Sports
Man City’s star wins Ballon d’Or for best player in the world
Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri won the Ballon d’Or award for the best player in the world on Monday evening.
He beat Brazil’s Vinicius Jr and England’s Jude Bellingham, both of Real Madrid, to the prestigious prize.
Barcelona’s Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati won the women’s award for a second time.
Rodri, a first-time winner of the award, was instrumental in helping his team win an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League trophy last season.
He was also named best player at this year’s European Championship after Spain lifted a record-extending fourth title.
The 28-year-old Madrid native is the first defensive midfielder to win the Ballon d’Or since Lothar Matthaus in 1990 and the third Spaniard to claim the prize after Alfredo Di Stefano (1957 and 1959) and Luis Suarez (1960).
While the award has been dominated by Spanish league players, no Spaniard had won since Barcelona great Luis Suarez more than 60 years ago, despite Spain’s “golden generation” that won the 2010 World Cup, the 2008 and 2012 Euros.
Sports
Man Utd confirm Ruben Amorim as new manager
Manchester United have officially announced Ruben Amorim as their new manager.
In a club statement on Friday, the Red Devils confirmed that Amorim will remain with Sporting Lisbon until November 11.
This means the 39-year-old’s first game in charge will be a Premier League trip to Ipswich Town.
Amorim has agreed a contract until June 2027, with the option of a further year.
United have paid Sporting an extra €1m (£840,000) in addition to his €10m (£8.4m) exit clause for an early release from his 30-day notice period.
He will replace Erik ten Hag, who was sacked on Monday, while Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue in an interim role until Amorim joins.
United’s next game is a league fixture at home against Chelsea on Sunday
Sports
Flying Eagles win WAFU B championship, beat Ghana
The Flying Eagles have emerged as champions of the 2024 WAFU B U-20 Championship, defeating rivals Ghana 2-1 in a thrilling final.
Under the guidance of head coach Aliyu Zubairu, the Flying Eagles dominated the first half, surging to a 2-0 lead at halftime thanks to two well-taken goals by Remo Stars forward, Kparobo Arierhi. With their early dominance, the team appeared set to defend the title they clinched in the previous edition of the tournament.
Ghana fought back with a goal early in the second half, narrowing the scoreline to 2-1. Despite the pressure from the Ghanaians, Nigeria’s defence held strong, ensuring they retained the championship title.
In addition to the win, both Nigeria and Ghana secured qualification for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), representing the WAFU B region at the prestigious continental tournament.
This triumph further cements the Flying Eagles’ status as one of Africa’s top youth football teams and serves as a major morale boost as they prepare for the upcoming U-20 AFCON.
Sports
NPFL: Kano Pillars fined N2m for improper conduct
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has fined Kano Pillars N2 million following the misconduct of players and officials during their recent match against Nasarawa United.
The NPFL cited improper conduct, including a controversial statement from Kano Pillars’ Media & Communications Directorate, which quoted player Ahmed Musa making disparaging comments about match officials.
Additionally, the league accused Kano Pillars of failing to control their team’s behavior, leading to a nine-match suspension for Ugochukwu Gabriel starting from matchday 10. Gabriel was penalized specifically for his unruly actions during the game.
The NPFL also warned Kano Pillars about future inflammatory statements, advising the team to use appropriate channels to file complaints. The league stated that a recurrence of such behavior could lead to even harsher sanctions.
Kano Pillars have 48 hours from the notice date to appeal these sanctions. The Sai Masu Gida, former NPFL champions, are now under scrutiny to ensure improved conduct in upcoming matches.
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