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Paris Olympics: FG panel reveals officials responsible for non-registration of Ofili

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An investigative committee set up by the federal government has identified the officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) whose inactions led to Favour Ofili‘s non-registration for the women’s 100 meters at the Paris Olympics.

The panel was inaugurated by John Enoh, the recently departed minister of sports development, in September. The committee was tasked with probing Nigeria’s negative exposure at the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics in Paris.

Team Nigeria had a poor outing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning zero medals. In addition to the abysmal performance, the country also dealt with a handful of controversies at the Games.

The most prominent was the exclusion of Ofili from the women’s 100 meters race despite the athlete qualifying. Another was the revelation by Ese Ukpeseraye that she had to borrow a track bike from the German team to perform in the Keirin cycling event.

In a report released to journalists on Monday, Mumini Alao, the committee chairman, highlighted the panel’s findings and recommendations after its investigations.

The document said “conflicting evidence” showed that the omission of Ofili’s name “is traceable to any one of the following organisations: Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), World Athletics (WA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC)”.

The committee added that Rita Mosindi, the secretary general of AFN, was “negligent in her duty of communicating to the Ministry of Sports Development and the Nigeria Olympic Committee information about Favour Ofili’s event status in a reliable and timely manner”.

The panel also faulted Samuel Onikeku, AFN technical director, for demonstrating “poor judgement” by not acting on information about Ofili’s non-registration “when he first got a ‘hint’ of the ‘rumour’.”

The committee added that Ofili’s situation might have been rescued had Onikeku reported or acted immediately on the information he received.

The report then recommended that the officials be penalised by the appropriate authority.

The committee said AFN should pay Ofili N8 million “for the disappointment and depression that she suffered on account of her omission”.

“The cyclist, Ese Ukpeseraye, should write a formal apology to the Nigeria Cycling Federation (NCF) for the embarrassment that she caused the Federation and the Nigerian contingent to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on account of the unauthorised that she made on social media X (Formerly Twitter) about the bicycle that she used for the Cycling track event at the Olympics,” the report reads.

The committee presented its findings to ministry of sports on October 22, a day before President Bola Tinubu scrapped the ministry and transferred its functions to the resuscitated National Sports Commission (NSC).

Enoh then handed over the report to Shehu Dikko, the newly appointed chair of NSC, on October 30.

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Man United appoint 39-year-old Ruben Amorim as new manager

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November 1, 2024 2:45 pm

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Manchester United have appointed Ruben Amorim, Portuguese coach, as the club’s new manager.

The Red Devils announced Amorim’s arrival in a statement on the club’s website on Friday.

The manager joined United from Sporting Lisbon and penned a three-year deal to manage the club with an option of an additional year.

However, the Portuguese coach is not expected to join United immediately due to work visa requirements. He is billed to resume at Old Trafford on November 11.

Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue as United’s interim manager until Amorim’s arrival.

United sacked Erik Ten Hag as the club’s manager on October 28 following a 2-1 loss to West Ham.

The defeat was the United’s fourth in the English Premier League (EPL) this season, and they slipped to 14th place on the log.

The team also remain winless in the Europa League with three draws from as many games. They are rooted in the 21st position of 36 teams in the Europa League log.

Amorim is saddled with the responsibility of rejigging and correcting the wrongs in the team that made Ten Hag’s tenure unimpressive.

The 39-year-old is considered one of Europe’s most promising managers. He won the Primeira Liga twice in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon — the first of which was the club’s first title in 19 years.

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Rodri becomes first EPL player to win Ballon d’Or in 16 years

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October 29, 2024 9:11 am

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Rodri Hernandez, the Manchester City midfielder, has been named the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or winner.

The Spanish deep-lying playmaker beat Real Madrid’s trio of Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal to claim his first-ever Ballon d’Or at the Théâtre du Chatelet in Paris, France, on Monday.

Rodri was a vital cog in Manchester City’s steamrolling of teams en route to the fourth consecutive league title and FA Cup triumph. He also holds the astonishing record of featuring 74 straight games without a loss. He was instrumental in Spain’s victory at the 2024 European Championships. The 28-year-old was also named player of the tournament.

The 28-year-old became the first player in the English Premier League (EPL) to win the prize since Cristiano Ronaldo clinched the award in 2008.

Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman ranked 14th in the men’s Ballon d’Or list.

In the women’s category, Aitana Bonmati, Barcelona’s midfielder, won the Ballon d’Or Femeni. The victory was her second consecutive Golden Ball prize.

Lamine Yamal claimed the Kopa Trophy, the award for best-performing player under the age of 21.

The 17-year-old beat off competition from Arda Guler and Pau Curbasi to claim the award.

Emiliano Martinez won the best goalkeeper award while finishing 18th in this year’s Ballon d’Or.

  • Men’s Ballon d’Or: Rodri
  • Women’s Ballon d’Or: Aitana Bonmati
  • Kopa Trophy: Lamine Yamal
  • Yashin Trophy: Emiliano Martinez
  • Best Striker of the Year: Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe
  • Best Men’s Coach: Carlo Ancelotti
  • Best Women’s Coach: Emma Hayes
  • Best Club: Real Madrid
  • Women’s Club of the Year: Barcelona Femeni
  • Socrates Trophy: Jennifer Hermoso
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Erik ten Hag sacked as Manchester United manager

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1 week ago

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October 28, 2024 1:50 pm

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Erik ten Hag has been dismissed as manager of Manchester United, the club confirmed Monday.

The decision came in the wake of a 1-0 Premier League defeat to West Ham United, which marked the end of the Dutchman’s two-and-a-half-year tenure at Old Trafford.

Under Ten Hag’s leadership, United struggled in the early stages of the 2024–25 season, managing just three wins from nine league games.

The team’s form in all competitions also faltered, with only four victories in 14 matches, leaving them in 14th place in the Premier League table, a troubling seven points adrift of the Champions League qualification spots.

Manchester United are likely to turn to club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy to guide the team on an interim basis following the sacking of manager Erik ten Hag.

Van Nistelrooy, who was brought in during the offseason to support Ten Hag, will assume leadership while the remaining coaching staff maintains their roles.

Ten Hag’s tenure began with high expectations after he took over in 2022, signing a contract that was recently extended by one year this past July, pushing his commitment through 2025.

His previous achievements with the club included an FA Cup final victory against Manchester City, but after United’s disappointing eighth-place finish last season—their lowest since 1990—a summer review was conducted.

United’s decision-makers, including CEO Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth, and technical director Jason Wilcox, ultimately chose to retain Ten Hag.

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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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