Nigeria’s Super Falcons, on Tuesday, secured a spot in the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in a tense semi-final clash.
The match, played with high intensity, saw the Super Falcons take the lead in the first half through Rasheedat Ajibade, who calmly converted from the penalty spot in the 45th minute to give Nigeria a 1-0 advantage heading into the break.
Earlier in the game, South Africa were forced into a substitution in the 26th minute after striker Hildah Magaia was withdrawn due to injury, with Thubelihle Makhubela coming on in her place.
South Africa responded strongly in the second half and levelled the score in the 60th minute when Linda Motlhalo converted a penalty to make it 1-1.
With the game seemingly headed for extra time, Nigeria found the winner deep into stoppage time.
Michelle Alozie struck in the 90+4th minute after a setup from Esther Okoronkwo, sealing a dramatic win for the Falcons.
Substitutions from both sides added to the pace and physicality of the match, with the Super Falcons showing greater composure in the final moments.
The victory sees Nigeria book a place in the WAFCON final, continuing their dominance on the continental stage and putting them within reach of another title. (Punch)
Arsenal have completed the signing of England winger Noni Madueke from Chelsea for an initial fee of £48.5m.
The 23-year-old was part of Chelsea’s squad at the Club World Cup in the United States but left the camp before last Sunday’s 3-0 win against Paris St-Germain in the final to finalise his move to Mikel Arteta’s side.
Madueke has signed a five-year contract at Emirates Stadium, with his fee rising to just over £50m with add-ons.
“Humbled and blessed to be here. Thank you to everyone that made this possible,” he wrote on Instagram.
“I can’t wait to get on the pitch and start to repay the faith shown in me. It’s going to be so special.”
He made 92 appearances for Chelsea after joining from PSV Eindhoven for £30m in January 2023 and scored 20 goals, helping them win the Conference League last season.
He was part of Crystal Palace and then Tottenham’s academy before spending four-and-a-half years in the Netherlands, where he won the Dutch Cup.
Madueke made his England senior debut in August 2024 and set up Harry Kane’s winner as Thomas Tuchel’s side defeated Andorra 1-0 in World Cup qualification last month.
Arteta told Arsenal’s website, external: “Noni is an exciting and powerful young player, with his performances and numbers in recent seasons being of consistently high quality.
“He is one of the most talented wide forward players in the Premier League.
“At just 23, Noni already brings experience of club and international football, and he knows the Premier League very well.
“Having seen the quality of Noni’s performances up close in recent seasons, we’re really excited he is joining us. His arrival will really improve our squad.”
News of Arsenal’s interest in the Chelsea winger had prompted a backlash from a section of the Gunners supporters earlier this month.
A petition, titled #NoToMadueke, was signed more than 5,000 times and murals outside the club’s Emirates Stadium were vandalised with ‘Arteta out’.
Madueke becomes Arsenal’s fourth signing of the summer and second from Chelsea following the arrival of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Midfielders Christian Norgaard from Brentford and Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad have also joined while the club are also close to signing striker Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting and Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera. (BBC)
Cole Palmer scored two goals and made another as Chelsea stunned Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the Club World Cup on Sunday, beating the European champions 3-0 at the MetLife Stadium to win the first edition of FIFA’s new competition.
PSG were the favourites for a game attended by Donald Trump after coming to the United States fresh from winning the UEFA Champions League and having destroyed Real Madrid 4-0 in the semi-finals.
But having been three goals ahead midway through the first half in the semis, this time the roles were reversed as PSG found themselves 3-0 down by the break.
Palmer opened the scoring midway through the first half and struck again to make it two on the half-hour mark, before taking advantage of passive defending to set up Joao Pedro for the third on 43 minutes.
A bad day for PSG was summed up when Joao Neves was shown red following a VAR review four minutes from the end for pulling Marc Cucurella by the hair off the ball.
It was a scoreline that few could have predicted as Chelsea capped what has been a long but memorable season — they are the first ever winners of the 32-team Club World Cup having also won the UEFA Conference League and finished fourth in the Premier League.
They will also take away around $125 million in prize money, meaning the prospect of a drastically curtailed summer break before returning for next season will surely feel worth it.
For PSG, meanwhile, the financial rewards are similar but there will be genuine disappointment at falling short of adding this title to their Champions League triumph and French league and cup double.
Nevertheless, conquering Europe was always the main aim this season for Luis Enrique’s team, who now have exactly a month to digest this and take a holiday before returning to action in the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham Hotspur.
There was a real sense of occasion at the MetLife Stadium, with the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline and with President Trump in attendance along with First Lady Melania Trump in a crowd of 81,118.
There was even the first-ever half-time show at a FIFA tournament, adding a Super Bowl feel to a final played at the home of NFL sides the New York Giants and New York Jets.
As for the football, for the second time in six weeks PSG found themselves involved in a final that quickly turned into a one-sided affair.
The club claimed a historic 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League final, but here they were ripped apart by Chelsea on another hot afternoon.
Palmer almost put Chelsea ahead inside the opening 10 minutes, before PSG should have scored at the other end only for Desire Doue to try to pass to Achraf Hakimi rather than shoot inside the box, allowing Cucurella to block.
It was Chelsea who struck in the 22nd minute as Malo Gusto got the better of Nuno Mendes down the right before seeing his shot blocked by Lucas Beraldo. The ball came back to Gusto and he teed up Palmer to finish into the bottom-left corner.
Palmer has been the face of Chelsea on billboards in the United States during the tournament and he lived up to his star billing by scoring again on the half-hour. (Punch)
Nigeria set up a quarter-final showdown with Zambia at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after a 0-0 draw with Algeria secured the Super Falcons top spot in Group B.
The result in Casablanca also meant the North Africans progressed to the last eight, where they will face the second-placed finisher in Group C.
Elsewhere, Botswana came from behind to beat Tunisia 2-1 and boost their chances of going through as one of the two best-ranked third-placed sides.
Yesmin Khanchouch’s 12th-minute effort put the Carthage Eagles ahead before Lesego Radiakanyo equalised midway through the second half.
Both teams would have been eliminated by a 1-1 draw and it was Botswana who grabbed a dramatic winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time through Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse.
Sunday’s results mean defending champions South Africa and Mali are both assured of a place in the quarter-finals before Group C culminates on Monday (19:00 GMT).
Banyana Banyana face the West Africans in Oujda, while Ghana take on Tanzania in Berkane with both of those sides needing to win to progress.
Nigeria are chasing a record-extending 10th Wafcon title and topped Group B on seven points without conceding a goal.
Yet, as the West Africans turn their attention to their meeting with Zambia on Friday, questions will be raised about their attacking sharpness.
Super Falcons dominated possession against Algeria and created far more chances than their opponents, but were frustrated by a compact and resilient defence which was content to soak up pressure.
Rasheedat Ajibade and Jennifer Echegini offered the most threat from wide areas and midfield runs. Clear-cut chances were rare, and when they came Nigeria could not convert.
The match ended with Nigeria pressing for a late winner, with Echegini sending a curling effort just wide in the 89th minute.
For Algeria, the draw marked a milestone performance as they reach the knockout stages at a Wafcon finals for the first time.
Their progress has been built on a solid defence, having also progressed without conceding a goal.
Ghoutia Karchouni’s winner against Botswana was their only goal of the group stage but has proved enough to extend their stay in Morocco until their quarter-final tie next Saturday. (BBC)
Jannik Sinner downed defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday to win his first Wimbledon title, gaining sweet revenge for his painful defeat in the French Open final.
The world number one is the first Italian to win at the All England Club and now has four Grand Slams to his name at the age of 23.
Sinner stayed ice cool after losing the first set, with the momentum quickly shifting, and he was not broken once in the final three sets.
He squandered three championship points in the final at Roland Garros last month but this time made no mistake as he served out for victory.
Sinner said he was “living his dream”, prompting an eruption of cheers from the Centre Court crowd.
“An amazing tournament, thank you for the player you are,” he said to world number two Alcaraz. “It is so difficult to play against you.
“I am going to keep hold of this (trophy), you have two already!”
The tennis world has been captivated by the emergence of the new rivalry between the players to follow the storied “Big Three” era of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Sinner and two-time defending Wimbledon champion Alcaraz have now shared the past seven Grand Slam titles between them, with the Italian winning four of those.
Defeat in Paris last month was a bitter blow for Sinner, who led by two sets and had a clutch of championship points.
Prior to Sunday’s victory, he had lost five consecutive times against Alcaraz, including the final of the Italian Open in the first tournament he played after returning from a three-month doping ban.
But this time he turned the tables in impressive fashion.
Both players were solid on serve until the fifth game, when Alcaraz sprayed a forehand long to hand Sinner the first break of the match.
But the Spaniard levelled at 4-4 to the delight of the Centre Court crowd, which included Prince William and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales.
Sinner double-faulted to hand Alcaraz a second set point.
The Italian laced a searing forehand down the line but Alcaraz produced a magical backhand winner, pointing his finger to his ear as the crowd rose to their feet. (Punch)
Polish star Iga Swiatek took another stride towards tennis greatness by ruthlessly tearing apart American 13th seed Amanda Anisimova 6-0 6-0, lifting her first Wimbledon trophy on Saturday.
On another warm afternoon on Centre Court, Swiatek got off to a scorching start by breaking a nervous Anisimova three times en route to winning the first set of a match with a score of 6-0, prompting some spectators to get behind the shell-shocked American.
A frustrated Anisimova looked to her team in the stands for any kind of guidance after conceding yet another break point early in the second set and it was not long before her machine-like opponent pulled away further.
Anisimova continued to disappointingly crack under pressure, before Swiatek completed the brutal mauling in 57 minutes with a backhand winner on her second match point to become the first Wimbledon champion from Poland.
“It’s something that is just surreal. I feel like tennis keeps surprising me, and I keep surprising myself,”Swiatek told reporters after hoisting the gilded Venus Rosewater Dish.
“I’m really happy with the whole process, how it looked like from the first day we stepped on a grasscourt. Yeah, I feel like we did everything for it to go in that direction without expecting it, just working really hard.”
“It means a lot, and it gives me a lot of experience. Yeah, I don’t even know. I’m just happy,” she added.
Swiatek’s triumph ended a barren 13-month run for the Polish 24-year-old, who served a short suspension late last year after an inadvertent doping violation linked to contaminated sleep medication melatonin.
“I want to thank my coach (Wim Fissette). With the ups and downs now, we showed everybody it’s working,” Swiatek said
Already a US Open champion and a four-time French Open winner, Swiatek’s demolition job at the All England Club meant that she became the youngest woman since a 20-year-old Serena Williams in 2002 to lift major titles on all three surfaces.
Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, celebrated with a picture of himself watching a post-match interview, while President Andrzej Duda was effusive in his praise.
“Iga! Today, on the grasscourts of Wimbledon, you wrote history – not only for Polish sport, but also for Polish pride. On behalf of the Republic of Poland – thank you,”Duda wrote. (VON)
Liverpool are to retire the number 20 shirt in honour of forward Diogo Jota, who tragically died in a car crash along with his brother Andre Silva.
The Reds took the decision after consulting with Jota’s wife Rute Cardoso and his family which means the Portugal international “will forever be Liverpool’s number 20”.
A Liverpool statement, external said the number “will be retired in honour and memory of Diogo across all levels”, including the women’s team and throughout the academy.
They added: “The move is recognition of not only the immeasurable contribution our lad from Portugal made to the Reds’ on-pitch successes over the last five years, but also the profound personal impact he had on his team-mates, colleagues and supporters and the everlasting connections he built with them.”
Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 and scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club.
He also helped them win the FA Cup and League Cup in 2022 – also winning the latter in 2024 – and the Premier League title last season.
It was Liverpool’s 20th top-flight crown and the Reds posted a video on social media, external with the message ‘forever our number 20’ at 20:20 BST on Friday.
“As a club, we were all acutely aware of the sentiment of our supporters – and we felt exactly the same way,” said Fenway Sports Group chief executive of football Michael Edwards.
“It was vitally important to us to involve Diogo’s wife, Rute, and his family in the decision and to ensure they were the first to know of our intention.
“I believe this is the first time in Liverpool’s history that such an honour has been bestowed upon an individual. Therefore, we can say this is a unique tribute to a uniquely wonderful person.
“By retiring this squad number, we are making it eternal – and therefore never to be forgotten.”
Jota and his brother died after their car, a Lamborghini, left the road because of a tyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle at about 00:30 local time on Thursday, 3 July.
Jota was on his way back to Liverpool for pre-season and, as doctors had advised him against flying because he had undergone minor surgery, he was making the trip by car and ferry.
The funeral of the brothers took place in their hometown of Gondomar last Saturday when a large Liverpool delegation were in attendance.
Jota’s wife Rute Cardoso, members of the brothers’ family and Liverpool’s squad all visited Anfield on Friday to pay their respects.
Cardoso had three children with the Portugal international and the pair had married only 11 days prior to his accident.
She was seen carrying flowers at Anfield as she viewed the wealth of tributes that have been left outside the stadium in honour of Jota and his brother.
Liverpool players and staff have paid personal tributes in the week but the squad went as one with manager Arne Slot along with Cardoso on Friday.
Liverpool will play their first game since Jota’s death when they face Preston North End at Deepdale in a pre-season friendly on Sunday.
Jota and Silva will be commemorated with a number of tributes and there will be a minute’s silence at the game. (BBC)
The Welsh national football team have been involved in a traffic collision while heading to training in Switzerland.
Wales women are set to play France tomorrow evening in their second game of Euro 2025 however their bus was involved in a crash on their way St. Gallen Arena on Tuesday (8 July) afternoon.
Tuesday’s training session at the stadium has been cancelled but manager Rhian Wilkinson reassured the media that everyone was OK. She and captain Angharad James had been travelling in a separate car on their way to a press conference.
The team will instead train at their base in Weinfelden.
Shortly after the incident, Wilkinson told members of the media that the situation was “developing” but added: “Everyone is OK, our priority is just to get them all together and away form the scene and then reassess.
“We’ve got great staff and really good support for them and we’ll be checking in to make sure they continue to be OK.
“Also, and just as importantly, I believe the other car involved – I think everyone is OK there as well.”
She added: “Football is secondary and I think yes we are shaken just because we don’t know. We are away from the team right now so they’ve had to experience that but equally we have a great group.
“I’ve been assured everyone is fine. We’ve practised for the unexpected and I think that’s what you can call this.
“Football is secondary but equally we’ll check back in and make sure everyone is in a good spot and then start working towards football again after that.”
In a statement, the FAW said: “The Cymru national team bus has been involved in a road traffic accident whilst travelling to Arena St Gallen for their match day -1 training session ahead of Wednesday’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 match against France.
“All passengers on the Cymru national team bus and in the other vehicle are unharmed. The FAW’s priority has been to remove the players from the scene and return to the Cymru training base to complete their preparations for tomorrow’s match.”
In a press conference at the stadium, France manager Laurent Bonadei sent the team “a message of support, because beyond football, health is so important”.
He added: “I heard they cancelled their training. I hope they’re OK and I hope they’re OK tomorrow. It will be a pleasure to meet them tomorrow.” (ITV)
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer Alloy Agu has hailed the late Peter Rufai as one of the best he has ever seen in the colours of Nigeria, following the death of the Nigerian goalkeeping legend last week, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Rufai died at the age of 61 last Thursday following a brief illness and tributes have been pouring from different corners of the world and even outside the football community.
Agu competed for the number one jersey with Rufai during their heydays in the national team and the ex-Eagles keeper trainer says he won’t shy away from regarding the late keeper as number one.
“It’s an international loss. He was a little bit ahead of us, and honestly, he was number one. Peter is somebody whose confidence and command of the goalpost is one of the best I have ever seen,” Agu told The PUNCH.
“Working with him enabled me to see how hardworking he was and how thorough he was about his game.
The 57-year-old Agu was the preferred choice for some of the qualifying matches for the USA 1994 World Cup but he was displaced by Rufai towards the end of the series and for the mundial.
Despite losing his place, Agu noted their rivalry was healthy during an interview with Premium Times.
“I think everyone has a role to play and then, I told myself, he is Nigerian too. And there was a time he was on the bench watching while I was Nigeria’s No.1. I had to support Rufai when the coach picked him ahead of me.
“I had no hard feelings because we are one happy family and Nigeria is bigger than anyone. I came into the picture again when we played against the Asian team and was adjudged as the man of the match. No man is an island!”
The late Rufai made over 60 caps for Nigeria and he famously scored a goal – a penalty which was the last goal in the 6-0 drubbing of Ethiopia during a 1994 AFCON qualifier.
He later led Nigeria to a second continental title in Tunisia in 1994. His penalty saves in the semi-final against holders Ivory Coast and three crucial saves in the final against Zambia remain etched in Nigerian football folklore. (Punch)
Nigeria kicked off their quest for a record-extending tenth WAFCON title with a commanding 3-0 victory over Tunisia on Sunday evening at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Goals from Asisat Oshoala, Rinsola Babajide and Chinwendu Ihezuo underlined the gulf in quality between the two sides in their Group B opener and extended Nigeria’s dominance over North African opposition at the continental showpiece.
The Super Falcons came into the game on the back of a patchy record in recent WAFCON openers, having lost their first matches in both the 2018 and 2022 editions to South Africa.
However, they wasted no time putting any nerves to rest. Just four minutes into the encounter, Nigeria struck with their first real chance. After Rinsola Babajide was brought down on the left, she got up to deliver the resulting free-kick which found Oshoala in the box.
The former Nigerian captain directed a well-timed header in the midst of Tunisians into the centre of the goal for her 14th career goal at the WAFCON.
Nigeria’s second goal came at the end of a lengthy first-half stoppage period. After a VAR check for offside, Babajide’s well-taken left-footed effort in the 46th minute was confirmed, making it 2-0.
Coach Justine Madugu made three half-time changes, perhaps with an eye on managing player fitness for the rest of the group stage. Oshoala, Babajide and Abiodun made way for Chinwendu Ihezuo, Esther Okoronkwo and Christy Ucheibe.
The new entrants made an instant impact. Ihezuo’s energy pinned Tunisia’s defenders deeper, while Okoronkwo offered direct runs and link-up play, striking the post in the 81st minute before assisting the final goal.
The third goal arrived in the 84th minute. Okoronkwo received Plumptre’s cross in the box after already playing her on from the middle and her flicked header perfectly met Ihezuo’s position in front of goal, whose left-footed shot settled low in the far corner to seal the result.
Tunisia’s best opportunity came in stoppage time when Salma Zemzem rattled the crossbar from a distance, a rare moment of danger for Nigeria.
The Carthage Eagles have now gone five consecutive WAFCON matches without scoring, stretching over 460 minutes, and remain without a goal against Nigeria in the competition’s history.
The win sets Nigeria atop Group B heading into their next match against Botswana, while Tunisia will be looking to bounce back against Algeria. (Punch)
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