AWCON 2018: Falcons in last hurdle to 2019 World Cup

NIGERIA and Cameroon will today [November 27] renew rivalry in football as Super Falcons face the Indomitable Lionesses in the semi-final of the 2018 African Women's Cup of Nations (AWCON) in Ghana.
The game is scheduled to kick off at 4:30 pm Nigeria time at the Accra Sports Stadium and a win by either side also guarantees a ticket to the 2019 World Cup in France.
Nigeria boast a near a 95 per cent dominance over Cameroon in women's football but this will be put aside today in Ghana, when both sides clash again more importantly to secure the World Cup slot for next year.
The defending champions, Nigeria started their campaign with a loss to the Banyana Banyana of South Africa, and this has remained a warning signal to the Thomas Dennerby-side, who are going for the ninth African title.
Nigeria striker Desire Oparanozie describes today's match as a final of sorts.
“It will be the final before the final. We beat them in the final both in 2014 and also in 2016, they want their revenge. So, we know what to expect and we are ready,” France-based Oparanozie said.
Reigning women's African Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala, who won the Woman Of The Match (WOTM) award after scoring a hat-trick against Equatorial Guinea last weekend is wary of the threat that the Lionesses could pose today.
''We all know Cameroon is going to be a very difficult game obviously, they are a very good side, difficult side to play,'' Oshoala said.
''We've met Cameroon three times, we've beaten them in the semi-final and finals, so it is going to be a difficult game for us on Tuesday, we all know about that.
''We want to thank the Federation, the President of Nigeria, we want to thank Nigerians and everyone who has been making sure the camp has been in order so far in terms of players' bonuses and everything.
''Everything is in order in the camp so I think come Tuesday everyone is ready to give 100 per cent.''
Meanwhile, South Africa face Mali also today at 7:30pm in the other semi-final pairing.

Caption: Nigeria's Asisat Oshoala ready for a showdown with Cameroon.

ATP Finals: Djokovic hammers Isner in group opener

World number one Novak Djokovic underlined why he is favourite to win the ATP Finals with a commanding win over John Isner in their group opener, reports www.bbc.com/sport/tennis.

The Serb, 31, was in devastating form as he easily dealt with the big serves of American Isner in a 6-4, 6-3 victory.

World number 10 Isner, making his debut at the season-ending tournament, was broken in the fifth game of the first set and seventh of the second.

Djokovic then sealed the win on Isner's serve with a cross-court backhand.

Earlier in the day, Alexander Zverev beat Marin Cilic in straight sets in the other match in the Gustavo Kuerten group.

With world number three Roger Federer having slumped to a surprise defeat by Kei Nishikori in his opening group match on Sunday, the path for Djokovic to a sixth title at the tournament seems ever clearer.

He was already helped by the withdrawal through injury of world numbers two and four Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro and after this performance he is an even hotter favourite.

An encounter between the leading server on the Tour in Isner and the best returner was an intriguing prospect, but it was soon clear who would have the upper hand.

Isner is a player synonymous with tie-breaks - so impenetrable is his serve - but Djokovic already had him under pressure in the opening game with a break point.

Although he netted his shot to squander the chance, and then missed another in the third, he made no mistake in the fifth game when he broke with a beautiful baseline return from yet another thundering first serve from the American.

Djokovic's own serving was impeccable, winning six of his service games to love, to give Isner no chance of a breakthrough.

He sealed his first break in the second set when Isner netted a forehand in the seventh game and then set up three match points on Isner's next service game - eventually wrapping up victory on the third one with a fantastic backhand crosscourt winner after one hour 13 minutes.

"I had three breaks of serve of John which is sometimes 'mission impossible' but I managed to be at right place at the right time," said Djokovic.

"I held serve well, I backed it up from the baseline, I played very solid and didn't give him many opportunities."

Isner, who at 33 is the oldest debutant at the season-ending finals since Andres Gimeno in 1972, had qualified for the tournament as a result of Nadal and Del Potro's withdrawals.

He has enjoyed his most successful year - reaching his maiden Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon, winning his first Masters 1000 title at Miami and finishing the season ranked inside the world's top 10 for the first time.

And he was not overawed by his first appearance on this stage - still managing to deliver 13 aces and serves of more than 140mph, including some second serves reaching more than 125mph.

But the most telling number was the 66 per cent of first-serve points won by a player whose average for the season is a huge 81 per cent.

That is testament to the returning of Djokovic, who kept reading the serves and getting his racquet to whatever was thrown at him time and again.

And the Serb's own percentage of first-serve points won was 86 per cent, which is more the kind of figure Isner is used to posting.
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ECSTASY: Djokovic in joyous mood after his victory over Isner.
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Anthony Joshua is a coward----Wilder

Deontay Wilder has warned Tyson Fury he is a ‘killer’ and ready to put his life on the line when they finally meet in the ring as he described WBA, WBO and IBF world champion,

Anthony Joshua as a coward, reports talksport.com.
Wilder, will put his WBC heavyweight championship belt on the line against the undefeated Fury in Las Vegas on December 1.
The American refused to talk about the man he feels robbed him of a lucrative unification fight.
“I don’t have a message for Anthony Joshua,” the 33-year-old added. “It’s all about Tyson Fury.
“I don’t want anyone to ask me about Anthony Joshua. He was a coward and that’s that.”
Like his English counterpart, Wilder is undefeated from all his previous fights and is widely regarded as one of the best heavyweights in the world right now.
However, not since Joshua’s victory over Wladimir Klitschko in 2017 has there been such hype around a heavyweight title fight.
With many fans and pundits believing the hard-hitting American will be too strong for the 29-year-old after just two comeback fights, the champion himself has dome strong words for his challenger.
“I’m feeling wonderful. My mindset has changed, my body has changed, I feel like a killer. I’m transformed into a killer,” Wilder told reporters on Monday.
“When it’s time for fighting and I’m risking my life, I turn into the Bronze Bomber.
“When I’m in the ring it’s a different thing than when I’m just Deontay Wilder.”
A proposed undisputed world heavyweight title fight between Wilder and Joshua was proposed for September, but the Englishman was instead forced to face mandatory WBA challenger Alexander Povetkin at Wembley.
After securing a seventh-round stoppage, Joshua has talked up again the possibility of a fight with the Bronze Bomber, but also welcomed the possibility of fighting the winner of the Dillian Whyte v Dereck Chisora rematch.

Caption: Wilder.

Nadal to undergo surgery on ankle injury, out of ATP Finals

Rafael Nadal will miss November's season-ending ATP Finals in London and have surgery on an ankle injury.

Nadal withdrew from last month's Paris Masters with an abdominal muscle injury, meaning Novak Djokovic replaced him as world number one.

The Spaniard, 32, said that since he was still suffering with that injury, he would "take advantage of the moment" and have an operation on his ankle.

American John Isner takes Nadal's place at the eight-player event in London.

In a post on social media, 17-time Grand Slam champion Nadal wrote: "It has been a complicated year, very good at the tennis level when I was able to play, and at the same time very bad as far as injuries are concerned.

"Unfortunately, I had the abdominal problem in Paris last week and, in addition, I have a free body in the ankle joint that has to be removed in the operating room today.

"It is true that we had detected it for a long time and from time to time it bothered me. However, since the problem in the abdominal muscle also prevents me from playing in London, we take advantage of the moment to remove the free body and avoid future problems.

"This way I hope to be in full condition for the next season."

Nadal has retired from two of the three hard-court events he has competed at this season - the Australian Open and the US Open - but won the other, the Rogers Cup.

The Spaniard's absence from London means 14-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic will end the year as the world number one for the fifth time in his career: level with Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors, and one behind Pete Sampras.

 Caption: Nadal during this year's French Open.

 

Kickboxing: Mayweather to make $88m from Nasukawa bout

Floyd Mayweather is expected to bring home around $88million for his fight with Tenshin Nasukawa on December 31, according to reports from Japan.

The American announced the shock bout on Monday at a Tokyo press conference after signing a contract with local promotional outfit RIZIN.

Japanese media outlet Tokyo-Sports claim that RIZIN will pay an estimated ¥7billion ($62million) to Mayweather for the bout and he anticipates earning the rest from various broadcast deals/pay-per-view sales.

While a total of $88million may seem like fairly good going for most, it is in fact significantly less than what the 50-0 former pound-for-pound king has become accustomed to making for his recent bouts.

Floyd Mayweather is now used to picking up $100million guarantees – after doing so against Manny Pacquiao and Conor McGregor – before going on to double or treble the figure due to US PPV revenue.

The fighters have declared that the rules and weight class for the contest have not yet been finalised, although it is being reported to be an exhibition boxing match.

In a surprise move, it is claimed that the fight could even end up being as short as three rounds, making it effectively a showcase for the American legend on Japanese soil.

It will undoubtedly draw a sell-out crowd at the 37,000 seat arena and has already made headlines across the globe.

Caption: Mayweather (left), during his last bout against McGregor.
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Vomoz Mobile to splash cash, awards on Gold Cup MVP, top scorer

Vomoz Mobile, one of the largest Telecommunication retailing Service company in America has joined other brands to partner with Gold Cup Pre-season tourney to support the organisers with cash and awards for outstanding players.

The telecoms firm will take full responsibility for the Man of the Match, Most Valuable Player and Highest Goal Scorer Awards with cash incentives. This is a pipeline of investment that would redefine local football development, fans' participation and sponsorship across the country and African continent.

Olatoye Olawale, Vomoz Mobile representative said in an interview after the partnership agreement in Lagos on Thursday; "We thought it a way of giving back as one thing that unites Africa is sport with the major one being football.

"So Vomoz Mobile as an indigenous American company has found out that it can facilitate bringing in foreign investment to sponsor football in Nigeria and Africa at large," Olatoye said.

He added, "Also, we want to invest in African sports because, 95% of our customers in America are Africans and they're using our services.

"People don't know they can actually sponsor event back home and they're not going to do it until they see a formidable company like Vomoz Mobile do stuffs in Nigeria, then they will become interested."

Generelal Coordinator of the tourney, Tunde Shamsudeen, said; "This gesture from Vomoz Mobile is commendable, it shows that Nigerians in the diaspora still follow our domestic league.

"I hope to see more of their participation in subsequent editions."

Ekiti State will host this year's edition from Thursday November 15 through Saturday November 24, 2018.

The Gold Cup pre-season tournament is sponsored by Senator Buhari Abdul-Fatai (BAF), and proudly supported by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) executive committee member, Alhaji  Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, Bet9ja, Nigeria leading sportswear firm, 'Owu', Play Sportswear, Ekiti State Football Association, Naija League Magazine, Tribeca Code, Seyi Akinwunmi Foundation, Phoenix ASC, Matchroom, Sportspro, New-Bell Global Investment, 11th Media Global Concept, Phreestyle Sports, Rashidi Yekini Foundation and Gidado Football Academy.