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Onyedika, Arokodare named in 2024 Belgian League golden XI

Nigerian stars Raphael Onyedika and Tolu Arokodare have earned spots in the prestigious 2024 Belgian League Golden XI.

Onyedika, one of eight Club Brugge players in the selection, played a crucial role in Brugge’s title-winning campaign last season. The 23-year-old has continued his impressive performances, remaining a key figure for the club this season.

Meanwhile, Arokodare’s lethal form for KRC Genk has seen him net 13 goals, making him the current top scorer in the Belgian Pro League.

Their inclusion in the Golden XI underscores the duo’s significant impact and remarkable contributions to their respective teams.

Related Topics:Raphael Onyedika Tolu Arokodare

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Trump to Sign Executive Order Restricting Transgender Women from Female Sports Categories

US President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order aimed at preventing transgender women from competing in female sports categories, according to White House officials.

The order, which will provide legal interpretations and regulations, tasks the Department of Education with investigating high schools suspected of non-compliance.

Supporters argue that the move restores fairness in sports, while LGBTQ+ advocacy and human rights organizations have condemned it as discriminatory.

Expected to cover high school, university, and grassroots sports, the order aligns with recent actions by sports governing bodies such as swimming, athletics, and golf, which have barred transgender women from female competitions if they underwent male puberty.

The executive order will reverse a previous position under the Biden administration that extended federal protection to LGBTQ+ students, without offering specific guidelines on transgender athletes.

The Department of Education will be empowered to oversee Title IX compliance, ensuring that federally funded education programs adhere to this new directive.

The White House also plans to engage bodies like the NCAA, inviting female athletes and their parents to discuss concerns over competition fairness and safety.

While White House officials claim the policy is widely supported, Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson criticized it for fostering harassment and discrimination, stating, “For so many students, sports are about finding somewhere to belong. Not partisan policies that make life harder for them.”

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Postecoglou dismisses claims that Mathys Tel rejected Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has denied reports suggesting that 19-year-old forward Mathys Tel initially refused to join the club before his deadline-day transfer from Bayern Munich.

Reports emerged last week claiming that Tel had declined a move to Spurs despite meeting chairman Daniel Levy in Germany. However, the forward was later pictured en route to London and officially completed his move on transfer deadline day, joining on loan with a £47.5 million purchase option for the summer.

Addressing the speculation, Postecoglou clarified the situation: “I think people need to understand that you are talking about a 19-year-old who has to make a major decision for his career. It’s not that he rejected us or anyone else. He just wanted to be comfortable with his decision, and credit to him for that.”

Postecoglou also praised Tel’s diligence during the transfer process: “He took so much time and was very diligent about finding out everything. He had other options, which gives me even more confidence that we are getting the right mentality and player. He is ambitious and confident, and it’s great that he chose us.”

Tel may make his debut as Spurs travel to Anfield for the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final clash against Liverpool on Thursday.

New defensive signing Kevin Danso is also available for selection, but key defenders Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero remain sidelined. Spurs are defending a narrow 1-0 lead from the first leg.

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Galatasaray open talks with Wolves for midfielder Mario Lemina

Galatasaray has confirmed negotiations with Wolves over the transfer of Gabonese midfielder Mario Lemina.

Lemina, who joined Wolves from Nice in January 2023, has been sidelined since January 6 following a fallout with manager Vitor Pereira. The midfielder initially refused to make himself available for selection, only to reverse his stance later. Pereira, however, insisted Lemina would remain out until the transfer window closed.

On Wednesday, Galatasaray announced they had entered discussions with both Lemina and Wolves, with Turkey’s transfer window remaining open until February 11.

Lemina, 31, previously played for Galatasaray on loan during the 2019-20 season, making 28 appearances.

His time at Wolves saw challenges, including losing the captaincy to Nelson Semedo after a clash with West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen. Wolves, currently sitting 17th in the Premier League, are just two points above the relegation zone after a difficult season.

Galatasaray, on the other hand, lead the Turkish Super Lig and have advanced to the knockout play-off stage of the Europa League.

Lemina’s career began at Lorient, followed by stints at Marseille and Juventus. Southampton signed him for a then club-record £18.1 million in 2017, where he made 52 appearances.