Sports Groove

    The Italian Interior Ministry on Tuesday imposed a travel ban on Inter Milan fans until March 23 after a flare thrown from the stands landed near Cremonese goalkeeper Emil Audero during Inter's visit on Sunday.   The order also forbids the sale of tickets to the residents of Lombardy, the northern region where Milan is located, for Inter's league games at Sassuolo, Lecce and Fiorentina. The Milan derby at AC Milan on March 8 is excluded from the ban, as it does not involve movement of fans, the ministry said in a statement.   "The measure is aimed at ensuring public order and safety and preventing the recurrence of incidents that could compromise the smooth running of sporting events," the statement added.   Inter, who have an eight-point lead at the top of the league, visit Sassuolo on Sunday.

...IOC members raise concerns over LA 2028 visa process ...LA 2028 ticket prices 17% higher than Paris 2024 ...LA Games lack federal funding, rely on sponsorships and tickets     The issues of entry visas and inflated ticket prices for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics dominated a progress report delivered by the American organisers to the International Olympic Committee on Tuesday.   Several IOC members, including International Equestrian Federation chief Ingmar De Vos, raised the issue of entry visas for hundreds of thousands of athletes, their families, officials, media and fans to the U.S., asking LA Games organisers whether the process could be simplified.   Dagmawit Girmay Berhane, an IOC member from Ethiopia, said organisers should make sure that Olympic qualifying tournaments, held in the United States over the next two years, also allowed access to all eligible athletes.   "We have worked very closely with the (U.S.) State Department to design a...

    Morocco's football federation (FRMF) announced on Tuesday it would appeal the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) disciplinary rulings over last month's chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal, which the hosts lost 1-0 after extra time.   FRMF criticised the sanctions as disproportionate to the "seriousness and gravity" of the incidents during the 18 January match, which was overshadowed by a 14-minute interruption after Senegalese players staged a walk-off, a pitch invasion by their fans and confrontations involving players and staff.   CAF's Disciplinary Committee handed Senegal's coach Pape Thiaw a five-match ban and fined him $100,000 (£82,000) after he instructed his team to leave the pitch following a VAR decision to disallow a goal late in regular time.   Senegal's football federation was fined $615,000 (£508,000) for the behaviour of their players and supporters, with Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr receiving tw...

    FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he wants Russia's four-year ban from international tournaments lifted because it had "achieved nothing".   Russian clubs and the national team have been suspended from FIFA and UEFA competitions since the country invaded Ukraine in February 2022.   "This ban has not achieved anything, it has just created more frustration and hatred," Infantino told Sky Sports.   "Having girls and boys from Russia being able to play football games in other parts of Europe would help."   Infantino said FIFA should "actually never ban any country from playing football because of the acts of their political leaders."   "Somebody needs to keep the ties open," the 55-year-old added.   Ukraine sports minister Matvii Bidnyi said Infantino's comments were "irresponsible" and "infantile".   "They detach football from the reality in which children are being killed," Bidnyi t...

       Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero said it was "disgraceful" that only 11 fit players were available during their 2-2 Premier League draw against Manchester City on Sunday.   Romero had to withdraw at halftime due to illness with Pape Matar Sarr coming on in his place, as the North London club overcame the two-goal deficit in the second half to salvage a point.   "Great effort from all my team-mates yesterday, they were incredible," Romero wrote in a post on Instagram on Monday.   "I wanted to be available to help them even though I wasn't feeling well, especially since we only had 11 players available - unbelievable but true and disgraceful.   "We'll keep showing up and taking responsibility to turn this around, working hard and staying together. All that's left is to thank all of you for being there and for always supporting us, the fans."   Tottenham did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside ...

By Mishael Emmanuel      Manchester City and Ghana international Antoine Semenyo has expressed strong optimism that the Black Stars can make a meaningful impact at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as the West African giants prepare for their fifth appearance on the global stage. The 2026 tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will be the first World Cup to feature an expanded 48-team format, with Africa allocated nine automatic qualification slots.  Ghana have already secured their place among the continent’s representatives and will be looking to seize the opportunity on football’s biggest stage. Drawn into a challenging Group L, the Black Stars will face European heavyweights England, 2018 finalists Croatia, and Panama.  Ghana will begin their campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto before a blockbuster encounter with England on June 23 in Boston.  Their group-stage journey will conclude against Croatia on June 27 in...

By Trust Ittai and Mishael Emmanuel    Cameroon goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa has secured a fresh chapter in his career after signing a short-term deal with FK Rabotnicki of North Macedonia, as Cameroonian players continue to make moves across Europe in the January transfer window. The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations winner joins Rabotnicki on a six-month contract, with the option of extending for another year, ending a spell of uncertainty after his departure from Latvian side Rigas FS. Despite being without a club, Ondoa remained focused, training consistently while waiting for the right opportunity to return to competitive football. Now 30, Ondoa has often shown his pedigree at international level, most memorably during Cameroon’s AFCON triumph, but has struggled to enjoy long-term stability at club level.  His arrival could, however, prove timely for a Rabotnicki side in desperate need of experience and leadership. The Macedonian club is currently enduring a difficu...

By Haruna Mubarak   Former Ghana captain C.K. Akonnor has opened up on the challenge of persuading his two sons to commit their international futures to the Black Stars, admitting that their upbringing in Germany makes the decision far from straightforward. Akonnor, a revered figure in Ghanaian football, revealed that both Charles Herrmann and Jesaja Herrmann, who were born and raised in Germany, naturally feel a strong connection to the European nation where they developed as footballers. “It’s difficult to convince them to come to Ghana,” Akonnor told Graphic Sports.  “Because they grew up in Germany, but of course, if need be or if the opportunity arises, we will be able to make that decision.” Twenty-year-old Charles Herrmann is the latest to take a step forward in his club career, having recently joined Belgian top-flight side Cercle Brugge, while his elder brother Jesaja, 25, has secured a move to German lower-division outfit FC Bocholt. Both players have alr...

  Organisers of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games have unveiled six stadiums across the United States that will host matches in the men’s and women’s Olympic football tournaments, pushing the Games’ footprint far beyond Southern California. LA28 confirmed on Tuesday that group-stage and knockout matches will be staged in: ✓ New York ✓ Columbus ✓ Nashville ✓ St. Louis ✓ San Jose ✓ San Diego, marking a coast-to-coast celebration of Olympic football. The selected venues include a mix of new and established arenas, highlighted by the under-construction New York City Football Club stadium, which is due for completion in 2027, alongside Major League Soccer grounds in Ohio, Tennessee, Missouri and Northern California. Final-stage matches, including the gold medal games, will return to the iconic Rose Bowl in Pasadena.  Organisers said the men’s final will be played on July 28, 2028, with the women’s final following a day later on July 29. According to LA28, the tournamen...

By FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG        Egypt underlined their dominance of African handball on Saturday night, cruising to a commanding 37–24 victory over Tunisia in the final of the 2026 African Men’s Handball Championship in Kigali, Rwanda. The Pharaohs were in control from the opening whistle at the packed arena in the Rwandan capital, racing into an early lead and going into the halftime break firmly ahead at 17–10. Calm in possession and ruthless in front of goal, Egypt left Tunisia chasing shadows as the contest unfolded. After the restart, the defending champions showed no sign of easing off.  Their disciplined defence and swift transitions continued to unsettle the Tunisians, allowing Egypt to steadily stretch the gap and maintain a comfortable cushion throughout the second half before sealing a convincing 13-goal win. The triumph marked Egypt’s fourth consecutive African title and their 10th overall, a landmark achievement that sees them dr...

   Wolves have accepted a reduced offer worth £48m for striker Jorgen Strand Larsen from Crystal Palace. Last week, the two clubs reached an agreement in principle over a £50m deal for the Norway international to move to Selhurst Park. All that was left was for Palace to submit a written offer - and provided the bid was of the value discussed, Wolves would have accepted. However, as BBC Sport revealed, the offer never arrived as Palace communicated their intention to walk away from the deal, which put the transfer in jeopardy. Sources claim that Palace's decision to pause final talks was down to reservations over the total cost of the deal, not concerns over the player. The impasse in recent days has placed further doubt on the deal. But with a little over 24 hours to go until the transfer window closes, Palace have now had a new offer worth £43m plus an additional £5m in bonuses accepted for the 25-year-old - a deal worth £2m less than their original verbal offer....

By Mishael Emmanuel    Torino FC made a decisive late move in the winter transfer window by securing the services of Cameroonian international Enzo Ebosse, adding defensive depth ahead of the business end of the season. With the European transfer market buzzing in its final hours, the Serie A side acted swiftly to complete the loan signing of the 26-year-old defender from fellow Italian club Udinese.  The deal runs until the end of the current campaign and includes an option for Torino to make the transfer permanent. Ebosse, who has earned international caps with Cameroon, brings experience and versatility to Torino’s back line as the club looks to strengthen its squad and push towards its season objectives. His arrival is seen as a strategic reinforcement, especially with fixtures piling up and competition for places intensifying. The late-window acquisition underlines Torino’s intent to remain competitive in the second half of the season, with Ebosse expecte...

By Mishael Emmanuel and Precious Bwale    Power Dynamos head coach Oswald Mutapa has insisted that his side’s TotalEnergies CAF Champions League dream remains alive after a crucial away victory over Rivers United reignited their Group A campaign. The Kitwe giants secured a priceless 1–0 win in Uyo on Matchday Four, their first victory of the group stage, thanks to a moment of composure from Kondwani Chiboni early in the second half.  The result lifted the Aba Yellow to four points and restored belief among supporters back home in Zambia that a quarter-final place is still within reach. Chiboni proved the difference in the 50th minute, calmly finishing from a tight angle after capitalising on a lapse in the Rivers United defence to silence the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.  It was a goal that crowned a disciplined and patient Dynamos display, built on organisation and resilience. Speaking after the match, Mutapa cut a defiant and optimistic figur...

  After three-and-a-half glittering years in Bergamo, Ademola Lookman has brought the curtain down on a remarkable chapter with Atalanta, completing a move to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.  The Nigerian forward leaves not just as a departing star, but as a club legend whose impact will be remembered long after his final appearance in blue and black. Lookman’s Atalanta journey was defined by numbers and moments that reshaped the club’s history.  In 137 appearances, he delivered 55 goals and 23 assists, becoming the attacking heartbeat of Gian Piero Gasperini’s side.  His crowning moment came on the European stage, where he etched his name into football folklore by becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in a one-leg Europa League final an unforgettable display that ended Bayer Leverkusen’s 51-game unbeaten run and handed Atalanta their first major trophy in 61 years. Beyond the silverware, individual recognition followed in abundance.  Lookma...

By Maxwell Kumoye      South Africa has found itself at the centre of a growing debate within African football circles following mixed signals over the hosting of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The controversy was sparked after South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Sport suggested that the country had “seized the opportunity” to host the tournament amid speculation that Morocco might withdraw as hosts. The remarks quickly gained traction across the continent, creating the impression that South Africa had already been handed the hosting rights. However, that narrative was firmly corrected on February 1, 2026, when South Africa’s Ministry of Sports released an official statement to clarify the situation.  Speaking in his capacity as minister, he stressed that Morocco remains the designated host of WAFCON 2026 and that no formal decision has been taken by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to relocate the tournament. According to the m...

By Mishael Emmanuel      Enyimba Football Club has confirmed the appointment of former Super Eagles defender and club icon, Uche Okechukwu (MON), as their new Sporting Director.  The announcement was made in an official communication signed by club chairman, Kanu Nwankwo, following the resignation of former Sporting Director, Ifeanyi Ekwueme. Okechukwu’s appointment takes immediate effect, marking the return of one of Enyimba’s most celebrated sons to the Aba giants in a strategic leadership capacity.  In the appointment letter, Kanu congratulated the man popularly known as the “Gentle Giant”, expressing confidence in his ability to steer the club toward renewed excellence. According to the club chairman, Okechukwu’s wealth of experience, unwavering integrity and deep football intelligence make him a perfect fit for Enyimba’s evolving structure and long-term ambitions. “We believe Uche Okechukwu’s rich background in football administration, elite com...

...It's to promoting youth, unity and excellence – Ayuba Tijjani  By Maxwell Kumoye     All roads will lead to the Lafia City Hall on Shandam Road from February 3 to 7 as the 5th edition of the Andoma Peace and Unity Basketball Tournament 2026 takes centre stage, bringing together some of the finest basketball talents from across Nigeria. Organised by the Andoma Foundation and presented in partnership with the Government of Nasarawa State, Olam, and the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the tournament continues to grow in stature as a key platform for youth development and national integration through sports. This year’s edition will feature 12 male teams and 7 female teams, underlining the organisers’ commitment to inclusivity and the growth of basketball across both genders. Teams from different regions of the country will compete, including Solid Heats of Nasarawa, Rockers of Jos, O’Connell Warriors of Minna, Taraba Hurricanes, Jewels Bulls of Gombe, Titans of...

...Wants FIBA to declare that outgone NBBF President and Board have exceeded their tenure  ...Ask FIBA to authorize NSC and NOC to conduct fresh elections By Maxwell Kumoye    Nigeria’s basketball administration has been thrown into deep turmoil as Congress members of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) have formally accused the outgone Board of breaching the Federation’s Constitution and illegally clinging to power beyond its lawful tenure. In a strongly worded petition to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), representatives of State Basketball Associations and other statutory members of the NBBF Congress declared that the Board elected on January 31, 2022, has no legal or moral authority to continue in office after its tenure expired on January 31, 2026. The petitioners, who describe Congress as the supreme organ of the Federation, insist that the 2019 NBBF Constitution drafted with inputs from FIBA, the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and th...

By Mishael Emmanuel    The countdown has officially begun to what promises to be a historic edition of the Africa Scrabble Championship, as preparations intensify for the 16th ASC, scheduled for October 21–25, 2026 in Monrovia, Liberia. Since Liberia was officially confirmed as host, the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) and the National Scrabble Association of Liberia (NASAL) have been working behind the scenes to deliver a tournament that will raise the bar for Scrabble on the continent.  Early indicators suggest the Monrovia edition will be the most ambitious in the championship’s 32-year history. At the heart of the excitement is a record-breaking tournament budget, the largest ever proposed for an Africa Scrabble Championship.  The scale of investment has earned NASAL widespread commendation from African federations and players alike, signalling a strong commitment to professionalism, player welfare and competitive excellence. The prize struc...

  Nigeria’s bid to host the final phase of the 2026 CAF African Schools Football Championship will be put to the test this week as officials of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) arrive in the country to inspect proposed host facilities. The CAF inspection team is expected in Nigeria on Monday ahead of a two-day assessment scheduled for Tuesday, February 3, and Wednesday, February 4, 2026.  The exercise will focus on competition venues and ancillary facilities in Ikenne-Remo and Sagamu, Ogun State, which have been put forward to stage the continental youth tournament. Key venues to be inspected include the Remo Stars Stadium and its training pitches in Ikenne-Remo, as well as the FC Ebedei Stadium and training facilities in Sagamu.  CAF officials will also evaluate hospitals, hotels and general accommodation infrastructure in both towns as part of the comprehensive inspection process. The delegation features top CAF personnel drawn from various depart...

By Mishael Emmanuel and Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye      Rivers United’s 1–0 home defeat to Zambia’s Power Dynamos on Sunday was more than a bad day in the CAF Champions League.  It was a damning snapshot of how far Nigerian club football has fallen on the continental stage. Played in Uyo rather than their natural Port Harcourt base, the loss left the Nigerian champions marooned at the bottom of Group A with just one point from four matches.  For a club that dominated domestically last season, the reality in Africa has been brutal and painful, outplayed, outmuscled and outthought when it mattered most. With only two matches left, Rivers United now stare at a near-impossible task.  Their final group games are against Morocco’s RS Berkane and Egypt’s Pyramids FC, two sides built with structure, depth and serious investment. Pyramids, the defending champions, underlined that gulf earlier on Sunday with a commanding 3–0 win over Berkane in Cai...