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Paris Olympics Women Basketball Knockouts: D’Tigress, reigning champions USA clash on Wednesday

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Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, will on Wednesday, August 7 clash with the seven times back to back champions, USA in the quarter-finals of the Paris Olympics women’s basketball competition.

Following the draw on Sunday by the Olympic committee, Nigeria, the first African nation ever to reach the last eight of an Olympic basketball tournament, men and women included will now face the USA.

Nigeria which had previously beaten Australia in the on-going tournament dealt a blow on Canada 79-70 on Sunday, while the USA defeated Germany 87-68.

Host nations France, the bronze medalists three years ago at the Tokyo Games, will play Germany, Spain will take on Belgium and Serbia will play Australia.

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Meanwhile, head coach and team captain of Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, Rena Wakama, and Amy Okonkwo, have explained how the African champions overcame Canada on Sunday to qualify for their first quarterfinals at the Olympics since their first appearance in Athens in 2004, The PUNCH reports.

It was also the team’s first time of recording two wins at the Olympics, which they did impressively to confirm winless Canada’s early trip home.

After their defeat to France in their second game on Thursday, head coach Rena Wakama said the African champions needed to get back to their ways against Canada, which was exactly what they did.

Parading several big names, rising teenagers, and recent WNBA draft picks, Canada were favoured to hold their own against any opponent in France after finishing fourth at a recent FIBA Women’s World Cup, but they were surprisingly schooled by the impressive D’Tigress.

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Despite being ranked 12th in the world, the lowest among the participating teams at the tournament, Nigeria gained the upper hand in the contest with a stunning 11-0 run to start the second half. It left the world No. 5 reeling as they failed to recover from the heavy setback.

As usual, Ezinne Kalu was hugely influential and did her usual thing by pulling the strings in the backcourt.

The playmaker registered 21 points, while Elizabeth Balogun chose a great time to have her best game in memory as she stepped up with 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.

With the win, Nigeria seem poised to give absolutely anybody in the tournament a game right now. Their rugged defence was back after a lapse in their previous match against France. Physically, they are a handful, and anyone they come up against in the quarterfinals will have to play well to beat them.

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Reacting to the win, team captain Amy Okonkwo claimed the half-time talk was a difference-maker.

“I am so proud of us. The last game wasn’t good for us, and even in the first half today (Sunday), we were not doing what we wanted to come out and do. We had a talk with ourselves and realised it was win or go home, and we decided we wanted to stay,” she said.

Also, retiring Canada forward Natalie Achonwa admitted that D’Tigress were the better side.

“It’s been a hell of a journey, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. If you are competing with the best in the world in do-or-die situations, you need to be ready in every possession of the game. I don’t want to make excuses. You have to show up for every possession and every play. The teams we played did it better than us.”

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Now assured of taking part in the quarterfinals of the Olympic tournament, Nigeria became the first team from Africa to reach that stage, having won two of their three games.

Before this year, the teams from Africa tallied only one win in 37 games played in the women’s tournament (already Nigeria, against South Korea in 2004).

Recall that team wasn’t allowed to board the delegation’s boat for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.

A source who spoke with the Associated Press on condition of anonymity disclosed that once the team made it to the area where it was supposed to board the boat for the ceremony, they were denied entry by a Nigerian official who told the players and coaches there were too many people on board.

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The team then made its way to the athletes village after being turned away. The rest of the Nigerian delegation shared a boat with Niger and Norway.

The team had been sent logistics for the event before the group made the 2-hour, 28-minute, 138-mile (222 km) trip as part of a bus caravan of several teams from Lille, where the preliminary basketball rounds are being played. The buses had a police escort.

They were not able to make it to the location where the buses were departing after the opening ceremonies so they spent the night in Paris. The team didn’t make it back to Lille in time for its scheduled morning practice session yet they were able to beat Australia in the opening match.

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Manchester United 1-1 Arsenal: Bruno and Rice stunners split points at Old Trafford

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Declan Rice’s equaliser denied Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim a much-needed win but Arsenal’s faltering Premier League title challenge suffered another damaging blow in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The Gunners sit 15 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool, now with just one game in hand, with their focus beginning to turn to holding off the chasing pack for a place in next season’s Champions League.

Bruno Fernandes’ stunning free-kick put United ahead in first-half stoppage time.

The Red Devils, though, could not hold on for just a sixth Premier League win in 16 games under Amorim as Rice swept home 16 minutes from time.

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A point leaves United down in 14th.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was taking charge of his 200th Premier League match.

The Spaniard’s 118 wins in that time places him only behind a stellar cast of Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp and Alex Ferguson in the English top flight.

But his wait for a league title looks set to continue with Arsenal on course to finish second for the third consecutive season.

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United have had three permanent managers and an interim during Arteta’s five years in charge of Arsenal.

Amorim said he knows he will not get the time Arteta did to turn around a sinking ship at Old Trafford.

The discontent among the home support could be seen around the stands with many taking part in a protest by wearing black over what they perceive as “the death” of their club.

Arsenal had failed to score in either of their previous two league games to realistically wave goodbye to their hopes of a first title in 21 years.

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Despite still missing the attacking quartet of Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, the Gunners hit back in stunning fashion to thrash PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Infused with fresh confidence, Arsenal started on the front foot but again missed the focal point of a natural centre-forward.

Midfielder Mikel Merino has been forced to deputise up front in recent weeks and fired wide from the edge of the area with an early opening.

United have struggled for goals all season, but their skipper has remained a source of inspiration and Fernandes produced once more with a sumptuous free-kick just before half-time.

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Questions will be asked over Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya’s starting position, but Fernandes still had to whip the ball over an imposing wall and back down into the visitors’ net.

If Raya was at fault for the opener, he made amends with a string of saves in the second period.

Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee were the first to be denied as United threatened a second on the counter-attack.

Arteta was able to throw on Martinelli on his return from a hamstring injury in the hunt for an equaliser.

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Instead, it was Rice who matched Fernandes’ fine finish by arrowing a shot beyond Andre Onana from Jurrien Timber’s pass.

Amorim had dropped Rasmus Hojlund to the bench after a run of 19 games without a goal.

The Dane twice had chances to snap that streak only to be foiled by desperate Arsenal defending.

More Raya heroics followed to stop Fernandes from snatching a winner as the match entered stoppage time.

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However, a draw did little for Arsenal’s title challenge.

Arteta’s men edge four points clear of third-placed Nottingham Forest and eight clear of Manchester City in fifth in the battle for a place in next season’s Champions League.

AFP

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SAD! Barca’s first team medical doctor dies

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FC Barcelona’s LaLiga match against CA Osasuna scheduled for Saturday was postponed following the death of the Barça’s team doctor earlier in the day, the club said in a statement.

“FC Barcelona is deeply saddened to announce the passing of first-team doctor Carles Miñarro Garcia this evening,” the club posted on X.

“The FC Barcelona Board of Directors and all staff extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.”

No cause of death was provided by the club.

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The match was called off roughly 20 minutes before its scheduled start time, after supporters had already filled the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona.

A message sharing the sad news was displayed on the video board in the stadium.

Barcelona said the match against Osasuna will be rescheduled for a later date.

“Club Atlético Osasuna wishes to express its deepest condolences to the family of Dr. Carles Miñarro Garcia and send a strong embrace to the entire staff of F.C. Barcelona and its fans during this difficult time,” Osasuna said on X.

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Barça currently sits atop the LaLiga table, one point clear of Atlético Madrid, as the Blaugrana seek their 28th league title.

“LALIGA would like to express its deepest condolences to (Miñarro’s) family, friends, the club, and its supporters, and shares in their sorrow,” the league said in a statement.

Barcelona’s next scheduled match is Tuesday at home against Benfica in the second leg of a Champions League tie. Barça defeated the Portuguese club 1-0 in the first leg last week.

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WCQ: Ahmed Musa returns as Super Eagles name team

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Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, has earned a recall to the national team for Nigeria’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, marking his return after years of absence.

The list was released on Tuesday by the Nigeria Football Federation.

Musa, who last featured for the Super Eagles before their silver-winning campaign at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, headlines the provisional squad released by newly appointed head coach, Eric Chelle.

Also making the list is in-form Genk striker, Tolu Arokodare, who has been in blistering form in the Belgian Jupiler League, netting 15 goals this season.

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Arokodare is one of four fresh faces in Chelle’s squad, alongside Anthony Dennis (FC Göztepe), Papa Daniel Mustapha (formerly of Niger Tornadoes), and Slavia Prague’s Igoh Ogbu.

The squad also sees the return of Remo Stars goalkeeper, Kayode Bankole, and Southampton forward, Paul Onuachu, as Nigeria looks to revive its qualification hopes.

The Super Eagles, currently fifth in Group C, will take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21 before hosting Zimbabwe in Uyo on March 25.

SEE FULL LIST HERE:

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Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Enosis Paralimni, Cyprus); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Jordan Torunarigha (Gent FC, Belgium); Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Rangers International)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC, Italy); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Anthony Dennis (Goztepe SK, Turkey); Chrisantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)

Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough FC, England); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain); Paul Onuachu (Southampton FC, England); Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars); Jerome Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain)

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