Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

Kylian Mbappé marked his 27th birthday with a historic milestone as Real Madrid defeated Sevilla 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu to maintain pressure on La Liga leaders Barcelona. The French forward converted a late penalty to equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 59 goals in a calendar year for Real Madrid, a landmark first achieved by the Portuguese great in 2013. Earlier, Jude Bellingham’s first-half header had given Carlo Ancelotti’s side a deserved lead in a match that proved more testing than the scoreline suggests. Real dominated possession from the outset, probing Sevilla’s defensive shape with patience and control. The breakthrough…

Nigerian football has been rocked by controversy following confirmation that Flying Eagles midfielder Daniel Daga has been charged over an alleged case of sexual conduct without consent in Norway. The 18-year-old, who plays his club football with Molde, is facing formal charges after an incident that was reported to Norwegian authorities in April. The development has cast a shadow over what had been a promising rise for the midfielder, regarded as one of Nigeria’s brightest young talents abroad. In a statement, Molde confirmed that the case had progressed to the charging stage and outlined the steps taken by the club…

Bayern Munich brought the curtain down on 2025 in emphatic fashion as they swept aside Heidenheim 4-0 at the Voith-Arena to tighten their grip on the Bundesliga title race. Goals from Josip Stanišić and Michael Olise in the first half laid the foundation for a comfortable victory, before late strikes from Luis Díaz and Harry Kane completed a dominant display that underlined Bayern’s authority at the summit of German football. The result ensures Vincent Kompany’s side head into the winter break nine points clear of nearest challengers Borussia Dortmund. Facing a packed crowd of 15,000, Bayern wasted little time in…

Liverpool are anxiously awaiting the results of medical tests on Alexander Isak after the striker was forced off with a suspected significant lower leg injury during Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Isak, a £125m record signing from Newcastle in September, had only just made his impact on the game. Introduced from the bench by head coach Arne Slot, the Swedish international broke the deadlock at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a composed finish. However, moments after striking his shot, he was caught by the recovering Micky van de Ven and immediately signalled discomfort. Although he attempted to…

UEFA has underlined its commitment to the growth of women’s football by distributing a record 9m euros (£7.9m) to clubs across Europe following Women’s Euro 2025, doubling the amount paid out after the previous tournament. A total of 103 clubs from 16 national associations benefited from the club payments programme, which compensates teams for releasing players to represent their countries. The scheme reflects the increasing scale and commercial value of the women’s game, as well as Uefa’s attempt to strengthen cooperation between club and international football. English clubs were among the biggest beneficiaries, receiving a combined 2.37m euros (£2.1m). Women’s…

Pep Guardiola has warned Manchester City they must be ready for a future without him, admitting that no manager can remain in charge forever as speculation grows over his long-term plans at the club. The 54-year-old, who has transformed City into one of the dominant forces in European football since arriving in 2016, said the club “must be prepared” for his eventual departure, even though he remains under contract until the end of the 2026-27 season. Guardiola signed his current deal in November 2024, but uncertainty persists over whether he will see it out. Speaking ahead of City’s Premier League…

Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul added fresh fuel to their controversial heavyweight showdown after a heated face-off at Thursday’s weigh-in in Miami, where the former world champion warned his opponent to “don’t touch me”. The confrontation came as the fighters met on stage ahead of Friday night’s eight-round bout at the Kaseya Center, a contest that has divided opinion across boxing. Joshua, a two-time heavyweight world champion, pushed Paul’s fist away from his face after the YouTuber-turned-boxer attempted to mirror his raised guard. Joshua, 36, appeared visibly irritated and later made a throat-slitting gesture as Paul walked away, an action…

Australian football has been rocked by a major integrity scandal after four players were banned for several years for their involvement in match-fixing offences in the A-League. Football Australia confirmed the sanctions following investigations into deliberate attempts by players to influence betting markets by intentionally receiving yellow cards during matches. The governing body said the bans were necessary to protect the integrity of the sport and send a clear message that corruption would not be tolerated at any level of the game. Kearyn Baccus and former New Zealand international Clayton Lewis were each handed five-year bans from all football-related activity…

Mariah Carey will add her unmistakable voice to one of sport’s grandest stages after being confirmed as a leading performer at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics. The American singer-songwriter will take centre stage at Milan’s iconic San Siro stadium on Friday, 6 February, as the Games officially get under way. The Winter Olympics, hosted jointly by Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, will run from 6 to 22 February, bringing together thousands of athletes from across the globe. Organisers say Carey’s appearance is designed to give the opening ceremony global appeal, blending sport, culture and music in a spectacle…

Lionel Messi’s much-hyped GOAT Tour of India was meant to be a celebration of football’s greatest icon. Instead, its opening stop in Kolkata spiralled into disorder, leaving fans angry, organisers under scrutiny and authorities issuing apologies. Fresh from leading Inter Miami to their first MLS Cup, Messi arrived in India for a three-day promotional tour alongside club-mates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul. Branded the GOAT India Tour 2025, it was the Argentina captain’s first visit to the country since 2011 and the only nation included in the itinerary. Expectations were enormous. Those expectations were reflected in ticket sales. Standard…