Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

Kwara United made history on Saturday by clinching their first-ever President Federation Cup title after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over surprise finalists Abakaliki FC at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos. The closely contested final ended goalless after regulation time, but Kwara United held their nerve in the shootout to triumph 4-3, bringing decades of disappointment to an emotional end. The win also secured their qualification for the 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup, alongside Abia Warriors. Head coach Tunde Sanni, clearly overwhelmed by the achievement, praised his players and fans for their commitment and revealed just how crucial the victory…

Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has launched a scathing attack on the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, calling it “the worst idea ever implemented in football” and warning of dangerous consequences for player welfare. Now head of global football at Red Bull, Klopp’s criticism comes just days after one of Red Bull’s teams, RB Salzburg, was eliminated in the group stage of the newly expanded 32-team tournament in the United States. In an interview with Welt am Sonntag, the 58-year-old German doubled down on long-held concerns over fixture congestion, player fatigue, and the governing bodies’ failure to prioritize recovery time.…

Paulinho came off the bench to score a brilliant extra-time winner as Palmeiras edged fierce rivals Botafogo 1-0 in a tense all-Brazilian affair to reach the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals. The former Bayer Leverkusen winger cut inside from the right and rifled a low strike into the bottom corner in the 100th minute, securing a hard-fought win in front of 33,657 fans at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia. His second goal of the tournament sent Palmeiras through to a last-eight clash with either Chelsea or Benfica — a matchup that could pit 18-year-old star Estêvão Willian against his soon-to-be new…

England Under-21s clinched back-to-back UEFA European U21 Championship titles after edging Germany 3-2 in an enthralling final that went to extra time in Bratislava. A dramatic header from substitute Jonathan Rowe just two minutes into the added period secured the title for Lee Carsley’s Young Lions, who now join the elite company of successive U21 champions — a feat not achieved since Dave Sexton’s class of 1982 and 1984. This latest triumph underlines Carsley’s remarkable stewardship since taking the helm in 2021, and with his contract freshly extended until 2027, the Football Association may now have a task on their…

Paul Pogba fought back tears as he officially signed a two-year deal with AS Monaco, marking his emotional return to competitive football after serving an 18-month doping suspension. The 32-year-old former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder has been without a club since November 2023, when he and Juventus mutually agreed to terminate his contract in the wake of a provisional suspension. That suspension followed a failed drug test after Juventus’ opening match of the 2023–24 Serie A season against Udinese. In his Monaco unveiling, Pogba expressed gratitude and determination. “Thanks for the trust,” he said in a heartfelt video message…

South Africa’s national women’s football team, Banyana Banyana, have boycotted training ahead of their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title defence in Morocco, citing unpaid allowances and salaries from the South African Football Association (SAFA). The reigning continental champions, who arrived in Morocco on Wednesday in preparation for the tournament set to kick off on July 5, staged a sit-in protest on Friday by refusing to take part in their scheduled training session. This marks the second session they’ve missed, intensifying pressure on SAFA to address the matter swiftly. According to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), the players…

Deontay Wilder returned to winning ways on Saturday night, stopping Tyrrell Herndon in the seventh round of a low-profile bout in Wichita, Kansas, that offered more relief than reassurance for the former heavyweight champion. It was Wilder’s first victory since October 2022, ending a streak of three losses in four fights — most recently a punishing fifth-round stoppage at the hands of Chinese southpaw Zhilei Zhang in June 2024. But this win, against a faded opponent in Herndon, came without the electricity and spectacle once synonymous with the man dubbed the “Bronze Bomber.” There was no glittering entrance, no pay-per-view…

Manchester United have seen their latest bid for Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo rejected, as the West London club stand firm on their valuation of the in-demand forward. United’s improved offer, reportedly worth up to £62.5 million – consisting of £55 million upfront and £7.5 million in add-ons – was turned down by Brentford, who are understood to be holding out for a fee similar to what Wolves received for Matheus Cunha earlier this summer. Cunha’s recent move to Old Trafford, also for £62.5 million, has seemingly set a benchmark in the market. Sources close to the negotiations suggest Brentford want…

Gareth Southgate has officially joined football’s most elite ranks after being knighted at Windsor Castle on Wednesday. The former England manager, 54, was honoured for his services to football following his departure from the national team after Euro 2024. The knighthood places Southgate among just six other football managers who have received the distinction: Sir Alf Ramsey, Sir Matt Busby, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Robson, Sir Kenny Dalglish, and Sir Walter Winterbottom. Remarkably, like Winterbottom, Southgate is one of the few knights not to have lifted a major trophy as a manager. Despite never capturing international silverware, Southgate’s influence…

Disappointment as Al Ahly, Esperance, Sundowns & Wydad crash out in group stage The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States has ended in bitter disappointment for African football, as none of the four CAF representatives managed to progress beyond the group stage in the tournament’s new 32-team format. A Harsh Reality for African Giants African champions Al Ahly, along with Esperance de Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Wydad Casablanca, all entered the competition with high hopes and reputations forged across the continent. But by the close of the group phase, the continent’s campaign had been extinguished. Each club…