Category: Sports

Five teams have booked their spots in the Carabao Cup fourth round.

This follows the completion of third-round ties on Tuesday night.

Arsenal beat Ipswich Town 4-2 at Portman Road.

Max Dowman stole the show with two goals on his first appearance this season, as Noni Madueke and Mikel Merino also scored.

Mehmeti and Chuba Akpom scored consolation goals for Ipswich.

Dominik Szobozslai’s stunning effort sealed a 3-1 win for Liverpool over Tottenham Hotspur, while Fulham edged a 3-2 victory over West Ham.

In the other games, Brentford beat Reading 2-1 and Peterborough needed penalties to eliminate Barnsley after the game ended 2-2.

Carabao Cup: 5 teams qualify for fourth round

The Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, rescheduled matchday three fixture between Rangers and Nasarawa United has been moved to the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.

The encounter which was initially billed for the Awka City Stadium, Anambra, has been moved to the earlier mentioned venue.

According to reports, the match was moved due to the unavailability of the Anambra venue.

The match will still hold on Thursday, 17 September, 2026, as earlier scheduled.

DAILY POST reports that the reigning NPFL champions, Rangers, have adopted the Awka City Stadium as the home ground for their league fixtures.

Rangers’ original ground, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, is currently undergoing renovation for the 2026 National Sports Festival.

The Flying Antelopes have adopted the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, for the CAF Champions League.

NPFL: Rangers vs Nasarawa United rescheduled fixture to hold in Owerri

Professional Game Referees (Pro Ref) chief, Howard Webb, has claimed that VAR’s “tunnel vision” led to the controversial decision to award Manchester City striker, Erling Haaland’s winner against Manchester United in a Premier League fixture last Sunday.

Webb was speaking on the first edition of Match Officials Mic’d Up this season.

He expressed his disappointment over the error made by VAR Matt Donohue and his assistant, Blake Antrobus.

“I was really disappointed with this outcome. We all are,” Webb said.

“None more so than the officials themselves. They take a lot of personal pride in what they do and they’re obviously hurting now, having fallen short in this situation.

“They’ll not be officiating again until after the international break.”

Haaland’s goal in the 60th minute was initially ruled out for offside by the on-field officials.

However, it was awarded after a VAR review, although there is still controversy over City midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who was in an offside position as he attempted to reach the ball before Haaland.

Although Fernandez did not touch the ball, his movement appeared to affect Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez.

EPL: Why VAR allowed Halaand’s goal against Man Utd – Howard Webb

Atletico Madrid manager, Diego Simeone, has said Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

According to Simeone, Messi’s outing at this year’s World Cup is enough to hand him the award.

“The 2026 Ballon d’Or has to be Leo Messi. Zero doubts,” Simeone said.

“With the World Cup he had at that age… no doubts.”

Messi failed to win consecutive World Cups with Argentina this summer, as they lost 1-0 to Spain in the final.

But he scored eight goals and provided two assist in total at the tournament.

The 39-year-old has already won the Ballon d’Or a record eight times during his illustrious career. But he is not widely regarded as a top contender for the prize this year, with players like Kylian Mbappe, Rodri, Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane considered ahead of him.

2026 Ballon d’Or: Diego Simeone picks surprise player to win award

Brighton head coach, Fabian Hurzeler, has provided an injury update on Femi Azeez ahead of Brighton’s Carabao Cup third round clash against Manchester United.

Azeez arrived the AMEX from Sky Bet Championship club Millwall on transfer deadline day.

The Nigeria international’s debut has however been delayed due to a minor hamstring injury.

The winger picked up the injury during Millwall’s opening day clash with Bristol City.

Hurzeler revealed that Azeez will be assessed ahead of his side’s trip to Old Trafford on Wednesday

The other Nigerian at the club Zadok Yohanna will miss the game due to injury.

Yohanna is expected to return to action after the upcoming international break.

Brighton head into the game in buoyant mood following Sunday’s 5-0 win at Coventry City.

Carabao Cup: Brighton boss provides injury update on Azeez

Former Chelsea striker, Carlton Cole, has criticised Morgan Rogers despite the player scoring against Hull City over the weekend.

Rogers was on the scoresheet as Chelsea played 2-2 with Hull City in the Premier League.

Speaking about Rogers’ performance on The Dressing Room podcast, Cole insisted that the England international lost the ball so many times during the encounter.

“He had already scored his goal. I see him dribbling into no man’s land,” Cole said.

“He lost the ball so many times. I was like, ‘Morgan, this is not like you’. What is going on?”

Chelsea’s next match is against Brentford in the Premier League on Friday.

EPL: He lost ball many times – Cole criticises Chelsea’s Rogers

Frank Onyeka will be assessed ahead of Coventry City’s Carabao Cup third round clash with Aston Villa on Wednesday.

The Nigeria international was forced off with an injury in Coventry’s 5-0 home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.

The defensive midfielder was replaced by Ghana international Caleb Yirenkyi 18 minutes from time.

Onyeka’s international teammate Taiwo Awoniyi will miss the game due to suspension

Awoniyi was sent off in the 53rd minute of Coventry’s loss to Brighton.

The hosts will also be without Josh Eccles, Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Luke Woolfenden, and Haji Wright for the game.

Lampard’s side have recorded just one win in five games across all competitions this season.

Carabao Cup: Onyeka doubtful for Coventry City vs Aston Villa

Manchester United starlet, JJ Gabriel, has asked the club to cancel his registration with them immediately.

According to the UK Telegraph, the 15-year-old has sent a formal notice of his desire to become a free agent.

United have not yet accepted Gabriel’s request and believe they can salvage the situation.

Gabriel has played for United since he was 11 and the club can challenge his request to cancel his registration.

Last week, the teenager wiped all of the images from his Instagram page that has over 800,000 followers.

Gabriel is not able to sign a professional contract until he turns 17, and scholarship agreements are not permitted until players turn 16.

Transfer: JJ Gabriel asks to leave Man Utd immediately

Renowned football agent, Jorge Mendes, has named Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal as the player most deserving of the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

Mendes was asked by reporters which player he feels should win the Ballon d’Or after recently meeting with Barcelona president Joan Laporta.

The Portuguese insisted that Yamal is ahead of every other contender for the Ballon d’Or.

“Yamal is definitely going to win it, right? He’s the most deserving,” Mendes said as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

“He is without a doubt the best in the world, and he’s ahead of everyone else by a wide margin.”

Yamal was nominated among the 30-man players to compete for the Ballon d’Or.

Ballon d’Or: ‘He’s ahead’ – Jorge Mendes names player most deserving of 2026 award

The Nationwide League One, NLO, has issued guidelines on the registration process and arrangements for its cup competition.  

The NLO cup competition is scheduled to kick off on Saturday, 10 October.

The competition will be played in a home and away format, with clubs allowed to select their home ground with approval from the league.  

All the participating clubs are from the NLO Division 1 and the NLO Youth League U19.

They must pay a non-refundable registration fee of N1 million.

The structure is intended to give clubs flexibility while maintaining oversight from organisers on venue selection and match operations.  

DAILY POST reports that the tournament will be live-streamed on the official NLO platform, allowing international scouts, club directors, and foreign agents to observe performances in real-time via technology partners.

NLO releases guidelines for cup competition