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Lionel Messi, the Inter Miami captain, will miss for the rest of his life due to what the MLS team described as a “minor muscle injury in his right leg,” according to a statement released on Sunday.

The 38-year-old Argentine legend injured his upper right leg early in Miami’s Saturday penalty-kicks home victory over Mexico’s Necaxa.

In the eleventh minute, Messi left the field and entered the locker room.

Inter Miami stated in its statement that Messi “underwent medical tests to assess the extent of the muscle discomfort he experienced” and that this forced him to leave the game.

READ MORE:   Messi Kicks Out Early With Injury In Miami’s Leagues Cup Win

His right leg suffered a minor muscle injury, according to the results. According to the club, his medical clearance will depend on how well he does in clinical practice and how well he responds to treatment.

The Miami talisman, who has 18 goals and nine assists in 18 games, has no set date for a return. He also holds the MLS season lead.

Jordi Alba, who scored the penalty shootout winner for Miami in second-half stoppage time and set up the hosts’ 5-4 lead, described Messi’s early exit as “a huge sadness for the entire team.”

With three games left, Inter Miami is 12-4 with six drawn for 42 points, which is fifth in the Eastern Conference and eight points behind league pace-setter Philadelphia.

Any prolonged absence would also be a significant blow to Miami’s bid for the 2023 League, which Inter won right after Messi arrived in South Florida.

Miami, which will host UNAM Pumas on Wednesday, has five points and would advance to the Leagues Cup quarter-finals if it wins. It is second in the MLS standings to advance to the knockout stage.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the first African nation to win this feat, praised D’Tigress, Nigeria’s female basketball team, for their unprecedented fifth consecutive #AfroBasketWomen title.

“You truly inspire girls and women in general, and you give me pride.” The wife of President Bola Tinubu thanked her for keeping the Nigerian flag ablaze, saying in a statement late on Sunday.

In a tense showdown on Sunday, Nigeria defeated Mali 78-64 to win their seventh AfroBasket title.

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They have won their 29th game in a row without conceding a loss since 2015, dominating African women’s basketball.

Nigeria started the tournament with a slow start, as with most of their opening matches.

However, Rena Wakama’s team regrouped in the second quarter with the scores set at 41–41 as a result of Mali’s intensity.

In a hotly contested game that was rightly called “final before the final,” Nigeria had to work hard to defeat Senegal 75-68 to advance to the final.

Read more about how Nigeria’s D’Tigress defeated Senegal to reach the Afrobasket Final.

The D’Tigress’ historic fifth consecutive win on Sunday night was dependent on Amy Okonkwo and Ezinne Kalu’s outstanding performance.

Kalu scored 20 points, including several crucial baskets in the second and third quarters, despite Okonkwo contributing 19 points on the night.

In a game that once again demonstrated Nigeria’s depth, Musa added nine crucial points and four rebounds while Amukamara and Victoria Macaulay also contributed significant contributions.

The Nigerian ladies’ 20-15 victory over the Malians in the third quarter of the game proved to be very important.

He Nigerians led 61-56 at the start of the fourth quarter, and they continued to win.

D’Tigress from Nigeria became the first African nation to achieve this feat by winning an unprecedented fifth consecutive #AfroBasketWomen title.

In a tense matchup, Nigeria outperformed Mali, demonstrating resilience and calmness to win their seventh AfroBasket championship.

Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has pushed for better pay for sports coaches in Nigeria. Ajbade-Rasseedat

At the church’s annual Thanksgiving service, which took place at its national headquarters in Ebute-Meta, Lagos State, the reknowned octogenarian cleric made this statement on Sunday.

Pastor Adeboye expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for awarding each of the 24 Super Falcons players the naira equivalent of $100, 000 for their tenth consecutive gold victory at Morocco’s 2024 Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The President also announced the award of the technical team, including Falcons head coach Justin Madugu, the naira equivalent of $50, 000. He also stated that each player would receive a three-bedroom apartment.

Adeboye, who praised the President’s gesture during his sermon on Sunday, said coaches should not receive less compensation than players because players depend on coaches’ experience, direction, and technical know-how.

He said, “Overcomers will receive gifts when they go through the scriptures, as you will find in Revelation 2: 17.”

So, I wasn’t surprised when the President made the gift-giving decision for the Falcons. When they said each will get a $100, 000, I said, ‘ Wow! ‘

“In our days, a handshake was all we had.” Additionally, they will receive a house in addition to the money. Then they received honors.

“I appreciate the President’s gifts to the Falcons.” I don’t quite agree with the coaches because the team won’t succeed without them, but I do think they should. However, I’m not interested in controversies. God’s blessing on the coaches.

Adeboye, a former boxer in his youth, recalled how his coach routinely guided him and his fellow competitors in 1960.

“I had a coach who gave us a difficult time back in 1960.” We eventually confronted him, unsure if we were receiving military training.

Despite years of commitment, Ademola Lookman has formally requested a transfer to Atalanta, accusing the Serie A side of breaking promises and treating him poorly.

The Nigerian international expressed his frustration over the club’s alleged failure to honor a mutual agreement to let him leave if a fair offer was made in a statement posted on Instagram on Sunday.

“Sadly, the club are blocking the opportunity for reasons I do not understand, despite having received an offer that is in line with what I believe had been discussed.” In the past, numerous clubs have contacted Atalanta, and I have always had a strong commitment.

I feel like I have no choice but to speak out because of all the promises I’ve made and the poor treatment I’ve received from both as a person and as a professional footballer. I can confirm that I have now submitted a formal transfer request, Lookman wrote.

Lookman has excelled for Atalanta since joining in 2022, most recently contributing to their UEFA Europa League victory.

He claimed in his time with Bergamo that he had given the team and supporters “absolutely everything.”

I’ve always tried to represent this club and Bergamo with heart, passion, and dedication while wearing the shirt with pride. One of the most proudest moments of my career so far was winning the Europa League and standing shoulder to shoulder with my teammates in Dublin that night, he said.

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The Nigerian international player praised Atalanta as a club that made him feel like he was his own, highlighting the emotional bond he developed with supporters.

“This place has always felt like home, and I’ve always made an effort to repay that love, even when things haven’t been as easy as it has been in the background.

I’ve always tried to put the club, the fans, and the team first, he said, “Even though the very difficult moments I’ve endured, many of which have remained private and confidential. I regret that I now feel like there is little choice,” he said.

The 26-year-old admitted that despite receiving interest from other clubs, he had previously remained loyal despite saying that Atalanta’s management and he had come to terms with the decision to leave.

The player stated that if a fair offer came in, the club would allow me to move and that both myself and the club’s owners had come to terms with this.

Lookman apologized directly to the fans and stated that he still hopes to work with the club to arrive at a peaceful solution.

I want to tell the fans, who are the club’s heart, that I’m truly sorry that this has happened. I hope you are able to comprehend this extremely challenging situation. Simply put, it’s about fighting for what I think is just and right. He stated that he intends to work with the club to arrive at an amicable solution for all parties as soon as possible.

Lookman made his Serie A debut with a $ 15 million signing for Atalanta in August 2022. The club won the UEFA Europa League in 2023–24 thanks to his performances.

In the 11th minute of Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup penalty kick victory over Mexico’s Necaxa on Saturday at Fort Lauderdale’s Chase Stadium, Lionel Messi suffered an injury and was taken off.

Before making his way out of the locker room under his power and entering the locker room, the 38-year-old Argentine superstar appeared to be receiving treatment for his upper right leg or groin.

However, Miami coach Javier Mascherano predicted it would be Sunday before the exact nature of the injury and the setback’s severity would be known following a 5-4 victory in penalties after a 2-2 draw.

After the game, Mascherano said, “Well, he felt a discomfort, and we won’t be able to determine how severe the injury is,” Mascherano said.

“There is probably something there,” the statement read. He was not in pain, so perhaps not as significant. But he did experience a pull.

Messi dribbled into the Necaxa back line before stumbling to the ground and pounding the pitch as the ball was scuffled.

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Herons captain Messi lay on his back briefly on his back until trainers arrived while he was by himself and was standing in a seated position near midfield on the left wing.

Federico Redondo was chosen to take Messi’s place after Mascherano’s decision.

After the 10-man teams played to a 2-2 draw at full time, Inter Miami prevailed 5-4 on penalties.

In the third round of the shootout, Rodrigo De Paul, Ben Cremaschi, Jordi Alba, Redondo, and Luis Suarez hit penalties for Miami, with Uruguayan striker Suarez receiving the decisive penalty kick.

Telasco Segovia of Inter Miami, a midfielder from Venezuela, scored in the 12th minute, but Herons defender Maximiliano Falcon of Uruguay received a red card in the 17th minute.

Necaxa was reduced to 10 men as a result of Cristian Calderon’s red card in the 60th minute, and Badaloni scored the equalizer in the 33rd minute to give the visitors a half-time lead.

Ricardo Monreal scored in the 81st minute after leaving the Necaxa bench, but only Alba from Spain equalized for Miami in stoppage time in the second minute.

Messi was nagged by thigh strain issues during the Argentine World Cup qualifiers in March.

In his 18 MLS appearances this year, Messi has scored 18 goals and provided nine assists.

In their opening game of the Leagues Cup, an MLS and Mexican League squad had two goals scored by him in a 2-1 victory over Atlas on Wednesday.

On Wednesday when Miami plays Pumas, the group stage will be over.