Villarreal Confirms Swoop for Nigerian-Born Minnesota striker

Villarreal coach Marcelino has confirmed they’re signing Minnesota United striker Tani Oluwaseyi. The Nigerian-born Canada international is moving to Villarreal for €8m. He has settled on personal terms over a five-year contract to 2030. The Minnesota forward arrives after scoring 10 goals in his last 24 matches. Key to the deal has been Taj Buchanan, who has talked up Villarreal to his Canada teammate Oluwaseyi. “We lost a key player like (Everton striker Thierno) Barry, and we were looking for a player with similar abilities,” said Marcelino. “They’re different players, but he can give us depth, speed, and finishing. He comes from a smaller but competitive league. Knowing Tajon will help him adapt.”

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Saka Out for ‘Couple of Weeks’

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says it is a “concern” Bukayo Saka has suffered two hamstring injuries in eight months. The winger missed three-and-a-half months of last season following surgery on his right hamstring in December. Saka has now been sidelined for “a couple of weeks” with another problem – this time in his left leg – during his side’s win against Leeds on Saturday. Arteta confirmed the 23-year-old will not require surgery as it is “not as bad as the previous one”. “He felt something, so he will be out for a couple of weeks,” said the Gunners boss on Friday. “But it is obviously a concern, a big one, especially when we talk about a sprinter and a player that gets into that zone very often in a football match, who needs that burst, that change of rhythm of pace to be as threatening as possible.” On Thursday, the club confirmed Germany forward Kai Havertz will undergo knee surgery, but will not be out for a significant amount of time. Arteta said it was “very unfortunate” for Havertz, but surgery was “the right thing to do”. “The doctors advised and he was very convinced at the end that it was the quickest and the best way to resolve that issue,” he explained. Arsenal’s injury troubles mean they are currently without Saka, Havertz, midfielders Martin Odegaard and Christian Norgaard, defender Ben White and forward Gabriel Jesus. The Gunners, who have finished runners-up in each of the past three Premier League seasons, visit defending champions Liverpool on Sunday (4:30pm), with both sides having started the new campaign with successive wins.

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Besiktas Part Ways With Ole Gunnar Solskjær

Besiktas have parted ways with Ole Gunnar Solskjær following their defeat by Swiss side Lausanne in the Conference League play-offs on Thursday night. The former Manchester United player and manager took charge of the Turkish club in January and steered them to a fourth place finished last season. In a shock statement following the game, the club said “Our contract with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær has been terminated following a decision made at a board meeting. “Following the meeting, our chairman, Serdal Adalı, thanked Solskjaer for his services to date.” Besiktas were knocked out of the Europa League qualifiers by Shakhtar Donetsk. Besiktas played St Patrick’s Athletic in their third round tie and were whilst they took a 4-1 lead in the first leg Stephen Kenny’s side gave them a scare in the second leg going 2-0 up before Besiktas found their feet and claimed the win 7-3 on aggregate. Former Borussia Dortmund player and manager Nuri Sahin has been linked with the role.

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Chelle Picks Ekong, Osimhen, 21 Others For 2026 W/Cup Qualifiers

Captain William Ekong, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Raphael Onyedika, and forwards Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen have been included in Nigeria’s final list of 23 players for next month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and South Africa. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali also makes the final cut, just as defenders Calvin Bassey, Olaoluwa Aina and Bright Osayi-Samuel, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Frank Onyeka, and forwards Simon Moses, Samuel Chukwueze and Cyriel Dessers. Greece-based goalie Adeleye Adebayo returns to the group, alongside Unity Cup sensations Felix Agu and Benjamin Fredericks, and forwards Christantus Uche and Tolu Arokodare, who both impressed in the friendly with Russia in Moscow on 6th June this year. The Super Eagles confront the Amavubi of Rwanda in a Matchday 7 encounter at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Saturday, 6th September before flying to Bloemfontein to take on South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in a Matchday 8 fixture on Tuesday, 9th September. FINAL LIST OF 23 SUPER EAGLES FOR RWANDA & SOUTH AFRICA Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece) Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC, Belgium) Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Christantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain) Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium)

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Mourinho sacked by Fenerbahce after Champions League exit

Jose Mourinho Sacked by Fenerbahçe Following Champions League Exit

Fenerbahçe have parted ways with head coach José Mourinho, just over a year after his high-profile arrival in Istanbul, the Turkish club confirmed on Friday. The dismissal comes two days after the team’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League playoff round by Portuguese side Benfica. In an official statement, the club said: “We have parted ways with José Mourinho, who served as head coach of our professional A team since the 2024–2025 season. We thank him for his efforts for our team and wish him success in his future career.” Mourinho, 62, joined Fenerbahçe in June 2024 amid great fanfare, bringing with him a résumé that includes stints at Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Roma. However, his tenure in Turkey fell short of expectations. He guided the Yellow Canaries to a second-place finish in the Süper Lig last season, behind arch-rivals Galatasaray, extending the club’s long-running title drought. His time at the club was also marked by controversy and disciplinary issues. In April, Mourinho made headlines after grabbing the face of Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk in a heated Turkish Cup quarterfinal clash. He also faced a fine for post-match comments criticizing officiating in another fiery derby, with authorities deeming his remarks “contrary to sporting ethics.” Mourinho’s final game in charge was Tuesday’s defeat to Benfica, ending the club’s hopes of returning to the Champions League group stage. The club has not yet announced a successor.

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2026 WAFCON: Super Falcons to Go Hard on She-Cheetahs, as Lionesses Face Tough Task

The race for tickets to next year’s Women Africa Cup of Nations, also to be staged in Morocco just as the last two editions, will be concluded in October with Cup holders and 10-time winners Nigeria up against the She-Cheetahs of Benin Republic, and Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses up against a mountain. The Lionesses, runners-up in 2014 in Namibia and in 2016 when Cameroon hosted (both times beaten by Nigeria in the final), must negotiate a tricky fixture against Algeria’s Lady Fennecs in the final qualifying fixture set for 20th – 28th October. Algeria is noted as a rising power in women’s football in the continent, as the Lady Fennecs finished in second place behind eventual winners Nigeria in their group in Morocco in July this year. They defeated Botswana by a lone goal, and drew 0-0 with both Tunisia and Nigeria to reach the quarter-finals. They took Ghana’s Black Queens to the rubber in their quarter-final clash before eventually bowing out 2-4 after a penalty shootout. The Indomitable Lionesses also failed to qualify for this year’s finals staged in Morocco, and lost 0-2 to Nigeria in a friendly match played in Abeokuta weeks before the finals. Benin Republic will host the first leg against Justine Madugu’s Falcons, before Nigeria play host to the return leg. Both matches have to be concluded within the window of 20th – 28th October. To reach the final round of the qualification series, Benin Republic defeated Sierra Leone’s senior women’s team 5-2 on aggregate, winning 2-1 in Togo and 3-1 in Monrovia, as both teams had to play their home matches on away ground due to absence of any CAF-approved match venue in both countries. Senegal’s Lionesses, who reached the quarter-finals in Morocco last month before losing to South Africa on penalties after 0-0 in regulation and extra time, face a daunting task against Cote d’Ivoire senior girls in the final round. The winners of 11 final qualifying fixtures will join hosts Morocco in the final competition that has been scheduled for March 2026, and from where all four semi-finalists will pick tickets to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Brazil. Two additional slots are available for Africa through a play-off tournament, as was the case before the 2023 finals in Australia and New Zealand. Just as was the case in Down Under, the final competition in Brazil (set for 24 June – 25 July 2027) will have 32 teams. However, world football-ruling body FIFA has increased the numbers of teams for the final competition to 48, starting with the 11th edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2031, to be co-hosted by Mexico and the United States of America. 2026 WOMEN AFCON FINAL ROUND FIXTURES Angola Vs Malawi DR Congo Vs South Africa Tanzania Vs Ethiopia Namibia Vs Zambia Burkina Faso Vs Togo Algeria Vs Cameroon Egypt Vs Ghana Kenya Vs Gambia Benin Republic Vs Nigeria Cape Verde Vs Mali Senegal Vs Cote d’Ivoire

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PSG to Face Barca in Champions League, Real Madrid Draw Man City & Liverpool

Liverpool and Manchester City will both come up against Real Madrid in this season’s Champions League, while title-holders Paris Saint-Germain were handed a tough list of opponents in Thursday’s draw, including Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Xabi Alonso’s Real will play City at home and take on Premier League champions Liverpool at Anfield in what will be two of the standout fixtures of the league phase. Arne Slot’s Liverpool, who finished first in the league phase last season only to be eliminated by PSG in the last 16, will also play Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven and Qarabag of Azerbaijan at home. In addition, they must go to Inter Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille and Turkish champions Galatasaray. City, who won the Champions League in 2023, will welcome Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Italian champions Napoli and Galatasaray to the Etihad Stadium. As well as Real, they will also visit Villarreal, Monaco and Norwegian newcomers Bodo/Glimt. PSG will entertain Bayern and go to Barcelona, while the French club also have home fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United. Luis Enrique’s team went on to win the Champions League last season but only after struggling amid some difficult games in the league phase, in which they finished 15th. They have no obviously straightforward fixtures this time, as they also face Atalanta at home, as well as Leverkusen, Sporting CP and Athletic Club away. What is the Champions League format?Every team now plays eight games against eight different opponents in the new format of Europe’s elite club competition, which was introduced last season. All 36 clubs are pooled together into one league rather than split into groups. The top eight teams advance to the last 16, while those finishing between ninth and 24th go into the knockout round play-offs. The bottom 12 teams are eliminated. Other fixtures to look out for will include Barcelona visiting both Chelsea and Newcastle, while Arsenal entertain Bayern and Atletico and must also go to Inter Milan and to Bilbao. Tournament newcomers Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan, who ousted Celtic on penalties in the play-off round, will host Real and travel to London to play Arsenal. Minnows Pafos of Cyprus will visit Chelsea and face Bayern at home. UEFA is not expected to announce specific fixture dates until Saturday, but the first round of games will take place across three days from September 16th to 18th. The eighth and final matchday is scheduled for January 28th. This season’s Champions League final will take place in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, on May 30th next year, with UEFA announcing on Thursday that the game will kick off at 18:00 local time rather than the usual 21:00. Who qualified for the Champions League?Below is the full list of 36 teams that qualified for the league phase, arranged in the Pots that were used in the draw: Pot 1: PSG, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona. Pot 2: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Atalanta, Villarreal, Juventus, Eintracht Frankfurt, Club Brugge. Pot 3: Tottenham Hotspur, PSV Eindhoven, Ajax, Napoli, Sporting CP, Olympiacos, Slavia Prague, Bodo/Glimt, Marseille. Pot 4: FC Copenhagen, Monaco, Galatasaray, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, Qarabag, Athletic Club, Newcastle, Pafos, Kairat Almaty.

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