By Boluwatife Kehinde  ‎ ‎The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), via its Referee Development Committee, has suspended three officials for poor performance. ‎ ‎Referees Mohammed B. Tuta, Ben Japhet, and Ikechukwu Taiwo have been placed on indefinite suspension following controversial decisions in recent league matches. The decision, according to a statement signed by committee secretary Ameenu Mohammed, is part of a broader initiative to restore…

By Boluwatife Kehinde  ‎ ‎As preparations ramp up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, questions are being raised about the stability of the host city lineup following remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump. ‎ ‎ The President has floated the possibility of relocating matches over what he describes as security concerns in several Democratic-run cities. ‎ ‎Speaking on Tuesday,…

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been handed a one-match touchline ban and fined £8,000 by the Football Association following his dramatic dismissal during the Premier League win over Liverpool earlier this month. The Italian was sent off by referee Anthony Taylor in stoppage time after leaving his technical area to celebrate Estevao Willian’s 95th-minute winner. The goal sealed a crucial 2-1 victory for Chelsea over the reigning champions at Stamford…

Mercedes have officially confirmed that George Russell and teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli will remain their Formula 1 drivers for the 2026 season, extending a partnership that team principal Toto Wolff described as “strong and full of potential.” The announcement was made ahead of the United States Grand Prix weekend and comes just over a week after Russell’s dominant victory in Singapore, his second win of the 2025 campaign. With the…

Boluwatife Kehinde ‎In an era where loyalty is rare in football, Frenkie de Jong has once again put his heart where his boots are at FC Barcelona. The Dutch midfielder has extended his stay at the Catalan club until 2029, reinforcing his commitment to a project he believes in deeply, despite years of media speculation and financial pressure behind the scenes. ‎The 28-year-old joined Barca from Ajax in 2019 and…

As Nigeria gears up for the crucial playoffs of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, former Super Eagles midfielder Friday Ekpo has urged the national team to approach the decisive matches with utmost seriousness and precision. Ekpo, who represented Nigeria during the late 1980s and early 1990s, emphasised that only a top-level performance will guarantee qualification for the World Cup in North America. Nigeria sealed their playoff spot emphatically, thrashing…

Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal have booked their places at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after both nations recorded commanding victories in their final group games on Tuesday, sealing Africa’s last two automatic qualification spots. The wins see the reigning African champions and the Teranga Lions join seven other nations who had already confirmed their tickets to football’s biggest stage. Senegal, led by star forward Sadio Mané, produced a dominant display…

Cristiano Ronaldo made history yet again with a record-breaking brace, but Portugal were left frustrated after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser in a 2–2 draw with Hungary at the Estádio José Alvalade. The result delayed their qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as Hungary’s Dominik Szoboszlai struck late to deny the hosts all three points. Ronaldo, 40, showed no signs of slowing down as he scored his 41st goal in…

England stormed into next summer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup with an emphatic 5–0 win over Latvia in Riga, maintaining their perfect qualifying record under head coach Thomas Tuchel. The result confirmed England’s place at the tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States with two games to spare, as they outclassed a Latvian side ranked 137th in the world. Goals from Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane (twice), an own goal by…

Cape Verde made history on Monday, securing a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 3–0 win over Eswatini at the National Stadium in Praia. The victory sparked celebrations across the archipelago and among the diaspora, marking the first time the island nation will appear at football’s biggest stage. The decisive moment came in the 91st minute when Stopira scored the final goal, sealing Cape Verde’s qualification. Players,…

By Boluwatife Kehinde ‎Sweden have sacked head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson after a third consecutive defeat in World Cup qualifying marking the first time in the country’s history that a national team manager has been dismissed mid-campaign. ‎The decision, announced by the Swedish Football Association on Tuesday, follows a 1-0 home loss to Kosovo in Gothenburg that leaves Sweden bottom of Group B and in serious danger of missing the…

Osimhen doubled the lead in the 38th minute, again assisted by Chukwueze, showing excellent movement and a cool finish. His third came shortly after the restart—clinching his hat-trick in the 51st minute with a composed strike to put the game out of reach.