Nigeria have failed to qualify for the Fifa Women’s World Cup for the first time in their history after suffering a 2-1 play-off defeat by South Africa in Morocco.
The continent’s top-ranked team went into the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations as heavy favourites to retain their crown.
However, Justin Madugu’s side were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Cameroon, forcing them into a high-stakes play-off in Casablanca to keep their 2027 Brazil dreams alive.
Banyana Banyana strike in second half
Following a tense opening period, the breakthrough arrived on the counter-attack shortly after the interval.
Hildah Magaia raced onto a precise through ball and delivered a cross for Thembi Kgatlana, who powered a shot past goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.
South Africa doubled their advantage in the 77th minute when a strike from Refiloe Jane took a cruel deflection off a Nigerian defender.
Late drama sets up grandstand finish
The match exploded into life during stoppage time when goalscorer Jane was dismissed for handling the ball inside her own penalty area.
Christy Ucheibe confidently converted the resulting spot-kick in the 93rd minute to give the Super Falcons an unexpected lifeline.
Banyana Banyana goalkeeper Kaylin Swart then produced a spectacular save with her feet to deny Michelle Alozie a dramatic equaliser with almost the final kick of the contest.
An uncertain future for the Super Falcons
This unprecedented failure ends a remarkable streak for the West African nation, who had appeared at all nine previous global tournaments since 1991.
The early exit will inevitably raise serious questions back home, particularly surrounding the international future of 31-year-old striker Asisat Oshoala.
The six-time African Footballer of the Year struggled to make an impact against a well-drilled South African defence and was substituted early in the second half.
Meanwhile, South Africa will advance to the Fifa inter-confederation qualifier alongside Ghana, who secured their own progression by coming from behind to beat Ivory Coast 2-1.
The NBA has released its 2026-27 season schedule, headlined by emotional January returns for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown to their former franchises.
The two-time Most Valuable Player will travel to Milwaukee for the first time with the Miami Heat on 28 January.
Having spent 13 illustrious seasons with the Bucks and securing a championship in 2021, the Greek forward’s homecoming at the Fiserv Forum promises to be a momentous occasion.
This highly anticipated fixture also sees Bam Adebayo face former teammate Tyler Herro, following an offseason summer league altercation between the pair in Las Vegas.
Herro, along with Kel’el Ware and Jaime Jaquez Jr, will make their own return to Florida when Milwaukee visit the Heat on 4 February.
Brown and James set for hostile Boston reception
Another major date on the calendar is 21 January, marking Jaylen Brown’s first appearance at TD Garden since joining the Philadelphia 76ers.
The former Finals MVP was controversially traded within the Atlantic Division in a blockbuster deal for Paul George and four draft picks.
Celtics supporters expressed widespread frustration over the trade return, especially after the explosive wing averaged a career-high 28.7 points last season while Jayson Tatum was sidelined.
Adding further intrigue to the January clash, LeBron James will also feature for Philadelphia, bringing his historic rivalry with Boston into a new chapter.
Ball heads to Minnesota as Young faces former fans
In a move that stunned the league, the Charlotte Hornets traded talismanic point guard LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves after narrowly missing the play-in tournament.
The popular playmaker will finally return to North Carolina to play in front of his former supporters on 15 February.
Elsewhere, Washington Wizards guard Trae Young will take to the court in Atlanta on 6 November.
The prolific scorer missed out on playing against his former franchise last season due to injury, meaning this autumn fixture will serve as his true on-court homecoming.
Number one pick Dybantsa prepares for debut
Washington will also showcase number one overall draft pick AJ Dybantsa, who makes his professional debut at home against Milwaukee on 21 October.
The highly touted rookie is then scheduled to face second overall pick Darryn Peterson when the Wizards travel to the Utah Jazz in late February.
Fans will also be treated to a marquee matchup between the last two number one selections when Dybantsa squares off against Cooper Flagg later in the campaign.
Chelsea have agreed a deal to send defender Benoit Badiashile on loan to Napoli for the upcoming season, with the Italian club holding an option to buy.
The 25-year-old moves to Serie A after struggling to secure a regular starting place at Stamford Bridge since his £32.7m arrival from Monaco in January 2023.
The agreement will see the Italian outfit pay an initial £2.5m loan fee, potentially rising by £855,000 in add-ons, to secure the services of the French international.
A permanent transfer can be triggered next summer for £23m, though the centre-back remains under contract in west London until 2030.
Alonso trims bloated squad
New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has prioritised reducing his playing personnel to a 25-man squad for a campaign without European football.
The Blues have overseen a vast overhaul of their roster during a busy summer window, acquiring players such as Maxence Lacroix while moving on multiple first-team members.
With numerous central defensive options still available, including Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, and recent arrival Lacroix, opportunities for the two-time France international appeared extremely limited.
Fresh start in Serie A
The former Monaco prospect was highly regarded upon his arrival in England but has seen his development stall dramatically.
Over three-and-a-half seasons, the defender accumulated just 71 appearances across all competitions, featuring sparsely under previous manager Enzo Maresca.
Napoli, now managed by Max Allegri, identified the heart of their defence as a crucial area for improvement after relinquishing the Serie A title last season.
The switch to Italy offers a vital opportunity to resurrect a promising career while providing the London club with crucial flexibility in the transfer market.
Paris Saint-Germain have reached an agreement in principle to sign Barcelona forward Ferran Torres for a reported fee of €50m.
The 26-year-old is expected to fly to the French capital in the coming days to undergo a medical before finalising the transfer.
It follows an initial €40m bid from the Ligue 1 champions earlier this week, which was swiftly rejected by the Catalan club.
Despite hoping to extend his existing contract, the Spanish outfit reluctantly sanctioned the move after the player explicitly asked to leave.
Reunion with Enrique awaits
The transfer caps off a remarkable period for the Spanish international, who recently scored the winning goal against Argentina in the World Cup final.
His arrival at the Parc des Princes will see him reunited with head coach Luis Enrique, having previously played under the tactician during his tenure as Spain manager.
The versatile attacker began his career primarily operating on the flanks but has successfully transitioned into a more central role over recent campaigns.
He is widely expected to be deployed as a traditional centre-forward to fill the void left by Goncalo Ramos, following the Portuguese striker’s departure to AC Milan.
Barcelona face striker shortage
The departure of their World Cup hero leaves Barcelona facing a significant shortage of recognised central attacking options.
The former Manchester City man finished last season with a highly respectable tally of 21 goals across all competitions.
His exit compounds an existing problem for the La Liga giants following Robert Lewandowski’s recent summer move to Major League Soccer franchise Chicago Fire.
While Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez remains their primary target to replace the outgoing firepower, completing a deal for the Argentine is reportedly proving difficult to conclude.
Rory McIlroy sits nine shots off the lead after enduring a disastrous finish to his opening round at the FedEx St Jude Championship in Memphis.
The Northern Irishman shot a four-over-par 74 in the first of three FedExCup Playoff events.
He was level par heading into the final three holes before consecutive bogeys derailed his afternoon at TPC Southwind.
A double bogey at the 18th hole, following a tee shot plunged into the water, capped a frustrating return to action.
Spieth and Thorbjornsen set early pace
The four-time major winner was playing his first competitive golf since finishing tied for 40th at The Open at Royal Birkdale last month.
His late collapse left him far behind American duo Jordan Spieth and Michael Thorbjornsen, who lead the field following impressive opening rounds of 65.
England’s Tommy Fleetwood trails the leaders by a single shot after opening his tournament with a composed 66.
The European Ryder Cup star’s round was highlighted by a spectacular chip-in for eagle at the par-five third hole.
“Hit it great off the tee today. Still my iron play was iffy, but I did a good job of managing it for the most part,” Fleetwood said.
Scheffler solid as MacIntyre struggles
World number one Scottie Scheffler played alongside McIlroy in the marquee group and delivered a solid two-under-par 68.
“I felt like I hit a lot of quality shots with my irons. I did a good job of being patient and not trying to force it too much,” Scheffler noted.
European stalwarts Ludvig Aberg and Sepp Straka joined the reigning Masters champion on two under par.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre endured a torrid Thursday in Tennessee, carding a 12-over-par 82 to sit firmly at the bottom of the leaderboard.
No cut offers McIlroy weekend hope
Memphis is hosting the first leg of the PGA Tour’s lucrative postseason, where only the top 50 in the season standings will progress to the BMW Championship.
The top 30 players will then advance to the season-ending Tour Championship.
Entering the week ranked 12th out of the 70-player field, McIlroy’s progression to the next stage is already secure regardless of his final position this week.
The absence of a halfway cut in Memphis also guarantees the former world number one ample time to climb the leaderboard over the weekend.
Manchester City midfielders Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders missed training on Thursday ahead of their Community Shield clash against Arsenal, amid intense transfer speculation.
The influential Spaniard is effectively ruled out of Sunday’s season-opener in Wales against the reigning Premier League champions.
He was afforded an extended break after leading his national team to World Cup glory this summer, before subsequently undergoing minor surgery.
Barcelona push for Spanish midfielder
Speculation regarding the 30-year-old’s future intensified following his absence, especially after Barcelona saw a second bid rejected by the English club.
The midfield anchor has previously expressed a desire to return to La Liga and is keen to move following the departure of Pep Guardiola.
However, manager Enzo Maresca dismissed immediate transfer concerns and confirmed the player was always scheduled to return on Friday.
“Yes, at the moment he will be in Manchester. There is no update. On August 14 he will be back.”
Reijnders seals lucrative Saudi switch
Meanwhile, Reijnders was also missing from the open session as he finalised a permanent move to Al Qadsiah.
The Netherlands international has reportedly agreed to join the Saudi Pro League outfit in a deal worth £52.1m, just one year after arriving from AC Milan.
This high-profile transfer means the Middle Eastern club has successfully beaten Nottingham Forest to the Dutchman’s signature.
The reigning FA Cup holders could now use these newly acquired funds to finance a blockbuster move for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
Arsenal have opened negotiations with Galatasaray over a potential swap deal for striker Victor Osimhen as the Premier League club look to offload Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri.
The Gunners are actively searching for a world-class forward after missing out on Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and finding Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez too expensive.
Discussions were initially sparked by the Turkish giants, who approached Arsenal regarding the availability of Martinelli and Nwaneri.
During these negotiations, the possibility of bringing the Nigeria international to North London emerged as a stunning counter-option.
Galatasaray target Arsenal duo
Mikel Arteta is reportedly willing to part ways with both Martinelli and Nwaneri during the current summer transfer window to balance his squad.
Reports suggest that Galatasaray have already tabled a £38.4m bid for Martinelli, who has entered the final year of his current contract.
The Istanbul-based club are also exploring a move for Nwaneri following his reported loan spell with Marseille last season.
Martinelli appears poised to end his seven-year association with the North London side, having registered 62 goals in 278 appearances.
Osimhen’s prolific record
Osimhen has established himself as one of Europe’s most feared goalscorers and was strongly linked with a move to Tottenham earlier this summer.
The powerful striker only finalised a permanent £64m switch to Galatasaray from Napoli last year following a highly successful initial loan period.
He boasts an impressive return of 59 goals and 16 assists in just 74 appearances for the Turkish champions.
Securing the former Napoli star would significantly bolster Arsenal’s attacking depth, but hinges entirely on their ability to generate funds through player sales.
Arteta prioritises squad improvement
Arsenal’s manager acknowledges that departures are necessary to create space and free up financial resources for new acquisitions.
“There is more that we want to do, because every time we have an opportunity to improve the squad and bring more quality and depth, we need to do that.”
Arteta added that while the club’s desire to strengthen is unquestionable, the complexities of the transfer market mean nothing can be guaranteed.
“We’re actively trying to do so – the thing is, in the market, it doesn’t just depend on you, and we’re very clear on that.”
Four Canadian ice hockey players will remain suspended from international competition despite being acquitted of sexual assault, after an independent appeals board found they breached Hockey Canada’s code of conduct.
Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Carter Hart remain barred from representing the national team for varying lengths of time.
A fifth member of the 2018 under-20s squad, Alex Formenton, was also found to have broken conduct rules but has been granted immediate reinstatement.
All five men were found not guilty of sexual assault during a highly publicised trial in July 2025.
Differing suspension terms
While Formenton is clear to return to the international stage, his former team-mates face extended periods on the sidelines.
Foote will become eligible for selection on 10 November this year.
Hart and Dube must wait until the same date in 2027 and 2028 respectively.
McLeod faces the harshest sporting penalty, with his suspension from Hockey Canada-sanctioned programmes lasting until November 2030.
Officials have not publicly disclosed why the reinstatement dates differ so significantly among the group.
NHL eligibility unaffected
This independent ruling has no bearing on the players’ club careers within the National Hockey League.
Operating under a completely separate authority, the NHL conducted its own investigation and cleared all five athletes to sign new contracts late last year.
The original allegations stemmed from an incident in a London, Ontario hotel room following a gala event eight years ago.
During the summer trial, Justice Maria Carroccia acquitted the group after stating she did not find the complainant’s evidence to be credible or reliable.
National conversation on hockey culture
Defence lawyers successfully argued that the players believed the woman had given consent to the encounters.
Despite the legal acquittal, the historic case continues to resonate deeply across the North American nation.
“This case started a national conversation about safe sport and the problematic culture in men’s hockey.”