Team Nigeria’s Barakat Quadri, Mcleod, Osewa continue impressive run

Yesterday was an exciting day for Team Nigeria at the 2016 ITF West/Central Africa 18 and Under Circuit in Lome, Togo, as six of its players progressed to the next stage of the tournament.
Barakat Quadri, who is aiming to be the first player to win three-straight singles title in the world ranking event, continued to dish out tennis lessons to her opponents as she whipped Chakira Dermane of Togo 6-0, 6-0.
The 14-year-old Quadri, who is about to end his year-long ITF scholarship in Morocco, will meet the winner of the tie between Bissola Lassissi of Benin and Trisha Vinod of India.

Guardiola can win everything with Man City this season – Xavi

Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi believes “there is no reason” Pep Guardiola cannot lead Manchester City to Champions League and Premier League titles this season.
After achieving remarkable success at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, the Catalan giant joined City this summer charged with the task of securing the club’s place among Europe’s elite and claiming more domestic silverware.
Guardiola has got off to a great start, leading City to five wins in their first five league games and beating Borussia Monchengladbach in their opening Champions League match.
And Xavi believe the 45-year-old will be a huge success at the Etihad Stadium, insisting he will be out for every title the side can win.
“Pep is a winner,” he told Goal. “He will want to win it all this season, and with the squad

Spanish Football Federation president Villar’s niece killed in Mexico

The niece of Spanish Football Federation president Angel Maria Villar has been found dead after a botched abduction and ransom attempt, Spain’s foreign minister confirmed on Tuesday.
Maria Villar Galaz, 36, was kidnapped on Sept. 13 and was forced to withdraw money from bank machines and demand money from her family to ensure her release, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo told radio station Onda Cero.

Jose Mourinho blaming Louis van Gaal legacy for Manchester United woes – reports

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho feels his start at Old Trafford has been hindered by Louis van Gaal’s legacy, according to a number of British newspaper reports.
Mourinho, who took over from Van Gaal in the summer, is under pressure early on in his United career after suffering three straight defeats in all competitions.
He wants his players to think for themselves and believes that jars with Van Gaal’s two years in charge of the side, according to the Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror, with the Dutchman implementing a rigid system for which he received regular criticism.
The Portuguese, for example, is keen for his full-backs to press and move forward, something which, according to The Times, contrasts with Van Gaal’s ideology of sideways passing.
Speaking in August, Mourinho said: “My teams are different to Mr. Van Gaal, and it is a difficult

Anti-gay abuse widespread at football matches in England – research group

Nearly three quarters of British football fans have heard anti-gay abuse at a match during the last five years, according to new research from the UK’s leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality charity Stonewall.
The online study, which was carried out by ICM last month, was commissioned by Stonewall as part of its “Rainbow Laces” campaign to tackle anti-gay, bisexual and transgender attitudes in sport.
The research found several encouraging trends but also found that 18- to 24-year-olds are twice as likely as the overall group to say they would be embarrassed if their favourite player came out as gay (22 percent compared to 12 percent) and twice as likely to describe anti-LGBT language as “banter.”
Ruth Hunt, Stonewall’s chief executive, said: “While the majority of people see [anti-gay] chants and abuse as a problem, and want to see sport become more welcoming of lesbian gay, bi and

Zidane’s Real Madrid set to break Pep’s Liga record with Barca

Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid will surpass Barcelona’s record of 16 straight Liga victories under Pep Guardiola if they beat Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
The Frenchman took over from Rafa Benitez at Real last season and after his losing the Madrid derby 1-0 at home to Atletico in late February, and he led Los Blancos to 12 straight success in the Primera Division – a run that saw his side miss out on the title by just one point to Barca in the end.
Four more victories for Zidane’s side this term mean it is 16 in total and the 2-0 win at Espanyol on Sunday set a new club record, improving the 15 in a row achieved by legendary coach Miguel Munoz back in 1960-61.
After the loss to Atletico, Real beat Levante, Celta Vigo, Las Palmas, Sevilla, Barcelona, Eibar, Getafe, Villarreal, Rayo Vallecano, Real Sociedad, Valencia and Deportivo at the end of last season,

John Obi Mikel to speak to other clubs in January ahead of possible Chelsea exit

John Obi Mikel has confirmed he will talk to other clubs in January ahead of what could be the end of his 11-year stay at Chelsea.
The Nigerian midfielder has not played for the Blues under Antonio Conte despite being a regular in the team for the second half of last season.
Mikel made 33 appearances last term but his contract is due to expire in the summer and he will therefore explore his options in the January transfer window.

Depending solely on govt to fund sports is ‘killing’ Nigerian athletes – Olusola

Former Nigerian triple and long jumper, United States (U.S.)-based Dr. Benedict Olusola has advised Nigerian athletes to stop habit depending solely on government funding for major competitions like the Olympic Games.
“Waiting on the government to fund sports is a disaster waiting to happen, and I advise our top athletes back home in Nigeria to always look for possible solutions to help their career because that is the practice in other parts of the world,” he said from his base in Texas, USA.
Olusola, who hails from Ondo State, was one of the most gifted high jumpers that rose from the Nigerian school sports system to the national level.
He won various laurels for Ondo and Lagos State in the National Sports Festival at ‘Oluyole ’79 in Ibadan and Bendel ’81, and also represented the country at various international competitions.
He has received various honours at the international scene, including the All American Masters