Sports
SAD! Nigerian Basketball Player, Israel Friday Dies During Training
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The University of the Philippines (UP) has been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of its Nigerian basketball recruit, Israel Osamudiame Friday.
The 19-year-old collapsed during a practice session on Tuesday inside the Varsity Training Centre in Diliman and was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Friday, who would have turned 20 on September 6, was among the newest signings for the UP Fighting Maroons.
Confirming the tragedy, Bo Perasol, Director of the UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development, stated that the university community was devastated.
“UP is heartbroken to confirm that one of our newest recruits, Israel Osamudiame, collapsed during practice yesterday. He was immediately brought to a nearby hospital where, despite the efforts of medical personnel, he passed away,” Perasol said in a statement.
He added, “UP is in close contact with his family and is extending its full support during this difficult time. The university asks everyone to respect the privacy of his family, as they grieve this tragic loss.”
Standing at 6-foot-10, Friday was a promising forward from Abuja, Nigeria. He recently transferred to UP from Centro Escolar University (CEU), where he starred for the Scorpions in the University and Colleges Athletic League (UCAL).
Though he was set to undergo a one-year residency before competing in UAAP Season 89, his height, athleticism, and skills had already positioned him as one of the most exciting young frontcourt prospects in Philippine collegiate basketball.
Galatasaray have identified two strikers to sign to partner and support Victor Osimhen in the attack.
This was revealed by Galatasaray reporter Burhan Can Terzi while sharing information about the yellow-red team’s transfer agenda this summer.
According to Can Terzi, the two strikers are Fernabahce’s Jhon Duran and Paris Saint-Germain’s Kolo Muani
“The two names that Galatasaray are most keenly considering as strikers to partner and support Osimhen are Jhon Duran and Kolo Muani,” Can Terzi said (via habersarikirmizi).
“Galatasaray management is favourably inclined towards Jhon Duran due to his affordable cost,” he said.
Meanwhile, Osimhen has been linked with a move away from Galatasaray this summer, but the Nigerian international had ruled out any possibility of him leaving the Turkish Super Lig champions.
With a few days remaining to commence the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament, Spain winger, Lamine Yamal is the world’s most valuable footballer.
According to the CIES Football Observatory’s latest ranking, the Barcelona star has an estimated transfer value of €358 million ($416m).
The 18-year-old tops the list ahead of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe.
Haaland is valued at €227 million ($256m), while Mbappe’s value is €166 million ($192m).
The three players are at the top of the list in first, second and third positions, respectively.
In fourth position is Bayern Munich winger Michael Oliseh, who is valued at €140.5 million, followed by Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers (€136.8 million) in fifth place.
Completing the top ten are Paris Saint-Germain’s Desire Doue ( €133.2 million), Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz (€133.0 million), Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly (€125.0 million), Real Madrid’s Arda Güler (€124.8 million) and Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsí (€124.6 million).
Iran’s football squad have been granted visas to play in the World Cup, US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack confirmed in a message on X on Friday.
“Proud of our outstanding team at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara for their work processing visas for Iran’s national football team on their road to the @FIFAWorldCup in the United States,” he said, commenting on a news report that Iran’s World Cup players have been granted the visas to enter the United States.
“Sports transcends borders, and we look forward to welcoming competitors and fans from around the world,” the ambassador said.
The Iranian team is due to fly from Turkey to Spain on Saturday before travelling on to their base camp in Mexico, which has issued visas to the squad.
The team will be based in Mexico during the tournament in North America, but all three of their group stage matches are due to be held in the United States.
They were originally due to be based in the US but switched their camp to Mexico due to the tensions between them and the United States over the war in the Middle East.
The two countries have been at war since the US and Israel began bombing Iran at the end of February, although currently a fragile ceasefire is being observed.
Iran begin their World Cup campaign against New Zealand on June 16 in Los Angeles.
They will play further group matches against Belgium, also in LA, and Egypt in Seattle.
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Galatasaray indicate two strikers to sign as Osimhen’s partner in attack
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