Nigeria General Sport news

• World Cup: Iraq launch probe, plan overhaul after winless return

  29-06-2026 18:41 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Adegboyega AdeleyeIraq have begun a review of their disappointing 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign after crashing out of the tournament without a point, with the country’s Olympic Committee promising a major overhaul of the national team and domestic football structure.The Lions of Mesopotamia returned to the World Cup finals for the first time in 40 years but endured a difficult campaign, losing all three Group I matches against former champions France, Norway and Senegal, while conceding
  
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• Haaland sends Ivory Coast home

  01-07-2026 03:13 via thesun.ng
  
  •Norway sets up Brazil clash
   
  Norway triumphed 2-1 over Ivory Coast to earn their first-ever FIFA World Cup knockout win at the third attempt. The African nation had their moments in their first appearance beyond the group stage, but a late Erling Braut Haaland goal ultimately meant they could not carry their impressive recent record (W6, D1) into the business end of the tournament.
  Norway started on the front foot, and Haaland got his first sight of goal within minutes, although his
  
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• Lukaku predicts tough game against Senegal

  01-07-2026 03:11 via thesun.ng
  
  Belgium forward Romelu Lukaku has warned his teammates against underrating Senegal while admitting the African side will be a difficult team when they clash in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Seattle Stadium on Wednesday.
  The Lions of Teranga, under coach Pape Thiaw, secured their qualification to the knockout stage following a 5-0 victory against Iraq to finish third in their Group I behind Norway, and France, who topped the pile.
  Senegal have now been drawn to face Belgium, who l
  
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• Cape Verde will beat Argentina 1-0, predicts president

  01-07-2026 03:11 via thesun.ng
  
  The president of Cape Verde, José Maria Neves, predicts his country will defeat defending champions Argentina in the last 32 of the Fifa World Cup as the upstarts continue to “write their destiny”.
  “I think Cape Verde can beat Argentina 1-0,” he said in an exclusive interview with the BBC.
  “We are playing to win… when expectations are low regarding a team, and if that team has the urge to win, it is possible. A small nation like Cape Verde should make
  
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• Leboeuf: World Cup Golden Boot between Kane, Mbappe

  01-07-2026 02:51 via thesun.ng
  
  France and Chelsea legend Frank Leboeuf has revealed who he believes will go all the way for the World Cup Golden Boot.
  As many as 15 different players scored three or more goals during the group stage in what has been a World Cup jam packed full of shots that have found the back of the net.
  As it stands Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Ousmane Dembele and Vinicius Junior are on 4 goals. At the top of the pile sits Lionel Messi on an incredible 6 after he became the World Cup’s highest score
  
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• Loss to Morocco difficult to analyse – Van Dijk

  01-07-2026 02:50 via thesun.ng
  
  Virgil van Dijk has hailed the Netherlands’ performance against Morocco despite their loss.
  The Netherlands missed three spot kicks as Morocco came from behind to beat the Dutch on penalties in Monterrey to reach the last 16 where they will face Canada in Houston on Saturday.
  It was a heartbreaking defeat as they join Germany as two European sides who fly home following defeat on penalties against teams from other continents.
  Speaking after the game, Van Dijk praised his side who he thinks
  
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• Ghana vs Colombia Clash Prophet drops prediction about Partey

  01-07-2026 02:48 via thesun.ng
  
  Prophet Kwabena Okumdom, a renowned Ghanaian seer, has released a prophecy for Thomas Partey ahead of the Ghana vs Colombia clash in the ongoing FIFA World Cup.
  In a video shared on social media, Prophet Kwabena Okumdom said God was going to restore Thomas Partey, claiming the almighty would use Ghana’s match against Colombia for the upliftment.
  According to him, the Black Stars midfielder will be the saviour of the clash, explaining that he has already watched the match in the spiritual r
  
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• Kimmich says Germany deserved elimination

  01-07-2026 02:47 via thesun.ng
  
  Joshua Kimmich has spoken honestly about Germany’s World Cup exit to Paraguay this week.
  Paraguay triumphed 4-3 on penalties following the 1-1 draw on Monday night as Germany crashed out of the World Cup in dramatic fashion.
  Germany have not won a World Cup knockout tie since winning the competition for a fourth time in 2014 and failing in the Round of 32 will be particularly heartbreaking for fans who made the trip across the pond.
  The loss to Ecuador in the final group match prompted con
  
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• Iheanacho eager to remain at Celtic

  01-07-2026 02:45 via thesun.ng
  
  Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho is keen to stay at Celtic for another season, with the forward prioritising a new contract despite interest from multiple clubs, according to a report by Football Insider.
  The 29-year-old, who is currently out of contract after Celtic allowed the option to extend his deal to expire, is now weighing up his next move after a mixed but impactful campaign in Scotland.
  The former Manchester City and Leicester City striker joined Celtic last season and quickly be
  
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• Izunaso unveils maiden Sam Okwaraji U-16 Secondary Schools football championship in Imo

  01-07-2026 02:43 via thesun.ng
  
  From George Onyejiuwa, OwerriSen. Osita Izunaso , representing Imo West senatorial district, on Tuesday in Owerri, Imo state capital  unveiled the maiden First Bank Sam Okwaraji memorial Nigeria Secondary Schools Football Championship in Imo.Senator Izunaso represented by the Secretary of the championship’s Organising  Committee, Mr Chidozie Achonwa, sponsored by First Bank , is organised by the Samuel Okwaraji Foundation in  collaboration of the Nigerian School Sports Feder
  
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• Monaco signs Fati on permanent deal

  01-07-2026 02:40 via thesun.ng
  
  Monaco have completed the permanent signing of Spanish forward Ansu Fati from Barcelona in an €11 million deal.
  The 23-year-old has signed a four-year contract that will keep him at the Ligue 1 club until June 2030.
  After arriving in France seeking a fresh start, Fati rediscovered his best form during the 2025/26 season, making 30 appearances across all competitions, including 13 starts.
  He established himself as a key player for Monaco, scoring 12 goals at an impressive rate of one every 1
  
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• NSC charges D’Tigers to roar in Angola

  01-07-2026 02:39 via thesun.ng
  
  The National Sports Commission (NSC) has charged Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, to fly the nation’s flag with pride and determination as they prepare to compete in the FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers scheduled to take place in Angola from July 2 to July 5, 2026.
  The Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade, expressed confidence in the team’s ability to make Nigeria proud, urging the players to approach e
  
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• Amusan shifts focus to Prefontaine Classic

  01-07-2026 02:37 via thesun.ng
  
  Nigeria’s sprint hurdler Tobi Amusan has revealed the mindset that drives her performances on the track as she turns her attention to the upcoming Prefontaine Classic, BSNSports.com.ng reports.
  Speaking after her latest outing, Amusan admitted she was not a fan of the warm conditions but remained determined to deliver a strong performance.
  “I do not like the warm weather at all, but whatever the weather, I was going to come out here and kill it. My execution was alright. I am just ha
  
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• Nigeria gets four Wild Cards for Africa Scrabble Championship

  01-07-2026 02:34 via thesun.ng
  
  By Joe Apu
  Nigeria will have the highest number of automatic qualifiers for the 16th Africa Scrabble Championship after the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) announced the recipients of its Wild Card slots for the continental tournament scheduled to hold later this year in Monrovia, Liberia.
  Seven players secured automatic qualification through PANASA’s Wild Card system, with Nigeria accounting for four of the places, while Kenya claimed the remaining three.
  Defending African champ
  
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• Surulere LG lifts 2026 FFF U-17 Unity Cup

  01-07-2026 02:31 via thesun.ng
  
  Surulere Local Government has emerged as the overall winner of this year’s Fans For Fun (FFF) Under 17 Unity Cup Football tournament held in Lagos.
  At the grand finale of the tournament played on Sunday, June 28, Surulere LG defeated Ifelodun Local Council Development Area 1-0 in the keenly contested final held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos..
  Earlier in the day, Bariga Local Government had defeated Igando Ikotun Local Council Development Area 3-0 to win the third place match
  
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• Milo Basketball: Bayelsa, Benue set for girls’ final

  01-07-2026 02:30 via thesun.ng
  
  Bayelsa and Benue will battle for the girls’ title at the 26th Nestlé Milo Secondary School Basketball Championships.
  The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the final will feature two of the competition’s most successful teams.
  St. Jude Amarata, Bayelsa, will face Government Secondary School, Gboko, Benue, in the decider.
  Amarata defeated Lanreleke, Ilegbo, Osun, 61-45 in their opening match at the championships.
  They later lost 65-39 to Benue but progressed to the semi
  
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• World Cup 2026: Mbappe Scores Two Goals, Sets Record As France Ease Past Sweden In Round Of 32 Tie

  01-07-2026 01:24 via completesports.com
  
  Kylian Mbappé broke the record for most goals in World Cup knockout matches and moved within a single goal of Lionel Messi’s overall tournament mark, as his two goals led France to a dominant 3-0 win over Sweden at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday, ESPN reports. Mbappé’s first goal means he has scored nine goals in [...]
  The post World Cup 2026: Mbappe Scores Two Goals, Sets Record As France Ease Past Sweden In Round Of 32 Tie appeared first on Complete Sports.
  
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• France through to World Cup last 16 with 3-0 Sweden win

  01-07-2026 01:10 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Kylian Mbappe scored twice and Michael Olise was in scintillating form as France beat Sweden 3-0 at the World Cup on Tuesday and set up a last-16 clash with Paraguay.Mbappe finished a superb move to break the deadlock just before half-time in the last-32 tie watched by 80,663 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, after France had already hit the woodwork twice — once through Mbappe and once through Olise.The French were on top throughout against a limited Swedish side, utterly dominating
  
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• World Cup: Mbappe scores twice as France thrash Sweden 3-0

  01-07-2026 01:06 via thesun.ng
  
  Kylian Mbappe produced another outstanding display, scoring twice as France defeated Sweden 3-0 on Tuesday to book a place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
  The French captain struck on either side of Bradley Barcola’s second-half goal to send Didier Deschamps’ side through in commanding fashion at New York New Jersey Stadium. Victory sets up a Round of 16 meeting with Paraguay.
  France dominated much of the contest but had to wait until first-half stoppage time to break
  
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• Koeman steps down as Netherlands coach after World Cup exit

  01-07-2026 00:28 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said on Tuesday he was stepping down after his team were knocked out of the World Cup by Morocco in the last 32.“Last night I took the decision to end my stint as head coach of the Dutch National Team,” Koeman said in a statement on Instagram.“We all shared the dream of making history at this World Cup, but we fell short. No one is more disappointed by that than I am.“As head coach, the responsibility ultimately rests with me.”The Ne
  
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• Rooney: I Would Love Kane To Join Manchester United

  30-06-2026 23:32 via completesports.com
  Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has advised Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane to reject reported interest from Barcelona and return to the Premier League to join the Red Devils. The Tottenham Hotspur legend is enjoying a remarkable season, in which he has scored 70 goals in all competitions for club and country. Read Also:EXCLUSIVE: What [...]
  The post Rooney: I Would Love Kane To Join Manchester United appeared first on Complete Sports.
  
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• Ivory Coast coach laments ‘lack of maturity’ in World Cup exit

  30-06-2026 23:30 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Ivory Coast gave everything but “lacked maturity” in being ousted from the World Cup on Tuesday in a last-gasp 2-1 defeat to Norway, coach Emerse Fae said.An unmarked Erling Haaland scored with four minutes left of normal time as Ivory Coast’s tournament ended at the last-32 stage.“It’s tough to lose in the final minutes, they gave everything, they fought from the first to the last minute,” said Fae.Norway took the lead late in the first half after a wonderfu
  
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• Serena beaten at Wimbledon in first singles match in four years

  30-06-2026 23:25 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Serena Williams’ bid for a fairytale return to Wimbledon was shattered by Australia’s Maya Joint as the American legend’s first singles match in four years ended in a 6-3, 6-7 (6/8) 6-3 defeat on Tuesday.Williams has captured the imagination of the sports world with her sensational comeback, but there was no storybook chapter to add to her astonishing career at the All England Club.Serena was the second-oldest player to feature in the Wimbledon women’s singles in the Ope
  
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• Dutch football chiefs condemn online racism after World Cup exit

  30-06-2026 23:00 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Dutch football chiefs have condemned online racist abuse aimed at Netherlands players after their painful elimination from the World Cup.The three-time finalists lost on penalties to Morocco in Monday’s round-of-32 match in the Mexican city of Monterrey following a 1-1 draw.Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo put the Netherlands in front in the 72nd minute but Issa Diop levelled for the North African side in stoppage time.The Dutch football association thanked players and coaching staff for thei
  
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• ‘Any team can beat you’, warns Ruiz as Spain seek end to World Cup woe

  30-06-2026 21:53 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Fabian Ruiz is confident Spain are gaining momentum as the European champions aim to end a 16-year hiatus to win a World Cup knockout game against Austria on Thursday.One of the pre-tournament favourites, La Roja got off to a slow start with a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, but bounced back to beat Saudi Arabia and Uruguay to top Group H.“The first match didn’t go the way we wanted. It was a game about finding our feet and Cape Verde made things difficult for us,” Ruiz told AFP.
  
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• World Cup 2026: Haaland Bags Late Winner As Norway Beat Côte d’Ivoire, Set Up Brazil Clash

  30-06-2026 21:37 via completesports.com
  
  Erling Haaland’s late goal was enough to see Norway through to the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup 2026, eliminating the Côte d’Ivoire in a thrilling 2-1 match at Dallas Stadium, CNN reports. The goal took Haaland’s tally in the tournament to five goals, just one short of Argentina captain Lionel Messi. Following [...]
  The post World Cup 2026: Haaland Bags Late Winner As Norway Beat Côte d’Ivoire, Set Up Brazil Clash appeared first on Complete Sports.
  
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• NNL: Lobi Stars Name Nikyu New Technical Adviser

  30-06-2026 21:31 via completesports.com
  
  Lobi Stars have appointed experienced coach Bala Nikyu as their new technical adviser ahead of the 2026/27 Nigeria National League, NNL, season. Nikyu has been handed the responsibility of leading the Makurdi-based club back to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, after they narrowly missed out on promotion last season. The veteran tactician boasts a [...]
  The post NNL: Lobi Stars Name Nikyu New Technical Adviser appeared first on Complete Sports.
  
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• World Cup: Haaland’s late goal sends Norway past Ivory Coast in 2-1 thriller

  30-06-2026 21:18 via thesun.ng
  
  Erling Haaland struck four minutes from time to fire Norway into the Round of 16 with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash at Dallas Stadium on Tuesday.
  The Manchester City striker ended Ivory Coast’s resistance with an 86th-minute winner after the West Africans had battled back from a goal down through Amad Diallo. The victory sends Norway into the knockout stage for the first time in their World Cup history, where they will face five-t
  
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• Norway secure World Cup last-16 spot with hard-fought win over Ivory Coast

  30-06-2026 21:07 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Erling Haaland scored a late winner as Norway set up a last-16 showdown with Brazil at the World Cup after taming the Ivory Coast 2-1 in Texas on Tuesday.The Manchester City striker prodded in from close range, the ball dribbling in on 86 minutes for his fifth goal of the tournament.It was the first time that Norway had won a knockout game in the history of the competition.After an even first half that was slow to get going, Antonio Nusa fired Norway into the lead six minutes before the break w
  
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• Lampard extends Coventry stay after promotion to EPL

  30-06-2026 21:02 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Frank Lampard has signed a new deal with Coventry that is set to keep him with the Premier League side until 2029, it was announced Tuesday.Lampard was in charge as the Sky Blues to English football’s top-flight for the first time in 25 years by winning last season’s second-tier Championship.The 48-year-old former England midfielder took over at the Midlands club in November 2024 and helped them to a play-off finish in his first season in charge before losing out to Sunderland in th
  
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