The National Sports Commission (NSC) has indicated that Bayelsa State is well-equipped to host the 2028 National Sports Festival (NSF). The NSC Director-General, Bukola Olapade, conveyed this during a visit to Yenagoa, where his delegation inspected the state’s sports and security infrastructure. Olapade, who led a team of sports experts, including Chief Solomon Ogba and Olympian Yusuf Alli, expressed his confidence in Bayelsa’s bid after assessing various facilities, such as…

Barcelona have successfully registered Marcus Rashford with LaLiga, clearing him to feature in their opening fixture against Mallorca on Saturday. The Spanish champions confirmed the England international’s inclusion in the matchday squad after resolving registration issues that had cast doubt on his availability. Manager Hansi Flick admitted earlier on Friday that he was concerned about the uncertainty surrounding Rashford’s status. However, late deals concluded by the club ensured the necessary…

Tottenham Hotspur have opened discussions with Manchester City over a potential move for Brazil winger Savinho, as Thomas Frank seeks to bolster his attacking options ahead of the new Premier League campaign. The 21-year-old, who has scored one goal in 13 appearances for the Brazil national team, is seen as a player with significant upside. Talks between the two clubs have taken place in recent days, although negotiations are still…

Bournemouth are on the verge of completing the signing of French centre-back Bafodé Diakité from Lille in a deal worth up to £34.6m, as Andoni Iraola’s side continues a major defensive rebuild ahead of the new Premier League season. The 24-year-old, who has represented France at youth level, will cost an initial £30.3m with a further £4.3m payable in performance-related add-ons. Once finalised, the move will make him the Cherries’…

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.