Again, a number of sporting events took place over the weekend. The Wimbledon Open finals in Tennis, Copa America and UEFA Euro finals in Football.
There were events in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Nigeria men’s Basketball team were involved in an exhibition game against the mighty United State of America.
Below is our top five picks from the major sporting events that took place over the weekend.
5. Dustin Poirier TKO Connor McGregor at UFC 264
Dustin Poirier was again the better fighter as he defeated Connor McGregor at UFC 264 in their trilogy bout.
America’s Dustin Poirier took a 2-1 bragging right after the doctor asked that the match be stopped because Connor McGregor had damaged his leg or ankle, suffering a fracture in the first round.
The fight was awarded to Poirier, enraging McGregor.
There was an uncertainty as to whether McGregor suffered the injury when he kicked Poirier, or it was when he took a kick from Poirier that he fractured his leg.
The referee stopped the match on the doctor’s orders after an examination was carried out on McGregor, who could not stand in the octagon.
4. Lionel Messi finally wins a major title with the national team
Lionel Messi and Argentina emerged victorious by a 1-0 scoreline against Brazil in the final of the 2021 Copa America at the Maracana Stadium to win their first international trophy since 1993, ending a run of 28 years without a title.
The manner of their victory is reminiscent of the 2008 Olympics final against Nigeria, which they won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Angel Di Maria.
Coming into the final, both teams had everything going for them. Argentina was undefeated in 18 matches since losing to Brazil in the semifinal of the 2019 Copa America, and Brazil was on a 13-match unbeaten run since they lost to Argentina in a friendly.
Di Maria’s strike ultimately gave Argentina the win, but it was their doggedness and willingness to defend stoutly that set the platform for their win.
La Albiceleste have won their 15th Copa America title, tying Uruguay for most Copa titles in history. Lionel Messi has now gotten his elusive international title, and his greatness can no longer be questioned.
3. Gianluigi Donnarumma stars as Euro 2020 title went to Rome instead of Home
Italy defeated England in a fiercely contested Euro 2020 final on penalties after the game was level 1-1 at the end of regulation and extra time.
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saved two English penalties in the shootout to ensure that his side emerged victorious by a 3-2 scoreline.
Italy have now won a second European Championship, with their first coming 53 years ago in 1968. Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was named as the Player of the Tournament, the first goalkeeper to ever win such an award. Football is not coming home, it’s going to Rome.
2. Novak Djokovic wins 20th Grand Slam title to match Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal hauls
Novak Djokovic became only the third man in history to win 20 Grand Slam titles after he defeated seventh seed Matteo Berrettini 6-7 6-4 6-4 6-3 in four sets to emerge victorious at the All England Club for a sixth time in his career.
World number one Djokovic was chasing a record-equalling 20th Grand Slam title against Italy’s Berrettini. Buoyed by a vocal crowd, the Italian started very well, hitting big shots and taking the first set 7-6 before Djokovic found a way to neutralise his heavy-hitting style with his returns and he won the next two sets 6-4 6-4.
In the fourth set, Berrettini also started well and looked as if he was going to force a fifth set when he went 3-2 up, but Djokovuc showed his class to close out the set 6-3 and emerge as Wimbledon champion for a sixth time, equalling Pete Sampras’ haul at the All England Club.
Djokovic’s win means that the Serb has now won all three of the Grand Slams that have held this year and can complete a calendar Grand Slam if he wins the US Open later in the year. The Serb has also equalled the 20-title record of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
1. Nigeria record a shock 90-87 win against USA
Against all odds, Nigeria men’s basketball team, D’Tigers recorded a 90-87 win against the mighty USA in an exhibition game on Sunday.
The USBMNT had best of the best from the NBA on their roster. Their starting five for the game consisted of Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum and Bam Adebayo.
But Nigeria D’Tigers who had a roster mix of NBA, non-NBA and European based stars won the game ahead of the commencement of this year’s Olympic games set to hold in Tokyo, Japan.
Nigeria’s win over the USA is sweet revenge for the embarrassment caused the African nation by the USA. At the 2012 Olympic games in London, the USA defeated Nigeria 156-73.
Nigeria’s win is the greatest upset to ever occur in the world of basketball.
