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Benzema wins 2022 Ballon d’Or

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Karim Benzema, Real Madrid striker and captain, has been named the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner.

The French striker beat Sadio Mane and Robert Lewandowski to claim the coveted gong at the ceremony held at the Théâtre du Chatelet in Paris, France on Monday evening.

Benzema led Real Madrid to their 14th UEFA Champions League (UCL) title, scoring 15 goals in the season.

He was also named the UCL player of the season as his superb form in the competition’s knockout stages led Madrid into the final.

The 35-year-old scored back-to-back hat-tricks in the second round and quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea respectively, while his extra-time penalty knocked out Manchester City in the semi-final.

Benzema also inspired the Galacticos to secure their 35th Spanish La Liga title, finishing the league as the top scorer with 27 goals.

Mane won the Socrates Trophy –a new award — for his humanitarian and philanthropic efforts in Senegal.

In the women’s category, Alexia Putellas, Barcelona’s midfielder, became the first player to clinch two consecutive Ballon d’Or Femeni — after winning the gong last year.

She was named ‘UEFA Player of the Year’ in August and also won a league and cup double with Barcelona. She also helped the team to reach a second consecutive women’s UCL final.

Gavi claimed the Kopa Trophy, the award for best performing player under the age of 21.

The 18-year-old beat off competition from Eduard Camavinga and Jude Bellingham to claim the award.

Thibaut Courtois won the best goalkeeper award while also finishing seventh in this year’s Ballon d’Or.

Men’s Ballon d’Or: Karim Benzema
Women’s Ballon d’Or: Alexia Putellas
Kopa Trophy: Gavi
Yashin Trophy: Thibaut Courtois
Best Striker of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Best Club: Manchester City
Socrates Trophy: Sadio Mane

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Adeyemi defeats Adekanla to clinch West Africa boxing title

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Segun Adeyemi has been crowned the West African Boxing Union (WABU) light welterweight champion.

Adeyemi, popularly known as War, defeated compatriot Adeyemi Adekanla via majority decision to claim the regional belt on Wednesday at GOtv Boxing Night 31 held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

The victory was Adeyemi’s 11th win in 12 professional fights with just one draw. His opponent was also undefeated before the bout, with 12 wins in 13 professional fights.

In other bouts, the 16-year-old Raheem “Badoo” Animashaun secured a fourth-round technical knockout win over Samuel Moses in their national light welterweight challenge fight.

Badoo’s performance in the fight earned him the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy for the best boxer of the night with N1 million cash prize.

The teenager is the son of Jamiu “Rotor” Animashaun, a former professional boxer who fought in the first two editions of GOtv Boxing Night.

Also, on the night, Adewale “Playboy” Oladeji sealed a unanimous decision win over Afikun “Ijebu” Gbenga in their super welterweight encounter.

Emmanuel “Ability” Abimbola secured a split decision win over Azeez “Latest” Ayobami in a national lightweight challenge fight, while Sikiru “Omo Iya Eleja” Shogbesan defeated Batholomew “Aboy” Abuchi via technical knockout in their national super featherweight challenge duel.

However, the national flyweight challenge bout between Sikiru “Isho” Ogunyaju and the current national flyweight champion, Sifon “Best” Iwatt, ended in a tie.

Also, the national light welterweight challenge fight between Hammed “Eshe” Ganiyu and Yusuf “Hungry Lion” was declared a no-contest after the latter sustained an injury in the second round from a headbutt by his opponent.

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19 years later, NFF still owes me salary as Eagles coach, says Christian Chukwu

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Christian Chukwu, former Super Eagles captain, says the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) still owes him salary from his time as the country’s male senior national team head coach.

Chukwu, nicknamed “The Chairman”, was head coach of the Eagles between 2002 and 2005.

He led the team to a bronze medal at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Tunisia.

The manager was relieved of the job in June 2005 during the qualification campaign for the World Cup in Germany.

In a chat with The Athletic Nigeria on Monday, Chukwu said 19 years after his stint with the Eagles, NFF is yet to pay him some of his salary from the period.

The Chairman added that he is not the only indigenous coach owed by the federation, adding that some of the victims are dead now.

“They owe Nigerian coaches. They don’t owe foreign coaches. It is a problem. You take on an indigenous coach who takes a cheap salary, and you owe him,” Chukwu said.

“Is it proper? Are you encouraging him to do his job? I am still being owed up to today. They are still owing me till tomorrow. My files are there with the NFF. There is nothing I can do [to get them to pay me]. The file is there. Go to their office, and you will see how much they owe me. Not only me, other indeginuos coaches are being owed too. Some are late.”

In 2019, Chukwu suffered prostate cancer, which affected his leg. The family had to open a GoFundMe appeal to solicit funds for the Nigeria football legend’s medical treatment.

Femi Otedola, the billionaire businessman, eventually paid $50,000 for Chukwu’s treatment overseas.

Chukwu captained Nigeria to its first AFCON success in 1980. He also led the Enugu Rangers FC team that won the Africa Cup Winners Cup in 1977.

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Nnadozie wins best goalkeeper of the season award in France

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Chiamaka Nnadozie, Super Falcons of Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper, has been voted the season’s best goalkeeper in the French Division 1 Feminine League.

The 23-year-old was announced the award winner on Monday night. She received the individual accolade following a stellar season in which she garnered a reputation as a penalty expert, saving seven spot-kicks in the league and Champions League, the highest in Europe this season.

Her penalty-saving heroics saw her lead Paris FC to shoot-out wins over giants Arsenal and Wolfsburg in the Women’s Champions League. She also guided the Paris-based club to the semi-final stage of the competition where they were knocked out by rivals Lyon.

Speaking at the event, the 2023 CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year winner said she is “very happy” to have won the award.

On his part, Pierre Ferracci, president of the club, praised the Nigerian goalkeeper.

“It’s very pleasing, because she deserves it and she achieved an exceptional Champions League and not only on penalties. She is adorable. It is deserved. We know that she will be courted this summer but we will try to keep her,” Ferracci added.

Paris FC are third in the League with 42 points, eight points behind Paris, their local rivals, and a further 11 points away from Lyon, the league leaders.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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