By Aishat Momoh. O. After a year of pandemic delays and persistent coronavirus fears, Japanese tennis sensation Naomi Osaka ignited the Olympic cauldron as the Tokyo Games opened on Friday. In the highlight of a ceremony that was scaled back due to virus fears, Osaka hoisted the torch to the shimmering cauldron that had unfurled at the top of a …

By Diegwu Nwankwor It was another matchday in the Nigeria Professional Football League filled with suspense, drama and late goals which saw Akwa United’s lead at the top being reduced, and Enyimba keeping alive their dreams of getting hold of the title. Akwa United have seen their lead at the top of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) cut to …

By Adeola Abdullah It was a dramatic end to a gruelling encounter as Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan on Sunday, held Dynamite Force of Iyahmo to a 2-2 draw in a rescheduled NNL matchday 17 encounter, played at the Edo State University, Uzaire Sports Complex. Leading goal scorer, Olafimihan Gafar scored his 16th goal of the season on …

Farouq Oduola A. Nneka Ogwumike, the former WNBA MVP, was informed by FIBA that her request to represent Nigeria in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics had been refused owing to her “extensive connection” with Team USA for more than a decade, according to reports. If Ogwumike can submit an application to the Court of Arbitration in Sport, which may accelerate a …

Farouq Oduola A. On Thursday, the number of new coronavirus cases in Tokyo reached 1,308, a six-month high, raising worries of a significant spike that may overwhelm hospitals during the Olympics, which begin in eight days. Tokyo is in the middle of its fourth state of emergency, which began Monday and forces restaurants and bars to close early and stop …

Farouq Oduola A. Following Sunday’s Euro 2020 final, four persons were arrested for online racial insults directed at members of the England squad, British police announced on Thursday. After three Black players — Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka — were targeted with racial abuse on social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, police said a specialist squad is …

By Aishat Momoh. O. Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has petitioned the Federal High Court in Abuja to have him transferred from the Department of State Services (DSS) to the Kuje Correctional Centre. IPOB also accused the DSS of refusing his physicians access to him yesterday. The gang claimed that its leader’s health was …

By Fawziyyat Yusuf On Thursday, the International Olympic Committee said Nobel Peace Prize winner, Muhammad Yunus from Bangladesh, will receive the Olympic Laurel of the Tokyo Games on July 23 during the opening ceremony The Laurel is to recognise “outstanding individuals for their achievements in education, culture, development and peace through sport,’’ said the IOC. The 81-year-old Yunus, a social …

Farouq Oduola A. In two audio recordings from 2012 that were released on Wednesday, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez referred to Cristiano Ronaldo as a “imbecile” and Jose Mourinho as “abnormal,” as well as saying the two had “big egos.” During Perez’s second tenure of Real Madrid, both Portuguese talents were at the club. An audio tape from 2006 of …

By Aishat Momoh. O. Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State, has emphasized the importance of trust, accountability, and transparency in administration, as well as a high degree of professionalism in both the public and commercial sectors. These, he argued, are attributes needed for the country’s long-term social and economic progress. During a courtesy visit to the Lagos House, …