Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare found the back of the net for the first time this season, but his goal was not enough to prevent KRC Genk from falling 2-1 to Standard Liège in the Belgian Pro League on Sunday. The 24-year-old, who topped the scoring charts in Belgium last season, began the match on the bench at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne. Head coach Thorsten Fink opted for Jarne Steuckers in…

Crystal Palace beat Premier League champions Liverpool 3-2 on penalties to win the Community Shield after an entertaining 2-2 draw at Wembley on Sunday, with keeper Dean Henderson reprising his penalty-saving heroics from their FA Cup final triumph. Substitute Justin Devenny scored the winning spot kick, after Mohamed Salah skied the Reds’ first penalty and Henderson – who saved an Omar Marmoush penalty as Palace won their first major trophy…

Former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has underscored the vast global potential of the sports industry, commending the state government for its proactive strategy in youth empowerment and sports development. Speaking at the 2025 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Youth Cup, which was named the “BRF Cup” in his honour, Fashola emphasised that sports are no longer just a hobby but a viable career path for young people. Fashola…

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Friday appointed a new management committee for the Ondo State Football Agency (OSFA) as part of efforts to revitalise the state’s football clubs. Aiyedatiwa’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan disclosed this in a statement. The five-member team, drawn from various fields in sports administration and marketing, will report directly to the governor’s office. Members include Divine Ogbonnaya, who will serve as General Manager; Segun Joseph; Awosakin…

Paris, France – 7 August 2025 – France Football, the prestigious organiser of the Ballon d’Or, has officially released the 30-man shortlist for the 2025 edition of the award, set to be presented on 22 September 2025 at the iconic Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The list was curated with input from top international journalists and was shared via France Football’s official social media platforms. Among the most notable names…

Liverpool has permitted Darwin Núñez to enter talks with Al-Hilal as the Saudi Pro League club moves closer to agreeing on a transfer fee for the Uruguay international striker. Negotiations between Liverpool and Al-Hilal are ongoing, but a deal is expected to be finalised swiftly should Núñez express willingness to make the switch. The 26-year-old, who made only eight Premier League starts last season, has attracted limited interest from European clubs due to…

Former Arsenal and Ghana international footballer Thomas Partey has been granted conditional bail after appearing in court to face multiple sexual offence charges. The 32-year-old midfielder appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where he was formally charged with five counts of rape involving two women and one count of sexual assault against a third woman. The alleged incidents are said to have occurred between 2021 and 2022 during his…

President Bola Tinubu has honoured Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, with national recognition following their historic fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title.

Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi has been ruled out indefinitely due to what the club has described as a “minor muscle injury in his right leg,” according to a statement released on Sunday. The 38-year-old football icon was forced off the field just 11 minutes into Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup clash against Mexico’s Necaxa, which ended in a penalty shootout win for the MLS side. Despite the early setback, Messi…

Rahaman Ali, younger brother of Muhammad Ali and a former professional boxer, has died at the age of 82, the Muhammad Ali Center announced on Saturday. Rahaman passed away on Friday, 1 August. The cause of death has not been disclosed. Born Rudolph Arnett Clay, Rahaman was just over a year younger than his older brother, the legendary heavyweight champion. The pair grew up together in a modest pink house…

Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr have agreed a deal worth up to £43.7 million for Chelsea forward Joao Felix, marking another high-profile addition to the league and reuniting the Portuguese international with compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo. Felix, 25, has been granted permission to travel to Riyadh to undergo a medical ahead of completing the move. The deal signals the end of the forward’s brief spell with Chelsea, who paid Atletico Madrid…

Bayern Munich have reached an agreement with Liverpool to sign Colombia international Luis Diaz in a deal worth £65.5 million (€75m), including add-ons, bringing to an end weeks of speculation surrounding the 28-year-old’s future. The German champions had an initial offer of £58.6m rejected earlier this month but have now succeeded in prising Diaz away from Anfield, where he has played since January 2022 after signing from FC Porto. The…