IN ENGLAND

Chelsea is set to finalise the signing of Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens after the German club confirmed a deal had been agreed.

The 20-year-old England Under-21 player is expected to cost between fifty-two million pounds fifty-five million pounds.

The clubs, who are both in the United States for the Club World Cup, met in Fort Lauderdale to agree the transfer.

Chelsea already signed Ipswich striker Liam Delap, Brighton forward Joao Pedro, Sporting midfielder Dario Essugo and Strasbourg defender Mamadou Sarr this summer.

Estevao Willian will also join Enzo Maresca’s men after his Club World Cup campaign with Palmeiras.

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Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has died in a car crash, at the age of twenty-eight.

The Portugal forward’s brother Andre Silva also died in the accident, which took place in the Spanish province of Zamora.

Jota married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children, just 11 days ago.

Liverpool said they are devastated at the loss of Jota, who they signed from Wolves for forty-one million pounds in 2020.

He scored sixty-five goals in one hundred and eighty-two appearances for the Reds, helping them win the FA Cup and League Cup in 2022 and the Premier League title last season.

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The death of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota in a car crash aged 28 has left the football world in shock.

Liverpool said his death is a tragedy that transcends the club, while fans gathered outside Anfield to lay tributes.

Reds manager Arne Slot said Jota was the essence of what a Liverpool player should be.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who played alongside Jota, sent his condolences to Jota’s family, wife and children, and added that the team would miss him.

A wake for Jota and his brother will take place on Friday before their funeral on Saturday in Porto, Portugal.

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Real Madrid and Chelsea players and coached observed one minute silence before training, in honour of Diogo Jota.

Both teams observed the one minute silence before their trainings as they prepare for their Club World Cup quarter-final matches.

Madrid will return to action in the FIFA Club World Cup when they will face Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

Also on Saturday, Chelsea will take on Palmeiras in another last eight encounter.

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Denmark boss, Andree Jeglertz will take over as Manchester City women head coach after Euro 2025.

The 53-year-old Swede has signed a deal running until 2029.

City sacked Gareth Taylor, in March after a lacklustre season and appointed former boss Nick Cushing on an interim basis.

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IN NIGERIA

Super Falcons forward, Folashade Ijamilusi is eager to contribute to the team’s success at the 2024 Women’s Cup of Nations.

The Liaoning Baiye of China striker is one of the surprise inclusion in the Super Falcons’ squad for Morocco 2024.

The player is delighted with the chance to represent in a major tournament for the first time.

The Super Falcons, who are one of the tournament favourites will be looking to win a record-extending 10th title in Morocco.

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Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has criticised the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over the quality of accommodation provided for players at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

In an Instagram story posted on Thursday, the 25-year-old shared a photo of her assigned room, which featured two separate beds, and expressed disappointment at the poor standards, noting it was unbefitting for a continental tournament.

The Super Falcons arrived in Casablanca on Thursday after a brief training camp in Morocco, where they defeated Ghana 3-1 in a warm-up game.

Nigeria will kick off their WAFCON campaign on Sunday against Tunisia at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.

They will then face Botswana and Algeria in the remaining group stage matches.

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Tunisia striker Mariem Houij is expecting a difficult test when her team face the Super Falcons of Nigeria at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The North Africans will take on Justine Madugu’s side in their opening fixture in Casablanca on Sunday.

Houij is aware of Nigeria’s pedigree going into the Group B encounter.

Despite the quality of opposition in the group, Houij is adamant they can go far in the competition.

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A former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, Nicknamed Dodo Mayana, is dead.

The legendary shot stopper died on Thursday after an illness at the age of sixty-one.

Rufai was part of the Super Eagles team that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.

He also featured for the team in the 1994 World Cup, Nigeria’s maiden appearance in the competition.

Widely regarded as one of the country’s greatest goalkeepers, he represented the national team 65 times.

Rufai made history when he scored for the Super Eagles in a 6–0 win against Ethiopia in 1993.

The Super Eagles posted on their X handle on Thursday, that they mourn the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, a giant of Nigerian football and a 1994 AFCON champion.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has described the passing of ex-Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, as a great loss to Nigeria, especially football fans.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said the death of the Nigerian football legend is painful, sympathising with the deceased’s family, friends, colleagues, the Nigerian Football Federation and the Nigeria Sports Commission.

The Governor, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, said Peter Rufai, fondly called Dodomayana, is a legend who wore the Green-White-Green with passion and pride.

The General Secretary, Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, says he is shocked about the death of Rufai, stressing that the Federation was not aware that he had been ill.

Sanusi prayed to God to grant him eternal rest, and to comfort all his loved ones and the entire Nigeria football family.

Former Nigeria international midfielder Waidi Akanni confirmed that the body of one of Nigeria football’s true heroes had been deposited at a Lagos hospital.

In another tribute, Rangers International hailed Rufai’s contribution to Nigerian football, adding that the goalkeeping icon will be missed.

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Super Eagles and Sevilla forward Kelechi Iheanacho has assured Nigerian football fans that his best days are still ahead, describing his outlook as optimistic and full of purpose.

The 28-year-old completed a loan spell at English Championship side Middlesbrough and is keeping his eyes firmly set on future success for both club and country.

Demonstrating their shared commitment to youth empowerment, gender inclusion, and grassroots sports development, adidas and its strategic partner LATC have donated 200 adidas footballs to schools across Lagos State.

The donation, made in collaboration with the Lagos State Sports Commission, will benefit 20 schools across the state, with an equitable distribution between male and female teams.

This initiative is a bold statement in support of inclusive participation in school sports, regardless of gender.

To officially mark the donation, , CEO of adidas Global Emerging Markets, Dave Thomas, presented a symbolic football to the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during a courtesy visit.

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Lagos State has formally submitted its bid to host the 2026 edition of the National Youth Games, signaling its ambition to bring the prestigious event to Nigeria’s most populous and economically vibrant city.

The expression of interest was officially signed by the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, underscoring the State’s commitment to youth development and sports excellence.

In a statement accompanying the bid, the Lagos delegation noted that with Lagos being Nigeria’s foremost economic and cultural epicenter, the State is committed to fostering sporting excellence and nurturing youth talent across the nation.

The bid document was submitted on behalf of the Lagos State Government by a high-powered delegation led by the Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu.

Nigeria international, Igoh Ogbu has expressed confidence that Slavia Prague can hold their own against Europe’s best in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Slavia Prague were crowned Czech First League champions last season, and will compete with some of the best sides.

Ahead of next season, Ogbu believes Slavia Prague would do well against the best sides.

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Atletico Madrid has shown interest in signing Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi this summer.

The Spanish giant have taken notice and are weighing up a potential offer for the attacking midfielder.

As preparations continue for the maiden Sam Okwaraji U-16 National Football Championship, the first Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Felix Agwu, has called on various state governments and corporate organisations to support the noble initiative.

Okwaraji slumped and died at the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos in August 1989, during a crucial FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Angola and a memorial tournament is planned to honour him later this year.

‎Speaking on the tournament, the former Chairman of Enyimba FC of Aba noted that Okwaraji was a patriotic Nigerian who died serving his fatherland and there’s need for both federal and state governments to rally round the initiators of the tournament which will help in grassroots development of football in the country.

Two Nigerian referees, Salisu Basheer and Abdul Majeed Usman, have been included amongst the officials set to take charge of proceedings in the forthcoming WAFU Zone B U-20 Boys’ Cup, which will take place in Ghana from 10th to 23rd July.

Basheer and Usman were selected by the region’s governing body West African Football Union, plus 12 other referees, making a total of 14 officials.

The list comprises seven referees and seven assistant referees, with each country participating in the competition contributing two officials in a bid to enhance fairness and inclusiveness.

Following a standout performance at the 23rd African Fencing Championships, Oluwafolayemi Akinyosoye has emerged as Nigeria’s highest-ranked fencer globally.

The latest rankings released by the International Fencing Federation earlier this week place Akinyosoye at 65th in the men’s senior sabre category.

The 20-year-old UK-based athlete, who previously represented England at cadet and junior levels, has now overtaken Inkosi Brou as Nigeria’s top-ranked fencer.

Despite being displaced in the senior rankings, Brou remains Nigeria’s highest-ranked junior fencer, holding the 23rd position globally.

The Nigerian women’s epee team, which finished fifth at the African Championships, is now ranked 36th globally.

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African table tennis stars are set to make their mark at the WTT US Smash 2025, with Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo and Egypt’s Mohamed El-Beiali spearheading the continent’s campaign in the preliminary round of the prestigious tournament.

Omotayo, the 2019 African Games champion, returns to the international stage with a challenging opener against wildcard Victor Xie of the United States.

The Nigerian, currently ranked 162nd in the world, will face the 777th-rated Chinese-born American on Friday.

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OTHER LEAGUES

World champions Spain women made an impressive start to their Euro 2025 campaign with an emphatic five-nil victory over Portugal.

Before the match there was a minute’s silence following the death of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash, along with his brother Andre Silva.

Esther Gonzalez scored a brace, while Vicky Lopez, Alexia Putellas and Cristina Martin-Prieto scored a goal each for Spain.

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Italy women star Arianna Caruso’s excellent strike gave Italy victory over Belgium in their opening match in Group B of Euro 2025.

A minute before the break, Caruso collected a defence-splitting pass from Lucia di Guglielmo inside the box and finished calmly into the top corner.

It also ended a run for Italy of three successive losses to Belgium, while gaining a measure of revenge for Euro 2022 when a one-nil win for the Red Flames earned them a quarter-final spot and eliminated the Italians.

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OTHER SPORTS

In Tennis, Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic outclassed Dan Evans in what could be the British veteran’s final appearance on Wimbledon’s Centre Court.

Evans, now ranked 154th in the world and given a wildcard to play at the All England Club, lost 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 in their second-round match.

Serb great Djokovic, produced a serving masterclass which even left Evans shaking his head in disbelief at several points.

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Also, World number one Jannik Sinner’s seamless start to his bid for a first Wimbledon title continued with a dominant straight-set win over Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic.

Italy’s Sinner, lost just five games in another commanding display on Centre Court as he overpowered his 93rd-ranked opponent in just 100 minutes to reach the third round.

The three-time major winner won 6-1, 6-1, 6-3, having conceded only seven games in his opening match, as he offered another ominous warning to his rivals.

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In Boxing, Former UFC star Molly McCann says she intends to “win a world title within eight fights” after signing with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.

Liverpool’s McCann retired from MMA in March following defeat by Alexia Thainara at UFC London.

The 35-year-old won fourteen of her twenty-two fights across a 10-year-career and is one of the most successful and high-profile women’s fighters in British MMA history.

McCann said it was always the dream to return to boxing after competing in the sport at amateur level before her MMA career.

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In Formula one, George Russell says he “does not think he will be going anywhere” amid links between his Mercedes team and four-time world champion Max Verstappen.

Mercedes have talked to Verstappen’s management about the possibility of the Dutchman joining them from Red Bull next year.

The 27-year-old Briton is out of contract with Mercedes at the end of this season.

Verstappen, who is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028 but is said to have contractual mechanisms which could enable him to leave, said he had nothing to add on the situation.

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In Cricket, England’s top order was blown away after Shubman Gill’s mammoth 269 for India to leave the hosts requiring their most unlikely turnaround yet under captain Ben Stokes after two days of the second Test at Edgbaston.

Gill’s epic helped India pile up 587 and, after five sessions in the field, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley all fell to leave England 77-3 at the close.

Duckett and Pope, England’s centurions from their comeback win in the first Test, were caught in the slips off consecutive deliveries in seamer Akash Deep’s second over.

Crawley wafted at Mohammed Siraj to offer another edge on 19 as India, who faced huge questions coming into this Test, took total control.

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TODAY’S FIXTURES

SOCCER ACTION CONTINUES THIS WEEKEND

IN FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP FOR QUARTER-FINALS

Fluminense vs Al Hilal

ON SATURDAY

Palmeiras vs Chelsea

Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern Munich

Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement….words from Matt Biondi.