BEB Weekend Sports: Juicy News!

Nigeria win 2018 AWCON 


Nigeria were crowned the 2018 Women's Africa Cup of Nations champions on Saturday, beating South Africa 4-3 on penalties in the final in Accra.

The match had ended 0-0 after 120 minutes, with Nigeria's goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi making the trophy-winning save in the shoot-out from the boot of South Africa's Linda Motlhalo.

Experienced midfielder Asisat Oshoala had earlier scuppered the chance to seal a victory for Nigeria in normal time after she missed a penalty.

The Super Falcons, who came to Ghana as defending champions, retain their dominance in this competition, winning the trophy for a ninth time in eleven editions.

It was a nervy start to the final for both sides as they tried to size each other out.

South Africa looked the more purposeful pushing forward, but the Nigerian defence dealt with the attacks comfortably.With no players able to break the deadlock, and tiredness hitting both sides, the drama of the penalty shoot-out followed.

It was a terrible start for Nigeria as Onome Ebi hit the post, with Noko Matlou then successfully scoring into the top corner to make it 1-0 to Banyana Banyana.

Ngozi Ebere then scored for Nigeria with Lebohang Ramalepe missing for South Africa.

Super Falcons skipper Rita Chikwelu made it 2-1 as Mpumi Nyandeni duly put her penalty away to level the score.

Chinwendu Ihezuo made it 3-2 to the holders, with Mamello Makhabane keeping the drama alive by scoring for South Africa.

Chinaza Love Uchendu put Nigeria 4-3 up - with Motlhalo suffering the heartbreak of seeing her shot saved by Oluehi as Nigeria celebrated their triumph.

Nigeria and South Africa will now prepare for next year's World Cup in France where they will be joined by Cameroon who booked their place on Friday.

Unbeaten Dortmund go seven points clear


Borussia Dortmund maintained their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season with victory over Freiburg to send them seven points clear at the top.

Marco Reus slammed a penalty down the centre after England's Jadon Sancho was fouled by Dominique Heintz.

Jerome Gondorf almost equalised with a 30-yard free-kick which hit the crossbar, and Dortmund's Lukasz Piszczek also struck the bar.

Paco Alcacer then scored his 11th goal in 11 games to complete the victory.

The summer signing from Barcelona is averaging a goal every 49 minutes, scoring on all six of his Bundesliga substitute appearances.

Ten goals in his first eight Bundesliga matches is a joint record with Hamburg's Gert Dorfel in 1963.
Elsewhere, Serge Gnabry scored twice as Bayern Munich beat Werder Bremen 2-1 - their first Bundesliga win since 27 October.

Niko Kovac's side move up to third in the table - although Dortmund were the only side in the top four at the start of the weekend in action on Saturday.

Olympic chiefs halt Tokyo 2020 boxing plans 


Olympic chiefs have begun an investigation into the "governance, ethics and financial management" of the International Boxing Association (AIBA).

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) warned AIBA could lose its status as amateur boxing's governing body.

The IOC has also "frozen the planning" for boxing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

But it says it will make "all efforts" to ensure boxing features at the Games "regardless of these measures".

One of the IOC's key concerns surrounds Gafur Rakhimov, who was elected as AIBA president this month.

The controversial Uzbek businessman is described by the US Treasury Department as a "key member and associate of a transnational organised criminal network".

The IOC says that creates uncertainty about his role.
Regarding the organisation's finances, auditors have told the IOC "uncertainty still persists about the ability to continue as a going concern".

Former world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has called for the World Boxing Association (WBA) to replace the AIBA as the federation responsible for organising the Olympic boxing event.

Fury and Wilder in a dramatic draw        


Tyson Fury's shot at completing a remarkable return to the top of world boxing saw him survive two knockdowns to share an enthralling draw with WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in Los Angeles.

In one of the most thrilling heavyweight contests for years, the Briton was floored in the ninth round and brutally dropped in the 12th, somehow regaining his feet to survive for two minutes.

Fury had shown plenty of the evasive, counter-punching skill set which made his name before his 30-month spell away from the sport and he enjoyed joy during the middle rounds.

But in the 12th he lay motionless after a savage combination, barely making the count to see out the contest, which was scored 115-111 for Wilder, 114-112 for Fury and 113-113.

Fury - and much of the ringside media - felt he had won and had he stayed on his feet in the final three minutes, the WBC title would have been his.

After 36 minutes of the most tense and absorbing action, both men spoke of a rematch and such a date now appears a certainty.

Fury, whose promoter Frank Warren claimed "everyone knows" his man had won, said "We're on away soil, I got knocked down but I still believe I won the fight. I'm showing total professionalism.

"The Gypsy King has returned. I'm a professional athlete who loves to fight. He is a fearsome fighter. The world knows the truth."

Wilder said his two knockdowns meant he "definitely won the fight".

"I don't know if it [a rematch] will be my next fight but would love it to be. We need to do it again."

from Bola Esho's Blog

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