Sports

Chelsea, on Friday, confirmed that young defender Olutayo Subuloye has signed a new contract with the club that will see him remain at Stamford Bridge until at least 2030. Subuloye joined Chelsea’s Academy at the Under-12s level from Brighton & Hove Albion. The defender has progressed steadily through the age groups, developing into a strong and composed player. He captained Chelsea’s Under-16s in the 2023/24 Premier League national final and later became a regular for the club’s Under-18s. Subuloye also gained further experience with Chelsea’s Under-21s in the Premier League 2 and EFL Trophy. This is coming ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League tie with Brentford on Saturday.

British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has resumed training, taking a positive step in his recovery following a devastating car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two close friends and members of his team. The 36-year-old former world champion suffered minor injuries in the crash on December 29, near Lagos. The accident involved their vehicle and a stationary truck, resulting in the deaths of Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele. Nineteen days after the tragedy, Joshua shared a video on Snapchat showing himself back in the gym, working pads and training, with the phrase “mental strength therapy” appearing on one of the clips. His return to training comes less than a month after his victory over Jake Paul in Miami on December 19, which took place just days before the incid...

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has expressed his disappointment over Nigeria’s elimination in the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), but insists the team remains determined to finish the tournament on a high note. Nigeria’s campaign was halted on Wednesday by host nation Morocco, who edged the Super Eagles 4–2 on penalties after a goalless draw in regulation time. The three-time African champions will now battle Egypt for the bronze medal at the Mohammed V Stadium on Saturday at 5 p.m. Speaking to reporters, Chelle admitted the pain of falling short of his ambitions. “Honestly, I’m disappointed to be here,” he said. “I had big goals for this competition. After the defeat to Morocco, I encouraged my players to stay positive because they had an excellent tour...

Ronald Koeman has bolstered his Dutch national team coaching staff ahead of the 2026 World Cup by appointing Ruud van Nistelrooy as the third assistant coach, joining Erwin Koeman and Wim Jonk. Van Nistelrooy, 49, had an illustrious playing career for the Netherlands, earning 70 caps and scoring 35 goals. He previously served as an assistant coach for the national team in 2014–2015 and again during the rescheduled 2021 European Championship under Frank de Boer. Since then, Van Nistelrooy has taken on several managerial roles, including head coach at PSV, assistant and briefly interim manager at Manchester United, and head coach at Leicester City. His tenure at Leicester ended with relegation in June 2025, leaving him without a club until now. Speaking on his return, Van Nistelrooy...

Michael Carrick believes European qualification from his short stint in charge of Manchester United will be evidence the Red Devils are moving in the right direction. The former United and England midfielder was appointed this week on a deal to the end of the season, but faces a baptism of fire at Old Trafford when local rivals Manchester City visit on Saturday, seeking to boost their Premier League title hopes. Far from challenging for the title, seventh-placed United are 17 points adrift of top spot. For just the second time since the 1989/90 campaign, the 20-time English champions failed to qualify for Europe this season and are far from guaranteed a return to continental competition next term. “We want to be near the top of the league, we want to be top of the league. T...

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will pocket $2.5 million following their defeat to hosts Atlas Lions of Morocco in the semi-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The other semi-finalists, Pharaohs of Egypt will also walk away with the same financial reward. Hossam Hassan’s side fell 1-0 to the Teranga Lions of Senegal in their last four tie on Tuesday. Nigeria and Egypt will battle for third position at the Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca on Saturday. The tournament’s winner will be decided on Sunday, with Morocco, and Senegal battling for the ultimate prize. The winner will go home with a record price money of $10 million, while the runner-up is set to earn $4 million.

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has backed caretaker head coach Michael Carrick to steady the club during a turbulent period, while warning fans not to mistake his calm demeanour for a lack of authority. United confirmed on Tuesday that Carrick would take charge of the team until the end of the season, succeeding Ruben Amorim. The appointment comes as the club continues to struggle for consistency on and off the pitch. As reported by BBC Sport on Friday, Rooney, who played alongside Carrick at Old Trafford, said the former midfielder would approach the role with total focus despite his relaxed appearance. “Michael’s great fun. He is a great character, but don’t be fooled by how calm he looks. “He can have fun as well, but make no mistake, he’d be going in there now with full...

The 2025/2026 English Premier League resumes this weekend with an action-packed Matchday 22, set to deliver excitement at both the top and bottom of the table. Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton has released his predictions for the latest round of fixtures, sharing his views via BBC Sport. Saturday’s schedule is highlighted by the early kick-off clash between Manchester United and Manchester City, a derby that could significantly impact the title race as well as the battle for Champions League qualification. Elsewhere on Saturday, Chelsea host Brentford at Stamford Bridge, Liverpool welcome Burnley, and Nottingham Forest face league leaders Arsenal in an evening showdown. Sunday’s fixtures feature Aston Villa against Everton, while Wolves take on Newcastle United. The round co...

Former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has said that success at the club depends more on managing relationships in the dressing room than on tactical expertise. The French football icon, who oversaw one of the most successful eras in Real Madrid’s history, explained that any coach who fails to earn the trust and backing of the players is unlikely to survive long at the Santiago Bernabéu. Speaking on Hamidou Msaidie’s YouTube channel, Zidane said his philosophy at Madrid was built around understanding players and putting their needs first. “At Real Madrid, we were at the service of the players,” Zidane said, as quoted by GOAL.“For me, that’s what makes a team strong — being there for the player. If you don’t understand that, you won’t last in this job.” He stressed that play...

Dutch forward Donyell Malen has completed a switch to AS Roma, ending his brief spell at Aston Villa after only one season in the Premier League. Roma confirmed that the deal is a loan move with an option to make the transfer permanent, though Aston Villa did not reveal the financial details. Reports indicate that the option could become an obligation if certain performance-related conditions are met. Malen, 26, joined Villa from Borussia Dortmund in January 2025 and scored 10 goals in 46 appearances across all competitions. Although he has netted seven times this season, he struggled to secure a consistent starting role, making just five league starts in 21 appearances under manager Unai Emery. Currently fifth in Serie A, Roma announced that Malen will wear the number 14 shirt. T...