IN ENGLAND
Leeds United has made a winning return to the Premier League as Lukas Nmecha’s late penalty gave them a deserved victory against Everton at Elland Road.
Daniel Farke’s side was dominant but looked like having to settle for a point until Everton captain James Tarkowski handled Anton Stach’s shot six minutes from time.
Nmecha confidently dispatched the penalty to send Leeds’ fans wild in what was a typically thunderous Yorkshire atmosphere.
Everton’s new loan signing Jack Grealish made a twenty minute appearance as a substitute in an attempt to inject spark into a lacklustre display, with the visitors taking fifty-three minutes to muster a shot on target.
Bournemouth has signed Liverpool winger Ben Doak for an initial twenty million pounds with a further five million pounds in add-ons.
The 19-year-old has signed a five-year contract and becomes Bournemouth’s fourth summer acquisition.
Doak was left out of Liverpool’s four-two win over Bournemouth at Anfield.
Bournemouth is understood to have beaten interest from other Premier League clubs, including Leeds, and Portuguese side Porto.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes the Reds will struggle defensively after the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid.
Carragher stated that the duo of Frimpong and Kerkez are not on the same level as the England international.
Tottenham Hotspur captain, Cristian Romero has signed a new four-year contract to commit his future to the club.
The 27-year-old Argentina centre-back joined Spurs from Atalanta in August 2021, initially on loan before the move was made permanent the following summer.
After being heavily linked with a move to Atletico Madrid over the summer, Romero was named club captain by new head coach Thomas Frank and the deal ensures he will remain under contract in north London until 2029.
Romero said he was very happy at Spurs and after helping them win the Europa League in the previous campaign has predicted a special season ahead for the club.
Nottingham Forest has signed Rennes striker Arnaud Kalimuendo on a five-year contract for a reported initial fee of twenty-six million pounds.
Frenchman Kalimuendo scored eighteen goals in thirty-four appearances last season as Rennes finished 12th in Ligue 1.
Forest had already spent at least one hundred and fourteen million pounds on six players in the summer transfer window before making this signing.
Newcastle striker, Alexander Isak is not expected to attend Tuesday’s Professional Footballers’ Association’s awards gala.
The Sweden international has been nominated for the main award but could miss the ceremony amid ongoing uncertainty over his future at St James’ Park.
Isak is currently in the middle of a stand-off with Newcastle over his ambition to join Liverpool before the transfer deadline.
The 25-year-old is currently not training with Eddie Howe’s first team and there has been no indication of a reintegration any time soon.
Democratic Republic of Congo star Yoane Wissa has removed all association with Brentford from his Instagram account as his uncertain future takes a fresh twist.
Wissa who was left out of the squad for the team’s three-one loss at Nottingham Forest, wants to join Newcastle.
The Magpies have seen at least one offer for the forward rejected by Brentford this summer.
Brentford are still hesitating in allowing Wissa to leave amid suggestions they now value him above their original forty million pounds asking price.
Former England and Manchester United star, Wayne Rooney has revealed a player cried on his chest after being racially abused during his time in charge of Major League Soccer club DC United, and has called for greater anti-racism education campaigns.
Rooney also wants to see clubs punished more severely for racism from fans.
It comes after Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo reported he was racially abused by someone in the crowd during the Cherries’ four-two defeat by Liverpool.
IN NIGERIA
Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle has charged the team to show their quality in Tuesday’s final group game against Congo.
Chelle revealed there could be some changes in his starting line-up.
The Super Eagles will take on Congo in their final group game which is a dead rubber tie.
Defeating to Senegal and Sudan means the Super Eagles B encounter with Congo will only be for pride.
Bafana Bafana of South Africa has crashed out of the Africa Nations Championship after a dramatic three-all draw with Uganda in their CHAN Group C match.
The South Africans, who had taken a three-one lead, when Uganda were awarded two late penalties.
Both spot kicks were converted for an eventual three-all scoreline, leaving the South Africans heartbroken.
The result means Uganda will advance to the CHAN quarter-finals at the expense of the South Africans.
Algeria also qualified alongside Uganda to the knockout stage.
Executive Committee Chairman of Bayelsa United, Tarilaye Nwankwe, has confirmed that Monday Odigie has been appointed as the new Head Coach of the club.
Odigie succeeds Ladan Bosso, who has since joined newly promoted Barau FC of Kano.
Domo Okara who had served as Bosso’s assistant, will now continue in his role as Odigie’s deputy.
The Restoration Boys, NPFL champions in 2009, will open their 2025/2026 campaign with an away fixture against Shooting Stars Sports Club in Ibadan this weekend.
The Nigeria Women Football League has announced that the 2025 edition of the NWFL Championship will take place in Abia State.
Chief Operating Officer of the NWFL, Modupe Shabi, said a total of seventeen clubs have registered for this year’s edition and will be drawn into four groups ahead of the kick-off.
Shabi assured all participating teams that the Championship would be conducted under the highest standards of fair play, with a level playing ground for everyone involved.
Participating teams are expected to arrive in Abia State on 11th September, with the official draws and pre-match meetings scheduled for the following day.
The competition will serve as the pathway for clubs seeking promotion to the Premiership, with four promotion tickets available for the upcoming 2025/2026 season.
The competition will run from 11th to 21st September 2025.
Glasgow Rangers head coach, Russell Martin says the Super Eagles star Cyriel Dessers is responding to treatment after suffering an ankle injury.
Dessers suffered the injury during Rangers’ two-one defeat to Viktoria Plzen in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers.
Martin had expressed concern about the severity of the injury.
He stated that the injury appeared to be serious and that further tests are needed to assess the full extent of the damage.
Turkey national team coach Vincenzo Montella has lauded Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen’s determination to stick with Galatasaray.
Montella stated that credit should go to Osimhen for showing true loyalty to the club.
Getafe head coach, Jose Bordalas is optimistic that Nigerian international Christantus Uche will remain at the club beyond this summer.
Bordalas praised the striker for his impressive performance in the encounter.
The player has been linked with a move away from the La Liga club this summer.
Uche underlined his importance to the Azuolones by grabbing a goal, and an assist in the club’s two-nil victory over Celta Vigo.
The family of former Super Eagles goalkeeper and captain, Peter Rufai, fondly known as Dodo Mayana, has announced the details of his funeral programme following his passing on 3rd July, 2025.
Peter Rufai, who was born on 24th August, 1963, will be laid to rest in Lagos, with a series of events lined up to honour his life and legacy.
The programme signed by Sunny Bruce Rufai on behalf of the family, proceedings will begin on Thursday, 21st August, 2025, with a Service of Songs and the public presentation of his biography at Raji Rasaki Estate Field, Off Raji Rasaki Road, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.
A Funeral Mass will follow on Friday, 22nd August, 2025, at the Catholic Church of Visitation, First Avenue, FESTAC Town, Lagos, with interment immediately afterwards at Ikoyi Cemetery.
Nigeria’s D’Tigers will take on Senegal in the quarter-finals of the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket in Angola.
The quarter-final pairing was confirmed after Senegal beat South Sudan 78-65 in their qualification tie for the knockout round.
D’Tigers will hope to continue their impressive run when they face Senegal on 20th August.
The Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) on Monday in Abuja, donated trees to all 35 clubs participating in the ongoing competition in Division 1 and 2 as part of a climate action campaign.
The presentation was made by the president of NVBF, Musa Nimrod at the closing ceremony of the first phase of the tournament at the outdoor volleyball court at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
According to Nimrod, the importance of the initiative is part of the Federation’s contribution to environmental preservation.
Some basketball stakeholders on Monday extolled the heroics of Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, at the ongoing FIBA Afrobasket Championship in Angola.
D’Tigers defeated Cameroon 101-78 to top Group B, having earlier outscored Madagascar 77-59 and demolished defending champions Tunisia 87-66, cruising unbeaten into the quarterfinals.
They said the results show D’Tigers are genuine title contenders capable of defeating any opposition.
Nigeria’s D’Tigers displayed dominance against Cameroon, sealing a quarterfinal berth with an impressive unbeaten record in the group stage.
The Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has extended congratulations to Moses Itauma on his outstanding boxing victory.
In a statement, NiDCOM said Moses’s success is a testament to his discipline and resilience, qualities that reflect the excellence Nigerians around the world are known for.
It added that Moses’ achievement is a source of inspiration not only to the Nigerian community in the diaspora but also to young athletes everywhere aspiring to greatness.
Born in Kežmarok, Slovakia, to a Nigerian father and Slovakian mother, and later moving to England, Moses continues to rise as one of the most exciting prospects in the world of boxing.
Moses Itauma earned a career-best payout of approximately $1.5m after his devastating knockout victory over Dillian Whyte in Riyadh on Saturday night.
Defending champions of the National Youths Games, Team Delta, have moved into a closed camp with over 600 athletes ahead of the ninth edition of the championships, which will hold in Asaba from 26th August to 6th September.
The team is camped at St. Brigid’s school, Asaba, the Delta Sports Commission hostel, and the hockey hostel located at Okpanam.
Meanwhile, Team Bayelsa made a good impact at the just-concluded South-South zonal eliminations in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
With a strong 250-athlete contingent, Team Bayelsa participated in 10 sports.
Team Bayelsa outclassed Rivers 17-9 in female basketball before whitewashing Akwa Ibom State 16-2 to finish first, while the boys defeated Akwa Ibom 18-14 in the first game, beat Edo 7-1 in the second game, but lost the third game to Rivers 17-19 in the added minutes, but still qualified.
In football, Team Bayelsa won three out of three matches to secure a place in the NYG, while the female team won two matches to keep their hopes intact.
OTHER LEAGUES
Brazil forward Neymar left the field in tears after Santos suffered a six-nil home defeat by Vasco da Gama.
Neymar said he was totally disappointed with the team’s performance, stressed that the fans have every right to protest, obviously without using violence.
The loss was the biggest of Neymar’s career and it was the first time that Santos had conceded six goals at home in a Brazilian Serie A match.
The eight-time champions are two points above the relegation zone and coach Cleber Xavier was sacked hours after the game.
Former Liverpool and Aston Villa forward Philippe Coutinho scored twice as Vasco claimed their first win in six league games and their biggest league win in seventeen years.
AC Milan sporting director Igli Tare has confirmed the Italian club is interested in Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund.
The Denmark forward was left out of the matchday squad for United’s one-nil home defeat by Arsenal.
He also confirmed interest in Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic.
Former France midfielder, Lassana Diarra is restarting legal proceedings seeking fifty-six million pounds in compensation from Fifa and the Royal Belgian Football Association.
Diarra has had a long-running legal battle with world football’s governing body Fifa, with his legal team having challenged some of Fifa’s rules after the termination of his contract with Lokomotiv Moscow in 2014.
In October the Court of Justice of the European Union found that Fifa’s rules which govern the way some football transfers work break European Union laws.
Diarra, who played in the Premier League for Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth, said he hoped Fifa and the Royal Belgian Football Association would at least have the decency to approach me to propose an amicable settlement.
OTHER SPORTS
In Tennis, An emotional Jannik Sinner has retired from the Cincinnati Open final against Carlos Alcaraz with illness, only six days before he begins his US Open title defence.
World number one Sinner was out of sorts from the first point of the highly anticipated showpiece, and trailed 5-0 after twenty-three minutes on another hot day.
He sat with ice on his head at the first changeover after going a double break down, and called for the trainer after losing another two games.
After a brief chat, Sinner apologised to the umpire and officials, growing tearful as he told them he felt really bad for the fans.
The Italian shared a hug with Alcaraz and walked out to the middle of the court, raising his hands in apology to the crowd before returning to his seat and hiding his head in his towel.
Still on Tennis, Former British number one Kyle Edmund says his body is telling him it finally reached the end point as he announced his retirement from tennis.
Edmund had a memorable run to the Australian Open semi-finals in 2018 and was as high as fourteen in the world rankings.
The 30-year-old is only the second British man after Sir Andy Murray to reach the last four at Melbourne in the Open era.
His later career was hampered by injuries, with Edmund undergoing three knee surgeries in the past five years.
Also, British number ones Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper will face each other in this week’s new-look US Open mixed doubles event in New York.
Raducanu is partnering five-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz, while Draper, 23, will play with American Jessica Pegula after their original partners, Tommy Paul and Paula Badosa, both withdrew.
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 singles tournament begins on 24th August.
The first two rounds will take place on Tuesday and the semi-finals and final will be played on Wednesday.
In Cricket, Southern Brave thrashed Oval Invincibles by 89 runs, the biggest margin in terms of runs in the history of The Hundred’s women’s competition, to move clear at the top of the table.
Their fifth win from five matches broke a record that was only set on Sunday, when London Spirit beat Birmingham Phoenix by eighty-eight runs.
Brave now sit top of standings outright with 20 points, having previously been behind London Spirit on net run-rate, while Invincibles remain in fifth.
In Rugby, Ireland back row Brittany Hogan says she has used rugby as a way to cope with the grief of losing her father suddenly in 2023.
Ahead of her first appearance at the Women’s Rugby World Cup, Hogan has opened up about the impact of her father’s and grandfather’s deaths and how the support of her team-mates helped her get through a difficult time.
Hogan, who took up rugby at fifteen after being told she was too aggressive to play other sports, says she and other team-mates who are dealing with grief will aim to make their bereaved family members proud at the World Cup in England next month.
In Athletics, Keely Hodgkinson will line up against training partner Georgia Hunter Bell at the Lausanne Diamond League on Wednesday, her second and final planned race before next month’s World Championships.
Following a season decimated by injury, Hodgkinson ended a 376-day wait to compete for the first time as Olympic 800m champion in Silesia, Poland on Saturday.
The 23-year-old announced her return in emphatic fashion as she clocked one minute, 54.74 seconds, the quickest time of 2025, the ninth-fastest in history, and a mere 0.13 seconds short of her British record.
Hunter Bell, who finished third in the one thousand and five hundred metres in Silesia last week, will seek a third Diamond League eight hundred metres win of the season following impressive victories in Stockholm and London.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
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