IN ENGLAND
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Manchester United has suffered a humiliating Carabao Cup exit at Old Trafford as Brighton came from two goals down to reach the last 16.
United head coach Michael Carrick had to bring on skipper Bruno Fernandes 18 minutes from time in a desperate attempt to salvage the game after watching his side concede twice in four second-half minutes.
It was the first time United had led at home by two goals and lost since they were beaten three-two-by Tottenham in 1976, half a century ago.
Brighton’s three goals were scored by Charalampos Kostoulas, Pascal Gross and Maxim de Cuyper, while Manchester United’s two goals were scored by Shea Lacey and Mason Mount.
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Everton have booked their place in the Carabao Cup fourth round with a hard-fought win over Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Watched by Toffees fans, Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney, David Moyes’ side claimed the crucial goal in the 80th minute.
It came from substitute Charly Alcaraz, who jinked his way inside the box before finishing calmly for his first goal for the club in thirteen months against Mansfield in the same competition
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Aston Villa star Tammy Abraham’s double helped the team overcome Coventry City three-one to reach the Carabao Cup fourth round.
The striker made his point to Unai Emery after the Villa boss was willing to let him leave in the summer.
Two calm finishes, either side of Ross Barkley’s header, underlined the striker’s desire to prove his worth following the sixty-five million pounds arrival of Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea.
Coventry’s only goal was scored by Victor Torp.
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An own goal by Sheffield United’s Rhys Norrington-Davies helped League Two side Fleetwood Town reach the fourth round of the Carabao Cup for the first time and earn a home tie against Premier League champions Arsenal in the last 16.
The visitors were fortunate not to trail at the break, with goalkeeper Michael Cooper called into action on three occasions as the Cod Army sensed an opportunity to make it into the last 16.
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League Two Fleetwood Town will host Premier League champions Arsenal in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
Holders Manchester City will welcome Brighton to Etihad Stadium if they beat Norwich in Thursday’s remaining tie, while Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso will visit his former side Liverpool after the Premier League rivals were drawn together.
League One sides Bradford and Peterborough will play for a place in the quarter-finals after they defeated Leyton Orient and Barnsley respectively in the third round.
The remaining fixtures are all Premier League affairs with Fulham hosting Crystal Palace, Bournemouth at home to Aston Villa, Brentford travelling to Sunderland and Everton welcoming Newcastle United
The fourth round will take place during the week commencing 26th October.
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Sunderland has made a winning return to European football after 53 years away as Enzo le Fee’s penalty gave them victory over AZ Alkmaar on a memorable night at the Stadium of Light.
The decisive moment came in the 66th minute when Le Fee composed himself to calmly roll the spot-kick into the bottom corner having been brought down at the end of a swift counter-attack.
Roared on by a vociferous home crowd, the Black Cats had been much the better side in the first half of this Europa League opener but failed to take their chances – Le Fee coming closest with a shot that came back off the post.
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Manchester City manager, Enzo Maresca says it is quite poor that the controversy surrounding Erling Haaland’s winner has overshadowed his side’s performance at Manchester United.
Haaland’s goal on the hour mark, which was awarded after the virtual assistant referee ruled in City’s favour, secured a one-nil Premier League victory despite the visitors playing the majority of the derby at Old Trafford with ten men following Phil Foden’s red card.
Maresca, who succeeded Pep Guardiola in the summer, said previous VAR decisions have gone against City, including in a two-one defeat by United in January 2023.
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Dutch football legend Ruud Gullit has expressed strong doubts over Manchester United’s ability to compete for top honours under Michael Carrick, warning that the club has missed the boat on attracting elite players.
While Carrick guided the Red Devils to a third-place finish and Champions League qualification last term, Gullit believes structural shortcomings and a lack of squad quality mean they cannot sustain a true title challenge.
Gullit stated that United lack the individual quality required to control matches consistently, noting that they are still a team in transition compared to other Premier League heavyweights.
According to Gullit, United missed the boat about five or six years ago in the transfer market, allowing rivals like Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea to corner the market on the world’s best players.
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Chelsea striker João Pedro has withdrawn from the Brazil squad because of injury.
The Brazilian football federation said on Wednesday that the Chelsea striker would be replaced by Fluminense’s Martinelli.
Pedro had been selected for the upcoming friendly matches against Australia and India after he was a surprise omission from Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for this year’s World Cup.
Brazil’s federation did not say what Pedro’s injury was.
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Former Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma has joined Ajax on an initial deal that runs until the end of the season.
The defensive midfielder, was out of contract following his release from Spurs in June.
Bissouma agreed a deal until the end of the season, includes the option of a further twelve months.
Ajax technical director Jordi Cruyff said they had been in talks with Bissouma since August.
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London City Lionesses defender Jana Fernandez has signed a new contract, keeping her at the club until 2029.
The 24-year-old become a key player for Eder Maestre’s side since joining from Barcelona a year ago.
She played in every Women’s Super League match for London City last season as they finished sixth in their debut campaign in the top flight.
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IN NIGERIA
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Nigeria’s Flamingos has made a flying start to their 2026 WAFU B Under-seventeen Girls’ Cup campaign, securing a commanding five-nil victory over Niger Republic in Yamoussoukro.
The Flamingos dominated proceedings from the opening whistle, controlling possession and setting the pace as they constantly threatened the Nigerien defence.
Captain Harmony Chidi, Awawu Bashiru, Ohunene Sunday and Mary Dunstan scored a goal each for Flamingos.
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Former Kwara United coach, Samson Unuanel has moved to quell growing concerns over Enyimba’s slow start to the Nigeria Premier Football League season, firmly asserting that the People’s Elephant will not be dragged into a relegation battle.
Unuanel urged fans and pundits not to panic, expressing total confidence in the squad’s ability to bounce back.
According to the veteran coach, the team is only a single positive result away from changing the entire dynamic of their campaign.
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Jigawa Golden Stars have announced the appointment of Majin Mohammed as their new head coach ahead of the 2026/27 Nigeria National League, NNL, season.
The club confirmed the appointment at an unveiling ceremony in Dutse.
Mohammad has been tasked with leading the club’s push for promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL.
Mohammed brings NPFL experience to the second tier club.
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Ranchers Bees FC have confirmed the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano as their new adopted home ground.
The venue is the home ground of Nigeria Premier Football League side Kano Pillars.
Ranchers Bees will use the venue as a replacement for their earlier adopted ground, Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina.
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Coach Whyte Ogbonda has returned to Rivers Angels for a second spell as head coach.
The experienced tactician was appointed to lead the Port Harcourt-based NWFL side, with Isaac Thomas Atonbere named as his assistant coach and Sunday Uduh taking charge as goalkeeper trainer.
Ogbonda expressed his delight at returning to the club and apologised to the Rivers Angels supporters and the Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Christopher Green, over the manner of his departure during his previous stint.
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Genk forward Rafiu Durosinmi has drawn comparisons with fellow Nigeria international Victor Osimhen from his agent, Tosin Dosunmu.
Durosinmi joined the Belgian Pro League side from Serie A club Pisa in July, and has made an impressive start to life with the Smurfs.
The 23-year-old striker scored five goals in six league appearances since his arrival, quickly establishing himself as an important player for the club.
According to Dosunmu, Durosinmi shares some similarities with Osimhen, although he believes the Genk forward possesses particular strength in the air.
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Former PSV defender Jan Wuytens has offered high praise for Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare, highlighting why the Nigerian striker has successfully found his rhythm and started making waves at Ajax.
Following a difficult spell in the English Premier League with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Arokodare secured a loan move to Amsterdam.
Reflecting on his time working with the forward in Belgium, Wuytens in a chat with ajax1, explained that unlocking the 25-year-old’s full potential comes down to playing directly to his physical strengths.
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Madagascar’s Barea are set to unveil their squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
According to Midi Madagasikara, head coach Corentin Martins is expected to include three new players in his squad, while as many as five players from the Malagasy League could also earn call-ups.
The Barea will travel to Uyo for their Matchday One clash with the Super Eagles on Thursday, 25th September.
Meanwhile, Guinea-Bissau’s Djurtus are also expected to announce their squad on Thursday ahead of their Matchday Two encounter with Nigeria.
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Nigeria’s Under-18 Men’s Handball team secured their first victory at the 22nd Africa Men’s Youth Handball Championship with a thrilling 26–25 win over Algeria in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The Nigerian boys led by Coach Abdulhakim Yakubu were locked in a keen contest with Algeria throughout the encounter, with both sides going into the halftime break level at 11–11.
They stepped up their performance in the second half and held their nerve in the closing stages to secure a narrow 26–25 victory, earning two important points in their Group B campaign.
The result gives Nigeria a boost ahead of their final group-stage fixture against Madagascar as they continue their quest for a place in the knockout stage.
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President of the Nigeria Netball Federation, Dr. Esther Aluko says the country’s first-ever national netball team, the Green Hawks, is heading to Nairobi not just to participate, but to fiercely compete.
Ahead of the 2026 Africa Regional Qualifiers for the 2027 Netball World Cup, Aluko made it clear that the squad’s ambitions stretch far beyond making up the numbers.
The tournament marks a monumental chapter as Nigeria fields its first-ever official national netball team on the international stage.
Drawn in Pool 2, the Green Hawks face a massive challenge against hosts Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, and Zambia.
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OTHER LEAGUES
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Barcelona star Raphinha has continued his remarkable start to the season with a hat-trick as the team put seven past Racing Santander to maintain their perfect record in La Liga.
The Brazil international has now scored eleven goals in all competitions, nine of them in the league to help Barca begin their title defence with six straight wins.
Hansi Flick’s side have begun the campaign in blistering form and have scored five or more in five of their seven matches in all competitions, amassing thirty-three goals in total.
Joao Cancelo, Lamine Yamal, Gabriel Jesus and own goal from Asier Villalibre.
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World Cup-winning head coach Luis de la Fuente has agreed a contract extension with Spain until 2032.
The 65-year-old’s previous deal was due to expire in 2028.
De la Fuente, who guided Spain to their fourth European Championship title in 2024 before securing global honours this summer, is now set to remain in charge for Spain’s World Cup defence on home soil in 2030.
Spain will co-host the 24th edition of the men’s World Cup alongside Portugal and Morocco, with a handful of matches scheduled for Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay as part of the competition’s 100th anniversary celebrations.
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Saudi Pro League side Al-Taawoun have been ordered to play two home league matches behind closed doors after their supporters taunted Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves over the death of his friend and team-mate Diogo Jota.
Al-Taawoun have also been fined twenty thousand pounds.
In a statement, Al-Taawoun said such behaviour is completely unacceptable and does not represent the club, its fans, or the values for which the club is known.
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Hibernian has sacked head coach David Gray six games into the Scottish Premiership season, ending the former captain’s twelve year stay at Easter Road.
Tuesday’s one-nil defeat to bottom-of-the-table Kilmarnock leaves the Edinburgh club ninth in the table on six points.
It was Hibs’ sixth successive home league loss, stretching back to last season.
Assistants Liam Craig and Craig Samson are also leaving, with John Potter placed in charge for Saturday’s home game with Aberdeen.
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OTHER SPORTS
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In Tennis, the American city of Charlotte in North Carolina has been chosen as the new home of the season-ending WTA Finals.
The WTA says it wants to create the Super Bowl of women’s sports and is hoping the three-year deal will bring more stability to an event that has had six hosts in seven years.
A planned 10-year stay in Shenzhen ended after just one year, with Guadalajara, Fort Worth, Cancun and Riyadh all taking turns since. Crowds have often been disappointing.
This year’s Finals will be held in Indian Wells, California, before the tournament moves to Charlotte from 2027.
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In Formula one, Max Verstappen needed just fourteen laps and thirty-five minutes to overtake one hundred amateur drivers in an exhibition go-kart race at Silverstone.
The four-time Formula 1 world champion had a maximum of 35 laps and 75 minutes to pass everyone on an adapted track at the grand prix circuit in Northamptonshire.
Red Bull’s Verstappen, was up to 37th by the end of a chaotic first lap in which many drivers crashed or span out, resulting in racing being briefly suspended.
Martens, who was on pole position after qualifying, was the final driver to be passed as Verstappen completed his challenge with 40 minutes and 21 laps to spare.
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In Cricket, Leicestershire is on the brink of relegation from Division One of the County Championship after being deducted 27 points for breaching pitch regulations in their victory over Glamorgan in August.
The points penalty imposed by the independent Cricket Discipline Panel midway through their penultimate match of the season means the Foxes have dropped to the bottom of the table.
The punishment included losing all 19 points earned in the win over Glamorgan, an extra eight-point penalty and a five thousand pounds fine.
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In Rugby, England winger Tommy Freeman has signed a new contract with Prem champions Northampton Saints, keeping him at Franklin’s Gardens for the foreseeable future.
The 25-year-old made his Saints debut in 2019 and has gone on to make 118 appearances for the club across all competitions, scoring 79 tries.
He scored Saints’ opening try in their 2024 Premiership final win over Bath and repeated the feat in their 2026 triumph over Exeter Chiefs.
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In Golf, Matt Fitzpatrick says he is not comfortable with the prospect of travelling to Dubai for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in November when he is due to be defending champion.
Fitzpatrick is concerned that the United Arab Emirates could be a target in the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel.
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In Athletics, the decision to award the 2029 World Athletics Championships to Nairobi has prompted an outpouring of celebration across Africa.
Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie, a two-time Olympic ten thousand metres, champion, congratulated the whole continent on the wonderful news following the announcement by World Athletics.
The Kenyan capital saw off former Olympic Games hosts London and Rome to secure a slice of history, with the event set to be held in Africa for the first time.
Unsurprisingly, news that the globe’s top athletes will descend on the forty-eight thousand-capacity Kasarani Stadium in three years’ time has gone down well with some of East Africa’s biggest track and field stars.
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TODAY’S FIXTURES
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IN CARABAO CUP – THIRD ROUND
Manchester City vs Norwich City
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IN UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE- LEAGUE STAGE
Beşiktaş vs Marseille
Celtic vs Ferencváros
Crystal Palace vs Lech Poznań
Juventus vs NEC Nijmegen
Real Sociedad vs Bournemouth
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IN SPANISH LA LIGA
Real Betis vs Getafe
Málaga vs Villarreal
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
The secret is to believe in your dreams; in your potential that you can be like your star, keep searching, keep believing, and do not lose faith in yourself…. words from Neymar Jr.
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