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Apologies not enough as UEFA charges Pedro Neto for pushing PSG ballboy

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Tempers flare in the UEFA Champions League for many reasons, but on Wednesday night in Paris, the flashpoint in Chelsea FC’s crushing 5–2 defeat to current holders, Paris Saint-Germain came from one of the game’s oldest sideline traditions…the ball boy. Chelsea winger Pedro Neto has apologised after shoving a ball boy in stoppage time. With the match slipping away, Neto attempted to retrieve the ball quickly after it rolled out of play. As the ball boy appeared reluctant to return the ball, Neto pushed him in the chest. The ball boy tumbled backwards into the advertising hoardings in what at first glance looked theatrical. “I want to come out and say the situation that happened on the pitch, I want to apologise to the ball boy,” Neto told TNT Sports. “I already spoke with him, the emotions of the game with us losing, I want to pick up the ball, and I gave him a little push. “I saw that I hurt him and straight away I apologised, I am not like this. I gave him my shirt becaus...
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Trump and Infantino say Iran are welcome at 2026 finals, but Iranian FA boss Taj isn’t feeling the love

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said that US President Donald Trump had offered reassurances over Iran’s participation in the 2026 World Cup, saying the team are “welcome”. Infantino said he met with Trump in Washington to discuss preparations for the competition and that the pair “also spoke about the current situation in Iran”. On Instagram, Infantino wrote: “During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.” Following the United States’ and Israel’s war on Iran, officials in the Persian country have cast doubt over Team Melli’s participation in the 2026 World Cup. At the same time, Trump said that he didn’t care if they participated. At the World Cup, Iran have been drawn with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. The Iranians are scheduled to play their matches on the West coast with two of them at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, and one a Lumen Field in Seattle. The FIFA pre...
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De Medeiros unopposed for a third term as SIGA’s global CEO

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Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros is set to for another term as Global Chief Executive Officer of the Sports Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA). De Medeiros is running unopposed for the 2026–2030 term. De Medeiros formally submitted his candidacy early March with an electoral manifesto titled ‘Making Integrity Irreversible’. The principal architect behind the evolution of SIGA as a leader on sports integrity issues, he will have a third and final mandate as Global CEO of SIGA, according to the organisation’s statutory three-term limit. He has led SIGA since its formal establishment as a non-profit in 2017, and has served as Global CEO since 2018, having been re-elected by SIGA’s governing bodies in 2022. De Medeiros’ manifesto outlines SIGA’s key strategic priorities and initiatives for the 2026–2030 mandate. Priorities are to strengthen institutional capacity, embed integrity as an irreversible principle in global Sport, and accelerate the implementation of SIGA’s Sport Integrity R...
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Bueckers shines as USA rout Puerto Rico in FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament

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...Reese hits double-double, Bueckers gets a game high of 16  By Maxwell Kumoye        The United States Women's National Basketball Team delivered a dominant performance to defeat host Puerto Rico Women's National Basketball Team 91–48 in their second game of the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament, silencing a packed crowd at “El Choli”. The Americans never trailed in the contest, controlling the game from start to finish while handing Puerto Rico another setback in the tournament. Three players made their first senior national team start, with Monique Billings, Paige Bueckers and Kiki Iriafen earning the nod.  Bueckers led the scoring with 16 points, adding four rebounds and three assists, while Angel Reese powered the bench with a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds. Head coach Kara Lawson praised the hosts’ effort but admitted her team is still refining its rhythm. “I thought Puerto Rico played very, very hard. We had s...
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Igoche backs D’Tigress to rebound after loss to South Korea

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By Trust Ittai        Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D'Tigress, suffered a setback in their second FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament after falling to South Korea on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The Nigerian side, who opened their campaign with an emphatic 70–37 victory over Colombia, were unable to maintain the same momentum as foul trouble and an off day for some key players disrupted their rhythm. South Korea took advantage of the situation with impressive shooting from beyond the arc, edging the first half 36–32 before pulling away to secure the win. Reacting to the defeat, basketball promoter Mark Igoche, founder of the Mark D’ Ball Basketball Championship, urged the team not to be discouraged by the loss but instead use it as motivation going forward. “Don't let this one setback bring you down. As I always say, champions aren't made in the wins, they're made in the losses,” Igoche said while encouraging the team to regroup. He...
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Okpebholo rewards 10-year-old chess medalist

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...Celebrates Team Edo’s Niger Delta Games triumph By Maxwell Kumoye and Kehinde Osagiede    Team Edo’s impressive outing at the second edition of the Niger Delta Games continues to yield rewards, with Governor Monday Okpebholo honouring the athletes and officials after their historic triumph at the regional competition. At a grand reception held at the Government House in Benin City, the governor celebrated the team for finishing top at the Niger Delta Games, marking Edo State’s first major sporting title in about 24 years. One of the most memorable moments of the ceremony came when the governor singled out 10-year-old chess player, Esohe Mfon Shadrach, who won a bronze medal at the Games.  Moved by her achievement at such a young age, Okpebholo directed that the young athlete be brought to his office alongside her coaches. Through his Chief Protocol Officer, the governor presented the young chess player with a souvenir and a cash reward of N1 million to supp...
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Oyedeji urges D’Tigress to move on from Korea loss, focus on Philippines clash

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...Lessons learnt, we will get better – Victoria Macaulay By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye and Trust Ittai    NBA and FIBA ambassador Olumide Oyedeji, a leading candidate for the presidency of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, has called on D’Tigress to quickly put behind them the 77–60 defeat to South Korea at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament 2026 in France, urging the team to remain focused and confident as they prepare for their next matchup. Speaking after the game played at the Astroballe, Oyedeji praised the Nigerian women for their effort despite the loss, insisting the setback does not diminish their quality or World Cup readiness. “You put in the right shift and energy, but it fell short of your usual touch,” he said. “But you were not bruised beyond a comeback.” He emphasized that the team must channel their attention toward their upcoming fixture. “The next game is what you girls need to be concerned with, that is to take ...
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Commitment, consistency, the path to my scrabble success — Clinton Imode

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By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye           For onlookers it's an overflow of the precious yellow metal, but for Clinton Imode, it is the reward of years of hard work, constant reading and sleepless nights beyond number. This is the backstory of Nigeria's new kid on the block, Clinton Imode, triple gold medalist at the scrabble event of the 2nd Niger Delta Games, recently concluded in the historic and cultural city of Benin. He described his outstanding performance as the culmination of years of training, day and night, through the ups and downs. “It was great, I felt like all my years of hard work had finally paid off, training day and night, it was the best feeling,” he said. To claim top honours in the three different Scrabble categories, Clinton Imode had to scale through a very strong field of Scrabble word legends. Heading the long list, is Africa Youth Scrabble Champion, Prestige Achibong, who was also a member of victorious Team ...
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Why Olumide Oyedeji is the perfect leader to drive a new era for Nigerian basketball

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By Maxwell Kumoye    Few figures embody the journey, resilience and global reach of Nigerian basketball quite like Olumide Oyedeji.  From a young student-athlete in Loyola College, Ibadan to an international basketball ambassador and administrator, Oyedeji’s story reflects the growth of the sport in Nigeria and why many believe he is uniquely positioned to lead it into a new era. Oyedeji’s basketball journey began at Loyola College, Ibadan, where his towering presence and determination quickly made him a standout member of the school’s senior basketball team. What started on a modest school court soon evolved into a career that would place Nigeria firmly on the global basketball map. Coach Ayodele Bakare, the proprietor of Ebun Comet Basketball gave him the first and most important club platform to blossom with a national championship title as well as an MVP in 1997 to show for that humble start. His breakthrough came when he was selected in the second round (...
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Howard, Clark shine as USA cruise past Senegal in World Cup Qualifying Tournament

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By Maxwell Kumoye      The United States Women's National Basketball Team began their campaign at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament in dominant fashion, crushing Senegal Women's National Basketball Team 110–46 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was a commanding all-round performance from the Americans, with all 12 players on the roster getting on the scoresheet and six athletes making their senior national team debuts. Rhyne Howard led the scoring from the bench with 21 points, shooting an impressive 6-of-9 from three-point range while also grabbing five rebounds. Caitlin Clark also shone on her senior team debut, posting 17 points and 12 assists to control the tempo of the game. Head coach Kara Lawson, who secured her first victory in charge of the team, praised the squad’s energy after a short preparation period. “We’ve had a short lead-up, but our focus and energy have been good, and I thought that carried over today,” Lawson said. ...
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