Nigeria General Sport news

• U-20 WWC: Falconets Open Abuja Training Camp

  16-07-2026 19:03 via completesports.com
  
  Nigeria’s Falconets, have commenced camping in Abuja ahead of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. A total of 28 players have been invited, with 16 of them already in camp as preparations gather momentum for the global showpiece. The technical crew, headed by coach Moses Aduku, has immediately swung into action with intensive training [...]
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• Why Tinubu must lead football governance reforms – Experts/Stakeholders

  17-07-2026 05:58 via vanguardngr.com
  
  …John Terry, Segun Odegbami, Obi-Mikel, Efe Sodje, Tana Ayejina, Odion Ighalo lamentBy Tony UbaniEvery year, Nigerians watch with admiration as countries across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas implement policies that improve the lives of their citizens. Efficient public transportation, quality education, reliable healthcare, stable electricity, disciplined sports administration, transparent governance and thriving economies, among others. These are not accidents; they are the produ
  
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• Messi admits he’s tired

  17-07-2026 04:26 via thesun.ng
  
  Lionel Messi has led Argentina to yet another World Cup final, but it looks increasingly likely this might be his last.
  Messi dropped two assists in Argentina’s 2- 1 comeback win over England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-finals.
  After taking the sole lead for goal contributions in the 2026 edition while leading Argentina to a third Final in four editions, Messi had to make a tiresome admission.
  In his post-match interview, Messi was asked if his World Cup career could extend to another
  
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• Martinez reveals Messi’s message in Argentina’s fight back

  17-07-2026 04:25 via thesun.ng
  
  Lautaro Martinez was the late hero for Argentina as the defending champions eased into the 2026 FIFA World Cup final with a 2-1 win over old foes England.
  The holders have done it the hard way to reach the final against Spain on July 19, with battling knockout stage wins over Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland – before Martinez’s added time header saw them past the Three Loins.
  As the clock ticked into the closing stages, Lionel Scaloni threw on the Inter Milan striker, just minutes b
  
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• Why there’s third-place play-off

  17-07-2026 04:23 via thesun.ng
  
  The short answer is revenue, as a third-place play-off gives FIFA another game in which to drive ticket sales, while broadcasters can sell advertising spots in exchange for showing the game.
  The third-place play-off also has an impact on the global rankings and gives players an opportunity to restore some pride and end their tournament on a high.
  For some players, like Mbappe, the third-place play-off offers a chance to win personal accolades such as the Golden Boot or the Golden Glove.
  Has ther
  
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• Scotland goalkeeper, Gordon retires after 25-year career

  17-07-2026 04:23 via thesun.ng
  
  Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon announced his retirement on Thursday, hanging up his gloves after a career spanning more than two decades.
  The 43-year-old made 682 appearances for boyhood club Heart of Midlothian, Cowdenbeath, Sunderland and Celtic and won 84 caps for Scotland.
  “I’ve never wanted it to end, but end it must. I have lived my dreams and for that I am so thankful,” Gordon said in a video announcing his decision on social media.
  He was part of Scotland’s squa
  
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• Three Lions faces familiar foes in ‘Bronze final’

  17-07-2026 04:21 via thesun.ng
  
  England will face France in the World Cup third-place play-off on Saturday as they look to bounce back from their dramatic 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina.
  The Three Lions’ hopes of ending 60 years of hurt may have been dashed, but their campaign is not quite over yet, and they will now travel to Miami, Florida to take on France in a game neither team will be particularly happy about playing.
  Thomas Tuchel’s side conceded twice late on as Argentina came from behind to seal their p
  
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• Okoye pledges loyalty to Udinese amid Juventus links

  17-07-2026 04:19 via thesun.ng
  
  Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has reaffirmed his commitment to Udinese, insisting he is happy at the Serie A club despite continued speculation linking him with a move to Italian giants Juventus ahead of the 2026/2027 season.
  Okoye emerged as one of Udinese’s standout performers during the 2025/2026 campaign, producing a series of impressive displays that attracted interest from several top clubs in Italy.
  Although he endured a difficult start to the season, the Nigerian internation
  
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• Demehin recalls winning WAFCON at first attempt

  17-07-2026 04:18 via thesun.ng
  
  Defence stalwart Oluwatosin Demehin has recalled with excitement how she won the Women Africa Cup of Nations gold in her first tournament with 10-time champions Super Falcons of Nigeria, saying the feat has boosted her confidence and pushes her to do even more when wearing the green-and-white.“Winning the gold medal and the team lifting the Cup in my first Women AFCON always makes me feel special. It also gives me enormous confidence when we are playing a match or playing a tournament. It
  
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• Poland 2026: Falconets resume camping in Abuja

  17-07-2026 04:17 via thesun.ng
  
  Nigeria’s U-20 Women’s National Team, the Falconets, have commenced camping in Abuja ahead of the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, scheduled to hold in Poland 5th – 27th September. A total of 28 players have been invited, with 16 of them already in camp as preparations gather momentum for the global showpiece. More of the invited players are expected to join the team in the coming days.
  The technical crew, headed by Coach Moses Aduku, has immediately swung into action wit
  
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• Ogbia Monarch backs Oloibiri Int’l Half-Marathon

  17-07-2026 04:16 via thesun.ng
  
  From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
  The Obanobham III of Ogbia Kingdom, His Eminence King Dumaro-Owaba, has endorsed the upcoming Oloibiri Oil Well International Half Marathon and exhibition scheduled for Bayelsa State. King Dumaro- Owaba’s formal endorsement of the global sports event scheduled for Q1 of 2027 to mark 71 years of Oil discovery in Nigeria was secured when the global events executive committee visited the monarch at his palace. During the visit, the project coordinator and ch
  
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• Didih eyes gold as Team Nigeria enters final countdown

  17-07-2026 04:15 via thesun.ng
  
  With just seven days to the start of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Commonwealth weightlifting champion Onome Omolola Didih has expressed confidence in Team Nigeria’s readiness to challenge for medals, citing the quality of preparations put in place by the National Sports Commission (NSC).
  Accordinh to the NSC media, Didih, one of Nigeria’s brightest medal prospects, said the conducive camping environment in both Nigeria and Aberdeen, Scotland, has given the athletes the id
  
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• Lewandowski MLS debut match postponed by air quality concern

  16-07-2026 23:57 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Polish star Robert Lewandowski’s Major League Soccer debut was on hold Thursday after the match between the Chicago Fire and Vancouver Whitecaps was postponed due to air quality issues caused by wildfires.Smoke from the fires, which are ravaging the Canadian province of Ontario, spread Thursday through the United States with border states including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois particularly choked.Thursday’s scheduled clash at the Fire’s stadium was pushed back t
  
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• Pele’s World Cup jersey fetches $4.9 million at US auction

  16-07-2026 23:15 via vanguardngr.com
  
  A jersey worn by soccer giant Pele in the first World Cup final ever won by Brazil sold for $4.9 million at a US auction on Thursday.The Brazilian attacker nicknamed “The King” was 17 when he scored two goals in his country’s 5-2 victory over host country Sweden in 1958.The blue shirt became the second most expensive jersey sold at auction after an anonymous buyer beat out four other bidders at Sotheby’s in New York.The record of $9.3 million is for a jersey worn by Arge
  
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• Why I won’t be at World Cup final – Argentina’s President

  16-07-2026 22:55 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Argentine President Javier Milei said Thursday he will not attend the World Cup 2026 final in the United States, preferring to continue watching his country take on Spain from home.Milei told El Observador radio that “under no circumstances” would he break his so-called good luck ritual of watching World Cup matches from the presidential residency, as he has done in the lead-up to Sunday’s final.He also shared another lucky ritual he has held dear throughout this edition of th
  
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• World Cup 2026: UK Government Urges FIFA Probe Of Argentina Over Falklands Banner

  16-07-2026 22:52 via completesports.com
  
  The British government on Thursday urged FIFA to investigate Argentina’s team after players celebrating their 2-1 win over England in the World Cup semifinals posed with a banner that claimed sovereignty over the contested Falkland Islands, ESPN reports. During post-match celebrations Wednesday in Atlanta, Argentine players held a banner handed over by fans, reading “Las [...]
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• World Cup trophy to arrive in Louis Vuitton trunk

  16-07-2026 22:47 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Adegboyega AdeleyeThe FIFA World Cup trophy will arrive at Sunday’s final between Argentina and Spain inside a specially designed Louis Vuitton trunk, continuing the French luxury fashion house’s long-standing partnership with world football’s governing body ahead of the tournament’s showpiece event.According to Reuters, the bespoke trunk, unveiled in New York on Thursday, will transport football’s most coveted prize to the New York-New Jersey Stadium, where def
  
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• Done Deal: Falconets Midfielder Joins Portuguese Club SCU Torreense

  16-07-2026 22:32 via completesports.com
  
  Falconets midfielder Shakirat Moshood has completed a move to Portuguese side SCU Torreense, signing a two-year contract, Completesports.com reports. The 18-year-old joins the Liga BPI outfit from former Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) champions Bayelsa Queens, where she established herself as one of the country’s brightest young talents. The transfer marks the start of Moshood’s [...]
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• World Cup 2026: I Am Disappointed In Myself –France Defender

  16-07-2026 22:10 via completesports.com
  
  Aston Villa defender Lucas Digne has disclosed that he was disappointed in himself following France’s 2-0 loss to Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final. He was subbed off in the 72nd minute after a challenging match where he conceded a penalty and struggled defensively. Read Also:World Cup 2026: England’s Time Will Come –Sturridge [...]
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• Delap Won’t Be A Bad Striker For Everton –Aiyegbeni

  16-07-2026 22:00 via completesports.com
  
  Former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has expressed mixed feelings, stating Liam Delap is not a bad player to bring in to Everton. In an interview with ToffeeWeb, the former Everton striker acknowledged the massive leap Delap took moving from Ipswich to Chelsea and noted his subsequent struggles. Read Also:EXCLUSIVE: Is Akor Adams Walking Into [...]
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• FIFA probes Argentina over Falklands banner after England defeat

  16-07-2026 21:46 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Adegboyega AdeleyeFIFA is currently “reviewing match reports” before deciding whether to punish Argentina after players celebrated their dramatic 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final victory over England with a banner supporting the country’s claim to the Falkland Islands.The reigning world champions came from behind to beat Thomas Tuchel’s England 2-1 in Atlanta on Wednesday, with late goals from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez sealing Argentina’s p
  
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• Victor Osimhen set to become Galatasaray captain after Icardi exit

  16-07-2026 21:24 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Adegboyega AdeleyeVictor Osimhen is set to become Galatasaray’s new captain following the departure of Mauro Icardi, with the Nigerian striker emerging as the frontrunner to inherit the armband after serving as the club’s vice-captain during another trophy-laden campaign.Galatasaray confirmed this week that Icardi has left the Turkish champions following the expiration of his contract, bringing an end to a successful four-year spell in Istanbul during which the Argentine won four
  
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• Okoronkwo Prioritises WAFCON Success Over Individual Honours

  16-07-2026 21:17 via completesports.com
  
  Esther Okoronkwo is focused on helping Nigeria succeed at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations rather than chasing individual accolades, Completesports.com reports. Okoronkwo starred for the Super Falcons at the last edition of the WAFCON, scoring three goals, and providing six assists in six appearances. Despite her impressive performances, the 29-year-old did not receive [...]
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• World Cup 2026: Owen Slams Tuchel’s Defensive Approach Against Argentina

  16-07-2026 21:10 via completesports.com
  
  Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has slammed Thomas Tuchel for deploying ultra-defensive tactics in England’s 2-1 loss to Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final. Owen stated that after Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute goal, Tuchel’s substitutions were too passive and unnecessarily invited immense pressure. Read Also:World Cup 2026: Don’t Sack Tuchel Yet –Ex-England Star Warns [...]
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• Arsenal Agree Fee With Club Brugge To Sign Greek Winger Tzolis

  16-07-2026 21:05 via completesports.com
  
  Arsenal have agreed a deal with Club Brugge for winger Christos Tzolis, Sky Sports News reports. The fee is understood to be £34m, which is a record for the Belgian Pro League. Once Tzolis heard that the Premier League champions were interested, he only wanted Arsenal. Sky Sports News understands Arsenal’s move for Tzolis is [...]
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• What I said to Messi during confrontation – Bellingham

  16-07-2026 19:55 via vanguardngr.com
  
  England midfielder Jude Bellingham has played down his heated exchange with Lionel Messi during the first half of England’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, saying the incident was simply a disagreement over a foul.The two players were seen confronting each other during the match, prompting speculation among fans about the nature of the exchange.However, Bellingham insisted there was no animosity between them and explained that the discussion was sparked by a foul awarded in Arge
  
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• Messi dedicates Argentina’s World Cup semi-final win over England to Maradona

  16-07-2026 19:47 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Adegboyega AdeleyeLionel Messi paid an emotional tribute to the late Diego Maradona after inspiring Argentina to a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over England, saying the World Cup semi-final triumph was “a gift” for the football legend.The 39-year-old captain, who created both of Argentina’s goals in Wednesday’s thrilling victory, reflected on Maradona’s enduring legacy after guiding the defending champions into a second consecutive FIFA World Cup final, where t
  
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• Iheanacho, Ndidi Used ‘Juju Cream’ To Overcome Injuries —EPL Title Winner Claims

  16-07-2026 19:10 via completesports.com
  
  Former Leicester City and England striker Jamie Vardy has claimed that Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi made use of “juju cream” to overcome their injuries during their time at the Foxes. Vardy made the claim in the latest episode of ‘Jamie Vardy’s Having a Party’ podcast. The 39-year-old was a teammate of both Iheanacho and [...]
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• Romero labels Gary Neville ‘stupid’ over criticism at World Cup

  16-07-2026 18:52 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Adegboyega AdeleyeCristian Romero has fired back at former England defender Gary Neville after helping Argentina book their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, saying he hopes he never becomes “that stupid” when he retires from football.The Tottenham centre-back was responding to Neville’s pre-match criticism of Argentina’s central defensive pairing of Romero and Lisandro Martinez, whom the former Manchester United full-back had described as “the best, worst
  
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• FA backs Tuchel despite England’s World Cup heartbreak

  16-07-2026 18:43 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Adegboyega AdeleyeEngland manager Thomas Tuchel has retained the full backing of the Football Association despite the Three Lions’ heartbreaking exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with FA chief executive Mark Bullingham insisting the German “gave it everything” during the campaign.England’s 60-year wait for a major men’s trophy continued on Wednesday after Argentina staged a dramatic late comeback to win 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final in Atlanta, overturning An
  
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