A former Super Eagles player, Justice Christopher has died in a hotel.
The forty-year-old made his debut for the Super Eagles in 2001 with 11 appearances.
He participated at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, featuring in all Nigeria’s three games before elimination.
According to reports, Christopher collapsed in his hotel room in Gwolshe, off Tudunwada Ring Road in Plateau State.
He had reportedly been diagnosed with high blood pressure.
Christopher played for Katsina United, Sharks F.C., Bendel Insurance, Antwerp (Belgium) between 2001–02; Levski Sofia (Bulgaria) between 2002-2004, Trelleborgs FF (Sweden) in 2004, Alania Vladikavkaz in Russia and Herfølge Boldklub in Denmark in 2005 and 2006 respectively.
Maduka Okoye, Super Eagles goalkeeper was during Friday’s Dutch league match between his club, Sparta Rotterdam, and Vitesse Arnhem attacked by an angry fan.
This came after a middle-sized spectator broke into the pitch and approached Okoye’s penalty area, but the 23-year-old goalkeeper chased the invader, by gesturing authoritatively for him to get off the pitch.
The 23-year-old goalkeeper was also hit by an object from the angry Vitesse home crowd, but Okoye still put up a man-of-the-match performance by saving a penalty to maintain Rotterdam’s 1 nil lead.
Maduka’s attack comes weeks after the goalkeeper’s team, lost out of AFCON 2021 after losing to Tunisia.
Following the violent behaviour of Vitesse Arnhem’s fans, the centre referee ended the match before the seven minutes injury time was exhausted.
The league’s governing body, issued a statement revealing that the match was discontinued due to multiple crowd troubles, including the use of flares.
The league body also noted that an investigation will be initiated and a decision taken on the result of the match.
“The match between Vitesse and Sparta has been discontinued tonight (March 4, 2022) at a 0-1 score due to fireworks from the (home) public,” the league body said.
“This was done after consultation of the referee with both clubs. The incident will now be investigated by the disciplinary committee.”
The founder and executive chairman of Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspapers, SuccessDigest and other online publications, Dr. Emmanuel Sunny Ojeagbase has died.
Naija News reports that his death was announced in a statement on Monday by Mr Julius Ojeagbase on behalf of his family.
Pastor Ojeagbase died on Saturday, 26 February, 2022 in Atlanta, United States of America (USA) after a brief illness.
Dr. Ojeagbase, who was 71 years, hailed from Uzebba, Iuleha in Owan West of Edo State.
Popularly known as Sunny Ojeagbase (or simply “S.O.”) before he added Emmanuel to his names, the late media entrepreneur broke into national consciousness as the pioneer publisher of sports news in Nigeria when he established Sports Souvenir weekly newspaper in 1984.
Before then, he was a retired soldier of the Nigerian Army who cut his teeth in sports journalism as a stringer at the Daily Times newspapers in the mid-1970s. Through sheer talent, determination and hard work, Ojeagbase blossomed very quickly and was appointed sports editor of Sunday Concord newspapers at inception in 1980 and sports editor of The Guardian newspapers also at inception in 1983. He resigned from The Guardian in 1984 to pursue his dream as an entrepreneur.
Between 1984 and 1994, Ojeagbase introduced several other pioneering sports titles including Complete Football magazine, Complete Football International (CFI) and International Soccer Review (ISR) into the Nigerian sports market. Remarkably, the Complete Football titles played very prominent roles in ensuring Nigeria’s first appearance at the FIFA World Cup at USA 1994 as well as the country’s football Gold medal win at the Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games also in the USA. Between those two historic events in Nigerians sports, Ojeagbase introduced Complete Sports as the Number One daily sports newspaper in Nigeria in 1995.
Also in 1994, Ojeagbase co-founded with his wife, Pastor (Mrs) Esther Ojeagbase, the Success Attitude Development Centre (SADC) with a vision and mission to teach young Nigerian entrepreneurs how to start, run and make a success of their businesses. SADC has gone on to produce and inspire thousands of successful entrepreneurs who are protégés of the Ojeagbase’s and many of whom are now employers of labour.
Pastor, Dr. Sunny Emmanuel Ojeagbase is survived by his wife, Pastor (Mrs) Esther Ojeagbase, his children both biological and adopted, as well as grandchildren and other relatives. He will also be sorely missed by friends, mentees and business associates.
The Reds clinched the trophy at Wembley on Sunday afternoon after winning a penalty shootout 11-10 following a thrilling goalless draw with Chelsea after extra-time at Wembley.
It is the club’s first success in the competition for a decade – and the first under Jürgen Klopp – with this latest triumph following previous wins in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1995, 2001, 2003 and 2012.
Liverpool are therefore now the outright most successful team in League Cup history, having been level with Manchester City on eight victories before Sunday’s result.
The Carabao Cup honour is the fifth major trophy of Klopp’s managerial tenure, adding to the Reds’ Premier League, Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup titles under the German.
LFC’s overall honours list now includes 49 major trophies for the men’s team.
Russia Attack on Ukraine Live: At least 40 people have been killed
Klitschko, Kasparov and Shevchenko react to Russian invasion of Ukraine
The Ukrainian Premier League suspended operations as Russia attacked Ukraine on Thursday.
In a brief statement, the league said the suspension was due to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to impose martial law. It did not give any planned date to resume.
The Brazilian players of Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv are reunited with their families in a hotel in Kyiv and recorded this video asking for help from the Brazilian authorities as they try to leave the country.
Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv’s Brazilian players ask for help in leaving Ukraine
Paralympics in talks
The International Paralympic Committee said it was in talks with sports officials in Ukraine and Russia as their teams prepare to head to China for the start of the Paralympic Games next week.
“The IPC is in dialogue with both the Ukrainian and Russian Paralympic Committees ahead of the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games,” the IPC said in an emailed statement. “As a politically neutral organization, the IPC’s focus remains on the upcoming Games rather than the ongoing situation.”
Russia’s name, flag and anthem are already barred from the March 4-13 Paralympics in Beijing over previous doping disputes. Its team is due to compete as RPC, short for Russian Paralympic Committee.
Former Arsenal captain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on Tuesday revealed what Mikel Arteta told him before his exit from the club.
The Gabonese striker dumped the Gunners to join Barcelona as a free agent in the January transfer market after his contract with the club was terminated.
Aubameyang was stripped of the captaincy at the North London side following a disciplinary breach, which saw him dumped from the starting lineup.
The striker who had his first league start on Sunday scored a hat-trick in a 4-2 victory over Valencia.
Aubameyang while speaking on his move to Camp Nou said Arteta wished him luck ahead of his move to the club.
The striker while speaking with Mundo Deportivo said, “Yes, Arteta wished me luck at Barca.
“Some of the things we did with Arteta are similar.
“I still have to get used to it but I am eager to learn. When I see how the boys play I want to do the same.”
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on Friday banned Nigeria’s 2008 Olympic long jump silver medalist, Blessing Okagbare for 10 years over doping.
“The Disciplinary Tribunal has banned Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare for a total of 10 years,” read an AIU statement.
The 33-year-old sprinter won silver in the long jump at Beijing 2008.
The Nigerian competed in the 100m heats in Tokyo on July 31 2021 but was suspended prior to the semi-final.
The AIU had said that Okagbere tested positive for presence and use of a prohibited substance due to human growth hormone at an out-of-competition test in Slovakia on July 19.
“The AIU requested EPO analysis be conducted on the sample on July 29 and the adverse analytical finding was reported to it on Aug. 12,” the AIU said on August 20.
Super Eagles of Nigeria have been ranked third in Africa and 32nd in the world in the latest FIFA Ranking released by the World Football Governing Body on Thursday.
Society gazette reports that Nigeria came third in Africa behind Morocco and the winner of the recently concluded African Cup of Nations (AFCON), Senegal, rising four places in the World ranking.
The top 10 best teams in Africa are Senegal, Morocco, Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Cameroon, Algeria, Mali and Ivory Coast in the same order.
While the top 10 best teams in the World include Belgium, Brazil, France, Argentina, England, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Denmark and Netherlands.
In a statement on its website, FIFA said the new ranking method named “SUM” relies on adding/subtracting points won or lost for a game to/from the previous point totals rather than averaging game points over a given time period as in the previous version of the World Ranking.
The statement reads: “The points which are added or subtracted are partially determined by the relative strength of the two opponents, including the logical expectation that teams higher in the ranking should fare better against teams lower in the ranking.”
Recall that Nigeria, who exited AFCON at the Round of 16, commanded an impressive display during the group stages by collecting all available 9 points.
French defender, Kurt Zouma has been fined £250,000 for mistreating his pet cat, Premier League club, West Ham has announced on Wednesday.
Society gazette reports that a disturbing video emerged of the defender hitting, dropping, and kicking his pet across his kitchen floor on Monday.
The 27-year-old defender issued an apology but Essex Police confirmed that urgent enquiries were underway in conjunction with the RSPCA to address the incident.
In a statement released to reporters, West Ham said it fined the player two weeks wages which will be donated to animal welfare charities.
He wrote: “West Ham United can confirm that Kurt Zouma has been fined the maximum amount possible following his actions in the video that circulated.
“The player has immediately accepted the fine and has requested that it is donated to animal welfare charities.”
The club initially condemned their player’s actions after the video emerged but backed manager David Moyes’ decision to start the player for the win against Watford on Tuesday night.
Moyes has said Zouma would remain available for selection while the club’s internal investigation run its course.
Adidas Drop Zouma
In a related development, Adidas has confirmed that Zouma is no longer associated with the company after “investigating the incident internally”.
A statement read: “We have concluded our investigation and can confirm Kurt Zouma is no longer an Adidas contracted athlete.”
Adidas had earlier said: “No animal should be subject to cruel and unwarranted abuse.”
Vitality Suspend Sponsorship
Also, West Ham’s wellness partner, Vitality, has suspended its sponsorship of the club with immediate effect.
“We were very distressed by the video we have seen of Kurt Zouma. At Vitality, we condemn animal cruelty and violence of any kind,” a statement read.
Former assistant manager of Real Madrid, Jose Peseiro, has revealed why he did not emerge as the head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
Recall that the Nigeria Football Federation had announced that Peseiro will take over the team after the just concluded African Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Austine Eguavoen was appointed as an interim coach, he, however, stepped down after the Super Eagles lost to Tunisia in AFCON.
The NFF on Monday disclosed that Peseiro would no longer take up the coaching assignment, while it retained Eguavoen.
Peseiro while reacting to the development noted that he failed to reach an agreement with NFF due to financial issues and disagreement over some clauses in the proposed contract.
The former Real Madrid assistant manager in a post on his Instagram account wrote, “After several weeks of negotiations, during which several news came out, on the part of the Nigerian Football Federation, that I would be the coach of their national team, from the end of AFCON 2021, a fact that I never confirmed, these were not materialized due to disagreement regarding contractual clauses and financial matters”.
