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Nigeria leapt three positions to occupy the 14th position the latest FIBA World Ranking for Women after clinching Olympic qualification in Belgrade, Serbia last Saturday.
The top-ranked African team topped continental rivals Mozambique and came close to forcing upsets against two Top 10 ranked teams in USA and Serbia.

The updated ranking presented by Nike saw USA maintain their status as the top-ranked country ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament draw, with a number of teams using successful FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments to boost their positions.

Having booked their ticket to the ... continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/fiba-ranking-dtigress-rise-to-14-after-sealing-olympic-ticket/

Maurizio Sarri in unperturbed by Juventus' blip in form, with the manager insisting that if he couldn't handle the pressure of the job he would have looked to work at the post office.

The all-conquering Italian giants have been stumbling of late - losing two of their last three matches.

Juve lost 2-1 at Napoli on January 26 before being beaten by the same scoreline at Hellas Verona on Saturday.

Those two results have seen the Turin outfit drop to second in Serie A behind Inter Milan on goal difference.

Speculation is growing that Juve could look to replace ... continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/sarri-i-can-handle-juve-pressure-despite-suffering-two-defeats/

Minister of youth and sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, has cleared all doubts on the state of readiness of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium to host the 20th edition of the National Sports Festival billed to kickoff on 20th March in Benin City.

Caption: Second  Left Japan's Ambassador to Nigeria Mr Kikuta Yutaka,Youth and Sports Minister Mr Sunday Dare and NOC President Habu Gumel at the Ambassador's residence to discuss the 2020 Olympics  preparations.

Speaking after an on the spot assessment visit to the Samuel Ogbemudia Sports Complex in Benin,he declared "I am impressed with what I have seen at the Samuel Ogbemudia Sports Complex, it shows clearly that consistent work has been going on here. ... continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/sports-minister-clears-doubts-on-edo-2020-national-sports-festival/

Tammy Abraham is backing Chelsea's move for Ajax midfielder Hakim Ziyech.

Abraham

De Telegraaf reports Chelsea have an oral agreement in place with the Eredivisie side and the deal is expected to be wrapped up before the summer.

The Blues came out of a two-window transfer ban in January but Frank Lampard resisted the urge to bolster his ranks in mid-season.

However, his interest in the playmaker, who boasts eight goals and 21 assists from 29 appearances this campaign, remains high and he is pushing for the move ... continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/abraham-backing-chelsea-move-for-ajax-ace-ziyech/

Tottenham have made a move for Trabzonspor goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir.
Gunes reports Spurs have made a €25m bid for Cakir.
The highly-rated Turkish player made his ... read more @ https://sportinglife.ng/spurs-make-offer-for-liverpool-target-ugurcan-cakir/

Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey could reportedly leave Juventus at the end of the season because manager Maurizio Sarri does not see him as part of his long-term plans.

The 29-year-old made the move to Turin on a free transfer last summer following 11 seasons at Arsenal and he started promisingly, scoring on his debut in a win over Verona.

Since then thing have not ... read more @ https://sportinglife.ng/former-arsenal-star-linked-with-juventus-exit/

Bruno FernandesBruno Fernandes can become Manchester United’s answer to David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Christian Eriksen, ex Sporting team-mate, Yannick Bolasie has said.

Bolasie has said the Portuguese loves to control matches and he expects him to cope very well with expectations.

According to him, Bruno is not scared to shoot, pass, take free-kicks or penalties, and it would be interesting to see how Mufc would use him.

He added that the midfielder needs freedom in the middle of the park to shine.

His words, “Bruno has ...
read more @ https://sportinglife.ng/bruno-fernandes-can-cope-well-with-expectations-bolasie/

Real Madrid made it 20 games unbeaten by thrashing Real Zaragoza 4-0 on Wednesday to ease into the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.

Raphael Varane, Lucas Vazquez, Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema all scored at La Romareda, where Madrid were again without injured duo Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard, while Benzema only came on as a late substitute.


Raphael Varane scored the opening goal in Real Madrid’s 4-0 win over Real Zaragoza on Wednesday.
Benzema will almost certainly start the Madrid derby against Atletico Madrid on Saturday, when Real will be hoping to at least preserve their three-point lead over Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

Unlike Barca, who have made a stuttering start under new coach Quique Setien, and Atletico, who look devoid of ideas under Diego Simeone, Madrid have hit peak form in recent weeks.

After their victory over Real Valladolid on Sunday, Zinedine Zidane said his team’s strong run had been been built on its defence and this clean sheet against Zaragoza means they have now conceded only three goals in nine games.

Their stubbornness should stand them in good stead in the Champions League, with a last-16 tie against . . .

Continue Reading here: https://sportinglife.ng/copa-del-rey-real-madrid-thrash-zaragoza-to-reach-quarter-finals/

Udinese have confirmed the sale of defender Nicholas Opoku to Amiens SC from Ligue 1.
The Friuli have announced on their official website that the Ghanaian has moved on a deal until June 2020 with an option to buy. The French club picks up the former Club Africain player after ...

Continue reading here: https://sportinglife.ng/opoku-leaves-udinese/

Brazilian legend and Bayern Munich ambassador Giovane Elber has expressed satisfaction with the performance of 20 grassroots’ coaches drawn from six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who had a one-day special coaching clinic on how-to deliver organised and fun football session for young footballers.
Continue Reading Here: https://sportinglife.ng/elber-predicts-bright-future-for-nigeria-football/

Piotr Zielinski and Lorenzo Insigne scored in the second half as struggling Napoli shocked champions Juventus 2-1 to spoil coach Maurizio Sarri’s return to the Stadio San Paolo on Sunday.

Sarri had not been back to Naples since being sacked in May 2018 after three successful campaigns, and before moving to Chelsea.
Continue reading here: https://sportinglife.ng/serie-a-struggling-napoli-shock-sarris-juventus/

Nigeria’s Enugu Rangers on Sunday became the first club to beat the rave of the moment, Pyramids FC of Egypt.

Rangers

The Nigerian side, against all odds and expectations beat their hosts 1-0 in the Match Day 5 of the CAF Confederations Cup match played at the Air Defence Stadium.

Ifeanyi George scored the all-important goal in the 73rd minute. It is not just the first win for Rangers in the group stage, it is the first time ever that Rangers have won a match in Egypt.

They will however have to wait for the encounter of ...

Continue reading here: https://sportinglife.ng/ccc-enugu-rangers-make-history-in-egypt-beat-pyramids/

NBA legend Kobe Bryant has died in a helicopter crash aged just 41.

According to TMZ, the LA Lakers icon was travelling with three others in a private aircraft when it came down in Calabasas near LA, California,

It is understood up to FIVE people have died in the crash, with nobody on board surviving.

An investigation into the incident - which happened on Sunday morning - is underway.

According to reports, the helicopter went up in a ball of fire after hitting the ground.

He is survived by his wife Vanessa and their three daughters, who are thought to have not been on board.

His shock death sparked an outpouring of grief from ....

Continue Reading here: https://sportinglife.ng/breaking-kobe-bryant-dies-at-41/

Bournemouth striker Jermain Defoe has agreed a permanent deal with Rangers.

The 37-year-old striker, who has been on loan from Bournemouth this season, has signed a pre-contract agreement with the Ibrox club for the 2020-21 campaign.

Speaking on the Rangers website about the move, Defoe said: "I'm just delighted to be honest.

"When I first signed, as I've said many times,...

Continue reading here: https://sportinglife.ng/jermain-defoe-delighted-signinjermain-defoe-delighted-signing-for-aribos-rangersg-for-rangers/

Cristiano Ronaldo was too ill to play, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic spent the evening resting on the bench, but even without their biggest stars, Juventus and AC Milan cruised into the last eight of the Italian Cup on Wednesday.

Juventus beat visiting Udinese 4-0 in the late game, after Milan had dispatched SPAL, 3-0.

Continue reading here: https://sportinglife.ng/italian-cup-juventus-ac-milan-cruise-to-last-eight/

Manchester United progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win over Wolves but they had cause for concern as Marcus Rashford limped off in the second half.

Juan Mata’s goal was enough to give the Red Devils the victory over Wolves at Old Trafford in their third round replay.

Continue reading here: https://sportinglife.ng/fa-cup-man-united-through-to-fourth-round-as-rashford-limps-off/

Former Super Eagles star, Victor Ikpeba, has urged Nigeria Football Federation to extend the contract of Gernot Rohr.

Rohr’s contract with the Eagles runs out in June and from this month he is free to discuss with other teams.

However, Ikpeba said the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will do well to give the Franco-German coach a new deal based on what he has so far achieved with the team.

Continue reading at https://sportinglife.ng/ikpeba-wants-rohrs-contract-renewed/

Coach of table toppers Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp could be handed a selection headache next January, with the Africa Cup of Nations moving back to a January start date.

The tournament was moved to the summer months following a decision by their executive committee in 2017 with the 2019 staging taking place in Egypt from June into July.

However, after just one tournament there is talk of it being switched back to its original January-February format for Cameroon 2021.

Continue reading here https://sportinglife.ng/headache-for-epl-coaches-as-afcon-returns-to-january/

With uncertainty surrounding the future of top goalscorer, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang,  Arsenal have lined-up  Dries Mertens as a potential replacement.

Aubameyang only has 18 months remaining on his current contract at the end of the season.

Rumours have mounted he has informed Arteta already that he wants to leave the North London side this summer in order to join a team capable of challenging for top honours.

Continue reading here https://sportinglife.ng/arsenal-in-contact-with-napoli-attacker/

Wikki Tourists of Bauchi have confirmed the employment of former Enyimba coach, Usman Abd’alla.
The coach replaced Garba Ibrahim who was sacked by the club along with the entire coaching crew.

Though, the official statement from the club signed by the team media officer, Nasir Kobi did not state the reason for the sack of the entire coaching crew but it may not be unconnected with their 1-2 home loss at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa stadium on Sunday in their match-day 14 tie against Sunshine Stars.

Continue reading at https://sportinglife.ng/former-enyimba-coach-takes-over-at-wikki-tourists/

Lionel Messi has every right to be dejected and fed up of Barcelona, and he has now posted an ultimatum in front of the club after persistent problems.

Barcelona lost out on their chance to get 2020 off to a flyer after suffering a defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup’s semi-final last week. More than anything, it was a lapse of concentration and tactical failure from the Blaugrana with Ernesto Valverde once again being blamed for the debacle.

However, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were quick to put the Barca manager behind their backs and insisted that the loss was only their responsibility. Diario GOL has reported that there is a lot more cooking behind the scenes and nobody really is happy within the dressing room with the kind of job that Valverde is doing.

Lionel Messi is among those who is most frustrated with how Barca are doing as a club and has threatened to ....
Continue reading at https://sportinglife.ng/messi-threatens-to-leave-barcelona/

Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi has been crowned African Youth Player of the Year at the ongoing Confederation of African Football (CAF) awards in Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday night, January 8.
See pictures here: https://sportinglife.ng/african-youth-player-of-the-year-osimhen-chukwueze-lose-to-moroccos-hakimi/

As Creame dela Creame of African football stakeholders converge on Egypt for this evening CAF awards, former international Daniel Amokachi says he can hardly wait to see who gets the gong.

The Bull who touched down at the Hurghada Airport in Egypt some hours ago left no one in doubt that he is upbeat ahead of the award billed for 9pm tonight.

"Hallaaa If U Hear Mee... Landed Hurghada Airport, Can't Wait to Know Who the Next African King Is 2020" he enthused
Read more at https://sportinglife.ng/caf-award-amokachi-eager-to-behold-2020-winner/

Ex-Super Eagles captain Kanu Nwankwo reunited with his former manager, Arsene Wenger, at the 2019 CAF Awards in Cairo.
The two-time African Football of the Year winner, who was excited to meet his former boss, took to his twitter handle to celebrate the Frenchman.

See pictures here: https://sportinglife.ng/caf-awards-2019-kanu-reunites-with-wenger-in-cairo/

Ross Barkley admits he must become smarter in the era of the smartphone.

The Chelsea midfielder is trying to get back in favour with boss Frank Lampard after being photographed in unsavoury situations this season.

Read more at https://sportinglife.ng/barkley-vows-to-show-lampard-he-learned-from-mistakes/

Manchester United target Arturo Vidal's agent is in Italy to hold talks with Inter Milan.
Corriere dello Sport state that Fernando Felicevich wants to gauge the deal's potential with the Nerazzurri also looking at Christian Eriksen.

Read more at https://sportinglife.ng/arturo-vidal-man-utd-agent-in-italy-to-negotiate-with-inter/

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City have shed their “noisy neighbours” tag under his reign and urged Manchester United to be patient with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ahead of their League Cup semi-final showdown.

The rivals meet at Old Trafford in the first leg of the competition on Tuesday and Sir Alex Ferguson’s famous put-down, delivered in September 2009, was referenced when the scale of the enmity was in the spotlight.
Read more here: https://sportinglife.ng/man-city-are-no-longer-noisy-neighbours-says-pep-guardiola/

Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo is hoping Inter fall in their first match of 2020 after helping the Old Lady take top spot in the standings.

Read more here: https://sportinglife.ng/cristiano-ronaldo-i-hope-inter-lose-against-napoli/

Union Sportive Monastir striker, Anthony Okpotu has thumbed up the contributions of his kinsman, Moses Orkuma to his quick adaptation to life in the Tunisian league.

Read More at https://sportinglife.ng/okpotu-hails-orkumas-impact-in-the-tunisian-league/

Steven Gerrard hailed Rangers’ 2-1 win at Celtic as the best feeling of his managerial career so far as the blue side of Glasgow won an Old Firm clash on enemy soil for the first time since 2010.

Ryan Kent and Nikola Katic struck either side of Odsonne Edouard’s controversial equaliser to take control of the Scottish Premiership title race.

Gerrard’s men still trail Celtic by two points, but have a game in hand on the Scottish champions as they aim to end a run of eight straight league titles for the green-and-white half of Glasgow.

Continue reading at https://sportinglife.ng/old-firm-derby-win-excites-gerrard-as-rangers-end-celtic-park-hoodoo/

Nigeria forward, Taiwo Awoniyi, has said he was not excited playing in the German League with Mainz 05.

Awoniyi in action

Awoniyi, 22, has played only 149 minutes in six Bundesliga games but has failed to find the back of the net.

He told Brilafm that, ...
Continue reading here: https://sportinglife.ng/awoniyi-regrets-playing-in-colours-of-mainz-05/

Mikel Arteta’s first step as Arsenal manager should be to agree the sale of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino has bizarrely claimed.

The former Gunners captain looks set to be named as Unai Emery’s replacement within the next 24 hours with the Spaniard reportedly bidding an emotional farewell to Manchester City players and staff on Thursday morning ahead of his official announcement.

Read more at https://sportinglife.ng/arteta-may-replace-five-players-when-he-resumes-at-arsenal/