Sports

After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I’m retiring from the national team… "It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment.  "I swear I always gave everything, not only in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football. "There isn’t much time left, and different chapters are coming to an end. This is one that hurts me a lot. I love, I loved, and I will always love being part of the national team. I gave everything I had, and I don’t have anything more to give.  "Also, there are great young players comi...

Novak Djokovic suffered a stunning first-round exit from the U.S. Open on Sunday night, losing to unseeded Mariano Navone in five sets after struggling physically throughout a gruelling match. The 24-time Grand Slam champion was beaten 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 by the world No. 48, marking Djokovic’s earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years. Djokovic appeared to be in serious physical discomfort during the four-hour-plus battle, vomiting on court and suffering a cramp that forced him to grab his foot. He also took medication provided by a doctor and received a back massage during a medical timeout. The 39-year-old became increasingly emotional in the deciding set. With Djokovic trailing 3-1, he began tearing up as the crowd attempted to rally behind him, but he was unable to fight his ...

Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football with Argentina after earning 207 caps. Messi, who debuted for Argentina in 2005, won the World Cup in 2022 and was a runner-up in 2026 and 2014. Additionally, he secured two Copa América titles. In a statement, he said: “It was a decision that hurt – and still hurts deep down – but I understand that the time has come. I swear to you that I always gave it my all – not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football. “Time is fleeting, chapters come to an end, and this is one that deeply affects me. I love, have loved, and will always cherish ...

D’Tigers suffered their second straight defeat in the second round of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers after South Sudan beat them 82-79 on Friday, August 28. The Bright Stars held off a late D’Tigers fightback to claim the three-point win at the Salle Multidisciplinaire de Radès in Radès, Tunisia, leaving Nigeria with a difficult task in their push for a place at the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar. South Sudan dominated the opening stages and produced a 9-0 run late in the first quarter. The burst turned a 15-14 deficit into a 25-15 lead before they ended the quarter 30-19 in front. D’Tigers gradually found their rhythm and mounted a strong comeback. Caleb Agada inspired a 7-0 run towards the end of the second quarter and into the third, helping D’Tigers turn a...

Nigeria ends its 11-year partnership with Nike and return to adidas after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) agreed a new equipment deal worth $8.5 million annually. Former NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, who resigned alongside the federation’s executive committee on Thursday, disclosed the agreement at a news conference in Abuja. Under the deal, adidas will pay the NFF $4.5 million annually in cash and provide equipment worth another $4 million for Nigeria’s national teams. The agreement also gives the NFF a 20 per cent royalty on merchandise sales, potentially taking its overall value beyond the guaranteed $8.5 million yearly package. “It is about the highest kit sponsorship in Africa. No other country in Africa has that kind of sponsorship,” Gusau told reporters. “Adidas ...

AC Milan and Juventus have discovered their opponents for the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League league phase following Friday’s draw at the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo. The two Italian giants, both placed in Pot One, will each play eight league-phase matches, four at home and four away, between September 2026 and January 2027. Juventus will host Real Sociedad, Rennes, Omonia Nicosia and NEC, while travelling to AZ Alkmaar, Ferencvaros, Celta Vigo and Hapoel Be’er Sheva. Milan will welcome Benfica, Ferencvaros, Sunderland and Ararat Armenia to the San Siro, with Olympiacos, Red Bull Salzburg, Bournemouth and Levski Sofia awaiting the Rossoneri away from home. The draw has handed Sunderland a historic trip to Milan as the Black Cats prepare for their first European campaign ...

Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme has been appointed to oversee the Nigeria Football Federation secretariat as interim General Secretary following the resignation of key federation officials, including NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau and General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi.  GeographicReference Dr Ademola Olajire, previously the NFF’s Director of Media and Communications, moves into the role of interim Deputy General Secretary. The National Sports Commission has suspended all processes related to the NFF Elective Congress previously scheduled for September 27. A new electoral timeline will be established after comprehensive reforms are developed in consultation with FIFA and CAF. Administrators across the national leagues, including the NPFL, NNL, NWFL, and NLO, have been instru...

Liverpool have reached an agreement in principle with Paris Saint-Germain to sign France international Bradley Barcola in a deal worth up to £120 million. The proposed package is understood to include more than £100 million in guaranteed payments, with performance-related add-ons taking the overall value to around £120 million. The club made a breakthrough with Paris Saint-Germain overnight after weeks of negotiations to try to bring down the European champions’ valuation, which started at £145m. Barcola, 23, has been the top target for several months as Liverpool look to replace Mohamed Salah after his move to Trabzonspor. They previously targeted – and had a bid rejected for – Yan Diomande, who ended up at Real Madrid. Negotiations have been led by sporting director R...

Sergei Indeikin, an operations manager at the International Chess Federation, has reportedly died of malaria at age 36. Russian media reported that Indeykin d!ed of malaria, which he may have contracted after being bitten by an infected mosquito during a business trip to Nigeria.  NigerianState Updates After leaving Africa, Indeykin traveled to Uzbekistan for work, where symptoms of the illness reportedly began to appear. His condition worsened after he returned to Russia. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Perm, but doctors were unable to save him. Indeykin had worked at FIDE events since 2021 and was involved in organizing major international chess tournaments. FIDE announced his d3ath on social media on Sunday, April 22, 2026, describing it as the result o...

Victor Osimhen has dropped to fifth in Africa’s most valuable footballers ranking, according to Transfermarkt data, after previously occupying the top position in 2023. The Super Eagles striker is currently valued at €75 million, putting him behind Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande (€90m), Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi (€80m), Manchester City winger Antoine Semenyo (€80m) and Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi (€80m). Osimhen is level with Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo, who completes the top six. The drop in ranking comes despite the Nigerian’s impressive start to the 2026/27 season with Turkish champions Galatasaray. The 27-year-old has scored four goals and provided one assist in his first two matches.  DownloadingInteractive Geographic Maps Osimhen has ...