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NOC Calls For Peace At Olympic Day Celebration

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President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Habu Ahmed Gumel, at the weekend, at a ceremony to mark this year’s Olympic Day Celebration, joined the rest of the world to call for peace in Nigeria, just as the International Olympics Committee President, Thomas Bach, appealed to member nations to give peace a chance.
Gumel, who spoke at the event to flag off the Celebration held at the National Stadium, Surulere, also highlighted various activities that included, the Olympic Day Run, aerobic exercise, demonstration of sports, and distribution of certificates to participants to mark the occasion.
The NOC president, who read a ‘Message For Olympic Day 2022’ on behalf of the IOC President, said: “When our founder, Pierre de Coubertin, revived the Olympic Games in 1894, he saw it as a way to promote peace among nations and people.
“Always the visionary, he said: ‘Should the institution of the Olympic Games proper, it can become a potent factor in securing universal peace’.
“Therefore, the purpose of the Olympic Movement was always to promote peace through sport.
“This Olympic Day, when we celebrate the creation of the Olympic Movement, is, therefore, the perfect moment to remind ourselves of this peace mission.”
The message added, “Sports always builds bridges and brings people together in peace and solidarity. In these difficult times we are living through, with conflicts and division on the rise, we need this unifying power of sports more than ever before.
“This Olympic spirit guides us as we strive to go faster, aim higher, become stronger, by standing together — for a peaceful world.
“On this Olympic Day, please join us as we call on everyone around the world: ‘Give Peace a Chance’.”
Corroborating Bach’s message, Gumel seized the occasion to also call on every Nigerian to allow peace to reign for everyone to have rest of mind.
“This message was sent to the rest of the world to make sure that this celebration is done properly. My appeal is that we should please let us work together; unite together to bring peace to our country, and to the whole world.
“We need to exercise peace in everything we do so that we can have rest of mind. Because without peace, you cannot have rest of mind. Let us continue to pray to God Almighty for Him to continue to guide us, and protect us, so that whatever we do, it will be in the best interest of our country and ourselves so that everybody can be happy.
“And on behalf of the International Olympic Committee, and Nigeria Olympic Committee, I hereby flag off the Olympic Day, today June 25, 2022; May God bless us,” he stated.
Speaking on the occasion, the Secretary-General of the NOC, Olabanji Oladapo, thanked the IOC boss for sustaining the values of the body, while also commending the participants.
“Sports is an ingredient by all the system and once you get involved in sports, it is sure that you’re fulfilling one of the essentials of health requirement of this world.
“I want to thank the president of IOC for continuing to carry the banner and ensure that Olympic Day is celebrated all over the world. And also want to thank all the participants for taking part in the celebration because, without you, the celebration won’t be a colourful one,” he said.
At the event were dignitaries that included the Lagos State Sports Commission Director of Sports Development, Moses Olusegun Kolawole, Olympian, Henry Amike and others.

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Tottenham Fight Back To Hold Brighton

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Tottenham fought back from two-goals down to secure a deserved point against Brighton.

The Seagulls were second best for much of the match but found themselves 2-0 up after 31 minutes thanks to Yankuba Minteh’s early strike and Yasin Ayari’s powerful drive.

However, Richarlison halved the deficit just before half-time when he stopped a shot by Mohammed Kudus before slotting in.

Spurs dominated the second half but their finishing let them down as Richarlison and substitute Xavi Simons were both unable to make the most of promising opportunities.

But the equaliser came eight minutes from time when Jan Paul van Hecke turned Kudus’ cross into his own net.

Spurs then pushed for a winner as they looked to continue their impressive start to the season, but Brighton held on for the point.

Bundesliga: Kane Continues Goal Harvest (5)

Harry Kane scored his second hat-trick of the season as Bayern Munich overcame a shaky start to win at Hoffenheim and continue their 100% start.

The England captain, 32, broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time with a clinical first-time finish from a cleverly worked low corner, and doubled Bayern’s lead from the spot after Albian Hajdari was harshly penalised for a handball.

That broke Hoffenheim’s resistance and Kane completed his ninth Bundesliga hat-trick with another penalty, given for a foul on substitute Michael Olise after a video assistant referee (VAR) check.

This time Kane sent home keeper Oliver Baumann the wrong way for his 13th Bayern goal in seven matches across all competitions this season, adding to his Champions League double against Chelsea last Wednesday.

“Hat-trick Harry is what they called me in school,” Kane told Tidesports source after the match. “That one kind of stuck when I was younger.”

“Any ball in the box, whether penalty or not, I back myself to hit the target.”

Hoffenheim had the better of the first 45 minutes, Fisnik Asllani only able to hit the post after goalkeeper Manuel Neuer passed straight to the Kosovan.

They eventually got some reward for their efforts, former West Ham full-back Vladimir Coufal’s deflected free-kick beating Neuer to earn the Czech his first goal for the club.

Ex-Liverpool winger Luis Diaz hit the top of the bar late on as he failed to continue his record of scoring in every Bundesliga game this season, but Serge Gnabry added a fourth for Bayern with the last kick, converting a rebound from a tight angle after Baumann saved from Joshua Kimmich.

Nicolas Jackson made his first start since joining Bayern on an initial loan deal from Chelsea, but the Senegal striker had a very quiet game before being replaced in the 62nd minute.

In Italy, Lorenzo Pellegrini fired Roma into the Serie A top four as Lazio had two players sent off in a fiery derby.

The midfielder found the bottom corner in the 38th minute as Roma extended their unbeaten run to four games against their city rivals.

Lazio have lost three of their opening games of the season and had Reda Belahyane and former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi dismissed in late drama.

Roma started well and Rome-born Pellegrini claimed the vital goal – his fourth in a Rome derby after being available for transfer in the summer – following good work down the right by Matias Soule.

But the hosts will rue missed opportunities as Boulaye Dia, Mattia Zaccagni and Alessio Romagnoli all had openings.

With four minutes left substitute Belahyane was shown a red card for a late studs-up challenge on Manu Kone.

Danilo Cataldi struck the outside of the post for Lazio in a last-gasp effort to snatch a point, while team-mate Guendouzi was sent off for dissent after the final whistle.

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Zidane’s Son Switches Allegiance To Algeria

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Luca Zidane, the son of France’s World Cup-winning playmaker Zinedine, has switched his international allegiance from France to Algeria.

Born just outside Marseille, the 27-year-old goalkeeper had appeared for France at various youth levels.

The move, which was approved by Fifa, may enable Zidane to follow in his father’s footsteps by appearing at a World Cup, with Algeria expected to secure a place at the 2026 finals in North America in their qualifier against Somalia next month.

Zidane, who is the second of four brothers, all of whom came through the Real Madrid academy, currently plays for Spanish second tier side Granada.

He played two matches for Madrid and has La Liga experience at Rayo Vallecano, but dropped a level in 2022 to play for Eibar before heading to Andalusia in 2024.

Zidane qualifies for the North African country through his father, whose parents hailed from the Kabylie region of Algeria.

Zinedine Zidane, who is regarded as one of the games greatest players scored twice for France in their 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil, but was famously sent-off in the 2006 final, which was won by Italy after a penalty shootout.

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Man Utd Beat Chelsea To Ease Pressure 

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Manchester United capitalised on Robert Sanchez’s fifth-minute red card to secure a crucial victory over Chelsea in torrential rain at Old Trafford.

The first match in Premier League history to see two or more goals, red cards and substitutions in the first half was settled by goals from United skipper Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, who was the other player sent off before the break.

It was Sanchez’s dismissal that set the course of the game though.

The Spain international raced from his goal to meet Bryan Mbeumo as the striker ran beyond the Chelsea defence.

Sanchez then upended the forward outside his area rather than allow him past to tap the ball into an empty net.

Enzo Maresca’s response to the red card was to take off both Pedro Neto and Estevao Willian and, as Cole Palmer had to be replaced after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury, Chelsea had lost three attacking players in the space of 20 minutes.

Trevor Chalobah pulled one back for Chelsea with a header 10 minutes from time but United kept their nerves at bay to make it to the final whistle with their lead intact.

The victory was United’s second of the season and came in front of minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who gave head coach Ruben Amorim assurances over his future 48 hours earlier.

It also means Chelsea have still not won at Old Trafford since 2013, when Sir Alex Ferguson was United manager.

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