Sports

Napoli’s Nightmare Continues After Crumbling At Torino

Published

2 years ago

January 7, 2024

Napoli plunged deeper into crisis on Sunday after crashing to a 3-0 defeat at Torino which ended with fiery protests from fans and humiliation for the troubled Serie A champions.

Furious supporters launched flares onto the pitch at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino during the latest embarrassing loss which left Napoli languishing in ninth place.

Last season’s historic Scudetto has now been forgotten as Napoli sink further into the abyss with each passing week, their third defeat in four matches in all competitions fully deserved after a shambolic display in Turin.

Without Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, Walter Mazzarri’s side failed to score for the fourth straight match and are completely unrecognisable from the team which charged to title glory last term.

“We have to apologise to the fans for the performance… we’re trying to find ways to stimulate the team and get back to some sort of normality,” said Napoli’s sporting director Mauro Meluso.

Meluso spoke to DAZN after a series of post-match summits with Mazzarri and the team, and insisted that the coach — who was suspended for Sunday’s match — would not be sacked.

“I, the club and the team have total faith in the coach, so we’re not having thoughts in that direction,” he added.

Mazzarri was brought in to clean up the mess left by predecessor Rudi Garcia but Napoli are now a full 20 points behind league leaders Inter Milan and closer to the relegation zone than the top of the table.

Antonio Sanabria got the ball rolling two minutes before the break when he scored from close range, and things went from bad to worse in the 50th minute when debutant Pasquale Mazzocchi was sent off for a wild challenge on Valentino Lazaro.

Mazzocchi, who signed from Salernitana on Friday, had only been on the field since the start of the second half and two minutes later Nikola Vlasic doubled Torino’s lead with a brilliant low strike from outside the area.

Napoli were all over the place and they should have been three down just after the hour mark when Sanabria hit the post and Duvan Zapata somehow didn’t finish on the rebound.

However Alessandro Buongiorno made sure of an emphatic victory in the 66th minute when he thumped a bullet header past Pierluigi Gollini.

– Milan cruise –

A sumptuous early strike from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Olivier Giroud’s 31st minute penalty set third-placed AC Milan on the way to a 3-0 win at Empoli which was sealed by Chaka Traore with two minutes remaining.

Missing a host of players to injury and the Africa Cup of Nations, Milan took advantage of their closest rivals for the top four dropping points.

Stefano Pioli’s team are six points ahead of fourth-placed Fiorentina who lost 1-0 at Sassuolo on Saturday, and a further point in front of Bologna in fifth following their draw at Genoa.

Milan have had a bumpy campaign riddled with injuries and questions over Pioli’s future but Sunday’s win was their fifth in six matches in all competitions.

“We went through a bit of a difficult period… We never listened to what other people were saying, we got down to hard work and that’s why we won today,” said Theo Hernandez, who was again deputising at centre-back.

France international Hernandez is a buccaneering left-back by trade but has been forced to move to the centre of defence by an injury crisis which has left Pioli without defenders Fikayo Tomori, Malick Thiaw and Pierre Kalulu.

“It’s in the difficult moments that you learn if people have given up on you, and that wasn’t the case here,” said Pioli.

“When things don’t go well we stay together and we give each other a hand.”

Milan trail city rivals Inter by nine points and are four behind second-placed Juventus, who play Salernitana later on Sunday.

Lazio warmed up for their midweek derby with Roma in the Italian Cup quarter-finals by winning 2-1 at Udinese and moving up to sixth.

Sports

Tobi Amusan Clinches Silver At World Championships In Tokyo

Published

23 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

Tobi Amusan clinches silver at World Championships in Tokyo
Nigeria’s sprint queen, Tobi Amusan, delivered a sensational performance in the women’s 100m hurdles final at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships, clinching silver with a blazing 12.29s finish.

The 28-year-old sprint icon delivered a powerful race from start to finish but was narrowly beaten to the line by Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, who stormed to gold in a national record time of 12.24s.

Grace Stark of the United States secured bronze with 12.34s, while Masai Russell came fourth in 12.44s.

Tobi Amusan, who made history in 2022 by becoming the first Nigerian and African to win the 100m hurdles world title in Oregon, was aiming to reclaim her crown.

Though she fell just short of gold, her silver medal further cements her status as one of the sport’s all-time greats, adding to her world record (12.12s), multiple Diamond League titles, and Commonwealth Games gold.

After missing the final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Amusan’s performance in Tokyo is a resounding response to critics and proof that she remains among the world’s best.

Nigeria’s medal hopes in Tokyo are not over yet.

Ezekiel Nathaniel advanced to the semifinals of the men’s 400m hurdles after running 48.37 seconds in the heats.

The 21-year-old, one of Africa’s fastest-rising hurdlers, kept his composure in a competitive race and will look to qualify for the final on Wednesday as he sets his sights on a podium finish.

Sports

Idahosa Hails Insurance 1-0 Thrashing Of Niger Tornadoes

Published

2 days ago

September 14, 2025

Editor

Edo State deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa has hailed Bendel Insurance over their 1-0 victory against Niger Tornadoes in the week 4 fixture of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).

In a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Friday Aghedo The deputy governor described the match played at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin on Saturday as a “hard fought victory” for the Benin Arsenals.

Idahosa said he was pleased with the players’ performance, who needed an extra time of six minutes to scored the goal that made the difference in the game.

He said the players should be motivated with the victory to enhance their performance in subsequent matches for the season.

“Though there is room for improvement, but am not the less impressed with their performance in the game against the Niger team.

“With their display, it is clear that Bendel Insurance this year and this season will do extremely well. We will be here to support and encourage them,” he stated.

Idahosa who noted that though his presence might not be the key determinant of this match result, however asserted, “They played passionately, but, if my presence would encourage them, I would be coming every now and then.”

He congratulated the Edo State Sports Commission Chairman, Hon. Desmond Amadin Enabulele for doing a wonderful job.

Similarly, Enabulele said that Insurance made their hunger for victory known right from the very first minute of the game.

According to him, “From the very first minute, Bendel Insurance FC played the Match, it was clear that they were going to win.

“Today, the boys did not only show that they were ready for Continental play this season, but they showed what they are made up of. I was impressed with their good ball possession from the blast of the whistle.”

Sports

Enabulele Applauds Team Edo Deaf Athletes For Performance At W’Africa Championship

Published

4 days ago

September 12, 2025

Editor

Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Enabulele, has commended Team Edo deaf athletes who represented Nigeria at the just-concluded West Africa Deaf Athletics Championship in Abuja.

At the close of the championship, Nigeria secured six gold medals in total, with Team Edo contributing three gold and four silver medals.

Enabulele, in a statement signed by his Media Officer, Edoko Wilson Edoko, and made available to newsmen in Benin on Friday, described the athletes’ performance as outstanding and a source of pride for both Edo State and Nigeria.

“I am particularly thrilled by Deborah Ighawuanre’s exceptional performance in the female category, winning two gold medals at the championship,” Enabulele said.

He also commended the exploits of other Edo athletes, including Victory Odokara, who clinched gold in the women’s 400m event; Okpaise Nathaniel Junior, who won two silver medals in the men’s category; and Assurance Omoria, who claimed silver medals in both the 100m and 400m events.

Enabulele emphasized that the team’s success reflects the outcome of targeted investment and support from the state government.

“This feat is a clear testament to Governor Monday Okpebholo’s unwavering commitment to grassroots sports development in Edo State,” he stated.

The sports commission chairman who expressed optimism about the future of the athletes, said: “Our athletes have distinguished themselves at this championship, and I am confident these victories will inspire even greater performances in upcoming competitions.”

Enabulele disclosed in the statement that four of the seven athletes selected to represent Nigeria at the upcoming Deaflympics, scheduled for November 2025 in Tokyo, Japan, are from Edo State.

Adding his voice in the statement, Dr. Sunny Aimufua, Head Coach of the Edo Deaf Athletics Team, praised the athletes for their dedication and resilience.

“The athletes have made Edo State proud, and we are committed to doing even more in future competitions. I must commend Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele for his dynamic leadership and unwavering support for deaf sports.”

The West Africa Deaf Athletics Championship was organized to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of ECOWAS, bringing together top deaf athletes from across the sub-region for a historic and highly competitive event in Abuja.