IN NIGERIA
Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle has confirmed Abdularafiu Taiwo is fit for his side’s crucial Group D encounter with Sudan.
Taiwo sustained a minor injury in Nigeria’s opening fixture at the 2024 African Nations Championship against Senegal.
The left-back was replaced in the second half by Harrison Uzondu.
First-choice goalkeeper Ani Ozoemena, who missed the clash with the defending champions with a knee problem is yet to recover fully from his injury.
Ozoemena has been ruled out of the game against Sudan by Chelle.
Nigeria, and Sudan will clash at the Amman Stadium, Zanzibar on Tuesday, at 6p.m.
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Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle says it is important for his team to get a positive result against Sudan in their next game at the 2024 African Nations Championship.
Chelle also defended the dominance of Remo Stars on the team, citing the likes of Sudan, South Africa and Morocco are also dominated by players from the best clubs in their countries.
The Super Eagles captain Junior Nduka says the team is determined to beat Sudan.
Nduka said they will give their all to secure maximum points in the game.
Nigeria must avoid defeat against the Sudanese to have any chance of progressing into the knockout round.
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Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, Gbenga Elegbeleye has backed the Super Eagles to get maximum points against Sudan.
Elegbeleye is optimistic the Eagles will secure maximum points in the game.
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Former Nigerian international, Dosu Joseph has advised the Super Eagles to keep their defence watertight against Sudan in the ongoing 2024 African Nations Championship.
Dosu warned the players to avoid making errors at the back and take advantage of every goal-scoring opportunity.
Nigeria international Paul Onuachu is on target as Trabzonspor beat Kocaelispor one-nil in their first fixture of the Turkish Super Lig.
Onuachu’s scored four minutes into the second half as Trabzonspor began their campaign on a positive note.
Also in action for Trabzonspor, were Kazeem Olaigbe and Anthony Nwakaeme
Super Falcons coach, Justine Madugu has expressed excitement to have been nominated for this year’s Ballon d’Or award.
He stated that being nominated for the award makes him proud to be a Nigerian and African.
Madugu, who led the Super Falcons to win their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, was nominated for the prestigious 2025 Ballon d’Or Women’s Team Coach of the Year award alongside Chelsea Women’s coach, Sonia Bompastor, Arsenal’s Renee Slegers, Brazil Women’s manager, Arthur Elias, and England Women’s manager, Sarina Wiegman.
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Former Nigeria international, Dominic Iorfa says he was snubbed by the Super Eagles coaching crew for the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal for joining Galatasaray.
After just one season at Queens Park Rangers, Iorfa joined Turkish giants Galatasaray in 1991 but only made seven appearances and scored just two goals.
He eventually left Galatasaray in 1992 to sign for Peterborough United where he played 60 times, netting nine goals before departing in 1994.
The former BCC Lions, Abiola Babes and Ranchers Bees, striker said the perception back then was that the Turkish league was not good enough.
Among the Nigerian stars to pull on the famous Galatasaray shirt are Henry Onyekuru, Jesse Sikidika, Valentine Ozornwafor and now Victor Osimhen.
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The National Sports Commission Chairman, Shehu Dikko, has credited veteran sports journalist Dr. Mumini Alao’s popular Soccertalk column as the platform that launched his career in Nigerian sports management.
Dikko revealed that a response he wrote to one of Alao’s articles more than two decades ago caught national attention and opened doors that shaped his professional journey.
Dikko recalled that his rise in sports management began after Alao published his reaction to a Soccertalk article.
Team Nigeria departed for Santiago, Chile, on Monday evening to compete in the World Para-Powerlifting World Cup scheduled for 15th to 17th August, 2025.
The squad, made up of 10 athletes, eight women and two men, jetted out of Nigeria after a delayed flight.
The delegation features some of the nation’s most decorated para-powerlifters, including multiple world champions and Paralympic medallists.
The British Boxing Board of Control could potentially block the proposed heavyweight clash between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul, creating a significant roadblock for what would be one of boxing’s most interesting contests.
It was revealed there is no guarantee the British Boxing Board of Control would approve the fight as a professional contest.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, explained, “Organisers would have to apply to the British Boxing Board of Control to consider. The fight would likely take place in the US.”
The Board’s hesitation would likely stem from Paul’s lack of professional experience and the massive jump to heavyweight against a former unified champion — a scenario raising safety concerns about sanctioning such a mismatch.
The National Sports Commission has given its backing to the Nigerian senior men’s team, D’Tigers, as they begin their quest to conquer the continent when the 31st edition of the FIBA Men’s AfroBasket tournament tips off in Angola on Tuesday (today.
Chairman of the NSC, Shehu Dikko, assured the coach Mohammed Abdulrahman-led side that the Commission, through the Federal Government, was committed to supporting their ambitions to land a second AfroBasket title.
The Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, also admonished the 12-player squad, saying, “There is no doubt that you can do it. You have done it before, and we know you have the quality to do it again. Go ahead and make the nation proud.”
D’Tigers will compete in Group B alongside defending champions and three-time winners Tunisia, Madagascar and Cameroon.
They begin their campaign against Madagascar on Wednesday, 13th August, before taking on Tunisia two days later.
The round-robin phase comes to a conclusion when they square up against Cameroon on 17th August.
IN ENGLAND
Crystal Palace has lost their appeal against being demoted from the Europa League and will play in the Conference League this season.
The ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport also means Nottingham Forest’s spot in the Europa League was confirmed, having been promoted in Palace’s place.
The news comes just a day after Palace beat Liverpool on penalties to win the Community Shield at Wembley.
The Eagles qualified for the Europa League after winning the FA Cup last season but were punished by Uefa for breaching multi-club ownership rules.
American businessman John Textor owned a forty-three percent stake in the club until he sold it in June and is the majority owner of Lyon, who have also qualified for the Europa League.
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Crystal Palace chairman, Steve Parish says the club will sell captain Marc Guehi this summer to avoid losing him on a free at the end of his contract.
The Eagles rejected offers for defender Guehi from Newcastle United in January – the last of which was worth sixty-five million pounds in the hope the defender would sign a new deal in south London.
The England international has now entered the final twelve months of his deal at Selhurst Park, and appears no closer to extending his contract.
Guehi is said to be open to remaining with the club until 2026, at which point he can leave on a free transfer.
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Former Premier League striker, Chris Sutton says Crystal Palace’s demotion to the Uefa Conference League could galvanise the club and bring them closer together.
Sutton said he did not see the decision having an effect on the players, stressing that the team needed to move on and get on with the season.
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Liverpool legend, Didi Hamann believes the team is still favourites to win this season’s Premier League title, despite losing the Community Shield against Crystal Palace.
Hamann stated that his old club remained the best team this season.
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Everton has agreed to a season-long loan deal for Manchester City winger Jack Grealish.
The 29-year-old has fallen out of favour at City and was left out of their squad for the final Premier League game of last season at Fulham as well as the Club World Cup in the United States.
The clubs have reached an agreement over a deal for Grealish, who reportedly earns three hundred thousand pounds a week, at City, and a medical is imminent.
The England playmaker joined City from Aston Villa for what was a British record fee of one hundred million pounds in August 2021 and has made more than 150 appearances, winning three Premier League titles, the Champions League and the FA Cup.
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Bournemouth defender, Illia Zabarnyi is set to have a medical before a fifty-seven point one million pounds move to Paris St-Germain.
The Ukraine centre-back is in Paris having agreed personal terms on a five-year contract with the European champions.
The clubs are however still negotiating the final details of the 22-year-old’s transfer, which is expected to be worth an initial fifty-four point five million pounds plus two point six million pounds in performance-related add-ons.
Zabarnyi’s exit would be the third major sale of a defender by Bournemouth this transfer window after Dean Huijsen joined Real Madrid for fifty million pounds and Liverpool signed Milos Kerkez in a deal worth forty million pounds.
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Tottenham is in talks with Manchester City over a move to sign Brazil winger Savinho.
Discussions have been held between the two clubs in recent days over a possible deal for the 21-year-old.
Negotiations are at an early stage and it remains to be seen whether City will sanction a move for the Brazil international.
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Sunderland has agreed a ten million pounds deal to sign defender Omar Alderete from Spanish side Getafe with a further nine hundred thousand pounds in add-ons.
The 28-year-old’s move is subject to a medical and he is expected to sign a four-year deal at the Stadium of Light.
The move adds a left-sided centre-back to manager Regis le Bris’ squad as they look to strengthen, having earned promotion back to the Premier League by winning the Championship play-off final in May.
Sunderland’s new arrivals include former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, former Brighton winger Simon Adingra and club record signing Habib Diarra.
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Morecambe owner, Jason Whittingham says a mediation session with potential buyers Panjab Warriors is planned for Wednesday.
A session had been set to take place last week according to Panjab Warriors, who alleged Whittingham cancelled the meeting the day before it was due to happen.
Whittingham said the club were continuing to work with a number of potential buyers and that he expected to complete the process later this week.
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OTHER LEAGUES
Villarreal’s La Liga match against Barcelona in December could become the first European league fixture to be played abroad after the Spanish football federation approved plans to host the game in the United States.
The RFEF will now seek permission from Fifa and Uefa to move the game to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, which is scheduled to host seven matches at the 2026 World Cup.
The game is currently scheduled to be played at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica on 21st December.
The Spanish football supporters’ association FASFE has joined with Barcelona and Villarreal fan groups to express their absolute, total and firm opposition to the plans.
Paris Saint-Germain has left Gianluigi Donnarumma out of the squad for the UEFA Super Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur in Udine, a further sign the Italian’s time there is over.
The tension between goalkeeper and club was escalating to new levels after talks for a new contract broke down definitively.
His current deal only runs to the end of the season, so he could leave as a free agent in June 2026, while PSG already signed his replacement Lucas Chevalier.
The Premier League is likely to be the next destination for the Italy international, with Manchester City the favourites ahead of Manchester United and Chelsea.
Rangers head coach, Russell Martin has insisted that the pressure on his side has not dropped, despite the three-goal advantage they take into the second leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie against Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday.
Martin said the team’s midfielder Nico Raskin has been impacted by uncertainty over his future at the club.
The Belgium international has been linked with big money moves away from Ibrox and Martin concedes that contact from external parties has had an effect.
Meanwhile, Viktoria Plzen head coach Miroslav Koubek said his side would have to be at their very best if they are to overhaul the three-goal deficit and keep their Champions League hopes alive.
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Spain’s women’s national team has parted ways with head coach Montse Tome and named Sonia Bermudez as her replacement.
The Spanish Football Federation said Tome’s contract will not be renewed when it expires on 31st August.
Tome became Spain’s first female head coach when she was appointed in September 2023, having acted as Jorge Vilda’s assistant until the 44-year-old was sacked amid the Luis Rubiales scandal.
She led the side to victory in the inaugural Women’s Nations League in February 2024, but Spain finished runners-up in the Euros after a penalty shootout defeat by England on 27th July.
The Spanish Football Federation thanked Tome for her work, professionalism and dedication but said she will leave her role on 31st August when her deal expires.
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OTHER SPORTS
In Tennis, Britain’s Emma Raducanu fell agonisingly short of beating world number one Aryna Sabalenka and earning a statement win at the Cincinnati Open.
Raducanu, 22, lost 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 as defending champion Sabalenka edged a battle lasting more than three hours to reach the fourth round.
Having also pushed Sabalenka at Wimbledon, Raducanu’s performance was further evidence she can severely test the world’s best as her revival continues.
Raducanu could be seeded among the leading thirty-two players at the upcoming US Open, providing a more favourable draw.
In Cricket, Grace Harris once again led London Spirit to victory by steering them home in a tense chase of one hundred and twenty-three against Manchester Originals at Old Trafford.
The defending champions, who won a final-ball thriller and now have three wins from three this year, stuttered to 56-3 after 59 balls but Australia international Harris hit 50 not out as the Spirit edged over the line again, winning by three wickets and with two balls to spare.
Having swung the match in her side’s favour with a flurry of boundaries, Harris lost the strike at the finish and Kathryn Bryce dismissed Issy Wong and Charlie Dean in consecutive deliveries.
That left nine needed from six balls but Sarah Glenn, who earlier took a tidy 1-18, edged the hat-trick ball for four and drove the winning runs to end ten not out.
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In Golf, Tyrrell Hatton and Austria’s Sepp Straka occupy the final three European automatic places for qualification, which ends after the British Masters in two weeks’ time.
Americans Russell Henley, Bryson DeChambeau and Harris English are in the USA’s final three automatic spots, with their qualification ending after Sunday’s BMW Championship.
Rose became the first player in his 40s to win on Tour this season, claiming his first title since the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February 2023.
He trailed by one shot overnight and had a mixed round until a run of four straight birdies from the 14th.
US Open champion Spaun hit a five-under 65 in the third round and the world number eight repeated the feat to secure his play-off spot after birdies on the 16th and 17th.
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In Athletics, Great Britain’s Innes Fitzgerald completed a long-distance double as she won the three thousand metres at the European Under-twenty Championships.
The 19-year-old from Devon added the crown to the five thousand metres title she won on Thursday as she aims for a place at this month’s World Championships in Tokyo.
Fitzgerald who was third in the British Championships at five thousand metres took the European Under-twenty three thousand metres title in a time 0f 8:46.39, more than twenty-two seconds ahead of Sweden’s silver medallist Carmen Cernjul.
The time in the Finnish town of Tampere broke the 32-year-old championship record.
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Two Norwegian ski jumpers and three team officials have been charged following allegations of tampering with ski suits,
The sport’s governing body said Olympic medallists Marius Lindvik and Johann Andre Forfang have been charged with equipment manipulation in the men’s large hill event at the World Ski Championships in Trondheim, Norway, in March.
Then head coach Magnus Brevik, assistant coach Thomas Lobben and service staff member Adrian Livelten have also been charged following an International Ski Federation investigation.
The Federation general manager Jan-Erik Aalbu said the team had tried to cheat the system by putting reinforced thread in the jumpsuits of Lindvik and Forfang.
Aalbu said Lindvik and Forfang were unaware of the reinforced thread and questioned the decision to charge them.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful…words from John Wooden
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