Sports

Egyptian goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy has been suspended for four matches following an altercation with a referee after Al Ahly SC’s 1-1 draw against Ceramica Cleopatra FC in the Egyptian Premier League. Although he was an unused substitute during the match, El-Shenawy became involved in the post-match drama after Al Ahly were denied a late penalty over a disputed handball decision in stoppage time. The situation escalated on the touchline, with the veteran goalkeeper accused of confronting and striking the match official. League authorities confirmed the punishment, imposing a four-game ban along with a fine of 50,000 Egyptian pounds. The incident was classified as physical misconduct rather than violent conduct, but it still carries significant consequences for the club. El-She...

Morocco’s captain, Achraf Hakimi, has admitted he is not proud of the actions surrounding the towel controversy that occurred during the closing stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The incident involved opposing goalkeepers, including Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali and Senegal’s Édouard Mendy. During both the semifinal and final matches, Moroccan staff, ball boys, and some players were repeatedly seen attempting to take towels meant for the goalkeepers. These actions raised concerns, as they appeared to be aimed at making it more difficult for the goalkeepers to maintain a firm grip in wet playing conditions. In the final, footage showed towels being taken from Mendy during light rain, while a similar situation occurred with Nwabali in the semifinal clash against Nigeria. Speakin...

Etim Esin, a former professional Nigerian footballer, has reflected on the controversial r@pe scandal in Belgium which derailed his career. Speaking in a recent interview with sports host Charles Anazodo,  Esin disclosed that ignoring advice from late Super Eagles captain Stephen Keshi led to him getting into trouble in Belgium.  Etim Esin said: “Had it been I calmed down like Keshi advised me, ‘Get a woman, Itimi, your life will be more stable’, I think a lot of things I didn’t do then, I would have avoided. I learned a lesson from that.” Esin further addressed his lifestyle in Belgium which ultimately landed him into legal trouble.  According to him, he was partying, dating multiple women and living as though he was still in Nigeria, not knowing he couldn...

Plans are in motion for a long-anticipated heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, with Dublin’s Croke Park being considered as the venue for a possible September bout. The proposed fight at the 80,000-capacity stadium depends on Fury winning his upcoming comeback fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov in London and Joshua choosing not to take another bout beforehand. Joshua recently resumed training after a car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his associates, while his last fight was against Jake Paul in December. If he opts for a warm-up fight, the mega clash could be postponed until later in the year, potentially in the UK. Croke Park’s chief executive, Peter McKenna, said hosting the fight could also open the door for Irish boxing star Katie Tay...

Liverpool legend, Andy Robertson, will leave the club at the end of the season, the Premier League champions have announced. The Scotland captain has spent nine seasons with the Reds, making 373 appearances and winning two Premier League titles, a Champions League, the FA Cup, two League Cups, as well as the FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and the Community Shield. However, the 32-year-old defender has only made 15 starts this season following the arrival of Milos Kerkez, and will leave when his contract expires in the summer. Speaking on the club's website, Robertson said: "It’s never easy leaving a club like Liverpool, it has been a huge part of mine and my family’s life for the last nine years. But for me, players move on, other people move on – the thing that stays the sa...

President of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, has vowed to respect the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the disputed 2025 AFCON title, which was awarded to Morocco by the body’s Appeal Committee. Motsepe disclosed this on Wednesday, April 9, during a visit to Senegal, 22 days after the historic decision to strip the Teranga Lions of victory in the final of the 2025 AFCON and declare Morocco the winner. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the decision on March 17 to crown Morocco champions two months after the acrimonious conclusion to the tournament, stripping Senegal of their title for leaving the pitch. CAF’s Appeals Committee awarded Morocco 3-0 scoreline, despite losing the match on the pitch 1-0, on the grounds t...

The Confederation of African Football has unveiled the group stage draw for the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to take place from May 13 to June 2 in Morocco. The draw was conducted on Wednesday at CAF headquarters in Cairo and later made public via the organisation’s official platforms. Host nation Morocco will headline Group A in a competitive North African lineup that includes Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia, with only the top two teams advancing to the quarter-finals. Group B features former champions Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon, who will compete against Uganda and debutants DR Congo. In Group C, Mali—champions in 2015 and 2017 and runners-up in the last edition—will face Angola, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Meanwhile, defending champions Senegal top Group D, where the...

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested two individuals in separate cases involving fraud and currency mutilation. The Benin Zonal Directorate arrested Osagie Etinosa for allegedly defrauding a football hopeful of N11 million. In a statement signed by the EFCC, the Commission said the suspect “had been parading himself on Instagram account @officialking_etto as a football agent who specialises in linking footballers with foreign clubs for trials and recruitment.” The statement added that Etinosa “collected the sum of N11,000,000 from one Samuel Beke Ohazuruike with the promise of securing trials for him in Romanian and Bulgarian clubs, which never materialised. Efforts by the victim to recover his money proved abortive.” The Commission confirmed th...

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has called on Nigerians to vote out the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections. Amaechi made the statement on Wednesday during the #OccupyINEC protest in Abuja, organised by the ADC following the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s decision to withdraw recognition from some party leaders amid internal disputes. The protest drew prominent political figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Senate President David Mark, and Rauf Aregbesola. Addressing journalists, Amaechi said it was time for Nigerians to remove the ruling party from power, just as the APC unseated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015. He warned that if re-elected, the APC c...

Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football, was in Dakar on Wednesday, April 8, amid growing controversy over the body’s decision to strip Senegal of its AFCON title and award it to Morocco. Motsepe had earlier announced plans to visit both Senegal and Morocco to promote unity and cooperation in African football following widespread criticism of CAF’s ruling. During the visit, Motsepe is scheduled to meet Senegal’s president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, at the presidential palace, with a press conference expected afterward. The visit comes at a tense moment after CAF overturned Senegal’s 1-0 victory over Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final held on January 18 in Rabat. CAF cited competition regulations regarding leaving the field when it awarded M...