Sports

Edokpolor, Idia College Girls Lift Edo Secondary School Football Cup, As Organisers Appreciate Yussuf Alli, School Authorities

Published

1 year ago

November 2, 2024

Edokpolor Grammar School, Benin City, on Friday won the 3rd edition of the Edo State Annual Secondary Schools Football Tournament after defeating St. David Mixed College, Evboneka 3-2 in the male category.

PraiseGod Monday, Ubebe Miracle and
Iboi Godspower scored a goal each to help Edokpolor Grammar School triumph over St David whose goal scoring machine,
Ewean Osaze almost dragged the game into extra time after scoring a brace to reduce the deficit in the second half, while
Oghe Community Secondary School, Ivioghe- Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area finished in the third place

In the female category,Idia College thrashed ST, Agela’s Grammar School Girls 3-0 to lift the cup, making them winners for the third time, while Eyean Secondary School won the third place in the category.

Winners of both male and female categories went home with a Million Naira each, while the second and third placed teams pocketed N500,000 and N300,000 respectively with medals and trophies.

Individual awards of Most Valuable players, Highest Goal Scorer, Goalkeeper and others were specially recognized and honoured.

Organizers of the tournament in a post match interview, said the games were designed to discover talents that abound in the state, stressing that the exercise offered the students the needed opportunity to express themselves and showcase their skills with possibilities of pursuing a career in football.

The Chairman of the Tournament Working Committee Col. Charles Asowata (Rtd.) expressed the Forum’s gratitude to the Ministry of Education who made the children available for the competition, and the Edo State Sports Commission for granting them access to the stadium For the final stage of the competition.

He said that they were happy that in 2022/2023 they were able to produce some professionals among the participating schools, adding that five have moved to Edo Queens; two to Fortress Ladies Football Club, while two other persons are presently playing outside the country.

“The tournament is to build characters. How to accept loss and celebrate winning. It takes off children from the streets. Our job is to encourage them to be better citizens and not to involve themselves in cultism because they are our future”.

He advised Edo youths to be focused in life and do what they can to better their lives.

He also said they must be trust worthy in whatever they do.

On his part, a member of the forum, Prince Jerry Obaseki said the tournament was aimed at giving back to the society.

Obaseki, who described Edo State as a cradle of sports talents in the past, said their role is to rejig sports at the grassroots to make the state regain its pride of place in sports in the country.

He disclosed that 160 students participated in this year’s competition and promised that it will continue.

Sports

JUST IN: Dembélé Named FIFA Best Men’s Player, Bonmatí Wins Women’s Award

Published

3 days ago

December 16, 2025

Editor

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé has been awarded the FIFA Best Men’s Player for 2025, following a season in which he contributed significantly to both his club and the France national team.

Dembélé, known for his pace, creativity, and goal-scoring ability, played a central role in Paris Saint-Germain’s campaigns across domestic and European competitions. His performances for the national team also helped France secure notable results in international fixtures.

Speaking on the recognition, Dembélé said, “It is a great honour to receive this award. I could not have achieved this without my teammates at PSG and in the national team, whose support has been invaluable.”

In the women’s category, Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí was named FIFA Best Women’s Player for 2025. Bonmatí was influential in Barcelona’s domestic and European campaigns, providing leadership, vision, and creativity in midfield. She also played a key role in Spain’s international successes.

“This award reflects the hard work of my teammates and coaches,” Bonmatí said. “I am grateful for their guidance and support throughout the season.”

The announcements reaffirm FIFA’s recognition of individual excellence in football while highlighting the contributions of players to both club and country.

Sports

Court Fixes Date To Hear Sala Compensation Dispute

Published

2 weeks ago

December 9, 2025

Editor

A commercial court examining the long-running dispute between Cardiff City and French club Nantes over compensation for the death of Emiliano Sala in a plane crash said Monday it would give its decision on March 30 next year.

Sala, a 28-year-old Argentine striker, died when the light aircraft taking him to the Welsh capital came down in the English Channel on January 21, 2019, two days after he had signed for the then-Premier League side. He and pilot David Ibbotson were killed.

The Welsh club took the case to the Nantes commercial court in 2023 to claim compensation for loss of income and other damages suffered by the club as a result of the player’s death.

Following an analysis conducted by an expert appointed by Cardiff City, the club estimated their losses at over 120 million euros ($139.5 million). Lawyers for both clubs made their cases at Monday’s hearing.

The Welsh club argue that Nantes, through their intermediary, agent Willie McKay, were the organisers of the private flight on which the footballer was travelling and that, if the transfer was effective at the time of the accident according to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), it is the organisation of this flight that is at issue.

Cardiff City’s lawyer, Olivier Loizon, told the court Monday, Willie McKay “could not have been unaware of the illegality of the flight”, and argued that the agent had acted with “negligence”.

“Whatever the ultimate cause of the accident, (Sala) should not have been on the flight,” he added.

Nantes’ lawyer, Jerome Marsaudon, insisted Monday the only agent authorised by the club in connection with the transfer was Mark McKay, the son of Willie McKay.

The elder McKay “was simply helping his son, given his extensive experience”, the lawyer said.

“It is sad to see that Cardiff have exploited this tragedy and turned it into a genuine legal farce,” he added. “Nothing in this case justifies holding FC Nantes liable.”

Prior to the start of the hearing, a Nantes representative said the club “have no doubt that Cardiff’s claims will be rejected outright, just like all the others”.

In another case related to the dispute between the two clubs, CAS ruled in 2022 that Sala’s transfer had definitely been finalised at the time of his death.

In 2023, world football’s governing body FIFA ordered Cardiff to pay Nantes the balance of Sala’s transfer fee, which at the time amounted to just over 11 million euros out of a total of 17 million euros.

Sports

Salah A ‘Disgrace’ For Liverpool Outburst – Carragher

Published

2 weeks ago

December 9, 2025

Editor

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher labelled Mohamed Salah “a disgrace” on Monday after the Egypt star’s stunning outburst at Reds boss Arne Slot.

Salah said he had been “thrown under a bus” and had no relationship with Slot after he was left on the bench for last Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Leeds.

It was the third successive game that Salah had been kept out of the starting line-up by Slot amid the forward’s loss of form this season.

In response to Salah’s astonishing rant to reporters, Liverpool axed the 33-year-old from the squad for Tuesday’s Champions League clash at Inter Milan.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Carragher, a 2005 Champions League winner with Liverpool, said: “I thought it was a disgrace what he did after the game.

“Some people have painted it as an emotional outburst. I don’t think it was. I think whenever Mo Salah stops in a mixed zone, which he has done four times in eight years at Liverpool, it’s choreographed with his agent to cause maximum damage and strengthen his own position.

“He’s chosen this weekend to do this now, and he’s waited I think for a bad result… everyone involved with the club (feeling) like they’re in the gutter, and he’s chosen that time to go for the manager and maybe try to get him sacked.”

Salah is a two-time Premier League champion with Liverpool and has also won the Champions League during his iconic eight-year spell at Anfield.

But, although he only signed a new contract in April, Salah hinted he might have played his last game for Liverpool as he prepares to jet off to the African Cup of Nations after their Premier League clash with Brighton at Anfield on Saturday.

Salah has been linked with a lucrative move to the Saudi Pro League and and Carragher added: “What he’s done off the pitch, I think the club have made the right decision in terms of him not going abroad. Whether he will play for Liverpool again, I don’t know.

“I hope he does, because he’s one of the greatest players we’ve ever had, but if you continue like that, and statements like that, if he doesn’t play, who knows.”