IN CLUB WORLD CUP
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Real Madrid star, Trent Alexander-Arnold has registered his first assist as Xabi Alonso’s side beat Juventus to reach the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup.

Alexander-Arnold, making his fourth successive start at the tournament, endured a quiet first half at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami but delivered a delicious cross from which Gonzalo Garcia nodded Madrid ahead nine minutes into the second half.

Alonso once again deployed a 5-3-2 system against the record Serie A champions, but his side looked vulnerable defensively in the first half and were fortunate not to fall behind in the early stages.
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Al Hilal head coach, Simeone Inzaghi says his side deserved to beat Manchester City.

The Premier League giants side were beaten 4-3 in extra time after a thrilling encounter to exit the Club World Cup at the round of 16 stage.

Al Hilal has now joined Palmeiras, Chelsea, Fluminense, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.

The team will take on Brazilian heavyweights Fluminense in the last eight on 4th July.
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Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has described the team’s shock defeat to Saudi Arabia topflight side Al Hilal as a pity.

City went into Tuesday’s clash as favourites but suffered a shocking four-three defeat after extra-time.
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Crystal Palace has grown increasingly exasperated at the delay in Uefa’s ruling over their Europa League future and feel they are being unfairly treated.

Well-placed sources have indicated the south London club will also almost certainly launch a legal fight against any decision to ban them from the competition next season.

Meanwhile, the governing body confirmed a final decision would be postponed until Lyon’s domestic appeal against their relegation from the French top flight.
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Arsenal has completed the five million pounds signing of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea.

Spain international Kepa joins the Gunners on a three-year deal after spending last season on loan at Bournemouth, where he made thirty-five appearances.

His arrival at Emirates Stadium will provide competition for compatriot David Raya.
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Leeds has signed Wolfsburg defender Sebastiaan Bornauw on a four-year deal for a fee of five point one million pounds.

The 26-year-old is the third signing made by Leeds since their return to the Premier League following the arrivals of Lukas Nmecha and Jaka Bijol.

Earlier on Tuesday, Leeds announced that left-back Junior Firpo has left the club following the end of his contract, with the 28-year-old set to sign for Real Betis.

Daniel Farke’s side start their Premier League campaign at home to Everton on Monday, 18th August.
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Sunderland has completed the signing of Senegal midfielder Habib Diarra in a reported club record thirty million pounds deal from Strasbourg.

The 21-year-old, who scored against England in a friendly at the City Ground in June, penned a five-year contract at the Stadium of Light.

Diarra made thirty-one appearances for Strasbourg in all competitions last term, helping the club to a seventh-placed finish in Ligue 1 as they secured European football for only the second time in twenty years.
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Nottingham Forest defender, Neco Williams has signed a new four-year contract which will keep him at the City Ground until the summer of 2029.

The 24-year-old Wales international joined Forest in July 2022 in a £17m switch from Liverpool and made 107 appearances in all competitions for the Reds.

Williams, whose previous deal had been set to expire in 2026, helped the East Midlands club finish seventh in the Premier League last term as they secured a European spot for the first time since 1994-95, when they were third.
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Bournemouth winger, Antoine Semenyo has signed a new contract which will keep him at Vitality Stadium until the summer of 2030.

The 25-year-old Ghana forward joined from Bristol City in January 2023 and signed a long-term contract twelve months ago.

He made eighty-nine appearances and scored twenty-two goals, thirteen of those during an impressive 2024-25 season when Bournemouth finished ninth in the Premier League.
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IN NIGERIA
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The Nigerian National League ,NNL, has announced the appointment of Olumide Ajibolade, head coach of Beyond Limits football club, Remo, Ogun State, as the Chairman of the Technical Study Team for the upcoming NNL Super 8 tournament.

Ajibolade will be joined by Okechukwu Ejeh, Head Coach of Abia Comets FC, Umuahia, and Aminu Musa, Head Coach of FC Basira, Lafia, who will serve as supporting members of the team.

NNL Chairman George Aluo said the trio were tasked with analysing all matches played during the Super Eight and compiling a comprehensive Technical Report.

The NNL Super Eight will run from 5th to 12th July in Asaba, Delta State.

The week-long tournament will feature the top eight teams competing for promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
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Kwara United has announced a ten-day break for their players following their President Federation Cup success.

The team is expected to resume full preparations for the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League,NPFL, season and their CAF Confederation Cup campaign on Thursday, 11th July.
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Juventus has enquired after Super Eagles midfielder who plays for Leicester City Wilfred Ndidi.

The Nigeria international is available for a cut-down price after the Foxes’ relegation from the Premier League last season.

Manchester United, Everton, and Real Betis are also weighing up a move for the defensive midfielder.
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Nigerian international Jeremy Agbonifo has completed a permanent transfer to Ligue 1 club, RC Lens.

Agbonifo spent the second half season on loan at Lens from Swedish club, BK Häcken.

Lens triggered the purchase option inserted in the deal following the winger’s impressive six-month stint at the club.
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OTHER LEAGUES
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Inter Miami is confident they will renew Lionel Messi’s contract, which expires in December.

The 38-year-old forward is a marquee player for Miami and Major League Soccer (MLS), and all parties have begun contract negotiations to extend his stay in the United States.

There is widespread belief from officials at the club and within MLS he will renew, while sources on Messi’s side said he was very open to extending his stay despite reported interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia.
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Spain women midfielder, Aitana Bonmati has joined up with the team’s Euro 2025 in Switzerland after having treatment for viral meningitis.

The 27-year-old missed the three-one friendly win over Japan in Leganes last week after missing training and being taken to hospital in Madrid to be treated.

Bonmati, who won the past two Ballon d’Ors, was discharged from hospital but is unlikely to play in Spain’s opening group game against Portugal in Bern on Thursday.

The European Championship starts on Wednesday, with World Cup winners Spain the favourites to win the tournament.
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OTHET SPORTS
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In Tennis, British number one Jack Draper began his Wimbledon bid with a commanding performance before his opponent Sebastian Baez retired through injury.

Draper, who is seeded fourth after a stunning rise over the past 12 months, was leading 6-2 6-2 2-1 when Baez retired after one hour and 14 minutes.

Clay-court specialist Baez needed treatment in the second set after slipping on the Court One baseline.
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Also, American third seed Jessica Pegula says her first-round Wimbledon exit was her worst result of the year.

While Chinese fifth seed Zheng Qinwen is also out after a grass-court lesson from doubles champion Katerina Siniakova.

Pegula became the highest seed to fall at the tournament so far when she was beaten 6-2, 6-3 by Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto, ranked 113 places below her at 116 in the world.

Meanwhile, Polish eighth seed Iga Swiatek advanced to the second round with a comprehensive 7-5, 6-1 victory over Russia’s Polina Kudermetova.
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In Cricket, England captain Ben Stokes says retained Jofra Archer has been retained to the squad for the second Test for him to be acquainted with the squad.

Archer was called into England’s Test squad for the first time in four years after a series of injuries but left out of the final XI for the match, which starts on Wednesday.

The fast bowler played only one red-ball match since May 2021 and could have been released to play for Sussex in the County Championship this week but will instead stay with England’s squad.
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TODAY’S FIXTURE
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IN FIFA Club World Cup – ROUND OF SIXTEEN

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them — a desire, a dream, a vision….words from
World HeavyWeight Champion Boxer, Muhammad Ali.
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