First Football Gold Medal By African Team – U-23 Eagles ‘Dream Team’ (Atlanta 1996 Olympics)

Nigeria’s U-23 Eagles, known as the ‘Dream Team’, became the first-ever African team to win gold in the football event at the Olympics following their remarkable feat at the Atlanta 1996 games.

The Dream Team had captain Nwankwo Kanu, Austin Okocha, Celestine Babayaro, Okechukwu Uche, Taribo West, Tijani Babangida, Sunday Oliseh, Emmanuel Amuneke, Victor Ikpeba, Garba Lawal, Wilson Oruma, Abiodun Obafemi, Emmanuel Babayaro, Joseph Dosu, Kingsley Obiekwu, Daniel Amokachi, Mobi Oparaku, and Emmanuel Babayaro.

After advancing from a group that had Brazil, Hungary, and Japan, the Dream Team defeated Mexico 2-0 in the quarter-finals.

In the semi-finals, the team came from 3-1 down to beat Brazil 4-3 thanks to a golden goal by Kanu and went on to defeat Argentina 3-2 in the final.

Nigeria’s First Olympic Medal – By Nojim Maiyegun (Tokyo 1964 Olympics)

Born on 17 February 1941 in Lagos, Nojim Maiyegun was Nigeria’s first Olympic medalist, when he won bronze in boxing in the light middleweight category at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

He helped Nigeria win their first medal at the Olympics since their debut at the Olympic Games in 1952.

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Maiyegun began his campaign at the Tokyo 1964 Olympics by defeating his Great Britain opponent in the round of 16 and also saw off a Danish opponent in the quarter-finals. His progress into the semi-finals guaranteed him at least a bronze.

Unfortunately, his progress was eventually ended when he lost to a French opponent, who went on to win the gold medal.

4x400m Relay Gold – By Men’s Relay Team (Sydney 2000 Olympics)

The quartet of the late Sunday Bada, Enefiok Udo-Obong, Clement Chukwu, and Jude Monye won gold in a dramatic 4×400 meter relay men’s final at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

The United States, with Alvin Harrison, Antonio Pettigrew, Calvin Harrison, and Michael Johnson, originally won the gold medal.

Legendary Michael Johnson was already ahead as the US relay team was assured of the gold medal while Jamaica and the Bahamas were in second and third positions in the final meters of the race.

But in a show of strength and determination, Udo-Obong overhauled both Jamaica and the Bahamas to help Nigeria win silver.

On 18 July 2004, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ruled that Jerome Young was ineligible to compete in Sydney and annulled all his past results, including those achieved as part of relay teams.

Young had competed for the USA team in the heats and semi-final of the 4×400 meters event. Therefore, the USA team was stripped of the gold medal and Nigeria, Jamaica, and the Bahamas were moved up one position each.

On 22 July 2005, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned this decision and restored the original finish order of the race based on a ruling that a team should not be disqualified because of a doping offense by an athlete who did not compete in the finals.

In June 2008, Antonio Pettigrew admitted in a U.S. court that he breached the rules by using banned performance-enhancing substances, and agreed to return his gold medal.

Michael Johnson announced that he would return his own gold medal, won as part of the relay team with Pettigrew.

Johnson stated that he felt “cheated, betrayed and let down” by what Pettigrew had done at the Games. On 12 July 2012, the IOC confirmed the medal reallocation with Nigeria getting the gold medal.

Nigeria’s First Silver Medal – By Peter Konyegwachie (Los Angeles 1984 Olympics)

Peter Konyegwachie became the first-ever Nigerian to win a silver medal at the Olympics, achieving the feat in boxing at the Los Angeles 1984 games.

Konyegwachie competed in the featherweight category and went all the way to the final before losing to home boy Meldrick Taylor of the USA 5-0.

He began his campaign with a comfortable 5-0 win against Malawi’s Ali Faki in the second round and a 4-1 win against Rafael Zuniga of Colombia in the third round.

In the quarter-finals, Konyegwachie overcame Uganda’s Charles Lubulwa 5-0 and in the semis, he recorded another 5-0 win against Turkey’s Türgüt Aykaç.

4x100m Silver Medal – By Men’s Relay Team (Barcelona 1992 Olympics)

Nigeria won silver in the 4×100 meters relay thanks to the late Oluyemi Kayode, Chidi Imoh, Olapade Adenekan, and Davidson Ezenwa.

The Nigerian quartet finished second behind the United States side that had the likes of Michael Marsh, Leroy Burrell, Dennis Mitchell, and the legendary Carl Lewis.

Also, they finished ahead of a Great Britain side that placed fourth despite having Olympic great Linford Christie, who won the gold medal in the 100 meters at the Barcelona Olympics.

4x100m Bronze Medal – By Women’s Relay Team (Barcelona 1992 Olympics)

Just like their male counterparts, Nigeria’s 4×100 meters women’s relay team picked up a medal in the final.

Beatrice Utondu, Christy Opara-Thompson, Faith Idehen, and the legendary Mary Onyali-Omagbemi claimed the bronze medal behind gold medal winners the United States and the Unified Team that won silver (The Unified Team consisted of 12 of the 15 former Soviet republics that chose to compete together at Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games).

A star-studded Jamaican relay team that had sprint great Merlene Ottey, who were also favorites for the gold alongside the US going into the final, dropped their baton, hence missing out on a podium finish.

Nigeria’s First Relay Medal (Bronze) – By 4x400m Men’s Relay Team (Los Angeles 1984 Olympics)

Nigeria’s first medal in the relays at the Olympics was won in the men’s 4×400 meters, which came at the Los Angeles 1984 games.

After a battling performance, the quartet of Innocent Egbunike, Rotimi Peters, Sunday Uti, and Moses Ugbusien won the bronze medal.

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The host nation, the United States of America, won the gold medal while the silver medal went to Great Britain.

In the 4×400 meters Heat 4, the Nigerian relay team finished third behind the USA and Kenya but placed first in semi-final Heat 2 to qualify for the final.

Women’s 4x400m Relay Silver – (Atlanta 1996 Olympics)

The Nigerian 4x400m women’s relay team emulated the feat of their male counterparts at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games by also winning a medal in the event.

However, their achievement came 12 years later, at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics where they won the silver medal.

The Nigerian women’s relay team comprised Falilat Ogunkoya, Olabisi Afolabi, Christy Opara, and Fatima Yusuf.

The gold medal was won by the United States while Germany clinched the bronze.

The race is remembered for the intense battle for gold between Ogunkoya and Jearl Miles of the US, with the latter eventually managing to hold off her Nigerian opponent to cross the finish line.

Ogunkoya gained steadily until the final straight, reducing the gap to less than a meter. Miles was gritting her teeth, trying to hold off Ogunkoya. Coming off the turn, she looked to be struggling as Ogunkoya gained, Miles drifting into lane two to give Ogunkoya the direct route to victory. But Miles didn’t let her by, holding the edge all the way to the finish line for American gold.

Nigeria’s First Hurdles Medal (Silver) – By Gloria Alozie (Sydney 2000 Olympics)

Before the emergence of Oluwatobi Amusan, there was a certain Gloria Alozie who became the first-ever Nigerian, male or female, to win a medal in the hurdles at the Olympic Games.

Alozie achieved this feat at the Sydney 2000 Olympics where she won the Women’s 100m Hurdles silver.

However, a few days before the start of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Alozie’s fiancé, Hyginus Anugo, died in an accident.

A runner himself, Anugo was in the city as a reserve in the Nigerian 4x400m relay squad. Despite his death, Alozie put her grief behind her and went on to win a silver medal for Nigeria.

Chelsea are set to sign £35 million Fulham midfielder Andreas Pereira after approval from their manager Enzo Maresca....Click Here To Continue Reading>>

Chelsea have already made five signings this summer for their Maresca.

The summer signings are Marc Guiu, Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Omari Kellyman and Renato Veiga,

But the Premier League west London club are still in the market to bolster Maresca’s squad ahead of the new Premier League season.

The Blues are even in need of a central midfield and according to Globo, they have already made contact with Pereira’s agent, Kia Joorabchian, to discuss the player’s possible move to Stamford Bridge this summer.

The report added that Maresca has personally approved Chelsea’s push to sign the Brazil international.

Chelsea are even ready to pay up to £35 million to Fulham for Pereira’s signature.

Former Real Madrid midfielder, Toni Kroos, has hailed Cristiano Ronaldo, citing the Portuguese’s ‘incredible’ professionalism and always desire to improve himself....Click Here To Continue Reading>>

Ronaldo and Kroos played together at the Spanish capital club between 2014 and 2018.

Ronaldo joined Real Madrid in 2009 from Manchester United while Kroos arrived from Bayern Munich five years later.

They played four seasons together, winning three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles before the Portugal icon left for Juventus.

Ronaldo, at 39 years old, is still one of the highest-paid sportsmen in the world while Kroos retired after Euro 2024.

Speaking with his academy kids, according to Madrid Xtra, Kroos told them how hard Ronaldo works.

“You should always strive to be the best version of yourself. One of my favourite examples is Cristiano Ronaldo.

“What people see is that he scores a ton of goals and drives fast cars. I was his next-door neighbour, and I can say that he has a lot of fast cars. I also have one (laughs).

“Every time I went to training, his car was already there. Every time I left training, his car was still there. What he achieved was because of incredible ambition and hard work. You only see the finished product. You don’t see the work he puts in.”

Former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder, Cesc Fabregas has been appointed as the head coach of Serie A club, Como.

Como announced Fabregas’ appointment in a tweet on their X account on Friday.

The Spaniard signed a four-year deal with the club.

The former Barcelona star was assistant coach of Como before his latest appointment.

“Como 1907 is delighted to confirm that @cesc4official will become head coach of the men’s team on a four-year contract,” Como tweeted.

Liverpool legend, Steve Nicol, has said that the club would finish in the top four in the upcoming season.

But as for winning the league, the former Premier League star does not see that happening.

He feels the Reds won’t be challenging for the Premier League title in what will be Arne Slot’s first season at the helm of the club.

Slot joined Liverpool from Feyenoord at the end of the last season as a replacement for Jurgen Klopp.

Klopp spent nine years at Anfield and the Reds were competing for several trophies during this period. They won the UEFA Champions League and the Premier League, among other trophies.

With Klopp gone, Nicol believes the next manager would take some time to become a title contender.

Nicol told ESPN: “I think they will make the top four [next season]. I just don’t think they are going to be challenging for the title.

“I would say that and I wouldn’t call it a concern because we’ve seen with Manchester United how hard they’ve had it after Ferguson [left].”

Chuba Akpom has stated that he is not ready to play second fiddle at Eredivisie giants, Ajax, for another season.

The Nigerian-born striker linked up with the former European champions from Sky Bet Championship club, Middlesbrough last summer.

Akpom however struggled to break into the first team at the club.

The 28-year-old featured mostly as a substitute in the 2023/24 season.

The Arsenal Academy graduate scored 15 goals and provided three assists in 36 appearances for Ajax.

Akpom, who has been linked with a return to England, said he would be forced to look elsewhere if the situation remain the same.

Former Barcelona player and manager, Ronald Koeman has given a scathing verdict of Barcelona President, Joan Laporta.

He said that Laporta’s system of managing the club has been the problem of the Catalan side.

Koeman alluded to his and Lionel Messi’s departures from Camp Nou. Both club legends left Camp Nou in 2021.

Koeman also touched on Barca’s interest in Athletico Bilbao winger Nico Williams.

The Netherlands boss told AS that Barcelona need to show more respect to their club legends.

“In recent years, Barca’s problem has been that Messi is out, I am out, Xavi is out…

“I think the best thing is to respect the club’s legends. That is much more important than fighting for a player.

“Barca has to be at the top and lately in recent years it has not been there to compete.

“I think it is because of the Board because they work in a way that is not good.”

Liverpool were defeated 1-0 by Preston North End in manager Arne Slot’s first game in charge.

The match was a behind-closed-doors friendly as the Reds prepared for the new season.

The winner was scored by former Manchester United winger Robbie Brady.

Brady capitalised on a poor Liverpool pass in their own half and scored from a 40-yard lob against 22-year-old goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros.

It was Slot’s first opportunity to see his available squad in action, with Mo Salah getting minutes under his belt.

Overall, 25 players were involved for Liverpool, with starts for Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones, Jarell Quansah, Kostas Tsimikas and Conor Bradley.

UEFA have begun a disciplinary process against Spain striker, Álvaro Morata and team-mate Rodri for singing about a sovereignty claim on Gibraltar.

Morata and Rodri chanted the song during La Roja’s European Championship title celebration.

UEFA, in a statement on Friday, said a disciplinary inspector “is being appointed to evaluate a potential violation” of its rules by the two players.

Morata and Rodri led a huge crowd in singing “Gibraltar is Spanish” on Monday.

The celebrations took place a day after Spain’s 2-1 win over England in the Euro 2024 final.

Gibraltar on the southern tip of Spain has been a British overseas territory for more than 300 years.

The Gibraltar football federation filed a formal complaint to UEFA on Thursday.