Sports

Premier league side Chelsea won the Club World Cup for the first time after an extra-time victory against Brazilian club Palmeiras. A 117th-minute penalty in Abu Dhabi by Kai Havertz - who scored their 2021 Champions League winner - means the Blues have now won every trophy possible under owner Roman Abramovich. Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring with a header in the second half before Raphael Veiga levelled from the spot. Palmeiras defender Luan was sent off in added time.  

FIFA approves Ademola Lookman nationality switch to Nigeria. Leicester City winger Ademola Lookman has had his application to change nationality to represent Nigeria instead of England approved by FIFA. The 24-year-old is on loan at the King Power Stadium from RB Leipzig, having previously represented Everton and Charlton Athletic. Lookman has not represented England’s senior team, but was an Under-19, Under-20, and Under-21 youth international. He was part of the squad that won the Under-20 World Cup in 2017. Growing up in Peckham, both his parents are Nigerian. His path follows that of Alex Iwobi, who declared for Nigeria after…

Chelsea midfielder, Hakim Ziyech, has announced his retirement from Morocco’s national team. The decision comes after Ziyech was left out of Morocco’s squad for their Africa Cup of Nations campaign last month. Last year, Morocco head coach Vahid Halilhodzic accused the 28-year-old of faking an injury to get out of playing a friendly and criticised the midfielder’s behaviour. Ziyech, who has 40 caps for Morocco, has not featured for the national side since June and has now made himself unavailable for the foreseeable future. “Obviously I understand them but I will not return to the national team,” Ziyech told Abu…

Sadio Mane netted the winning spot-kick as Senegal beat Egypt 4-2 on penalties to clinch their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations after a 0-0 draw. The Liverpool forward had seen a seventh-minute penalty saved by Egypt keeper Gabaski but Mane held his nerve when he returned in the shootout. Chelsea's Edouard Mendy denied Mohanad Lasheen to give Mane the chance to win it in Yaounde's Olembe Stadium. Gabaski had made three good saves from Senegal's Bamba Dieng in extra time.

English Premier League side Watford have sacked boss Claudio Ranieri after 14 games and less than four months in charge. The Italian, 70, was appointed on 4 October but managed only seven points from 13 Premier League games. Last Friday's 3-0 home defeat to Norwich saw Watford drop into the bottom three with 18 matches left and prompted Ranieri's departure. A club statement said a change was needed to give a new appointment time to lift Watford out of trouble. "The Hornets' board recognises Claudio as a man of great integrity and honour, who will always be respected here at…

Augustine Eguavoen has stepped down as the interim coach of the Nigeria national team. This follows the Super Eagles’ 1-0 defeat to Tunisia in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 clash on Sunday. Eguavoen had led the three-time champions to three straight wins against Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau. However, they fell short against a Covid-stricken Tunisian team in the knockout stages. “What happens next is that I’m the interim coach and Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). “I will go back to my position and allow the NFF (to) make a decision on the way…

Nigeria have crashed out of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a 0-1 loss to the North African side, Tunisia. A goalkeeping error from Maduka Okoye gave the Carthage Eagles the goal just two minutes into the second half. More to follow…

Augustine Eguavoen has made eight changes for the much-anticipated round of 16 clash against Tunisia in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The Super Eagles must win to qualify to the next stage after picking up nine points in the group stage. Sadiq Umar, who scored against Guinea-Bissau, gives way for Taiwo Awoniyi in the starting XI. Zaidu Sanusi comes in for Jamilu Collins in defence while Kenneth Omeruo replaces West Bromwich Albion’s Semi Ajayi. Torino’s wing-back Ola Aina takes the place of Tyrone Ebuehi. Maduka Okoye will start between the sticks, despite the impressive performance of Francis Uzoho in…

President Muhammadu Buhari Sunday morning gave a pep talk to the Super Eagles, ahead of their second round match against Tunisia tonight in the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament. Speaking via video conference from the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the President spoke with Coach Augustine Eguavoen, , Captain Ahmed Musa , Amaju Pinnick, President of Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), and Nigerian Ambassador to Cameroon, Gen Abayomi Olonisakin (retd). Mentioning two of the players, Kelechi Iheanacho and Moses Simon, by name, President Buhari urged the Super Eagles to continue making Nigerians happy, not only by winning the second round match,…

Super Eagles interim head coach Austine Eguavoen has blamed Umar Sadiq for not carrying out his instruction in Saturday’s 3-1 win against Sudan. Sadiq took the place of Taiwo Awoniyi eight minutes from time and didn’t too much to justify his introduction. The Almeria forward also failed to make much impact following his introduction in Nigeria’s first game against the Pharaohs of Egypt. Eguavoen defended the striker after the game against the seven-time champions, but this time around aimed dig at 24-year-old for his poor performance. “Our substitution has been spot on, you can see Taiwo Awoniyi as the lone…