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IN FIFA WORLD CUP
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A second-half own goal denied Egypt a first ever World Cup win as Belgium rescued a point from their Group G opener in Seattle.

The Pharaohs took the lead in the 21st minute through Al Ahly midfielder Emam Ashour, who thundered a 20-yard strike into the bottom corner past Thibaut Courtois.

Thomas Meunier’s low cross was turned into his own net by Egypt defender Mohamed Hany in the 66th minute, under pressure from substitute Romelu Lukaku.
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Debutants Cape Verde has produced one of the biggest World Cup shocks of recent times by holding Spain to a goalless draw in Atlanta.

Cape Verde, the third-smallest country in terms of population to qualify for a World Cup, were 67th in Fifa’s latest rankings and many expected them to be swept aside by second-ranked Spain in their opening Group H contest.

The reigning European champions were laboured in attack for long spells and on the occasions Spain threatened the Cape Verde goal, 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha kept them at bay with numerous fine saves.

The introduction of Lamine Yamal as a second-half substitute injected life into his side and the Spain fans inside the stadium, but the Barcelona teenager, making his first appearance for almost eight weeks following his recovery from a hamstring injury, could not produce a decisive moment on his World Cup debut.

Ferran Torres wasted Spain’s best chance in the first half, connecting with Marc Cucurella’s header back across the six-yard box, but hitting the crossbar under pressure from Vozinha.

Mikel Oyarzabal, scorer of their Euro 2024 winner against England, was denied by a superb block from Shamrock Rovers’ Roberto Lopes in the closing moments.
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France captain, Kylian Mbappe has vowed to increase his defensive efforts as the two-time world champions prepare to get their World Cup campaign under way against Senegal on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old Real Madrid striker faced scrutiny over both his performances and leadership for club and country, with international team-mate Ousmane Dembele publicly backing him, saying that the criticism had gone too far.

Mbappe faced questions from team-mates and friends, and when teased about his defensive ability by younger brother Ethan, who plays for Ligue 1 side Lille, he acknowledged that he has work to do.
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A seat is being left empty in the press box at every France game at the World Cup to highlight the case of a French sports journalist who is in prison in Algeria.

Christophe Gleizes was sentenced in 2025 for seven years for supporting terrorism.

French journalists’ unions called on Algeria to release Gleizes, who specialises in African football for the Paris-based So Foot magazine.

Journalists held up scarves saying ‘Free Gleizes’ before France boss Didier Deschamps’ news briefing at the New Jersey New York Stadium to preview Tuesday’s game with Senegal.

Gleizes’ mother Sylvie has travelled to the World Cup to highlight her son’s case.
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England star, Bukayo Saka says he will continue gambling with his fitness and is ready to go for England’s World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday.

The Arsenal winger has been carrying an Achilles injury since March and had game-time managed for both Arsenal and the Three Lions.

Saka missed the March international break with the issue and seven games for the Gunners but returned to help his club side lift the Premier League title for the first time in twenty-two years.

England manager Thomas Tuchel said he needs to take care of the 24-year-old and it was very unlikely Saka would start and finish all the World Cup matches.

Saka said he was ready to be selected.
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Newcastle United legend, Alan Shearer says England manager Thomas Tuchel must start Marc Guéhi ahead of John Stones for the FIFA World Cup 2026 opener against Croatia.

Shearer stated that Guéhi’s excellent form and consistency made him a better choice, citing Stones’ lack of regular match fitness.

Tuchel’s side kick-start their World Cup campaign with a potentially tricky clash against Group L rivals Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday night.

England put their faith in former Chelsea and PSG manager Tuchel ahead of this World Cup, hoping the German can end sixty years of hurt out in the United States.

Tuchel already surprised several England greats with reports he is set to drop Guehi for the World Cup opener and partner John Stones with Ezri Konsa in defence.
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Tunisia have reportedly parted ways with head coach Sabri Lamouchi following the Carthage Eagles’ crushing five-one defeat to Sweden in their opening match of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026.

The North Africans were outclassed by the Swedes, prompting the Tunisia Football Federation to make a swift managerial change.

Former head coach Mondher Kebaier is expected to take charge of the team on an interim basis for the remainder of the tournament.

Tunisia will look to bounce back when they face Japan in their next Group Stage fixture on Sunday, 21st June.

Lamouchi was appointed Tunisia head coach in January 2026, and oversaw four matches during his brief spell in charge.
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Former Manchester United captain, Antonio Valencia has backed Swedish strikers Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres to contend for the Golden Boot at the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026.

The endorsement follows the dynamic duo’s brilliant performances against Tunisia after both scored in a five-one Group F win.

Valencia backed Isak and Gyokeres to challenge for the Golden Boot in what would be an incredible feat for either player.

Sweden next faces the Netherlands on 20th June, while Tunisia takes on Japan the same day.
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Bafana Bafana of South Africa Group A encounter against Czech Republic at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will see Tori Penso from the United States become the first woman to officiate a men’s World Cup match.

Following their opening day two-nil defeat to co-hosts Mexico; the South African national team will take to the pitch at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on 18th June, with the American referee overseeing proceedings.

Penso will be supported by an all-American officiating duo, with Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt serving as assistant referees.

Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh from New Zealand has been appointed as the fourth official for the fixture.

The appointment marks a significant milestone for women’s officiating in men’s football, with Bafana Bafana’s opening World Cup fixture providing the platform for this historic moment.
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Former Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju believes Morocco’s Atlas Lions can surpass their historic semi-final achievement at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar during the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026.

Adepoju also believes that among the African nations competing at the tournament, Morocco, Ivory Coast and Senegal possess the quality and pedigree to make the continent proud on football’s biggest stage.
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Fifa is seeking an explanation over a hand gesture made by video assistant referee Shaun Evans before Germany’s seven-one win over Curacao.

Before matches during the World Cup, Fifa has been briefly focusing on the officials as part of its world feed global coverage.

First, the referee, and the rest of his team, have walked to the touchline and a graphic has been displayed with their names and roles.

Then the picture has cut to a shot of the VAR team at the referee hub in Dallas.
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Germany forward Kai Havertz and Sweden midfielder Yasin Ayari have joined United States striker Folarin Balogun at the summit of the adidas Golden Boot race, awarded to the tournament’s leading scorer at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Balogun was the first player to register a brace at the ongoing tournament being staged across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Arsenal forward Havertz then bagged a brace as Germany began their Group E campaign in emphatic fashion.

Ayari scored a superb brace in Sweden’s five-one victory over Tunisia.
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Crystal Palace have appointed Frenchman Pierre Sage as their head coach on a three-year contract.

The 47-year-old replaces Oliver Glasner, who left the Eagles at the end of the 2025-26 season after two and a half years in charge.

Sage joined Lens twelve months ago and led them to a second-placed finish in Ligue 1 and the first Coupe de France triumph in their 120-year history.

He previously spent fourteen months as head coach of Lyon, initially on an interim basis, and guided them to Europa League qualification in 2024-25.
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Wolves have appointed Cesar Peixoto as their new head coach on a two-year deal.

The 46-year-old arrives from Portuguese top-flight club Gil Vicente and replaces Rob Edwards who was sacked last week.

Peixoto takes charge of a Wolves side who will play in the Championship for the first time since 2018 after they finished bottom of the Premier League last season.

It will be Peixoto’s first job outside of Portugal having led Gil Vicente to a sixth-placed finish in the Primeira Liga in 2025-26.
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Manchester City defender, Josko Gvardiol has agreed a new contract at Manchester City until the summer of 2031.

The 24-year-old’s current deal was set to expire in 2028 but the player is now set to remain at Etihad Stadium, ending speculation, external about a move to La Liga giants Real Madrid and Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

Gvardiol is currently preparing for the World Cup with Croatia and could come up against some of his City team-mates in their opening game against England on Wednesday.
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Manchester United’s 2026-27 campaign will be documented by Amazon Prime as part of their fly-on-the-wall All or Nothing series.

United are the fourth English top-flight side to sign a deal with Amazon, following Arsenal, Tottenham, and Manchester City.

The club brokered a record access fee for any comparable documentary.

Filming will begin in pre-season, with the show offering viewers unprecedented access to the men’s, women’s, and academy players and staff in the Old Trafford dressing room, at their Carrington training ground, and beyond.

Pep Guardiola’s final two seasons in charge of Manchester City will be documented in a four-part Amazon series expected to launch in the U.K and Ireland this summer.
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IN NIGERIA
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Kano Pillars have announced the departure of eight players following the expiration of their contracts.

The four-time Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, champions confirmed that Bernard Ovoke, Christian Izuchukwu, Sudais Ali Baba, Aliyu Yakubu, Muhammad Galadima, Ugochukwu Gabriel, Zahraddeen Bello, and Williams Ayuba have all left the club.

The club expressed appreciation to the players for their commitment, professionalism, and contributions during their time with the Sai Masu Gida.

Kano Pillars endured a challenging 2025/26 NPFL campaign, securing their top-flight status on the final day of the season to avoid relegation.

They also failed to make a positive impact in the President Federation Cup.

The club is currently undergoing major reconstruction ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Head coach Mohammed Babaganaru, who masterminded Kano Pillars’ escape from relegation last season, is expected to retain his position ahead of the new campaign.
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Nigerian youngster, Olashile Lawal has completed a move to Danish Superliga club FC Midtjylland.

The highly-rated forward joined the Wolves from Nigerian academy side FC Ebedei, continuing the strong relationship between the two clubs in developing young talent.

Lawal will initially link up with FC Midtjylland’s Under-nineteen squad, where he is expected to continue his development before making the step up to the senior team.

The promising youngster expressed his excitement after sealing the move and is eager to make a positive impact at his new club.
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OTHER LEAGUE
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Spain star Marc Cucurella has officially joined Real Madrid, raising the question of whether his former Chelsea team-mate Enzo Fernandez follows.

The 27-year-old defender was the subject of a deal worth up to fifty-one point eight million pounds, with the transfer announced swiftly on Monday.

Sources in Spain say the agreement progressed rapidly with Chelsea, and a similar scenario could now develop with Fernandez.

Much depends on Madrid’s willingness to spend a significant fee on the midfielder, who is valued by Chelsea at one hundred and twenty million pounds.
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Manager Ruben Amorim has agreed to become AC Milan’s next head coach.

While there is no deal signed just yet, the 41-year-old is expected to fly into Milan later this week and sign a two-year contract to replace Massimiliano Allegri, who was sacked after a catastrophic run of form at the end of the season led to the club missing out on Champions League qualification.

Reports in Italy claim Amorim has said he will forego the year’s pay he was still owed by Manchester United following his dismissal in January.

Providing the contracts are signed as expected, Amorim’s first game in charge will be a pre-season match at Celtic on 25th July.

Ironically, they conclude their pre-season campaign against Manchester United in Wroclaw on 15th August.
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OTHER SPORTS
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In Tennis, Britain’s Francesca Jones missed two match points in a narrow defeat by Talia Gibson in the Nottingham Open first round.

Jones battled back from a set and a break down and a medical timeout to force a deciding set against Australia’s Gibson.

After an early break down in the third, Jones hit back and held two match points as she served for victory at 5-3.

However, world number 66 Gibson broke back and held firm in the resulting tie-break to win 6-3, 5-7, 7-6, after a gruelling three hours and six minutes.

Jones showed good fight in what was the longest match of her career, hitting fifteen aces and landing seventy-five percent of her first serves.
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In Cricket, Head coach Brendon McCullum refused to be drawn on Ben Stokes’ future as England captain but repeatedly spoke of his “worry and concern” for the all-rounder.

Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson have been made unavailable for the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval pending an investigation into an incident in a London nightclub last week.

Not only is it the latest controversy to hit this England team, it is another chapter in the storied career of 35-year-old Stokes.

In celebrating the opening Test victory over New Zealand at Lord’s, Stokes and Atkinson broke the England team’s midnight curfew.
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In Rugby, Max Ojomoh could line up alongside midfield rival Benhard Janse van Rensburg in England’s non-cap match against a France XV in Vannes on Friday evening, after he was called into a 33-strong squad for the fixture.

There is no recall for Ojomoh’s Bath’s colleague Ollie Lawrence, who is overlooked once again.

Lawrence is one of England’s twenty-five centrally-contracted players and started the autumn win over New Zealand.

The 26-year-old, who made a rapid six-month recovery from a torn Achilles tendon at the start of this season, has struggled to recapture his best form since.

His only appearance in England’s Six Nations campaign this year was in the 42-21 defeat by Ireland.
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TODAY’S FIXTURE
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IN FIFA WORLD CUP
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France vs Senegal

Iraq vs Norway.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

Anxiety
“Never let the fear of striking out get in your way…words from Baseball Legend, George Herman “Babe” Ruth.