Sports

National Women’s Cricket Title: Alli Hails Akpata As Edo State Sports Commission Honours Women Cricket Team

Published

1 year ago

November 4, 2024

The Executive Chairman of Edo State Sports Commission, Olympian Yussuf Alli, has commended the the state Cricket team for making the state proud after emerging champions at the National Women Cricket Championship in Abuja.

He also commented the Chairman, Edo State Cricket Association and President, Nigeria Cricket Federation Mr Uyi Akpata for the investment and commitment.

The Edo Sports Commission boss gave the commendation during a reception ceremony organised by Sports Commission in honour of the victorious Edo women Cricket team who returned from Abuja recently with the national title.

Receiving the team with the national women gold cup and other two trophies they earlier won in the month of October, the Edo Sports Commission boss said that he was not surprised that the state cricket team won the national women championship title.

He showered praises on the girls; their coaches and all the stakeholders in the Edo Cricket Association with a special appreciation for the hard work and huge investment by the president, Mr Uyi Akpata.

“You are welcome back home. We are proud of you girls and your chairman. To us as a Commission, we are not surprised by your achievements. When you consider all the investments and resources Mr Uyi Akpata has committed to the development of Cricket in the state and nation, you would not expect anything less than good results like this. We are thrilled by your performance and expect more laurels.

“When the governor gave us a target to discover 2000 athletes (raw talents) annually, we did not have any headaches because Uyi Akpata is on ground. He made our job easier for us as he expanded the Edo Cricket programme and delivered over 2000 to us through cricket alone.

“Akpata is a wonderful selfless man who has been doing a great job for our state and country through cricket. For us to have about nine or ten athletes in the National Cricket teams is not a mean feat. It means the team is good. Kudos to our cricket team and the chairman, Uyi Akpata.”

Alli rewarded the champions with N1.Million for doing the state proud.

Edo State‘s cricket team emerged champions in the 2024 Nigeria Cricket Federation’s National Women’s Championship on Sunday, October 27,2024 in Abuja after beating Akwa Ibom by 89 runs in the final match on Sunday, October 27,2024 to claim the National Women Championship title.

Peace Usen of team Edo was named player of the match after taking five wickets in four overs, conceding just six runs and achieving one maiden over.

In the second innings, Edo’s impressive performance saw off all Akwa Ibom batters in just 12 overs, restricting them to a mere 39 runs.

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.”