Football

Cristiano Ronaldo declares his contract with Manchester United is terminated

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Cristiano Ronaldo has declared that his relationship with Manchester United is now a closed chapter

The 37-year-old, who mutually agreed to terminate his contract at Old Trafford after his row with the club, made history on Thursday night, November 24, by becoming the first man to score at five World Cups, his 65th-minute penalty helping Portugal beat Ghana 3-2 at Stadium 974.

Ronaldo was named FIFA’s Player of the Match, which meant he had to attend the ensuing press conference.

He stayed in the room for 132 seconds and answered one question but, for the first time, publicly addressed his situation.

‘It is important we won,’ said Ronaldo, shaking his head when he heard United’s name mentioned. ‘It was a week that finished this chapter. It is closed and now I want to start with the good foot. We started here, we won. I want to help my team and all the rest of the squad.

He added: ‘This was a beautiful moment – my fifth World Cup. It is very important to win. We know in these competitions, the first match in crucial. But, also, the world record, the only player to score in five World Cups makes me very proud. The team made a good result in a tough game.’

Business, Football

David Beckham plans on buying Manchester United football club

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David Beckham is reportedly open to holding talks with potential buyers of Manchester United after The Glazers announced they are ready to sell the football club.

According to Financial Times, the United legend is open to holding talks with interested parties bidding for the club. The report states:

“The former England captain’s history with United and affinity with its fans could prove vital to any bidders if the Glazers go ahead with a deal, the people said.”

“The current owners said they would “consider all strategic alternatives, so an outright sale is not guaranteed.”

“One banker close to the process said United could be sold for close to £7bn. “A bidding war could send it higher, they added.”

“However, some footballing finance experts have said that even a £4bn-£5bn price tag was too high for a club that was unprofitable last year.”

“At these valuations, prospective owners need to have deep pockets, with investors perhaps based in the US or the Middle East eyeing the football club, analysts said.”

“While Beckham alone might not have the wealth to buy Man United, his global reach and affinity with the fans could prove to be a huge boost to any buying parties.”

The Glazers, who bought Man United for £790million back in 2005, put the Old Trafford club on the market on Tuesday.

The family is looking for as much as £8billion to sell the club. In another development, British billionaire and lifelong Man United fan Sir Jim Ratcliffe is ready to launch a bid to take over the Red Devils after his attempt to buy the club in the summer proved fruitless.

He also tried and failed to buy Chelsea last season. Ratcliffe owns petrochemical giant Ineos and is one of the richest men in the world.

Football

Cristiano Ronaldo becomes first person to reach 500m followers on Instagram

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Manchester United and Portugal forward, Cristiano Ronaldo has broken another record by reaching 500 milion Instagarm followers.

Ronaldo is currently the most followed person on social media in the world.

The Portugal superstar made headlines for the wrong reasons the whole of last week, after he appeared in a surprise interview with Piers Morgan where he directed jibes at the Manchester United’s owners, manager Erik ten Hag, and club legend Wayne Rooney.

Man United are expected to fire Ronaldo after the bombshell interview and released a statement late last week, saying they’ve initiated a process of responding to the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

He is expected to play in his fifth World Cup tournament with Portugal later this month.

On Sunday night, November 20, Ronaldo’s follower count on photo-sharing application Instagram hit 500 million.

That makes him the most followed person on the app in the world. His long-time rival Messi remains the second-most followed person in the world with 376M.

The two iconic footballers are the only athletes in the top 10 of the most followed people on Instagram.

Football

Cristiano Ronaldo ‘offers’ himself to Real Madrid for six months as he plans to end his Manchester United nightmare

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Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly offered himself to Real Madrid to end his Manchester United nightmare.

The 37-year-old Portuguese accused the Red Devils of betraying him in a tell-all interview with Piers Morgan last week.

Amid the fall-out with United, Ronaldo has now offered himself to the Spanish giants on a six-month contract, according to Sport.

The Spanish outlet claim Ronaldo wants to return to the Bernabeu as a replacement for the injured Karim Benzema in January.

The Ballon d’Or winner was forced to pull out of France’s World Cup squad after picking up a thigh injury.

Man United are looking to terminate Ronaldo’s contract seven months early without paying any of the £16million he is predicted to earn by June 2023.

Football

Two dead as Bauchi Commissioner’s convoy collides with motorcycle

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About two persons have been confirmed dead following a crash that involved the convoy of Bauchi State Commissioner for Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Abdulrazak Nuhu Zaki.

Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Bauchi state, Yusuf Abdullahi, said the fatal crash was caused by speed violation which led to a loss of control.

Abdullahi told newsmen on Thursday, November 17, that the accident occurred on Wednesday, November 16 at about 2.25pm, at Miya town, along Miya-Warji in Warji local government area.

It involved five male adults. The government’s vehicle, a White Toyota Hilux with plates number: BA18 A08, collided with a commercial motorcyclist identified as one Muhammad Muawuya.

He said;

“There was a multiple fatal crash yesterday, November 16th, 2022 at about 2:45 pm, involving a government vehicle and a commercial motorcycle.

“The government vehicle is a white Toyota Hilux with registration number: BA18 A08 which collided with a commercial motorcycle rode by one Muhammad Muawuya.

“The multiple crash was caused by speed violation which resulted in a loss of control and, subsequently, a collision between the vehicle and the motorcycle at Miya town along Miya-Warji route, involving five male adults.

“The victims, who were in the entourage of the Commissioner, Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Nuhu Zaki were rushed to the Kafin Madaki General Hospital (by the Commissioner) for treatment and confirmation.

“It was there in the hospital that a medical doctor confirmed two people dead.

“One other person sustained bruises and a fracture.”

Football

Manchester United could ”terminate Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract- Litigation and Sports Lawyer, David Seligman

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Manchester United might want to terminate Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract following his bombshell interview with Piers Morgan.

In snippets from Ronaldo’s interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo accused the club of ‘betraying’ him and blasted manager Erik ten Hag, adding he doesn’t ‘respect’ the Dutchman.

He also slammed his former teammate, Wayne Rooney for his constant criticism. Litigation and Sports Lawyer, David Seligman took to Twitter to say that United could have the right to terminate Ronaldo’s contract due to a ‘material breach of the implied duty of trust and confidence’.

According to him, the 37-year-old could be dismissed as United (the employer) have lost confidence in Ronaldo (the employee) to such an extent that is not feasible for him to return to work.

His now-deleted Tweet read: ‘After that interview, Man United would likely have grounds to terminate Ronaldo’s contract – material breach of the implied duty of trust and confidence as well as express terms regarding bringing club into disrepute.’

Football

Sadio Mane ‘ruled out of 2022 World Cup in Qatar’

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Senegalese football star, Sadio Mane has reportedly been ruled out of Senegal’s World Cup campaign in Qatar after he limped off during Bayern Munich’s clash against Werder Bremen with a tendon injury on Tuesday, November 9.

The former Liverpool forward was taken off just 20 minutes into Bayern’s 6-1 win over Bremen on Tuesday night.

According to L’Equipe, he will play no part in the competition, dealing the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions a massive blow.

Senegal are due to play Holland, Ecuador and hosts Qatar in the group stage. Mane is believed to have suffered a tendon injury, L’Equipe adds, and is set for ‘several weeks out’, handing his national team coach Aliou Cisse a major headache just days before announcing his World Cup squad.

His Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann said the player would have an X-ray to determine the extent of the injury after initially saying he had taken a blow to his tibia – and that he was hopeful it was ‘not a big injury’.

‘He took a knock to the head of his tibia,’ he said. ‘It’s always uncomfortable. He has to have an X-ray. I hope nothing is wrong. ‘I didn’t see him after the game, I hope it’s not a big injury.

But I don’t know at the moment’, the Bayern boss continued. ‘We’ll see tomorrow and then give an update.’

Mane, who joined Bayern from Liverpool for £35million in the summer, has been an exciting for his club during his first season in Germany.

He’s scored 11 goals in 23 appearances in all competitions, laying on four assists.

Football

Flamengo’s president laughs off Cristiano Ronaldo rumours, says the Man United star would only be a substitute for the club if they sign him

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Flamengo’s president has laughed rumours linking Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo to his club, saying he would only be a substitute for the club.

The Portuguese star had been linked with the Brazilian club in recent days but Rodolfo Landim reacted when asked if the recently-crowned Copa Libertadores champions would be signing him.

‘I don’t know where it came from but they have a lot of creativity,’ Landim told the ‘Papo Reto’ podcast, as reported by Record.

‘First of all, I ask: For whose place? It’s to be on the bench.’ Landim went on to explain why signing the 37-year-old would be an economic impossibility for Flamengo.

‘From what I’ve read on the internet, I don’t know if it’s true or not, he would have been offered $242million [£215m] for a two-year contract. Divided by 24 months, that’s about $10m a month.

‘Talk about a value far above the entire salary sheet of Flamengo for Cristiano Ronaldo.

‘To be Pedro or Gabigol’s [Gabriel Barbosa] substitute? I can’t… nobody here is going to go crazy things.

‘The amateur time of managing, of thinking that in the future we’ll pay the bills, that no longer exists. There is no possibility of taking a step that is not firm.’ Landim was also asked about the possibility of signing the Brazilian star Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain.

He replied:

‘I don’t know how much Neymar earns. I’ve heard that it will be close to four million euros [£3.48m] per month. ‘If we consider that amount, he will not want to come to Flamengo given what I will be able to offer him, within the wage structure.

‘He will have a better proposal from outside. It’s natural, it’s the ‘There are clubs with much bigger budgets than Flamengo that will be interested in an exceptional player like Neymar. Having Neymar would be a dream for any club in Brazil, I have no doubts.

‘I think he will play outside of Brazil for some time because he is exceptional. The clubs that can pay salaries of exceptional players like him are abroad [not in Brazil].’

Football

Zlatan Ibrahimovic opens up on his time at Barcelona under Pep Guardiola

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Footballer, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, has said that playing for Barcelona was the “worst memory” of his glittering career.

The AC Milan striker, 41, believes he “lost his identity” in his only season at the Nou Camp, under Pep Guardiola in 2009-10 but says he regained his swagger once he left and “conquered the world”.

The former Manchester United striker is now in his second spell with AC Milan, but won’t play until the new year following an ACL knee injury.

He told France’s Canal Plus TV: “My worst memory? I think it was Barcelona, but not for football. “Yes I disappointed myself. I did things differently. I thought twice before acting and I disappointed myself.

“I lost my identity there. Afterwards, I found it again, and that allowed me to conquer the world.”

Ibrahimovic arrived at Barca after three Serie A titles in a row with Inter scoring 22 goals in 46 games.

Ibrahimovic has previously revealed his problem at Barcelona was with then manager Pep Guardiola.

He told Sky Sports Italia in 2017: “I’d walk into a room and he’d walk out. I’d go to meet him and he’d go somewhere else.

“I understood that there was something beyond football.

“The problem was his, it was he who hadn’t solved the problem with me.

“I remember on my first day, he told me that the Barcelona players didn’t turn up to training in Ferraris or Porsches.

“He’d already judged me then, but if you don’t know a person then you can’t judge them.

“He wasn’t the worst coach I’d worked under, but he was certainly the most immature because a man solves his problems.”

Football

Mikel Arteta insists he’s going nowhere amid links to former club Barcelona

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Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has distanced himself from latest speculation linking him with a move to Barcelona.

Arteta was a Barcelona youth player, but started his coaching career in great fashion guiding Arsenal to the summit of the Premier League in 2022-23.

New reports in Spain are stating that Barcelona are interested in hiring Arteta to take over from embattled coach, Xavi.

However, when asked about the links at his press conference ahead of Thursday night’s Europa League clash with FC Zurich, the Arsenal boss reiterated how happy he is in north London.

“I’m extremely happy,” he said. “I’m proud to be where I am.”Arteta also praised the work of Xavi, who has been in charge at the Camp Nou since November 2021.

“I think Barcelona now they are in a really good path,” Arteta said. “They have a phenomenal coach, a coach that has been an absolute legend in that club and has lifted the whole place and you have to be very respectful of that.”

Arteta came through at Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, but left to join Paris Saint-Germain without having played a game for the first team.

Football

Ex-Super Eagles striker, Bello Musa Kofarmata is dead

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Ex-Super Eagles and Kano Pillars striker, Bello Musa Kofarmata, has reportedly died at the age of 34.

According to Oyo Sports News, the former Nigerian international passed away late on Tuesday, November 1, in his birthplace of Kano after a brief illness.

The deceased will be buried later today (Wednesday) in accordance with Islamic customs. Kofarmata began playing football in 2007 with Kano’s Buffalo F.C.

He joined Kano Pillars in the same year. He left Kano Pillars in 2010 to join Heartland FC of Owerri, then switched to Elkanemi Warriors of Maiduguri in 2012. He then returned to Kano Pillars.

He sealed a deal with IK Start of Norway, following a spate of trials with the team. With Kano Pillars, he won the Nigerian Premier League for 2007-08 and was with 11 goals the top goalscorer.

In August 2008, Kofarmata was on a trial at Austria’s LASK and played one friendly game. The forward returned from Europe to Pillars at the start of the 2008 season. He joined Heartland in January 2010 for a fee of N5 million. After two and half years, he left Heartland and signed with his lifelong club, Kano Pillars.

Late Kofarmata was part of Nigeria’s contingent to the 2007 FIFA U20 World Cup in Canada. He made his Super Eagles debut in March 2010, coming on as a substitute in the 5-2 friendly match win over DR Congo in Abuja.

Football

Cristiano Ronaldo insists he’s “as committed and dedicated as always” to Manchester United

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Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted that he remains as committed as ever to Manchester United after talks with coach Erik Ten Hag.

Ronaldo was an unused substitute in last Wednesday’s game against Tottenham, and he left the bench before full-time to storm down the tunnel at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag later confirmed he had wanted to bring Ronaldo on, but the Portuguese star refused and left the ground instead.

He was later banished from his squad for Saturday’s clash with Chelsea and made to train with the youth team.

However, Ronaldo has since been brought back into the first-team, and is expected to feature against Sheriff in the Europa League on Thursday night, October 27.

He took to Instagram on Thursday morning to post a message to fans that he is still focused on performing for the Red Devils.

‘Back on track, with the same commitment and dedication as always!’ he wrote.

Football

Cristiano Ronaldo and Erik ten Hag ‘will hold crunch talks today’ after he was dropped for refusing to come on against Tottenham

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Cristiano Ronaldo and Erik ten Hag Cristiano Ronaldo will sit down for crunch talks with Erik ten Hag on Monday October 24, after he was dropped for refusing to come on against Tottenham amid reports Manchester United will let the forward leave in the January transfer window.

Ten Hag banished the Portugal international from first-team involvement following his antics during United’s clash with Tottenham.

Ronaldo stormed down the tunnel at Old Trafford before the full-time whistle and refused to come on as a substitute during their 2-0 win over Antonio Conte’s side on Wednesday evening.

Ronaldo is under contract until the end of the season and Ten Hag has made it clear he wants the 37-year-old to see out his deal at the club.

According to the Mirror, Ten Hag and Ronaldo will meet at training on Monday to hash out talks with the striker expected to be integrated back into the first-team.

The Athletic go a step further by detailing that if Ronaldo refuses to accept Ten Hag’s handling of him, by playing a sparser role than he’d like, then the Dutchman would not stand in his way of letting him go.

Ultimately, if perennial starter Ronaldo needs can’t stomach a reduced role at United then the exit door will be shown. United would be happy to see Ronaldo leave as long as they can find a club that is willing to pay his mammoth £360,000-a-week wages.

As reported by Sportsmail, Chelsea co-controlling owner Todd Boehly may be open to signing Ronaldo in January.

Football

Cristiano Ronaldo breaks silence after storming out of Old Trafford following his refusal to come on against Tottenham

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Cristiano Ronaldo has broken his silence after storming out of Old Trafford shortly following his refusal to come to be brought on against Tottenham on Wednesday, October 19.

The Portuguese was named on the bench for Manchester United’s clash against Tottenham, which his team went ahead to beat Antonio Conte’s side 2-0.

Few minutes before the game could end, Ronaldo was seen marching down the touchline and into the tunnel. The Portuguese also left the stadium in anger.

Writing on Instagram, Ronaldo explained that ‘sometimes the heat of the moment gets the best of us’ as he apologise for his display. ‘I haven’t changed. I’m the same person and the same professional that I’ve been for the last 20 years playing elite football.

He added: ‘I started very young, the older and most experienced players examples were always very important to me. Therefore, later on, I’ve always tried to set the example myself for the youngsters that grew in all the teams that I’ve represented. d respect has always played a very important role in my decision making process.’ ‘Unfortunately that’s not always possible and sometimes the heat of the moment gets the best of us.

‘Right now, I just feel that I have to keep working hard in Carrington, support my teammates and be ready for everything in any given game. Giving in to the pressure is not an option. It never was. This is Manchester United, and united we must stand. Soon we’ll be together again.’

His apology came after United released a statement on Thursday revealing Ronaldo had been banished from their squad for the trip to Chelsea on Saturday afternoon while it is believed he will be training away from the senior squad for the time being.

Football

Manchester United coach, Erik Ten Hag vows to ‘deal’ with Cristiano Ronaldo after he stormed down the tunnel before full-time for not being brought on

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Manchester United coach, Erik Ten Hag has vowed to take action against Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portugal striker stormed away from Manchester United’s victory over Tottenham at Old Trafford before full-time.

Ronaldo was an unused substitute in the game and toward the final minutes, he stormed down the tunnel in the 89th minute.

Sportsmail revealed he may even have left the stadium before the match finished.

Ten Hag didn’t give an answer when he was asked if Ronaldo had been given permission to leave.

The United manager simply said: ‘I have seen him, but I didn’t speak to him. I will deal with that tomorrow, not today. We are celebrating this victory. ‘I don’t pay attention today. I will deal with it tomorrow.

I want to keep the focus on the team and a magnificent performance from all 11 players and the subs who came on. It was a squad performance.’

It is the second time Ronaldo has left a United game without permission under Ten Hag.

In July, the 37-year-old exited Old Trafford at half-time after being substituted in a pre-season friendly against Rayo Vallecano.

Ten Hag described the incident as ‘unacceptable’ but pointed out that Ronaldo wasn’t the only United player who went early.

Football, Lifestyle

Footballer Kynan Isaac, 31, gets career-ending 10 years ban after he’s found guilty of spot-fixing and placing illegal bets on a match he played in

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The FA have handed out a 10-year ban to a former Reading defender after finding him guilty of spot-fixing and placing illegal bets on an FA Cup tie in which he played in last season.

Defender Kynan Isaac, who plays in the Southern Premier League for Stratford, was today informed of the ban that will effectively end his career.

The FA began investigating Isaac last season after being tipped off about suspicious betting patterns in Stratford’s FA Cup first-round defeat to Shrewsbury last November.

The 31-year-old former Reading left-back was charged with spot-fixing in August after it was alleged he was deliberately booked in the 84th minute of his side’s 5-1 defeat, as part of a conspiracy with friends to beat the betting markets.

After appearing before an independent disciplinary commission Isaac was found guilty of spot-fixing by deliberately earning a yellow card, failing to comply with the FA’s investigation and breaching FA rules by placing multiple bets, including several on his own team.

The resulting 10-year ban is one of the longest the FA have ever dished out.

Football

Chelsea and France midfielder, N’Golo Kante ‘suffers injury relapse just five weeks before the Qatar World Cup

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Chelsea and France midfielder, N’Golo Kante is likely to be ruled out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after relapsing from his hamstring injury.

The French midfielder sustained the injury during Chelsea’s draw with Tottenham in August. He was substituted in the 84th minute and replaced by Conor Gallagher.

The 31-year-old underwent regular rehab sessions with the club’s medical staff and returned to training at Cobham at the end of September after missing six matches.

But the French midfielder did not travel to Italy on Monday ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League fixtures against AC Milan.

Manager Graham Potter said he had suffered a ‘reaction in training’ while L’Equipe are now reporting that the 31-year-old has relapsed from his hamstring injury.

The French news outlet is claiming Kante could sit out Chelsea’s next five games as a result of his injury.

The news means Kante could be at risk of missing out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar given the tournament starts on November 20.

France’s head coach Didier Deschamps is due to name his World Cup squad in just under three weeks.

Football, Lifestyle

Atletico Madrid confirm permanent transfer of Antoine Griezmann from Barcelona

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Atletico Madrid confirmed they have agreed on a deal to sign French striker Antoine Griezmann permanently from Barcelona, on a contract until 2026.

Griezmann has been on loan at Atletico since August 2021 after a difficult spell at Camp Nou, following his 120 million euro (116.5 million dollar) move in 2019.

“Griezmann has signed a deal that links him to our club until June 30, 2026,” said Atletico in a statement.

The 2018 World Cup winner was a key figure in coach Diego Simeone’s plans last season but has largely been reduced to substitute appearances in the current campaign as Atletico tried to escape paying a reported obligatory 40 million euro purchase fee if he played over a certain number of games.

Atletico and Barcelona negotiated a new deal with Barcelona president Joan Laporta confirming the fee during the club’s members’ assembly on Sunday. “It is for 20 million euros plus four more in variables,” said Laporta.

“There is another clause in the deal to sell the player, which is that if Atletico decide to sell him in the future they will have to pay us the difference that remains, up to the value of the 40 million which was agreed before.”

Griezmann has played 303 times for the club, scoring 144 goals, across his two stints in the capital.

He netted 35 goals in 102 appearances for Barcelona, winning the Copa del Rey there in 2021.

Football

Nigeria’s Super Eagles drop in latest FIFA ranking

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The Super Eagles of Nigeria have dropped in the latest FIFA rankings after a poor outing in September.

In the latest rankings released by the world football governing body, FIFA, on Thursday October 6, the Super Eagles have now dropped to 32 in the world for October.

The Super Eagles lost 6.23 points after two poor matches against Algeria during the last international break.

Nigeria, who lost one in Oran and drew the other game against the Desert Warriors home based team in Constantine.

The West Africans are now ranked 32nd in the world, but maintained the number four position in Africa.

Meanwhile, at the top of the ranking, five time champions Brazil remains the best football playing nation.

Brazil is top of the log after impressive outings against African giants, Ghana and Tunisia in September.

The Red Devils of Belgium remain second, with Brazil’s South American rivals, Argentina, in third position.

Former World Champions, France in fourth and England in fifth, complete the top five ranked nations.

Business, Entertainment, Football, Lifestyle

Guinness Celebrates Tobi Amusan, Ese Brume and Extraordinary Women in Sports

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The excitement of the athletics season is officially over, however, celebrations are still in full swing as Tobi Amusan, Ese Brume and other extraordinary female Athletes and Para-Athletes who represented Nigeria at 2022 Commonwealth Games and World Athletics Championship enjoyed a grand reception by Guinness Nigeria.

The celebratory gala on Thursday, September 22nd at the new Guinness Headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos had in attendance sport icons, entertainment elites, socialites and sports reporters alike.

Guests relished a true Guinness VIP experience with loads of exciting activities, Event was anchored by Bolanle and DJ anonymous was also in attendance and thrilled guest with scintillating sounds.

The highlight of the event was an incredible toast to the extraordinary talents at 17:59 Guinness time, closely followed by the reward presentation of N2,000,000 to the 100 metres hurdles Guinness world record Tobi Amusan, N1,000,000 to all gold medalists, N750,000 to all silver medalists and N500,000 to all bronze medalists for their astonishing sporting achievements.

With this befitting appreciation of the reigning African, Commonwealth and World Champion, Tobi Amusan and other extraordinary female Athletes, Guinness reaffirms its commitment to empowering creative talents, driving inclusivity, celebrating excellence, and creating moments in culture through the ongoing Black Shines Brightest campaign.

Since the launch of Black Shines Brightest, Guinness Nigeria has remained committed to spotlighting and celebrating exceptional black beacons across several cultural touch-points including art, music and sports.

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