IN NIGERIA
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Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko has applauded President Bola Tinubu for his reward to the Super Falcons.

Dikko praised the President for his unwavering support and visionary leadership.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau also thanked Tinubu for his kind gesture.
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Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade says the team will work hard to become the best team in the world.

She stated that their next mission was to win the Women’s World Cup.

Ajibade called for continued support from the government and stakeholders to elevate Nigeria’s global standing in women’s football.
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Morocco’s Football Federation has lodged a formal complaint with the Confederation of African Football over what it described as “refereeing injustices” during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final against Nigeria’s Super Falcons.

The Federation said the centre referee failed to award a clear penalty in the 82nd minute, with the score tied at two-all.

It claimed the decision altered the course of the match, which the Super Falcons went on to win three-two.
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Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has rejected Atalanta’s contract offer, reportedly determined to push through a move to Inter Milan.

With Lookman turning down their contract proposal, Atalanta find themselves backed into a corner.

Meanwhile, Inter Milan has tabled a new bid for Lookman.

The latest offer worth forty million euros plus five million euros add-ons, but was rejected by Atalanta.

La Dea are demanding fifty milion euros from the Nerrazzuri.
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Fulham has lined up a move for Super Eagles star Samuel Chukwueze as a possible replacement for Adama Traore.

The Cottagers view the Nigeria international as a potential replacement for Traore, who could join Nottingham Forest this summer.

Chukwueze was linked with a move to the Craven Cottage during the January transfer window.

The 26-year-old, who joined AC Milan from Spanish club Villarreal in 2023 has failed to impress at the club.
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Nigerian international Tom Dele-Bashiru who plays for Watford, is a subject of Interest from four clubs; Bologna, Parma, Cremonese, and PAOK.

The Hornets are willing to sell Dele-Bashiru this summer.

The London club value the playmaker in the region of eight million pounds.
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Nigeria’s D’Tigress will face either Cameroon or Angola in the quarter-finals of the 2025 women’s AfroBasket in Cote d’Ivoire.

D’Tigress, who is reigning African champions, booked their place in the last eight after a hard-fought 60 –55 win against Mozambique, in their second Group D game.

It was two wins from two matches after they opened their campaign with a dominant 92– 45 win against Rwanda.

The two victories saw the Nigerian team top the group and will now face the winner between Cameroon and Angola on Thursday, 31st July.

The round of sixteen encounter between Cameroon and Angola is billed for Wednesday, 30th July.
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Omar Ehab of Egypt has pulled off a stunning upset by defeating reigning champion Mathew Kuti in the Under-nineteen boys’ team semifinal at the Africa West Regional Championship.

Ehab won 14-12, 4-11, 11-4, 11-6 in a thrilling encounter that has been the highlight of the tournament so far, with both players showcasing exceptional skill and determination.

His precise shots and strategic play proved decisive against the experienced Kuti, marking a breakthrough moment in Ehab’s young career and affirming his rising status on the continental stage.

In another match, Algerian Tania Morice secured a 14-11, 11-8, 11-7 victory over Ugandan Patience Anyango to book a spot in the U-15 girls’ team semifinal.

In the other semifinal, Algerian Jade Morice defeated Ugandan Jemimah Nakawala 11-9, 12-10, 6-11.

Ugandan Patra Nasirumbi also defeated Algerian Amani Tazerouti in a narrow win 13-11, 11-7, 13-11, 11-5, 11-8.
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The organisers of the 5th Racing 10s Rugby Tournament on Tuesday confirmed the participation of 13 teams in the 2025 edition of the event.

This is contained in a statement by Emmanuel Ayewe, manager of Racing Rugby Football Club, organisers of the annual tournament holding in Lagos.

Ayewe stated that the 2025 edition will also feature several side attractions to engage fans and enhance the overall tournament experience.
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In a thrilling U-15 boys’ team quarter-final at the ITTF Africa Youth Championship in Lagos, Algeria’s Khaled Touaibia upset Tunisia’s Amine Amori.

The eight-day tournament is ongoing at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

The tightly contested match saw Touaibia edge out Amori with a 3–1 victory in sets (11–6, 11–7, 12–11, 11–9).

Algeria’s strategy and skill paid off, earning them a place in the semi-finals.

In spite of Tunisia’s spirited display, they fell short against the Algerian side.
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Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, has described the death of Super Eagles legend Peter Rufai as a personal loss.

Fatodu stated this during an interview with Journalists at the ‘Night of Tributes’ event held for Rufai and three other sports icons.

The event honoured Rufai and three others who passed away in the first half of 2025 and was organised by veteran sportsman Segun Odegbami.

Fatodu revealed that the Lagos government intends to use Rufai’s memory to inspire upcoming talents through sports development initiatives.
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IN ENGLAND
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Newcastle manager Eddie Howe says the team has not yet received a bid for its top scorer Alexander Isak.

The Sweden striker is exploring his options for a potential summer move and has not travelled on the team’s pre-season tour of Asia, although Newcastle initially said he has a minor thigh injury.

Liverpool is still interested in the 25-year-old, despite signing Hugo Ekitike for an initial sixty-nine million pounds.

The Magpies had maintained that Isak was not for sale and although Howe admits he was not in full control of the player’s future.
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English Goalkeeper James Trafford has rejoined Manchester City from Burnley in a deal which the Clarets say is a new record fee for a British goalkeeper.

City sources say the move is worth twenty-seven million pounds plus add-ons.

Burnley sources put the figure at thirty-one million pounds plus add-ons and a sell-on clause.

That would take the deal above the previous record of thirty million pounds which Everton paid Sunderland for Jordan Pickford in 2017.
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Everton has sold its women’s team to the parent company which owns the club, a move that will improve their compliance with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules, PSR.

The team has been purchased by Roundhouse Capital Holdings, which is owned and controlled by American businessman Dan Friedkin.

The Friedkin Group completed its takeover of Everton in December 2024.

The move allows the women’s team to act as a standalone entity and attract minority investment.

The men’s team, meanwhile, benefits from the sale being recorded as revenue in the club’s accounts, which positively impacts their PSR position.
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London-based sports investment company Panjab Warriors has released a statement to say it is ready, willing and able to buy Morecambe.

The Shrimps were suspended by the National League until 20th August over a failure to comply with the league’s rules.

Panjab Warriors has been in talks with the club’s owner Jason Whittingham for over a year and a deal had looked set to be concluded earlier this summer.
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Bryan Mbeumo says he is excited about linking up with Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes as he prepares for life at Old Trafford following his move from Brentford.

After weeks of drawn-out talks, the 25-year-old finally joined United last week for £65 million plus a potential £6 million in add-ons.
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Portuguese forward Joao Felix has signed a two-year deal with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, where he will join Cristiano Ronaldo.

The club announced Tuesday.

Felix, now 25, made a blockbuster move from Benfica to Atletico Madrid in 2019, but has since seen his fortunes decline.

Felix remains one of the most expensive transfers in history, following his move to Atletico for 127.7 million euros in 2019.
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OTHER LEAGUES
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Las Vegas will play host to the 2026 World Cup draw on 5th December.

According to multiple reports on Tuesday, with The Sphere serving as the ceremony site.

ESPN and TUDN’Mexico said Vegas had been picked for the draw of the expanded 48-team event, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

In all, 12 groups of four nations will be drawn.

When the United States played host to the 1994 World Cup, the draw ceremony was also conducted in Las Vegas.
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Rangers manager Russell Martin is expecting to see an improved Rangers against Panathinaikos as his team take a two-nil lead to Athens in Champions League qualifying.

Goals from Findlay Curtis and Djeidi Gassamma at Ibrox last week put the visitors in a strong position, although the head coach insists his focus was not on protecting that advantage.

Martin believes a rigorous training week at St George’s Park in Staffordshire will prepare his players for the heat in Greece, and he remains unfased by the hostile atmosphere expected at the Olympic Stadium.
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OTHER SPORTS
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The US Open has confirmed fourteen of the pairings that will compete for one million dollars in next month’s controversial mixed doubles event.

Organisers were heavily criticised in February after announcing that the mixed doubles competition would be a standalone event on 19th to 20th August, before the hard court Grand Slam begins on 24th August.

British number one Emma Raducanu and five-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz are one of six wildcard pairings, with eight teams gaining direct entry.

The US Open said a further two wildcard entries would be announced at a later date.

Venus Williams takes up one of the wildcard places alongside fellow American Reilly Opelka.

Wimbledon singles champions Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner have direct entry with their respective partners Casper Ruud and Emma Navarro, while British number one Jack Draper also goes into the draw via that route, partnering Spain’s Paula Badosa.
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In Cricket, India head coach Gautam Gambhir has been involved in a confrontation with Surrey ground staff during a training session before Thursday’s fifth and final Test against England at The Oval.

Speaking in a news briefing afterwards, India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak who was present during the incident, said the coaches were inspecting the wicket for the Test, and were asked to move away.
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In Rugby, Centre Garry Ringrose has been ruled out of the British and Irish Lions’ third Test against Australia on Saturday as he continues to recover from a head injury.

Ringrose withdrew from Andy Farrell’s starting XV for the second Test after feeling the effects of concussion in training.

The 30-year-old, who was replaced by Huw Jones for the Lions’ dramatic 29-26 series-clinching victory in Melbourne, also missed out on possible selection for the first Test because of a head injury.
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In Cycling, Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar will not race in next month’s Vuelta a Espana as he takes a break before focusing on the World Championships.

Pogacar won his fourth Tour de France last week to further establish himself as the dominant force in modern cycling.

The 26-year-old won road race gold at the World Championships last year with an epic attack from one hundred kilometres out and is aiming to defend his crown in Rwanda in late September.

The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider will return to racing at the Canadian one-day races in Quebec and Montreal in mid-September.

The Vuelta is the only one of the three Grand Tours Pogacar has not won, having finished third during his only appearance in 2019.

The 2025 World Championships will be the first to take place
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles….words from Football Player, Alex Karras.