IN ENGLAND
Manchester City teenager, Floyd Samba has enjoyed a dream first-team debut by scoring twice to help Manchester City begin the defence of their Carabao Cup crown with a five-nil thrashing of Championship outfit Norwich City.
The son of former Premier League defender Christopher Samba, the 17-year-old scored in each half as the hosts made light work of their second-tier opposition to set up a fourth-round tie against Brighton – who knocked out Manchester United on Wednesday.
Rayan Cherki, Allan and Ryan McAidoo scored a goal each for Manchester City.
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Bournemouth held on to claim a famous two-one win at Real Sociedad in the first European match in the club’s history.
Goals from Justin Kluivert and Rayan put the Cherries in control as their relentless pressing overwhelmed their Basque opponents in the first half.
Sociedad were much improved after the break, got one back through Sergio Gomez and pushed hard for an equaliser late on but Marco Rose’s side held on for victory to begin their Europa League campaign.
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Crystal Palace has enjoyed a dream Europa League debut with a comfortable four-nil victory against Polish champions Lech Poznan.
The Eagles won the Conference League last season and made the step up a tier in Europe look easy with this win at Selhurst Park.
Their first goal was a gift as a poor throw by the visitors was pounced upon by Yeremy Pino just outside the box and he took a couple of touches before firing into the net.
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Chelsea midfielder, Romeo Lavia says he is finally reaping the rewards of his hard work, feeling free again and determined to change the narrative around him.
The Belgian is on the verge of enjoying his longest spell in the Chelsea side and, if he completes 60 minutes against Brentford on Friday, will surpass his previous best run of 518 minutes without injury including pre-season matches.
In his second campaign, he suffered a series of setbacks and missed thirty-three games, down from forty-two the previous season, before significantly improving his availability last term by featuring in about half of Chelsea’s matches.
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Newcastle United players had previously experienced an unhappy Matthias Jaissle in training in the opening weeks of his reign.
But the head coach was especially forthright in the away dressing room at Elland Road on Monday.
It was a night the visitors suffered a chastening four-one defeat against Leeds United.
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Former Exeter City, Crystal Palace, Barnsley and Watford goalkeeper Kevin Miller has died aged 57.
Miller, who had been working as Wigan Athletic‘s goalkeeping coach, passed away unexpectedly overnight on Tuesday.
He moved to the Latics over the summer to re-unite with former Exeter boss Gary Caldwell having stepped down as the Devon side’s goalkeeping coach in June.
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IN NIGERIA
Nigeria’s Falconets has thrashed England three-nil to reach the quarterfinals of the FIFA women’s Under-twenty World Cup.
Goals from Tosin Rafiu, Janet Akekoromowei and Mary Mamudu secured the dominant win for the Falconets.
Rafiu opened the scoring in the 7th minute as she ran on to a pass and hit a low left foot shot which rolled past the England keeper.
With ten minutes left to play in the first half Falconets captain Christina Uzoma made a brilliant penalty save to keep the scoreline at one-nil.
Then in the 72nd minute Mamudu added the third, rushing into the box and slotting home Akekoromowei’s cutback.
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Falconets of Nigeria will take on Colombia in the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA U-20 women’s World Cup in Poland.
The quarterfinal tie was confirmed after Colombia edged out hosts Poland 1-0 in Thursday’s round of 16 clash.
Nigeria’s Falconets head coach, Moses Aduku, has revealed that England’s Young Lionesses suffered a three-nil defeat because they underestimated the Nigerian side.
Aduku noted that the English squad paid the price for failing to gauge the Falconets’ true capabilities.
Despite the emphatic nature of the win, the coach was quick to shift focus toward the next challenge, urging his players to stay grounded.
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Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has unveiled a 24-man squad for Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi headlines the squad alongside defender Semi Ajayi, midfielder Alex Iwobi, and forwards Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon.
Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has also been called up, alongside defenders Calvin Bassey and Bright Osayi-Samuel, midfielders Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika, and forwards Samuel Chukwueze, Akor Adams and Tolu Arokodare.
England-based defenders Olaoluwa Aina and Benjamin Fredrick, and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, return to the squad.
Portugal-based defender Isaac James earns his first call-up to the Super Eagles, while forwards George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor are also included in the squad for the first time.
The Super Eagles will host Madagascar’s Barea at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, 25th September, before travelling to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau’s Wild Dogs in a Matchday 2 encounter on Tuesday, 29th September.
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Meanwhile, Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has announced a 24-man squad for Nigeria’s international friendly against Russia.
The West Africans are set to face Russia at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday, 6th October.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi headlines the squad, with Moses Simon, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel and Benjamin Fredricks.
Midfielder Raphael Onyedika, and forwards Kelechi Iheanacho and Akor Adams also included.
Finland-based goalkeeper Samuel James and Switzerland-based defender Victory Akpe have received their first call-ups to the senior national team.
Chelle also invited six midfielders and three forwards who are set to join the Super Eagles camp for the first time as Nigeria prepares for the friendly encounter.
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Madagascar head coach Corentin Martins has named a 25-man squad for the team’s upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Tanzania’s Taifa Stars.
Martins trimmed the squad from an initial 55-man provisional list, with the final selection dominated by foreign-based professionals.
A few players from the Malagasy domestic league also made the cut.
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Rangers International FC is expanding its rich footballing heritage, with club CEO Amobi Ezeaku officially announcing that the newly formed women’s team will feature in the upcoming Nigeria Women Football League Premiership season.
The landmark development brings the famous “Flying Antelopes” brand into women’s elite club football, offering a massive boost to the growth and visibility of the domestic women’s game.
Ezeaku also confirmed that Coach Favour Anieke, will continue to take charge of the female team.
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The hierarchy of Enyimba of Aba has talked up the People’s Elephant players ahead of Sunday’s 2026/27 EuroMatch/NPFL Matchday 4 fixture against Inter Lagos.
The clash is billed for the Enyimba Stadium, Aba, with the tie potentially serving as the nine-time champions’ first home game of the season, following the postponement of their actual first home fixture.
Enyimba are without a win so far in the campaign, having lost their first two away games to Niger Tornadoes and Doma United.
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Despite the team’s relegation, former players of Bayelsa United have donated a set of jerseys to the club to support its preparations for the 2026/27 Nigeria National League (NNL) season.
Presenting the jerseys, leader of the ex-players and former Chairman of Bayelsa United, Dr. Ebiki Timitimi, said the gesture was their little way of contributing to the club’s campaign as it gears up for pre-season activities, including friendly matches.
Receiving the jerseys on behalf of the Chairman, Dr. Peter Singabele, and Management Board, Godson Ekadi described the gesture as a significant show of solidarity from a key constituency of the club.
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Lagos State Government has kicked-off the 20th Edition of the Head of Service, HOS, Games.
The event was kicked -off by the Heads of Service, Bode Agoro, at the Lagos State Rehabilitation Centre, Isheri-Berger.
Agoro said the annual sporting event was designed to promote physical fitness, relaxation, social interaction and productivity among Public Servants.
He noted that the tournament was not limited to football, as several other sporting activities were also featured, such as Table-Tennis, Scrabble, Chess, Tug of war, Tennis, Ayo, and Draught, adding that participation in the games helped Public Servants maintain their fitness and ultimately contributed to a more productive workforce.
The first football match of the day saw Team Public Service Office, PSO, beat the Team Parastatals Monitoring Office, PMO, two goals to one.
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OTHER LEAGUES
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has been told to release all documents relating to his controversial plan to sell off a stake in the World Cup in a letter sent by Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt.
Hewitt, a Fifa vice-president, said the Fifa Council should also receive a written explanation for the cancelled suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun at the World Cup.
Infantino should make all documents available before the next Fifa Council meeting, which is on 15th October.
The letter, also sent to Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, makes accusations of failures in governance and a breakdown in culture within the world football governing body.
Infantino will stand for election for a fourth time in March, with his opponents having until eighteen November to find an alternative candidate.
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Real Madrid forward, Kylian Mbappe says he stands in full solidarity with Ceuta after choosing to obscure a message of support for people who live in the Spanish enclave.
Real players wore T-shirts carrying the message ‘Todos somos Caballas’ – ‘We are all Caballas’ before Tuesday’s match against Elche.
Mbappe along with team-mates Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konate rolled up their shirts to partially cover up the message.
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Real Madrid is among the clubs trying to sign Manchester United academy player JJ Gabriel.
Earlier this week, the 15-year-old sent United formal notice he wants to cancel his registration with immediate effect, but the club can challenge the request.
It is understood a number of major teams across Europe, including Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, have a firm interest in the forward, but multiple sources have described Real’s efforts to sign him as strong.
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Germany coach Jurgen Klopp says his team can help ensure national pride is not entrusted to the wrong people after a recent far-right election victory.
The Alternative for Germany party won 43.8% of the vote in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, falling just short of securing an absolute majority in the regional parliament.
Speaking at a news briefing to announce his first squad, Klopp stressed he is not a political expert.
The former Liverpool boss added he could be proud to be German while also being open-minded and diverse, and kind and friendly.
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OTHER SPORTS
In Tennis, Former world number one doubles player and six-time Grand Slam doubles champion Joe Salisbury has retired from professional tennis.
Londoner Salisbury chose this month’s US Open as his final event and reached the semi-finals with his long-time partner Rajeev Ram, who had also decided to retire.
The venue was fitting, as in 2023 Salisbury and Ram became the first pair in history to win three consecutive US Open men’s doubles titles.
Salisbury is Britain’s most successful men’s doubles player of the Open era.
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In Cricket, England’s impressive T20 form continued as they thrashed Sri Lanka by six wickets in Cardiff to seal the series with a match to spare.
Tom Banton’s unbeaten 52 ensured England made light work of chasing a below-par 146, reaching the target in just 12.1 overs.
Jos Buttler and Aneurin Donald raced to an opening stand of 51 in 4.3 overs before they both fell in the space of four balls for 30 and 21 respectively, but England’s middle order followed suit in their aggression.
Captain Harry Brook needed to score 49 to break Tilak Varma’s record of 336 T20 international runs without being dismissed, and he looked on course, whacking three sixes in his 23 off just eight balls, before he was brilliantly caught by a diving Eshan Malinga.
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In Formula one, Former Mercedes Formula one design boss Mike Elliott has joined Alpine as chief technical officer.
The 52-year-old will lead and oversee the technical and engineering functions at the team’s factory in Enstone.
Elliott’s recruitment is the latest step in Alpine’s attempt to return to competitiveness after slumping to the back of the field in 2025.
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In Rugby, England fly-half Fin Smith says an under-par autumn should trigger fundamental questions about the team’s direction.
The 24-year-old was asked by Rugby Union Weekly about the state of the team after a miserable Six Nations and a summer campaign that featured a 45-21 defeat by world champions South Africa, a 73-8 thrashing of Fiji and a narrow 31-24 win over Argentina.
England will play Australia, Japan and New Zealand on successive weekends in November, before a play-off against a southern hemisphere opponent in the finale of the new Nations Championship competition.
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In Athletics, Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson says an MRI scan has uncovered an abnormality in her hamstring.
Following a suspected tear last year, Hodgkinson had a scan which revealed she has a split hamstring, giving her two tendons instead of one.
The 24-year-old is still learning how to manage the anomaly, which allows her to continue running when one of the tendons is torn but may also make her more susceptible to breakdowns.
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TODAY’S FIXTURES
IN ENGLSIH PREMIER LEAGUE
Brentford vs Chelsea
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IN SPANISH LA LIGA
Espanyol vs Elche
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IN GERMAN BUNDESLIGA
Bayern Munich vs Union Berlin
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SOCCER ACTION CONITUES THIS WEEKEND
IN ENGLSIH PREMIER LEAGUE
ON SATURDAY
Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa
Brighton vs Arsenal
Everton vs Ipswich Town
Newcastle United vs Hull City
Nottingham Forest vs Coventry City
ON SUNDAY
Bournemouth vs Liverpool
Leeds United vs Crystal Palace
Manchester City vs Sunderland
Fulham vs Manchester United
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IN SPANISH LA LIGA
ON SATURDAY
Osasuna vs Rayo Vallecano
Athletic Club vs Alavés
Celta Vigo vs Racing de Santander
Sevilla vs Barcelona
ON SUNDAY
Getafe vs Málaga
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid
Deportivo de A Coruña vs Real Betis
Villarreal vs Levante
Valencia vs Real Sociedad
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do…words from Football Legend Pelé.
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