IN UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Paris Saint-Germain star, Ferran Torres has scored a hat-trick as the team got their Champions League title defence off to a six-one winning start against Slovan Bratislava.

Spanish World Cup winner Torres joined from Barcelona in the summer and made an impact on his European debut for the French club, adding three goals after Ousmane Dembele had put the hosts in control with two goals in six first-half minutes.

Ballon d’Or winner Dembele scored a brace and Fabian Ruiz netted a goal, while Slovan Bratislava’s only goal was scored by Suleiman Camara.

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Barcelona star Raphinha has continued his remarkable goalscoring start to the season with another double as the team beat Feyenoord five-one in the Champions League.

Former Arsenal and Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus got off the mark with his first Barcelona goal late in the game, by which point his fellow Brazilian had given the home side a tight grip.

In-form Raphinha produced an outrageous moment of skill to take out two opponents before calmly stroking his side into a third-minute lead.

That was Raphinha’s seventh goal in five games, with the former Leeds United player finding the back of the net in all five matches this season.

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Arsenal star Martin Odegaard’s excellent start to the season continued as the Arsenal captain came to his side’s rescue against Napoli in Naples.

The Gunners were guilty of wasteful finishing and were heading for a frustrating draw in their first game in the Champions League since losing last season’s final.

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Liverpool star, Alexis Mac Allister has scored an emphatic winner as the team began their Champions League campaign with a two-one win over Atletico Madrid at Anfield.

Dominik Szoboszlai levelled for Liverpool after Marcos Llorente had initially given Atletico the lead before Mac Allister fired in from outside the box to give Andoni Iraola his first win at home for Liverpool and his first Champions League victory as manager.

Liverpool’s next game in the Champions League is away to LASK on 14th October.

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Sporting began their Champions League campaign by coming from behind to claim a three-one victory over Turkish Super Lig side Galatasaray.

The hosts fell behind in the opening five minutes as captain Goncalo Ignacio bundled goalkeeper Rui Silva’s save over his own goal line.

Sporting striker Luis Suarez thought he had levelled soon after when he slotted home but it was disallowed for offside.

Stuttgart star Ermedin Demirovic’s 12-minute first-half hat-trick earned Stuttgart victory in a thrilling match against Champions League debutants Viking.

The forward opened the scoring on 20 minutes, lashing into the roof of the net from close range from Angelo Stiller’s cut-back.

Norwegian champions Viking had started the game well and quickly equalised, captain Zlatko Tripic slotting home two minutes later.

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Uefa has made a change to the qualifying rounds of the Europa League which will make it more difficult for Scotland’s representative to qualify for the league phase.

From next season, the final qualifying round will be split into paths for champions and non-champions, mirroring the system in the Champions League and the Conference League.

The Europa League third qualifying round currently has two paths, but condenses into one seeded draw of all teams in the final stage.

From next season, it will stay as two separate qualifying routes.

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Chelsea fought back from two goals down to beat Leeds six-two in the Carabao Cup thriller at Stamford Bridge, as substitutes Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Pedro Neto inspired the comeback.

Defender Tarik Muharemovic headed the opener in the third-round tie as Leeds dominated the first half before Brenden Aaronson doubled the visitors’ lead shortly after the break.

However, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso’s changes at the start of the second half ultimately transformed the contest.

Palmer and Danny Welbeck scored a brace each, while Neto and Valentin Barco scored a goal each for Chelsea.

Chelsea move into the fourth round, with ties to be played in late October.

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Everton assistant Alan Irvine will continue as part of a refreshed Scotland coaching staff under new boss Sebastien Pocognoli.

The former West Brom manager, who signed Belgian Pocognoli as a player during his brief stint at The Hawthorns in 2014, joined Steve Clarke’s national team set-up after Euro 2024.

Pocognoli was appointed Clarke’s successor last month and the Scottish FA have confirmed Irvine will be joined by two new faces, as well as goalkeeping coach Chris Woods, who was part of the previous regime.

Former Belgium coach Luke Benstead and Cameron Campbell, who worked in both Aberdeen and Rangers’ academies before joining RB Leipzig in 2024 as their head of player development, have also been appointed as assistants to Pocognoli.

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Brighton head coach, Fabian Hurzeler is hopeful that Femi Azeez will be fit to make his debut for the Seagulls when they travel to Coventry City on Sunday.

Azeez joined Brighton from Sky Bet Championship side Millwall on transfer deadline day, but his debut has been delayed due to a minor injury.

The former Reading winger is still managing a slight knock, but Hurzeler remains optimistic that he will be available for the trip to face Frank Lampard’s Coventry side.

Azeez enjoyed an impressive campaign in the Championship last season, earning a place in the PFA Championship Team of the Season.

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IN NIGERIA

Falconets head coach, Moses Aduku says his team has put their opening-day defeat to Spain behind them and is fully focused on the crucial encounter with China.

Aduku insisted his players are determined to respond strongly.

Nigeria will return to the Stadion Sosnowiec on Thursday for their second Group F fixture, hoping to bounce back from a disappointing two-nil loss to 2022 champions Spain in their opening game.

In the other Group F fixture, Spain will take on debutants New Caledonia.

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Benfica new signing Janet Akekoromowei has joined up with her Falconets teammates at the ongoing FIFA women’s U-20 World Cup in Poland.

Akekoromowei was included in the final squad for the World Cup but missed the team’s opening game against Spain which ended in a two-nil defeat.

It is gathered that the 18-year-old stayed back due to documentation that needed to be completed in Portugal relating to her continued stay in the country and with Benfica.

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Nigerian football supporters clubs have praised the National Sports Commission and President Bola Tinubu for the ongoing reforms in the country’s football administration.

The five major supporters’ clubs include the Nigeria Football Supporters Club; the Super Eagles Supporters Club; Football Fans Club of Nigeria; All Sports Supporters Club; and the Nigeria Eagles Supporters Club.

In a joint statement issued at the National Stadium in Lagos by the club presidents, the leaders insisted that they are key stakeholders and should not be treated as mere spectators in the new administration and restructuring process.

The commendation follows President Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigerian football governance, which has also earned backing from international bodies like FIFA and CAF.

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Shooting Stars have departed Nigeria for Tunisia ahead of the crucial second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup first preliminary round tie against CS Sfaxien.

The Oluyole Warriors left the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on Wednesday, travelling via Casablanca, Morocco, as they continue their preparations for Sunday’s decisive encounter.

The trip marks Shooting Stars’ first away journey in continental competition in twenty-seven years.

The return leg is scheduled to take place at the Stade Taieb Mhiri in Sfax on Sunday, with kick-off set for 6pm Nigerian time.

Shooting Stars will head into the encounter with a slender one-nil advantage from the first leg, played at the Moshood Abiola Sports Complex, Abeokuta.

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Super Eagles defender, Ola Aina has disclosed that being on the pitch and staying grateful for his career matters more than specific positions or pressure.

Playing for both Nottingham Forest and the Super Eagles, he approaches his career with positivity, hard work, and a desire to keep things light and fun.

Having bounced back from previous injury setbacks, Aina stated that his primary goal remains maintaining his fitness, performing at a high level, and appreciating every moment of his professional journey.

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Super Eagles defender, Emmanuel Fernandez who plays for Rangers has disclosed that he is tuning out external criticism and focusing on daily self-improvement following a difficult start to the 2026–27 season.

The Super Eagles star noted that discussions with manager Derek McInnes have centered on maintaining full 90-minute concentration to eliminate minor errors.

Despite early struggles and an exit from European competition, he emphasized an improvement in squad unity and defensive consistency.

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Fulham is working on a new contract for Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey.

Bassey has one year remaining on his current deal with the London club, although Fulham have the option to trigger a one-year extension that would keep him at Craven Cottage until the summer of 2028.

The Cottagers are now prepared to offer the 26-year-old centre-back a new long-term contract as they look to secure his future at the club.

Bassey has established himself as a key figure in Fulham’s defence and is regarded as one of the Premier League’s top defenders.

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Former Flying Eagles winger, Sani Suleiman has completed his move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Qadsiah.

Suleiman joins Brendan Rodgers’ side after a brief spell with Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig.

The 20-year-old Nigerian moved to Germany from Slovakian club AS Trenčín in January 2026 but failed to make a competitive appearance for Leipzig.

His time at the Bundesliga club was hampered by fitness issues, limiting his opportunities to feature for the first team.

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Chairman of Stationery Stores Football Club of Lagos, Adetilewa Adebajo, has petitioned world football governing body FIFA, calling for the historical recognition of his late father, Israel Adebajo, for his role in Nigeria’s affiliation with the organisation.

Adebajo urged an urgent review of the country’s football governance structure.

He also called for the harmonisation of the Nigerian Football Federation and the Nigerian Football Association, which he argued has created a dual governance structure that has hindered the development and commercialisation of Nigerian football.

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The Medium Security Custodial Centre, Agodi, has successfully hosted the finals of its annual Table Tennis Competition.

The event was honoured by President of the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation, Dr. Adesoji Tayo, emphasising the Service’s dedication to using sport as an effective tool for inmate reformation, rehabilitation, and social reintegration.

The semi-finals featured four inmates, two awaiting trial and two convicts with the winners in each group advancing to the finals.

In a thrilling display of competitive spirit, an awaiting trial inmate emerged victorious in the 2026 competition.

All participants received gifts as tokens of appreciation, while the overall winner was awarded a trophy along with the gift.

Lagos State will host the maiden Nigeria Taekwondo Club/Team Championship from 18th to 20th September at the National Stadium, Surulere.    

The Nigeria Taekwondo Federation is organising the championship, marking the return of a major national taekwondo competition to Lagos after over 10 years.    

Secretary, Lagos State Taekwondo Association,
Bukola Benson-Onibudo, disclosed this in a statement, saying the championship would bring together teams from states, clubs, universities and institutions across the country.    

According to him, the championship will feature Team Kyorugi (Tag-Match Sparring) and Team Poomsae competitions in the Senior and Junior categories.    

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OTHER LEAGUES

Rangers star Bojan Miovski came off the bench to break the deadlock in stoppage time and spark wild scenes of celebration – as Rangers leapfrogged visitors St Mirren into second place in the Scottish Premiership.

Just as it looked like the Paisley side would leave the home fans frustrated after controlling the second half, substitute striker Miovski pounced on a Ryan Naderi flick to chip goalkeeper Jacob Chapman.

Spanish second-division side Eldense say Argentina great Lionel Messi has reached a preliminary agreement to become the club’s majority shareholder.

Eldense will become the second Spanish club Messi has invested in, having bought Catalan side Cornella in April.

The 39-year-old former Barcelona forward currently plays for Inter Miami and recently retired from international football after Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.

The club, based in Alicante, have two points from four games this season and, sitting 20th in La Liga 2, parted ways with head coach Claudio Barragan earlier this week.

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OTHER SPORTS

In Tennis, Coco Gauff has saved two match points as she fought from a set down to beat Mirra Andreeva and set up a US Open semi-final against incoming world number one Elena Rybakina.

Blown away in a 26-minute opening set, fourth seed Gauff was twice pegged back from a break up in a scrappy second set before coming through a 16-point tie-break to force a decider.

Roared on by a partisan crowd, the American’s resilience proved the difference in what became a mental battle as she closed out a 2-6, 7-6, 6-2 win, a performance she said was inspired by compatriot Frances Tiafoe’s comeback victory over Alex Michelsen.

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In Cricket, England opener Emilio Gay should retain his spot for their winter tour of South Africa, according to former captain Sir Alastair Cook.

Gay made a Test-best 60 from 114 balls to blunt Pakistan’s attack which helped England seize control on day one at Edgbaston.

The 26-year-old left-hander’s tally of 261 runs, at an average of 26.1, might not look particularly eye-catching.

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In Formula one, Ukraine’s national motorsport authority has called on FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem to impose sanctions on its Russian counterpart.

The Russian automobile federation has opened offices in occupied parts of Ukraine in violation of the rules of the FIA, motorsport’s governing body, according to the Ukraine federation.

The offices in Crimea, the city of Sevastopol and the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts are all located in areas recognised as sovereign Ukrainian territory by the United Nations.

The FAU’s appeal for sanctions against its Russian counterpart is the latest step it has made following the FIA’s decision last month to lift the ban on Russian and Belarusian competitors in motorsport.

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In Rugby, England head coach, Steve Borthwick will have his contract extended past the 2028 Six Nations in a bid to avoid uncertainty over his future before and during next year’s Rugby World Cup.

As it did with Red Roses boss John Mitchell before the 2025 World Cup, the Rugby Football Union has moved to ensure Borthwick and his staff have some clarity over their positions going into the global showpiece.

According to RFU performance director Conor O’Shea, extending Borthwick’s deal into the middle of 2028 will allow time to decide who leads the team in the longer-term.

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In Cycling, Great Britain’s Matthew Brennan has continued his remarkable Grand Tour debut by sprinting to a fifth stage victory at this year’s Vuelta a Espana.

The 21-year-old Visma Lease-a-bike rider edged out Jordi Meeus and Magnus Cort in a bunch sprint to win the 17th stage of the Grand Tour in Seville.

In doing so, Brennan became the youngest-ever rider to reach five Grand Tour stage victories.

In Athletics, Great Britain’s Josh Kerr says he is very happy to see Jakob Ingebrigtsen back competing – but he is not going to lose when they resume their fierce rivalry at this weekend’s World Athletics Ultimate Championship.

Their long-established war of words was recently reignited when Ingebrigtsen criticised Kerr’s decision to miss last month’s European Championships, where the Norwegian marked his return from long-term injury by winning one hundred and five hundred metres gold.

The men’s one hundred and five hundred metres at the inaugural Ultimate Championship in Budapest this weekend will have added edge after Ingebrigtsen, labelled his rivals a bunch of cowards at last week’s Diamond League Final.

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TODAY’S FIXTURES

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UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – LEAGUE STAGE.

Fenerbahçe vs Roma

PSV vs Shakhtar Donetsk

Bayern Munich vs Bodø / Glimt

Como vs RB Leipzig

Manchester United vs Sabah.

Slavia Prague versus Lens

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong…words from Footballer, Peter T. McIntyre.