Messi to appeal 21-month sentence for tax fraud

Barcelona star player Lionel Messi has said he will appeal the court ruling, declaring him guilty of tax fraud.

Rio Olympics: Brazil to distribute 9 million condoms

Brazil’s government will hand out nine million condoms for free around Rio de Janeiro during the Olympics in August, a push meant to encourage safe sex and also defend the Amazon rainforest.

Rio’s local Olympic organising committee said about 450,000 of the sustainably-produced condoms would be destined for athletes and staff housed in the Olympic Village.

Eagles in Group of death

The Super Eagles will play Zambia’s Chipolopolo, Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions and Algeria’s Fennecs in the final round of qualification series for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals.

In what is already dubbed the group of death by pundits, the three-time African champions, who will not play in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon, face a tough route to qualify for Russia 2018 given the high quality of their opponents in the group.

15 things you may not know about Shaibu Amodu

The death of NFF Technical Director and former Super Eagles coach, Shaibu Amodu, has rocked the football world and thrown Nigerians into mourning, days after the shocking death of football legend Stephen Keshi.

As football lovers and Nigerians in general mourn the demise of Amodu, one of the country’s most successful coaches, we look at 15 things you probably may not have known about him:

NFF technical director, Amodu Shuaibu, dies at 58

The Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation and for, Amodu Shuaibu, has died at ‎the age of 58, four days after the death of a former coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi.

The Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Kassim Afegbua, who incidentally is a relative of the late Shuaibu, told our correspondent at the Stella Obasanjo hospital, where his corpse was deposited, that ‎the ex-Super Eagles coach died in his sleep at about 4am on Saturday at his residence in Benin, the Edo State capital.

Happy moments in Keshi’s life (PHOTOS)

The Nigeria Football Federation, the Edo State Football Association and indeed all Nigerians are still in deep shock at the death of former Super Eagles Captain and Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, in the early hours of Wednesday.

Nigerian football won’t be the same without Keshi -Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said Nigerian football would no longer remain the same with the death of a former Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi.

Buhari stated this in a post on his official Twitter handle, @NGRPresident.

BREAKING: Former Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi dies at 54

The Former Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, is dead. A tweet on the Nigeria Football Federation’s handle, @thenff, says the legend died in the early hours of Wednesday.

The former international football player and coach, lost his wife, Kate, last year after a prolonged battle with cancer.

Muhammad Ali, 'The Greatest,' dies at 74

Muhammad Ali, the legendary boxer who proclaimed himself "The Greatest" and was among the most famous and beloved athletes on the planet, died Friday in Phoenix, a family spokesman said.

Ali had been at a hospital since Thursday with what spokesman Bob Gunnell had described as a respiratory issue.

Manchester United sack managers the hard way

There is no easy way to sack a Premier League manager and Manchester United have found that out the hard way with their firing of Louis Van Gaal.

Some are calling the manner of the Dutchman’s departure from United a “public relations disaster” for England’s most famous club as it prepares to name Jose Mourinho.

Ronaldo confident of Champions League glory despite injury scare

Cristiano Ronaldo played down fears over his fitness ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League final against Atletico Madrid on Saturday after the three-time World Player of the Year limped off towards the end of training on Tuesday. “I am fine.

I never expected Leicester will be champions — Ranieri

Claudio Ranieri spoke with pride after his Leicester City side became champions of England for the first time in their 132-year history on Monday night.

Ranieri

Chelsea 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge meant that the Foxes held an unassailable lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League table with two games to play – thus completing one of the most remarkable sporting stories ever seen.

Wenger has told me to stop shooting – Elneny

Arsenal midfielder, Mohamed Elneny, has revealed that manager Arsene Wenger had advised him to reduce his shooting and be more of a an intelligent player.

Eagles coach praises Iheanacho

Kelechi Iheanacho’s star performance against Stoke has earned him praise from Super Eagles Coach Salisu Yusuf. Iheanacho scored a brace and was responsible for winning the penalty that Sergio Aguero converted for City’s second.

English Football League tables

English Football League tables after Saturday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Messi provokes outrage in Egypt by donating boots

A charitable gesture by Argentinian football star Lionel Messi has provoked outrage in Egypt, where a lawmaker and football official took umbrage at the donation: his football boots.

FIFA bans Eboué for one year

Ivorian international and Sunderland A.F.C player, Emmanuel Eboué, has been banned from taking part in any football-related activity for one year or until he pays the total outstanding amount owed to his former agent if this occurs before the end of the one-year ban.

Super Eagles apologise for inability to qualify for AFCON

Nigeria’s failure to qualify for a second straight Africa Cup of Nations has sparked fears about the country’s chances of featuring in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Siasia admits Eagles are ‘broken’ after failing to qualify for AFCON 2017

Interim coach of the Super Eagles, Samson Siasia, has expressed his disappointment, after their 1-0 defeat to Egypt on Tuesday, which ensures they will not qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

Oliseh withdraws suit, insists he wasn’t paid

Former Super Eagles’ coach Sunday Oliseh has withdrawn a lawsuit he instituted against the Nigeria Football Federation saying he has done so in the interest of the country. Oliseh made this known via a fresh video post on his personal website.