Football

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and his vice Michel Platini has been acquitted of corruption at Switzerland's federal criminal court on 8th June 2022 following a two-week trial that ended on 22nd June. Prosecutors acquitted Blatter on charges of unlawfully funneling 2 million Swiss francs ($2.06 million) of FIFA funds to Platini, a former France national team captain, and manager in 2011. Blatter headed world football's governing body for 17 years. Platini, a former president of UEFA, hoped to succeed him. The prosecution sought a suspended sentence of one year and eight months for both men. Platini would have also been fined for the original payment plus taxes.

The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe has announced that the next Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) would be played in Cote d’Ivoire in 2024 and not 2023 as earlier scheduled. The CAF president said the tournament was initially scheduled for June-July 2023, which is the height of the rainy season in the host country, Cote d’Ivoire.

Arsenal has concluded the signing of Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City in a deal worth £45 million that will take him through the summer of 2027. The 25 years old and four-time Premier League title winner will be moving to the Emirates to replace Alexandre Lacazette who left Lyon. Jesus will wear the No 9 jersey after undergoing a medical and agreeing on personal terms.

Former Aston Villa star player, Gabby Agbonlahor, has chided Arsenal defender, Ben White describing the star player as being overrated.
Agbonlahor insisted that White should not form the squad for Arsenal in the next season suggesting that instead; the player should be replaced by, Willian Saliba, who has been loaned to Marseille in Gunner's next squad. According to Agbonlahor, White does not deserve the money Arsenal is spending on him describing it as a waste of resources when he was brought over from Brighton.

Nigerian striker, Suleiman Abdullahi has joined, IFK Gothenburg, A Swedish Club, for a three years deal. Abdullahi was formerly a striker at Bundesliga, Union Berlin for the 2021/2022 season before moving to the Swedish club. It seems the striker has a calling for the Scandinavian clubs, though he was once in the book of Norwegian club, Vikings Skavenger.

The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria have qualified for the U-17 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled to take place next year in Algeria, after defeating Cote d’Ivoire 3-1 in the first semi-final of the tournament. Cote d’Ivoire opened the scoring in the second minute after Yan Diomandi scored a goal from the penalty spot.