SPORTS
Messi Fit to Face Uruguay in World Cup Qualifier
Argentina’s Lionel Messi has recovered from the knee and hamstring worries that kept him out of Paris St Germain’s last two games and is in line to start in their World Cup qualifier against Uruguay today.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said staff had worked separately with the 34-year-old Messi to prepare him for the mouth-watering double header against Uruguay in Montevideo and next Tuesday’s game at home to Brazil.
“In principle, we believe that Leo is good,” Scaloni told reporters.
“Leo wants to play and I want him to play.”Messi’s call up caused some unhappiness with PSG general manager Leonardo but Scaloni sought to play down any rift.
“We have a relationship with Leonardo and their (reaction) is understandable, that Messi has spent a lot of time with the national team recently,” Scaloni said.
“But there can be no doubt that we are within the rules calling him up. This has always been a problem for European clubs.”
Argentina are second in South America’s 10-team qualifying group, six points behind Brazil after 11 games.
The top four qualify automatically for Qatar 2022 and the fifth-placed side goes into an inter-regional playoff.
Winners of the Copa America in July, Argentina are unbeaten in 25 games, a run that stretches back to mid 2019.
English and Italian football giants Manchester City, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Juventus will square up for pre-season friendlies in Hong Kong in August, the clubs announced yesterday.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, currently arm-wrestling Arsenal for the Premier League title, will take on Inter Milan on Saturday, August 1, spearheaded by their Norwegian goal machine Erling Haaland.
The match will kick off the “Hong Kong Football Festival” at the city’s futuristic 50,000-seat Kai Tak stadium.
The gleaming arena opened a year ago, featuring a roof that can be closed and air-conditioning to combat the fierce summer heat and humidity in Hong Kong.
Chelsea will play Juventus on Wednesday August 5 to round off the mini-tournament.
Lagos State will host the second edition of the National School Volleyball Championships from April 21 to April 24 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
President of the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), Olabisi Joseph, said in a statement on Monday that schools from across the country had converged for the four-day tournament.
She said the competition meant for secondary schools is organised by the NSSF in collaboration with the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), with support from the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC).
Joseph said the annual tournament aims to develop volleyball in the school system and identify outstanding athletes who will represent Nigeria at the International School Sport Federation (ISF) events.
She expressed delight at the growing interest among schools nationwide and urged participants to be worthy ambassadors of their institutions.
“In Nigeria, we are blessed with an abundance of talent in the school system.
“Volleyball, being one of the popular sports in schools, has ignited healthy rivalry among students.
“Sports stimulates learning, so we are building a total child through events like this,” she said.
Joseph added that standout athletes from the Lagos championship would be shortlisted to compete at the ISF World School Volleyball Championship in China.
She described the event as a unique opportunity for young players to showcase their skills before global scouts.
“Teams from Lagos, Osun, Rivers, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Ogun, Taraba, Bauchi and other states are competing for honours, with NVBF technical officials on ground to scout for talent.”
The maiden edition of the National School Volleyball Championships was held in Abuja, where host teams won both the boys’ and girls’ categories.
Outstanding players from the FCT, Plateau and Kaduna states later represented Nigeria at the 2025 ISF World School Volleyball Championships in China.
The World School Volleyball Championship is scheduled to be held from July 1 to July 10 in China.
Guinea will face Nigeria’s Flamingos in the final qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The Guineans defeated Niger Republic 3-0 in the second leg of their qualifying fixture in Conakry on Saturday.
They won the contest 8-2 on aggregate, following their 5-2 triumph in the first leg last week.
The winner of the Flamingos versus Guinea clash will qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The Flamingos set up camp in Abuja for the clash with their fellow West Africans last week.
Newly appointed head coach, Akeem Busari invited 36 players to camp for the team’s preparation.
Wike Waives C-of-O Fees for Nigerian Law School
ShareBy Laide Akinboade, Abuja The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike on Thursday gave an immediate waiver of fees for the Certificate of...
Study Links Alcohol to Higher Cancer Burden in Australia
ShareAustralian researchers on Thursday revealed that alcohol consumption causes a higher proportion of cancers in Australia than previous estimates. According to a statement of...
C’River Debunks False COVID-19 Report, Confirms Only One Case
ShareFrom Ene Asuquo, Calabar The Cross River State Government has refuted a publication by online platforms alleging the discovery of 10 new...
NCC Orders Airtime Credits for Poor Network Service
ShareThe Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said telecom operators will compensate subscribers for poor network quality through airtime credits under a strengthened regulatory enforcement framework...
CBN Orders Banks on Monthly Report of Mobile, ATM Transactions
Share The Central Bank of Nigeria has directed banks and other financial institutions to submit monthly reports on failed electronic...
Tinubu Seeks Senate Nod for $516m Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway Loan
ShareBy Eze Okechukwu, Abuja President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the National Assembly’s approval for a $516.3 million external loan...
2027: APC Begins Sale of Forms, Adopts Consensus, Direct Primaries
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rolled out a comprehensive and revised timetable for its 2027...
Grant Pardon to Henry Okah, Niger Delta Activists Tells Tinubu
ShareBy Raphael Atuu, Abuja Popular Niger Delta activist Nengi James OON, alongside other youths under the aegis of Advocates for...
NCoS Places Facility on Red Alert over Alleged Attack Threats in Niger
ShareFrom Dan Amasingha, Minna The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in Niger State has placed all custodial centres across the state on red...
FIBA WWC: D’Tigress Land in Tough Group B with France, Hungary, Korea
ShareNigeria’s D’Tigress will face France, Hungary, and Korea in Group B at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup. The draw set up the D’Tigress for...