By Boluwatife Kehinde Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter “Dodo Mayana” Rufai, was laid to rest on Friday at the Ikoyi Cemetery. Rufai, who died on Thursday, 3 July, at the age of 61 after a brief illness in a Lagos hospital, was honoured by family, colleagues and friends who gathered for his funeral. The ceremony, however, drew criticism towards the Federal and Lagos State Governments, as well as the Nigerian…

London, Friday – Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has firmly dismissed speculation regarding Andrey Santos’ potential departure from the club, expressing his satisfaction with the young midfielder’s presence at Stamford Bridge. In a statement shared by football journalist Fabrizio Romano on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, Maresca made clear that Santos remains an important figure in his plans for the upcoming season. “I’m very happy with Andrey and very happy with…

Liverpool legend and former England international, Steven Gerrard, has revealed his top three midfielders in the world at the moment, highlighting players who have consistently dominated the centre of the pitch for both club and country. Gerrard, who is widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders of his generation, made the selections during a quickfire interview session with ESPN, where he was asked to name his current top three…

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…