Nigeria's Tobi Amusan, the 2022 world champion and world record holder in the women's 100m hurdles, did not advance to the final of the event at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Friday.
Pepe Announces Retirement from Professional Football at Age 41
Former Real Madrid and Porto defender, Pepe, has officially announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 41. After leaving Porto earlier this summer, Pepe captained Portugal at Euro 2024, earning his 141st cap in the quarter-final loss to France. He has now decided to bring his illustrious career to an end.
In an emotional 33-minute video shared on YouTube, Pepe expressed his gratitude, saying, "I want to thank God for giving me the wisdom to continue this journey. I must also thank all the presidents who believed in me, as well as the employees at every club I've been a part of—they are the true essence of the sport. My gratitude extends to the national team, my teammates, and coaches who pushed me to grow and compete daily, and to the fans, who are the heart and soul of football."
He continued, "I am especially thankful to Jorge Mendes, Gestifute, and my mother, who played a crucial role in allowing me to chase my dream of becoming a professional footballer. To my friends and family, particularly my wife, who was my rock in my absence, and my children for their unwavering support and belief in me—thank you. I owe you all a debt of gratitude. Thank you, and a big hug to everyone."
Pepe enjoyed a highly successful career, winning La Liga and the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid and being part of Portugal's victorious Euro 2016 squad.
Newcastle United Sign Nigerian Striker Osula
Newcastle United has announced the signing of Danish-born Nigerian striker William Osula.
The club revealed the transfer in a statement on their website on Thursday.
“Newcastle United has finalized the acquisition of striker William Osula from Sheffield United for an undisclosed fee,” the statement read.
“The 21-year-old made 21 Premier League appearances last season and has also played for Denmark's Under-21 team five times, including scoring twice against Norway this summer.
“Born in Copenhagen, Osula began his youth career in Denmark before moving to South Yorkshire in 2018 to join Sheffield United’s academy. He signed his first professional contract with the club in 2021 and had a loan spell with Derby County during the 2022-23 season.
“Versatile in attack, capable of playing as a striker or on the wings, Osula now joins Eddie Howe’s squad, providing additional options for the upcoming season.”
After completing his transfer to Newcastle, Osula commented: “I’m thrilled to be here. Newcastle United is a big club and a great opportunity, so I’m very excited to join. As soon as I heard of the interest, I knew I had to seize this chance to join the club. It has happened, and I’m really pleased to be here.”
Osula, whose mother is Danish and father is Nigerian, moved to England at a young age. He has represented Denmark only at junior levels but remains eligible to play for Nigeria.
Nigeria’s D’Tigress Bow Out Against USA
The Nigeria women's basketball team, D’Tigress, ended their impressive run at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Wednesday, falling 88-74 to the United States in the quarterfinals. Despite a determined push in the final quarter, Coach Rena Wakama's squad couldn't overcome the early deficit, having dropped the first three quarters.
A’ja Wilson opened the scoring, but Promise Amukamara quickly responded with a drive into the paint to tie the game at 2-2. However, the USA soon took control, jumping out to a 10-4 lead. Though D’Tigress managed to narrow the gap to 13-8, the Americans finished the first quarter strong, leading 26-17.
In the second quarter, D’Tigress fought to stay in the game, trimming the lead to 31-25. Yet, the USA pulled away, winning the quarter 26-16 and extending their lead to 50-31 by halftime. The third quarter saw the Nigerians struggle further, being outscored 24-15.
In a spirited final quarter, D’Tigress mounted a comeback, outscoring the USA 26-12. Unfortunately, their efforts fell short as the Americans secured the 88-74 victory.
The United States, aiming for an unprecedented 10th gold medal, proved too formidable for D’Tigress, moving one step closer to their historic goal.
