Sports

AFCON-winning coach, Pape Thiaw, has politely rejected a crowdfunding campaign launched by Senegalese fans to help pay a fine imposed on him following the Africa Cup of Nations final. Pape was banned for five Confederation of African Football (CAF) matches after a chaotic Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against Morocco this month. He was also handed a $100,000 fine. Supporters had earlier mobilised online, raising funds in solidarity for the coach after reports emerged that he was fined over comments and actions linked to the tense aftermath of the AFCON final. However, in a statement attributed to the coach, Thiaw expressed deep gratitude to the fans but made it clear that he would not accept the donations. He thanked supporters for their love and concern, stressing...

Nigeria international, Joe Aribo is expected to leave Championship side Southampton ahead of the January transfer deadline.  Southampton remain active in the transfer market, particularly in attack, as they approach the 7pm deadline on Monday, February 2. Head coach Tonda Eckert is also looking to trim his squad, with several players struggling for regular playing time this season.  Aribo is among the players made available for transfer, alongside Sam Edozie. The Saints had attempted to offload both players during the summer window but were unable to finalize moves at the time. Speaking on the situation, Eckert confirmed that discussions are ongoing. He explained that any potential move must suit both the player and the club, noting that modern transfers often involve mu...

Spain have officially selected Tennessee as their base for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the city of Chattanooga named as the team’s headquarters for the tournament. The Spanish Football Federation announced that the European champions will be based in Chattanooga, a city located about two hours from Atlanta, where Spain are scheduled to play two of their three group-stage matches. Chattanooga, which has a population of approximately 190,000, lies along the Tennessee River in the southern United States. According to the federation, head coach Luis de la Fuente and his squad will stay at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Chattanooga Downtown, while training sessions will be held at the facilities of Baylor School. Spain, who lifted the World Cup in 2010, will face Cape Verde and Saudi A...

Super Eagles striker Terem Moffi has sealed a season-long loan move to Portuguese giants FC Porto, opening a new chapter in his European career. The agreement includes an option for Porto to make the transfer permanent for €8 million at the end of the season, subject to the player’s performance. The 26-year-old forward is already in Portugal and is expected to undergo a medical examination before the deal is officially completed. Moffi’s departure follows a difficult period at French club Nice, where he was reportedly attacked by supporters after a defeat to Lorient. The incident is said to have affected his involvement with the team, as he did not feature for the club again afterward. Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas had also been tracking the Nigerian striker’s situation but f...

Super Eagles and Fulham winger,  Samuel Chukwueze, has been thrown into deep mourning following the death of his mother, Mrs. Sarah Chukwueze, after a brief illness. The sad news was made public by his brother, Chukwueze David, who shared a series of heartbreaking posts on Instagram, announcing the painful loss and paying tribute to their late mother. Although full details surrounding her illness were not disclosed. The news comes two days after Super Eagles captain, Wilfred Ndidi, lost his father in a road accident in Delta state.

Manchester United has announced the appointment of Adam Lawrence as the new lead coach for the Under-21s for the remainder of the season. Lawrence previously managed the Under-18s, where he led the team to a national title and the Premier League Cup in the 2023/24 season before taking on a role at Premier League club Newcastle United. His new position comes following Travis Binnion’s transition to the first-team coaching staff earlier this month. In other coaching updates, Darren Fletcher retains his role as the Under-18s lead coach but has been given additional coaching job duties. He will now oversee the Professional Development Phase, which encompasses the Under-17s to Under-21s, for the remainder of the 2025/26 season. These changes come just ahead of Manchester United’s...

Hon Alabi Bliss Oshionogue, the Chairman of Akoko-Edo local government, has been impeached. He was impeached in a letter signed by seven Councillors few hours after  lawmakers in the Edo House of Assembly failed to hold a peace meeting between him and the seven Councillors. It was gathered the Chairman was removed following attempts by three of the Councillors that did not attend the meeting to remove the seven Councillors. Sources said the seats of the three Councillors were declared vacant. The seven Councillors rushed to Igarra, headquarters of Akoko-Edo local government and issued the impeachment letter, The Nation reports. The letter of impeachment reads: “We, the undersigned members of Akoko Edo Local Government Area Legislative Arm hereby impeach you as...

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco achieved a historic digital milestone, recording an unprecedented 6.1 billion digital impressions and 5.2 billion video views across social media platforms. The statistics, released on Wednesday via the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) official social media channels, mark a significant leap from previous editions of the tournament. By comparison, AFCON 2023 generated about 2.1 billion digital views, meaning the Morocco 2025 edition nearly tripled that figure. CAF described the achievement as unmatched, noting that it firmly places African football at the forefront of the global digital sports landscape. “The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 has become the most-watched continental football competition, p...

Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has been handed a five-match ban by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after a turbulent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against Morocco earlier this month, the body announced on Wednesday. According to CAF, Thiaw was found guilty of "unsporting conduct" and "bringing the game into disrepute" during the final held in Rabat on January 18, in which Senegal emerged 1-0 winners after extra time. Senegalese forwards Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr, both English Premier League players, received two-match bans each for "unsporting behaviour towards the referee." The Senegal Football Federation (FSF) was also fined $615,000 for multiple offences during the final, including the "unsporting conduct of players and technical staff in violation of CAF ...