Advertisement
Ask Nigeria Header Logo

Latest bits across football and Olympics 2024

Photo of author

By Timothy Akintola

Updated on Djokovic, Martin Braithwaite, D’Tigress, Noah Lyles and Nicolas Pépé.

Novak Djokovic beats Alcaraz to win his first ever Olympic gold medal.

Tennis superstar, Novak Djokovic has finally filled the void in his illustrious career by winning his first Olympic gold medal in men’s tennis singles. Despite dominating other significant tournaments, the Olympics had eluded him, with Djokovic losing to the eventual gold medalist each time: Rafael Nadal in Beijing 2008, Andy Murray in London 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo. However, Djokovic has now secured his place in history by defeating Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) in a thrilling and evenly matched final. This victory comes just three weeks after losing to Alcaraz at Wimbledon. An emotional Djokovic expressed his joy, stating, “I’m overwhelmed with everything I’m feeling right now. Too proud. Too happy.” With this win, Djokovic joins Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, and Steffi Graf as one of the few players to achieve the career Golden Slam.

Advertisement


Martin Braithwaite set to reportedly purchase former club, Espanyol.

Former Barcelona striker Martin Braithwaite, recently released by Espanyol, is reportedly considering buying the LaLiga club following a fallout with its management. Braithwaite joined Espanyol in 2022 but expressed his desire to leave last year to continue playing first-division football. Despite his wish to exit, he stayed to help Espanyol achieve promotion back to LaLiga after their relegation to the Spanish second division. However, tensions with the club’s management prompted Braithwaite to activate his contract’s exit clause, allowing him to become a free agent. According to Marca, Braithwaite, now signed with Brazilian club Grêmio, is exploring whether he can afford to purchase Espanyol. At 33, Braithwaite is among the wealthiest footballers, with a fortune of £250 million largely attributed to his investments in Real Estate and other business ventures.


D’Tigress makes historic quarterfinal qualification in the 2024 Olympics.

Nigeria’s female basketball team, D’Tigress made history by advancing to the quarterfinals of the women’s basketball tournament at the Paris Olympics. After a historic opening victory against Australia, they suffered a setback against hosts France, casting doubt on their quarterfinal qualification hopes. However, D’Tigress secured their spot by defeating Canada 79-70 on Sunday, becoming the first African team to reach the quarterfinal stage of the Olympic basketball event. Ezinne Kalu led the charge with 21 points, making her the first Nigerian player to score over 20 points in an Olympic game since Mfon Udoka in 2004. D’Tigress will face the defending champions, the USA, in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, 7 August. Led by playmaker Ezinne Kalu and captain Amy Okonkwo, the Nigerian team will aim for a major upset against the undefeated Americans.

Advertisement


Noah Lyles delivers America’s first Olympic 100m gold in 20 years.

After all the anticipation, Noah Lyles delivered a stunning performance by winning gold in the men’s 100-meter sprint at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday. The race was so close that even the announcers were uncertain of the winner until the official times were revealed. Lyles edged out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson with times of 9.784 and 9.789 seconds, respectively. According to the Associated Press, Lyles’ .005-second victory is one of the closest finishes in Olympic history. Lyles initially thought he had lost to Thompson but was confirmed the winner with a personal best of 9.79 seconds, matching Thompson’s time but winning by the slimmest margin. “It’s the one I wanted, against amazing opponents,” Lyles said. Remarkably, this race marked the first time eight men finished under 10 seconds in a wind-legal 100 meters.


Pépé signs deal on a free transfer with Villarreal.

Former Arsenal midfielder Nicolas Pépé has signed with La Liga side Villarreal as a free agent. Pépé joined Arsenal in 2019 from Lille for a reported £72 million but had a challenging time, scoring 27 goals and providing 21 assists in 112 appearances without securing a regular first-team spot. Last season, he was loaned to Ligue 1 club Nice, where he netted eight goals in 28 games. Pépé then spent a year with Trabzonspor, scoring six goals and providing three assists in 23 matches before signing a two-year contract with Villarreal. The Côte d’Ivoire international aims to make a significant impact at the Yellow Submarine, who finished eighth last season, and prove that he can still compete at a high level.

Advertisement


Disclaimer

The content on AskNigeria.com is given for general information only and does not constitute a professional opinion, and users should seek their own legal/professional advice. There is data available online that lists details, facts and further information not listed in this post, please complete your own investigation into these matters and reach your own conclusion. Images included with this information are not real, they are AI generated and are used for decorative purposes only. Our images are not depicting actual events unless otherwise specified. AskNigeria.com accepts no responsibility for losses from any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of content contained in this website and/or other websites which may be linked to this website.

Advertisement