Angela Mortimer Barrett (Britain) bt Lorraine Coghlan

Robinson 6-2 6-4

1957 Shirley Fry Irvin (U.S.) bt Althea Gibson (U.S.) 6-3 6-4

1956 Carter Reitano bt Thelma Coyne Long (U.S.) 3-6 6-2 9-7

1955 Beryl Penrose Collier bt Coyne Long 6-4 6-3

1954 Coyne Long bt Jenny Staley 6-3 6-4

1953 Maureen Connolly Brinker (U.S.) bt Julia Sampson Hayward (U.S.) 6-3 6-2

1952 Coyne Long bt Helen Angwin 6-2 6-3

1951 Nancye Wynne Bolton bt Coyne Long 6-1 7-5

1950 Louise Brough (U.S.) bt Doris Hart (U.S.) 6-4 3-6 6-4

1949 Hart bt Wynne Bolton 6-4 6-4

1948 Wynne Bolton bt Marie Toomey 6-2 6-1

1947 Wynne Bolton bt Nell Hall Hopman 6-3 6-2

1946 Wynne Bolton bt Joyce Fitch 6-4 6-4

1941-45 No competition

1940 Wynne Bolton bt Coyne Long 5-7 6-4 6-0

1939 Emily Hood Westacott bt Hall Hopman 6-1 6-2

1938 Dorothy Cheney (U.S.) bt Dorothy Stevenson 6-3 6-2

1937 Wynne Bolton by Hood Westacott 6-3 5-7 6-4

1936 Joan Hartigan bt Wynne Bolton 6-4 6-4

1935 Dorothy Round Little (Britain) Nancy Lyle Glover 1-6 6-1 6-3

1934 Hartigan bt Margaret Molesworth 6-1 6-4

1933 Hartigan bt Coral Buttsworth 6-4 6-3

1932 Buttsworth bt Kathleen Le Messurier 9-7 6-4

1931 Buttsworth bt Marjorie Cox Crawford 1-6 6-3 6-4

1930 Daphne Akhurst Cozens bt Sylvia Lance Harper 10-8 2-6 7-5

1929 Akhurst Cozens bt Louise Bickerton 6-1 5-7 6-2

1928 Akhurst Cozens bt Esna Boyd Robertson 7-5 6-2

1927 Boyd Robertson bt Lance Harper 5-7 6-1 6-2

1926 Akhurst Cozens bt Boyd Robertson 6-1 6-3

1925 Akhurst Cozens bt Boyd Robertson 1-6 8-6 6-4

1924 Lance Harper bt Boyd Robertson 6-3 3-6 8-6

1923 Margaret Molesworth bt Boyd Robertson 6-1 7-5

1922 Molesworth bt Boyd Robertson 6-3 10-8

Bendel Insurance of Benin have broken loose in the Group A of the Nigeria Premier Football League after defeating their closest rivals, Remo Stars 3-0 at the Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.

With the scoreline, Bendel Insurance are now on 12 points, three more than that of Remo Stars whose unbeaten run and clean sheet were terminated.

Bendel Insurance therefore remain the only unbeaten side after Match Day 4.

The home side opened their account with early in the match when Imade Osehenkhoe scored in the fifth minute. Emmanuel Seriki doubled the lead in the 26^th minute before Austin Ogunye completed the rout in the 78^th minute.

In Group B, last year champions, Rivers United are holding tenaciously to the top position when they inflicted a 2-1 defeat on their hosts, Dakkada in Uyo.

Isaac George had put the hosts ahead in the 16^th minute before Rivers United fought back 20 minutes later through Nyima Nwagua. Naibe Akpesiri put in the winner in the third minute of the added time of the first half.

Men’s Singles Final – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 29, 2023 Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates with the trophy after winning his final match against Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas

Novak Djokovic said his win over Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday’s Australian Open final was the “biggest victory” of his career, as he claimed his 22nd Grand Slam title and won back the hearts of the home fans a year after being deported from the country.

Having arrived in Australia unvaccinated 12 months ago, the 10-times Melbourne champion was deported amid a backlash from angry Australians.

But the Serbian’s woes are now well behind him and his 6-3 7-6(4) 7-6(5) victory over Tsitsipas was met with thunderous applause from a packed crowd at Rod Laver Arena.

“I have to say that this has been one of the most challenging tournaments I have played in my life, considering the circumstances,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview.

“Not playing last year, coming back this year. I want to thank all the people that made me feel welcome and comfortable to be in Melbourne, Australia.

“I try to pinch myself and really live through these moments and it’s a long journey… Only the team and family knows what we have been through in the last four to five weeks. This, probably, is the biggest victory in my life considering the circumstances.”

In a rematch of the 2021 French Open decider, 24-year-old Tsitsipas was unable to convert the few chances he had as he failed to stop Djokovic winning his 22nd Grand Slam title.

“Tough luck tonight, great battle. This is definitely not your last Grand Slam, you still have a lot of time, much more than me,” Djokovic said.

“I would also like to congratulate your family and your team… You are one of the most professional tennis players that I know on the tour, and one of the most interesting guys.”

Tsitsipas, who fell short of becoming the first Greek tennis player to win a Grand Slam, commended Djokovic’s contribution to the sport.

“I have had the privilege to play a lot of high intensity matches, but I would like to say one more time that Novak brings the best out of me and these are the matches I have been working my entire life for,” Tsitsipas said.

“He is one of the greatest in our sport and I think he is the greatest that has ever held the tennis racket.

“I would like to thank you for pushing our sport so far and it deserves a player like you who pushes every single player who is involved in this sport.”

A Cup – Fourth Round – Walsall v Leicester City – Bescot Stadium, Walsall, Britain – January 28, 2023 Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho shoots at goal

Kelechi Iheanacho spared Leicester City from a potential FA Cup giant-killing as his second-half goal saw the Foxes beat fourth-tier Walsall 1-0 and progress to the fifth round on Saturday, while Leeds advanced with a 3-1 win over Accrington Stanley.

Top-flight Fulham were in danger of losing to visiting Championship (second-tier) team Sunderland but salvaged a 1-1 draw thanks to Tom Cairney’s equaliser at Craven Cottage.

Southampton put their Premier League woes aside to beat Championship strugglers Blackpool 2-1 while Bristol City eased to a 3-0 win over fellow second-tier side West Bromwich Albion.

Leicester, who beat fourth-tier strugglers Gillingham with an Iheanacho goal in round three, faced a stern test from a hard-working, high-energy Walsall outfit.

It took 30 minutes for Leicester to get a shot on target and a frustrating afternoon was made worse as Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans’ struck a penalty against the post after Patson Daka was fouled inside the box.

Second-half substitute Iheanacho unlocked Walsall when his effort from the edge of the box deflected off the back of home defender Brandon Comley, turning it into a curling, dipping ball that proved too much for goalkeeper Owen Evans to handle.

With Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers saying after the match that first-choice striker Jamie Vardy will be out for “a few weeks” after suffering a gluteal injury in training, Iheanacho, who has started once in the league this sesaon, could get his chance.

“He will get more game time with Vards out for a few weeks. It depends on the type of game we are looking to play,” Rodgers told reporters.

“He has been first class, trains virtually every day and is very rarely injured. He sometimes starts games not so good, sometimes he is a little hit and miss, but you know when he plays to a high level he is a threat.”

Leeds reached the fifth round for the first time since 2016 as they avoided a slip-up at third-tier Accrington.

Jack Harrison put Leeds ahead with a spectacular long-range strike after 23 minutes before Junior Firpo and Luis Sinisterra scored within two minutes of each other midway through the second half to put Jesse Marsch’s men on course for victory.

Leslie Adekoya, 18, pulled one back for Accrington in the 81st with his first senior goal seconds after coming on, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation strike.

Later on Saturday, Manchester United beat Reading 3-1

Aruna Quadri

Russian table tennis league champion Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg will today Monday, January 30, unveil their new signee Quadri Aruna at a colourful occasion in Moscow, the Russian capital.

According to the itinerary of Nigerian, the signing ceremony which will precede the unveiling will hold at the headquarter of Gazprombank (GPB), owner of Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg based in Moscow.

The Nigerian will early on Monday, January 30 undergo medical before the singing and unveiling ceremonies in Moscow.

GPB is a private-owned Russian bank and the third largest bank in Russia funds the club after the signing of the agreement, Aruna will be unveiled to the fans later today in Moscow.

Also, the necessary work permit needed by Aruna will also be obtained by the management of the club this week ahead of their league match on Friday, February 3 against Samara at the Russian Table Tennis Centre in Moscow.

Aruna joined the Russian 10-time champion early this year from Bundesliga side TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell for the remaining part of the 2022/2023 season.

The Nigerian joined the Russian champion alongside Chinese internationals An Yan and Hongyu Chen and they are expected to continue the team tradition of dominating the lucrative Russian league this season.

An elated Aruna said after his arrival in Moscow at the weekend that the reception accorded him by the club management would surely inspire him to give his best in the league.

“I am really impressed with what I have witnessed since my arrival on Saturday because the organization was top notch and I can wait to start playing for the club. There is no doubt that I will be playing in one of the best leagues in Europe with a top club as well. I am so excited and I am indeed looking forward to my first match for the club this weekend,” Aruna said.

FA Cup – Fourth Round – Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool – The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain – January 29, 2023 Brighton & Hove Albion’s Tariq Lamptey in action with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah Action I

Holders Liverpool were knocked out of the FA Cup after losing 2-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion in the fourth round on Sunday as Kaoru Mitoma struck the winning goal in stoppage time.

Harvey Elliott put Liverpool ahead, Lewis Dunk equalised before halftime and the score stayed at 1-1 until Mitoma found the net in the 92nd minute with a fine finish.

It was the second time Brighton defeated Liverpool in two weeks, having also beaten  Juergen Klopp’s side 3-0 in the Premier League.

“Unbelievable ending. Sometimes you’ve got to win a game like that. We weren’t at our best today. Nowhere near it. But we ground it out against a top side and got the win,” Dunk told ITV Sport.

“We feel like we can beat anyone on our best days and we showed here we can beat them on our not-so-good days. We’ve got everything in our squad to keep pushing on and hopefully we can go further in the competition.”

Earlier, Liverpool’s teenage midfielder Elliott put them ahead in the 30th minute with a low shot into the far corner following a clever pass from Mohamed Salah.

Brighton equalised nine minutes later when Dunk got a flick on a long-range effort from Tariq Lamptey which deflected into the goal, with goalkeeper Alisson Becker wrong-footed.

Elliott, who also scored in Liverpool’s win in the third- round replay, could have made it 2-1 before halftime as he latched on to Cody Gakpo’s pass but Lamptey made a superb last-ditch tackle.

Liverpool had another chance on the hour mark when Salah connected with a wonderful pass from James Milner but the Egypt forward chose to whip in a cross instead of taking a shot and Brighton keeper Jason Steele easily blocked it.

The tie looked set for a replay when Brighton’s Solly March missed a golden opportunity to score in the 71st minute when he failed to beat the onrushing Alisson from close range after Mitoma set him up with a brilliant low cross.

But Mitoma took things into his own hands, scoring a superb goal following a free kick as he controlled the ball on the half volley, dummied and rifled it home.

It was another disappointing result for Liverpool who have struggled with form and injuries this season and are ninth in the Premier League standings.

“This season has been nowhere near good enough. At the start of the year, we wanted a fresh start but that hasn’t happened. We’ve been worse,” Liverpool defender Andy Robertson said.

“In the league, we haven’t been good enough and now we’re out of both cups,” he added.

Championship Stoke City progressed to the fifth round after beating fourth-tier Stevenage 3-1 as Jacob Brown scored an early goal followed by a stunning strike from Josh Laurent and a penalty by Lewis Baker.

Later on Sunday, fifth-tier Welsh club Wrexham, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, host Sheffield United.