Okagbare breaks African record in the 200m in Texas

Nigeria sprint queen Blessing Okagbare broke the African record in the 200m with a time of 22.04secs at the Wes Kittley Invitational Track and Field Meet at the Abilene Christian University. The Common Wealth Champion erased the 22-year-old previous African record of 22.07secs set by former African champion Mary Onyali at a Meet in Switzerland in 1996. Cierra White placed second behind Okagbare with a time of 22.26secs while Natasha McDonald settled for third in 24.23secs. Okagbare's time also becomes the new national record in the 200m breaking her previous personal best of 22.23 set at the 2014 Eugene Diamond League. With her latest exploit, Okagbare now holds the Nigerian records in the women’s 100m (10.79secs) and 200m. The United States based athlete did not compete in the indoor season which started in January, but was victorious in the Wes Kittley Invitational which was her first competition in the 2018 season. The 26-year-old is one of the 37 athletes listed by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria to participate at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, which begins on April 4.

Real Madrid desperate to sign Brazilian star Neymar

Spanish champions Real Madrid are now said to be ready to do all their best so as for them to sign Brazilian football star Neymar at the end of the season. Neymar made a world record transfer move to Paris-Saint-Germain from Barcelona last year August, and he has been linked with a move to Real Madrid since January 2018. There are even reports that the Spanish club have met his father for him to help them convince his son to leave France for a return to Spain. The report also stated that Real Madrid president Perez is ready to pay a world record €400m to convince PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi to allow Neymar to join Los Blancos. Spanish media outlet Don Balon are now saying that Real Madrid are ready to offer PSG cash plus Isco for the possibility of them signing Neymar. PSG president is said to be a fan of Isco and there is a belief in Madrid that this proposal could convince PSG to part with Neymar this summer. But the 42-year-old retired football star wants his fellow countryman to make a move to Spanish champions Real Madrid. Neymar left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain last year after his £200m release clause was activated.

By Mercy Kukah