IN NIGERIA
=====================
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have suffered an embarrassing three-nil defeat away to Guinea-Bissau, in their second Group L fixture of the 2027 African Cup of Nations qualifier.
Goals from Franculino Djú, Mama Baldé and Álvaro Djaló were enough to give Guinea-Bissau the required three points over Super Eagles.
The result leaves Nigeria with three points from their opening two matches, while Guinea-Bissau move into a stronger position in the battle for the qualifying spot from the group.
Also, Madagascar and Tanzania settled for a one-all draw in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash in Group L.
===================
Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle says all hopes are not lost despite his team’s humiliating three-nil defeat to Guinea-Bissau.
Reflecting after the loss, Chelle admitted Guinea-Bissau were the better team, but said the poor pitch and hot weather condition affected his players.
The Malian coach expressed confidence in his team’s ability to recover from their latest setback, despite admitting that the current situation is not ideal.
The coach said his side still had four games remaining and could turn things around if they remained focused and composed.
He acknowledged that his team had endured a difficult outing but insisted that he remained confident in his players and their ability to respond.
=======================
Former Nigerian international, Dimeji Lawal has expressed deep disappointment following the Super Eagles’ three-nil loss to Guinea-Bissau.
Reflecting on the match, Lawal did not hold back in his assessment of the team’s display.
Lawal criticised his team’s approach in their latest match, saying they failed to take the game to their opponents and allowed the hosts to dominate proceedings.
=======================
Super Falcons interim head coach, Augustine Eguavoen has unveiled a twenty-eight-player squad for Nigeria’s 2028 Olympic Games qualifying encounters with Comoros.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade will lead the squad, with key players such as goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, Asisat Oshoala, Oluwatosin Demehin, and Michelle Alozie also included.
Ashleigh Plumptre makes her return to the national team after missing the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations through injury.
Eguavoen also handed opportunities to a number of promising youngsters, including Christiana Uzoma, Farida Abdulwahab, Tumininu Adeshina, Favour Nkwocha, Shakirat Moshood, Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, and Janet Akekoromowei.
The invited players are expected to report to Ijebu-Ode on Saturday, 3rd October, ahead of the two-legged tie.
Both matches will be played at the Remo Stars Sports Stadium in Ikenne-Remo after Comoros failed to provide a CAF-approved venue for the fixtures.
The first leg is scheduled for Friday, 9th October, with the return fixture set for Tuesday, 13th October.
==================
Ranchers Bees technical adviser, Usman Abd’Allah has expressed his frustration with the quality of officiating following his side’s goalless draw against Rivers United.
Abd’Allah claimed that his side should have been awarded two penalties during the keenly contested encounter.
He also expressed hope that Ranchers Bees would soon return to their home ground in Kaduna, believing that home support could provide a boost to the team.
====================
Nigeria Premier Football League side Plateau United have announced the passing of the wife of defender Paul Odeh.
The club disclosed this in a condolence message on its official X handle.
Odeh joined Plateau United from fellow NPFL club Enyimba in this summer transfer window.
====================
IN ENGLAND
==================
England have secured the first win of their Uefa Nations League campaign as they overcame the stubborn resistance of ten-man Czech Republic two-nil in Prague.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, making his first England start since October 2024, made his mark with a brilliant delivery for Anthony Gordon to head home after forty-seven minutes.
The victory was confirmed after sixty-nine minutes when captain Harry Kane scored his 87th goal in one hundred and twenty-three England appearances with an emphatic left-foot finish after Czech defenders failed to clear.
==================
The Premier League says Manchester City has arranged “sham contracts” with a number of its commercial partners as part of a scheme to disguise secret funding of more than eight hundred and thirty million pounds.
The League confirmed that City have been found guilty of all charges related to breaches of Premier League financial rules between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.
An independent commission found that, during that time period, the club arranged the “sham contracts” and relying on sham agreements to artificially inflate the club’s revenues and reduce its costs.
The club continues to deny any wrongdoing and have until 2th October to submit an appeal.
===================
Former Manchester United star, Wayne Rooney says his former club do not deserve to be awarded Premier League titles if rivals Manchester City are stripped of them for breaching financial rules.
City have been found guilty of the majority of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League.
The financial charges relate to the period from 2009-10 to 2017-18, while they were also accused of a failure to co-operate with Premier League investigations between December 2018 to February 2023.
Rooney was part of the United side that finished runners-up to City in 2011-2012 but does not want to be awarded the title retrospectively.
Sanctions are yet to be announced and City plan to appeal against the decision.
===================
Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive, Maheta Molango, says Chelsea star Cole Palmer is the victim of a sick system that is expecting too much of players.
Molango said Palmer’s recent withdrawal from the England squad highlighted a match calendar that is unsustainable and has become the survival of the fittest.
Molango said this was far from an issue that only impacts England players, pointing to other recent withdrawals from European teams, including Germany’s Kai Havertz, Dutch striker Brian Brobbey and France captain Kylian Mbappe.
===================
Aston Villa manager, Natalia Arroyo has been sacked following a disappointing start to the Women’s Super League season.
Villa are yet to win this season, drawing two and losing two of their opening four matches and BBC Sport is told that led to the club’s decision.
They suffered a four-nil defeat by Tottenham on Sunday in the WSL and are due to play Newcastle in the Women’s League Cup on Wednesday.
Spaniard Arroyo joined Villa in January 2025 and had another two years remaining on her contract.
====================
OTHER LEAGUES
====================
World football’s governing body has accused its European counterpart of a misinformation campaign over shelved plans to sell stakes in the World Cup.
Uefa last month filed legal papers in the U.S requesting disclosure of evidence and documents from Fifa, warning it could lodge a criminal complaint in Switzerland.
In its response, Fifa said Uefa’s filing contained numerous false or misleading statements about Fifa and Infantino.
It also described Uefa’s filing as farcically overbroad, saying districts faced with similar requests have outright rejected such applications.
Fifa also described Uefa’s conduct as in bad faith and for the purpose of harassment”.
==================
UEFA President, Aleksander Čeferin has launched a blistering, high-profile attack on FIFA President Gianni Infantino, invoking Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale The Emperor’s New Clothes to criticise his leadership.
Speaking at the European Football Clubs General Assembly, Čeferin took direct aim at Infantino’s governance.
Čeferin heavily criticised the language used by FIFA to defend the proposal, arguing that selling part of football’s future does not become development because you say it’s development, and that secrecy does not equate to true consultation.
====================
The head of the Turkish referees’ body, Ferhat Gundogdu, has been arrested as part of a police investigation into corruption.
Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said the investigation focused on claims regarding interference in the formation of referee classifications, assignments, scoring and appointment processes, as well as rule examinations.
Gundogdu, the president of the refereeing body, his vice-president and another five people are those arrested.
Some twenty-nine people were arrested in the sprawling scandal, including fourteen footballers.
=================
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, Fabián Ruiz has made it clear that he intends to return to Real Betis to finish his professional playing career.
Speaking about his deep ties to his boyhood club, the Spanish international opened up about his affection for the Andalusian outfit.
While currently focused on his duties in the French capital and under contract with PSG, the 30-year-old midfielder acknowledged that a homecoming is part of his long-term future.
====================
Sebastien Pocognoli’s Hampden debut flipped swiftly from special to sour as 10-man Scotland were outclassed by Switzerland in the Nations League.
The head coach, who started his reign with a goalless draw in Slovenia on Saturday, was hoping for “fire” in Mount Florida.
Instead, though, he witnessed a cold, cruel lesson from major tournament-regulars Switzerland after a nightmarish start.
=================
OTHER SPORTS
==================
In Formula one, Ferrari have backed Frederic Vasseur as their Formula 1 team principal.
The official statement comes amid speculation over the Frenchman’s position, fuelled by former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner saying he would be interested, in joining Ferrari.
Ferrari chief communication officer Maria Conti used a hastily convened media call to deliver the message, saying she was speaking on behalf of chairman John Elkann and chief executive officer Benedetto Vigna.
=====================
In Rugby, Saracens are set to receive a series of fines from Prem Rugby due to director of rugby Brendan Venter’s failure to fulfil media commitments.
It is understood the club have already been handed a five thousand pounds sanction after Venter was not present at the Prem’s pre-season launch day.
The South African also did not speak to the media before, during or after the opening-weekend victory at Leicester.
=====================
TODAY’S FIXTURES
======================
IN NIGERIA PREMIER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Enyimba vs Shooting Stars
Katsina United vs Rivers United
Sporting Lagos vs Ikorodu City
Warri Wolves vs Enugu Rangers
====================
IN CAF AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS QUALIFIERS
Eritrea vs South Africa
========================
FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
Behind every kick of a ball, there has to be a thought… words from Denis Bergkamp.
=======================
