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CHIEDOZIE OGBENE RETURNS TO PREMIER LEAGUE

Luton winger Chiedozie Ogbene has completed a move to Premier League newcomers Ipswich for an undisclosed fee.

The 27-year-old Republic of Ireland international, who scored four times in 30 appearances for the Hatters in last season’s top flight, has signed a four-year contract.

Ogbene told Town TV: “I’m very excited and feel lucky to have this opportunity to play in the Premier League again.

“It’s an opportunity I had to grab with both hands and I can’t wait to be involved as soon as possible.”

Ogbene began his career in Ireland with Cork City and Limerick before spells at Brentford, Rotherham and Luton.

Burnley have continued their squad overhaul by signing Hannibal Mejbri on a four-year deal from Manchester United.

The Tunisia attacking midfielder, 21, joins for an undisclosed fee and is the eighth new arrival at Turf Moor this summer.

“I’m very excited. Very happy to be here and I can’t wait to see the fans,” he said.

“After speaking to the coach (Scott Parker), the project sounded good to me and hopefully we can make it a success.”

Mejbri joined United in 2021 – the same year he made his Tunisia debut – and spent loan spells at Birmingham and Sevilla.

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football Sports News

MANCHESTER CITY FULL-BACK JOAO CANCELO MAKES PERMANENT MOVE TO AL HILAL

Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo has joined Al Hilal on a permanent deal.

Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (C) speaks to Manchester City’s Portuguese defender Joao Cancelo (R) during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on August 13, 2022. -. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

It is understood Cancelo moves to the Saudi Pro League in a deal worth 25million euros (£21.1m), ending the Portugal international’s five-year stay with City after arriving at the club in a £60m move from Juventus.

“I would like to wish everyone at City continued success in the future,” Cancelo, 30, was quoted as saying on the Premier League club’s website.

“I had many very special moments during my time here at this great club.

“I would like to thank my team-mates, the coaches, all the staff at City and the fans for everything during my time here.”

Cancelo made 154 appearances for City and was part of three Premier League title-winning sides at the Etihad Stadium.

He went out on loan to Bayern Munich in January 2023 and spent last season at Barcelona.

Cancelo represented Portugal at this summer’s European Championship in Germany.

But he did not feature in City’s first two Premier League games this season, against Chelsea and Ipswich.

City director of football Txiki Begiristain said: “I would like to thank Joao for his contribution during a remarkable period at City.

“He made a big impact in title-winning campaigns and was a huge influence on the pitch.”

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basketball Sports News

D’TIGRESS GALANTLY BOW OUT AFTER QUARTER-FINAL LOSS TO USA

Nigeria’s D’Tigress experienced a 74-88 quarter-final loss to the U.S. women’s basketball team at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Wednesday night.

Nigeria, who have made physical play a trademark, looked anything but intimidated by the powerhouse Americans as they traded buckets in the opening minutes.

Two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player A’Ja Wilson scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to pace a US side that could break a tie with the US men’s basketball team for the most consecutive Olympic golds — set from 1936-68.

Jackie Young added 15 points and Breanna Stewart — another two-time WNBA MVP chipped in 13.

The US will face Australia in the semi-finals on Friday after the Opals saw off Serbia 85-67.

France beat Olympic newcomers Germany 84-71 to set up a semi-final against European champions Belgium, 79-66 winners over previously unbeaten Spain.

France, led by 24 points from Marine Johannes, delighted fans, but the United States were the big draw at Bercy Arena.

NBA superstar LeBron James and USA teammate Bam Adebayo were courtside for the clash between the US dynasty and the first team from Africa, male or female, to make the Olympic basketball quarter-finals.

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Sports News

RASHIDAT ADELEKE FINISHES SECOND IN 400M SEMIS, ADVANCES TO FINAL.

Rashidat Adeleke has become the first Irish female sprinter to reach an Olympic final after she qualified for the 400m final in Paris.

The Dubliner finished with a time of 49.95 just behind Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser who finished first.

Eid Naser is a former world champion who has since served a doping ban.

She will run in Friday’s final and will be hoping she can get in amongst the medals after a strong showing so far.

The final is scheduled to take place on 7pm on Friday evening.

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Sports News

QUINCY HALL SNATCHES GOLD MEAL ON THE LINE IN MEN’S 400M FINAL.

American Quincy Hall dug deep in the final metres to overhaul Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith and take the Olympic 400 metres gold in another race of scintillating quality on Wednesday.

Hudson-Smith seemed on course to win his country’s first gold over the distance since “Chariots of Fire” Eric Liddell in the Paris Games 100 years ago, but he tied up at the end and Hall swept past to win in a personal best 43.40 seconds and give the U.S. their first triumph since LaShawn Merritt in 2008.

Hudson-Smith bettered his own European record with 43.44 for silver and Zambia’s 21-year-old Muzala Samukonga set his second successive national record with 43.74 to take bronze.

The first five men home were all under 44 seconds.

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Sports News

NOAH LYLES OF THE UNITED STATES WINS GOLD MEDAL IN MEN’S 100M FINAL

Noah Lyles of the United States won the men’s Olympic 100 metres gold medal on Sunday.

Kishane Thompson of Jamaica took the silver in the same time and Fred Kerley of the U.S. claimed bronze in 9.81.

Thompson looked to claim the win as he took the lead near the end, but Lyles pipped him on the line by fractions of a second with a time of 9.79.

It was the first time an American had won the title since Justin Gatlin in 2004 and Lyles raised his arms in triumph to wild cheers from the packed crowd at the Stade de France as his name appeared at the top of the standings.

He made a slower start out of the blocks than his rivals but accelerated through the finish to clinch victory in style.

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Sports News

DANIEL WIFFEN WINS BRONZE IN MEN’S 1500M FINAL

Daniel Wiffen picked up a bronze medal at this year’s Olympic Games.

The Armagh man finished third in the final of the 1500-metre freestyle final.

It is his second medal of the games after winning gold in the 800 metres during the week.

The American swimmer Bobby Finke broke the world record to take gold, while Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri took silver.