Sports
Amusan out as WA unveils Athlete of The Year nominees
World record holder, Tobi Amusan, did not make the final shortlist for the Women’s World Athlete of The Year Award, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The World Athletics on Wednesday, announced a list of 11 nominees for the award with only three Africans included in the list.
They are Tigist Assefa and Gudaf Tsegay, both from Ethiopia, and Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon.
Amusan, who holds the record in the women’s 100m hurdles, made history last year when she became the first Nigerian to be nominated for the Women’s World Athlete of The Year but she lost out to 400m hurdles record holder, Sydeny McLaughlin.
Amusan last month won the 100m women’s hurdles in 12.33s to retain her Diamond League title, and becoming only the second woman in the history of the Diamond League to clinch three 100m hurdles titles in a row, equalling the record of Dawn Nelson-Harper.
Last year, Amusan produced a stunning performance at the World Championships in Eugene, winning the 100m hurdles gold and breaking the world record in the semi-final with a time of 12.12secs. She became the first Nigerian world champion and world record holder in an athletics event in the process. She also won gold medals in the 100m hurdles and the 4x100m relays at the Commonwealth Games.
This year’s nominees are headlined by five world record breakers led by Kenya’s World 1500m and 5000m champion, Faith Kipyegon, who set three world records in 2023 in the 1500m, one mile and 5000m.
Others are Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa, who set a World marathon record and won the Berlin Marathon and Dutchwoman, Femke Bol, who set a world indoor record in the 400m flat and Maria Perez — a record holder in the 35km race walk.
Gudaf Tsegay completes the list of world record holders among the nominees. The world 10,000m champion broke Kipyegon’s 5000m world record on her way to winning the event at the Diamond League final in Eugene, Oregon, USA.
Others listed are Shericka Jackson, the Jamaican world 200m champion and double sprint Diamond League winner; Japan’s world and Diamond League javelin champion, Haruka Kitaguchi, and Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who won the high jump title in Budapest and Eugene.
Also listed are world and Diamond League triple champion, Yulimar Rojas; Sha’Carri Richardson, the American who won the 100m title at the Worlds and Winfed Yavi from Bahrain, who won the 3000m steeplechase title in Budapest and Eugene.
Voting for the World Athletes of the Year closes at midnight on October 28.
The World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family will cast their votes by email while fans can vote online via the World Athletics social media platforms.
The World Athletics Council’s vote will count for 50 per cent of the result, while the World Athletics Family’s votes and the public votes will each count for 25 per cent of the final result.
At the conclusion of the voting process, finalists will be announced by World Athletics November 13-14, with the winners unveiled on the World Athletics’ social media platforms on December 11.
AS Roma join Manchester City and Galatasaray in the race to sign Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina, whose contract ends in six months
Serie A giants AS Roma have expressed interest in signing Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina, joining a growing list of clubs targeting the in-form Nigeria international.
According to Italian outlet *La Gazzetta dello Sport*, the Italian side has already initiated contact with Aina’s representatives.
The full-back, who has just six months remaining on his contract with Nottingham Forest, has also attracted attention from Premier League champions Manchester City and Turkish club Galatasaray.
Aina has been pivotal to Nottingham Forest’s campaign this season, playing in all 20 of their Premier League matches.
His performances have earned widespread acclaim, including being named the Reds’ Player of the Month for December. Additionally, Aina secured the Goal of the Month award for December, underlining his impact on the pitch.
AS Roma’s interest could reignite the 27-year-old’s ties with Italian football, as he previously played in Serie A with Torino.
The lure of reuniting with the league might prove tempting, particularly with Roma looking to strengthen their defensive options.
Meanwhile, Manchester City’s reported interest signals the high regard in which Aina is held, with Pep Guardiola potentially seeking to add depth to his squad. Galatasaray’s pursuit also highlights the defender’s appeal across European leagues.
With his contract nearing its conclusion, Aina will be free to negotiate pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs. Nottingham Forest may face a tough decision in January: sell the player to secure a transfer fee or risk losing him on a free transfer in the summer.
West Ham United has sacked Head Coach Julen Lopetegui following disappointing results in the 2024/25 season, initiating a search for a new manager.
West Ham United has confirmed the dismissal of Head Coach Julen Lopetegui after a difficult beginning to the 2024/25 season.
The club issued a statement earlier today, revealing that the results in the opening months of the campaign had failed to meet the ambitious expectations set by the Board, prompting an immediate managerial change.
Alongside Lopetegui, several key members of his coaching staff have also been relieved of their duties. Assistant Head Coach Pablo Sanz, Head of Performance Oscar Caro, Head Analyst Juan Vicente Peinado, Fitness Coach Borja De Alba, and Technical Coach Edu Rubio will all depart from the club, effective immediately.
This unexpected shake-up has sent shockwaves through the West Ham community, particularly as the Hammers had hoped for a revival under the Spanish manager’s leadership.
Despite Lopetegui’s impressive track record, including a successful stint at Sevilla, he was unable to replicate that form at West Ham, with inconsistent results leading to his departure.
The Board expressed gratitude for Lopetegui and his team’s dedication, acknowledging the difficulties they faced but reiterating the club’s commitment to achieving its long-term objectives.
“We thank Julen and his staff for their hard work and wish them the best of success moving forward,” the statement read.
With the managerial vacancy now open, West Ham confirmed that the process of appointing a new head coach is already underway.
The club will be looking for a leader who can guide them back into contention and restore hope to fans who have been disappointed by the season’s early struggles.
West Ham supporters will now be eagerly anticipating the announcement of their new manager as the search for a fresh approach to reviving the club’s fortunes begins.
Yewande Balogun, Super Falcons goalkeeper, announces her retirement from football, expressing gratitude for her journey and support along the way.
Yewande Balogun, the goalkeeper for Nigeria’s Super Falcons, has officially announced her retirement from professional football.
The 35-year-old made the announcement on social media, reflecting on her illustrious career and expressing her gratitude for the support she received throughout her journey.
In a heartfelt message posted to Instagram, Balogun shared her decision with her fans and followers:
“My body is telling me it’s time to close this chapter and hang up the boots, but I thank God for every step of this journey.
I’m forever grateful to the beautiful game and all it has given me, so here’s to continuing to find ways to give right back. Thank you for all of the love and support along the way,” she wrote.
Balogun’s career saw her playing for several clubs, with her most recent stint at French D1 Arkema club Saint-Étienne.
She was also part of the Super Falcons squad for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where she made one appearance for the nine-time African champions.
Her retirement marks the end of an era for the Nigerian goalkeeper, who made significant contributions to her national team. Balogun’s legacy is one of perseverance, dedication, and passion for the game.
Fans and colleagues in the football community have since paid tribute to her outstanding career, with many expressing their admiration for her skill and sportsmanship.
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