Nigeria General Sport news

• Xavi Open To Coaching At AFCON

  18-07-2026 15:44 via completesports.com
  
  Barcelona and Spain legendary midfielder Xavi Hernandez has said he is interested in branching out into international management, and won’t mind coaching a team at the Euros, Asian Cup and even the Africa Cup of Nations. Xavi spent just under three seasons at Barcelona before he was relieved of his duties in May 2024, following [...]
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• Argentina Bid To Emulate Brazil, Italy Rare World Cup Feat Ahead Spain Clash

  19-07-2026 13:23 via completesports.com
  
  It will be the battle of the champions as Argentina, led by inspirational captain Lionel Messi, will face Spain in a FIFA World Cup 2026 final. This is no ordinary final, as Argentina stand on the brink of immortality. A victory would make them only the third team in history—and the first since the 1960s—to [...]
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• O’Neill Speaks On Iheanacho’s Decision To Join Bursaspor

  19-07-2026 12:39 via completesports.com
  
  Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has opened up on Kelechi Iheanacho’s move to Turkish club Bursaspor, Completesports.com reports. Iheanacho spent last season at Celtic and made a big impression despite struggling with injuries for much of the campaign. However, the Scottish Premiership champions failed to retain the Nigeria international after allowing the one-year extension option in [...]
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• Messi leads Argentina against Spain in blockbuster World Cup final

  19-07-2026 11:46 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Lionel Messi’s battle-hardened Argentina take on silky Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday as the first 48-team tournament in history reaches a climax in New Jersey.The South Americans are striving to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups, while Spain are eyeing a second title after their maiden victory in 2010.Sunday’s showpiece is likely to be the final World Cup appearance for Messi, widely considered the greatest player of all tim
  
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• World Cup: Michael Olise breaks Pele’s assist record

  19-07-2026 11:16 via thesun.ng
  
  France forward Michael Olise has set a new FIFA World Cup record for the most assists in a single tournament after registering his seventh assist during France’s dramatic 6-4 defeat to England in Saturday’s third-place play-off.
  The historic feat was confirmed by Guinness World Records in a post on X shortly after the match.
  “Michael Olise has just broken the record for most assists in a single World Cup – 7,” Guinness World Records wrote.
  The Bayern Munich star sur
  
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• World Cup: Ticket prices hit $60,000 ahead of Spain vs Argentina final

  19-07-2026 10:04 via thesun.ng
  
  Fans hoping to witness Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina will have to dig deep into their pockets, with ticket prices on resale platforms climbing as high as $60,000 ahead of the highly anticipated showdown.
  The surge in demand for the final, which pits defending champions Argentina against a rejuvenated Spain side, has sent prices soaring across official and third-party resale platforms as supporters scramble for last-minute access to one of football’s bigges
  
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• World Cup final ticket prices hit $60,000 as Spain faces Argentina

  19-07-2026 09:41 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Fans hoping to witness Lionel Messi’s Argentina take on Lamine Yamal’s Spain in Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final will have to pay a premium, with last-minute tickets selling for between $10,000 and $60,000.Demand for the blockbuster clash has sent prices soaring across resale platforms ahead of the final, which pits the defending champions against a Spain side seeking their second World Cup title.On Saturday morning, FIFA’s official ticket resale platform listed its cheapes
  
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• Mbappe overtakes Messi as World Cup’s all-time leading scorer

  19-07-2026 09:35 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Didier Deschamps’ final match as France coach ended in defeat, but Kylian Mbappe etched his name into World Cup history by overtaking Lionel Messi as the competition’s all-time leading scorer.Mbappe scored twice in France’s dramatic 6-4 loss to England in Saturday’s third-place playoff in Miami Gardens, Florida, taking his career World Cup tally to 22 goals and moving ahead of Messi on the all-time scoring chart.France endured a disastrous opening half, falling 4-0 behin
  
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• UFC: South Africa’s Du Plessis Secures Dominant Win Against Usman

  19-07-2026 08:51 via completesports.com
  
  South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis cruised to a dominant unanimous decision win over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC, in Oklahoma, USA, on Saturday night, NY Fights reports. The judges scored the five-round main event 50-45, 49-46 and 49-46 in favor of the South African, who looked sharp from start to finish. From the [...]
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• Olise Breaks Pele’s World Cup Assist Record In France Vs England 10-Goal Thriller

  19-07-2026 08:29 via completesports.com
  
  Michael Olise made FIFA World Cup history for France as he recorded his seventh assist of the 2026 World Cup in their 6-4 loss against England, moving past Pelé to set a new record for the most assists in a single tournament, Bundesliga.com reports. The previous record at a single tournament was set by Brazilian [...]
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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 [...]
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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 [...]
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