IN NIGERIA
Super Eagles star William, Troost-Ekong says the team fully understand the importance of Saturday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Group C qualifier against Rwanda.
Troost-Ekong said the players are highly focused and well-prepared for the crucial encounter as all the twenty-three invited players are now in camp.
Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Tolu Arokodare, Raphael Onyedika, and Christantus Uche all breezed into camp on Wednesday.
The team started preparations for the crucial qualifiers on Tuesday.
The Super Eagles will host Rwanda in Uyo on Saturday 6th September before taking on South Africa three days later.
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Super Eagles star, Bright Osayi-Samuel says the team must beat the Amavubi of Rwanda to have any chance of securing a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Osayi-Samuel, who plays for Sky Bet Championship club Birmingham City claimed the team cannot afford another slip up in the qualifying series.
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Football fans will pay the sum of one thousand naira and three thousand naira to watch the Super Eagles live against Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio International, Uyo on Saturday.
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, said the popular side seats will go for one thousand naira while the VIP section will sell for three thousand naira.
The tickets will be made available at designated centres within the Uyo metropolis from Friday.
The encounter will kick-off at 5pm Nigeria time.
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The Amavubi of Rwanda has arrived Uyo for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Super Eagles.
Adel Amrouche’s side landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport before connecting another flight to Uyo.
Twenty players, technical crew members, and officials of the Rwanda Football Association made the trip.
The quartet of Phanuel Kavita, Bonheur Mugisha, Jojea Kwizera, and Clement Buhake are expected to link up with the team in Uyo.
Rwanda occupy second position in Group C with eight points from six games.
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Benin Republic coach, Gernot Rohr has urged FIFA to do the needful by deducting three points from South Africa for fielding an ineligible player in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
A possible points deduction hangs over the team after Mokoena featured in their two-nil win over Lesotho.
The 28-year-old should have been serving a suspension in that game after receiving a yellow card in their opening clash against Benin and another against Zimbabwe.
Rohr stated that he expects FIFA to have taken action against South Africa.
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The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has agreed to partner with a non-governmental organization, Vivacity Group, on the latter’s Future of Work Initiative, NigeriaWorks 2030.
The partnership aimed at driving innovation, entrepreneurship and youth employment across services and care economy, agriculture and agribusiness, creative and cultural industries, and technology and digital economy.
NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau lauded the initiative, reiterating that his administration would continue to encourage meaningful and positive moves and endeavours that seek to enhance opportunities for the youth.
NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi also recommended critical path measures that the group can adopt to spring it swiftly towards attaining its goals and objectives.
Ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifying fixture between the Super Eagles and the Bafana Bafana of South Africa next week, the Free State Stadium located in Bloemfontein has been cleared to host the clash by governing bodies FIFA and CAF.
There had been uncertainty over which venue would host Bafana Bafana’s World Cup qualifying matches at home, after concerns had been raised about the unsatisfactory pitch conditions at the Free State Stadium.
However, a joint statement from FIFA and CAF eventually gave the arena the green light to stage the match, following further inspections by officials from both governing bodies.
Former Super Eagles coach, Salisu Yusuf, has heaped plaudits on Anas Yusuf, who emerged as the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, Goal King.
Anas netted eighteen goals during the season under review to claim the 2024/2025 NPFL Highest Goal Scorer award, with a cash prize of two million naira presented to him in Abuja.
Salisu said he was not surprised by the striker’s achievement.
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Turkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce has submitted a massive offer to Ademola Lookman, reports Completesports.com.
The Yellow Canaries have offered to pay Lookman six million euros on a four-year deal.
Fenerbahce is still pushing to reach an agreement with Atalanta.
The transfer window in Turkey will only close on Friday 12th, September.
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Nigeria international, Taiwo Awoniyi is not included in Nottingham Forest’s squad for this season’s UEFA Europa League.
Awoniyi’s omission was confirmed when Forest unveiled their squad for the competition.
His Nigerian teammate Ola Aina was included in the squad.
Notable names who were included in the squad are Chris Wood, Neco Williams, Morgan Gibbs-White, Douglas Luiz and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
The stage is set for the 2025 NBBF Women’s Basketball League Final 8 Play-Off, which tips off on 14 September at the National Stadium, Lagos.
The championship marks the climax of Nigeria’s premier women’s basketball league, with eight outstanding teams competing for the coveted national title and a place in continental competition.
The finalists are MFM Basketball Club, First Bank, Dolphins, Bayelsa Whales, Nigeria Customs, Titans Basket, Air Warriors, and Royal Aces, representing both the Atlantic and Savannah Conferences.
Each team displayed remarkable resilience to advance, showing the growing depth and competitiveness of women’s basketball in Nigeria under the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).
The Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, NBBofC is awaiting a visa decision for boxer Sikiru Shogbesan after appealing to the South Africa embassy.
Shogbesan was initially denied a visa due to the event date passing, but the Africa Boxing Union title fight has been rescheduled from 28th August to 12th September.
In a letter sent to the South African High Commission, NBBofC General Secretary Remi Aboderin provided official documentation showing the event postponement.
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Juwon Adegite has won two bronze medals for Ekiti in Para Athletics at the ongoing National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta.
Juwon won one bronze medal each in 100m race and Long Jump.
She displayed good strength in the 100m and came third position to win bronze on Wednesday.
Team Bayelsa athletes have intensified their medal haul, with strong performances at the ongoing National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta.
As of Wednesday morning, Team Bayelsa had raked in a total of 28 medals in both male and female categories across various sporting events.
In traditional wrestling, Team Bayelsa won two silver medals through Okike Emmanuel in the boys’ 55kg category and Arcbone Pricilla in the girls’ 50 kg category.
In boxing, Great Joseph emerged victorious, defeating his opponent from Team Adamawa, to advance to the semifinals.
Nigeria Women’s Premier League champions, Bayelsa Queens, have qualified for the finals of the CAF Women’s Champions League WAFU B qualifiers.
The Nigerian side defeated USFA of Burkina Faso 2-1 at Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.
The Female Yellow Greens suffered a 10-wicket defeat in the hands of test nation Zimbabwe on Wednesday, ultimately ending their hopes of advancing to the next round of the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier Division 1 in Namibia.
Batting first, Nigeria posted a total of 90 runs all out in 19.5 overs before they were chased down in the second innings.
Despite a positive start, the Zimbabwean bowling attack, led by the brilliant Josephine Nkomo proved too difficult to handle.
President of the Aquatics Federation of Nigeria, Chinoye Daphey-Aliyu, has revealed plans to select new swimmers from the ongoing 2025 National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, as they prepare for more junior championships before the end of the year.
Daphey-Aliyu spoke on the sidelines of the event in Asaba, as swimmers from Lagos, Bayelsa, and the hosts Delta States dazzled.
Head coach of Nigeria’s U-18 women’s handball team, John Uzor, has expressed belief in his team’s chances of securing a qualification berth for the 2026 Women’s Youth World Handball Championship.
The team, currently gearing up for the 2025 African Women’s Youth Handball Championship in Oran, Algeria later this month, will be aiming to match or surpass their third-place finish at the 2023 edition in Tunisia — a historic feat that secured their first-ever World Championship ticket.
IN ENGLAND
The Football Association will not appeal against the decision to clear West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta of four spot-fixing charges.
An independent regulatory commission hearing, which took place following an FA investigation, found four charges to be not proven.
Written reasons detailing the commission’s finding were published on Wednesday, calling into question the FA’s decision not to call in independent expertise on the key area of betting data.
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Chelsea star, Marc Cucurella has advised La Liga clubs to spend big during the transfer window if they are to compete with the Premier League.
The Spanish international stated this on the backdrop of how clubs in the Premier League spent big to sign players this summer.
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England star, Ruben Loftus-Cheek says he completely forgot about playing for England and was just a fan during his near seven-year absence from the national team.
Loftus-Cheek’s last appearance for the Three Lions came in a friendly against the United States in November 2018 after he had been part of Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad that reached the semi-finals in Russia the same year.
The 29-year-old midfielder ruptured his Achilles in 2019 playing for Chelsea in a friendly in the USA before the Europa League final, and subsequently dropped out of the England reckoning.
He joined AC Milan in 2023 and has made seventy-one appearances for the Rossoneri in all competitions, scoring eleven goals and registering three assists.
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Minimum salaries for players in the top two tiers of professional women’s football in England are being introduced for the first time this season.
It is one of the requirements brought in by Women’s Super League, WSL Football, the company overseeing England’s professional leagues.
WSL Football would not disclose what the minimum level will be, but it is described as a full-time wage.
The salaries will be based on thresholds such as the age of players, what league they are playing in, and their experience in the game following consultation with the Professional Footballers’ Association.
The 2025-26 WSL season begins on Friday as champions Chelsea women face Manchester City at Stamford Bridge, on the back of England winning a second consecutive European Championship title.
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Everton women has signed England midfielder Ruby Mace from Leicester City for a club record fee.
The Toffees would not disclose the size of the deal but it is believed to be considerably more than the one hundred thousand pounds bid they had turned down earlier this summer by Leicester.
Mace, who has signed a three-year deal, made twelve appearances for Leicester after joining them on a permanent basis from Manchester City in 2024 and had a year remaining on her contract.
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Three parliamentarians are calling for an investigation into the case of a group of former Premier League players who say they were victims of financial abuse.
Danny Murphy, Brian Deane and Rod Wallace are part of the V11 campaign group, which comprises eleven footballers who invested with Kingsbridge Asset Management in the 1990s and 2000s.
The players lost tens of millions of pounds and some now owe millions in tax.
Lord Mann, Alex Sobel and Sarah Bool who are Members of the Parliament said the case was a failure of regulation, accountability and duty of care.
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OTHER LEAGUES
The quartet of Wales players, Joe Rodon, Nathan Broadhead, Danny Ward and Jay DaSilva have withdrawn from the squad for Thursday’s World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan in Astana.
Tom King, Rhys Norrington-Davies and Joel Colwill have been added to the group originally named by head coach Craig Bellamy.
Leeds United defender Rodon, Wrexham duo Broadhead and Ward and Coventry City’s DaSilva all have injury issues.
Cardiff City midfielder Colwill gets his first senior call-up after older brother Rubin was initially summoned by Bellamy only to be ruled out by a knock he picked up in the Bluebirds’ win over Plymouth Argyle.
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OTHER SPORTS
In Baskeball; IU basketball’s roster for the 2025-26 season is complete with the recent addition of two walk-ons.
IU’s two new walk-ons are freshman guards Tryce Grensing and Drew Snively.
The Hoosiers have 17 players for the upcoming season 13 on scholarship and four walk-ons.
Although Division I men’s college basketball programs are now limited to 15 players, returning walk-ons who were a part of the program before the 15-man limit was enacted do not count against the limit, which is why the Hoosiers are at 17 players.
In Boxing; Professional British Fighter Moses Itauma is set to return to the ring at the back end of 2025.
Chatham southpaw’s promoter, Frank Warren, disclosed that Itauma’s next fight will fall on 13th December in Manchester, insisting Itauma will return before Christmas.
former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, believes Itauma should swerve a showdown with undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Itauma called out Usyk after knocking out Dillian Whyte in one round last month in Riyadh and the rising prospect is the number one contender to the Ukrainian’s WBO crown.
Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has endorsed Moses Itauma’s readiness to face him, declaring the 20-year-old British-Nigerian fighter is prepared for a potential showdown.
In Formula one, IndyCar race winner Colton Herta has been named test driver for the new Cadillac Formula 1 team in 2026.
The 25-year-old American, who has not disguised his ambitions to become an F1 driver, has won nine races in the US-based IndyCar series since his debut in 2019.
A statement from the Cadillac team said that Herta’s 2026 racing programme would be revealed in due course.
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In Golf, Masters champion Rory McIlroy says he loves the team selected by European captain Luke Donald for this month’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
The world number two from Northern Ireland will again spearhead the European challenge with captain Donald naming the most settled team in Ryder Cup history.
Rasmus Hojgaard who has replaced his twin brother Nicolai having qualified through the ranking system is the only change to the team that beat the United States two years ago.
McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam since that victory in Rome, while Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood both won FedEx Cup play-off events last month and Robert McIntyre was second in another.
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In Cycling, there was no winner on stage eleven of the Vuelta a Espana as race organisers ended Wednesday’s racing three kilometres before the finish line because of pro-Palestinian protesters.
The announcement about the early finish on what was supposed to be a one hundred and fifty-seven point four kilometres stage in Bilbao came with about twenty kilometres to go.
Great Britain’s Tom Pidcock and overall leader Jonas Vingegaard were at the front when the stage was ended.
The UCI said it strongly condemns the actions that led to the cancellation of the 11th stage.
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TODAY’S FIXTURES
IN CAF WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
Guinea-Bissau vs Sierra Leone
Angola vs Libya
Cameroon vs Eswatini
Algeria vs Botswana
Tunisia vs Liberia
Chad vs Ghana
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IN UEFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS.
Luxembourg vs Northern Ireland
Slovakia vs Germany
Georgia vs Turkey
Bulgaria vs Spain
Netherlands vs Poland
Liechtenstein vs Belgium
FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives…words from Jackie Robinson.
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