Exclusives

Italian Serie A side and UEFA champions league semi-finalists Roma have openly expressed support for Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The club, through its official twitter handle promised to track the progress of Nigeria at the mundial. “The Super Eagles have announced a provisional 30-man squad for the FIFA World Cup – with 7 players due to be cut before the final list is submitted.

Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton said on Tuesday that a group of African athletes who went missing during the Commonwealth Games must give themselves up or face being deported.

Eight athletes from Cameroon, two from Uganda and a Rwandan para-powerlifting coach went missing from the April 4-15 Games at the Gold Coast, local media have reported.

The athletes will be in Australia illegally from midnight on Tuesday when their visas expire, unless they have taken legal steps to stay.

Okpekpe International Road Race Goes Live On AIT

The sixth IAAF silver label Okpekpe International 10km Road Race will be live on terrestrial television come this Saturday, according to Mercy Etukudo ,head of secretariat of the one day race.

Etukudo told newsmen in Lagos that arrangements have been concluded with one of Nigeria’s best private television stations, Africa Independent Television (AIT), for a live telecast of the historic race on Saturday.

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of National Stadium, Surulere to Lagos State Government for renovation and upgrading to host International sporting tournaments. Habib Aruna, chief press secretary to the Lagos state governor, confirmed this in a statement on Tuesday.

Miami's City Commission has approved Formula One's plans to hold a grand prix on the city's streets next year. Formula 1 has received "preliminary approval" from Miami for a Grand Prix to be held in the city from next year. Miami's city officials voted unanimously on Thursday to enter formal negotiations with F1.

If the event comes off, it would be the first street race in the United States since a Grand Prix in Phoenix, Arizona in 1991.

The Miami event would be the second F1 race in the US, in addition to the Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.

Sean Bratches, F1's managing director commercial operations, said: "We recognise that this is only the start of the process and we will immediately get to work with the various community stakeholders, the City of Miami, the Port of Miami, Bayfront Park Management Trust and others, in order to reach a final agreement.

"Formula 1 in Miami represents a fantastic opportunity to bring the greatest racing spectacle on the planet to one of the world's most iconic cities, and we are delighted that the journey is under way."

Johanna Konta suffered a repeat of her Australian Open defeat to Bernarda Pera as she crashed out of the Madrid Open at the hands of the American. Pera, who is ranked 97th in the world, completed her straight-sets victory over the Briton in the early hours of Wednesday morning in Madrid, winning 6-4 6-3.