IN ENGLAND
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Reigning champions Arsenal came from behind to beat big-spending Chelsea two-one in a pulsating London derby at Emirates Stadium.
Chelsea stunned the home fans by taking a second-minute lead through summer signing Morgan Rogers’ volley after the Gunners failed to clear Reece James’ free-kick.
That was the first goal Mikel Arteta’s side had conceded this season.
Arsenal’s two goals were scored by Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard.
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Everton star, Ainsley Maitland-Niles has marked his return to English football by scoring a stunning stoppage-time equaliser as a resilient Everton came from behind twice to draw two-all with Manchester United in the Premier League.
The former Arsenal full-back, who joined Everton from Lyon on transfer deadline day, left United goalkeeper Senne Lammens rooted to the spot when he curled an unstoppable effort into the net to deny the visitors a first away win of the season.
Michael Carrick’s side looked set to seal all three points at Hill Dickinson Stadium for the second consecutive season after Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko scored either side of Tyrique George firing Everton level.
Maitland-Niles’ first Premier League strike since December 2019 maintained Everton’s unbeaten start to the season at the end of a turbulent week on Merseyside.
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Former Leicester City and England striker, Jamie Vardy has joined Burnley until the end of the season.
The 39-year-old, who is Leicester’s record Premier League scorer with 145 goals, departed for Cremonese in 2025.
Vardy left the Italian side in the summer and now joins the winless Clarets who are bottom of the Championship.
Vardy, who won twenty-six caps for England, scoring seven goals, spent thirteen years at Leicester after signing from non-league Fleetwood Town in 2012.
Burnley, relegated from the Premier League last season, have made a poor start back in the second tier and have not won in five matches under new boss Nicky Hayen.
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Manchester City’s defence of their Women’s Super League title got off to the perfect start with a smooth victory over newly-promoted Birmingham City.
Andree Jeglertz’s side, who won a domestic double last season, created countless opportunities in a strong display at the Joie Stadium.
It took them until the second half to break the deadlock but, after Mary Fowler slotted in their opener in the 49th-minute, it was a comfortable afternoon.
Khadija Shaw, last season’s top scorer and PFA player of the year, stepped up afterwards, heading in two corners to get off the mark for the season.
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IN NIGERIA
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El-Kanemi Warriors has defeated Guinea-Bissau’s UDIB three-nil in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup first preliminary round tie at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne.
Both sides created chances in the opening half but were unable to break the deadlock before the interval.
El-Kanemi Warriors eventually took the lead in the 52nd minute through Nnamdi Mejuobi.
Mejuobi doubled the hosts’ advantage four minutes later, calmly converting from the penalty spot to put his side firmly in control.
Dayo Wahab completed the scoring two minutes from time to hand El-Kanemi Warriors a commanding three-nil victory.
The return leg will take place next weekend, with El-Kanemi Warriors now well placed to secure qualification for the second preliminary round of the competition.
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Enugu Rangers has been held to a one-all draw by AS Sobemap in the first leg of their CAF Champions League first preliminary round tie at the Moshood Abiola Sports Complex, Abeokuta.
The Flying Antelopes started brightly and dominated the early exchanges, forcing the visitors to defend deep for long spells.
Fidelis Ilechukwu’s side were rewarded for their positive start in the 23rd minute when Iwundu Chidozie found the back of the net to give Rangers the lead.
AS Sobemap responded strongly after the interval and stunned their hosts by grabbing the equaliser early in the second half.
The result leaves the tie finely poised ahead of the return leg, with both teams set to meet again next Sunday.
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Kano Pillars has secured a thrilling three-two victory over Niger Tornadoes in their EuroMatch Nigeria Premier Football League matchday two encounter at the Sani Abacha Stadium.
The hosts took control of the contest in the first half, with Ubong Friday and Fabian Nworie finding the back of the net to give Pillars a two-goal advantage.
Niger Tornadoes, mounted a spirited fightback, with Godfrey Joseph and Wasiu Jimoh reducing the deficit.
The visitors pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages but Kano Pillars held firm to claim maximum points.
Plateau United recorded their first victory of the season with a narrow one-nil win over Kwara United.
Nasarawa United also secured a one-nil victory over Bendel Insurance, while Kun Khalifat FC and Barau FC battled to a goalless draw at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.
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Falconets head coach, Moses Aduku says his players are determined to make a big impact at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
Nigeria have qualified for every edition of the biennial competition and will once again be looking to challenge for honours on the global stage.
Aduku’s side have been drawn in Group F alongside Spain, China PR and debutants New Caledonia.
The Falconets will begin their campaign against Spain at the Arena Sosnowiec on Monday.
Aduku stated that the two-time runners-up are determined to go far in the competition and make this year’s appearance a memorable one.
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The Director-General of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Bukola Olopade, has expressed confidence in Lagos State’s readiness to host the maiden National Intermediate Games, EKO 2026.
Olopade said the Games would provide a platform to showcase Nigeria’s sporting potential and discover young talents.
The NSC boss commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State Government for their commitment to sports development and youth empowerment.
EKO 2026 is scheduled to hold in Lagos from 1st to 15th October.
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Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has approved the immediate release of two buses, a 32-seater and an 18-seater, to the Shooting Stars Sports Club, 3SC, of Ibadan.
The gift rewards the Oluyole Warriors for their impressive victory over CS Sfaxien of Tunisia in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round.
Recall that 3SC defeated CS Sfaxien one-nil at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Abeokuta, to give the Nigerian side a one-goal advantage heading to the second leg.
A statement by the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, the gesture highlights the state’s backing for the team’s ongoing continental campaign.
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Super Eagles midfielder Ebenezer Akinsanmiro is in action as Monza played out a one-all draw against Parma in Sunday’s Serie A game.
The Nigerian international, who was making his second appearance for Monza this ongoing season, has bagged one assist.
Akinsanmiro was solid in the midfield and prevented the host from creating any serious threat.
The visitor took the lead in the 38th minute thanks to Jay Robinson’s right-foot scorcher into the far bottom corner from the edge of the area.
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Augsburg hammered Eintracht Frankfurt four-one away in the Bundesliga.
Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika was in action for Frankfurt and saw ninety minutes of action.
It was Onyedika’s second league appearance since joining Frankfurt from Club Brugge in the summer transfer window.
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Former Golden Eaglets captain, Samson Tijani has joined Slovakian club FK Zeleziarne Podbrezová on loan for the 2026/27 season.
The Nigerian midfielder linked up with Podbrezová from Czech outfit Dukla Prague.
The agreement also includes an option for the Slovakian club to sign Tijani permanently on a two-year deal.
Tijani joined Dukla Prague on a free transfer in June 2025 following his departure from Austrian giants Red Bull Salzburg.
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Nigeria’s table tennis star, Quadri Aruna, has vowed to fight his way back to the top after two difficult years on and off the table.
Aruna, a former African champion, left Lagos after a brief holiday to join Amiens Sport Tennis de Table.
The French second-division club has signed the Nigerian as it begins preparations for its promotion campaign in the French Table Tennis League.
Aruna described the move as more than a change of club, calling it a fresh start and a declaration of his determination to regain top form.
His arrival is expected to strengthen Amiens’ squad as the club seeks to mount a strong challenge for promotion this season.
Aruna will play alongside experienced players, including Austrian legend Robert Gardos, Portugal’s Monteiro Joao and South Korea’s Cho Seungmin.
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OTHER LEAGUES
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Barcelona have maintained their perfect start to the season with a rampant five-nil win against bottom-placed Valencia.
Hansi Flick’s side broke the deadlock after just five minutes when Lamine Yamal ran in behind the Valencia defence and converted a perfectly weighted through ball from Fermin Lopez.
Lopez doubled the lead when he rifled Anthony Gordon’s lay-off into the bottom left corner of Stole Dimitrievski’s goal.
It was Lopez’s fourth goal and Gordon’s fourth assist in as many matches this season.
Barcelona began the second half as ferociously as the first when Raphinha tapped in his sixth goal of the season.
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St Johnstone star Josh Fowler’s first-half double made it back-to-back home Scottish Premiership victories for the team as they leapfrogged a lacklustre Hibernian two-one in Perth, cranking pressure up on head coach David Gray.
The striker turned in Taylor Steven’s cute pass to spark a drab game into life, before restoring the hosts’ lead from the spot after Martin Boyle clumsily fouled Enes Alic in the box.
Nathan Lowe – at long last – netted his first league goal for Hibs to temporarily haul Gray’s side level, but they failed to kick on from there and were booed off by the travelling fans at half-time.
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Wydad Casablanca have officially reached an agreement with Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech to terminate his contract by mutual consent, the club announced on Sunday.
The Casablanca-based club confirmed the decision through an official statement shared on its social media platforms, bringing an end to Ziyech’s time with the team.
The club acknowledged that Ziyech’s spell did not last as long as initially hoped but highlighted the significance of his arrival and his time wearing the Wydad jersey.
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Football’s world governing body says Fifa president Gianni Infantino will stand for re-election in March.
Infantino, who has filled the role since 2016, has been under pressure following his scrapped plan to sell stakes in Fifa competitions to private investment firms.
Infantino’s lucrative plan sparked a global outcry, with European football’s governing body Uefa threatening to boycott all Fifa competitions, including the World Cup.
It is the first time Fifa has said he will run for a new term since the plan was announced following the summer’s World Cup.
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OTHER SPORTS
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In Tennis, Carlos Alcaraz has continued his return from long-term injury with a hugely impressive fourth-round win against Tommy Paul at the US Open.
Playing just his fourth competitive singles match after an absence of more than four months, the 23-year-old Spaniard produced a masterful performance to beat American 20th seed Paul 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.
He has dropped only one set on his way to the last eight in New York and his quarter-final opponent will be either American eighth seed Ben Shelton or Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas.
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Also, Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka has emulated Serena Williams as she eventually overpowered American Taylor Townsend to reach a sixth straight US Open quarter-final.
A topsy-turvy contest featured 10 breaks of serve, but Sabalenka recovered from 3-1 down in the second serve to seal a 6-4, 6-3 victory with a fifth consecutive game.
It was the Belarusian’s 18th consecutive win at the tournament, extending her three-year unbeaten streak following back-to-back triumphs in 2024 and 2025.
Sabalenka, is the first woman to reach six consecutive singles quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows since American great Williams in 2016.
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In Formula one, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli took a breathtaking victory in an incident-packed Italian Grand Prix from 19th place on the grid.
The Italian caught and passed his team-mate George Russell, who started second, with three laps to go to extend his championship lead to 66 points.
Antonelli’s performance is the second furthest back a driver has ever come from to win a grand prix after John Watson’s victory from 22nd on the grid in the 1983 United States Grand Prix West.
The Italian fans, who usually support Ferrari, rose to acclaim their new hero after a sensational drive as he crossed the line to take the chequered flag.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took the final podium place ahead of the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton sixth.
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In Rugby, Second row Maro Itoje has returned to the England set-up after being named in a 36-man training squad for this autumn’s Nations Championship matches.
Itoje missed matches against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina in July, taking his first proper summer break from rugby in more than a decade.
The 31-year-old, whose mother died shortly before he led England through a deflating Six Nations campaign that featured only one win, has said he has felt the benefits of his time away.
Steve Borthwick’s players meet up on Sunday for the first time since their summer tour.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
Mental will is a muscle that needs exercise, just like muscles of the body…words from Long Distance Runner, Lynn Jennings.
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