SportsNews

TIM HOWARD: Yes, USA Olympic stars like LeBron James and Noah Lyles ARE arrogant. So what? It propels us to greatness… And why it’s time to lay off Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting

Published

1 year ago

August 11, 2024

I played at the World Cup and in the Champions League and for one of the biggest teams in sports, Manchester United. But only once in my career did I really feel: this is a once in a life-time opportunity. That was in 2000, when I was part of Team USA at the Sydney Olympics.

I was only 21 but, even at that age, I remember thinking just how enormous and special it was.

It wasn’t like representing the USMNT – which I did 121 times. Over in Sydney, I felt part of something bigger. Something very powerful.

I remember hearing guys on the 1992 ‘Dream Team’ say similar: Yes you can win an NBAchampionship. Yes, you can win MVP. But a gold medal? That’s different. The current USA basketball team is one game away from gold and their own piece of history.

LeBron James and Co have come under fire in Paris – for staying in a luxury hotel rather than the Olympic village, for enjoying a party before their quarterfinal. And for narrowly beating Serbia.

LeBron James and USA basketball have a chance for Olympic gold later on Saturday

DailyMail.Com columnist Tim Howard

The only fact that matters, though? They are on pace for another gold medal.

So they should forget the criticism and so should Noah Lyles. The sprinter has been hammered for talking too much, for celebrating too much and for enjoying himself much before races.

Sure, there is a certain arrogance about US athletes. But that is what has propelled so many of us to greatness. That is a key reason why the US sits top of the medal table.

So I don’t mind athletes being brash and loud. I’m okay with the talking and the confidence. Why?

You can’t be the best in the world without believing you are the best in the world. And no one will ever convince me otherwise.

We call it arrogance but, really, it’s an undying self-belief that most people don’t possess. And it’s something you need.

You cannot ascend to the top of the mountain and remain humble. We tell people to keep their feet on the ground. But with Kevin Durant or Steph Curry or LeBron, we are talking about the best of the best ever to lace them up. They didn’t get that way by being reserved. Or staying in their box. Lyles is no different.

Noah Lyles won 100m gold but the vultures were ready when he got bronze in the 200m

He is in a sport that feeds off self-promotion and he has figured out how to turn his personality into dollar signs. He has realized that if you are polarizing, all publicity is good.

I like him, I can see why many don’t. But those critics still watch him because they want to see him fail. I’ve been in that frying pan, I’ve had naysayers and when you’re on top, it fuels your fire. But athletes walk a tightrope every day.

If you talk and you back it up, fans will applaud you. But if you stumble or fall, fans will criticize you.

That’s how it works – as Lyles found out the hard way. No matter that he won 100m gold. The vultures were waiting as soon as he finished third in the 200m.

But Letsile Tebogo, who beat Lyles to gold in Paris, said something interesting after the race. He said he could never be the face of track and field. Because he doesn’t talk out of turn. He doesn’t put himself out there.

He just runs his race. That isn’t Lyles. That isn’t this 2024 Dream Team. That isn’t America. And my message to our Olympic stars? Don’t change. In any way, shape or form.

Imane Khelif celebrates with her Olympic gold after facing intense scrutiny in Paris

I have been discriminated against but I couldn’t even attempt to put myself in the shoes of Algerian Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting. The two boxers have been pilloried in Paris.

I don’t pretend to have all the answers but all I know? They are being vilified as if they have done something wrong. When they are brilliant athletes who have done nothing wrong.

No one should be criticized for who they are or for wanting to further their career. For wanting to win a gold medal under existing IOC rules.

SportsNews

EPL: Full list of players leaving for 2025 AFCON

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

At least 25 players in the Premier League are set to travel for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

Nigeria, Ivory Coast, DR Congo lead the way in terms of players based in the English topflight, with four selected from each club for the AFCON.

FIFA has directed clubs to release the eligible players from Monday, December 15.

Full list of players confirmed

Sunderland (5):
Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Reinildo (Mozambique), Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso), Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo), Noah Sadiki (DR Congo).

Manchester United (3):
Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco).

Fulham (3):
Alex Iwobi (Nigeria), Calvin Bassey (Nigeria), Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria).

Burnley (3):
Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo), Lyle Foster (South Africa), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia).

Nottingham Forest (2):
Ibrahim Sangaré (Ivory Coast), Willy Boly (Ivory Coast).

Brentford (2):
Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso), Frank Onyeka (Nigeria).

Manchester City (1):
Omar Marmoush (Egypt),

West Ham United (1):
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo)

Wolves (2):
Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe), Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast).

Brighton & Hove Albion (1):
Carlos Baleba (Cameroon).

Crystal Palace (2):
Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal), Cheick Doucouré (Mali)

Liverpool (1):
Mohammed Salah (Egypt)

SportsNews

NNL bars fans from Ranchers Bees vs Adamawa United

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Nigeria National League, NNL, has announced that matchday six fixture between Ranchers Bees and Adamawa United will be played behind closed doors.

The announcement was made in a statement by the league body.

Only the State Football Association representatives, staff of both teams, kit managers and medical personnel will be allowed into the stadium.

Others are the match officials, security personnel and camera men.

The reason for the decision to play the game without club supporters wasn’t stated by the league body.

The encounter will take place at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna on Saturday (today).

SportsNews

Nigeria vs Egypt Friendly Gets New Date

Published

7 days ago

December 8, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Nigeria’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have taken a fresh hit, with Egypt confirming that the highly anticipated friendly between both nations has been shifted from 14 to 16 December.

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced the adjustment late Friday, noting that FIFA’s updated international release directive, which allows clubs keep African players until 15 December, made the original date unworkable.

EFA Vice President Khaled El-Darandaly explained that the new rule left both Egypt and Nigeria without full squads for the initial date.

Key Pharaohs players, including Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, are now expected to arrive only after the new release window.

Egypt had already named its 28-man provisional squad and opened camp in Cairo, with head coach Hossam Hassan accelerating final preparations for a Group B campaign that includes South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe.

Nigeria’s disruption is more extensive. The Super Eagles were originally scheduled to open camp on 10 December and progress through a streamlined friendly schedule before departing for Morocco. That entire framework has now been dismantled.

Under the revised timeline, camp will open on 14 December, leaving Eric Chelle with barely a week to prepare before AFCON kicks off.

The venue for the friendly is also now uncertain, with Cairo no longer feasible and both federations considering shifting the match to Morocco.

Nigeria’s build-up has been further destabilised by injuries to Ola Aina, Taiwo Awoniyi, Benjamin Fredrick and Felix Agu.

The shock retirement of captain William Troost-Ekong, winner of the 2023 AFCON Player of the Tournament award, creates an additional leadership vacuum in defence.

Chelle, who released a 55-man provisional list, must now trim his squad to 28 within a compressed window. Nigeria will compete in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania as they chase a fourth continental title.