Sport News

 USA vs Nigeria: Preview, Analysis and Predictions for Olympics Preliminary Round... 

Team USA will take on its second Olympic newcomer in as many games when it meets Nigeria in London on Thursday. The Americans appeared to be a bit overconfident out of the gate in their most recent matchup against Tunisia, though they eventually rolled to a 110-63 thrashing behind a superb effort from their reserves.

Nigeria pulled off a win of their own over Tunisia on Sunday, albeit by a much slimmer margin at 60-56. D'Tigers finished up that fine debut effort with a predictably less favorable result against Eastern European powerhouse Lithuania, 72-53. Head coach Ayo Bakare's boys managed to hit a mere 24.2 percent of their shots against the Lithuanians, including just 1-of-16 from the three.

The Nigerians are no slouches, however, at least for first-time Olympians. They feature three players—Al-Farouq Aminu, Ike Diogu and Olumide Oyedeji—who are, or have been, employed by NBA teams, along with a host of others who played college basketball in the States. Despite being second best in the 72-53 defeat to Lithuania, D' Tigers' Head Coach, Ayo Bakare, remains hopeful that Nigeria would still make it to the quarter finals of the basketball event of London 2012.
That collection of talent helped Nigeria squeak into the London field by way of a qualifying tournament in Venezuela in July, in which they defeated Lithuania and Greece.

 

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AC Milan's Taiwo on verge of Dynamo Kiev switch - report

The African full-back is expected to sign for the Ukrainian club within the next 24 hours, as his disappointing spell in Serie A is set to come to an end.

 

AC Milan defender Taye Taiwo is on the verge of signing for Dynamo Kiev, according to Sky Sport Italia.

The Nigeria international has been deemed surplus to requirements at San Siro and has been allowed to join the Ukrainian club on an initial one-year loan deal.

Dynamo will pay a fee of €500,000 to take the 27-year-old for 12 months, and will then have the option to sign him outright for a further €2m, to be paid over the next three years.

Taiwo has disappointed in Italy since moving to the peninsula from Marseille last summer. He played only four games for the Rossoneri, before moving to QPR in January on a short-term loan basis.

The former Lobi Stars man will join the likes of Miguel Veloso and Niko Kranjcar who have recently joined the Ukrainian side.

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Saudis will not withdraw from Olympics over hijab — Says IOC

The International Olympic Committee has dismissed rumours Saudi Arabia will withdraw from the London Games over a hijab headscarf row.

The Saudis have brought women athletes to the Olympics for the first time ever and one of their two female competitors, Wojdan Shaherkani, is due to fight in the heavyweight judo competition on Friday.

However, judo rules stipulate fighters cannot wear a head covering on safety grounds, whereas Saudi authorities said they would only let their women compete if they respected Islamic dress, including the wearing of a hijab.

That led to speculation Shaherkani would be forced to withdraw and even rumours that the whole Saudi delegation would do likewise.

But IOC communications director Mark Adams insisted Sunday that the International Judo Federation and the Saudi delegation were working to find a mutually agreeable solution.

“Yesterday the key stakeholders involved got together and were talking,” he said.

“They were constructive talks. I read somewhere there was a threat to withdraw, as far as I’m aware that’s not true at all.

“We’re still very confident of a positive outcome. The best thing we can do is allow them to work that out and try to get the athlete to compete.

“They’re discussing that now, it’s an issue of the rules of the sport.”

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Kompany signs six-year Manchester City deal

Manchester City FC captain Vincent Kompany said "there is no reason to look elsewhere" after putting pen to paper on a new six-year deal with the English Premier League champions.

English champions Manchester City FC have agreed a new six-year contract with captain Vincent Kompany.
The Belgium centre-back, 26, led City to their first top-flight title for 44 years last season and said: "For me if you are good somewhere then there is no reason to look elsewhere. I have seen everything at the club change inside and out. I have the feeling that I have contributed to it too."
Kompany has made 127 Premier League appearances since joining City in 2008 from Hamburger SV. The former RSC Anderlecht player helped Roberto Mancini's side win the FA Cup in 2011 and skippered them during their maiden UEFA Champions League campaign last season. This term, City join the competition in the group stage.

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Lille sign former Chelsea forward Kalou

French club, Lille signed Ivory Coast international Salomon Kalou on Saturday in a bid to bolster their depleted forward line having sold Eden Hazard to the European champions.

The former Chelsea attacking midfielder has penned a four-yeardeal, the French club said in a statement

Kalou, 26, had mostly been a bit-part player during his six years with the London club and was released after his last appearance in the Champions League final win over Bayern Munich in May.

The arrival at Stamford Bridge of Belgium wingers Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne, as well as German Marko Marin, had made Kalou’s departure from Chelsea inevitable.
Lille, Ligue 1 champions in 2011 before finishing third last season, also lost winger Joe Cole who was initially on loan to the club, returned to his parent club Liverpool.

Van Persie pulls out of Arsenal tour to force Manchester City move

The club captain will not travel with the squad to Malaysia, leaving the champions favourites to sign him, with Manchester United having not bid for the Dutch striker

Sources have told us that the Dutch striker has refused to travel on the club’s three-match trip to Malaysia and China, which begins on Saturday afternoon when the club fly to Kuala Lumpur for the first leg of the tour.

Van Persie has raised the stakes as he goes head-to-head with Arsenal in his battle to quit the club.

Manager Arsene Wenger is believed to have reluctantly accepted Van Persie’s position and the 28-year-old will remain at London Colney next week to train with the club’s academy and reserve players and the more established men who will be left behind to recover from injury such as Jack Wilshere, Bacary Sagna and Emmanuel Frimpong.

But, as revealed by Goal.com on Tuesday, it is understood that Arsenal will stick to their guns and play hardball with Van Persie by refusing to grant the Dutchman a simple exit out of the club this summer.

Contrary to widespread reports that Manchester United have made an official bid for the striker, it is understood that this is not the case and that the Old Trafford club have instead prioritised the signing of Brazilian playmaker Lucas Moura, and are also pursuing Real Madrid star Nuri Sahin.

Sources have said that United’s neighbours, Manchester City, are in pole position to sign Van Persie and that a lucrative package is in place to take the reigning PFA Player of the Year to the Etihad Stadium.

Despite the Netherlands star reiterating his stance that he wants to quit Arsenal before the transfer window closes and effectively going on strike, the club are ready to stick to their strategy of holding him to his contract, which expires in 11 months.

The north Londoners have calculated that the striker will have less chance of being awarded a lucrative, four-year contract next year from one of his suitors because of his age – he turns 30 in August 2013 - and chequered injury history.

Van Persie and his representatives, meanwhile, have determined that they will force Arsenal into a sale by pushing even harder for a transfer than the likes of Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas.

The Dutchman delivered a bombshell with the statement via his own website on July 4, which effectively said he wanted to leave because he disagreed with Wenger and the board of directors "in many aspects … on the way Arsenal should move forward".

He also announced that he would not extend his contract before it expires next June.

Van Persie has risked tarnishing his legacy with Arsenal fans following his remarkable performances in the 2011-2012 season, when he scored 37 goals and inspired the team to third in the Premier League after a disastrous start to the campaign.

Arsenal fly to Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, for their three-match pre-season tour of Asia, which also takes in Beijing and Hong Kong, with the Gunners set to play Manchester City at Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium on July 27. 

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 Lukaku aiming to put 'difficult' season at Chelsea behind him. The 19-year-old striker hinted at his disillusionment under Andre Villas-Boas but described the situation under Roberto Di Matteo as "perfect" and is feeling in confident mood.
Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku is eager to prove a point and nail down a first-team spot with the Blues next season after a disappointing first year in England.

The 19-year-old forward arrived with a burgeoning reputation, completing his €23 million (£18m) move from Belgian side Anderlecht last summer, but struggled to force his way into the team and went on to make just 12 goalless appearances last term.

However, he struck twice in the club's 4-2 pre-season friendly win over Seattle Sounders and stated that the display is a sign of things to come, while finding time to hit out at former manager Andre Villas-Boas in the process.

"Those goals have been a long time coming," Lukaku told reporters. "Last season was very difficult for me.

"But now it's back to zero and if you have a good manager behind you, like I do now with Roberto Di Matteo, it's the perfect situation. I'm confident and sure I can do well."

The prodigious talent had broken into the Anderlecht first-team by the age of 17 and was touted as a long-term replacement for Didier Drogba at Chelsea.

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Police assess claim John Terry racially abused Anton Ferdinand.

"[Anton Ferdinand] has not accused me of any wrongful remark. It was clear it was all a misunderstanding at the time"

John Terry.

Allegations that Chelsea's John Terry racially abused QPR defender Anton Ferdinand are being looked at by police after a public complaint.

The Chelsea captain has categorically denied making a racist slur during Sunday's game at Loftus Road.

A police spokesman said: "We can confirm that police have been notified of an incident on Sunday, 23 October involving alleged racial abuse.

"This is currently being assessed by officers from Hammersmith and Fulham."

Videos circulated on the internet in the aftermath of the game, with some claiming the footage shows Terry, 30, insulting the QPR player using racist language.

BBC Sport understands QPR are to discuss the matter further with Ferdinand.

The alleged incident happened in a bad-tempered game in which Chelsea were reduced to nine men in the first half, with Terry involved in several angry confrontations with referee Chris Foy.

The alleged incident happened in a bad-tempered game in which Chelsea were reduced to nine men in the first half, with Terry involved in several angry confrontations with referee Chris Foy.