Sports

The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, has disclosed that Nigeria’s chances of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup are still alive. According to Dikko, the country has not given up hope of returning to the qualification race despite recent developments that appeared to favour the Democratic Republic of Congo. Earlier this week, it was reported that Super Eagles’ hopes were over after FIFA unveiled details of the upcoming intercontinental playoffs. In the announcement, DR Congo appeared among the six teams set to battle for the final two spots at the expanded tournament. In an official accreditation notice to media, FIFA also explained the format of the competition and confirmed the six countries that will take part in the playoff tournament in M...

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to leave Saudi Arabia after an injury amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The 41-year-old's whereabouts had been questioned after his £61million private jet left the country in the middle of the night on Monday. However, it was later confirmed that he was still in Saudi Arabia after being photographed with his teammates. The former Manchester United star has been battling a hamstring injury following Al-Nassr's 3-1 win over Al-Fayha on Saturday, and it has now been revealed that his injury is serious, with the World Cup fast approaching. 'After tests, we see the injury suffered by Cristiano Ronaldo was more serious than expected,' Al-Nassr manager Jorge Jesus said on Friday. 'Cristiano will now travel to Spain, like other players who went for tre...

Jesse Lingard Brazilian giants Corinthians Paulista have completed the signing of former Manchester United midfielder, Jesse Lingard on a free transfer following his departure from FC Seoul. Jesse Lingard has agreed a deal that runs until the end of the year, with an option to extend it until the end of 2027 if performance targets are met. Lingard’s arrival will be marked with a long-standing Corinthians tradition. Each time the club unveil a major signing, a siren rings out at their social club headquarters in Parque Sao Jorge. The custom dates back to the 1960s and has accompanied the unveiling of club icons including Sócrates, Rivaldo, Carlos Tevez, Ronaldo Nazário and, more recently, Memphis Depay. The siren is expected to sound again in eastern São Paulo as Jesse Lingard i...

UEFA have fined Real Madrid and ordered a suspended partial closure of the Bernabéu after a supporter inside the ground was filmed appearing to make a Nazi salute. The European governing body has announced that the club will have to pay €15,000 (£13,000/$17,400) for the "racist and/or discriminatory behaviour of its supporters." In addition, the LaLiga side has been told to close 500 adjacent seats of the lower south stand in the Bernabéu for one match in UEFA competition. The partial stadium closure has been suspended for a probationary period lasting one year. The incident took place prior to Real Madrid's recent Champions League victory over Benfica. The club said they had identified the fan in question and removed them from the ground. "Real Madrid condemns ...

LeBron James broke the record for most field goals made in NBA history Thursday, though the latest milestone in his glittering career did not to stop the Los Angeles Lakers from crashing 120-113 to the Denver Nuggets. James, who already held the NBA all-time points record, sailed past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 15,837 field goals with a fadeaway jumper in the first quarter. The 41-year-old has played a record 23 NBA seasons, and has stoked rumors of possible retirement in recent weeks, telling reporters in January: “I don’t know what the future holds.” James, who scored 16 points in Thursday’s loss, appeared to injure his left elbow in the fourth quarter, after he was shunted off the court and landed on the legs of a cameraman. Play was halted as he was substituted out. James re...

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the postponement of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, shifting the tournament from its original March schedule to a new window between July and August. CAF confirmed the decision on Thursday, bringing an end to weeks of uncertainty surrounding the competition. According to the revised schedule, the tournament will now be held from July 25 to August 16, 2026, following consultations between CAF, FIFA, and other stakeholders involved in organising the event. The competition had earlier been slated to take place from March 17 to April 3. CAF explained that the change was made to ensure the smooth organisation of Africa’s premier women’s football tournament. In a statement, the football governing bo...

Clubs in the English Football League (EFL) have approved plans to expand the promotion play-offs in the EFL Championship, with the new format set to take effect from the 2026–2027 season. Under the revised system, teams finishing between third and eighth position will compete for promotion to the Premier League. The structure is similar to the format currently used in the National League. Teams that finish third and fourth in the Championship standings will automatically qualify for the semi-finals. Meanwhile, clubs placed fifth to eighth will play one-legged quarter-final matches, with the fifth-placed team hosting the side in eighth position, while the sixth-placed team will face the seventh-placed side at home. The semi-finals will remain two-legged ties, while the play-off fin...

Anthony Joshua is currently receiving intensive rib treatment as part of his rehabilitation months after a tragic car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his close associates. The two-time world heavyweight champion, 36, was involved in the crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on December 29, just 10 days after defeating Jake Paul by knockout in six rounds in Miami. The accident led to the deaths of Joshua’s personal trainer, Kevin “Latz” Ayodele, and his long-time recovery therapist, Sina Ghami. Joshua sustained minor injuries and was discharged from hospital two days later before returning to the United Kingdom to attend the funerals of the deceased. The boxer recently posted images on Snapchat showing his rib therapy sessions as he continues his recovery. In th...

Michael Carrick has urged his Manchester United players to bounce back quickly after their 2–1 loss to Newcastle United at St James’ Park. The defeat proved frustrating for United, who were unable to capitalize on their numerical advantage after Newcastle were reduced to 10 men. Carrick admitted he was disappointed not only with the result but also with how the game unfolded. “We are bitterly disappointed. It hurts,” Carrick said, noting that his side arrived in good form but failed to deliver the expected performance. The loss halted an impressive run since Carrick assumed managerial duties at Old Trafford following the exit of Ruben Amorim. Under Carrick, United had previously recorded six wins and a draw in his first seven matches. Despite those results, some recent performa...

Brighton manager, Fabian Hürzeler has slammed Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta, saying he will never be his type of coach. Hurzeler criticised his counterpart after Arsenal defeated his side 1-0 to open a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League table on Wednesday. Arsenal’s title rivals, Manchester City, played out a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest at the Etihad. The Gunners’ goal came from the boots of Bukayo Saka who forced home a low effort in the first half. Mikel Arteta’s men managed to hold on for all three points. Addressing the press after the game, Hurzeler said, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano, “There was only one team who tried to play football today. “I will never be that kind of manager who tries to win in that way”.