Pick of the week: Argentina reigns supreme with a historic 16th Copa America title, while England’s search for a successor deepens, elsewhere, athletes produce performance worthy of gold medals in final preparations for the Olympics as Oscar Piastri wins a highly dramatic Hungarian Grand Prix. Meanwhile, the Super Eagles slipped one step downward in the latest FIFA rankings.
The Euros 2024 may be over, but Team England won’t soon forget it. Following England’s loss to Spain in the finals, Gareth Southgate stepped down as manager, marking a new chapter for the team. Southgate, who took the helm in 2016, led England to notable performances, including the 2018 World Cup semis and the Euros 2020 finals. However, consecutive final losses, a historic first in the European championship, led to his departure after eight years at the helm.
The Football Association (FA) has officially posted the England Men’s team manager position on their website, launching the search for Gareth Southgate’s replacement. The job requirements include winning a major tournament and having significant experience in English football, with a proven track record of success in the Premier League or international competitions. Applications must be submitted by August 2nd. Additionally, a panel of 12 experts, including David Moyes, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and Rafa Benitez, has selected the Team of the Tournament for Euros 2024, which has also been announced.
Argentina, the reigning champions, overcame various challenges to secure a record 16th Copa America title, cementing their place in history. Despite being underdogs in the final, Argentina’s solid defence held off Colombia’s aggressive attacks and relentless pressure, with neither team scoring until extra time. In the 112th minute, Lautaro Martinez scored the winning goal, earning him the Golden Boot. This victory marked a fitting farewell for Angel Di Maria, who retired from international football with an impressive record of 145 caps, 31 goals, and two Copa America titles, plus a World Cup win.
With the Paris 2024 Olympics just around the corner, top athletes fine-tuned their preparations for the Diamond League event. Matthew Hudson-Smith shattered the European 400m record with a blistering 43.74 seconds, the fastest time globally this year. Keely Hodgkinson also broke the national 800m record, while other athletes delivered gold-medal-worthy performances.
In a gripping and increasingly competitive 70-lap race that saw Hamilton and Verstappen collide over the struggle for a third-place finish, Oscar Piastri won his first Grand Prix. Norri who was asked to relinquish his position to let his teammate Piastri move ahead for the advantage of McLaren came second on the podium while Lewis Hamilton could only manage a third-place finish after Both himself and Verstappen escaped any punishment from the clash. Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc came 5th and 6th, respectively.
In a friendly match before the Paris 2024 Olympics, Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress (ranked 12th by FIBA), lost to Germany (ranked 19th) 77-63 in Berlin. D’Tigress will face Australia on July 29, followed by matches against Canada and France.
In another warm-up game, the US men’s basketball team narrowly escaped a historic upset, coming back from a 16-point deficit to beat South Sudan 101-100 in London. The US aims for a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal, while South Sudan, ranked 33rd, will make their Olympic debut.
In the latest FIFA rankings, Nigeria’s Super Eagles dropped to 39th globally, maintaining their 5th position in Africa. Argentina, the Copa America champions, claimed the top spot, and Spain rose five places to third after their Euro triumph.
The NPFL’s annual general meeting brought welcome news, as chairman Gbenga Elegbeleye announced a significant increase in prize money for the 2024/25 season winners, from ₦150 million to ₦200 million. The meeting also confirmed the August 31st kickoff date for the new season, which will feature a 38-game format. Additionally, the first matchday fixture was revealed.
Meanwhile, Bayelsa United appointed Landan Bosso as their new head coach, aiming to build on their narrow escape from relegation last season and achieve greater success in the upcoming campaign.
To wrap up all activities for the NPFL season, the league Bloggers Award was held and graced with many prestigious names and awardees. Here is the list of winners.
Join us next week for a more thrilling recap on some of the hot moments in sports.