Over 145 golfers are set to participate in the 2024 Emirates Global Hotel Amateur Open Golf Championship in Ilorin from Friday to Saturday.

Dare Akanbi, a member of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), informed reporters on Monday in Ilorin that the field consists of 124 males and 21 females.

Akanbi disclosed that the golfers represent various clubs including Ibom Golf Club, Ikeja Golf Club, Abeokuta Golf Club, and Tiger Golf Club, among others.

“The event is an annual championship introduced by the Chairman of Emirate Global Hotel, Hon. Lambe Akanbi, demonstrating his support and passion for golf and his commitment to nurturing the sport,” Akanbi remarked.

“We have finalized arrangements for the 2024 edition, which will feature 124 male and 21 female participants, with an additional 11 on standby due to late registration,” he added.

The championship is scheduled to Tee-off at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, with the official Tee-off slated for 9:00 a.m. The closing ceremony will take place in the evening, during which winners will be announced and rewarded.

Akanbi noted that the championship, which does not have any age bracket, offers prizes and souvenirs for winners, as well as consolation prizes for all participants. The tournament includes different categories, including 1, 2, 3, 4, and Senior Veterans.

Among the notable golfers expected to compete in the championship are Lanre Sagaya, Otunba Olusola Adekanola, and Owolabi Olajide, among others.

Chelsea thrashed West Ham 5-0 to move above Manchester United into seventh place and keep their hopes of European qualification on Sunday.

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is fighting to convince the club’s co-owner Todd Boehly to give him a second season in charge after his troubled debut campaign.

Pochettino admits it is “not his decision” if he stays, but securing a place in Europe could be enough to avoid the sack.

Cole Palmer put Chelsea ahead in the 15th minute with his 21st league goal of the season, the forward firing home after West Ham failed to clear.

Conor Gallagher doubled Chelsea’s advantage after 30 minutes with a blistering volley after West Ham’s Kurt Zouma deflected the ball towards the midfielder.

Noni Madueke bagged Chelsea’s third six minutes later as the winger turned in Thiago Silva’s header from close range.

Nicolas Jackson piled on the misery for woeful West Ham in the 48th minute with a tap-in from Madueke’s cross.

The Nigeria’s Under 17 female football team,the  Flamingos will  play their away match against their Burkinabe counterparts in the  2024 FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture on a neutral ground in Bamako, Mali.

Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications at the  Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) stated this in a statement  on Friday.

The world body insisted that the Burkinabes cannot play in Ouagadougou due to the poor state of their home venue.

The decision has seen the Burkinabes opt for the Malian capital, where they will host the Flamingos on  May 11  from 4 pm Mali time, 5pm Nigeria time.

The return leg will come up at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on  May 18   from 4.30 pm Nigeria time.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Suavis Iratunga from Burundi as referee for the match that will take place at the March 26 Stadium.

Her compatriots Fides Bangurambona, Alida Iradukunda and Joselyne Nsabimana as assistant 1, assistant 2 and fourth official respectively.

Oumou Souleyman Kanefrom Mauritania will be commissioner while Aya Irene Ahoua from Cote d’Ivoire will be the referee assessor.

The  return leg in Abuja, will have Aline Umutoni from Rwanda as  the referee, with her compatriots Alice Umutesi and Sandrine Usenga as assistant 1 and assistant 2 respectively.

 Ethiopian Raya Sisay will be the fourth official, with Naa Odofoley Nortey as commissioner and Senegalese Fatou Gaye as referee assessor.

The Flamingos’ delegation to Bamako will leave Abuja on Wednesday  for Bamako for the encounter.

The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024 will take place in the Dominican Republic from  Oct. 16 to Nov.3.

This will be the first time that the Dominican Republic will host a FIFA tournament.