Nigeria General Sport news

• Slaven Bilic returns as Croatia coach

  13-07-2026 16:32 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Slaven Bilic will return as head coach of Croatia, the national football federation announced Monday, replacing Zlatko Dalic, who resigned after the country’s World Cup exit.Dalic stepped down last week after a tenure that included a runner-up finish at the 2018 World Cup. Croatia failed to move into the last 16 of this year’s World Cup, losing 2-1 to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.Former Croatian international defender Bilic previously coached Croatia between 2006 and 2012.The
  
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• Mbappe eclipses Messi as World Cup’s greatest-ever goalscorer

  19-07-2026 07:52 via thesun.ng
  
  Kylian Mbappe etched his name deeper into football history on Saturday after overtaking Lionel Messi to become the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history.
  The France captain reached the landmark during his side’s dramatic 6-4 defeat to England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place play-off, scoring twice to raise his career World Cup tally to 22 goals.
  Mbappe now sits alone at the summit of the competition’s all-time scoring chart, moving one goal ahead of Messi, who has 21 an
  
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• WAFCON 2026: Dlamini Confident South Africa Can Dethrone Super Falcons

  19-07-2026 07:49 via completesports.com
  
  Banyana Banyana goalkeeper Andile Dlamini is banking on experience to dethrone the Super Falcons of Nigeria, Completesports.com. Desiree Ellis’ side surrendered their continental crown to Nigeria at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. South Africa suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Super Falcons in the semi-final before finishing fourth after losing to Ghana’s Black [...]
  The post WAFCON 2026: Dlamini Confident South Africa Can Dethrone Super Falcons appeared first on Complete Sp
  
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• Watford Accept Aris Bid For Dele-Bashiru

  19-07-2026 07:02 via completesports.com
  
  Greek Super League club Aris are on the verge of completing the signing of Watford midfielder Tom Dele-Bashiru. The two clubs have reportedly reached an agreement on a transfer fee of £425,000 for the 26-year-old, paving the way for his move to Greece. Dele-Bashiru is expected to travel to Greece on Sunday before undergoing a [...]
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• Wenger: World Cup 2026 Hydration Breaks Didn’t Affect Games

  19-07-2026 06:50 via completesports.com
  
  Arsène Wenger has disclosed that the mandatory three-minute hydration breaks introduced at the FIFAWorld Cup 2026 have split opinions and will be reviewed by FIFA post-tournament. While some coaches praised the breaks for player welfare, critics argue they disrupt match momentum and serve as unscripted commercial slots for broadcasters. Read Also:Saka Scores Hat-trick As England [...]
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• Akpeyi Backs Nwabali To Make Eagles Return

  19-07-2026 06:37 via completesports.com
  
  Former Nigerian international Daniel Akpeyi has backed Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali for a recall to the national team following his return to competitive club football. Recall that Nwabali recently finalized a return to South African side Chippa United after about five months without competitive club football. Nwabali Rejoins Chippa United Akpeyi expressed that regaining [...]
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• Spain’s final training session cancelled due to thunderstorms

  19-07-2026 05:05 via thesun.ng
  
  Spain’s final training session before ​Sunday’s World Cup final against Argentina ‌has been cancelled due to thunderstorms, organisers FIFA said on Saturday.
  World ​soccer’s governing body added that ​there would not be another time slot for the team ​to train, but did not ​say whether Argentina’s session, scheduled for 1130 local time (1530 GMT), would go ahead ​as planned.
  “The Spanish national ​team’s training
  
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• Spain vs. Argentina: Head-to-head record and past meetings

  19-07-2026 05:05 via thesun.ng
  
  Either Spain or Argentina will complete a tremendous international and continental double on Sunday evening, when the two countries go head-to-head in the World Cup 2026 final at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
  The global showpiece pits together the reigning European champions and Copa America winners, the latter of whom are also attempting to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to defend a men’s World Cup title.
  Spain deservedly beat France 2-0 in the semi-finals to reach t
  
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• Messi says “it’s incredible how life works”

  19-07-2026 05:04 via thesun.ng
  
  •Comments on surreal Yamal baby
  Lionel Messi has commented on the famous Lamine Yamal baby picture ahead of the World Cup final.
  Messi was photographed bathing a five-month-old Yamal for a UNICEF campaign in 2007, an image that has now gone viral since his rise in the Barcelona squad and the world stage.The picture came to people’s attention in 2024, when Yamal’s dad posted them on social media ahead of the European Championship final between England and Spain.Now, as fans prepa
  
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• Spain, Argentina prepare for World Cup final

  19-07-2026 05:02 via thesun.ng
  
  Spain and Argentina prepared to do battle in Sunday’s World Cup final in New Jersey as organizers said they were keeping a close eye on smoke from wildfires in Canada.
  Lionel Messi’s Argentina are bidding to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups, while Spain are trying to win a second title after their maiden victory in 2010.
  Organizers said they were “monitoring closely” the smoke that has choked skies over large areas of the United St
  
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• Martinez: World Cup final makes me emotional

  19-07-2026 05:01 via thesun.ng
  
  Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez said Friday that thinking about his team’s success in recent years sometimes brings him to tears as they attempt to retain the World Cup trophy in the final against Spain.
  “I am focused only on winning. The whole team has improved so much and this is something we have spent years building,” Aston Villa’s Martinez told reporters in New York City ahead of Sunday’s final at the MetLife Stadium.
  Argentina won the World Cup in 2022
  
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• Spain ready for physical battle against Argentina -Rodri

  19-07-2026 04:59 via thesun.ng
  
  Spain captain Rodri is bracing for a “physical” battle with reigning champions Argentina when the two sides collide in the World Cup final on Sunday.
  Rodri told a packed press conference in Manhattan that Spain will aim to ignore any possible “provocations” by their South American opponents and instead concentrate on imposing Spain’s gameplan.
  Rodri, the 2024 Ballon D’Or winner who has excelled at the heart of Spain’s midfield during the World Cup, said
  
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• Osimhen’ll destroy Gala with anger issue, Turkish journalist reveals

  19-07-2026 04:58 via thesun.ng
  
  Turkish sports journalist Bülent Timurlenk has argued that Victor Osimhen’s temperament makes him unsuitable to captain Galatasaray, despite acknowledging that the Nigeria international deserves the honour based on his performances.
  The Turkish champions are set to appoint a new captain for the upcoming season following the departure of Argentine striker Mauro Icardi, with Osimhen among the leading candidates for the role.
  Turkiye international centre-back Abdülkerim Bardakcı
  
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• London Diamond League: Ajayi equals Nigerian record again

  19-07-2026 04:57 via thesun.ng
  
  • Secures consecutive Diamond League wins
  Nigerian sprint star Kayinsola Ajayi continued his impressive run of form by claiming victory in the men’s 100 metres at the London Diamond League on Saturday, BSNSports.com.ng reports.
  Ajayi crossed the finish line in 9.84 seconds, equalling the Nigerian national record for the third time this season.
  The performance earned him a second consecutive Diamond League title as he outclassed a world-class field of sprinters. The latest victory furt
  
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• 1xCup 2026: 100 clubs to compete for N20m prize, starts July 23

  19-07-2026 04:54 via thesun.ng
  
  The organisers of Nigeria’s premier grassroots football competition, 1xCup, have unveiled ambitious plans for the 2026 edition, with 100 grassroots clubs set to compete for a ₦20 million prize package in what promises to be the tournament’s biggest and most professionally organised edition since its launch.
  Beyond the prize money, organisers say the competition has been designed to strengthen the pathway from grassroots to professional football through expanded scouting opportu
  
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• Antonelli takes Belgium pole from Verstappen

  19-07-2026 04:53 via thesun.ng
  
  Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli took a scintillating pole position at the Belgian Grand Prix, leaving team-mate and title rival George Russell trailing in fourth, more than 0.5 seconds adrift.
  The Italian, who leads the championship from Russell by 25 points, beat Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.317secs, even though the four-time champion had the help of a tow from team-mate Isack Hadjar.
  McLaren’s Lando Norris was an impressive third, 0.440secs back, despite bailing on his final lap,
  
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• Onuachu now worth €30m

  19-07-2026 04:51 via thesun.ng
  
  Trabzonspor have revealed how much they want for striker Paul Onuachu.
  Besiktas have joined local rivals Fenerbache in the chase for the giant Super Eagles striker.
  While Beşiktaş are observing the situation and have not yet made a proposal, Trabzonspor have rejected two successive offers from Fenerbahçe.
  It is reported that Saudi club Al Ahli are also a long-standing suitor for the striker.
  Onuachu is 32 years old and has 34 caps and five goals for his country.
  Trabzonspor&rsqu
  
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• Team Nigeria 95% ready for Glasgow 2026 – Coach Aliyu

  19-07-2026 04:50 via thesun.ng
  
  Nigeria’s athletics team has reached the final phase of its preparations for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, with Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Head Coach Solomon Aliyu declaring the squad 95 per cent ready to challenge for honours in Glasgow.
  Speaking from the team’s training camp in Aberdeen, Scotland, Aliyu told AFN media of his satisfaction with the athletes’ progress, saying preparations have gone according to plan and the camp has remained free of injuries.
  “Th
  
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• World Cup: England edge France in 10-goal thriller to secure third place

  19-07-2026 04:29 via thesun.ng
  
  England produced a breathtaking attacking display to defeat France 6-4 in a record-breaking FIFA World Cup third-place match on Saturday, sealing their best finish at the tournament since lifting the trophy in 1966.
  What was expected to be a low-key contest turned into one of the most entertaining matches in World Cup history as Thomas Tuchel’s side raced into a four-goal first-half lead before surviving a spirited French comeback in a pulsating encounter at Miami Stadium.
  Bukayo Saka stol
  
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• Koulamallah: Africa’s lone voice, by Patrick Omorodion

  19-07-2026 01:47 via vanguardngr.com
  
  During the week I saw a letter from the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF to FIFA Secretary General registering Nigeria’s support for the re-election of Gianni infantino as FIFA president posted by my colleague, Charles Anazodo.I then remembered the actions of Infantino at the ongoing World Cup which has brought disrepute to football and its organisation.Strikingly, no word of dissent from any African country, that is the federations or the head of their continental body, CAF, Dr. Patrice
  
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• Saka Scores Hat-trick As England Edge Out France In 10-Goal Thriller, Clinch First-Ever World Cup Bronze

  19-07-2026 01:30 via completesports.com
  
  A hat-trick from Bukayo Saka helped England edge out France 6-4, in a thrilling FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place play-off on Saturday. The win means England clinched their first-ever bronze medal at a FIFA World Cup, having finished fourth in 1990 and 2018. France captain Kylian scored twice which took his tally in this year’s [...]
  The post Saka Scores Hat-trick As England Edge Out France In 10-Goal Thriller, Clinch First-Ever World Cup Bronze appeared first on Complete Sports.
  
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• England beat France 6-4 in World Cup third-place playoff

  19-07-2026 01:11 via vanguardngr.com
  
  England beat France 6-4 in a high-scoring World Cup third-place playoff thanks to a hat-trick from Bukayo Saka while Kylian Mbappe became the highest scorer in the tournament’s history.France were 4-0 down at half-time but coach Didier Deschamps made substitutions at half-time and Mbappe notched the 22nd World Cup goal of his career,Despite a spirited France comeback England hung on to win.
  The post England beat France 6-4 in World Cup third-place playoff appeared first on Vanguard News.
  
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• Spain’s Yamal aims to join elite club of teenage World Cup winners

  18-07-2026 23:23 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Lionel Messi will become the oldest outfield player to appear in a World Cup final on Sunday as Spain’s Lamine Yamal seeks to join an elite group of teenage winners.The match at the MetLife Stadium will be the first meeting between Argentina’s Messi and the player who has succeeded him as Barcelona’s new homegrown idol.The only player to appear in a final at an older age than Messi is Dino Zoff, the Italy goalkeeper who was 40 in 1982.Yamal, in sharp contrast, only turned 19 l
  
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• Onyedika Agrees Personal Terms With Eintracht Frankfurt

  18-07-2026 22:52 via completesports.com
  
  Raphael Onyedika has agreed personal terms with Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt, Completesports.com reports. According to German publication, BILD, Club Brugge and Eintracht Frankfurt are now negotiating the transfer fee. The Nigeria international is expected to sign a five-year contract with the former UEFA Europa League champions. Read Also:Bundesliga Club Table Bid For Onyedika The Germans [...]
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• Pre-Season: Okonkwo Keeps Another Clean Sheet As Wrexham Beat Man United

  18-07-2026 22:48 via completesports.com
  
  Arthur Okonkwo was in action as Wrexham pipped Premier League heavyweights Manchester United 1-0 in a pre-season friendly match in Helsinki, Finland on Saturday, completesports.com reports. Okonkwo, 24, has now kept clean sheets in back-to-back pre-season matches, after Wrexham played goalless with Wisla Krakow in their first tune up fixture last Saturday. The only goal [...]
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• World Cup 2026: Thunderstorms Disrupt Spain’s Final Training Session

  18-07-2026 22:40 via completesports.com
  
  Severe thunderstorms in New Jersey have forced Spain to cancel their final outdoor training session at Melanie Lane Training Ground ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final against Argentina. Under tournament protocol, training must be postponed if lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius. Lightning is typically checked every 30 minutes until it is [...]
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• Wenger admits World Cup hydration breaks split opinion

  18-07-2026 22:30 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Arsene Wenger said Saturday he accepted that the hydration breaks used at this year’s World Cup were not universally popular and said FIFA will assess whether to implement them in the same way in the future.Wenger, FIFA’s head of global football development, told a briefing on the eve of the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina: “Sometimes people didn’t like it and we have to analyse after the World Cup what the impact was.”For this World Cup, FIFA brought i
  
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• Back-to-back World Cup winners: Argentina seek to join elite group

  18-07-2026 21:26 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Argentina are one game away from becoming just the third team to successfully defend the World Cup, with European champions Spain standing in their way.AFP Sport looks at how previous winners fared if they reached the final at the following tournament.Italy, 1938Italy were the first team in World Cup history to retain their title, beating Hungary 4-2 in the final of the 1938 tournament in France.Four years earlier they had edged past Czechoslovakia in the final in Rome.The Italians wore black s
  
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• Chelsea reach agreement with Aston Villa to sign Morgan Rogers⁠

  18-07-2026 20:33 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Emmanuel OkogbaChelsea have reached an agreement with Aston Villa to sign attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers in a deal worth £117 million, beating off competition from Arsenal.The 23-year-old, who can play on the left wing or as a number 10, is set to undergo a medical in London on Monday and is expected to sign a contract until June 2032, with the option of a further year.As per The Athletic’s football correspondent, David Ornstein, Chelsea moved swiftly to secure the deal, anti
  
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• Wozniacki Defends Sabalenka Against Criticism

  18-07-2026 19:41 via completesports.com
  
  Former Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki has defended Aryna Sabalenka against ongoing criticism regarding her on-court mentality. Speaking about the Belarusian superstar, Wozniacki dismissed narratives that Sabalenka lacks mental toughness, pointing to her ability to repeatedly bounce back, her Grand Slam success, and her fierce competitiveness as true indicators of her elite mindset. Read Also:Cincinnati [...]
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