Sports

Benfica coach Jose Mourinho said his Real Madrid counterpart Alvaro Arbeloa was like a child to him ahead of their Champions League battle on Wednesday. The veteran Portuguese manager coached Arbeloa at Madrid during his time at the helm of Los Blancos between 2010-2013, and had a strong relationship with the former defender in a dressing room that was splintering. After a comment from Mourinho last week about being “surprised” when inexperienced managers lead big European clubs was viewed as a dig at new Madrid coach Arbeloa, he said he would never try to make life hard for his former charge. Former Inter Milan coach Mourinho said in Italy his words were also being taken as criticism of the appointment of Cristian Chivu at the Serie A side last summer. “There is one proble...

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will be present in Milan and Cortina throughout the Winter Olympics. ICE agents will reportedly play 'security role' throughout the sporting extravaganza, which begins on February 6 in Italy, the US Embassy in Rome reportedly confirmed to the Associated Press. The federal ICE agents will reportedly support diplomatic security details and would not run any immigration enforcement operations. However, ICE's presence at the games has sparked controversy amid growing unrest back in the United States, after agents moved in to Minnesota on the orders of the Trump administration. The news came on Tuesday after the deaths of two American citizens at the hands of federal officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in less than three weeks. Alex P...

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is considering prohibiting goalkeepers from placing towels inside their goalposts following a series of incidents involving fans at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. The issue gained prominence after several matches were disrupted by clashes between players and spectators, with fans moving dangerously close to the goal area to retrieve towels left behind the net. Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali and Senegal captain Édouard Mendy were among the goalkeepers who confronted supporters during tense moments that attracted widespread attention. In response, CAF’s Referees Committee has intervened, with its president, Olivier Safari Kebene, stressing that the matter extends beyond crowd behaviour and directly concerns the...

Manchester United are preparing to cope without Patrick Dorgu after the wing-back sustained a hamstring injury during Sunday’s thrilling 3–2 Premier League win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. The 21-year-old Dane, who scored United’s second goal with a powerful strike from outside the box, was substituted late in the match. Interim head coach Michael Carrick initially suspected cramp, but subsequent assessments have confirmed a more serious problem. Although the full severity of the injury is still being evaluated, Dorgu is expected to be sidelined for several weeks, raising doubts over his availability during a packed schedule leading up to the March international break. Dorgu has been one of United’s most impressive performers in recent weeks. Since arriving from Italian c...

Super Eagles forward Salim Fago Lawal has sealed a move to Czech First Division outfit Viktoria Plzen, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract with the club. The 23-year-old made the switch from Croatian side NK Istra after an impressive stint in which he scored 15 goals and provided two assists. Speaking to Viktoria Plzen’s official website, Lawal expressed his excitement about the move, citing the club’s strong reputation in European competitions. “I know Viktoria mainly from their performances in European tournaments, where the club has achieved consistent success. This offer really appealed to me, and I see it as a major step forward in my career. I’m eager to contribute to the team as much as possible,” he said. Lawal added that his recent involvement with the national ...

The father of Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has renewed his emotional call for reconciliation, revealing that he has been separated from his children for almost 20 years and longs to reunite with them. Kingsley Ughelumba, from Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, revisited the painful experience in a recent social media interview, stating that he has had little to no meaningful contact with his four sons — including the Fulham defender — for more than 18 years. He attributed the estrangement to the breakdown of his marriage to their mother, Ebere Bassey. Ughelumba had previously spoken out about the issue two years ago but returned with visible emotion, describing himself as “dying in silence” while still hoping his children would eventually find their way back to him...

Director General of Nigeria’s National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, has dismissed speculation linking Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle with a move away from Nigeria amid reported interest from Tunisia, Gabon and Angola. Chelle has attracted attention following Nigeria’s bronze medal finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The Malian coach currently has less than a year remaining on his contract with the Nigeria Football Federation, sparking rumours about his future. However, Olopade insisted that Chelle remains fully committed to the Super Eagles and will not be leaving his role. “Eric Chelle is not going anywhere. The countries claiming interest in him don’t have the kind of superstars that make his job easier,” Olopade said. He explained that Chelle’s su...

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has scheduled its Extraordinary Congress for February 14 in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, as part of efforts to address pressing administrative, statutory and developmental issues.  The congress, which is being convened outside the Federation’s statutory Annual General Assembly (AGA), will bring together members of the NFF Executive Committee, chairmen of state football associations, representatives of the various leagues and other key football stakeholders from across the country. According to information from the Glass House, the Extraordinary Congress will focus on matters requiring urgent attention, including critical policy decisions and resolutions considered essential for the smooth administration and long-term development of fo...

Former Spain coach Robert Moreno has reportedly been dismissed after relying heavily on ChatGPT to plan training schedules and make key team decisions. The 48-year-old was relieved of his duties at Russian First League side FC Sochi last September, having managed just one point from seven matches. According to the club’s former sporting director, Andrei Orlov, Moreno was an avid user of ChatGPT and frequently depended on the AI tool for decision-making—sometimes with unusual consequences. Orlov revealed that during preparations for an away fixture in Khabarovsk, Moreno strictly followed a schedule generated by ChatGPT. The plan reportedly required players to train at 7 a.m. two days before the match and remain awake for a continuous 28-hour period. Speaking in an interview with...

Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has won his first trophy with Qatari side Al Ahli, marking a memorable milestone in his career. Al Ahli secured the UAE-Qatar Super Cup Challenge Cup following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Al Jazira. Although the 32-year-old didn’t feature in the game, after completing a move to Al Ahli SC of Qatar after leaving Saudi club Al Kholood. He signed a contract with the Qatari side that runs until June 2028, marking a significant step in his career as he joins one of Qatar’s top clubs. Troost-Ekong, who has been a key figure for the Super Eagles, brings extensive experience from both European and Middle Eastern football. His arrival at Al Ahli is expected to strengthen the club’s defence and add leadership to the bac...