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Category: Sports

Poland 2026: Falconets to Battle Senegal at MKO Abiola Sports Complex, Abeokuta

Fola Badmus02 mins

The Confederation of African Football has approved a request by the Nigeria Football Federation for a change of venue of the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup third round, first leg qualifying match between Nigeria and Senegal, scheduled for Saturday, 7th February 2026.   NFF’s Director of Competitions, Ruth David, confirmed that the match will now be played at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.   According to her, the NFF requested for a change of venue as a result of the deteriorating state of the playing pitch of the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan that had earlier been approved for the match, and which actually hosted the Falconets’ second round, second leg clash with the Rwanda U20 girls in September last year.   In view of this development, the two-time FIFA World silver-medallists, who had been training in Ibadan ahead of the match, are expected to relocate to Abeokuta in a few days, in order to familiarize themselves with the turf of the MKO Abiola Sports Complex.   The Falconets defeated their Rwandan counterparts 5-0 on aggregate to qualify for the third round of the African series of the qualification campaign. The winner between Nigeria and Senegal in this third round will reach the last round of the series, where they will take on the winner of the fixture between Guinea Bissau and Malawi, for a place at the final tournament scheduled for 5-27 September 2026 in Poland.

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UCL: Real Madrid to Play Benfica, PSG Faces Monaco in Play-Offs

Fola Badmus04 mins

Real Madrid were handed a quick rematch with Jose Mourinho’s Benfica in the draw for the Champions League play-off round on Friday, while reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain will face domestic rivals Monaco. Benfica beats Real 4-2 in their final game of the league phase on Wednesday, with a 98th-minute goal by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin proving decisive in allowing the Portuguese side to snatch the last play-off spot ahead of Marseille, who were eliminated altogether. The defeat also nudged Madrid out of the top eight places in the league standings, which give direct access to the last 16, forcing them into this extra round. Benfica staged a remarkable recovery to take a play-off place — they finished 24th in the 36-team league phase, the last qualifying spot — by winning three of their last four matches after losing their opening four games. Mourinho, 63, returned to the Lisbon giants for a second spell as coach in September. He was in charge of Real from 2010 to 2013 and won one La Liga title and one Copa del Rey while also taking them to the Champions League semi-finals in each of his three campaigns. The clubs played each other in the 1962 European Cup final, with Benfica winning 5-3 to claim the last of their two titles to date. PSG slipped out of the top eight after winning only one of their last five outings in the league phase and finishing in 11th place. They will go to Monaco for the first leg and will be wary of the principality side who beat them there in Ligue 1 in November. However, 2004 Champions League finalists Monaco have been in poor form, with just one win in six games since the turn of the year. They are 10th in Ligue 1, 21 points behind leaders PSG. However, a 0-0 draw with Juventus on Wednesday allowed them to secure a play-off place in Europe. PSG also beats French opposition in the play-off round last season, hammering Brest 10-0 on aggregate before going on to lift the trophy for the first time in their history. Elsewhere, Newcastle United will be strong favourites against surprise packages Qarabag of Azerbaijan, with the first leg to come in Baku. Bodo/Glimt, Norwegian champions in four of the last six years, were also surprise qualifiers for this stage and have been rewarded with a tie against last season’s runners-up Inter Milan. Juventus will take on Galatasaray, while Atletico Madrid face Club Brugge. Borussia Dortmund play Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen were drawn against Olympiacos. The two-legged play-off ties will take place in February, with the winners advancing to the last 16 in March.

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Dapo Anunlopo Joins Wolves

Fola Badmus03 mins

Wolves has secured the signing of exciting young forward Dapo Anunlopo from League Two side Bromley. The 17-year-old, who will link up with the academy’s under-18 side, arrives at Compton Park as a highly rated attacking player after just six months with the London club. Having grown up in Ireland, Anunlopo joined Bromley from Dundalk and caught the eye of the Wolves recruitment team following impressive performances in both the Premier League Cup and FA Youth Cup, including a goal in the latter against Ipswich Town this month. Head of Academy Recruitment Harry Hooman spoke about the attributes that attracted the club: “Dapo hasn’t been at Bromley long, having moved over from Ireland, but he has really impressed us in the first half of the season and we have been monitoring his progress over the last few months. We really like what we see and believe he has huge potential. “He is a quick, direct and aggressive forward who can operate across the front line. We are always looking at clubs lower down the pyramid for players who are hungry to improve and develop. What stands out with Dapo is his athleticism and versatility, but also his desire to make things happen – we love how he carries the ball. He has really bought into our approach here at Wolves and we’re very excited to be working with him.” Wolves thanked Bromley for their assistance and co-operation during the transfer and wished them the very best for the remainder of the season.

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Anthony Joshua Opens Up on Loss of Friends in Car Crash

Fola Badmus05 mins

Anthony Joshua has opened up on the loss of two close friends as he issued a tearful message to the fans addressing the fatal car crash in Nigeria. The boxing world united to pay tribute to Joshua’s former teammates Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele after both were killed in the crash near Lagos on 29 December. ‘AJ’, the former world heavyweight champion, appeared in agony as he was hauled out of the vehicle but was only left with minor injuries and has since returned to the gym in a bid to revisit his craft. Joshua issued an initial statement paying tribute to Ghami and Ayodele but has now taken to Instagram to speak more vulnerably to his fanbase. “Not only did their parents, their uncles, their cousins their friends, and myself lose two great men. We lost people we dearly care about and have been major players in all of our lives,” Joshua said. “It’s tough, it’s really tough. “I’m not going to sit here and show all of my emotions. I know in today’s day and age, it’s easy to micro-analyse as people and pass judgement but I know what I feel, and that’s what matters to me. “I know what my duty is. They’re my brothers, they’re my friends, first and foremost. And then we became business partners. We became hustlers. We became lieutenants, we became generals. We became everything. We became housemates who were living together.” It was the third post from Joshua since the accident, having first posted a shot of himself alongside family members, with a portrait shot of Ghami, before posting a touching written tribute. As he staved off tears, Joshua added: “It is a shame, it’s a shame. So there’s that side of things. One day my time will come and I’m not scared at all. It’s actually comforting knowing I’ve got two brothers on the other side. “I’ve lost people before but I don’t think I’ve lost people like that. My left and my right. Throughout this like journey that I’ve been on, they’ve been (here), it’s not easy. “I’m the big guy, but I was walking with giants that kept me protected, kept me shielded. But the mission must go on. I understand my duty. I understand what they wanted to do for their families. “So what my goal is, it’s to continue to help them achieve their goals, even though they may not be here in physical. When I pray at night, when I pray in the morning, I know spiritually they’re gonna aid me through because it’s not just physical strength that will get me through, it’s going to take a lot of strength from the higher power. “I’m going to definitely be saying my prayers and I’m gonna help them fulfil their dreams for their families. Not only me, there’s a whole team of us, the the whole brotherhood, the whole sisterhood that will be helping fulfil their legacy and fulfil their dreams.” Joshua also made sure to thank all those who had offered their support and love across social media, saying it was “all acknowledged”.

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Alcaraz Outclasses Zverev in Australian Open Semi-final

Fola Badmus06 mins

Carlos Alcaraz fought through a leg issue to deliver a 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (3-7) 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 win over Alexander Zverev and reach his first Australian Open final, with the Spaniard somehow managing to keep his career Grand Slam bid alive. The 22-year-old was barely able to move after experiencing a problem midway through the third set, which he lost in a tie-break, and he relied on his sublime ball-striking and placement to land winners and prolong the contest. Alcaraz continued to battle away, seeing off Zverev in the decider and will aim to recover for a meeting with either Novak Djokovic or Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s title clash, where a victory will see him complete his set of majors. After eight straight holds of serve on a sunbathed Rod Laver Arena, Alcaraz was gifted the opening break when Zverev produced a double fault, and the Spaniard won the next game to love and pocketed the opening set. Zverev, who appeared unhappy with the tension in his racket strings at the end of the opening stanza, absorbed more pressure to hold in a 10-minute first game of the next and then built up a 5-2 lead as Alcaraz conceded several loose points. But a backhand bullet helped Alcaraz (above) break back in the ninth game, and the world number one went level in the next, before he dialled up the intensity in the tie-break to double his lead. The six-times major winner then battled to 4-4 in the third set before starting to feel troubled by his right thigh. Switching between big hitting and drop shots, Alcaraz went up 5-4 before taking a medical timeout, leaving a fuming Zverev to remonstrate with the supervisor that his opponent should not be allowed to receive treatment for cramp under the rules, though it was unclear what the leg issue was. Alcaraz soldiered on, holding to go up 6-5 and taking a big swig of pickle juice before giving it his all in the ensuing tie-break, but Zverev showed no mercy and pulled back a set. With his movement slowly improving, Alcaraz pumped his fists to roaring applause after crucial holds in the fourth set to force another tie-break, where Zverev stepped up his serving game to ensure a deciding fifth set. Third seed Zverev broke for an early lead but Alcaraz began to look like his usual self again as he chased down a drop shot at the net and pulled off a stunning winner at full stretch in the sixth game to give his fans hope. Alcaraz finally broke in the 10th game as Rod Laver Arena shook, before sealing an epic win in the first five-set match on centre court this year. On just how he found a way to win, Alcaraz said: “Believing all the time. “I always say that you have to believe in yourself no matter what you’re struggling, no matter anything. I was struggling in the middle of the third set. Physically, it was one of the most demanding matches that I have ever played in my short career. “But I’ve been in these kind of situations, in these kind matches, so I knew what I had to do. I had to put my heart into the match. I did it, I fought until the last ball. Extremely proud about myself, about the way that I fought and came back during the fifth set. “I’m just really happy to have the chance to play my first final in Melbourne. It was something I was chasing a lot.”

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Atalanta Offers Fenerbache €40m Ademola Lookman

Fola Badmus02 mins

Multiple Italian sources claimed Atalanta are ready to listen to a new Fenerbahce offer for Ademola Lookman, as €40m could be enough. Director of sport Devin Ozek is said to be in Italy for negotiations. The Nigeria international was away for the last month at the Africa Cup of Nations, helping his side secure third place in the tournament. He had his first start for the club of 2026 in last night’s 1-0 Champions League defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise, and the time has come to discuss his future. According to both Sportmediaset and Sportitalia in Italy, Fenerbahce have stepped up with a new proposal that is worth €9m per season wages for Lookman. Atalanta too are ready to listen to offers after picking up Giacomo Raspadori from Atletico Madrid, meaning he is no longer required. His contract only runs to June 2027, so he could be signed on loan with obligation to buy at the end of the season for a total package of circa €40m. That is €5m for the six-month loan, plus the obligation to buy for a further €35m. Lookman had pushed hard to join Inter last summer, but the asking price then was at least €50m.

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NFF, Fulham Mourn Chukwueze’s Mother Demise

Fola Badmus02 mins

Nigeria football is in mourning, once more, following news of the death of Mrs Sarah Chukwueze, the mother of Super Eagles’ ace forward, Samuel Chukwueze, in the early hours of Thursday, 29th January 2026.   The announcement of Mrs Sarah Chukwueze’s passing was made by Samuel’s sister, Princess Chukwueze, and his brother, David, on their respective social media platforms in the morning of Thursday, 29th January 2026, stating that the matriarch of the family had died after a brief illness.   A distraught General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said: “We are aware that Mrs Sarah Chukwueze was a vital and supportive presence in the lives of her children, including our international player, Samuel Chukwueze. Samuel has always, at every opportunity, acknowledged his mother’s influence on his professional development. We are sad at her departure, coming only a few days after we had to mourn the sudden passing of the father of Super Eagles’ captain, Wilfred Ndidi.   “We pray that God will grant her eternal rest, and also grant those she has left behind, including Samuel and his siblings, the fortitude to bear the big loss.”   English Premier League side, Fulham Football Club has also sent condolence message to the bereaved forward.   “We are all with you, Chukwu. Sending you and your family our deepest condolences,” Fulham wrote on its official Twitter now X handle.

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Raheem Sterling Leaves Chelsea By Mutual Consent

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Raheem Sterling left Chelsea by mutual consent on Wednesday, bringing a premature end to his time at the Premier League club three-and-a-half years after a $56.5 million move that failed to live up to expectations. Sterling, whose contract was due to expire in 2027, joined from Manchester City in 2022 as a serial title-winner but ended up an outcast – last playing for the club in May 2024. “We thank Raheem for the contribution he made while a Chelsea player and wish him well for the next stage in his career,” Chelsea said in a brief statement. The 31-year-old Sterling won 10 major trophies with City, including five Premier League titles. He was expected to help lead Chelsea to trophies but made only 45 league starts. He scored 14 goals and has not been involved for Chelsea this term. Sterling spent last season on loan at Arsenal but scored only one goal for Mikel Arteta’s team before returning to Stamford Bridge at the end of the campaign. Sterling began his career at Queens Park Rangers and went on to join Liverpool before a move to City in 2015. He was also part of England’s squad that both reached the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup and came runner-up in the European Championship in 2021.

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