BREAKING: EFCC and ICPC are reportedly investigating the utilisation of the ₦12 billion Federal Government intervention fund released to the NFF for outstanding players’ wages, bonuses and other national-team obligations. The NFF reportedly confirmed the investigation in a letter dated August 18, stating that all documents relating to the fund are currently with the two anti-corruption agencies. The development comes amid growing scrutiny of the NFF and the management of public funds allocated to Nigerian football.
BREAKING: Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle worth €76.5million (£65.3m; $87.8m) with Manchester City for the transfer of Rodri. Manchester City will receive an upfront fee of €60million (£51.2m; $68.8m) for the central midfielder with more than €11m of the add-ons viewed as achievable, with the Premier League side expecting to achieve expect at least €71.5m for a player who has less than 12 months of his contract remaining. Personal terms are not expected to be an issue for the Spain international, who starred in his nation’s World Cup success this summer, with a four-year contract proposed by champions of La Liga. Barcelona made an offer of around €45million (£38.6m; $52.1m) plus add-ons for Rodri on August 7. The Spanish champions had been made aware that City would want close to €80m to sanction his exit. As earlier reported on August 6 that Barcelona were exploring a deal for Rodri, and the 30-year-old preferred a move to Camp Nou over any other club. Real Madrid had also been exploring a move for the Spain captain this summer. Rodri has entered the final 12 months of his City contract and has not shown a willingness to extend his terms. A move to Barcelona would see the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner join up with seven members of Spain’s 2026 World Cup winning squad: Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Pedri, and Lamine Yamal. Rodri was awarded the Golden Ball following his performances at the tournament.
REAKING: Inter Miami have appointed Cristian “Kily” González as their new first-team head coach. González, 52, will replace Guillermo Hoyos, a decades-long ally and close family friend of club captain Lionel Messi. A statement from Inter Miami issued on Thursday confirmed that Hoyos will “provisionally continue in charge of the team until the arrival of the new head coach and his coaching staff”, once González receives a work permit. Hoyos, 63, has been in caretaker charge of Miami since April, when he replaced Javier Mascherano. González becomes the latest Inter Miami head coach to have previously worked with or played alongside Messi, joining the likes of Gerardo “Tata” Martino and Mascherano. Messi and González played two World Cup qualifying matches together for Argentina in October 2005 — the year Messi made his senior Argentina debut and González played his final game for the national team. Earlier on Thursday, before Miami confirmed the appointment of González, Major League Soccer suspended Hoyos for one game and fined him an undisclosed amount for repeatedly violating the league’s late kickoff policy. Hoyos will serve that ban during Miami’s home game against CF Montréal on Saturday, August 29. Hoyos became Inter Miami’s Director of Development in August 2023 before becoming sporting director in January 2025. The Argentine then replaced Javier Mascherano as head coach in April 2026, going on to take charge of 17 games. During his 18-year playing career, González represented the likes of Rosario Central, Boca Juniors, Valencia and Inter Milan. The former left midfielder was an Argentina international who scored ten goals in 56 appearances for the national team, where he played with Messi. His coaching career has seen him take charge of three sides in his native Argentina: Rosario Central, Club Atletico Union and Club Atletico Platense. Inter Miami are second in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference and ten points behind first-place Nashville SC, a team they were beaten by 4-1 on Aug. 15.
BREAKING: FIFA president Gianni Infantino did not inform the FIFA Council that he was soliciting investment proposals from outside investors to finance a proposed Under-15 ‘World Cup’ for children. Infantino held talks over the past year to commercialize an Under-15 festival inspired by baseball’s Little League World Series which would include all 211 FIFA nations. Under the plans, opening and closing ceremonies would have been held at Disney World resorts and ESPN was on board to broadcast the tournament in the United States. Reports have now reveal that the proposal had more than $250million of financial commitments from investors, despite Infantino not telling the Council that he was seeking external investment for the project.
BREAKING: UEFA has made a request for the disclosure of documents in advance of potentially launching “criminal proceedings” against Gianni Infantino in Switzerland over his abandoned World Cup sell-off plan. In a legal document filed in the United States District Court, seen by The Athletic, European football’s governing body has accused FIFA’s president of “promoting” a “fraudulently off-market price for his own benefit” when proposing to sell a stake in world soccer governing body’s commercial and event operations to Thrive Eternal — a U.S. investment fund run by Joshua Kushner.
REAKING: Inter Miami have appointed Cristian “Kily” González as their new first-team head coach. González, 52, will replace Guillermo Hoyos, a decades-long ally and close family friend of club captain Lionel Messi. A statement from Inter Miami issued on Thursday confirmed that Hoyos will “provisionally continue in charge of the team until the arrival of the new head coach and his coaching staff”, once González receives a work permit. Hoyos, 63, has been in caretaker charge of Miami since April, when he replaced Javier Mascherano. González becomes the latest Inter Miami head coach to have previously worked with or played alongside Messi, joining the likes of Gerardo “Tata” Martino and Mascherano. Messi and González played two World Cup qualifying matches together for Argentina in October 2005 — the year Messi made his senior Argentina debut and González played his final game for the national team. Earlier on Thursday, before Miami confirmed the appointment of González, Major League Soccer suspended Hoyos for one game and fined him an undisclosed amount for repeatedly violating the league’s late kickoff policy. Hoyos will serve that ban during Miami’s home game against CF Montréal on Saturday, August 29. Hoyos became Inter Miami’s Director of Development in August 2023 before becoming sporting director in January 2025. The Argentine then replaced Javier Mascherano as head coach in April 2026, going on to take charge of 17 games. During his 18-year playing career, González represented the likes of Rosario Central, Boca Juniors, Valencia and Inter Milan. The former left midfielder was an Argentina international who scored ten goals in 56 appearances for the national team, where he played with Messi. His coaching career has seen him take charge of three sides in his native Argentina: Rosario Central, Club Atletico Union and Club Atletico Platense. Inter Miami are second in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference and ten points behind first-place Nashville SC, a team they were beaten by 4-1 on Aug. 15.
BREAKING: Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), have confirmed the sale of a minority stake in the Premier League club to a consortium including U.S. billionaire and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The agreement, announced Friday, follows talks that were first reported in July. The move represents Bezos’ first foray into sports after many years of links to investment in a number of north American sports franchises. The size of the stake was not disclosed but is expected to be in the range of approximately 30 per cent to one-third, per sources with knowledge of the investment, not authorised to speak publicly because of the confidentiality of the process. Bezos’ involvement comes via the K5 Sports fund. The lead partner in the deal though is Amit Bhatia, the former Queens Park Rangers co-owner, who has led and managed the 1892 Holdings consortium. They are joined by the family office of Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin and his wife Elaine. Bhatia will take up the position of vice chairman and will be joined on the club’s board by Elaine Saverin and Bryan Baum of K5 Sports. Bezos will not have a seat on the board, sources with knowledge of the plans going forward say. It is the first external minority investment in the club since Dynasty Equity purchased a three per cent stake in Liverpool for approaching $200million back in September 2023. FSG will continue to retain majority ownership and operational control of the club, a release confirming the sale on Friday said. Sources with knowledge of the investment, speaking anonymously as they weren’t authorised to do so publicly, indicate there will be no change to the leadership or day-to-day operation of the club.
BREAKING: Kevin Lamour has left his position as chief operating officer at FIFA. Lamour’s departure comes after the FIFA executive released a statement to the Associated Press on July 31 criticising Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, amid the fallout from the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal. Lamour told AP that staff had been “deceived” by Infantino regarding the FFE plan, which would have seen world soccer’s governing body make stakes in the World Cup available for private investment. A FIFA spokesperson said in a statement to The Athletic: “FIFA can confirm that the working relationship between FIFA and Kevin Lamour as FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer has ended on 17 August 2026. “FIFA thanks Kevin for his two years of service and wishes him the best of luck for the future. “No further comment will be made on the matter.” Lamour, who previously worked with Infantino at UEFA, the governing body for European football, told AP in July: “It is the project of one person “Not only must this project not go ahead … but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions.” Lamour also said that we was prepared to lose his job over speaking out publicly. “If that means I lose my job, then so be it,” his statement to AP added. “I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.” Mattias Grafstrom, FIFA’s secretary general, informed staff at FIFA via email that Lamour would be leaving the organisation and also thanked him for his service. Lamour’s departure follows that of Infantino’s senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro, who resigned in July due to his opposition to the FFE plans.
2026 FIFA WORLD CUP QUARTER FINALS By: Babatunde Ajibade (World Cup correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade Twitter: ollyzjinx01 Instagram: sir_ajirowo01 As the tournament draws closer to its end, the excitement just keeps growing. The biggest players continue to show up on the biggest stage with brilliant goals, crunching tackles and unbelievable saves. The quarter-finals were no different. This World Cup may have been longer than previous editions, but one thing is certain—it has delivered. France took on Morocco in the opening quarter-final, and for me, Morocco gave France far too much respect. From the way the coach set up the team, it looked like they were more concerned about stopping France than hurting them. France, on the other hand, came out like a team on a mission. Mbappé missed a penalty in the first half, but that didn't stop him. He responded with a brilliant finish after the break to put France ahead. It was his eighth goal of the tournament, drawing him level at the top of the Golden Boot race. He has now scored 20 goals in World Cup history. At this rate, I honestly believe he will surpass Messi's record before he retires. Dembélé also got on the scoresheet to seal a 2-0 victory and send France into their third semi-final in the last three World Cups. You can already see they have one eye on another final, and I'm sure they'll be hoping for another meeting with Argentina to get revenge for that unforgettable defeat in the 2022 World Cup final. But before dreaming about that, they must first get past Spain. The 2010 World Cup winners, Spain, faced Belgium in the second quarter-final, and what a game it was. It started at a frantic pace, then slowed down for a while before bursting back into life again. Fabian Ruiz, a surprise starter with Pedri beginning on the bench, gave Spain the lead. Belgium responded just 11 minutes later through De Ketelaere. The second half belonged largely to Spain, but the biggest turning point came when Thibaut Courtois picked up an injury and had to be substituted. Lammens came on in goal, while Spain introduced their own game changer, Mikel Merino. Once again, just like he did against Portugal in the Round of 16, Merino delivered when his country needed him most. He reacted quickest after Cubarsí's effort slipped through Lammens' hands to score the winner and send Spain into their first World Cup semi-final since lifting the trophy in 2010. Can Spain go all the way again? One thing is worth remembering. Spain have beaten France in their last two meetings, including that memorable victory at the European Championship. So, I definitely wouldn't rule them out. But who do you think reaches the final? Let me know in the comments. Norway against England had all the ingredients of a classic. Haaland versus Kane. Ødegaard versus Bellingham. Everywhere you looked, those were the headlines, and thankfully, the match lived up to the hype. England controlled possession early on but struggled to break down Norway's disciplined defence. Everything changed after the hydration break. Norway became the better side, and they got their reward when Schjelderup's cross—well, I'm still not sure whether it was a cross or a shot—completely fooled Jordan Pickford and found the back of the net. I was just as confused as Pickford. Norway should have doubled their lead moments later, but Sørloth chose not to square the ball to Haaland. The Manchester City striker was unusually quiet for long spells and looked like he might produce another late moment of magic like he did against Brazil. Instead, it was his friend Jude Bellingham who stole the spotlight. Bellingham drove into the box from midfield, collected Gordon's cross and calmly slotted the ball into the far corner to level the score. Both goalkeepers then produced outstanding saves to force the game into extra time, but football can be cruel. The same man who rescued Norway against Brazil, goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland, became the villain. He spilled a straightforward effort from substitute Morgan Rogers, and Bellingham reacted quickest to fire home his second goal of the match. That took his tally to six goals at this World Cup. No English player has ever scored more non-penalty goals in a single World Cup than Jude Bellingham. Can the Three Lions finally win their second World Cup? The final quarter-final saw Argentina take on Switzerland in a match that was much tighter than many expected. The Swiss started brightly and looked the better side early on, but Argentina reminded everyone why they are the reigning world champions. Alexis Mac Allister, one of the shortest players on the pitch, rose highest to head home from a Lionel Messi corner and give La Albiceleste the lead. That assist was Messi's second of the tournament and his 10th in FIFA World Cup history. To Switzerland's credit, they never stopped believing. They continued to control large spells of the game and got the equaliser they deserved through Dan Ndoye early in the second half. However, the turning point came just minutes later when Breel Embolo received a second yellow card for simulation after a VAR mistaken-identity review. I honestly couldn't understand that decision from Embolo. Your team had Argentina under pressure, pushing for a winner, and you chose that moment to go down looking for a foul. For a player of his experience, it was a needless mistake that completely changed the game. With neither side able to separate themselves after 90 minutes, the match went into extra time. Switzerland gave everything, but Argentina's quality finally told in the second half of extra time. Julián Álvarez produced a stunning strike before Lautaro Martínez added the killer goal with a calm finish to seal a 3-1 victory. The reigning world champions are through to the semi-finals, where England now stand in their way. The Golden Boot race is becoming even more fascinating. At this rate, don't be surprised if the winner finishes with double figures. Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé lead the standings with eight goals each. Erling Haaland follows with seven, while Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are right behind on six. In the assist rankings, Michael Olise still leads the way with five assists. Semi-final Fixtures 🇫🇷 France 🆚 🇪🇸 Spain 🏴 England 🆚 🇦🇷 Argentina Who do you think will qualify for the final? Who has scored the best goal of the tournament so far? And which goalkeeper has produced the save of the tournament? We've seen some absolutely incredible stops throughout this competition. Overall, what has been your impression of the quarter-finals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Which moment stood out the most for you? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
It is the year 2025, and the frontrunner to win the Ballon d'Or is Ousmane Dembele, forward for Paris Saint-Germain and the France national team. The road to this point has been far from smooth, but this is the end point nonetheless. PSG are the undisputed and unquestionable kings of Europe, winning the European Cup in any format for the first time in their history - a significant feat not just for a team only founded in 1970, but one for the Qatari Sports Investment project which has been hell-bent on continental domination since their takeover in 2011. Luis Enrique's side will be remembered for years to come for their tiki taka-lite style based on fluidity and slick possession football, and at the forefront of their success has been Dembele. With the Ballon d'Or now judged on a seasonal basis - as should have always been the case, thank you, France Football - it is a campaign that should end with Dembele lifting the prestigious Golden Ball in his home country.
Historic Exchange Under Istanbul Agreement In the largest prisoner swap since the full-scale war began, Russia and Ukraine have each released 390 prisoners—comprising 270 military personnel and 120 civilians—as part of an overall 1,000-for-1,000 agreement negotiated during direct talks in Istanbul earlier in May. BBC+4www.ndtv.com+4Deutsche Welle+4Anadolu Ajansı+15Reuters+ Departures and Arrivals Ukrainian returnees arrived in the Chernihiv region, many visibly frail with shaved heads and draped in national flags, greeted by emotional reunions with relatives amid cheers and tears. Reuters+4 The Washington +4 The Daily Star +4. Some had been held in captivity for nearly two years. Russian returnees, including soldiers and civilians captured during a Ukrainian incursion into Kursk region, were first transported to Belarus for medical and psychological evaluation before being repatriated ussia. BBC+3Reuters+3 The Guardian +3. Emotional Homecomings and Lingering Uncertainty Families crowded the exchange sites, clutching photographs of missing loved ones, hoping for a clue from those stepping off the buses. One Ukrainian newly freed veteran, held for more than 830 days, encouraged others not to lose hope: “In every prison there are many guys who had no contact with their relatives. I was the same,” he said The Guardian+10The Washington Post+10The Guardian+10. But for many, the reunion came with heavy uncertainty about family members still unaccounted for. Political Messages and Future Prospects President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the swap as the only tangible outcome of the Istanbul talks and emphasized continued efforts to bring all detainees home. Hromadske The Washington PostThe Guardian. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov promised that Moscow would submit a draft peace proposal following the exchange but reiterated refusal of a ceasefire unless certain conditions were met—terms Ukraine has rejected, according to Reuters The Guardian. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who helped push for the Istanbul negotiations, congratulated both parties via his social media platform, calling the swap a possible step toward broader peace, though no ceasefire has been agreed upon, according to Reuters and the New York Post. Humanitarian Milestone Amid Ongoing Conflict This first phase swap underscores a rare moment of cooperation in a conflict that has otherwise deepened across Ukraine’s eastern and southern regions. While a few hundred lives have been restored to families, thousands remain in captivity, and both sides show no signs of halting hostilities. Negotiations may continue in coming days as both governments prepare for the next instalment of releases under the "1,000-for-1,000" agreement. For now, the tranche of 390 each represents the largest exchange of its kind since the war began.
Crystal Palace Vs Manchester United Preview By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade Twitter: ollyzjinx01 Instagram: sir_ajirowo01 Manchester United head to Selhurst Park under heavy pressure and even heavier scrutiny after a disastrous showing at Old Trafford against Everton. The boos that echoed around the stadium said it all. Losing 1–0 to a 10-man Everton side — and conceding after they went a man down — was embarrassing on every level. From the touchline to the pitch, it was shambolic. Many fans are asking the same question: How much more can the board tolerate before admitting the Amorim experiment has failed? United have not scored against Crystal Palace in their last four meetings — and after the lifeless performance against Everton, confidence isn’t exactly flowing. Starting a match with five defenders against a team reduced to ten men was baffling. Shifting Amad into unfamiliar positions didn’t help either. The tactical confusion is becoming a weekly theme, and now they travel to a stadium where their recent record is terrible. The international break may have come at the worst possible time. United had built momentum with 11 points from five Premier League games, but that form now looks like it was papering over deeper cracks — cracks that were fully exposed on Monday night. The Red Devils are barely hanging on to a top-half spot. They’ve failed to keep a clean sheet in five straight matches and continue to struggle away from home. Their London record is even worse: 16 losses in their last 26 Premier League games in the capital — the worst of any top-flight side during that period. A painful stat surfaced recently: Amorim: 9 wins in 35 Premier League games, Ten Hag (same period last year): 23 wins. The numbers speak for themselves. Poor in-game management. Poor structure. Poor identity. United ended the Everton defeat with 25 attempts — but scored none — while conceding from the only shot they faced. Their xG tells the same story: xG For: 20.1 → actual goals: 19 (two were own goals) Conversion rate: 10.4% — 7th worst in the league They create chances, but they can’t finish them. Crystal Palace, on the other hand, are flying. Only Arsenal have conceded fewer Premier League goals this season. Oliver Glasner’s side sit fifth and have kept three straight clean sheets against Wolves, Brentford, and Brighton. Their defensive confidence is sky-high, and recent history backs it up: Three wins in their last four league games vs Man United (D1) Two wins in their last four at Selhurst Park vs Man United Opta supercomputer predictions says Palace to win is 54.1% United aren’t just underdogs, they’re clear underdogs. So here we are again, asking what has become a weekly question for Manchester United supporters: Will this team finally show 90 minutes of concentration and courage or will they crumble, invite pressure, and rely on another desperate comeback attempt? Comment below with your score predictions! Manchester United record against Crystal Palace: Games won: 41 Games drawn: 14 Games lost: 13 Team News: (As of today 29/11/2025,) Crystal Palace: Caleb Kporha, Borna Sosa, Cheick Doucoure , Chadi Riad and Rio Cardines are out for this game. Manchester United: Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Harry Maguire are out for this game. Prediction: United sometimes deliver when everyone has written them off, and they should have more energy than Palace. But this team has a habit of sleeping through the first half, and Selhurst Park is a brutal place for a team low on confidence. Crystal Palace 1-1 Manchester United.
Arsenal and Manchester City played out a dramatic 1-1 draw on Sunday, with the two Premier League rivals unable to be separated through 98 or so minutes. Erling Haaland had given the visitors an early lead, before Pep Guardiola remarkably decided to park the bus to try and sneak the win. Those efforts went up in smoke in added time as Gabriel Martinelli scored to clinch a point for the Gunners. Having both slipped up domestically already this season, this wasn't quite a 'must win' affair for either side, but definitely more of a 'must not lose'. In the end, perhaps a draw in which neither team showed much attacking endeavour will please both parties. City seemed content to sit in and create chances on the break, while Arsenal didn't exactly throw the kitchen sink at their visitors in order to force the leveller. It was a pretty just outcome and neither can really have any complaints about how it ended.
Everton Vs Manchester United Preview By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade Twitter: ollyzjinx01 Instagram: sir_ajirowo01 A wonderful response to our opening-day defeat was exactly what was needed in our last match. A 7-goal thriller has definitely pushed the narrative that the team was not ready for the season to the bin. The final day of the transfer window might not have gone the way the supporters wanted, but the motivation and anticipation for the next match against Everton have not wavered. The David Moyes derby takes centre stage on Sunday, when Everton welcome Manchester United to the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Premier League Gameweek Three. The Toffees maintained their unbeaten record in 2026-27 with a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth last time out, while the Red Devils got off the mark in emphatic fashion with a 5-2 crushing of Ipswich Town. On the matter of the club, the fans were clearly not happy that a left-back was not signed during the final days of the transfer window. The club made a few enquiries on the last day but decided that they would take care of it in the January transfer window. The fans are angry about it because this was exactly what was said last season, and we didn't end up signing anybody in the January transfer window. With this season having so many fixtures and Luke Shaw not giving the fans any confidence that he can survive until January without an injury, you can understand the fans' anxiety. Even though Dorgu was registered as a left-back, he has played more as a winger under Carrick than as a left-back. I guess that's why the club did not get a left-back. We are all happy about the midfield rebuild done this season and the attack that was strengthened last season, but we are a big club. We should fix all our glaring problems once and for all so that we can quickly build a team that can compete. Tell me what you think of our transfer activity. How do you rate it? The Red Devils' triumph over the Tractor Boys took them up to 42 points since Carrick took over from Ruben Amorim—more than any other team in that time—and the Englishman could now become just the sixth Premier League manager to win 45 points from his first 20 matches during a single spell at a club. Even if Man Utd fall behind again on Sunday, disaster may not strike. The last time the visitors conceded the first goal in their first three Premier League games of the season was in 2012-13, the last time they conquered the league. Last season, the two games ended with a 1-0 win for each side. United won at the Hill Dickinson with a late Sesko goal. Will Manchester United be able to continue the winning streak at this new Everton home ground? The wily Scotsman is unlikely to be overjoyed at the prospect of a reunion with his former employers, having suffered 23 defeats as a manager against Manchester United in the Premier League—only Harry Redknapp (24) has lost more. However, Moyes has overseen a praiseworthy beginning to 2026-27 for the home side, who followed up an opening success over Crystal Palace and an EFL Cup crushing of Preston North End with a comeback draw against Bournemouth. As the owners face a fan revolt after a nightmarish end to the transfer window, Everton are now just 90 minutes away from winning back-to-back Premier League matches at the Hill Dickinson Stadium for just the second time ever. However, not since the 2021-22 season have they prevailed in their first two top-flight home fixtures. With Grealish, Maitland-Niles and Brennan Johnson, who likes scoring against Manchester United, arriving, and Ndiaye leaving, Everton will have a new-look attack on Sunday against Manchester United. Will Manchester United start better and be fitter against Everton? Will they find a way to win on Sunday? Drop your predictions below. Manchester United record against Everton: Games won: 97 Games drawn: 48 Games lost: 72 Team News: (As of today, 06/09/2026) Everton: Christian Norgaard out through injury. Manchester United: Amad Diallo, Matthias De Ligt, Ugarte, Tom Heaton, and Karl Darlow are out through injury. PREDICTION After the first two games, both Everton and Manchester United have recorded six direct attacks each, so I expect chances to come for both teams on Sunday. But after the disappointment at Hull and the way we responded against Ipswich, I believe United now have the confidence and attacking quality to cause Everton problems. If we play like we did in our last game, I can see us getting the win and handing Moyes his first defeat of the season. Everton 1-2 Manchester United.
2026 FIFA WORLD CUP THIRD PLACE By: Babatunde Ajibade (World Cup correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade Twitter: ollyzjinx01 Instagram: sir_ajirowo01 Like I have always said, this tournament has not failed to deliver. There were plenty of people who believed the third-place match would lack intensity because the two teams involved would have little motivation to play. Well, the scoreline told a completely different story. France took on England in the third-place playoff and, for me, France only had themselves to blame for how they approached the first half. Some people might argue that England simply outclassed them, and that's fair, but I think France made it far too easy. This was Didier Deschamps' final game in charge, yet the French players never looked up for it. They were sluggish, careless and lacked urgency from the opening whistle. I wasn't even surprised when they conceded after just two minutes. Declan Rice capitalised on a misplaced pass, drove forward and unleashed a brilliant strike from outside the box to give England the perfect start. Rice then turned provider for England's second goal, delivering a corner that Ezri Konsa buried with ease. Konaté looked like a shadow of himself throughout the first half. Then Theo Hernández seemed to say, "Konaté, I can do even worse." Bukayo Saka added England's third after another piece of poor defending, and the fourth goal was even more embarrassing. The entire French defence switched off as Eberechi Eze skipped past Zaïre-Emery before slipping Saka through for his second of the game. To put it simply, France were dreadful in the first half. The second half was a completely different story—or should I say it was the response everyone expected. Four substitutions. Yes, four. They were badly needed. France looked far more like themselves after the break, but unfortunately for them, the damage had already been done. Kylian Mbappé pulled one back after being played through brilliantly by Michael Olise. Not long after, Mbappé returned the favour with an excellent through ball of his own, and Bradley Barcola produced a superb finish to make it 4-2. Mbappé wasn't finished. He grabbed his second goal of the match to take his tally to 10 goals at this World Cup, becoming only the fourth player in history to score 10 or more goals in a single World Cup tournament and the first to achieve the feat in 56 years. He has now scored 22 goals in World Cup history. At this rate, I genuinely believe he will eventually surpass Lionel Messi's record, whatever number Messi eventually finishes on. France had more than enough opportunities to level the game, but their finishing let them down. Instead, England were awarded a penalty. Saka stepped up confidently and completed his first-ever World Cup hat-trick. At that point, most of us thought the game was over. But Upamecano, who came on in the second half and clearly treated the match with the seriousness it deserved, played a brilliant pass to send Ousmane Dembélé through on goal. Dembélé sat the defender down before calmly slotting the ball beyond Dean Henderson. France were suddenly on the front foot and looked capable of completing an incredible comeback. Then Jude Bellingham happened. He won possession in midfield, drove straight at the French defence, twisted Lacroix inside out and fired his shot through the legs of Upamecano to cap off an incredible 10-goal thriller. Bellingham also became the first English midfielder in World Cup history to score seven goals. In fact, he is now the first England player ever to score seven goals in a single World Cup tournament. It also became the highest-scoring third-place match in FIFA World Cup history. So, for a match many expected to be nothing more than a formality, it ended up producing goals, drama and several historic records. Hopefully, the final gives us even more. As it stands now, we await the... Final 🇪🇸 Spain 🆚 🇦🇷 Argentina The Golden Boot race is still alive, although it now appears to be a battle between two familiar names. Kylian Mbappé leads the standings with 10 goals and four assists, while Lionel Messi has eight goals and four assists of his own. Just as expected, the third-place match ended up playing a huge role in both the Golden Boot and Top Assist races. In the assist rankings, Michael Olise finished the tournament with seven assists. 𝐌𝐈𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐄𝐋 𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐒 𝐏𝐄𝐋𝐄'𝐒 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐂𝐔𝐏 𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝟕 𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐒. Who do you think will lift the World Cup trophy? Who deserves to win the Young Player of the Tournament award? Who has scored the best goal of the tournament so far? For me, it's still Jude Bellingham's goal against France. And which goalkeeper has produced the save of the tournament? We've seen some absolutely incredible stops throughout this competition. Overall, what have you made of the third-place match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Which moment stood out the most for you? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
2026 FIFA WORLD CUP ROUND OF 32 By: Babatunde Ajibade (World Cup correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade Twitter: ollyzjinx01 Instagram: sir_ajirowo01 The Round of 32 certainly didn't disappoint. It had everything—goals, extra time, penalties, red cards, and, as expected, a few major shocks. New records were created, others were broken, and even though this is the first World Cup to feature a Round of 32, we've already seen more goals at this stage than in the previous edition. The opening match saw co-hosts Canada edge South Africa thanks to a late winner from co-captain Stephen Eustáquio. That victory sends Canada into the Round of 16 for the first time in their history. They will now face Morocco in what promises to be another exciting encounter. Next up was Brazil against Japan. What a game that was. Japan stunned Brazil early with a brilliant long-range strike from Asano, but Brazil responded like the tournament favourites they are. Casemiro brought them level before Martinelli scored a dramatic last-minute winner to seal a 2-1 victory. Brazil remains one of the favourites, although they'll have a tricky Round of 16 clash against Norway. Now to the biggest shock of the round. Paraguay knocked Germany out on penalties. The match finished 1-1 after Enciso's first-half header gave Paraguay the lead before Havertz equalised with the slightest of touches. After 30 minutes of extra time couldn't separate them, penalties followed, and Orlando Gill stole the show. The 198cm Paraguayan goalkeeper produced save after save in a shootout that fans won't forget anytime soon. Germany has now been eliminated in the knockout stages of three consecutive major tournaments since winning the World Cup. Paraguay now faces France in the Round of 16, their first appearance at this stage since 2010. Then came another blockbuster as the Netherlands faced Morocco, and once again, the African side pulled off a huge result. The Dutch went ahead through Cody Gakpo, who had sadly lost his baby just a day earlier. May God continue to strengthen him and his family. After scoring, he broke down in tears before his teammates lifted him in celebration. It was a truly emotional moment. But Morocco had the final say as Diop equalised with virtually the last kick of the game. The penalty shootout then became the Bono show, as Morocco booked their place in the Round of 16. How far do you think Morocco can go in this tournament? Let me know in the comments. Norway against Ivory Coast left me frustrated. Once again, I have to say African teams still have a long way to go when it comes to game management under African coaches. How do you dominate large spells of a match, respond brilliantly after going behind to Nusa's stunning opener through Diallo's excellent equaliser, and then decide to sit back? Instead of taking control of the midfield and pushing for the winner, they invited pressure. It was disappointing to watch. Meanwhile, the Vikings continue their impressive World Cup run. Haaland found the net again, even if it was a funny little tap-in. But a goal is a goal. How far do you see Norway going? And how many more goals will Haaland score? Drop your thoughts in the comments. As expected, France comfortably defeated Sweden. Mbappé scored twice to take his tally to six goals in the tournament, while Barcola added another. However, Michael Olise was the real star with two assists. Mbappé has now scored 18 World Cup goals, making him the second-highest scorer in World Cup history behind Messi. Looking at this French squad, who is stopping them? Mexico defeated Ecuador thanks to two quick first-half goals from Quiñones and Jiménez. Ecuador's task became even harder when Hincapié was sent off for covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent, an offence under the tournament's new communication rule. He became the second player to receive a red card for it after Paraguay's Miguel Almirón. Mexico now faces England in what, for me, is one of the big Round of 16 fixtures. England has to improve if they seriously want to beat co-hosts Mexico, let alone win a second World Cup. They looked far too rigid against DR Congo, who gave everything despite making the mistake I've spoken about before—African teams dropping too deep when they should keep attacking. DR Congo shocked England with an early goal from Cipenga, but Harry Kane's brace eventually rescued the Three Lions. Thomas Tuchel still has plenty of work to do because, if these performances continue, the English media will soon be saying Gareth Southgate did a better job. The match of the round was undoubtedly Belgium against Senegal. It was brilliant entertainment for the neutrals but absolutely heartbreaking for Senegal. Imagine leading 2-0 in the 85th minute, only to draw in normal time and eventually lose in extra time. Senegal has nobody else to blame but themselves, especially the coach. He took off key players, thinking the game was already won. Belgium punished them and reminded everyone why many consider them the tournament's dark horses. To be fair, Rudi Garcia also took a huge gamble by substituting De Bruyne and Doku while trailing by two goals, but somehow it all worked out. Lukaku was back on the scoresheet as he continues to regain both fitness and confidence. But the biggest credit goes to Tielemans, whose brace completed the remarkable comeback. Belgium will now meet co-hosts the USA. Despite going down to ten men, the USA defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 to set up that clash with Belgium. The Americans will, however, be without their leading scorer, Folarin Balogun, after his red card against Bosnia. Can the USA reach the quarter-finals? Spain showed their quality against Austria with a comfortable 3-0 victory. Oyarzabal scored twice before Porro wrapped things up with a brilliant header. The European champions finally look like they've found their rhythm. They'll now face Portugal in one of the standout ties of the Round of 16. I genuinely can't wait for that one. Portugal versus Croatia was also a meeting between two legends—Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić, the oldest players representing their respective countries. I won't lie, the first half was difficult to watch, but everything changed after the water break. Perišić put Croatia ahead before Ronaldo converted from the penalty spot to score his first-ever World Cup knockout goal, becoming the oldest player to do so. Then came the drama. Gonçalo Ramos gave Portugal the lead in the 94th minute. Because of the celebrations and the VAR review for the penalty, the added time stretched well beyond the original ten minutes. Right at the end, Joško Gvardiol thought he had forced extra time, only for the new ball technology to detect the faintest touch from a Croatian attacker, making the goal offside. Technology truly saved this game. Hopefully, Roberto Martínez finally finds the right balance for this talented Portugal squad because if he doesn't, they may regret appointing him. Switzerland defeated Algeria thanks to early goals in each half from Embolo and Ndoye. Algeria actually controlled much of the game but struggled to break down the Swiss defence, making the match feel a little flat overall. Egypt became the second African nation to reach the Round of 16 after beating Australia on penalties following a 1-1 draw. Ashour gave Egypt the lead before an own goal from Hany levelled things up. Unfortunately for Hany, it was already his second own goal of the tournament. Mohamed Salah confidently converted a Panenka during the shootout, while misses from Souttar and Herrington secured Egypt's place in the next round. Argentina against Cape Verde produced yet another fantastic match. Messi and his teammates eventually edged what has easily been Africa's most entertaining team. The tiny island nation pushed the defending champions into extra time and even produced what might be the goal of the tournament through left-back Sidney López. They may be heading home, but they leave with their heads held high. Even the Argentine supporters applauded them at full-time. Vozinha was outstanding once again between the posts. Messi now has seven goals in the tournament and has become the first player to score in eight consecutive World Cup matches. Cape Verde did not lose a match in 90 minutes in this tournament. What a team. Argentina will now face another African side, Egypt. Can Egypt go one better than Cape Verde and eliminate the world champions? Let me know what you think. Colombia vs Ghana brought the curtain down on an unforgettable Round of 32. The game got off to a worrying start, with two players forced off through injury inside the opening 12 minutes—a first in FIFA World Cup history, making it a new tournament record. Jhon Arias broke the deadlock with his first-ever World Cup goal, but Ghana's goalkeeper was the real standout performer, producing a string of outstanding saves to keep his side in the contest. In the end, Colombia did just enough to book their place in the Round of 16, where Switzerland now awaits. The Golden Boot race is heating up. Lionel Messi leads with seven goals. Behind him are Kylian Mbappé with six, while Erling Haaland and Harry Kane both have five. In the assist rankings, Michael Olise leads the way with five assists. Round of 16 Fixtures 🇨🇦 Canada 🆚 🇲🇦 Morocco 🇵🇾 Paraguay 🆚 🇫🇷 France 🇧🇷 Brazil 🆚 🇳🇴 Norway 🇲🇽 Mexico 🆚 🏴 England 🇵🇹 Portugal 🆚 🇪🇸 Spain 🇺🇸 USA 🆚 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇦🇷 Argentina 🆚 🇪🇬 Egypt 🇨🇭 Switzerland 🆚 🇨🇴 Colombia Who do you think will qualify for the quarter-finals? Who has scored the best goal of the tournament so far? And which goalkeeper has produced the save of the tournament? We've seen some absolutely incredible stops. Overall, what has been your impression of the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Which moment stood out the most for you? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
IS CARRICK THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB? By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade Twitter: ollyzjinx01 Instagram: sir_ajirowo01 What a season it has been. Honestly, who would have thought Manchester United would finish third with the way this season started? And yes, that includes the opening game against Arsenal and the PGMOL madness that followed. But beyond finishing third, there are actual signs of improvement. United scored 69 league goals this season compared to just 44 last season. That alone tells you there has been serious progress in attack and that the reshuffling of the frontline actually worked. The football became more entertaining to watch, more direct, and at times far more dangerous. The biggest issue is still the defence. We conceded 50 goals compared to 54 last season. Yes, it is four fewer goals, and replacing Onana with Lammens definitely helped to stabilize things a bit, but let’s tell ourselves the truth — it is still not good enough for Manchester United. We still need defensive improvement badly. And before people misunderstand me, yes, Lammens is definitely an upgrade on Onana, but I still believe United need another experienced goalkeeper. There are too many moments where he stays rooted or reacts late. At the top level, especially in the Champions League, those moments punish you. For the midfield, Ederson is reportedly close, which is a good start. Two more midfielders are still needed in my opinion. The rumours are that United want seven signings this summer, and honestly, that sounds about right. Three midfielders. A left-back. A centre-back. A left winger. And another striker. That should be the focus. The important thing now is recruitment. Proper recruitment. Smart recruitment. Not panic buying or overpaying for players that do not fit the team. Hopefully Jason Wilcox and the recruitment team continue the good work from last summer and do not lower the standards again. Now to the man of the moment — Michael Carrick. First of all, he deserves credit. When he came in as interim manager, I honestly did not expect this level of turnaround. I was thinking maybe fourth or fifth at best, especially considering the mess the team was in under Ruben Amorim towards the end. But Carrick steadied the ship. Not only did he stabilize the dressing room, he got results immediately. Finishing third from that position is not a small achievement no matter how anybody wants to look at it. Whether things work out long-term or not, this spell has massively improved his CV. He also won his first official game after being announced as permanent head coach against Brighton, with United winning 3-0 through goals from Dorgu, Mbeumo, and my player of the season, Bruno Fernandes. And honestly, it was one of the more comfortable United performances we have seen in a while, despite Carrick having to improvise in midfield with Mount operating deeper. Michael Carrick’s numbers during his interim spell are genuinely impressive. Michael Carrick’s Record (2025/26) Matches: 16 Wins: 12 Draws: 3 Losses: 1 Win Percentage: 75% That is elite-level form. His run included massive results, including doing the league double over Liverpool. He also became the first English manager to win eight of his first nine Premier League home games. Even more impressive was his points-per-game average of 2.25, which helped drag United back into the Champions League places. Tactically, Carrick completely abandoned Amorim’s back-three system and returned to a possession-based 4-2-3-1. And to be fair, it suited the players much better. United looked quicker in transition, sharper on the counterattack, and far more comfortable in possession. The short passing combinations improved massively, and players like Bruno Fernandes were given freedom to attack spaces and dictate transitions. Kobbie Mainoo also benefited from Carrick’s system because he was allowed to control tempo deeper during buildup phases instead of constantly being forced into advanced areas. Carrick also showed flexibility. Against stronger opponents, he occasionally adjusted shapes and became more pragmatic instead of sticking stubbornly to one idea. All of this sounds positive. And based purely on results, it is hard to argue against the appointment. But this is where my concerns begin. I am not saying Carrick is a bad coach. Far from it. Anybody that can walk into that chaos midway through the season and finish third clearly has something about him. But the real question is this: Will this style survive across an entire season? That is the big concern. Bruno Fernandes himself recently admitted that Carrick gives the players a lot of freedom on the pitch. While that can help confidence and creativity, it also creates another problem — there is no clearly defined attacking structure. At times, it feels like United simply rely on moments, transitions, and individual brilliance. Yes, counterattacking football suits the current squad. Yes, it has worked against Premier League teams. But what happens in the Champions League? What happens against teams like PSG, Bayern Munich, or Real Madrid that can dominate possession and punish tactical chaos? You cannot survive at the highest level with hopeful football forever. There needs to be a stronger structure in possession, especially when games slow down and transitions disappear. And this is why I keep asking: Did the board appoint Carrick because of emotions? Because of results? Or because there is an actual long-term football plan in place? Because we have seen this cycle before. The players liking the manager is not enough to compete for 38 league games, Champions League football, and domestic cups. We have seen these same players turn on managers before. To be fair to Carrick though, he adapted quickly in just 16 matches. His in-game management improved as time went on, even though there are still concerns about substitutions and some starting lineups. So there is definitely room for growth. My other major concern is the board itself. And honestly, they worry me just as much as anything happening on the pitch. They forced Amorim into the job mid-season despite him openly saying the squad could not play his preferred system. Then they failed to properly back him with the profiles he needed. Instead, they bought for the club rather than for the manager. Will they truly support Carrick now? Will they give him players that genuinely improve the team and help United compete for trophies next season? Or will this become another typical Manchester United transfer window where quantity is prioritized over actual quality just because the club qualified for Europe again? That is the fear. Carrick has been given a two-year contract, and honestly, I think that is the right decision. It gives him enough time to build something without trapping the club into another long-term situation if things go wrong. Maybe the board have finally learned from the mistakes made with Amorim. Personally, if Carrick is properly supported in the market, I believe another top-four finish is realistic next season, alongside a serious cup challenge. But football changes quickly. One good season means nothing if the club stops progressing again. That is why I am managing my expectations. Supporting Manchester United over the last few years has taught fans not to get carried away too early because we have seen promising moments collapse before. Still, there is something about Carrick that gives hope. Maybe it is the calmness. Maybe it is the connection with the players. Maybe it is simply because, for the first time in a while, United actually looked like a football team again. Now the real challenge begins. Give us your thoughts. Is Michael Carrick truly the right man for Manchester United? What should he improve next season? And what are your expectations going into the new campaign?
