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AFCON winners to pocket $7m as CAF increases prize money by 40%

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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has raised the prize money for the winners of the forthcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast to $7 million — up from the previous amount of $5 million.

The continental football governing body announced the 40 percent increment in a statement released on Thursday.

Patrice Motsepe, CAF president, said portions of the prize money will contribute to developing football in member associations.

“CAF has made significant progress over the past two years in increasing the Prize Money of the AFCON and all its other major competitions. We have increased the Prize Money of the AFCON Winner to USD 7 000 000, which is a 40% increase from the previous AFCON Prize Money,’ the statement reads.

“I am confident that a portion of the Prize Money will contribute to developing football and also benefit all the football stakeholders, as well as assist our Member Associations with their administrations.”

The competition’s runners-up will get $4 million in prize money, up from $2.7 million.

The remuneration for the semi-finalists and the quarter-finalists was also increased to $2.5 million and $1.7 million respectively.

The 34th edition of the AFCON will be held in Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are in Group A alongside the hosts, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.

Nigeria will take on Equatorial Guinea in their opening game on January 14 before facing Ivory Coast four days later and rounding off the group stage with the Guinea-Bissau tie.

The Eagles are camped in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), for a one-week training before flying back to Lagos on January 9 and proceeding to Ivory Coast a day later.

Wilfred Ndidi has been ruled out of the competition, and Alhassan Yusuf has been drafted as his replacement on the Super Eagles team.

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Everton sack Sean Dyche, name club captain as interim player-manager

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Everton have sacked Sean Dyche as the club’s manager.

The Merseyside club announced the dismissal of the 53-year-old English manager in a statement on Thursday.

Everton also dismissed Ian Woan, Steve Stone, Mark Howard and Billy Mercer — members of Dyche’s crew.

The club said Seamus Coleman, the team’s captain, will temporarily take charge of first-team affairs alongside Leighton Baines, Everton’s U-18 head coach.

“The process to appoint a new manager is under way and an update will be provided in due course,” the statement reads.

Dyche leaves his post a few hours before Everton played Peterborough in the third round of the FA Cup.

On Saturday, Everton suffered their eighth league defeat of the season following a 1-0 league loss to Bournemouth. The result left the Toffees in 16th position, just one point from relegation places as Everton fights against the drop in consecutive seasons.

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Roberto Carlos refutes claims of his homelessness amid split from wife

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Roberto Carlos, former Real Madrid defender, has refuted reports claiming he is homeless following an acrimonious split with his estranged wife.

Recently, there were reports that Carlos, now Real Madrid’s director of institutional relations, has moved into the club’s training ground at Valdebabas after leaving his private residence in Spain, where he had lived since retiring from football in 2016.

The reports claimed that the 51-year-old is sleeping at the club facility following a complicated divorce settlement between him and Mariana Lucon, his wife of 15 years.

The rumours added that the wife has staked a claim at the couple’s matrimonial residence, while her family occupies Carlos’ second property.

However, in a tweet on Wednesday, Carlos dismissed the reports as “false and damaging” and “baseless rumours” which were “designated to generate clicks”.

The Brazilian added that he lives “in a private residence, supported by members of my family”.

“In recent days, I have become aware of false and damaging stories circulating about me and my family.

“While I value privacy, I feel compelled to address the baseless rumours about my living situation. These fabricated stories are entirely false and seem designated to generate clicks.

“I remain in a private residence, supported by members of my family.

“My legal team is reviewing these claims and will take appropriate action.

The 2022 World Cup winner then asked that his privacy be respected “during this time”.

Carlos and Lucon married in June 2009 and have two daughters – Manuela and Mariana.

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West Ham appoints ex-Chelsea boss, Graham Potter, head coach

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English Premier League club, West Ham, has confirmed the appointment of former Chelsea boss, Graham Potter as its new head coach.

“West Ham United is delighted to welcome Graham Potter as the club’s new head coach. The 49-year-old joins the Hammers on a two-and-a-half-year contract and will take charge of his new team for the first time when the Irons travel to Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round on Friday evening.

“A highly-respected and sought-after coach, Potter has been awaiting the right opportunity after leaving his last role at Chelsea in April 2023 and was the Board’s unanimous choice to take the club forward in line with its objectives and ambitions.

“Potter, whose progressive style and flexible tactical approach previously impressed at Swedish club Östersund, Swansea City and Brighton & Hove Albion, has a passion for a return to Premier League management and is relishing the opportunity to work with West Ham United’s talented squad of international players,” the club statement read on Thursday.

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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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