Sports
WBA Reinstates Khan As Champion
Amir Khan has had his WBA light-welterweight belt reinstated by the governing body and will put it on the line when he fights WBC champion Danny Garcia in Las Vegas last weekend.
The Briton lost his WBA and IBF belts to Lamont Peterson in December in controversial circumstances.
A rematch was cancelled when Peterson failed a drugs test.
“Justice has been done,” Khan said. “It means this fight (against Ga
rcia) will show who is the best in the division.”
Khan appealed following the points defeat against Peterson, with the WBA saying there were “multiple irregularities” in the fight.
The Bolton-born boxer said: “I’m glad the WBA are reinstating me as champion; it means I walk into this fight as world champion.
“There is a chance to win the WBC belt as well but, not only that, the Ring magazine title will be on the line. There are five main belts in this division and I will have won four of them if I win this fight.
“The only one I have not won is the WBO one, but I tried to fight Tim Bradley for that and he turned me down. If I win against Garcia, it means I have done everything I want to do in this division.”
With the WBA title now on the line, the light-welterweight title fight against Garcia gains added significance.
Khan claims his contest easily eclipses David Haye’s heavyweight clash with Dereck Chisora in London on the same night.
The Haye-Chisora bout has attracted a lot of interest following their much-publicised brawl in Munich in February.
“Boxing fans know my fight is bigger,” Khan told Tidesports source. “There’s a world title on the line.”
Former WBA world heavyweight champion Haye has come out of retirement to fight Chisora at Upton Park in a meeting arranged after the pair brawled in a media conference following Chisora’s loss to WBC champion Vitali Kitchsko.
Chisora was subsequently suspended by British boxing authorities and the feud continued to attracted attention when the British Boxing Board of Control refused to sanction the fight.
The contest is expected to attract a crowd of more than 28,000, but Khan has played down its significance.
“David is a friend of mine but the fight is not a big fight,” he said. “There are no titles on the line and I don’t think Chisora is in the top 10 in the world.
“I’m in the capital of boxing in Las Vegas. It makes my fight a lot bigger. And the guy I’m fighting Danny Garcia is in the top 10 in the world.”
Khan has spoken of his confidence ahead of facing Garcia, something he puts down to a new training regime.
The Bolton-fighter has enlisted the services of strength and conditioning coach Ruben Tabares, who has introduced some unusual practices into Khan’s preparations.
“He’s made me change to a non-fluoride toothpaste because apparently fluoride is really dangerous, contains rat poison or something and can even kill you,” Khan explained.
“I’m one of those guys who listens to what my trainers tell me – even if it sounds a little bit strange sometimes – and I do it anyway.”
Victory for the Super Eagles in Casablanca followed the disappointment of losing shoot-outs that cost them chances to compete at the 2026 World Cup and in the 2025 AFCON final.
Nigeria lost on penalties to the Democratic Republic of Congo last November in a play-off for a place in the World Cup intercontinental play-offs.
Then, three days ago, they lost another shoot-out to fail against hosts Morocco in an AFCON semi-final.
Success maintained a perfect Nigerian record in third place AFCON matches after seven previous play-offs victories.
Before Lookman scored, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru missed the Eagles’ first kick, then Akor Adams, captain Moses Simon and Alex Iwobi scored.
Premier League pair Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush both had kicks saved by Stanley Nwabali before Ramy Rabia and Mahmoud Saber scored.
Egypt made six changes and Nigeria five to the teams that started semi-final losses to Senegal and hosts Morocco respectively three days ago.
Captain Salah started for the Pharaohs while traditional first choices in goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy and forward Marmoush were among the substitutes.
Attackers Victor Osimhen and Lookman, both former winners of the annual African player of the year award, sat on the bench for Nigeria.
Most Moroccans in a crowd that nearly filled the 45,000-capacity Stade Mohammed V backed Nigeria. They whistled whenever Egypt gained possession and when coach Hossam Hassan was shown on the big screen.
This support for the Super Eagles was attributed to the great rivalry between Morocco and Egypt, both at national team and club levels.
– Goals disallowed –
Nigeria initially, then Egypt had spells of dominance in a goalless opening half on a cold, cloudy evening in the Moroccan commercial capital.
Paul Onuachu thought he had broken the deadlock on 36 minutes as he deflected the ball with his head past goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir.
However, a VAR review by the Moroccan referee revealed Onuachu had accidently struck Hamdy Fathy with an elbow. The goal was disallowed and the Nigerian yellow-carded.
Lookman was introduced by coach Eric Chelle for the second half, replacing Onuachu, and he had the ball in the net in the opening minute of the second period. However, the goal was ruled out for offside.
Nigeria started after the break with a series of attacks. Following a largely uneventful first half, Shobeir — the son of former Egypt goalkeeper Ahmed Shobeir — was forced to make several saves.
Salah seldom threatened and when he did cut in with the ball, the potential danger was quickly averted. Marmoush came on as the play-off passed the hour mark to try and boost a blunt strike force.
But as the match entered the final 10 minutes there was no sign of Osimhen being brought on, suggesting he might not have been fully fit.
In quick succession, Adams, then Marmoush threatened to score, but neither could deliver the finishing touch under pressure from opponents.
Salah then disappointed when offered a scoring opportunity from a free-kick outside the box. He hit the ball straight into the wall and it was swiftly cleared.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday, the President praised the team for their resilience and professionalism, noting that the players rose above the disappointment of their semi-final defeat to hosts Morocco earlier in the week to finish the tournament strongly.
The Super Eagles secured third place after overpowering Egypt, a seven-time AFCON champion, in the bronze medal match.
Nigeria dominated proceedings during regulation time before edging their opponents in a tense penalty shootout.
President Tinubu said the victory was a clear reflection of the determination and can-do spirit that define Nigeria, describing the team’s response to adversity as exemplary.
“Despite their good run during the tournament, the Eagles lost the semi-final match to Morocco during the penalty shootout last Wednesday, and our people’s hopes of winning the championship were dashed.
“However, our players remained undaunted, and exhibiting the resilience of the Nigerian spirit, their efforts have now paid off”, the President said.
The President noted that Nigerians would take pride in seeing the team receive their medals at the official ceremony on Sunday in Rabat, where the tournament is being concluded.
“We will all be proud of them as they receive their hard-earned bronze medal. Thank you, our gallant Super Eagles. Thank you, our national team players. This bronze medal surely feels good like gold”, he added.
The Cottagers have been without their Nigerian trio since they departed for the tournament in Morocco, with all three in excellent form and integral to Silva’s starting lineup prior to their departure.
Despite their absence, Fulham have fared remarkably well, losing just one of their last seven games in all competitions while playing without the Nigerian contingent.
The players are expected to return to West London shortly, as Nigeria conclude their campaign against Egypt in the third-place match on Saturday.
“This is the last game the three players at AFCON will miss,” Silva said, according to Jack Kelly.
“When you have all the squad available, you’re going to be stronger as a team. Like when Kenny, King or Muniz will be back – they will be very important for us.”
The defeat to Leeds leaves Fulham 10th in the Premier League table with 31 points as they head into the final four months of the season.
After the third-place playoff, Bassey, Iwobi and Chukwueze are expected to leave Morocco together immediately and should be available for Fulham’s game against Brighton at Craven Cottage on January 24.
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