Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

Manchester United are bracing themselves for life without Bruno Fernandes after head coach Ruben Amorim admitted it is “impossible” to replace his captain, who could be sidelined for up to a month with a hamstring injury. Fernandes was forced off during Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa, a moment that instantly raised alarm bells at Old Trafford. Amorim confirmed shortly after the match that the Portugal international would miss Friday night’s clash with Newcastle, and while he stopped short of placing a firm timeline on the midfielder’s recovery, the expectation inside the club is that Fernandes will return for the…

DR Congo began their Africa Cup of Nations 2025 campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Benin in Group D, as Theo Bongonda’s early strike proved enough to secure three valuable points in Rabat. In a tense encounter at the compact Stade El Barid, the Leopards showed flashes of their pedigree as recent semi-finalists, but also revealed familiar wastefulness in front of goal that could yet haunt them against stronger opposition. The decisive moment arrived in the 16th minute. Arthur Masuaku launched a long ball forward from the left, and a moment of hesitation in the Benin defence proved costly.…

A high-stakes Hollywood power struggle could soon change the way millions of fans watch live sport, with Premier League executives among those monitoring developments closely. At the centre of the storm is Warner Bros Discovery, the media giant that owns blockbuster entertainment brands such as Harry Potter, Barbie and Game of Thrones. Less glamorous, but just as valuable, is TNT Sports – a key player in the UK sports broadcasting market and a crucial subplot in a multi-billion dollar takeover battle involving Netflix and Paramount Skydance. Whoever ultimately controls Warner Bros Discovery will inherit TNT Sports, and that decision could…

FIFA is testing a new wave of officiating technology designed to reduce some of football’s most contentious moments, with innovations aimed at determining whether the ball has gone out of play and clarifying complex offside decisions. The developments were trialled during three Intercontinental Cup matches in Qatar this month and form part of FIFA’s continued effort to improve accuracy, speed and transparency in decision-making, particularly for video assistant referees (VAR). Central to the trials is a system known as “Out of Bounds” technology. Using advanced tracking data similar to that employed in semi-automated offside, the innovation can determine with far…

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…