Sports
La Liga round-up: Real Madrid beaten 4-1 by Valencia
- Carlos Soler scores hat-trick of penalties
Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid side suffer defeat in the absence of coronavirus-infected Eden Hazard and Casemiro; Real Sociedad beat a nearly unrecognisable Granada side 2-0
Karim Benzema put Madrid ahead with a scorching strike from outside the area only for Valencia to pull level eventually with the first of Soler’s three penalties after a most unusual turn of events.
Soler saw his spot-kick saved by Thibaut Courtois and then hit the post on the rebound, while team-mate Yunus Musah netted the loose ball, only to see the goal ruled out after a VAR review showed him encroaching in the area.
A re-take was ordered and Soler made no mistake at the second attempt.
Valencia took the lead before half-time through a freak own goal from Raphael Varane, who unwittingly sent the ball flying over his head and just over the line, the goal being awarded several minutes later following another VAR review.
Valencia’s teenage forward Lee Kang-in almost struck a third early in the second period but Courtois turned his shot onto the post.
The home side kept up the momentum though and won two further penalties, for a foul by Marcelo on Maxi Gomez then a handball by Sergio Ramos.
Soler converted each time, becoming only the third player in the history of La Liga to score three penalties in a single match.
Five in a row for Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad's players beat virus-depleted Granada
Real Sociedad’s players beat virus-depleted Granada
Earlier, Real Sociedad beat a nearly unrecognisable Granada side 2-0 to return to the top of La Liga.
The visitors’ attempt to get the game postponed due to a spate of coronavirus cases was turned down by authorities, meaning they were forced to make nine changes from last week’s 1-1 draw with Levante and started with five players aged 20 or under.
Granada’s makeshift side made a bright start but Sociedad took the lead midway through the first half through left-back Nacho Monreal, before a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty five minutes later doubled their advantage.
Brazilian forward Willian Jose had a spot-kick saved by Granada’s 18-year-old ‘keeper Angel Jimenez in the second half and Sociedad ended the game with 10 men as defender Robin Le Normand was shown a straight red card in the 86th minute.
Granada earned a penalty in added time but Darwin Machis was denied by an excellent save from Alex Remiro and the Basques celebrated a fifth consecutive La Liga victory.
Other La Liga results:
Getafe 1-3 Villarreal
Levante 1-1 Alaves
Valladolid 2-1 Athletic Bilbao
Sports
US Court orders Mayweather to pay Nigerian firm $2.4m
US Court orders Mayweather to pay Nigerian firm $2.4m
A U.S. court has confirmed that former world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. is required to pay $2.4 million in damages to Zinni Media Concept Limited, a Nigerian company, for breach of contract.
According to a statement from Alex Nwankwo, the company’s media executive, Zinni Media entered into an agreement with Mayweather in June 2017 for him to make various appearances in Africa, including one in Nigeria. However, Mayweather terminated the agreement unilaterally and refused to refund the advance payment made by the company.
Nwankwo alleged that Mayweather’s legal team suggested that the boxer could avoid refunds because Zinni Media was not based in the U.S. “After multiple unsuccessful attempts to recover the appearance fees from Mayweather, we filed a lawsuit in 2018, alleging breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and fraud. We appreciate that two courts have ruled in favor of Zinni Media Ltd,” he stated.
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In October 2023, a California lower court ordered Mayweather to pay Zinni Media $1,638,542 in damages, $721,881.32 in prejudgment interest, $16,270 in attorney fees, and $285 in costs, totaling $2,376,978. Mayweather subsequently appealed this decision.
In a recent ruling on August 27, 2024, Eva McClintock, clerk of the appellate court, upheld the lower court’s decision. Nwankwo noted that despite the appellate court’s ruling, Mayweather has yet to pay the awarded amount, which is accruing interest at a rate of 10 percent per annum.
The court has authorized U.S. attorneys to enforce the judgment by targeting Mayweather’s 2015 Bugatti Veyron or his 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta, both valued above the owed damages.
US Court orders Mayweather to pay Nigerian firm $2.4m
Sports
Morocco 2025: Osimhen out as Eguavoen picks Ekong, Lookman, 21 others for Libya ties
The reigning African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen’s name is conspicuously absent as the Super Eagles Head Coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has called Captain William Ekong, rave-of-the-moment Ademola Lookman, in-form winger Moses Simon and 20 other players for this month’s home-and-away 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying battle with the Mediterranean Knights of Libya.
Osimhen’s exclusion is said to be on grounds of injury, same with the captain of Orlando Pirates of South Africa, Olisa Ndah.
However, defender Bright Osayi-Samuel makes his way back after missing the duels with Benin Republic and Rwanda last month, and in-form playmaker Chidera Ejuke returns to the fold after many moons.
Wing-backs Olaoluwa Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi are included, as well as goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoya, defenders Oluwasemilogo Ajayi and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika and Alex Iwobi, and forwards Taiwo Awoniyi, Victor Boniface and Samuel Chukwueze.
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Veteran forward Kelechi Iheanacho is also listed, as well as midfielders Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi and Frank Onyeka.
The Super Eagles will host the Mediterranean Knights at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, 11th October, before flying to Benghazi to take on the Knights at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium, 19 kilometres away from Benghazi on Tuesday, 15th October.
All the players are expected to report in Uyo on Monday, 7th October.
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema SC, Ethiopia)
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Benjamin Tanimu (Crawley Town, England)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC. Italy); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)
Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England)
Morocco 2025: Osimhen out as Eguavoen picks Ekong, Lookman, 21 others for Libya ties
Sports
La Liga: Madrid beat Villarreal 2-0 to level leaders Barca
La Liga: Madrid beat Villarreal 2-0 to level leaders Barca
Fede Valverde and Vinicius Junior strikes helped Real Madrid bounce back from their first defeat since January with a 2-0 win over Villarreal on Saturday in La Liga.
Los Blancos lost in the Champions League at Lille but are still unbeaten in the Spanish top flight and moved level with leaders Barcelona before the Catalans visit Alaves on Sunday.
Valverde’s deflected effort and a rocket from Vinicius allowed Madrid to put a four-point gap between them and their third-placed opponents, who battled well but came up fractionally short in the capital.
Madrid’s victory was marred by a late injury to defender Dani Carvajal, who had to be taken off on a stretcher.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti started Kylian Mbappe after the French striker had recovered from a thigh problem.
The former Paris Saint-Germain striker could only appear from the bench in Madrid’s disappointing midweek display.
Mbappe, whom France have not selected for upcoming Nations League fixtures, was quiet at the Santiago Bernabeu as his team ground out victory with a determined, rather than inspiring, performance.
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The forward sent an early volley off-target from Luka Modric’s corner.
Instead it was midfielder powerhouse Valverde who broke the deadlock after 14 minutes.
The Uruguayan’s drive from distance deflected off Villarreal playmaker Alex Baena and arced beyond the reach of goalkeeper Diego Conde.
The visitors, enjoying a strong start to the season under coach Marcelino Garcia Toral, came close when Nicolas Pepe’s header clipped the top of the crossbar. Then Thierno Barry headed over from close range.
La Liga: Madrid beat Villarreal 2-0 to level leaders Barca
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