Sports
BAL: Rivers Hoopers Record Historic Win Against GNBC
Taren Sullivan scored a game-high 19 points to help Rivers Hoopers record their first win in the history of the Basketball Africa League, after beating GNBC 80-69, in their last group game played in Kigali, Rwanda on Saturday.
The KingsMen got the better of their opponent from Madagascar from both ends, leading in steals (8) and blocks (4).
Chris Daniels for the second time running put up a Player of the Game show, becoming the first Rivers Hoopers player to score a double-double in two successive games, since the BAL started.
Daniels scored 25 points and 11 rebounds against US Monastir and 15 points and 10 rebounds against GNBC.
Ben Uzoh scored 12 points, the only player to score double digit point in all group games for Rivers Hoopers.
Benjamin Ikechukwu and Ajegbeyi combined for 22 points, scoring 12 and 10 points respectively.
Rivers Hoopers ensured they restricted the movement of GNBC inside the paint, leaving the latter with no option than to shoot from three point range recording a better percentage of 37.6 percent to Hoopers 26.1 percent.
Speaking after the game, Rivers Hoopers Coach, Ogoh Odaudu praised his players for their impressive performance as they needed to win to stand a chance of qualifying for the next round as one of the third-best placed teams.
“We came out today knowing this was the last group game, all we wanted was a win and that was what we got. We did very well even though we had chances to have killed the game in the third quarter, most importantly, we did very well, and I am happy that we ran away with the victory.”
The Kings Men are neither out nor through to the next round, as they await the outcome of other Group games before knowing their fate.
Sports
Fury, Joshua Fight Sealed
Fury, (left) and Joshua
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.
Sports
Arsenal Want Osimhen To Take Pay Cut
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.
Sports
PH TO HOST NPBL PLAYOFFS
Port Harcourt has been confirmed as the host city for the 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Playoffs for a fourth straight year, following a slight schedule adjustment by the League Management Committee of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).
Originally slated for Aug. 22–29, the Playoffs (Phase 3) will now run from 29 August to 6 September at the Basketball Stadium, 59 Niger Street, Port Harcourt Township, Rivers State.
In a communiqué issued on 21 August 2026 by NBBF Vice-President and League Chairman Babatunde Ogunade alongside Secretary-General Amina Amanchi, the federation commended the qualifying teams for their professionalism and performance thus far.
Per the updated schedule, participating teams are expected to arrive on 29 August for pre-tournament technical meetings, with competitive action running from 30 August through 5 September, while team departures take place a day later.
The eight-team, round-robin tournament features four qualifiers from the Atlantic Conference—Rivers Hoopers, Maktown Flyers, Hoops & Read, and Lagos Raptors—alongside Savannah Conference representatives Aso Sky Hawks, 313 Warriors, Gboko City Chiefs, and Kano Pillars.
The selection of Port Harcourt re-establishes Rivers State as a central venue for elite domestic basketball in Nigeria and once again brings the action closer to the teeming fans, following a successful staging of the playoffs and Final Four at the same venue last year.
-
News4 days agoTinubu Appoints Enitan As New Head Of Federal Civil Service
-
Rivers4 days ago
Philanthropist Cautions Youths Against Ignoble Acts Donates Building To Musician
-
Sports4 days ago
Arsenal Want Osimhen To Take Pay Cut
-
Sports4 days ago
Nnadozie, Osimhen Lead Highest-Rated Nigerian Players
-
Politics4 days ago
Yari Emerges DG As Tinubu Unveils 2027 Presidential Campaign Council
-
Rivers4 days agoRivers SSP ’ll Enhance Equitable Access To HIV Services – RIVSACA Boss ….As Govt Urges Tireless Commitment
-
Education4 days ago
Rivers Wins 2026 Presidential Inter-School Debate: Govt Pledges To Institutionalise Competition
-
News4 days ago
23,000 Lawyers Storm PH As NBA Begins Conference
