Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

An Asian women’s Champions League will be launched next year, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced Sunday, without revealing details of prize money. Preliminary rounds will kick off the competition in August 2024 with a 12-team group stage beginning in October, the AFC announced after a meeting of its women’s football committee in Sydney just hours before the World Cup final. Quarter-finals will be in March 2025 with a final planned for May that year — though the AFC said the dates were “tentative” and the calendar could be adjusted “where necessary”.For the first four editions, 12 sides will compete…

England’s wait to win a first Women’s World Cup title goes on following defeat by Spain in the final on a heartbreaking evening in Sydney. The Lionesses, looking to become the first England senior side since the men’s team in 1966 to win the World Cup, were outplayed by a Spanish side full of flair and creativity. Spain captain Olga Carmona slotted the winner past goalkeeper Mary Earps in the first half, after England’s Lucy Bronze lost possession in midfield. England manager Sarina Wiegman, who has now lost two successive World Cup finals, introduced Lauren James and Chloe Kelly at…

Defending champions Manchester City reminded their title rivals they remain the team to beat by seeing off a determined Newcastle United side that have been touted as possible pretenders to their crown. Julian Alvarez’s brilliant first-half strike proved enough to maintain City’s winning start to the Premier League season against a Magpies team who battled hard but possessed modest attacking threat for much of the match. Phil Foden provided the creative sparkle for City in the absence of Kevin de Bruyne, who faces up to six months out after hamstring surgery this week. The England playmaker set up Alvarez’s goal…

England midfielder Jude Bellingham scored twice as Real Madrid came from behind to maintain their 100% start in La Liga with a victory at Almeria. Bellingham, 20, has now scored three goals in the opening two Spanish top-flight matches since joining Real from Borussia Dortmund this summer. Vinicius Junior chipped in with Real’s third of the night after Bellingham had levelled and put the visitors in front. Sergio Arribas’ early header had given Almeria the lead. The £88.5m and various add-ons that could mean Real end up paying £115m for Bellingham already looks like money well spent. The prodigiously talented former…

Victor Osimhen scored twice as Napoli began the defence of their Serie A title by coming from behind to win at newly-promoted Frosinone. The striker’s league-leading 26 goals last season helped Napoli to a first title since 1990, and he began the new campaign in similarly prolific fashion. Abdou Harroui’s early penalty gave the hosts a shock lead but Matteo Politano levelled from the edge of the box. Osimhen fired Napoli ahead before the break and steered in a second late on. The 24-year-old, who has been linked with several of Europe’s biggest clubs this summer, crashed home a vicious strike…

Mohamed Salah achieved yet another milestone in his Liverpool career as he went past Steven Gerrard’s all-time goals tally for the club. The Egyptian star overtook former captain and club legend Steven Gerrard in the list of most goals scored for Liverpool in all competitions when he scored his 187th goal against Bournemouth on Saturday. Salah initially missed a penalty but eventually managed to find the back of the net from the rebound. Club legend Ian Rush tops the list of most goals scored for the Reds with 346 goals in 660 matches. He is followed by Roger Hunt, Gordon Hodgson and…

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi said he is “lucky” to manage the club after his side delivered another devastating attacking display to cruise past Wolves and make it two wins from two at the start of the Premier League season. A stunning solo goal from Kaoru Mitoma broke the deadlock at Molineux, the Japan international collecting Pervis Estupinan’s pass near the halfway line before sidestepping several half-hearted challenges and beating the onrushing Jose Sa. Wolves had chances to equalise but were made to pay for their profligacy in brutal fashion as the Seagulls scored three times in nine second-half minutes,…

Aleksandar Mitrovic will join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal from Fulham, says manager Marco Silva. The Serbia forward was not part of the Fulham squad for their 3-0 defeat to Brentford on Saturday, having pushed for a move away this summer. The 28-year-old will join Neymar in Al-Hilal’s attack, after the Brazilian moved to Saudi Arabia on Thursday. “He [Mitrovic] is on the way to leave the club. I got information from the club after the match,” said Silva. “Both clubs have got an agreement and now it’s the moment where it is the finish of Mitrovic in our club.” Fulham will…

Summer signing Alexis Mac Allister was sent off in his first home match for Liverpool but the Reds still overpowered Bournemouth in a thrilling Premier League game at Anfield. The Cherries, who had already had a goal disallowed because Jaidon Anthony was offside, scored inside three minutes when the Reds gave away possession and Antoine Semenyo fired sweetly into the bottom corner. Jurgen Klopp’s side eventually got into their stride in a frantic first half and scored twice in an eight-minute period. Luis Diaz got the equaliser when he collected Diogo Jota’s low cross, flicked the ball up, spun and…

Nigeria’s quartet, Dubem Nwachukwu, Patience Okon George, Ezekiel Nathaniel, and Imaobong Nse Uko out of 4x400m mixed relay event at this year’s World Athletics Championships after finishing 7th in Heat 2. Although they ran a season-best of 3:14:38, it however failed to claim even one of the non-automatic qualification spots. Nwachukwu ran an impressive lead leg(1st leg)  from the 9th lane, but when Okon took over Nigeria fell back. Uko who ran anchor(4th leg)  couldn’t improve on the position Nathaniel was on when he handed her the baton. Nigeria finished 12th on the log (out of 16) in the overall…

Manchester United defender Raphael Varane is reportedly being pursued by Al-Ittihad, which would seem him reunite with Karim Benzema. The Saudi Pro League side have been in touch with the player’s entourage over a potential move to the club, which would see him again share the dressing room with former Real Madrid teammate Benzema and compatriot N’Golo Kante. Both Kante and Benzema have engaged with their fellow French player and have tried to convince him to shift base to the Middle East. However, Varane has reportedly turned down their approach as he wants to continue in Europe for at least…

Kosovare Asllani’s stunning second-half strike sealed victory for Sweden as they beat Australia to finish third at the Women’s World Cup. She rifled in a shot from the edge of the area to add to Fridolina Rolfo’s first-half penalty as Sweden won the bronze medal match for the second World Cup in succession. Despite the defeat, this represents co-hosts Australia’s best ever World Cup finish as their efforts in this tournament have captured the hearts of the fans in green and gold but the Matildas were unable to end on a high. Rolfo’s penalty gave Peter Gerhardsson’s side the lead…