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Nigeria’s Volleyball Teams Get Automatic Qualification For African Games

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Nigeria’s Volleyball Teams Get Automatic Qualification For African Games—-The Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVF) on Friday said the country’s male and female volleyball teams had qualified for the 13th edition of the Ghana 2024 African Games.

The Technical Director of the federation, Martin Melandi, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the National Stadium Surulere Lagos.

He said the automatic qualification was due to the failure of Benin Republic to honour its match engagements.

He said the inability of Benin Republic to fund travel expenses of its teams was given as reason for not honouring the engagements.

“This is Zone three for West Africa. We were supposed to play against Benin Republic, we got their assurance but they withdrew at last minute.

“Ali Yaro, Zonal President of West Africa, has written to the Confederation of African Volleyball that Nigeria’s volleyball teams have qualified automatically.

“So, we had to organise exhibition matches for them with some selected Lagos players. This is their first game since they entered camp, I’m optimistic that with subsequent friendlies they will perform well,” he said.

NAN reports that the men’s team led by Moses Gana defeated Lagos State selected volleyball team 3-0 in a best of three games 30-28, 25-21, 25-22.

Gana told NAN that his was certain subsequent matches would be tough for the team’s opponents.

Gana, who was named captain of the team, said he was not under pressure.

“All we want to do is win, I’m glad we won against Lagos with a narrow margin, which I believe is as a result of the fact that this is our first match since we entered camp.

“There’s no pressure at all being the captain of the senior team, it doesn’t put me under any pressure. I captained my local team for 10 years and I captained the U-21 national team. So it’s a familiar terrain.

“There has been tremendous development in volleyball since 2021, I believe my team and I will perform optimally,” Gana said.

NAN reports that the 2024 Ghana Africa Games is scheduled to start from March 8 to March 23.

This is the second time in history that the games will be decentralised, as three cities in one country will host the event.

The three cities chosen for these functions are Accra, Kumasi, and Cape Coast.

The Head Coach of the Men’s team, Musa Baba-Musa, said he would have preferred if Benin Republic had played the matches.

He reiterated his confidence in his team and their ability to make the country proud at the African Games.

“I wish they were able to make the trip, that would have further helped us assess the players in a more competitive set up.

“They started slow in this friendly match mainly because this is the first match. We’re still expecting our foreign based players to join the team. I’m optimistic that they will make us all proud in Ghana,” he said.

Ijeoma Ukpabi, the captain of the women’s team said she was optimistic that the team would do the country proud at the games.

“We’re training hard. This is the first time we’re having a blend of the young and old in the team, so the girls are pumped up and ready.

“We have a great bond, we’ve played together in several tournaments. So, we understand one another on the court, we just have few new players and they are blending in well,” she said.

NAN reports that the women’s team defeated Lagos State’s selected players 3-0, 25-9,25-10 and 25-12.

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Manchester City Found Guilty of 114 Financial Charges as Sanctions Remain Undecided

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Manchester City Found Guilty of 114 Financial Charges as Sanctions Remain Undecided—-An independent commission has reportedly ruled against Manchester City on all but one of the Premier League’s financial charges, but sanctions are yet to be decided as the club prepares to appeal.

Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty on 114 of the 115 financial charges brought against them by the Premier League, according to reports from The Athletic and The Times, in a major development that could have significant consequences for English football.

The verdict comes more than three years after the Premier League formally charged Manchester City following a lengthy investigation into the club’s finances.

An independent commission is understood to have reached its decisions on the allegations, which cover several seasons dating back to the 2009-10 campaign. City have consistently denied wrongdoing throughout the case.

However, no sanction has yet been decided.

Reports indicate that Manchester City are expected to appeal the findings, meaning the long-running case is now moving into another stage. Sky Sports reports that the process is moving towards an appeal, while the Premier League has declined to comment because the proceedings remain private and confidential.

What Were Manchester City Accused Of?

The Premier League’s original case against City included allegations that the club failed to provide accurate financial information over a nine-year period.

The charges included alleged failures to accurately report revenue, operating costs and sponsorship income, as well as allegations concerning payments made to players and managers.

The Premier League also accused City of breaches relating to UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations and its own Profitability and Sustainability Rules.

A separate set of allegations concerned the club’s alleged failure to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation.

The case was formally referred to an independent commission in February 2023 after a Premier League investigation that lasted several years.

City Maintain Their Position

Manchester City have repeatedly rejected the allegations and continue to maintain their position that the process has not yet been completed.

Following reports of the verdict, a City spokesperson said the Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements still to be completed and subject to strict confidentiality. The club also reiterated its previous position from February 2023.

The Premier League has also refused to publicly confirm the reported findings.

A league spokesperson told Reuters: “It’s a confidential process, we’re not commenting at all.”

Sanctions Yet to Be Decided

Despite the reported guilty findings, Manchester City have not been punished at this stage.

The exact sanctions, if any, will depend on the next stage of the proceedings. Possible punishments discussed during the case have included financial penalties and sporting sanctions, but no specific punishment has been confirmed.

That means there is currently no confirmed points deduction, relegation, expulsion or stripping of previous titles.

Any such outcome would have to come through the formal disciplinary process and could also be affected by City’s expected appeal.

Appeal Could Extend the Case

The reported verdict is therefore not necessarily the final word on the matter.

Manchester City are expected to challenge the findings, with Sky Sports reporting that the inquiry is moving towards the appeal stage.

The original hearing lasted 12 weeks, concluding in December 2024, after which the independent commission spent considerable time considering the extensive evidence.

The case has become one of the most significant financial disputes in Premier League history, with the outcome potentially affecting the club’s sporting and financial standing.

For now, the key development is the reported 114 guilty findings from 115 charges.

But with sanctions still undecided, the verdict not publicly released by the Premier League and an appeal expected, Manchester City’s lengthy financial case is far from over.

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JUST IN: Manchester City Found Guilty of 114 Premier League Financial Charges

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JUST IN: Manchester City Found Guilty of 114 Premier League Financial Charges—-Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty of all but one of the 115 alleged Premier League financial breaches, with sanctions yet to be determined and the club expected to appeal.

Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty of 114 of the 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations, bringing a major development to one of the longest-running financial cases in English football.

The reported verdict was delivered by an independent commission following a lengthy hearing into allegations dating back to the 2009-10 season. The Premier League originally charged City in February 2023 following a four-year investigation into the club’s financial affairs.

According to reports from The Athletic and The Times, the independent commission ruled against Manchester City on all but one of the 115 charges.

The allegations covered several areas, including claims that City failed to provide accurate financial information, failed to properly disclose payments to players and coaches, breached UEFA financial regulations and the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules, and failed to cooperate with the league’s investigation.

Verdict Yet to Be Publicly Released

Despite the reported outcome, the Premier League has not formally published the commission’s verdict.

A Premier League spokesperson told Reuters that the matter remains confidential and the league would not comment on the reported findings. Manchester City also indicated that the process is not yet complete.

City have consistently denied wrongdoing since the charges were brought and are expected to appeal the reported findings.

The club said the Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements still to be completed and subject to strict confidentiality.

What Were Manchester City Charged With?

The 115 charges relate primarily to alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018, while separate allegations concerned the club’s alleged failure to cooperate with the Premier League investigation.

Reports indicate that 54 of the charges relate to alleged failures to provide accurate financial information, while another 35 concern alleged failures to cooperate with the investigation.

Further allegations involved the reporting of player and manager compensation as well as alleged breaches of UEFA financial regulations and the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules.

The hearing before the three-person independent commission lasted around 12 weeks and concluded in December 2024. The verdict was then delayed for a prolonged period because of the complexity of the case.

Punishment Has Not Been Decided

Manchester City have not yet been handed a punishment.

The sanctions that could potentially be considered under Premier League rules include financial penalties and sporting sanctions, although the eventual punishment will depend on the commission’s findings and the next stages of the process.

The club’s expected appeal could further prolong the case.

For now, the reported verdict represents a dramatic development in a case that has followed Manchester City for more than three years and covers a period in which the club established itself as one of the dominant forces in English football.

Manchester City maintain their position that they have acted properly and have consistently defended themselves against the allegations.

With the verdict reportedly going against the club on 114 of the 115 charges, attention will now turn to the official publication of the commission’s decision, the sanctions, and Manchester City’s expected appeal.

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