Nigeria’s Victor Boniface is celebrating his Super Cup win with Bayer Leverkusen in a big way with Nigerians.
Nigerian football sensation Victor Boniface is sharing his joy with fans back home after helping Bayer Leverkusen clinch the German Super Cup.
In a generous gesture, Boniface has announced a giveaway of 2 million naira (approximately $2,600 USD) to celebrate the victory.Bayer Leverkusen secured the Super Cup title with a win over Stuttgart after a 4-3 win via penalty shootout, following a 2-2 draw in regulation time, adding another feather to their cap and giving Boniface, one of the team’s key players, a reason to celebrate in grand style.
Taking to his Twitter account, Boniface shared the news of his giveaway in Nigerian Pidgin English, demonstrating his connection to his roots.
His tweet read: “If you no get stew money as today na Sunday I give small 2m giveaway ……make una meet channel 11 @_AsiwajuLerry”
Translated, the message essentially says: “If you don’t have money for food today, being Sunday, I’m doing a small 2 million naira giveaway. Please contact @_AsiwajuLerry.”
his act of generosity has sparked excitement among Nigerian football fans, many of whom are celebrating not just Boniface’s success on the field but also his willingness to give back to his community.
Boniface’s gesture highlights the ongoing connection between the talented player and his fans who fondly refer to him as ‘banger boy’. It also showcases how social media platforms are being used by athletes to directly engage with and support their fans.
As Bayer Leverkusen basks in their Super Cup glory, Boniface’s celebration extends beyond the pitch, touching the lives of his supporters back in Nigeria.
Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah scored the goals as Arne Slot’s reign as Liverpool head coach began with a hard-fought victory over newly promoted Ipswich Town at a boisterous Portman Road.
Portuguese forward Jota finished off a flowing Liverpool move involving Salah and the impressive Trent Alexander-Arnold shortly after the hour mark, side-footing the Egyptian’s low cross past Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton.
And it was 2-0 just five minutes later, Salah scoring from Dominik Szoboszlai’s pass for his ninth opening-day goal – a Premier League record.
Playing their first top-flight game in 22 years, Ipswich were more than a match for Slot’s team in the first half and went closest to opening the scoring before half-time, first through Jacob Greaves’ downward header and then Omar Hutchinson’s low drive.
But Liverpool were much improved after the restart and should have taken the lead when Jota nodded Alexander-Arnold’s inch-perfect cross narrowly wide of the far post early in the second half.
The 27-year-old made amends for that miss moments later, before Salah put the seal on a narrow win and condemned Ipswich to their first home defeat in nearly 12 months.
Antoine Semenyo’s late goal snatched a point for Bournemouth as they came from behind to hold Nottingham Forest on the opening day.
Chris Wood swept home the Forest opener in the 23rd minute after Cherries goalkeeper Neto parried a Ryan Yates shot to his feet.
It followed a broken ankle to their Brazilian midfielder Danilo, who was taken off on a stretcher after a clash with Semenyo.
Bournemouth – who had a goal disallowed in the first half – were much improved in the second half and levelled as Semenyo bundled home from close range when Forest failed to properly clear a cross.
The Black Stars forward pounced after Forest defender Harry Toffolo’s clearance struck team-mate Murillo and fell invitingly for the him.
Forest had controlled the first half and almost doubled their lead when defender Willy Boly sent a powerful header goalwards from a Callum Hudson-Odoi corner, but Neto flung himself to the left for an important save.
Without last season’s star striker Dominic Solanke, who joined Tottenham for £65m, Semenyo hopes to continuing scoring after opening his account for the season.
The dates for Ghana’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and venues against Angola and Niger have been confirmed.
The Baba Yara Sports Stadium will host Ghana’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola in September.
The Black Stars will host the Sable Antelopes on Thursday, September 5, 2024, before traveling to Niger for their second Group F game on Monday, September 9, 2024.
Otto Addo’s men are unbeaten in their last two competitive games following impressive wins over Mali and Central African Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The game against Angola is scheduled for 16:00Hrs Kick Off at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi. Ghana are in Group F alongside Sudan, Angola and Niger.
The top two teams from the group will qualify for the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco next year.
Otto Addo’s men are in search of a ticket to the biggest football tournament on African soil having previously won the title in 1963, 1965, 1978, and 1982.
Asante Kotoko head coach, Prosper Narteh Ogum, has issued a rallying cry to his players ahead of the upcoming Ghana Premier League season.
The experienced coach has emphasised the need for the team to be prepared for any challenge, regardless of the opponent or location.
Kotoko have bolstered their squad with 12 new signings as they aim to improve on last season’s sixth-place finish.
With the league set to kick off on September 6, the Porcupine Warriors will begin their campaign with an away match against Karela United.
Dr Ogum has stressed the importance of a strong start, particularly against a tough opponent like Karela.
“We have to be ready to play any of these teams at any time, anywhere, we should be able to play them and get the results,” he told the club’s media.
Before the league commences, Kotoko will have a friendly match against Medeama SC to officially open the newly built TNA Stadium in Tarkwa on August 16.
As the club gears up for the new season, the coach’s focus is on ensuring his team is ready to compete at the highest level.
Ghana defender Alexander Djiku believes Fenerbahce’s dream of reaching the group stage of the UEFA Champions League under Jose Mourinho remains on course.
The Turkish giants travel to France for the third round of qualifiers against LOSC Lille with hopes of progressing to the next stage.
“Last year, we thought we could face Lille in the Conference League semi-finals, but we were eliminated by Olympiacos on penalties in the quarter-finals (Lille were also eliminated by Aston Villa). It could have happened earlier,” Djiku told L’Equipe.
Lille could have Canadian striker Jonathan David back for the tie following his participation in the Copa America.
However, Djiku is unbothered by the presence of Lille’s keyman.
“Jonathan David is a very talented player and a great mover on the pitch. He is also very effective in deep runs. Lille with Jonathan David and Lille without him are two different teams. However, we did not have a special preference for the opponent, whether it was Lille or another team. The road will be difficult but we are confident,” he added.
Reports from Paris indicate that Jamaican sprinter Sashalee Forbes will compete in the 100m dash when the track and field events commence at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on Friday. Speculation about Forbes replacing Shericka Jackson has been confirmed by Jamaica’s Athletics Manager Ludlow Watts, who told Television Jamaica that Jackson has withdrawn from the 100m event.
Sportsmax.TV sources had confirmed on Tuesday that Forbes was informed by team management that she would be replacing Jackson in the blue-riband sprint.
On July 9, Jackson experienced what was described as ‘a cramp’ during the women’s 200m race at the Istvan Gyulai Memorial held at the Bregyó Athletic Center in Székesfehérvár. The incident raised concerns about her fitness as the Olympics approached.
With no official updates from her MVP Track Club, rumors about Jackson’s health have intensified. In a recent interview with Jamaican media, Coach Stephen Francis provided limited information regarding Jackson’s condition. When asked about her health, Francis responded, “I think that is something you’re going to have to address to her medical personnel but as far as I know she appears to be okay to me.”
While Francis remained reticent about Jackson, he was more forthcoming about another athlete, Tia Clayton. He expressed confidence in Clayton’s potential to perform well in the 100m, with some local pundits predicting her success in the blue-ribbon sprint.
The confirmation from Watts brings clarity to the situation, affirming that Sashalee Forbes will indeed replace Shericka Jackson in the 100m dash.
Olympics triathletes dived into the Seine River on Wednesday after organizers declared the water in Paris safe for swimming following days of concerns about elevated bacteria levels caused by heavy rains last week.
The women jumped into the river near the majestic Pont Alexandre III around 8 a.m., with steady rain tapering off just as the athletes splashed into the water.
Some dunked their swim goggles in the Seine before putting them on and heading into the river with the Eiffel Tower in the background. The men followed just under three hours later.
The decision to go ahead with the swim for the triathlon competitions was a big deal for the city, Olympics organizers and the athletes. Officials undertook an ambitious plan, including 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in infrastructure improvements, to clean up the long-polluted Seine.
They had been steadfast in their insistence that the swimming portion of the triathlon and the marathon swimming events could safely be held in the river.
After days of uncertainty following rain on Friday and Saturday, organizers said early Wednesday that the latest tests of the water showed compliance with quality standards.
They couldn’t contain their delight that their gamble of holding Olympic events in the long-toxic river was paying off. “It’s magic,” said chief Paris Games organizer Tony Estanguet, speaking to French television. “It’s a very important legacy for Parisians to be able to swim from next year in the Seine.”
The infrastructure projects undertaken to better manage wastewater have paved the way for Paris’ ultimate goal: allowing Parisians to enjoy the waterway again after more than a century of it being off-limits, with plans to open public pools in its waters starting in 2025.
“Here we are!” French President Emmanuel Macron proclaimed on X. “Thanks to a massive investment … we have achieved in just 4 years what was impossible for 100 years: the Seine is now swimmable.”
As they swam, the triathletes stayed close to the barges and boats that line the banks of the river. Spectators watched and cheered from the stands set up along the side and from the bridges spanning the waterway. After swimming two laps in the Seine, a 1.5-kilometer (1-mile) course, the athletes emerged from the water and ran up a set of stairs to jump on their bikes for a ride through the streets of Paris, including the iconic Champs-Elysees.
During the women’s race, the 40-kilometer (25-mile) biking portion saw numerous crashes and wipeouts along wet roads, but skies were blue when the triathletes began the final leg of the race, a 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) run.
By the time the men’s race started, the sun was beating down and temperatures were rising.
Cassandre Beaugrand of France won gold in the women’s event, while Julie Derron of Switzerland took silver and Beth Potter of Britain got the bronze medal.
Alex Yee of Britain won gold in the men’s race, with Hayden Wilde of New Zealand winning silver and Léo Bergère of France taking bronze.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who took a much-publicized dip in the Seine two weeks ago along with Estanguet and others to ease fears about water quality, congratulated Beaugrand for winning the first Olympic gold in the river.
“How special to see her swimming in the Seine, thank you for making us so proud!” Hidalgo said.
For her part, Beaugrand said she wasn’t very worried about swimming in the Seine “because we swam last year and no one was sick after that, so I was confident we could swim today and it would have been a shame if we didn’t.” Olympic triathletes participated in a test event in the river last August.
Yee, the men’s winner, said athletes just have to trust organizers when they say the conditions are safe.
“I’m sure we’ll find out in due time if that’s correct,” he said.
Elevated levels of bacteria in the river pushed the men’s race originally planned for Tuesday to Wednesday, when the women’s competition had been scheduled. Test events meant to allow the athletes to familiarize themselves with the course had already been canceled for the same reason on Sunday and Monday.
Paris experienced a downpour during Friday’s opening ceremony, and rain continued for most of the day Saturday, which directly affected the water quality in the Seine.
Former Ghanaian midfielder Derek Boateng has criticised the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for missing out on key European-born talents, claiming that Spain’s intervention blocked the Black Stars from securing players like Nico Williams.
In an interview with Accra-based Kingdom FM, Boateng expressed frustration over Ghana’s inability to attract players such as Kobbie Mainoo, Jeremy Doku, Jeremie Frimpong, and Nico Williams. He lamented that the GFA should have acted sooner to court these talents.
“How can we lose players like Kobbie Mainoo, Jeremy Doku, Jeremie Frimpong, and Nico Williams?” Boateng asked, “Inaki Williams is playing for us, but why couldn’t we get Nico? Because he is good and talented, Spain blocked his chances of playing for Ghana.”
Boateng emphasised the importance of being proactive in engaging with Europe-based players early on. He warned that waiting until they are established players could be too late, as their parents might not be open to switching allegiance if Ghana was not involved from the start.
The 41-year-old, who had a distinguished international career with Ghana from 2001 to 2013, including a notable role in the Black Satellites’ runner-up finish at the 2001 U-20 FIFA World Cup, called for a more strategic approach in nurturing young talents.
Nico Williams, who has impressed with his performances for Spain, played a significant role in La Roja’s triumph in the 2024 European Championships. His success highlights the missed opportunities for Ghana to benefit from such emerging stars.
Ghana youth midfielder Fatawu Ganiwu is making waves at Chelsea FC after an impressive performance for the club’s U18 side.
The technical team has taken notice of his skills and has invited him to train and play for the U21 team, a significant step up in his development.
Ganiwu, who has been on trial at several European clubs including RC Lens and RB Salzburg since last year, was part of Laryea Kingston’s team that participated in the UEFA U16 invitational tournament last year.
His current stint at Chelsea is his latest opportunity to showcase his talent, and it seems he is making the most of it.
Ganiwu’s progression to the U21 team is a testament to his hard work and potential.
Chelsea’s interest in Ganiwu is a positive sign for Ghanaian football, as the country continues to produce talented young players who are catching the attention of top European clubs.
The youngster will be hoping to earn maximum trust from the technical team and hopefully ern a place as he continues his development as a promising footballer.
