Sports Groove

• Full list of players called up for the June 11-July 19 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States Group B Canada : Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David headline Canada's squad. Goalkeepers:  ✓Maxime Crepeau (Orlando City) ✓ Owen Goodman (Crystal Palace) ✓ Dayne St Clair (Inter Miami) Defenders:  ✓ Moise Bombito (OGC Nice) ✓ Derek Cornelius (Olympique de Marseille) ✓ Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) ✓ Luc de Fougerolles (Fulham) ✓ Alistair Johnston (Celtic) ✓ Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough) ✓ Richie Laryea (Toronto FC) ✓ Niko Sigur (Hajduk Split) ✓ Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire) Midfielders:  ✓ Ali Ahmed (Norwich City) ✓ Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal ) ✓ Mathieu Choiniere (LAFC) ✓ Stephen Eustaquio (Porto) ✓ Marcelo Flores (Tigres UANL) ✓ Ismael Kone (U.S. Sassuolo Calcio) ✓ Liam Millar (Hull City) ✓ Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC) ✓ Nathan Saliba (Anderlecht) ✓ Jacob Shaffelburg (LAFC) Forwards:  ✓ Jonathan David (Juventus) ✓ Promise David (Union Saint-Gilloise...

• Full list of players called up for the June 11-July 19 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States   Group C Brazil: Neymar was included in Brazil's World Cup squad following a long absence. Goalkeepers:  ✓ Alisson (Liverpool) ✓ Ederson (Fenerbahçe) ✓ Weverton (Gremio) Defenders:  ✓ Alex Sandro (Flamengo) ✓ Bremer (Juventus) ✓ Danilo (Flamengo) ✓ Douglas Santos (Zenit) ✓ Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal) ✓ Ibanez (Al Ahli) ✓ Leo Pereira (Flamengo) ✓ Marquinhos (PSG) ✓ Wesley (Roma) Midfielders:  ✓ Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle) ✓ Casemiro (Manchester United) ✓ Danilo Santos (Botafogo) ✓ Fabinho (Al Ittihad) ✓ Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo) Forwards:  ✓ Endrick (Lyon) ✓ Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) ✓ Igor Thiago (Brentford) ✓ Luiz Henrique (Zenit) ✓ Matheus Cunha (Manchester United) ✓ Neymar (Santos) ✓ Raphinha (Barcelona) ✓ Rayan (Bournemouth) ✓ Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid) Morocco: New Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi has selected Nayef Aguerd in his squad despit...

...Chelle eyes winning return against Poland   By Maxwell Kumoye    The Super Eagles camp in Warsaw continued to gather momentum on Tuesday as players steadily strolled into camp ahead of Wednesday's high-profile international friendly against Poland, with defender Calvin Bassey becoming the latest arrival. Bassey's arrival at the team's Warsaw Presidential Hotel increased the number of players in camp to 20, giving Head Coach Eric Chelle almost a full complement of options as Nigeria prepares to face the White-Reds at the 58,000 capacity PGE Narodowy Stadium. With Germany-based winger Philip Otele also expected later on Tuesday night, the camp is gradually taking shape after players arrived in batches following the successful Unity Cup campaign in London. Despite the staggered arrivals, Chelle remains focused on building a winning culture within the national team. "We have a team now and we are preparing to go out there and win. Winning is the mentality th...

France World Cup team with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron

By Maxwell Kumoye with additional information by Ohis Asein   In Nigeria's sports business landscape, few individuals have left a footprint as profound and enduring as Mike Itemuagbon. A visionary entrepreneur, accomplished marketer, and passionate sports promoter, the Chief Executive Officer of Padmozi has spent decades transforming ideas into platforms that elevate Nigerian sports on the global stage. His journey is not merely a story of corporate success. It is a testament to vision, innovation, resilience, and an unwavering belief in the power of sports to inspire, unite, and create opportunities. For years, Mike Itemuagbon has remained one of the most respected figures in Nigeria's sports marketing ecosystem. Through Padmozi, he pioneered initiatives that brought professionalism, commercial value, and strategic partnerships into Nigerian sports at a time when the industry was still finding its footing. One of the defining moments in Padmozi's rise came when...

...AFN declares National Trials Mandatory for Athletes, Set benchmark for sprint  By Maxwell Kumoye  The race for places on Team Nigeria to the 2026 Commonwealth Games has officially begun, with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) announcing dates for the national trials that will determine the country's track and field representatives for Glasgow, Scotland. The highly anticipated trials will hold from June 20 to June 22, 2026, at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) Sports Complex in Lagos, bringing together some of the nation's finest athletes in what promises to be a fiercely contested competition. For Nigerian athletes dreaming of competing at the Commonwealth Games, the trials represent the most crucial hurdle in the qualification process.  The AFN has made it clear that participation in the trials is mandatory for any athlete hoping to secure a place on Team Nigeria, making the Lagos event a make-or-break opportunity for established stars and ...

By Maxwell Kumoye    Ghana finally confirmed their 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup late on Monday after head coach Carlos Queiroz was forced to contend with a series of late injury concerns before finalising his selection. The veteran Portuguese tactician had been expected to announce his squad during a press conference ahead of Ghana's international friendly against Wales in Cardiff on Tuesday.  However, the official list was only released shortly before FIFA's submission deadline. Queiroz revealed that experienced centre-back Alexander Djiku suffered an injury in training over the weekend, prompting his withdrawal from the squad.  He has been replaced by Dutch-born defender Derrick Luckassen. The Black Stars had already suffered a significant blow with the absence of influential midfielder Mohammed Kudus, who failed to recover from a thigh injury in time for the tournament. Kudus' chances of making the finals had appeared slim after he sustained a q...

By Maxwell Kumoye      The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) continues to be one of the country's most successful sporting federations, consistently placing Botswana on the global athletics map through outstanding performances by its athletes. From regional competitions to world championships, Botswana's track and field stars have continued to bring honour to the nation. However, maintaining such high standards requires continuous introspection, strategic planning, and the willingness to address emerging challenges. It was against this backdrop that the BAA convened its Annual General Assembly on Saturday, where delegates reflected on both the achievements and challenges facing athletics in the country. Among the key issues highlighted were the growing number of doping cases and the decline in female participation at elite levels of the sport. Addressing the assembly, BAA Acting President Oabona Theetso acknowledged that while Botswana has much to celebrate...

By Betty Enoch      Egypt secured third place at the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a convincing 2-0 victory over hosts Morocco in Monday's third-place playoff, capping an impressive campaign that also earned them a place at the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Mohamed El-Sayed gave the Young Pharaohs the lead in the 33rd minute before Ahmed Bashir put the result beyond doubt with a brilliant finish from inside the penalty area deep into stoppage time. The victory ensured Egypt left the tournament with the bronze medal after a spirited run that showcased the country's emerging young talent. Egypt's journey began with a goalless draw against Ethiopia before they claimed a crucial 2-1 victory over Tunisia in their second Group A fixture.  A subsequent 2-1 defeat to hosts Morocco saw them finish second in the group on four points, enough to secure a place in the knockout stages. In the quarter-finals, Egypt produced one of their best performances of the to...