Sports
PSG coach Galtier and son arrested over racism
Police in France have arrested Christophe Galtier, coach of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and his son as part of an ongoing probe into alleged racism.
According to Al-Jazeera, Galtier and John Valovic-Galtier, his son, were detained on Friday following the investigation into racism allegations at OGC Nice, his former club.
The investigation — launched in April — followed after allegations that he made racist and Islamophobic remarks about players when he coached OGC Nice in the 2021-22 season.
Some French media outlets earlier quoted a leaked email from Julien Fournier, the former Nice director of football, to the club’s owners, in which Galtier was accused of saying there “were too many Black and Muslim players in the squad”.
“He [Galtier] told me that I should take account of the reality of the city and that in effect we should not have as many blacks and Muslims in the team,” Fournier was quoted to have said.
“He told me he wanted to profoundly change the team’s make-up and limit the maximum number of Muslims.”
Galtier had denied the allegation and launched a defamation suit against Fournier.
The 56-year-old, who led PSG to another French League title, could be sacked in the coming days following an underwhelming season, where the club was eliminated early in the Champions League and lost the French Cup to Marseille.
Sports
NFF unveils Finidi as Eagles coach, announces technical crew
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has unveiled Finidi George as the new head coach of the Super Eagles.
The federation presented the newly appointed manager to the public on Monday at the media centre of the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja
In April, Finidi was appointed as the permanent replacement for Jose Peseiro, who the former Nigerian international worked with as an assistant coach for 20 months.
At the unveiling ceremony, the 53-year-old’s technical crew members were also announced.
Daniel Amokachi, former Super Eagles player, will be the assistant coach. Olatunji Baruwa is named the goalkeeper trainer, Chima Onyeka slots in as fitness trainer and Benjamin James will also be a backroom staff member.
Dignitaries present at the unveiling include John Enoh, minister of sports development; Ibrahim Gusau, president of NFF; and Augustine Eguavoen, technical director of NFF.
Finidi was the Eagles’ interim head coach for two international friendlies against Ghana and Mali in March.
He led the Eagles to a 2-1 victory over Ghana in his first game at the helm but lost 2-0 to Mali in the second game.
Finidi’s immediate task with the Super Eagles will be the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic in June.
The Eagles drew their first two games of the campaign to Lesotho and Zimbabwe, lagging behind in third place in Group C.
Sports
Osimhen’s Champions League dream dies as Juventus and Bologna seal European qualification ahead of Napoli
Napoli’s hopes of European glory have been dealt a severe blow as Juventus and Bologna secure coveted spots in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League.
Italian giants Juventus and surprise package Bologna officially booked their places in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League following Atalanta’s crucial victory over Roma, leaving Napoli behind in the race for European football.
Despite Italy securing five UCL participants, last season’s champions Napoli will not be one of them. The Partenopei have put up a disastrous title defence and are in eighth place with only 51 points.
Napoli are nine points away from Roma in sixth place with only two matches left and are mathematically unable to reach the UCL places even if the Serie A gets six representatives in the revamped UCL formats.
Despite Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen’s contribution of 15 goals and four assists in 22 appearances, Napoli’s disappointing campaign is under threat of ending with no promise of European football next season even if Serie A gets the maximum number of slots for the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League.
For Juventus, the upcoming Champions League campaign marks a return to Europe’s premier club competition after a one-year absence after being suspended from continental football in the 2023/24 season following their breach of financial fair play regulations, but they have bounced back this season to secure a coveted spot in the revamped Champions League format.
Meanwhile, Bologna’s sealed their first-ever appearance in the main stages of the Champions League after last playing in the qualifying stages for the European Cup in 1964.
Their remarkable achievement caps off a remarkable season under the leadership of former Barcelona and Inter midfielder Thiago Motta
Sports
Amusan sets world leading record in 100m hurdles
Tobi Amusan ran a world-leading 12.40 seconds (0.9m/s) to win the 100m hurdles at Saturday’s inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational in Kingston.
The world record holder claimed the win ahead of Danielle Williams, the world champion who ran a season’s best 12.46 seconds, and American Christina Clemons who was third with 12.54 seconds.
The Nigerian has now taken over the world lead from American Tonea Marshall who had run 12.42 seconds in late April.
Amusan’s latest win comes two months before the Paris 2024 Olympics.
John Enoh, the minister of sports development, took to X to congratulate the pace-setter over the feat.
Take your flowers Tobi Amusan, you stormed to an emphatic win in the women's 100m hurdles at the Jamaica Athletics Invitational, clocking a time of 12.40s (0.9), a World Lead time!
— Senator John Owan Enoh (@OwanEnoh) May 12, 2024
You defeated World Champion Danielle Williams, who came 2nd in 12.46s, while Christina Clemons was… pic.twitter.com/wsvKt9Gflv
“Tobi, you keep making our country proud. Paris Olympics is around the corner, your performance gives us hope just like others, that Nigeria is set to break a jinx. Keep soaring, we are proud of you,” the minister’s post reads in part.
The 26-year-old recently set a new African record of 7.77s in the 60m hurdles event at the Astana Indoor Meet in Kazakhstan, breaking the 25-year-old record held by Gloria Alozie.
She is expected to spearhead the Nigerian contingent’s hopes for gold medals at the Olympics set to commence on July 26 at France’s national stadium.
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