Sports
BREAKING: Lionel Messi named Athlete of the Year

Argentinian World Cup winner Lionel Messi has been named the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) Athlete of the Year 2022.
It was the outcome of a poll by the AIPS, where a panel of 420 journalists from 113 countries voted for the Champion of 2022.
By establishing himself as one of the most prominent champions of all time in football and all sports, Messi scooped first place in the 2022 edition of the AIPS honour with a total amount of 962 points collected. Second place has been reached by Swedish Pole Vaulter Armand Duplantis with 373 points, with French Footballer Kylian Mbappé in third place with 366 points.
Messi, 35, lived a history-making 2022 season. By lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy after a remarkable campaign in Qatar, crowned in the end with an unforgettable final won against France on December 18, 2022, at Lusail Stadium (4-2 the final score after penalties), he established himself once and for all as one of the most prominent football player and athletes in the history of sports in general.
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At the 2022 World Cup, Messi joined a handful of footballers who played in five different editions of the competition. He netted six goals across four previous editions of the tournament, adding another seven marks in 2022 featuring the second-best striker (in terms of goals scored) only after French star, Mbappè.
With Argentina, he also won the COMEMBOL-UEFA Cup of Nation (the so-called “Finalissima”) against Italy on June 1, 2022, at Wembley Stadium in London, England (3-0 final score), an international trophy established for the first time in 1985 in which feature the Copa America winner from South America against the UEFA EURO winner from Europe.
With Paris Saint Germain (PSG), he added two titles to his collection, the 2021-2022 edition of the Ligue 1 and the 2022 edition of the Trophée of Champions.
Individually speaking, he won the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball and the FIFA World Cup Silver Boot.
AIPS Best Male Athlete of 2022 (votes and percentages):
- MESSI LIONEL (Football, Argentina) – 962 votes (25,45%)
- DUPLANTIS ARMAND (Athletics, Sweden) – 373 votes (9,87%)
- MBAPPE’ KYLIAN (Football, France) – 366 votes (9,68%)
- BENZEMA KARIM (Football, France) – 298 votes (7,88%)
- MILÁK KRISTÓF (Swimming, Hungary) – 189 votes (5,00%)
- VERSTAPPEN MAX (Formula 1, The Netherlands) – 189 votes (5,00%)
- KIPCHOGE ELIUD (Athletics, Kenya) – 155 votes (4,10%)
- KOPASZ BÁLINT (Canoeing, Hungary) – 135 votes (3,57%)
- FEDERER ROGER (Tennis, Switzerland) – 124 votes (3,28%)
- NADAL RAFAEL (Tennis, Spain) – 118 votes (3,12%)
- POPOVICI DAVID (Swimming, Romania) – 113 votes (2,99%)
- THINGNES BOE JOHANNES (Biathlon, Norway) – 84 votes (2,22%)
- ANTETOKOUNMPO GIANNIS (Basketball, Greece) – 77 votes (2,04%)
- AMRABAT SOFYAN (Football, Morocco) – 76 votes (2,01%)
- PALTRINIERI GREGORIO (Swimming, Italy) – 75 votes (1,98%)
- MANÉ SADIO (Football, Senegal) – 72 votes (1,90%)
- DOS SANTOS ALISON (Athletics, Brazil) – 61 votes (1,61%)
- JACOBS MARCELL (Athletics, Italy)- 59 votes (1,56%)
- TAMBERI GIANMARCO (Athletics, Italy) – 55 votes (1,46%)
- LEWANDOWSKI ROBERT (Football, Poland) – 50 votes (1,32%)
- INGEBRIGTSEN JAKOB (Athletics, Norway) – 46 votes (1,22%)
- PEREZ SERGIO (Formula 1, Mexico) – 26 votes (0,69%)
- YIMING SU (Snowboarding, China) – 25 votes (0,66%)
- VON ECKERMANN HENRIK (Horse Riding, Sweden) – 22 votes (0,58%)
- LYLES NOAH (Track and Field, USA) – 16 votes (0,42%)
- GUANGPU QI (Aerial Skiing, China) – 11 votes (0,29%)
- DAJING WU (Short Track Speed Skating, China) – 3 votes (0,08%)
Sports
Flying Eagles beat Egypt 2-1 in U-20 AFCON warm-up

Flying Eagles beat Egypt 2-1 in U-20 AFCON warm-up
Nigeria’s U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, defeated their Egyptian counterparts 2-1 in a friendly match on Tuesday in Cairo, ahead of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tournament will take place in Egypt from April 27 to May 18.
Kparobo Arierhi gave Nigeria the lead in the 10th minute after receiving a fine pass from Bidemi Amole and coolly slotting it home.
Egypt equalised in the 65th minute through Ahmed Kaabaka, but Nigeria regained the lead in the 83rd minute when Precious Benjamin scored from the penalty spot.
The penalty came after Divine Oliseh was fouled in the box.
The win is a big boost for Nigeria, who arrived in Egypt on Sunday for the 17th U-20 AFCON.
Nigeria, the seven-time champions, is in Group B and will play its first match against Tunisia on Thursday. It will also face Morocco and Kenya in the group stage.
NAN reports that the top four teams from the tournament will qualify to represent Africa at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile slated for Sept. 27 to October 19. (NAN)
Sports
Osimhen to rake in N136bn from Man United

Osimhen to rake in N136bn from Man United
Super Eagles’ ace striker, Victor Osimhen, will reportedly earn at least a staggering One Hundred Thirty-Six Billion , Two Hundred Thirty-Three Million and Six Hundred Sixty-Four Thousand Naira if he eventually switched to Manchester United in the summer, even as Al Wehdah striker Odion Ighalo has urged his former national teammate to explore a life-time opportunity to play in the English Premier League.
In the meantime, several Turkish outlets have claimed that Manchester United are close to finalising a deal for Osimhen, who remains a Galatasaray player until the end of the season.
The on-loan frontman has faced a hugely uncertain future over the last year due to how his fiery Napoli exit panned out; after clashing heads with Antonio Conte, he was stripped of his number and removed from the side’s Serie A squad list before the season began, leaving him little to no time to agree a deal with a suitor before the transfer deadline.
When a move to Al Ahli collapsed in the final stages, Osimhen signed for Galatasaray with no buy option included in the terms. As such, he now has only two months remaining in Turkey before he’ll have to return to Napoli and hold some pretty crucial talks over his next steps.
Osimhen has long been linked with an Old Trafford switch over the years, primarily because he poses as a direct solution to their flagrant goal-scoring woes.
The Nigerian international boasts a stunning 143 career goals in 257 appearances, including 29 goals – and a further six assists – in only 34 appearances this term.
Turkish journalist Aygun Ozipek claimed the 26-year-old has agreed a five-year deal with the Red Devils for a fee of £51 million, with the player said to have negotiated a salary worth £12.8m (about N27,246,732,800) per year.
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Meanwhile, Ighalo has counselled Osimhen to consider a move to the Premier League this summer and feels what it looks like to play in the most exciting league in the world.
Speaking on a podcast hosted by former national beach soccer team’s star, Abu Azeez, Ighalo shared his thoughts on the ongoing transfer brouhaha surrounding Osimhen.
“My advice would be for him to try the Premier League, but ultimately, he knows what’s best for himself,” Ighalo disclosed .”People can say all they want, but only the player knows what’s truly in his heart and mind.
“Whatever decision he makes, he has my full support—101%,” he added.
In a related development, Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has admitted that it is “impossible” to win games with misfiring forwards following his side’s 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.
Rasmus Hojlund once again failed to find the back of the net, meaning he now only has one goal in his last 28 appearances for the Red Devils, and the Denmark international continues to be linked with a summer exit amid his woes in front of goal.
Yet Amorim was eager to avoid responding to transfer rumours despite the fact that Osimhen, Liam Delap and Hugo Ekitike have all been tipped to join Man Utd during the 2025 summer window.
“We will address that in the end,” Amorim admitted to reporters when asked about his side’s pursuit of a new centre forward.
“Of course we have a plan and we talk about that every day but the season is not over so let’s focus on that.
“It’s a team thing. Of course we have an idea of what this team needs but also the guys we play with, we play at least three guys in front to score goals and we have midfielders… all the team needs to score more goals and you have opportunities with the midfielders and the striker.
“We need to improve as a team because if you don’t score goals in this league it’s impossible to win games.”
Osimhen to rake in N136bn from Man United
Sports
U20 AFCON: Flying Eagles tackle Young Pharaohs in friendly

U20 AFCON: Flying Eagles tackle Young Pharaohs in friendly
Nigeria’s U20 boys, Flying Eagles have arrived in the Egyptian capital city of Cairo as the seven-time African champions get set for 17th Africa U20 Cup of Nations finals starting in the North African country on Sunday.
A delegation of 24 players and nine officials led by Head Coach, Aliyu Zubairu touched down at the Cairo International Airport aboard Egypt Air flight on Sunday evening.
The team is lodged at Jewel Sports City and Aqua Resort, and commenced training session yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Flying Eagles will square up to host nation, the Young Pharaohs of Egypt this evening as part of their build-up to the Africa U20 Cup of Nations billed to take place 27th April – 18th May.
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The match is slated for 5pm local time (4pm Nigeria time) at the Cairo International Stadium.
Nigeria get their campaign underway against Tunisia at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Thursday 1st May.
The Africa U20 Cup of Nations serves as a qualifying tournament for the FIFA U20 World Cup finals scheduled for 27th September – 19th October in Chile.
All four semi-finalists at the tournament in Egypt will represent Africa at the FIFA U20 World Cup finals.
U20 AFCON: Flying Eagles tackle Young Pharaohs in friendly
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