Author: Favour Olatunbosun

Makhachev Eyes Usman as First Welterweight Title Defence Fresh off his historic UFC 322 win, new welterweight champion Islam Makhachev is already pushing for his first title defence — and he wants former champion Kamaru Usman. UFC legend Alexander Volkanovski has called the potential bout Makhachev’s “toughest test yet.” Historic UFC 322 Triumph Makhachev defeated Jack Della Maddalena via unanimous decision at UFC 322, making history as the first UFC fighter to win titles at lightweight and welterweight. His dominant performance has set the stage for another blockbuster matchup. Ali Abdelaziz Confirms Makhachev Wants Usman Makhachev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, confirmed…

Nigeria’s taekwondo star Elizabeth Anyanacho continued her rise on the international stage by winning a bronze medal in the women’s under-70kg event at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh. The 26-year-old recently ended Nigeria’s 20-year drought at the World Championships in China, and she has now added another medal as Team Nigeria pushes for more podium finishes in the final week of the Games. “I’m Just Getting Started” — Anyanacho Speaking after her win, Anyanacho said her journey is far from over. “I’m just getting started. It’s the grace of God that helps me to consistently win medals.” Dominant Start,…

Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko is set to miss several matches after picking up a knee injury during the club’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur. According to Sky Sports, the 21-year-old forward is expected to be sidelined for at least one month.“Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko is set for a spell on the sidelines as a result of a knee injury picked up against Spurs,” the report stated. Early medical checks show that Sesko will need a period of rest and rehabilitation before returning to full fitness. The setback comes as a major blow for United, with Sesko becoming an important…

Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong says he remains confident that Nigeria’s younger players will bounce back stronger after the team’s painful failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. The 32-year-old captain was part of the squad that lost 4–3 on penalties to DR Congo in Sunday’s African play-off final in Rabat, Morocco.Nigeria scored first but endured 120 grueling minutes at the Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium before falling in the shootout. The defeat means the Super Eagles have now missed back-to-back World Cups (2022 and 2026). Speaking to Pooja Media, Troost-Ekong said he believes…

Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling and his family escaped unharmed after masked intruders attempted to break into their home last Saturday evening. The shocking incident has prompted a police investigation and renewed concerns about the rising number of burglaries targeting high-profile footballers across the UK. Sterling and Family Experience Second Break-In The attempted burglary took place at Sterling’s residence while he was inside with his long-term partner Paige Milian and their children. According to reports, several masked men tried to force entry into the property before fleeing the scene. Sterling and his family were left shaken but not physically harmed. A…

Conor McGregor has accepted an 18-month suspension for violating the UFC’s anti-doping policy, the organisation confirmed. According to the Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) agency, the 37-year-old Irish fighter missed three biological sample collections within a 12-month period in 2024, on June 13, September 19, and September 20. Under UFC rules, athletes must always provide accurate whereabouts information so that random drug tests can be conducted without notice. McGregor, who has not fought professionally since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in July 2021, had his suspension reduced from 24 months to 18 months after cooperating with CSAD’s investigation. The agency…

Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and 15 other Super Eagles players began training in Polokwane, South Africa, on Tuesday ahead of Friday’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho. Fifteen of the 16 players who arrived earlier took part in the evening session, which kicked off at 6 p.m. local time, bringing the total number of players on the pitch to 17. Defender Benjamin Federick arrived later and is expected to join Wednesday’s training, raising the camp count to 18. The team’s camp officially opened on Monday at The Ranch Hotel in Polokwane, with head coach Eric Chelle and his…

Botswana’s Collen Kebinatshipi has set his sights on breaking Wayde van Niekerk’s long-standing 400m world record after storming to gold at last month’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The 21-year-old clocked an impressive 43.53 seconds, the 10th-fastest time in history, to claim his first world title, becoming the first male athlete from Botswana to achieve the feat. South Africa’s Van Niekerk set the current world record of 43.03 seconds at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and Kebinatshipi believes it’s only a matter of time before he surpasses it. “Records are meant to be broken,” Kebinatshipi told Newsday on the BBC World…

Barely a year after lighting up the world at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, Shakirat Moshood is once again at the heart of Nigeria’s quest for international success. The 17-year-old forward, one of the brightest young stars in African football, is set to lead the Flamingos at the upcoming Morocco 2025 tournament with confidence and maturity beyond her years. Football began for Moshood as a playful hobby on the streets of Ibadan, but it quickly became a passion. “At first, it was just for fun,” she said. “But as I grew older, I realised this was more than a…

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) President, Tonobok Okowa, says he is confident that Team Nigeria will perform strongly at the 2026 Commonwealth Games with early and well-planned preparations. His optimism follows Nigeria’s modest showing at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where the country finished 27th overall. Tobi Amusan won silver in the women’s 100m hurdles—Nigeria’s only medal at the event. Speaking after a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, Okowa said the AFN had carefully reviewed its Tokyo performance and was ready to make key improvements ahead of the next global competition. “The talent and dedication of our athletes are…