FIFA bans Ronaldo’s Al Nassr over Ahmed Musa Leicester City deal
Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr has reportedly been banned from registering new players because of their failure to pay Leicester City over Ahmed Musa’s transfer to the club.
Al Nassr, who have Cristiano Ronaldo on their books, were ruled to owe City €460k (£390k) by Fifa in 2021 after a complaint was made. City argued they had not received add-ons they were due after Musa reached 40 starts for the club and helped them to finish inside the top three in Saudi Arabia.
Fifa agreed with City and said Al Nassr needed to make the payment, plus interest, otherwise they would be banned from registering new players for three straight transfer windows. Reporter Ben Jacobs has said the ban has now come into effect because of their continued failure to make the payment.
READ ALSO:
Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic from Inter Milan is the big name signed by Al Nassr so far this summer as Saudi Arabian clubs look to take some of Europe’s biggest names to the country. Karim Benzema and City title-winner N’Golo Kante are among others who have joined the league.
Al Nassr won’t be able to add to their ranks until they pay up, but Jacobs suggests they will now abide by the ruling. Once the payment has been sent to City, he says the ban could be lifted in a matter of weeks.
Nigerian international Musa was a renowned flop at City, joining for a then-club-record £16m from CSKA Moscow in 2016, but struggling to make an impact, scoring just five goals in 33 appearances. He was then sold to Al Nassr for €18m (£15.4m) in 2018, but now plies his trade with Sivasspor in Turkey.
Super Eagles seal AFCON 2025 spot, draw 1-1 against Benin
Victor Osimhen’s late header helped the Super Eagles of Nigeria secure a 1-1 draw against Benin Republic in Abidjan, clinching their qualification for the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Benin, playing their matches in Côte d’Ivoire, took an early lead in the 16th minute when Mohammed Tijani headed in a short corner.
The goal followed a period of sustained pressure from the Beninoise side on the Nigerian defence.
READ ALSO:
Benin nearly doubled their advantage shortly afterwards, but goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali made a crucial save to keep Nigeria in the game.
Osimhen threatened as the first half progressed, with a powerful header that narrowly missed the target.
In the second half, Benin came close again, but a shot veered inches wide of the right post, sparing the Eagles further trouble.
With nine minutes remaining, Osimhen rose to the occasion, connecting with a precise cross from Moses Simon to level the score at 1-1.
With this result, the Super Eagles top Group D with 11 points from five matches, while Benin hold second place with seven points.
BREAKING: Super Eagles qualify for AFCON 2025
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have secured their qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, following Libya’s 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali.
This result leaves Rwanda with five points from five matches, rendering them unable to surpass Nigeria in the standings, even if they win their upcoming match against the Super Eagles in Uyo.
READ ALSO:
Currently, Nigeria leads Group D with 10 points, followed by Benin with six points, Rwanda with five, and Libya at the bottom with four points.
Benin remains in contention for the second qualification spot and will face Nigeria in a crucial match tonight.
Libya is set to host Benin in the final Group D game on Monday.
Mike Tyson back in ring to face Youtuber Paul
Nearly 40 years after making his professional debut, and 19 years after being battered into retirement, a 58-year-old Mike Tyson will climb back into the ring on Friday for a Netflix-backed bout that has drawn widespread condemnation across the boxing world.
Tyson, who terrorised the heavyweight division during an imperious reign in the late 1980s, is lacing up the gloves once more to take on Youtuber Jake Paul, 27, in an officially sanctioned fight at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas.
The fight, which will be comprised of eight two-minute rounds, was initially due to take place in July but was postponed in May after Tyson required medical treatment on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles after vomiting blood due to a bleeding ulcer.
That gory mid-air emergency has provided another piece of ammunition for the numerous critics who have condemned Friday’s contest as a macabre circus act that poses an unacceptable level of risk for Tyson, who last graced a professional ring in 2005, when he was beaten via a technical knockout after quitting on his stool against Irish journeyman Kevin McBride.
“Twenty years ago, Mike Tyson retired from boxing, and was shot to pieces, right? I mean, completely shot,” the prominent British fight promoter Eddie Hearn said this week.
“If anyone thinks that Mike Tyson should be in a ring at this age, you either have absolutely no emotional feelings toward the man, or you’re an idiot. It shouldn’t be happening.”
READ ALSO:
Hearn’s rival promoter Frank Warren echoed those sentiments.
“Mike Tyson is 58 years of age and he shouldn’t be fighting,” Warren said after the bout was announced. “It’s as simple as that.
“Anyone with an ounce of brains knows that it is ridiculous. You can be on a motorway stuck in a traffic jam and you get to the end of it and all it is is people who have stopped to look at a crash — and that’s what this is.”
Tyson, who US reports say is being paid around $20 million for Friday’s contest, has brushed off the concerns for his wellbeing, insisting when critics from the boxing world are motivated by jealousy.
“I’m beautiful, that’s all I can say,” he said earlier this year. “The people who said that wish they were up here. No-one else can do this.”
BREAKING: Super Eagles qualify for AFCON 2025
Disaster averted as bird strike hits Abuja-Lagos Air Peace flight
Nigerian railway adds extra train to Friday, Saturday trips on Lagos-Ibadan route
UK announces 45,000 seasonal worker visas for 2025
Court orders varsity to pay lecturer N40m compensation for wrongful dismissal
12-year-old Nigerian girl Eniola Shokunbi invents air filter to reduce spread of diseases in US schools
Top 5 crypto apps that work with Nigerian Bank accounts
Apomu king turns warmonger for PDP
