Football

The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) have sent birthday wishes to Super Eagles and Torino midfielder Joel Obi who turned 27 on Tuesday. FIFA sent the birthday wishes on their verified Twitter handle. Aside from Obi, the world football governing body also sent birthday greetings to other footballers past and present marking their birthday.

English Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion are close to signing Nigerian international defender Leon Balogun from Mainz on a free transfer. Balogun is seen as an ideal replacement for Uwe Hunemeier who departed the club for SC Paderborn, according to a report on ESPN FC. The 29-year-old Super Eagles star is out of contract at Mainz this summer and Brighton look set to bring him to the Amex Stadium having secured their status in the EPL for next season.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane has been named captain of the England team to this year’s FIFA World Cup. Gareth Southgate made the announcement on Tuesday. Speaking on Kane’s choice, Southgate said: “He is a meticulous professional and one of the most important things for a captain is that they set the standard every day.

Borussia Dortmund have confirmed the appointment of Lucien Favre as their new coach. Favre, 60, returns to the Bundesliga after two years with Nice, with German outlet kicker reporting that Dortmund had triggered a €3 million release clause in Favre's contract with the Ligue 1 club. "Signing Lucien Favre as our coach is an important part of our sporting reboot this summer," BVB sporting director Michael Zorc said in an official statement.

The Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, on Monday said DR Congo players would be screened for Ebola on arrival in the country ahead of their friendly match against the Super Eagles in Port Harcourt on Monday. This is because of the outbreak of the deadly virus in the Central African country.

Arsenal are set to appoint Unai Emery as their new manager.

Manchester City assistant manager and former Gunners captain Mikel Arteta was strong favourite to succeed Arsene Wenger.

Emery emerged as the unanimous choice following a recruitment process in which all candidates were spoken to.