The United States won their fifth straight Olympic men’s basketball crown on Saturday, holding off a battling France 98-87 to take their tally of Olympic golds to 17.

In a rematch of the Tokyo Olympics final three years ago, LeBron James and the US team stacked with NBA stars once again proved too much for France’s sensational NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama and his teammates.

France sliced a 14-point deficit to three with 3min 04sec to play, but Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry drilled a three-pointer and Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant nailed two free throws, and the United States relentlessly powered to the finish.

Curry finished with eight three-pointers and led the US scoring with 24 points.

Durant and Devin Booker added 15 apiece and James scored 14 with six rebounds, 10 assists a steal, and a block.

For Durant, it was a record fourth Olympic gold. James earned his third and Curry, a four-time NBA champion, claimed his first in his first Olympic appearance.

AFP

Juventus player Paul Pogba has been banned from football for four years following a failed drug test, according to reports by Italian media.

Pogba tested positive for testosterone earlier this season and was suspended on September 11, 2023, while officials opened an investigation.

Pogba argued that he had ingested the substance accidentally in the hope of receiving a reduced suspension but, as first revealed by La Repubblica, his claims have been rejected and he has now been handed the biggest possible suspension of four years.

Pogba will turn 31 in March and will not be able to return to competitive football until shortly before his 35th birthday. It is understood that his four-year suspension will include the period he has already served on the sidelines and will therefore be lifted in 2027.

Pogba returned to Juventus on a free transfer after his Manchester United contract expired in 2022 but suffered a serious knee injury during the summer which limited him to just ten appearances across all competitions last season, including just one start in Serie A. In total, he has played just 213 minutes for Juventus since returning to the club.

The French midfielder went unused in the first game of the season but was still randomly selected for a doping test after the match. He made two more substitute appearances before the results were confirmed and Pogba was suspended.

He remains under contract with Juventus until 2026. The club have been informed of the court’s decision but are yet to respond publicly.

President Bola Tinubu has conferred the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) on all Super Eagles team members in appreciation of their performance at the just concluded CAF 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament held in Cote d’Ivoire.

In further recognition of their achievement, the federal government, represented by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)  Nyesom Wike, has granted each member of the team a plot of land as well as a flat with the location yet to be announced.

President Tinubu, who received the national football team, expressed pride in the team, acknowledging their role in fostering unity within the country through their remarkable performance.

Despite finishing second, he encouraged them to hold their heads high and maintain their team spirit.

Troost Ekong, the team’s assistant captain and recipient of the 2023 CAF AFCON Most Valuable Player, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his support, expressing a desire to present a trophy rather than silver medals.

Details shortly…