Sports

Real Madrid manager, Álvaro Arbeloa, has told Trent Alexander-Arnold to leave the LaLiga club, according to El Nacional. The 27-year-old only arrived at the Bernabéu as a free agent from Liverpool last summer. However, Madrid reportedly paid a compensation fee of around €10 million so he could feature at the Club World Cup. Alexander-Arnold has endured a difficult start to life in Spain due to injury setbacks. His unavailability has seen the England defender fail to nail down a place in the starting XI under Xabi Alonso and now Arbeloa. It is now claimed that Arbeloa has held talks with Alexander-Arnold, advising him to leave Madrid for his own good in the summer transfer window. Arbeloa reportedly told Alexander-Arnold that he is not in the club’s long-term plans and tha...

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is reportedly considering postponing the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) amid ongoing changes to the tournament’s scheduling framework. CAF is seeking to move the competition to a four-year cycle, with the first edition under the revised format expected to take place in 2028. As a result, concerns have emerged over the feasibility of hosting the tournament in 2027 as originally planned. Sources at CAF’s headquarters in Cairo revealed doubts about the readiness of the designated host nations—Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya—to stage the competition on schedule. Discussions are reportedly ongoing, with a possible shift to 2028 now under consideration. A final decision is expected in the coming months following consultations with the host countr...

Tottenham Hotspur have initiated talks with Liverpool as they consider a potential summer move for experienced left-back Andy Robertson. The 31-year-old Scotland international is entering the final months of his contract at Anfield and recently admitted he is uncertain about his future. With the World Cup approaching, Robertson is eager to secure consistent playing time after struggling for regular starts this season. According to BBC Sport, Spurs have made an initial enquiry to Liverpool, though discussions remain at an early stage and no deal has been agreed. Robertson has found opportunities limited this campaign, starting just four Premier League matches. His latest appearance came as a substitute in Liverpool’s 1–1 draw with Burnley on January 17. Ahead of that match, Live...

Spanish giants, Real Madrid, have once again been crowned the highest-revenue club in world football. For the third consecutive year, the club tops Deloitte’s global ranking after generating €1.161 billion in revenue during the 2024–25 season. That figure represents a year-on-year increase of €115.5 million and places Real Madrid nearly €200 million ahead of second-placed Barcelona (€974.8m). This figure is almost €200 million more than the second-placed club, FC Barcelona, which recorded revenues of €974.8 million, and far ahead of the most powerful clubs in the Premier League. For example, Liverpool, ranked fifth, generated €836.1 million. Despite failing to win any major trophies during the season, Real Madrid once again achieved outstanding financial results. As Deloitte po...

Liverpool Football Club has surged past Manchester United and Manchester City to become the richest club in England for the first time ever. In a major financial milestone for English football, Liverpool rose to the top of the English revenue rankings, having earned £729m from their Premier League-winning season.  Six Premier League sides made the top 10, with Liverpool the leader.  They are also fifth in the World. The Reds’ financial performance was boosted by a combination of factors, including high commercial income, robust matchday earnings, and their return to the UEFA Champions League. Additional non-matchday events at Anfield, such as high-profile concerts, also contributed to revenue growth, demonstrating a diversified business model that goes beyond football al...

PSG defender, Lucas Hernandez, and his partner have been accused of human trafficking and exploitation by a family of Colombian workers. The left–back, who won the World Cup with France in 2018, is said to have employed the family of five to work as his security and babysitters from September 2024 until November 2025. Entertainment center But according to the family's lawyer, Lola Dubois, Hernandez, 29, and his partner Victoria Triay hired them without the relevant legal status and had them working up to 82 hours a week with no days off. Hernandez and Triay both vehemently deny the allegations and say they have been 'betrayed'.  The daughter of the family told French outlet Paris Match that she was contacted by Triay while working as her nurse in Colombia...

Super Eagles forward Akor Adams has received continental acclaim after his goal against Algeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations was selected among CAF’s top five goals of the tournament. The list, released on the TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 X handle and monitored by PUNCH Online on Thursday, featured Adams’ superb finish from Nigeria’s quarter-final encounter with Algeria. His display of accuracy, calmness, and technical quality was instrumental in Nigeria’s 2–0 victory. The strike proved pivotal in Nigeria’s campaign, helping the Super Eagles push on to a third-place finish at the tournament. CAF explained that its top-five selection celebrates not only visually stunning goals but also decisive moments that shaped matches. Adams’ inclusion reflects his growing status and influence...

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has imposed a total fine of $100,000 on the Algerian Football Federation for what it termed “inappropriate conduct” by Algerian players, officials, and supporters following their quarter-final exit at the Africa Cup of Nations. CAF announced the sanctions in a statement issued on Wednesday, according to Naija News. Algeria lost 2–0 to Nigeria at the Grand Stade de Marrakech on December 10 in the quarter-finals of the 2025 AFCON, but the encounter was marred by disorder after the final whistle. Reports indicated that Algerian players and officials confronted match officials, accusing them of influencing the outcome of the game. CAF noted that the Algerian delegation targeted Senegalese referee Issa Sy and his officiating team, triggering ...

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced sanctions for the Algeria national team, over the clashes that happened after their quarter-final clash with Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. CAF’s disciplinary board has cited misconduct by players, officials and supporters during and after the encounter with the Super Eagles. As part of the ruling, goalkeeper Luca Zidane has been suspended for two matches, a ban he will serve during the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign. Defender Rafik Belghali was handed a four-match suspension, with two of those games suspended. The remaining two matches will take immediate effect, provided no further offences are committed. In addition, CAF fined the FAF $100,000 for the improper conduct of their players, officials and sup...

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has approved the appointment of Sani Musa Daura as Senior Special Assistant on Protocol Matters. The appointment was confirmed in a statement by the minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, who described Daura as a veteran civil servant with over 30 years of experience in the FCTA Protocol Department. Daura, who has served as Director of the FCT Protocol Department since 2019, is set to retire from the civil service on January 24, 2026, with his new role taking effect immediately after retirement. Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja has upheld the exclusion of Labour Party (LP) candidates from the upcoming FCT Area Council elections scheduled for February 21. ...