Athletes must position themselves as brands to enhance their finances. Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images Emmanuel Mogaji, University of Greenwich The Tokyo 2020 Olympics have come and gone. The games always motivate some young people to get into sports. But while there is glamour attached to sports participation, there are also well documented challenges with regard to administration and funding ...

Team Nigeria’s long wait for a medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics finally ended on Tuesday with Ese Brume winning the Bronze in the Women’s Long Jump event. Brume with her best leap of 6.97m settled for the bronze behind World champion Malaika Mihambo who snatched the gold with her very last jump of 7.00m. United States’ Brittney Rees who also had ...

Gillian Cook, Liverpool John Moores University Penalty shootouts in football are one of the most unpredictable and dramatic events in sport, producing moments of utter ecstasy and deep despair in players and managers. As we saw in the recent UEFA Euro 2020 championship, fans often cover their faces when players take penalties. Research shows us why. There are psychological reasons ...

As Team Nigeria to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics prepares to leave the shores of the country, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has called on the team to replicate the outstanding performances of past Nigerian Olympians, noting that “you stand on the shoulders of giants.” Recalling the exploits of past Nigerian teams, the Vice President added that “you will also carry ...

Devastated England dramatically lost the Euro 2020 final on penalties. The country wept as Gareth Southgate’s men lost in an epic heart-breaking shoot-out with Italy. The Three Lions penalty hoodoo came back to haunt them yet again. Three players Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka all missed. 25 years ago Southgate missed the crucial kick in the Euro 96 semi final. ...

Adam Powley, University of East London In France’s first match of the 2020 European Championship, the team beat Germany 1-0. The team won thanks to an own goal from Germany’s Mats Hummels. However, it could have been 3-0 if two goals, one by Kylian Mbappé and the other Karim Benzema, hadn’t been disallowed. England’s Jordan Henderson similarly had a goal ...

Robin Ireland, University of Glasgow and Christopher Bunn, University of Glasgow The Euros are here – Europe’s festival of football, featuring some of the best players on the planet in peak physical condition. Yet alongside this spectacle runs a carnival of corporate advertising – often marketing unhealthy products such as alcohol, junk food and gambling apps. How is it that ...

Paul Ian Campbell, University of Leicester On BBC Sport, Match of the Day pundits Ian Wright and Alan Shearer recently had a conversation about racism in football. Shearer, the white ex-England international striker asked his black ex-teammate Wright: “Do you believe a black guy gets treated differently to a white guy?” Wright’s response was unequivocal: “Without a doubt, Al!” Black ...

Jose Mourinho has been sacked as Tottenham coach after 17 months in charge of the London club. According to reports, Ryan Mason and Chris Powell will be in temporary charge until a new permanent manager is appointed. It was gathered that Tottenham have begun the process of appointing a new coach. Mourinho was sacked less than a week to the ...

Super Eagles beat Lesotho 3-0 in their final Group L match in the 2021 AFCON Qualifiers at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos State on Tuesday. Napoli’s striker Victor Osimhen gave Super Eagles their first goal 22nd minute into the match while Oghenekaro Etebo doubled the Nigerian team lead in the 51st minute. Paul Onuachu who came in for Osimhen ...