Category: Sports

Co-hosts Canada have become the first team to make it into the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup.

This follows a 1-0 win over South Africa on Sunday evening.

It was a very tight affair in Houston as both teams failed to score for 90 minutes of the encounter.

But in the first minute of stoppage time, the ball fell at the feet of Stephen Eustaquio.

The Canada captain controlled the ball with his chest, before catching a half-volley sweetly into the far corner.

Jesse Marsch’s side who will play Morocco or the Netherlands in Houston in six days’ time.

2026 World Cup: Canada edge South Africa, become first team to reach Round of 16

Colombia captain, James Rodriguez, has disclosed that Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo helped him to settle down at Real Madrid when he joined the Spanish LaLiga club in 2014 from Monaco.

According to the 34-year-old, Ronaldo invited him to his house, and they became friends.

Speaking after Colombia’s 0-0 draw with Portugal in their final group game encounter at the weekend, Rodriguez described the 41-year-old Al-Nassr forward as a role model.

“Cristiano is a role model. When I arrived at Real Madrid, he was one of the first people to welcome me,” Rodriguez said as quoted by Fabrizio Romano.

“He invited me to his house, and we became close friends.

“He’s a wonderful person and an example for everyone. Just look at his physique at 41 years of age.”

Rodriguez and Ronaldo were former teammates at Real Madrid for four years before the Portuguese left Santiago Bernabeu in 2018 for Juventus.

World Cup 2026: What Ronaldo did to me – Colombia’s James Rodriguez

Ettah Okoi is set to dump Bayelsa United for a move to Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, side Abia Warriors, DAILY POST reports.

Okoi is reported to have agreed personal terms with Abia Warriors ahead of a potential permanent transfer to Umuahia.

He netted seven goals in 12 matches for Bayelsa United last season.

Abia Warriors are moving quickly to strengthen their attack after finishing in mid-table last term.

Okoi’s pace and finishing fit the tactical plans of the Umuahia club.

Bayelsa United will be reluctant to lose a key scorer but may cash in with one year left on Okoi’s deal. 

The Prosperity Boys are also reshaping their squad after goalkeeper Clinton Andy Ezekiel left for Rivers United.

NPFL: Okoi agrees personal terms with Abia Warriors ahead of Bayelsa United exit

Former Remo Stars head coach Daniel Ogunmodede is on the radar of two top Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, clubs Enyimba and Kano Pillars.

Ogunmodede has established himself as one of Nigeria’s finest young tacticians after guiding Remo Stars to the NPFL title two years ago.

He left the Ikenne-based club last season following the team’s poor form.

Ogunmodede is also one of the assistant coaches in the Super Eagles.

Enyimba are looking to rebuild their squad after a turbulent season, while Kano Pillars see him as the man to take their team forward.

Ogunmodede is expected to make a decision on his next destination in the coming weeks.

NPFL: Enyimba, Kano Pillars battle for Daniel Ogunmodede

Nigerian defender Kingsley Ehizibue is on his way out of Serie A club Udinese, DAILY POST reports.

Udinese have offered the versatile full-back a new two-year contract.

However, according to Tuttomercato, both parties have  failed to reach agreement on the terms of the new deal.

Ehizibue’s current contract will expire in three days with little progress in the renewal talks.

The 30-year-old want a massive pay rise which has has been one of the  stumbling blocks in the  renewal deal.

Ehizibue joined Udinese from Bundesliga side FC Köln in the summer of 2022.

Serie A: Ehizibue set to quit Udinese after four years

Abakaliki FC has announced the retention of 26 players ahead of the 2026/2027 Nigeria National League, NNL, season.

The club confirmed the decision in a statement signed by the secretary, Barr. Chris Akukwe after a management meeting.

The De Rice Boys fixed players’ areturn to camp on July 25, 2026, which was the earlier scheduled date of resumption.

Training sessions for the new campaign will commence Monday, 27 July , 2026.

The players are expected to return to camp accordingly as Abakaliki FC begins preparations for the NNL season.

The retained list includes Elochukwu Paschal, Oma Joseph, Onuoha Promise, Alo Friday, Jude Aleke and Izuchukwu Ogbodo.

Other players retained are Uche Promise, Nwankpa Chinedu, Uche Amarachi, Hamzat Sheriff, Joseph Onwuzuruigbo and Okeke Chinaza.

Korzer Modester, Udom Chikezie, Onwe Ebuka, Muftaudeen-Abdulganiyu, Nwafor Chigozie, Augustus Dorbarilee, Ugochukwu Ujah, Okpali Chukwujekwu and Micheal Oforkans also made the cut.

Emeka Ugwu, Ifeanyi Ede, Ekuma Ndubuisi and Kalu Collins complete the 26-man list.

NNL: Abakaliki FC retain 26 players for 2026-27 season

Liverpool icon, Alan Hansen has expressed his criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo’s performances during the 2026 World Cup, where Portugal finished second in their group after a goalless draw against Colombia on Saturday, June 27, in Miami.

At 41 years old, Ronaldo faced a challenging start to the tournament, with a frustrating 1-1 draw against DR Congo, where he recorded two shots that missed the target and had 25 touches. He showed improvement in the subsequent match against Uzbekistan, scoring twice in a 5-0 victory, thus becoming the first player to score in six World Cups and the oldest to achieve a brace.

However, in the match against Colombia, the Al-Nassr forward struggled to make an impact, managing only two touches in the opponent’s box, one of three shots on target, losing possession eight times, and being caught offside twice, according to ESPN.

During a post-match analysis on ESPN Podcasts, Hansen, a former defender, commented on Ronaldo’s declining speed and tendency to be offside:

He said, “In this World Cup, he has been offside more times than I can remember because he knows he needs to get a quick headstart on the defenders because he doesn’t have the pace, so he’s running offside.

“And then he ends up in a wide area … because he’s not beaten anybody, he can’t go past anybody, so the only place he has to be is in the penalty box, but even then he’s pretty much invisible.”

Ronaldo and his teammates are set to face 2018 finalists Croatia in a significant Round of 32 match on Thursday, July 2, in Toronto.

World Cup: ‘He has no pace, can’t go past anyone’ – Liverpool legend about Ronaldo

Portugal head coach, Roberto Martinez, has remained coy about leaving Cristiano Ronaldo out for the last-32 clash against Croatia at the 2026 World Cup.

Ronaldo started all three matches during the group stages and scored only twice – both goals against Uzbekistan.

There have been calls for the 41-year-old to be dropped, over concerns about his effect on the general team play.

But Martinez refused to commit to benching his top goalscorer in the knockouts.

He said: “Cristiano is used to being in the right place at the right time. He is very disciplined in his position, and he also creates space for his teammates.

“His physical and mental condition is not in question. We may need to make changes in the next match, but we base every decision on the information and data we have.”

2026 World Cup: Portugal coach, Martinez speaks on dropping Ronaldo against Croatia

Argentina head coach, Lionel Scaloni, has said that his legendary forward Lionel Messi left him “speechless” following their 3-1 victory over Jordan in the 2026 tournament.

Argentina recorded a 3-1 win in their final group-stage match, finishing first in Group J.

La Albiceleste played against Jordan at the Dallas Stadium on Sunday morning, with Giovani Lo Celso opening the scoring in the 19th minute, followed by Lautaro Martinez converting a penalty in the 31st minute.

Musa Al-Taamari netted one for Jordan in the 55th minute, but Lionel Messi added a free-kick goal in the 80th minute.

The 39-year-old began the match on the bench and entered the game in the 59th minute. After the match, Argentina’s head coach commended the eight-time Ballon d’Or recipient.

He said via Mundo Albiceleste, “I spoke with Leo and we both agreed that him being substituted into the match in the second half was the best thing for today, that shows what he means to the group. About Leo, I see what you all see. It’s even uncomfortable for me because he’s left me speechless.

“He chose today to think about his team mates who are getting minutes rather than those numbers that so many people talk about to boost his record. That says a lot about what his team mates and the Argentina national team mean to him,” he added.

With his goal against Jordan, Lionel Messi became the first player to score in seven consecutive matches.

World Cup: ‘It’s uncomfortable for me’ – Argentina coach, Scaloni on Messi’s performance

The Nationwide League One, NLO, has rescheduled the aborted play-off match between FC Ebedei and Yewa FA, DAILY POST reports.

The game was postponed due to a serious on-pitch accident that forced an immediate stoppage.

The NLO acknowledged the incident necessitated halting play to ensure player safety and medical attention.

FC Ebedei player (Kehinde Abdulquadri and Yewa FA GK (Olalere Ridwan) collided with the latter remaining unconscious and rushed to the hospital

The NLO expressed deepest empathy to affected players and both club’s managements for what it called a challenging time.

The NLO ordered the remaining minutes to be completed at a neutral venue in Ajegunle, Lagos.

The game was stopped in the 45th minutes with a goalless scoreline.

The encounter which will resume from the exact point it was interrupted with same minute, scoreline and on-field referees.

Kick off is set for Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at 10:00 AM prompt to determine a definitive winner.

Both clubs were directed to have players and officials at the venue at least one hour before kick off.

The NLO said it will provide necessary security and medical logistics to ensure smooth conclusion of the encounter.

NLO reschedules aborted Ebedei vs Yewa FA play-off tie