Winter Olympics: Nigeria's Bobsledding team tickles Serena Williams

American tennis idol Serena Williams has revealed her excitement following confirmed Nigeria ladies’ participation in the Bobsledding event of the forthcoming Winter Olympics for the first time.

  Serena who made a U- turn last minute over her initial desire to compete in the Australia Open, further revealed that she watched a video of the Nigerian Three-women team which were chilling according to her.  

Taking to her verified twitter account, the 23 Grand Slam winner said” This video literally gave me chills, I am so excited to watch Nigeria compete in the winter Olympics bobsledding race the first time an African country has ever competed in bobsledding!”

The video watched by the American tennis super star and mother of one, could be one titled "Nigeria Women's Bobsleigh team celebrated in new beats by Dre advert"

Nigeria's trio of Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga are set to make history at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, thus stamping Nigeria on the world map as the first African country to compete in the sport at the winter Olympics.

The trio, are all from sprinting backgrounds, and are also the first African team to make it into the bobsleigh after a GoFund me campaign backed their training and qualification campaign.

Pilot Adigun competed in the 100m hurdles at London 2012 while Onwumere ran for Nigeria at the IAAF World Relays in 2015. Omeoga, who will compete with Onwumere for the brakewoman spot, ran for the University of Minnesota.

The Nigerian team who are likely to be the cynosure of eyes at the event said they are determined to leave their foot print on the sand of history on one hand and encourage others to banish fear in their lives and be ready to venture into any area of life and make a mark.

"Our goal is to create a legacy where people will never be limited by the fear of the unknown."

Interestingly the Nigerian team will be competing against their Jamaican counterparts Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian and Carrie Russell who are making a debut at the event 30 years after their men featured at the event.

Carrie Russell was a 2013 World Championships gold medalist in the 4x100m relay while Audra Segree also sprinted on the world stage.

Jamaica's first Women bobsleigh team for Pyeongchang

Thirty years after the nation's fabled debut in Calgary, Jamaica are sending their first women's bobsleigh team to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang next month.

Jazmine Fenlator, who was a member of the United States team four years ago in Sochi, will pilot the Jamaican sled having switched to the country of her father's birth in 2015.

Fenlator will be joined by brakewoman Carrie Russell, a former world athletics relay gold medallist.

Cool Runnings was inspired by the Jamaican men's bobsleigh team who competed at the 1988 Winter Olympics   +5

They will be targeting a top-10 finish after coming seventh in the Winterberg World Cup last month.

Jamaica's exploits in 1988 inspired the hit movie 'Cool Runnings' and turned its bobsleigh squad into cult heroes.

The men's team went on to participate in five of seven subsequent Games, but will not be represented in Pyeongchang.

Jamaica Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation president Chris Stokes told the Jamaica Gleaner: 'Jamaica was offered a quota allocation spot for women's bobsleigh, which we have gladly accepted.

'They had a difficult time in Germany (in the first race this year). We did not get a good result. But we made adjustments and came back and had a very strong performance in San Moritz, which set us up.

'This is the 30th anniversary of the first team to qualify in 1988, and we are glad to have a women's team qualify, and we expect them to do well.'

Stokes was a member of the men's team which famously overturned on their fourth and final run down the Olympic track in Calgary.

Joshua to Parker: Read my lips you can't stop me!

Anthony Joshua has warned Joseph Parker that no man will stop him fulfilling his dream of becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

The two fighters came face-to-face for the first time on Tuesday as they kicked off the promotional tour for the March 31 showdown.

Before the fight was announced Parker's team sought to highlight perceived weaknesses in AJ's armour by pointing out that he has been dropped during both his amateur and professional career.

During his unpaid days, Joshua was floored by compatriot David Price in training. AJ revealed on Tuesday that he headed to that session having 'come out of a police cell'. Last April, too, Joshua had to climb off the canvas on the way to beating Wladimir Klitschko.

 'All those times taught me it will take more than a human to stop me going where I'm destined to be,' he told Team Parker.

'What I have learned from those times of adversity and going through storms is that it will take more than any human to stop me on this journey.'

He added: 'It's about making history now, we have always been moving in that direction so it's an honour to be up here with another world champion. But in terms of Parker, I don't really know how to take his camp. In terms of what's been said but I take everything with a pinch of salt and roll with the punches.

The two unbeaten heavyweights will collide for the WBO, IBF and WBA titles at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.

Joshua has promised 'fireworks' and reminded the WBO champion: 'This isn't a three round fight based on skills, it's a 12 round dog-fight and you have to have heart.'      

Parker responded by claiming it was his 'destiny' to be in big fights such as these.

'I have a big challenge in front of me in Joshua' he said.  'I know his strengths, he knows mine, I know his weaknesses, he thinks he knows my weaknesses, I can't wait for this fight to happen on March 31, I can't wait to train hard, to be back to put on a great performance, hopefully catch him on the chin and knock him out.'

Parker's trainer Kevin Barry did admit, however, that his fighter would need to produce the 'greatest performance' of his career to emerge victorious.

'This is a really exciting fight and the heavyweight boxing division needs a fight like this. In fact boxing in general needs champions fighting each other,' he said.

'Anthony Joshua is a big, strong, powerful guy. It's fair to say he's probably a little stronger than Joe. He's won all of his fights by knockout; he has a considerable height and reache advantage over Joseph Parker.'

He added: 'So my challenge to my fighter Joseph Parker is I need this to be his greatest performance. If he can show the public and Anthony Joshua what I see in the gym when he's at his best, he's a very hard guy to fight... (but) if Joseph

Parker doesn't bring his A-game it's going to be a very difficult night.

The Bronze Bomber faces Luis Ortiz on March 3, with the winner being lined up to fight for all four titles later in 2018.

Nigeria, England finally agree on wimbley friendly

Three years after the idea of an international friendly between the Super Eagles and the Three Lions of England was mooted both country's FA have finally agreed on tie billed for June 2nd at the Wimbley.

The Nigeria Football Federation NFF Wednesday confirmed that the agreement has finally been sealed and that the match will serve as final shape up match for the Super Eagles before the war against their opponents at the World Cup in Russia.

NFF 1st Vice President and Chairman of the Federation’s Organizing Committee, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, said “The match is now confirmed. We had been doing a lot of work in the background, even going back to last year.

“Now, we are happy to say that it is all sealed. Certainly, it is going to be a big match, between two countries of remarkable historical affinity and similarities.

“We have other matches and programs for the team, and we will soon roll out the entire plan for matches, camping sites and training camps.”

The idea was first mooted in 2015 when NFF president Amaju Pinnick met with England FA Chairman Greg Dyke in London.

The tie will be of benefit to both sides as they attempt to post impressive run at the world Cup.

While the Super Eagles play Croatia, Iceland and Argentina in Group D, the Three Lions are up against Belgium, Panama and Tunisia in Group G in Russia.

Nigeria and England first clashed at senior level on 16th November 1994, also at the old Wembley Stadium. David Platt’s headed goal towards the end of the first half separated both teams.

Both teams met again at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The encounter at the Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan on 12th June 2002 ended 0-0, with the Super Eagles being eliminated from the finals at the group stage.

Three –time African champions, Nigeria as part of the build up to the Mundial came from two goals down to defeat two time world champions Argentina 4-2 on 14th November 2017 in Krasnodar, Russia.  While some analysts have described the feat as a huge plus ahead of the re-match against Argentina at the World Cup proper, others say the Gernot Rohr tutored side should resist the temptation to threat the Argentines with kid gloves as friendly match is very different from a competitive tie.

‘Stay away from Arshavin or lose your fingers’

Andrey Arshavin's wife Alisa Arshavina has expressed her readiness to cut off the fingers of a model Olga Semenova cut on vide in compromising situation with her husband in a restuarant

Alisa Arshavina, 35, reportedly contacted Olga Semenova after she was filmed with Arshavin, in a restaurant in Almaty, Kazakhstan where he now plays for a local team.

Ms Semenova claims Mrs Arshravina threatened to cut off her fingers and report her to Russian police for drugs possession.

The footage emerged on social media, showing 36-year-old Arshavin, who played for Arsenal from 2009 to 2013,  with his arms around the curvaceous model.

Ms Semenova says that after the video was shared online, she received a message from Mrs Arshavina asking what she thought she was doing with her husband.

The model adds that Mrs Arshavina then sent her a separate message claiming to be a federal agent - but had failed to log out of her personal account.

Ms Semenova said: 'After a while she introduced herself as a member of the FSB (while using the same account). She believes that everybody in Almaty throws themselves on her husband.'

Mrs Arshavina also reportedly warned Ms Semenova that she would be coming to Kazakhstan soon and ominously wished her luck.

The model stressed that she and Arshavin, who now plays for Kazakh team FC Kairat, were among a group of friends enjoying dinner together and she had not expected 'an innocent game' would have such consequences.

Ms Semenova added: 'Nobody has a right to humiliate me this way, insult me and, even more, threaten me with punishment. I earn well and lead a healthy lifestyle.'

She says she is planning to raise the issue with police in Almaty and with sporting authorities.

This is only the second scandal involving Mrs Arshavina to emerge this week, as she was thrown off a flight from Moscow to Almaty shortly after allegedly making threats against Ms Semenova.

Russian media reports that Arshavin caused problems with the cabin crew as soon as she boarded by seating her nanny next to her in business class even though the nanny only had an economy ticket.

She is said to have offered to pay extra for the seat change but went ahead with the switch anyway when refused.

Her older daughter was also allowed to run around in the plane, and the whole issue ended up delaying the flight for two hours before the WAG was asked to leave.

Mrs Arshavina herself claims she was thrown off the plane because her baby daughter's nappy smelled too much.

The couple married in September 2016 after Arshavin divorced his first wife Julia Baranovskaya following a nine-year marriage.

In addition to a young daughter with Mrs Arshavina, the footballer has three children with his ex-wife.

Mrs Arshavina announced in October last year that the couple were divorcing, but it appears they have put these plans on ice.

Party Claims: Wenger opens Iwobi investigation

Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi is being investigated by Arsenal after claims that he went partying just before the Emirate landlords were sent packing from the FA cup.

Iwobi could face huge fine if the allegation proves to be true .Newspaper reports claims Iwobi was out partying less than 48 hours before the holders crashed out of the FA Cup with a shock 4-2 defeat at Nottingham Forest.

The Sun obtained footage that appeared to show Iwobi at a house party in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The 21-year-old Nigeria international completed 90 minutes at the City Ground on Sunday, where goals from Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck were not enough to prevent a humiliating reverse against Championship opposition.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday's EFL Cup semi-final with Chelsea, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger confirmed he would discuss the matter with Iwobi and take action if the allegations were accurate.

"if it's true he will be fined," said Wenger, who told reporters he was very disappointed with some individual performances at Forest.

"It is impossible to go out 48 hours before a game. It is unacceptable.

"I will have to see him to see whether that is right or not.

"If he was at a birthday party, how long has he stayed? That is very important. After that I will decide what happens.

"You must have played football, you want to prepare 100 per cent but sometimes it is not a guarantee that you will be at your best. But that is what is requested from a top professional."

The Sun report alleged there was evidence of illegal drug use at the party Iwobi supposedly attended.

The newspaper added there was no suggestion the midfielder took drugs and Wenger was sure to defend his player against any implication to the contrary.

"You have to be cautious with the news coming out – when you read what has been reported it is like he has taken drugs but he's not involved in that," he added.

"If your neighbour takes drugs, what can you do about it? You are responsible for your behavior."

Africa Footballer of The Year: Who will be the last man standing?

There is always time for everything under the sun, time to begin a race and time to finish. When the race for the 2017 Africa footballer of the year started, a 30 man list was dished out of footballers who by their exploits on the pitch have proved that they are indeed a delight to watch. 

Another round of voting saw the list reduced to 11.What you might call Africa's best 11.

They include Egypt and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah,Burkina Faso and Olympique Lyon's Bertrand Traore, Uganda and Mamelodi Sundowns  Denis Onyango and Morocco and Feyenoord's Karim El Ahmadi. 

Others are Senegal and Monaco’s Keita Balde, Guinea and RB Leipzig's Naby Keita, Gabon and Borrusia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Senegal and Liverpool's Sadio Mane, Nigeria and Chelsea's Victor Moses, Cameroon and Porto's Vincent Abubakar  and last but not the least Algeria and Porto's Yacine Brahimi.

They could easily pass for the best 11 within the period under consideration and would have carted away trophies each if the award were to be for the best 11.  

But alas the race is not meant to stop at that stage but proceed to see the emergence of just one ultimate player to join the 52 past winners of the prestigious award.

And so after another round of voting precisely On December 18, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were revealed as the final three contenders for December 4 showdown in Ghana 

While Salah could be said to be a new comer to the platform, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had emerged winner in 2015 while Mane finished as second runner up behind Aubameyang who finished as first runner up to eventual winner of 2016 edition  Algeria and Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez.  Interestingly Mahrez who could not realise his dream of qualifying Algeria for the World Cup in Russia did not get a nomination this time around.

Mohammed Salah who recently emerged BBC African Footballer of the year for 2017 beating Nigeria's Victor Moses to the award from all indications look set to make it a double. The 25-year-old has already scored 19 goals for the Reds this season. At the national level he helped the Pharaohs reach the Nations Cup final in Libreville in February, where they lost narrowly to Cameroon.

Aubameyang, finished as top scorer in the Bundesliga last season, netting 31 goals. At national team level, the 28-year-old Aubameyang made little impression at the African Nations Cup finals in his home country at the start of 2017 and then missed most of Gabon's unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaigns.

Sadio Mane who has equally had a good run in the premiership represented Senegal at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and scored a goal in each of the nation's opening two games, 2–0 wins against Tunisia and Zimbabwe. After a goalless draw in the quarter-final clash against Cameroon, he missed in the penalty shootout as Senegal were eliminated.

Should the 25 year old emerge winner in Ghana, he would have become the second Senegalese to clinch the award after Hadji Diouf who won the award back to back in 2001 and 2002.

The three finalists are very good players in their own right and electors will definitely not have a tea party in selecting just one for the gong. 

The odds however say favour the Salah who is seeking to be just the second Egyptian to win the title after Mahmoud Al Khatib who played for Egyptian league side Al Ahly from 1972–1988 winning the title in 1983. He made 199 appearances for the club scoring 108 goals.