Sports Groove

  By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye        The Chairman of the Youth Development Commission of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Sule Oluyemi, has reaffirmed the federation's commitment to discovering, developing and monitoring young talents across Nigeria. He made this statement in an exclusive interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG's Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye describing the just concluded Dynamic Athletics Meet as a major platform for identifying future stars. Oluyemi, showered praises on the organisers for creating an independent platform where athletes can compete and showcase their potential. “I can tell you it is very impressive. The athletes are still up and doing, and I say kudos to the organisers of this meet,” Oluyemi said. Oluyemi, who is also the coach of Team Nigeria Athletics, emphasized that the importance of the Dynamic Athletics Meet extends beyond the staging of competitions, as its age-group events provid...

By Maxwell Kumoye   Nigeria booked their place in the quarterfinals of the 2026 African Beach Volleyball Nations Championship after defeating hosts Egypt 2-0 in the Round of 16 in Alexandria on Friday. The Nigerian pair of Esther Mbah and Pamela Bawa produced an impressive display to overcome the former African champions 21-17, 21-16 and send Nigeria into the last eight. Mbah and Bawa made a confident start to the opening set, applying early pressure on the Egyptian duo and maintaining their composure to secure a 21-17 victory. The Nigerians carried that momentum into the second set, controlling the crucial stages of the contest before completing a 21-16 win to seal their quarterfinal berth. The victory also marked a strong response from Nigeria following their defeat to Morocco in their final group-stage match. Nigeria Volleyball Federation board member Chinedu Onikeku (OLY) praised the players for their performance, saying their victory had given Nigerians back home r...

Williams team principal James Vowles has admitted he was concerned the Formula One team could lose both Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz before the drivers committed their futures to the former champions. Vowles made the revelation ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix after Williams announced new contracts for both drivers this week, describing the extensions as “incredibly important” at a time when the team’s fortunes have taken a sharp downturn. Williams finished fifth in last year’s constructors’ championship but have struggled for consistency this season and currently sit ninth in the 11-team standings with just 11 points. Sainz has contributed six points, while Albon has scored five. The futures of both drivers had attracted attention amid Williams’ difficult campaign. Sainz, a four-time Formula One race winner during his time with Ferrari, had been linked with a possible move to Audi before agreeing a multi-year extension with Williams. The Spaniard said on Thursday that he had t...

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has welcomed Marcus Rashford back to first-team training, praising the forward’s attitude and physical condition as speculation continues over his future at Old Trafford. Rashford has returned to his boyhood club after a turbulent period that began in December 2024, when he fell out of favour under then-manager Ruben Amorim. The England international subsequently spent spells on loan at Aston Villa and Barcelona over the past 18 months. His return comes with the new Premier League campaign fast approaching, putting Rashford firmly under the spotlight as United assess their plans for the 28-year-old forward. Carrick, however, has been encouraged by what he has seen since Rashford rejoined the squad, particularly the player’s approach and readiness for the demands of pre-season. Rashford’s future remains one of the major talking points surrounding United, but the forward has made clear that he would prefer the focus to remain on his f...

Brazilian football icon Ronaldinho arrived in Italy on Thursday following his surprise move to Serie C club Ravenna FC, where he has also acquired a stake in the team. The 46-year-old former Brazil international touched down at Forli airport shortly after midday ahead of an official squad presentation later in the day, marking the beginning of his involvement with the Italian third-tier side. Ronaldinho was part of Brazil's celebrated 2002 World Cup-winning squad and enjoyed an illustrious club career with Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and AC Milan. He won the Ballon d'Or in 2005 and remains one of the most recognisable figures in world football. His involvement with Ravenna was announced in June after the club's owner and Ronaldinho's close friend, Ignazio Cipriani, brought the former superstar on board. Cipriani has ambitious plans to guide Ravenna into Serie A, a level the club has never reached. Although Ronaldinho is officially part of the project, Cip...

Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany has sought to reassure fans over Jamal Musiala’s health after the Germany international collapsed during two successive pre-season matches. Kompany explained that a recent change in the 23-year-old midfielder’s treatment for a neurological disorder contributed to the episodes, insisting there was no immediate reason for alarm. Musiala collapsed just six minutes after being introduced as a substitute during Bayern’s 4-2 friendly victory over Heidenheim on Tuesday. The midfielder received medical attention on the pitch before being helped off. The incident came only days after Musiala had also gone down during Bayern’s 3-1 win over RB Leipzig on Saturday, raising concerns about his condition. Musiala revealed earlier this week that he had been diagnosed with the neurological disorder, describing the episodes as “currently part of my everyday life.” Speaking ahead of Bayern’s German Supercup clash with Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, Kom...

Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement with Manchester City over the signing of Brazil international Savinho for an initial £75 million, according to reports in the British media. The deal is understood to include a further £10 million in performance-related add-ons, potentially taking the overall value of the transfer to £85 million. The move comes a year after Tottenham made an unsuccessful attempt to bring the winger to north London. Savinho, who joined City after making a name for himself in Spain, featured 24 times in the Premier League last season. His pace, direct running and ability to operate on either flank are expected to add greater attacking variety to Tottenham's squad. The north London club are also reportedly continuing negotiations with Manchester City over a potential move for Egypt international Omar Marmoush as they look to further strengthen their attacking options. Savinho would become the latest high-profile addition to a Tottenham squad alre...

Cape Verde have appointed Humberto Bettencourt as their new head coach following the departure of Bubista, who guided the island nation to a historic run at last month’s World Cup in North America. Bettencourt, 51, steps into the role after serving as an assistant coach with the national team. He has been part of the coaching setup for the past six years and played a key role in the team’s development during that period. Cape Verde emerged as one of the surprise packages of the tournament, reaching the knockout stage on their World Cup debut. Their campaign eventually came to an end in extra time against Argentina, following an impressive run through the group phase and first-round stage. The appointment marks a promotion for Bettencourt, who will now take charge of a team that has gained international recognition after its breakthrough World Cup campaign. The Cape Verdean Football Federation did not disclose the length or financial terms of Bettencourt’s contract. Bubista ...

By Maxwell Kumoye    Nigeria’s D’Tigers will face a stern test as the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers enter the second round, with five tickets to the global showpiece in Qatar up for grabs. The second round brings together 12 of Africa’s leading basketball nations, divided into Group E and Group F, with the fourth qualifying window scheduled for August 24 to September 1, 2026. Nigeria has been drawn in Group E alongside Cameroon, South Sudan, Guinea, Tunisia and Cape Verde, with the group’s games taking place in Radès, Tunisia. D’Tigers will begin their campaign against Cameroon on August 27 before facing South Sudan the following day. Their final game of the window will be against Cape Verde on August 30. Other fixtures in the group will see Guinea face South Sudan and Tunisia take on Cabo Verde on August 27. On August 28, Cameroon will battle Tunisia, while Cabo Verde will meet Guinea. The final day of action on August 30 features Guinea agains...

The Qatar Football Association (QFA) has renewed its criticism of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), expressing concern over the body’s decision to sign a joint letter with UEFA and CONCACAF that questioned FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s leadership without consulting its member associations. The controversy centres on a letter signed by the three confederations that criticised Infantino’s handling of a failed proposal to introduce private investment into the FIFA World Cup. The move triggered an open dispute within football’s governing circles, with the FIFA president — who is expected to seek re-election next year — facing growing opposition over his leadership style. QFA President Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, a long-time supporter of Infantino, said the AFC’s response to Qatar’s initial complaint had failed to address key concerns and instead “raised considerably more questions than it answers.” Qatar was among six AFC members that publicly backed Infantino during ...

Lionel Messi marked his return to the scoresheet with an emotional goal as Inter Miami battled to a 2-2 draw against Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night, his first strike since the passing of his father earlier this month. The Argentine superstar delivered a moment of brilliance in the 26th minute at Subaru Park, escaping his marker before calmly firing a left-footed effort into the net to put Miami ahead 2-1 before the break. Messi was immediately surrounded by his teammates in a touching celebration after the goal. The 39-year-old forward had already made his influence felt earlier in the contest, providing the assist for Miami’s opening goal on a challenging night marked by intense heat and humidity in Pennsylvania. The goal carried special significance for Messi, who paid a heartfelt tribute to his late father last week, admitting the loss had left him struggling to imagine life without him. The result brought an end to Inter Miami’s three-match losing streak as the r...

World number one Aryna Sabalenka’s preparations for her U.S. Open title defence suffered a major blow after she was stunned by Czech teenager Sara Bejlek at the Cincinnati Open, while American Tommy Paul produced a remarkable comeback to eliminate third seed Alexander Zverev. Bejlek, ranked outside the top 100, delivered the biggest victory of her career with a 7-6(7), 6-4 triumph over the reigning world number one in the round of 16. The 20-year-old showed remarkable composure after falling behind in both sets, fighting back from 5-1 down in the opening-set tiebreak and recovering from a 4-1 deficit in the second set to complete one of the tournament’s biggest upsets. Bejlek sealed the victory in just over two hours to record her first career win against a top-10 opponent and book a quarter-final meeting with fellow Grand Slam champion Madison Keys. The defeat also opened the door for Elena Rybakina to reclaim the world number one ranking. The Kazakh player will move to th...

Paris Saint-Germain are poised to extend their remarkable reign over French football, with the reigning champions overwhelming favourites to secure a record-equalling sixth consecutive Ligue 1 title despite growing ambitions among their domestic rivals to end their dominance. The Paris giants, who have also lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy in each of the last two seasons, have strengthened their squad once again with a series of high-profile additions as they target a 15th French league crown. Among their latest recruits is Spain international Ferran Torres, who scored the decisive goal in last month’s World Cup final. PSG have also secured the services of France internationals Maghnes Akliouche and Lucas Digne, while Belgian forward Mika Godts joined the club this week from Ajax Amsterdam. Backed by significant Qatari investment, PSG continue to possess the financial power and global appeal needed to attract elite talent, allowing them to maintain their position as ...

Atletico Madrid will hope for a swift resolution to the future of wantaway forward Julian Alvarez following their limp attacking display despite a 2-0 home win over promoted Malaga in their opening LaLiga fixture on Wednesday. Midfielder ‌Lee Kang-in scored 13 minutes after coming off the bench for his debut as he cut inside from the right wing and curled his shot into the top corner of the net, before Alex Baena’s wonderful free kick ended the contest. The goals were two moments of supreme quality in an otherwise limp attacking display that will be of concern for coach Diego Simeone amid what appears an impasse with Alvarez. The Argentine forward has made no secret of his desire to leave the club for Barcelona, saying during the recent World Cup it would "fulfil my dream". With Antoine Griezmann having left for Major League Soccer and ⁠Alexander Sorloth sidelined by a muscle injury, Atletico lacked a sharp edge up front, with Ademola Lookman, usually a winger, pl...

...Heads to court to stop September polls in Lafia  By Maxwell Kumoye    Former Green Eagles captain and Nigerian football icon Segun Odegbami has described the current state of Nigerian football as the worst period in the country’s history, as he prepares to approach the court in a bid to stop the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) from conducting its scheduled September 27 election. Odegbami, a Member of the Order of Niger and multiple award-winning sports ambassador, is leading calls for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s football architecture, insisting that the country must address the structural and administrative problems confronting the sport before proceeding with another election. The former international strongly believes conducting the election without first addressing the fundamental issues within the football administration could produce the same results that, in his view, have contributed to the decline of Nigerian football. “My involvement da...

  By Maxwell Kumoye   Former Green Eagles defender and 1980 Africa Cup of Nations gold medallist Kadiri Ikhana has called on the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to establish a welfare scheme for elderly former Nigerian internationals. Ikhana wants the government to introduce a monthly allowance for ex-internationals aged 70 and above to cushion the effects of the country’s economic hardship and provide them with greater financial security in their later years. Speaking to Sports Unlimited, the former CAF Coach of the Year said many retired players were struggling financially, not necessarily because they had been abandoned, but because of the rising cost of living. “Look at me, like so many of our colleagues, we served the country and won laurels. I’m not saying we didn’t get our due benefits, but at our old age, we should depend on a system that depended on us in our youth,” Ikhana said. He appealed to NSC Chairman Shehu Dikk...

  By Maxwell Kumoye      No fewer than 700 athletes from Kwara State’s 16 Local Government Areas are expected to compete in 31 sporting events at the 8th edition of the Kwara State Sports Festival. The festival, scheduled for August 21 to 29, 2026, will take place at the George Agbazika Innih Stadium Complex, Ilorin, with the Kwara State Sports Commission unveiling the official logo and mascot for the event on Tuesday. Speaking during the unveiling ceremony, Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission and Chairman of the Main Organising Committee, Mallam Bola Mogaji, commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for creating opportunities for young athletes to develop their talents through sports. Mogaji also appreciated the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the chairmen of the 16 Local Government Areas for their support towards youth and sports development. He recalled the history of the National Sports Festival and Kwara’...

Former France midfielder Patrick Vieira has been appointed head coach of Senegal, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) said on Tuesday. Vieira, who was born in Senegal's capital ‌Dakar, succeeds Pape Thiaw, whose tenure ended after Senegal's elimination from this year's World Cup in the round of 32. The 50-year-old takes charge of a national team for the first time after coaching stints at clubs in England, France and Italy. Vieira managed Crystal Palace in the Premier League and French sides Nice and Strasbourg, while also spending a brief ‌spell ⁠in charge of Serie A club Genoa. One of France's most decorated midfielders, Vieira was part of the team that won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, earning more than 100 caps for ⁠the national side. At club level, he is best known for his spell with Arsenal, where he made more than 400 appearances and won ⁠three Premier League titles.

Juventus have signed goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario from Tottenham Hotspur on a season-long loan, the ‌Serie A club and their Premier League counterparts said on Tuesday. The deal includes an option for Juve to make the move permanent ⁠at the end of the season, Tottenham said. Vicario, 29, joined Spurs from Empoli in 2023 and made 117 appearances for the north London club, keeping 29 clean sheets. He was part of the side ‌that ⁠won the Europa League in 2025, ending the club's 17-year wait for a major trophy. The Italy international began his ⁠career at Udinese and had spells with Venezia, Perugia, Cagliari and Empoli before ⁠moving to England. Vicario received his first senior Italy call-up in March ⁠2024 and has five caps for his country.

Barcelona have signed midfielder Rodri from Manchester City on a deal until June 2030, the LaLiga champions announced on Tuesday, ending the Spaniard's glittering, trophy-laden spell with the Premier League club ‌in a major coup for the Catalan side. The 30-year-old joins Hansi Flick's side for a reported fee of 65.4 million pounds ($88.56 million), with Barca beating arch-rivals Real Madrid to the Spain international's signature. Rodri's contract with City had been due to expire in June 2027. Rodri leaves City after winning four Premier League titles, the Champions League and two FA Cups since joining the English club from Atletico Madrid in 2019. He made 298 appearances, scoring 28 goals and helping City secure 14 major trophies.