Connect with us

Sports

Nigerian forward, Victor Osimhen bag 2023 FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award nomination

Published

on

Nigeria and Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen, has entered the list of elite African footballers to be nominated for the prestigious 2023 Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year Award.

Osimhen was unveiled by World football governing body, FIFA, alongside 11 other star players as a nominee on its official website, Thursday, September 14, 2023.

Osimhen’s inclusion in the 12-player shortlist stems us coming a few days after he was named in the 30-man list of nominees for the 2023 Ballon D’or which is the pinnacle of awards for players across the globe.

The Nigerian star striker’s nomination is a well deserved honour following his sterling performances in the Italian Serie A in the 2022/2023 season where he was instrumental to the team’s first Scudetto win since 1990, scoring 26 goals to emerge top scorer in thr league.

With that feat, Osimhen also became the first African player to win the Golden Boot in the Serie A.

On the African continent, the Lagos-born Osimhen was also in free scoring form, chiming in with 10 goals in the recently concluded AFCON qualifiers.

To win the 2023 FIFA Men’s Player of the Year Award, football fans around the world would have the chance of casting their votes for their favorite players across various categories.

According to the voting process amnounced by the football governing body, fans will have the opportunity to vote via FIFA.com, with a combined input from an international jury comprising national team captains, coaches, and select global journalists.

The voting period for fans commenced on Thursday, September 14 and will concludes at midnight on Friday, October 6, 2023.

The stipulated qualification period for the Best FIFA Football Awards 2023 extends from December 19, 2022, to August 20, 2023, a day after the end of the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Sports

Italian couple name new born baby after Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman

Published

on

An Italian couple have reportedly named their new born baby after Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman, after he scored a spectacular goal against Olympic Marseille of France in the Europa League semifinal second leg match to take Atalanta to the final.

The Nigerian striker opened the scoring for Atalanta before Ruggeri and Toure sealed the win in their second-leg semi-final tie to set up a mouth-watering final tie with Victor Boniface’s Leverkusen.

According to reports from EuroFoot on X, Ademola’s performance was recognised by the couple who live in Palosco, a district in Bergamo where the Italian club is based.

“Somebody named their child after Ademola Lookman following his goal which helped send the Italian club to the Europa League final!” EuroFoot said in the post.

The post added that Lookman’s contribution to Atalanta’s advancement to the Europa League final caught the attention of the adoring Italian couple who decided to name their child after him.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian international was on Friday, named the Europa League Player of the Week following his outstanding performance in Atalanta’s 4-1 aggregate victory over Marseille in the semifinal.

According to UEFA’s official website, Lookman’s performance also included three attempts, further highlighting his influential role in Atalanta’s dominant display

Continue Reading

Sports

AIU suspends Kenyan marathoner Josephine Chepkoech over alleged use of prohibited substances

Published

on

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has provisionally suspended Kenyan half distance runner, Josephine Chepkoech, over alleged use of prohibited substances during the Barcelona Half Marathon held on February 17, 2013 in Barcelona, Spain.

The AIU, in a statement on Thursday, said Chepkoech was suspended following allegations of doping involving the prohibited substance, testosterone.

In the statement, the AIU said Chepkoech had been served with a Notice of Allegation for violating Article 2.1 and Article 2.2 of its anti-doping regulations.

“The AIU has provisionally suspended Josephine Chepkoech (Kenya) for Presence (Testosterone Metabolites)/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Testosterone),” the AIU stated.

Chepkoech ran a personal best marathon time of 2:22:38 in February at the Seville Marathon, but with the suspension, the record is not likely to stand.

The AIU said the move was part of its crackdown on prohibited substances in athletics which has seen a rising number of Kenyan athletes penalized.

The 35-year-old had made her marathon debut in 2018 at the Nairobi Marathon, dominating the women’s race with a winning time of 2:33:11.

Her provisional suspension means she cannot participate in any competition until a final decision is reached which could result in an acquittal or a formal ban.

She faces a two-year ban pending a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) appeal.

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

Behind the News6 hours ago

Behind the News: All the backstories to our major news this week

Over the past week, there were lots of important stories from around the African continent, and we served you some...

Politics10 hours ago

Civil society organizations sue Nigerian’s central bank over new cybersecurity levy

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, a non-profit organization, BudgIT, and 136 concerned Nigerians have sued the Central Bank of...

VenturesNow10 hours ago

African leaders seek innovative methods to boost agriculture

African authorities are seeking innovative methods to enhance funding for the agriculture industry in the continent and to improve the...

Politics11 hours ago

Mali: National dialogue proposes 3 more years of junta rule

The participants of Mali’s national dialogue have proposed a three-year extension of the military-led transition to democracy and suggested that...

Metro15 hours ago

Tinubu’s tax reforms meant to revitalise economy, not frustrate Nigerians— VP Shettima

Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has allayed fears of citizens over the tax reforms being implemented by the President Bola...

Metro1 day ago

Zambia Police denies suspending officers for failing to prevent Lungu’s public ‘tour’

The Zambian Police has denied allegations that six of its officers were placed on suspension for refusing to block former...

Tech1 day ago

Oracle to increase research, development investments in Morocco

Global IT vendor, Oracle, has announced plans to expand its research and development (R&D) capabilities in Morocco by growing its...

Culture1 day ago

Kenyan officials arrest four Tiktokers for filming robbery prank video outside police station

Kenyan Police authorities have arrested four young Tiktokers for filming a robbery prank outside a police station in the Kilifi...

Metro2 days ago

U.S. applauds Nigeria’s monetary policies

The United States government has commended Nigeria’s monetary policies under President Bola Tinubu which it says has fostered economic growth...

Sports2 days ago

Italian couple name new born baby after Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman

An Italian couple have reportedly named their new born baby after Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman, after he scored a...

Trending