Exclusives

British cyclist and 4-time Tour de France winner, Chris Froome has failed doping test during the Spanish Vuelta in September and is facing suspension from cycling ahead of his quest to defend his Tour de France for a record equalling fifth title next year, according to Associated Press.

FIFA has fined the Nigeria Football Federation 6,000 Swiss Francs (about N2,175,660.00) for fielding an ineligible player in a Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying match. The disciplinary committee of the body in a statement on Tuesday said the three-time African champions fielded Shehu Abdullahi who was ineligible for the qualifier against Algeria on 10 November 2017. This was in violation of article 8 of the regulations of the 2018 World Cup Russia and article 55 of the FIFA disciplinary code for featuring the defender who was ineligible for the encounter.

Olaitan Ibrahim, Omolayo Bose and Ndidi Nwosu on Thursday added to Nigeria’s medal haul at the World Para-Powerlifting Championships taking place in Mexico. Olaitan lifted 110kg to win silver in the women’s +67kg while Omolayo lifted 129kg in the women’s +79kg to win silver as well. Rio 2016 Paralympics gold medallist Nwosu lifted 120kg to win bronze in the women’s +73kg earlier on Thursday.

The German Football Association (DFB) on Wednesday announced that each player of the national team will receive a 350,000 euros (N148.05m) bonus should Germany defend their World Cup title in Russia 2018. Joachim Loew and his squad stand to get an increase in prize money from the 300,000 euros they each got for winning the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil, if the Germans win a fifth world title.

Nigeria champions Kano Pillars were on Sunday drawn in Group B along with AS Sale of Morocco, ES Rades of Tunisia, Interclube of Angola, New Generation of DR Congo and City Oilers of Uganda at the 2017 (FIBA) Africa Clubs Champions Cup which begins in Tunisia on Monday. Nigeria’s second representatives at the competition Gombe Bulls are in Group A along with Algeria’s GS Petroliers, Ferrovairio of Mozambique, US Monastir of Tunisia, ASB Mazembe of DR Congo and Sporting Libolo of Angola.

Manchester United Manager, Jose Mourinho has dismissed what he described as Pep Guardiola's mind game as both managers intensify preparations ahead of this weekend's Manchester derby. Guardiola had claimed that David Silva could miss City's trip to Old Trafford. He stated this while explaining the reason why he left the playmaker out of the Champions Leagues squad that travelled to Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.