Sports

Liverpool have reportedly ended their association with manager Arne Slot just days after the conclusion of the 2025/26 Premier League season. The Reds endured a disappointing campaign, failing to retain the league title and ultimately finishing fifth, although they still secured qualification for next season's UEFA Champions League. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool have decided to part ways with the Dutch tactician following a post-season review. Romano stated that former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is currently the leading candidate to take charge at Anfield. “Arne Slot and Liverpool have agreed to part ways with immediate effect. It’s over between the Dutch manager and Liverpool after the end-of-season review. Andoni Iraola is the clear favour...

Nigerian sprint sensation, Kanyinsola Ajayi, has made history after breaking the men’s 100m national record at the 2026 NCAA Division I East First Round track and field meet in the United States. The 21-year-old Auburn University athlete clocked an astonishing 9.84 seconds in one of the quarter-final heats in the early hours of Saturday,  to qualify for the NCAA Championships, and erase a record that had stood for nearly two decades. His time of 9.84s (0.4m/s) eclipsed the previous Nigerian national record of 9.85s set by Olusoji Fasuba in 2006. Ajayi’s outstanding performance also makes him the fastest man in the world so far in 2026, surpassing the previous world-leading mark set earlier this week by Botswana’s 400m world champion, Collen Kebinatshipi, who had attracted glo...

Super Eagles legend Jay-Jay Okocha holds the record for the most successful dribbles in a single FIFA World Cup match. According to FIFA statistics, Okocha completed 15 successful dribbles during Nigeria’s clash against the Italy national football team at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, a record that still stands today. The Nigerian great sits ahead of several football icons, including Jairzinho, Paul Gascoigne, Eusébio, Johan Cruyff and Diego Maradona, all of whom recorded fewer successful dribbles in a single World Cup game. FIFA's records also show that Lionel Messi has completed the most take-ons in World Cup history with 125, while Maradona remains the player with the most successful take-ons in a single tournament, registering 53 during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico....

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has said “no one” should doubt that Cristiano Ronaldo could feature at the 2030 World Cup when he will be 45-years-old. Ronaldo will make a record sixth World Cup appearance when he leads Portugal in this summer’s tournament in north America. Portugal are co-hosting the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Morocco. Asked if Ronaldo, who has not given an indication as to when he will retire from football, could play at the 2030 World Cup, Martinez told Cadena Ser radio: “No one should doubt that. He’s earned it.” Ronaldo made his debut with Portugal in 2003 and is the all-time leader in appearances (226) and goals (143) for a men’s national team. He is also the only man to have scored in five World Cups. “We would love to be able to pass on Cristiano Ron...

Barcelona confirmed the marquee signing of England winger Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United on Friday, May 29, in a deal that could rise to €80 million ($93 million).  The 25-year-old left winger has agreed to a five-year contract keeping him at the club until June 30, 2031.  Gordon enjoyed a sensational season with Newcastle, finishing as the club’s top scorer with 17 goals, including an impressive 10-goal haul in the Champions League. His high-profile arrival bolsters a reshaping Barcelona attack that is losing veteran Polish striker Robert Lewandowski at the end of his contract, and potentially Marcus Rashford following the conclusion of his loan spell from Manchester United.  The newly crowned La Liga champions are enjoying more economic breathing room wi...

Super Eagles of Nigeria head coach, Eric Sekou Chelle, has declared the readiness of his team to win the Unity Cup final. Speaking to the media ahead of the final against the World Cup-bound Raggae Boyz of Jamaica, Chelle revealed that the team’s mentality is fully switched to winning the 2026 Unity Cup either in regulation time or on penalties. “Penalties are part of the game and it can decide who wins a match,” Chelle started. “Every time I go into a game, I have the mentality to win. This is the culture I have put in these boys – the winning culture. “I don’t know if Saturday’s game will end in penalties; what I know is that I have prepared my team to win.” The Super Eagles paraded several debutants in the victory over Zimbabwe, including the two goals hero Femi Azeez, a...

Real Madrid have once again emerged as the most valuable football club in the world, while Barcelona moved ahead of Manchester United to secure second place in Forbes’ 2026 rankings. The Spanish giants were valued at $9.5 billion (£7.06bn), marking a significant increase from last year’s valuation of £6.75bn (£5.02bn). Barcelona followed with a valuation of $7.5bn (£5.57bn), while Manchester United dropped to third with $7.2bn (£5.35bn). Despite a disappointing 2024-25 campaign that saw Manchester United finish 15th in the Premier League and lose the Europa League final, the club still generated revenue of $865 million (£643m). Liverpool retained fourth position with a valuation of $6.2bn (£4.61bn) after winning the Premier League title, while Paris Saint-Germain climbed from seve...

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Jurrien Timber and Noni Madueke are both fit and available to start Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Arteta disclosed this while addressing journalists on Friday evening ahead of the highly anticipated showdown in Budapest. Naija News understands that the update comes as a huge boost for Arsenal as the club prepares for one of the most important matches in its recent history. Speaking on the fitness of the duo, Arteta revealed that both players are ready for selection and could feature from the start against the French champions. “Timber is fit. Fit enough to start? Yeah. Madueke? Yeah, he is fit. The only one is Ben [White],” Arteta stated. Timber has been sidelined since March after pi...

Jose Mourinho has signed his contract to return as the next head coach of Real Madrid. Mourinho, 63, signed a three-year contract until June 2029, with his annual salary said to be 12 million euros gross, according to The Athletic. Real Madrid is expected to officially unveil Mourinho after the club's presidential elections on June 7. President Florentino Perez, who's widely expected to retain his role after the elections, reportedly spearheaded the campaign to bring Mourinho back to the Bernabeu. Perez's challenger for the Real Madrid presidency, Enrique Riquelme, has said that Mourinho wouldn't be his choice as head coach, Ornstein and Cortegana report. Mourinho is still in charge of Benfica but admitted in mid-May that there were talks between Real Madrid and his a...

All eyes will be on the Puskás Arena in Budapest this Saturday as English giants Arsenal take on defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in the 2026 UEFA Champions League final. The highly anticipated showdown will see Arsenal aiming to win their first-ever Champions League title, while PSG are hoping to successfully defend the crown they won last season after their dominant victory over Inter Milan. Mikel Arteta’s side head into the final with confidence after ending their long wait for a Premier League title and producing an impressive European campaign. The Gunners eliminated top sides including Bayer Leverkusen, Sporting CP, and Atlético Madrid on their road to Budapest. PSG, under Luis Enrique, once again showcased their attacking quality throughout the tournament. The Frenc...