Sports

Siasia denies applying to be Super Eagles coach

Nigerian coach, Samson Siasia has denied applying for the vacant Super Eagles Head Coach job even as he rues his suspension by FIFA.

Siasia said that the advertisement of the Super Eagles head coach’s job came too soon as he is still serving FIFA suspension, acknowledging that if the job was to come after August when his suspension will expire, he would have joined the race.

“I did not apply for Super Eagles coaching job because I know FIFA has yet to lift the suspension on me. I don’t know where those who reported that I applied got their story from.

“It’s common sense, I cannot be suspended and be applying for a job. I know I would not even be considered for it,” Siasia, told Complete Sports.

“The opportunity came too soon because I am still suspended until August 2024. If it had come after August this year, I would have been in contention to lead the Super Eagles.

“I feel bad, but I cannot help the situation I found myself in. I wish whoever gets the job best of luck.” The silver medal-winning coach with Nigeria’s Olympic team at Beijing added

Siasia frowned at the idea of hiring a foreign coach for the national team stating that there are many qualified and quality indigenous coaches capable of doing a better job.

“We should not waste our time and money hiring a foreign coach when we have qualified Nigerian coaches in the diaspora and domestic football scene. The NFF should not make the mistake again as the last two foreign coaches that handled the Super Eagles did not help develop the team,” Siasia advised.

“The NFF should look critically at all the coaches that applied for the job and pick the one with the best results and who could manage the egos of our foreign-based players. Nobody will tell me that Finidi George, Emmanuel Amunike, Salisu Yusuf and others will not do better than Peseiro and Rohr” Siasia stated.

Sports

Everton sack manager Sean Dyche after poor run in Premier League

Everton have sacked manager Sean Dyche after a run of just one win from their last 11 games, leaving them a point above the Premier League relegation zone.

The Toffees are currently 16th in the Premier League and did not register a shot on target during Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Bournemouth. It was their eighth league defeat of the season and they have failed to score in eight of their last 10 games.

Former club stars, Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman are set to take charge of the FA Cup third-round tie against Peterborough on Thursday evening, the club confirmed in a statement.

The statement read: “Everton Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as Senior Men’s First Team Manager with immediate effect.

“[Coaches] Ian Woan, Steve Stone, Mark Howard and Billy Mercer have also left the Club.

“The process to appoint a new Manager is underway and an update will be provided in due course.

“Under-18s Head Coach Leighton Baines and Club Captain Seamus Coleman will take charge of first-team affairs on an interim basis.”

The club’s announcement comes less than a month after U.S. firm the Friedkin Group completed its takeover of the club. Executive chairman Marc Watts said the American ownership group were “committed to leading Everton into an exciting new era both on and off the pitch.”

Sports

Nigeria’s Para powerlifter, Kafilat banned for doping violations

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has banned Nigeria’s Para powerlifter, Kafilat Almaruf for doping violations.

The disciplinary action, which will see the Nigerian banned for a period of three years, is for committing an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV), in breach of the IPC Anti-Doping Code (the Code).

The IPC in a statement said Almarf returned an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for the administration of an anabolic agent in a urine sample provided out-of-competition on 11 July 2024.

“Almaruf’s(GC/C/IRMS), differentiates between anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) naturally produced by the body and prohibited anabolic agents of external origin. The GC/C/IRMS analysis confirmed the presence of an anabolic agent of exogenous origin in Almaruf’s urine sample.”

“Exogenous anabolic steroids are included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2024 Prohibited List under the class S1.1 Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) and are prohibited at all times.”

“The athlete was provisionally suspended by the IPC on 19 August 2024 pending a resolution of her case. The athlete accepted the commission of the ADRV and the consequences proposed by the IPC.

“As a result of her violation, the athlete will be ineligible for competition and other sporting activities (other than authorised anti-doping education or rehabilitation programmes) for three years from 19 August 2024 until 18 August 2027.

“All results obtained by the athlete from the date the sample was collected (11 July 2024) until the commencement of the provisional suspension (19 August 2024) are also disqualified, with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.

“Each athlete is strictly liable for the substances found in their sample. An ADRV occurs whenever a prohibited substance (or its metabolites or markers) is found in their sample, whether or not the athlete intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or was negligent or otherwise at fault.”

The sanction means she is ineligible to represent Nigeria at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.

Sports

Anthony Joshua visits President Tinubu in Lagos

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday received an autographed glove from former World Heavyweight Champion, Anthony Joshua when he visited him in Lagos.

This was revealed by the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on his verified Facebook page.

“President Bola Tinubu received an autographed glove from former World Heavyweight Champion, Anthony Joshua, when he visited the President at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos. January 1, 2025,” Onanuga wrote.