Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

Afghan-born footballer Nadia Nadim sees her participation in Soccer Aid as an opportunity to represent women who lack access to sports and a voice in society. Nadim, 37, fled Afghanistan as a child after her father was executed by the Taliban. Growing up in a refugee camp, she discovered football, leading to a successful career with clubs like Manchester City and the Danish national team. With women’s rights severely restricted in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return in 2021—including a ban on competitive sports—Nadim believes Soccer Aid can highlight these issues to a wider audience. “It’s important to create awareness and…

Red Bull Racing is reportedly considering dropping Liam Lawson after just two races in the 2025 Formula 1 season, raising questions about the team’s management and decision-making. Lawson, who replaced Sergio Perez at the end of 2024, has struggled to adapt to Red Bull’s challenging car. He crashed out in Melbourne and finished last in qualifying and the race in China, failing to match teammate Max Verstappen’s pace. While Lawson’s poor performances are a concern, Red Bull’s problems extend beyond its newest driver. Verstappen himself has admitted the car is difficult to handle, suffering from mid-corner understeer and instability. The…

Brisbane is set to construct a brand-new 63,000-seat stadium as the centerpiece of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Queensland government has announced. The state-of-the-art multi-sport venue will be located in Victoria Park, hosting the Games’ opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the athletics events. Additionally, the new stadium will serve as Brisbane’s primary cricket venue after the historic Gabba stadium is demolished post-Games. The decision was confirmed by Queensland Premier David Crisafulli, marking a significant shift from previous government assurances that a new stadium would not be built. A Surprising Policy Shift “I have to own that,…

Juventus have sacked head coach Thiago Motta after just nine months in charge and replaced him with Croatian Igor Tudor. Motta, 42, took over in June 2024 but struggled to maintain consistency. The 36-time Serie A champions currently sit fifth in the league, one point outside the Champions League qualification spots. His tenure ended after back-to-back heavy defeats—3-0 to Fiorentina and 4-0 at home to Atalanta. Juventus also crashed out of the Coppa Italia and failed to qualify for the Champions League after losing to PSV Eindhoven in the play-off round. His replacement, Tudor, is a former Juventus defender who…

Newcastle United defender Tino Livramento has been omitted from England’s squad for Monday’s World Cup qualifier against Latvia at Wembley. The 22-year-old was an unused substitute in Friday’s 2-0 victory over Albania, but will now sit out the next fixture as Thomas Tuchel reshuffles his squad. England initially selected 26 players for the two qualifiers, but UEFA regulations require teams to trim their matchday squad to 23 for each game. As a result, Livramento, alongside goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, has been left out for the Latvia match. Meanwhile, Morgan Gibbs-White and Jarrel Quansah return to the squad after missing the Albania…

As Ramadan draws to a close, Bournemouth forward Dango Ouattara is clear about what comes first in his life—faith. “For me, faith comes first. It comes before football,” the 23-year-old Burkina Faso international told BBC Sport Africa. A devout Muslim, Ouattara prays five times daily, including before and after every match, as a way to “stay humble” and refocus. “It helps me correct myself in society, stay calm, and be on the right path,” he said. A Rising Star at Bournemouth Ouattara has been in fine form this season, scoring nine goals in 30 appearances, a major improvement from last…

Zimbabwe defender Emmanuel Jalai has vowed that the Warriors will give their all when they take on Nigeria in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Tuesday. Michael Nees’ side is still searching for their first win in the qualifiers and will be looking to cause an upset when they face the Super Eagles at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. Jalai, 26, acknowledged Nigeria’s strength but remains confident that Zimbabwe can pull off a surprise result. “Of course, it is not going to be an easy game, but football is always unpredictable and full of surprises. We…

Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo has emphasized the importance of star striker Victor Osimhen experiencing the FIFA World Cup, calling it a milestone every top player should reach. Osimhen played a crucial role in Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, scoring twice in their 2-0 victory over Rwanda. The win marked the Super Eagles’ first in the qualifiers, moving them to fourth place with six points. The Galatasaray defender, who represented Nigeria at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, shared his thoughts ahead of their next qualifier against Zimbabwe on Tuesday. “Just a few players in the Super Eagles have…

Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga has expressed his satisfaction with his decision to leave Manchester United, insisting that the move has been beneficial for his career. The Sweden international, who has been in impressive form for Forest this season, revealed in an interview with Fotbollskanalen that he still holds Manchester United close to his heart but has no regrets about moving on. A Fresh Start at Nottingham Forest After struggling for regular playing time at Old Trafford, Elanga made the switch to Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2023 in search of more opportunities. Since joining, he has established himself…

Chelsea will have to pay Manchester United £5m if they decide against signing Jadon Sancho permanently this summer, despite an initial obligation to buy the winger for between £20m and £25m—provided they finish at least 14th in the Premier League. The 24-year-old joined Chelsea on loan from United last August after a fallout with then-United manager Erik ten Hag. While he initially impressed at Stamford Bridge, his form has dipped significantly. Since scoring his last goal on December 8 against Tottenham, he has managed just one assist in 18 appearances. Sancho’s struggles have raised concerns at Chelsea, where his stats…