Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

Spain’s national team has vowed to dedicate their UEFA Women’s Nations League campaign to injured midfielder Aitana Bonmati, after the Barcelona star suffered a broken leg during training. The 27-year-old, who has won 83 caps for her country, sustained the injury at the national team’s Madrid training base on Sunday, just ahead of the second leg of the final against Germany at the Estadio Metropolitano. Bonmati had played 77 minutes in the first leg of the final in Kaiserslautern, which ended goalless, demonstrating her importance to the team. Her absence for the decisive second leg is a significant blow, not…

World pole vault sensation Armand Duplantis is set to compete at the London Stadium in July 2026, marking his first appearance at the iconic venue in eight years. The Swedish superstar, widely considered one of the greatest athletes of his generation, confirmed his return for the London Diamond League, where he hopes to add yet another milestone to an already historic career. Duplantis, now 26, has dominated pole vaulting since bursting onto the senior stage, winning two Olympic gold medals and multiple world and European titles. His relentless pursuit of excellence has seen him break the world record 14 times…

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has officially released his final 25-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), marking the end of weeks of anticipation following the announcement of an unusually large 55-man provisional list. With the continental tournament set to kick off later this month in Morocco, Broos has opted for a well-balanced mix of experience, proven performers, and emerging stars. The final selection reflects the stability and cohesion that carried South Africa to a memorable bronze-medal finish at AFCON 2023, while also showcasing the coach’s willingness to reward form players and promising youngsters who have…

Red Bull have issued a statement expressing “sincere regret” after comments made during and after the Qatar Grand Prix triggered a wave of online abuse and even death threats toward Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli. The controversy began on the penultimate lap of Sunday’s race, when Antonelli ran wide at Turn 10 and lost fourth place to McLaren’s Lando Norris. The position swap ultimately gave Norris two extra points—an outcome significant in the three-way title fight heading to Abu Dhabi. Moments after the incident, Max Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, suggested via radio that it “looked like” Antonelli had “pulled over…

Adelani

Everton manager David Moyes says the club received “no explanation” after the Football Association dismissed their appeal against Idrissa Gueye’s red card during Monday’s 1–0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford. Gueye, sent off just 13 minutes into the match for slapping team-mate Michael Keane during a heated exchange, now faces a three-match ban for violent conduct. The suspension rules the 36-year-old Senegal midfielder out of upcoming Premier League fixtures against Newcastle, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest. Despite the unusual nature of the incident, Everton moved quickly to mend the optics. On Thursday, the club shared a light-hearted photo of…

Strasbourg president Marc Keller has firmly rejected claims that the club has become a “feeder team” for Chelsea, despite growing criticism from a vocal section of supporters who are uneasy about the BlueCo ownership model linking the two clubs. Strasbourg have enjoyed a resurgence on the pitch, sitting fifth in Ligue 1 after finishing seventh last season to secure European football for the first time in six years. They remain one of the standout teams in this season’s Conference League and prepare to host favourites Crystal Palace on Thursday at their newly redeveloped Stade de la Meinau. Yet their rise…

Newcastle United have condemned what they described as “unacceptable” and “indiscriminate” policing after their supporters were subjected to chaotic and distressing scenes following Tuesday night’s 2-1 Champions League defeat to Marseille at the Stade Vélodrome. The club said it will submit a formal complaint to Uefa, Marseille officials and the French police after fans reported excessive force, including the use of pepper spray, batons and shields, during what was meant to be a routine post-match hold-back operation. According to Newcastle, the intention was for supporters to remain inside the ground for up to an hour before being escorted in groups…

Ashley Cole has opened up on a major turning point in his career, revealing that his marriage ultimately stopped him from completing a move to Real Madrid. The former England defender, widely regarded as one of the best left-backs of his generation, discussed the dramatic shift in his transfer plans while appearing on the Stick to Football show this week. Cole, who left Arsenal for Chelsea in September 2006 in a high-profile swap deal involving William Gallas and £5 million, admitted that he had been seriously exploring a switch abroad. According to him, opportunities to join either Real Madrid or…

China’s world champion long jumper Wang Jianan has been officially cleared of doping allegations after a thorough investigation involving hospital CCTV footage and patient records. The 29-year-old athlete, who made history by becoming the first Asian man to win gold in the long jump at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon with an 8.36m leap, had faced a significant setback when an out-of-competition doping test in November 2024 detected traces of terbutaline. Terbutaline is a drug commonly prescribed to treat and prevent breathing issues, particularly in asthma patients. The presence of the substance in Wang’s system initially raised concerns, casting…