IN CLUB WORLD CUP

Real Madrid has dramatically had a stoppage-time penalty saved as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s debut for the club ended in a hard-fought one-all draw with Al-Hilal in their opening Fifa Club World Cup match in Miami.

Federico Valverde’s spot-kick, which was awarded after a video assistant referee review, was superbly pushed out by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou after Mohammed Al-Qahtani was penalised when his flaying arm caught Real left-back Fran Garcia

Gonzalo Garcia scored Real Madrid’s only goal while Al-Hilal’s only goal was scored by Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves.

In Simone Inzaghi’s first game as Al-Hilal boss following his departure from Inter Milan, his side deservedly levelled four minutes before the break.

Xabi Alonso, also taking charge of his first game as Real manager since replacing Carlo Ancelotti, was without Kylian Mbappe and his attack missed the Frenchman.

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Manchester City has produced an impressive performance to beat Moroccan title-winners Wydad Casablanca two-nil in its FIFA Club World Cup opener in Philadelphia.

City’s star Phil Foden marked his return to form by inspiring the team to victory, contributing a goal and an assist.

Pep Guardiola’s men were heavy favourites and made the perfect start as Foden stroked in from twelve yards out inside two minutes, before the 25-year-old’s inswinging corner was poked home by Jeremy Doku three minutes before half-time.

Ballon d’Or winner Rodri was introduced off the bench for just his second appearance since September following a serious knee injury.

City will be without Rico Lewis for Monday’s second game against Al Ain after receiving a straight red card.

City’s manager Pep Guardiola described Rico Lewis’ 88th-minute red card as an unnecessary decision by the referee.

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Nigerian midfielder Joshua Udoh is in action for Al Ain who suffered a five-nil defeat to Juventus, in their opening Group G fixture at the FIFA Club World Cup on Thursday.

While Udoh was introduced in the 90th minute, his Nigerian teammates Rilwanu Sarki and Hassan Muhammed were not included in the matchday squad.

Randal Kolo-Muani scored a brace and Francisco Conceicao also scored a brace while Kenan Yildiz netted a goal to give Juventus a perfect start to the revamped FIFA Club World Cup.

Al Ain will be back in action for their second fixture on Sunday, when they will face Manchester City while Juventus take on Wydad Casablanca.

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Champions, Liverpool will host Bournemouth on the opening weekend of the 2025-26 Premier League season, with Manchester United playing Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Liverpool, who won the league in Arne Slot’s first season in charge, will begin their title defence at Anfield in the curtain-raiser on Friday, 15th August.

Newly promoted Sunderland, back in the top flight for the first time since the 2016-17 season, start their campaign at home against West Ham the following day.

Manchester City will play Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Saturday, 16th August and Chelsea will face Crystal Palace the next day.

Championship winners, Leeds welcome Everton to Elland Road on Monday, 18th August, while Burnley face Europa League holders Tottenham.

The season, which consists of three hundred and eighty games over thirty-three weekends and five midweek rounds, will conclude on Sunday, 24th May, 2026.

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Fans have been warned by the Premier League that fixtures could be moved at relatively short notice next season because of the number of teams playing in Europe.

A record nine top-flight clubs have qualified for Uefa competitions in the 2025-26 campaign.

The Premier League said there is an increased likelihood that games will be rescheduled if English teams reach the latter stages, and it suggested fans take into consideration when planning their attendance at games.

Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham will be playing in the Champions League next season.

Aston Villa and Crystal Palace have qualified for the Europa League, while Nottingham Forest will be playing in the Conference League.

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Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged by the Football Association with violating its anti-doping rules after failing a drugs test and could now face up to a four-year ban.

The Ukraine international, was provisionally suspended by the FA in December after an adverse finding in a routine urine test.

Players found to have intentionally taken a prohibited substance can be banned for up to four years under the guidelines of world football’s governing body, Fifa.

Mudryk said he was in complete shock and he never knowingly used any banned substances.

Mudryk cannot train with Chelsea either, and the club are supporting him and his mental wellbeing.

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Manchester United fans have accused the club of giving fans a kick in the teeth after announcing matchday ticket prices could reach ninety-seven pounds.

The most expensive matchday tickets at Old Trafford last season were £66.

This follows their worst domestic campaign since the 1973-74 season, when the club were relegated.

Despite finishing 15th last season, the club are for the first time introducing price categories for the approximately twenty thousand tickets available for each game.

There are four categories, with the lowest reserved exclusively for some cup games.

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Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has described Owen Hargreaves as his worst signing at Old Trafford.

Fergie made this known in his autobiographical documentary, Never Give In, where he recalled signing Hargreaves from Bayern Munich in 2007 for twenty-five million euros.

Hargreaves’ time was marred by injuries as he amassed just thirty-nine appearances in four seasons, with two goals and two assists.

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Middlesbrough is close to appointing former Luton boss Rob Edwards as their head coach.

The 42-year-old is expected to take charge at the Riverside and replace Michael Carrick, who was sacked earlier this month.

Ex-Nottingham Forest and Leicester boss Steve Cooper was also a candidate but Edwards is due to return to work for the first time since being axed by Luton in January.

Edwards worked with Boro sporting director Kieran Scott when the pair were at Wolves and was also a candidate for the job when Carrick was appointed in 2022.

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Cardiff City head coach Brian Barry-Murphy has been told to make an immediate return to the Championship by Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan.

Irishman Barry-Murphy, joined the League One side on a three-year-deal following their relegation from the second tier last season.

The former Manchester City youth coach said he was excited by the potential of joining the biggest club in Wales and has been left with no doubt about Tan’s desire for a swift Championship return.

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Former owner Milan Mandaric says he will attempt to buy back troubled Sheffield Wednesday to save the club from being destroyed under current chairman Dejphon Chansiri.

Mandaric, an 86-year-old Serbian-American, owned the Owls between November 2010 and January 2015 before selling the club to Chansiri.

Mandaric will fly into the UK next week, hoping for talks with Chansiri as he seeks to launch a viable takeover bid for the financially-stricken Championship outfit.

The EFL informed the club it would face spending restrictions over the next three transfer windows because of failures to pay wages on time.

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England has progressed to the quarter-finals of the European Under-21 Championship despite being beaten by Germany in their final group-stage match.

Germany were already assured of a quarter-finals place after winning their first two matches and made eleven changes for the game against Lee Carsley’s side.

Carsley’s side dominated possession after falling behind but it was Germany who scored next when Nelson Weiper got between Jack Hinshelwood and Charlie Cresswell to guide a header into the net.

England finished second in the group and with a quarter-final against group A winners Spain on Saturday.

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IN NIGERIA

Super Falcons and Black Princesses of Ghana will clash in a friendly ahead of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The international friendly between the two super powers of African women’s football will hold in Morocco.

The Super Falcons is also scheduled to face Portugal in their second friendly ahead of the WAFCON 2024 finals in Lisbon next week Monday.

The players and their officials are expected to leave Lisbon for Morocco on Tuesday, 25th June where they will have their final preparations for the competition.

Nigeria will be up against Tunisia, Botswana, and Algeria in Group B.

Morocco will host the biennial competition from Saturday, 5th to 26th July.

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Turkish football expert Devrim Zengi says no teams in Europe can match Galatasaray’s offer for Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen.

The Nigerian international has become the most sought-after player in the transfer window after his explosive season with the Turkish giant.

Zengi noted that most teams are avoiding Osimhen due to the fact that he’ll be on international duty at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations later this year.

He expressed optimism that Osimhen would remain with Galatasaray this summer.

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Juventus has reopened talks with Victor Osimhen’s representatives.

The Bianconeri reportedly failed in their attempt to sign the Nigeria international earlier in the summer.

Juventus is looking to strengthen their squad with three new signings this summer.

Meanwhile, Al-Hilal is still desperate to sign the 26-year-old after several failed attempts.

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Nigeria is set to host the 23rd African Fencing Championships, drawing elite fencers from across the continent to Charterhouse in Lagos State, from 25th – 29th June, 2025.

This follows Nigeria’s recent success hosting the 2018 and 2022 Junior Championships and the 2024 Fencing World Cup, solidifying its status in global fencing.

The President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, Adeyinka Samuel, confirmed the development in a statement.

He described it as a historic milestone and clear evidence of the sport’s rapid growth in Nigeria, marking a breakthrough for African sports development.

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The Nigerian Army’s 1 Division has commenced its 2025 Warrant Officers’ and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers’ Competition, with 150 athletes competing in five sporting events in Kaduna.

The week-long sporting events will feature weapon handling, obstacle crossing, range classification, combat swimming and map reading.

About 150 athletes were drawn from 1 Division Garrison Kaduna, 3 Brigade Kano and 31 Brigade Minna.

Declaring open the event, the GOC, 1 Division, Major General Mayorenso Saraso, said the competition was part of the Nigerian Army’s efforts to professionalise and emphasise training, with the Chief of Army Staff making it a key objective in his command philosophy.

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OTHER LEAGUES

Barcelona has signed goalkeeper Joan Garcia from Espanyol after triggering his twenty-one point three million pounds release clause.

The 24-year-old will join officially on Friday with the Spanish champions handing him a six-year contract.

Arsenal and Manchester United were also linked with Garcia, but he has opted to remain in his native Spain.

Since his debut for Espanyol in 2021, he has made sixty-seven appearances for the club.

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Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso says he will be counting on Rodrygo to shine next season.

The Brazil attacker has not played for Real since Apil amid rumours he is ready to quit, with the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal keen.

Alonso stated that he has no plans to sell Rodrygo.

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Rangers has been drawn against Panathinaikos in the second qualifying round of the Champions League.

The winners of the first-round tie between Northern Ireland champions Linfield and Republic of Ireland counterparts Shelbourne will face Qarabag of Azerbaijan.

Should Welsh champions The New Saints win their tie against Shkendija of North Maceonia, they will face either FCSB of Romania or Inter Club d’Escaldes of Andorra.

Meanwhile, Hibernian will face Danish side Midtjylland in the Europa League second qualifying round and Dundee United will take on UNA Strassen of Luxembourg and Dungannon Swifts take on Liechtenstein’s Vaduz in the Conference League.

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OTHER SPORTS

In Basketball; The Buss family is entering an agreement to sell a majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers, marking the end of an era for one of the NBA’s most influential families.

CEO and chairman of holding company TWG Global, Mark Walter, is set to take the majority ownership under the agreement.

The Lakers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The late Jerry Buss purchased the Lakers in 1979 and turned it into one of the most popular and valuable franchises in all of professional sports, winning five championships during their now-iconic “Showtime” era in the 1980s.

His daughter, Jeanie Buss, took over as principal owner after Jerry Buss died in 2013, making her one of the most powerful women in sports.

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In Boxing; the CEO of Legacy Rise Sports, Sharaf Mahama has reportedly found himself in hot water with the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) following his high-profile boxing event, Battle of the Beasts, held in Accra.

Dubbed Battle of the Beasts, the event brought together a stellar lineup of fighters and a crowd of influential guests, including Minister for Sports and Recreation Kofi Iddie Adams, Ghanaian billionaire Ibrahim Mahama, and business mogul Osei Kwame Despite.

With ten exciting bouts on the card, the fight night delivered exactly what fans had hoped for—thrills, knockouts, and electric performances from start to finish.

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In Tennis, a bold decision to change racquet at a crucial point of the match paid off for British number one Jack Draper as he delivered two brilliant shots to edge a third-set tie-break against Alexei Popyrin and reach the quarter-finals at Queen’s.

The 23-year-old had recovered from a set down against the Australian to take the second set before the pair battled all the way in the decider.

Draper had found himself behind in the tie-break as Popyrin claimed the first mini-break but got himself level at 5-5, which is when he decided to take a risk.

He first hit a superb backhand winner down the line to move ahead before a thunderous ace sealed a 3-6, 6-2, 7-6, victory.

Draper will next face Brandon Nakashima on Friday after the American beat former British number one Dan Evans 7-5, 7-6.

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In Cricket, England have retained Ollie Pope at number three for the first Test against India at Headingley on Friday, meaning Jacob Bethell misses out.

Vice-captain Pope would have been the most vulnerable member of the top order had England wanted to include 21-year-old Bethell.

Bethell has never made a professional century, but looks set for a big future in international cricket.

England have resisted change in sticking with Pope, who made 171 in the defeat of Zimbabwe, a Test Bethell missed because he was playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League.

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In Rugby, British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell believes scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park will be “up and running” by the time the side reach Australia next week.

After sitting out Leinster’s United Rugby Championship final victory over the Bulls on Saturday, Gibson-Park who is widely tipped to be the starting nine come the Test series against the Wallabies will not feature against Argentina in Dublin on Friday night because of injury.

Farrell, though, said the results of a scan on Monday were pretty positive.

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In Golf, Rory McIlroy believes the experience new PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp will bring to the role will be amazing.

Rolapp will be the tour’s first CEO and will gradually take over the day-to-day running from commissioner Jay Monahan, who will step down after 10 years in the role in 2026.

He has more than twenty years of experience with the National Football League and helped with the global expansion of American football as chief media and business officer.

McIlroy said he was yet to meet Rolapp but that his appointment was a really positive thing for the PGA Tour.

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TODAY’S FIXTURES

IN FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP

Palmeiras vs Al Ahly

Inter Miami vs Porto

Seattle Sounders vs Atlético de Madrid

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

THE VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE IS GREATER THAN THAT OF A COW. WE ARE HERE TO GOVERN, NOT TO BURY…WORDS FROM PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU.