Sports
D’Tigers Have Made A Big Statement — Aminu
Nigeria’s D’Tigers basketball forward player, A-Farouq Aminu, has said that his team’s opening win yesterday at the ongoing London 2012 Olympics was an assertion of what the team can do.
The team defeated Tunisia 60-56 to set up a clash with Lithuania in the second match of the event tomorrow.
Aminu said moments after the Group A preliminary round match at the Basketball Arena that the team had been able to make a big statement.
“It feels great to play and win. Today, it was a big statement match for us,” Aminu, who scored 10 points and nine rebounds in the match, said.
“We played the African champions and beat them.
“It was not easy, but we did it and I think we have sent a big statement out there that the world has to watch out for us,” he said.
Speaking on Tunisia’s comeback which threatened Nigeria’s lead late in the game, Aminu said his team had a determined opposition in the North African country.
“Credit Tunisia for playing well, but we almost succumbed to their pressure. I couldn’t get going for whatever reason.
“Maybe it was the usual first match jitter, I don’t know, but in the end, it was good to get a win,” he said.
Teammate Tony Skinn, who scored seven points, said that it felt good to be part of a team winning its first game at its first appearance at the Olympics.
“I feel good that we got our first win, though we didn’t do the necessary stuff to put the game away in the first half.
“That normally happens when you are playing in a tight game,” Skinn who, however, praised the North Africans for their efforts, said.
“Tunisia played hard and made it a game towards the end. But we still got the victory,” he said.
The D’Tigers won the game with scores at 18-7, 13-8, 14-16, 15-25 in the first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively.
Everton captain James Tarkowski struck a 91st-minute equaliser as the Toffees denied Bournemouth victory at Vitality Stadium.
It looked like Bournemouth were heading for a win in new boss Marco Rose’s first home game in charge after Alex Scott’s first-half goal.
But Tarkowski thumped home the leveller, capitalising on confusion inside the Bournemouth box following a corner.
Scott’s deflected effort from the edge of the box in the 41st minute, after some fine work from Evanilson on the right wing, had put the Cherries in front.
Up until the opener, it was Everton who had created the better of chances in an action-packed first half.
The visitors had gone close through a Jarrad Branthwaite header in the 10th minute, while Thierno Barry failed to turn in a rebound after Tyrique George’s initial effort was saved by Djordje Petrovic.
But it was Bournemouth who found a way through first. Evanilson chased a long ball forward, then beat James Tarkowski and picked out Scott to score.
Everton went close to an equaliser before half-time but Barry could only hit the side-netting following a quick break, while the in-form striker was also denied by Petrovic from close range early in the second half.
David Moyes’ side then had appeals for a penalty turned down by referee Chris Kavanagh when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall went down in the box after making contact with James Hill.
But they finally scored the equaliser after both Marcus Tavernier and Ryan Christie failed to clear Hayden Hackney’s corner and the ball fell for skipper Tarkowski to rescue a point.
The proposed blockbuster fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has been signed and will go ahead, according to Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn.
Fury had suggested on Friday that the long-awaited all-British showdown was unlikely to happen, but Hearn insisted the fight is contractually agreed.
“We’ve signed the contract, we’re waiting for a date,” Hearn told Tidesports source yesterday.
Hearn said neither fighter could simply withdraw from the agreement.
“The fight’s signed. No-one can pull out of the fight. You can’t just pull out of a contract,” he said.
The main issue still to be resolved is where the fight will take place.
The bout had been expected to happen in the United Kingdom in November, but Saudi organisers Sela are pushing for it to be staged in the United States.
Joshua and Fury have separate contracts with Sela, with New York’s Madison Square Garden reportedly among the preferred venues.
The fight is also expected to be broadcast on Netflix.
Hearn said the Joshua camp would prefer the fight to remain in Britain but could consider a move to the United States under the right terms.
“We know everybody and his dog involved in the fight wants to do the fight in America. We don’t,” Hearn said.
The promoter added that discussions with Sela were continuing, but stressed that there was no indication the fight itself was in danger of falling apart.
“We’ve told Sela and the team, ‘If you want to do it in America, these are the terms that we can move forward with. But we’d rather not please,’” he said.
Fury and Joshua have been expected to meet in one of the biggest fights in British boxing history, with the venue and date now the major outstanding details.
Arsenal want Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen, to accept a reduction in his wage demands as a condition for completing a move to the Emirates before the summer transfer window closes.
The Gunners remain hopeful of landing the Nigeria international, with manager Mikel Arteta keen to strengthen his attacking options after failing to convince Atletico Madrid to sell Julian Alvarez, who is said to prefer a move to Barcelona over a return to the Premier League.
According to sources, Arsenal have held direct talks over a deal for Osimhen but are unwilling to make an excessive contract offer, leaving any potential agreement dependent on the striker’s willingness to compromise on his salary.
The 27-year-old currently earns in excess of €20 million (£17.1m) annually at Galatasaray, a figure Arsenal are said to be unwilling to match. Negotiating a fee could prove another obstacle, with Galatasaray president, Dursun Ozbek, insisting the striker is not for sale, a stance underlined by the club’s rejection of a €130 million (£111m) offer from Saudi Pro League side, Al-Hilal, earlier this month.
Having missed out on Osimhen, Al-Hilal reportedly turned their attention to Aston Villa striker, Ollie Watkins, only for their latest £45 million approach to also be rejected, further highlighting the difficulty clubs are facing in prising top forwards away from their current sides this summer.
Despite the ongoing speculation over his future, Osimhen has enjoyed a strong start to the season in Turkey.
He scored twice and provided an assist in Galatasaray’s 4-0 away win over Erzurumspor on Friday, having also netted twice in a 2-2 draw with Corum FK. The forward is expected to continue leading the line for the Turkish champions as Arsenal await his decision on a possible switch to the Premier League.
Arsenal began their Premier League title defence with a convincing victory against newly promoted Coventry City at Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta ended the club’s 22-year wait for a league title last season – and with a faultless display against Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues in their opener, his team reminded the rest of the league why they are favourites to retain the crown.
First-half goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka put the reigning champions firmly in control, and captain Martin Odegaard added a third soon after the restart to seal a comfortable win on the opening day of the campaign.
Arsenal began their Premier League title defence with a convincing victory against newly promoted Coventry City at Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta ended the club’s 22-year wait for a league title last season – and with a faultless display against Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues in their opener, his team reminded the rest of the league why they are favourites to retain the crown.
First-half goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka put the reigning champions firmly in control, and captain Martin Odegaard added a third soon after the restart to seal a comfortable win on the opening day of the campaign.
