Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has revealed that a pivotal phone call from the late coach Stephen Keshi and the opportunity to play international football at a young age were the key factors in his decision to represent Nigeria over the Netherlands, the country of his birth. In a recent interview on the Sports Afterparty Podcast, Troost-Ekong, now 30, explained that the choice between playing for the Dutch national team…

Steph Curry stole the spotlight once again as he led the Golden State Warriors to a 120-117 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Cup, scoring an impressive 37 points, including the Warriors’ final 12. His late-game performance helped secure a hard-fought win and highlighted his continued stellar form at the start of the season. Klay Thompson, returning to the Chase Center as a Maverick after 13 seasons with…

Following violent incidents after last Thursday’s Europa League match between Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax, Dutch authorities arrested five more individuals on Monday, bringing the total number of suspects detained to 68. The men, aged 18 to 37, were charged with “public violence against persons” amid escalating unrest. The recent arrests follow initial violence where Maccabi supporters were reportedly targeted in “hit-and-run” attacks by youths on scooters, leaving…

The integrity of English football’s officiating system is under fire after a leaked video allegedly captures Premier League referee David Coote using profane language about Liverpool and former manager Jurgen Klopp. The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), which governs match officials in English football, has suspended Coote pending an investigation. The Football Association (FA) has also launched its own probe. The video, widely circulated on social media, has not…

Howard Webb, the chief of English football’s refereeing body (PGMOL), has publicly acknowledged that West Ham’s controversial penalty during their 2-1 win over Manchester United on October 27 was an error by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). The decision, which contributed to Erik ten Hag’s dismissal as United’s manager the following day, has sparked fresh debates over VAR’s role in the Premier League. During the match, referee David Coote initially…

The investigation into a Premier League footballer, referred to as *Player X*, has intensified following accusations of sexual misconduct from multiple women. Despite allegations from four women and police questioning on three separate occasions, *Player X* has continued playing for his club, prompting scrutiny of the Football Association (FA) and Premier League’s handling of such cases. *Player X* was initially arrested in July 2022 on suspicion of rape following a…

Cristiano Ronaldo was honored earlier this week with the Quina de Platino award from the Portuguese Football Federation for his 200 international caps. During his acceptance speech, he spoke about his journey with the national team, his goals for the future, and the value of playing for one’s country. Ronaldo spoke about how his goals for the national team have evolved over time. He started with the dream of making…

French Footballer Wissam Ben Yedder was given a two-year suspended prison sentence for sexual assault. The sentence was handed down on Tuesday following his trial last month in Nice, France. Ben Yedder’s lawyers confirmed the sentence to the Associated Press and stated that he plans to appeal the ruling. The prosecution had requested a two-and-a-half year sentence, with 18 months suspended. In addition to the suspended sentence, Ben Yedder was…

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has withdrawn from the Norway squad for upcoming Nations League fixtures against Slovenia and Kazakhstan. Despite making his first start since August in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday, Odegaard has decided to return to London to continue his rehabilitation. Odegaard flew to Oslo to join the Norway squad but ultimately concluded, after discussions with the medical staff, that his condition was not sufficient to…

Ecuadorian international footballer Marco Angulo has tragically passed away at the age of 22, succumbing to injuries sustained in a car crash a month prior. The Liga de Quito midfielder, who was on loan from FC Cincinnati, was involved in a serious accident on October 7th on the Ruminahui highway in southeastern Quito. Angulo was traveling with four other individuals when their vehicle collided with a 50-tonne metal structure. Following…

A Turkish court has sentenced former Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca to 43 months in prison for punching referee Umut Meler following a Turkish Super Lig match in December 2023. Koca was found guilty of intentionally causing injury, threatening the referee, and violating Turkey’s law on preventing violence in sports. The incident occurred after a 1-1 draw between Ankaragucu and Rizespor on December 11, 2023. Koca, accompanied by several others, stormed…

BBC broadcaster and former football star Gary Lineker is expected to step down as the host of *Match of the Day*, the iconic BBC football highlights show, at the end of this Premier League season in May 2025. According to reports, the BBC is preparing to announce his departure officially on Tuesday. This exit will mark the end of an era for the 63-year-old Lineker, who has hosted *Match of…