Super Falcons’ midfielder, Esther Okoronkwo has attributed Nigeria’s shock 3-2 loss to Malawi to the team’s slow start and a controversial penalty decision that went against the defending champions.

The Super Falcons were reported to have suffered a disappointing loss to WAFCON debutants Malawi in their Group C opener on Tuesday, despite going into the encounter as overwhelming favourites.

Nigeria struggled to contain Malawi’s dangerous sisters, Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga who took advantage of the lapses in the Falcons’ defence.

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Temwa scored twice and Tabitha added Malawi’s third goal as the debutants stunned the nine-time African champions.

Nigeria got goals from Rasheedat Ajibade and substitute Uchenna Kanu but it was not enough to stop the Falcons from suffering an early setback in their title defence.

‘We Came Out A Little Flat’ – Okoronkwo
Okoronkwo, speaking after the match, admitted that Nigeria did not start the game with the intensity needed against a resolute Malawi side.

The midfielder said the Falcons need to quickly move on from the defeat, identify their mistakes and return stronger in their next match.

“Next game, we gotta be better. “In this game, we came out a little flat,” Okoronkwo said.

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Sky Sports News has been told Vinicius Junior will be staying at Real Madrid beyond this summer.

The Spanish club do not want to sell him and are confident he will sign a new deal.

His current deal has a year to run but Arsenal are interested and are watching his situation closely.

Sky Sports News broke the news on Monday that further talks over his future between Real and his representatives will take place this week. That is with a view to making progress on a new long-term contract at the Bernabeu.

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New manager Jose Mourinho is understood to rate Vinicius highly and wants him to remain one of his top Galacticos.

Were Vinicius rumors only a contract row?
Analysis by Sky Sports News’ Lyall Thomas:

The situation surrounding Vinicius Junior has some of the classic ingredients of a new contract dispute; reports of an impasse over salary demands, new interest from Arsenal and further talks on the horizon.

But as yet there is no strong public evidence that Vinicius wants to leave Real Madrid for any reason, sporting or otherwise, no quotes, no interviews, no suggestive social media posts.

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Real Madrid have reached full agreement with RB Leipzig to sign highly-rated Ivorian winger Yan Diomande for more than €100m. The move brings one of Europe’s hottest young prospects to the Santiago Bernabéu.

After weeks of talks, the Spanish giants completed a deal with the Bundesliga club on Sunday night and all parties have now agreed to the move.

Diomande is expected to travel to Madrid later this week for medicals before signing a long-term deal that will keep him at the club until June 2031 according to Football Transfer expert Fabrizio on X.

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It is another huge statement of intent by Real Madrid who continue to add to their squad some of the most exciting young talents on the planet. The club views the Ivorian international as an important addition to their attacking options heading into the next few seasons.

Diomande has emerged as a rapid riser since joining RB Leipzig and has caught the eye of several of Europe’s top clubs with his pace, direct running, creativity and eye for goal. He was established as one of the most exciting young wingers on the continent with his performances in Germany.

After the medical and signing of the contract, Real Madrid are expected to formally present the player before the start of the new campaign.

The transfer is now seen as a done deal with only the normal formalities left before Diomande is officially announced as a Real Madrid player.

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The Argentine Football Association (AFA) is contemplating legal action against a coordinated misinformation campaign against the national team and its players during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

False accusations, manipulated or unsubstantiated images, and unverified claims have led to the AFA considering defamation claims against people and groups, according to football transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

“AFA is considering to take LEGAL ACTION on the misinformation campaign against Argentina and their players during the World Cup,” Romano wrote.

The lawsuits could be for defamation, based on false allegations, manipulated or unverified images, or allegations made without any evidence.

“The Argentina Football Federation will go ALL IN. This will be going after big media outlets, as well as accounts on 𝕏, IG and many more outlets.

AFA’s legal team is gathering evidence, posts and other material.

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The move follows a wave of criticism for Argentina following their 1-0 loss to Spain in extra time in the World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19.

Argentina had beaten England in the semi-finals to reach their second World Cup final in a row and were said to have finished the final with 10 men after Enzo Fernandez was sent off before Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time.

Argentina were at the centre of a number of controversies during the tournament. Conspiracy theories were circulating online that FIFA officials were biased towards Lionel Messi and the holders.

The claims first gained traction when Messi escaped a booking for a strong challenge on Algeria in Argentina’s opening Group J game. Egypt striker Mostafa Ziko later claimed the competition was “rigged” after his side lost 3-2 to Argentina in the last 16.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan added: “They want Argentina and Messi to stay in the World Cup for marketing.

Fifa’s Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina denied the claims and stood by French referee Francois Letexier.

Argentina again came under fire after players unfurled a banner reading “Las Malvinas Son Argentinas” after their semi-final victory over England, reviving the long-running Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute. FIFA has confirmed it is investigating the incident but has not taken any disciplinary action.

Tempers flared too in the final when Leandro Paredes confronted Spanish players and threw Gavi to the ground, leading to more accusations of unsporting behaviour.

The backlash was not just limited to football, Argentine newspaper La Nacion reported, with Argentines in countries such as Brazil, Spain and Germany saying they were harassed or insulted after the final.

The newspaper also published a widely shared video of a man wearing an Argentina shirt being attacked at Madrid’s Sol metro station. Spain’s National Police told La Nacion no formal complaint has been made and said it could not verify when the incident occurred.

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Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen says he wants to return to school and obtain a university degree after his football career. Victor Osimhen says education is still important despite the demands of professional football.

The Nigerian international revealed this in a video making the rounds on social media where he looked back at the lessons he has picked up since leaving school and why he looks forward to continuing his education in the future.

“Life has taught me many things that I could not learn in the class room but getting a degree would be a personal achievement and an opportunity to inspire younger people who are faced with similar challenges,” Osimhen said.

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“Not everything you learn in school, as an adult. There are some sort of life lessons that you learn as you go through life’s journey.”

The Galatasaray striker stressed the need of preparing for life after retirement as a player, saying a football career is relatively short.

“So for me to also try to get a degree which I’m still considering because football you won’t play for so long, probably 20, 25 years and then you’re done.

Osimhen said he also hopes his decision will inspire young people who had to abandon their education due to financial or personal difficulties, stressing that it is never too late to return to the classroom.

“So as much as I have a lot of things to fall back on when I’m done, I think it’s still important for me to set an example, to set a standard for the younger generation that regardless of whether you dropped out because of some kind of challenges you have, it’s something you can always go back to school because the school is always there…”

The 27-year-old did not say when he plans to enrol or what course he will study but his comments have been praised by fans, with many saying his message is a reminder that education is valuable no matter how successful one’s career is.

The video is still going viral on social media with fans commending the Super Eagles star for preaching the importance of lifelong learning and planning for life after football.

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Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has questioned Lionel Messi’s incredible stamina after the Argentina skipper inspired his side to a dramatic 3-2 victory over Egypt to reach the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals.

Messi put the holders back on level terms after they had clawed back a two-goal deficit in Tuesday’s last-16 clash. Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico had put Egypt in the driving seat but Cristian Romero and Enzo Fernandez completed the comeback.

“I still don’t understand how he can still produce decisive performances in a tournament that is physically and mentally demanding,” Mikel told Fox Sports after the match.

“Argentina are having another hard game, where they have been pushed to the limit. “How much Messi has played, how much has been taken out of him mentally, psychologically, physically as well,” Obi Mikel said.

“Again that’s going to be the question, how much can he give again to be able to drag this Argentina team once again to another semi-final.

“That’s going to be the question but when you have Messi I don’t know what the guy is eating. I don’t know what he eats, because every time you think it’s over, he comes up with something spectacular.”

Another ex-Sweden striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, also paid tribute to Messi but said the rest of the Argentina squad must take more responsibility as the tournament enters the business end.

Former AC Milan and Manchester United forward believes Argentina can’t keep relying on their captain if they are to retain the World Cup title.

“His [Messi’s] teammates need to step it up and also help him because he has been on another level, if I have to be a little bit critical,” Ibrahimovic said of Messi.

‘If he can carry on and take it all the way to the final and really take the final pieces. “We’ll be surprised but he needs help to be fair.

Argentina was reported to have booked a last-eight place against Switzerland at 2 a.m. on Sunday, July 12, with their comeback win.

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Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the final World Cup of his career.

The 41-year-old made the announcement on Sunday while speaking to reporters ahead of Portugal’s Round of 16 clash against Spain.

“It’s about enjoying it as much as possible,” Ronaldo said.

“This will be my last World Cup, but let’s hope tomorrow isn’t my last game,” he added.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner said he would retire from international football without regrets, insisting he has given everything to the sport.

“The day will come when I retire from international football. Whatever happens tomorrow, I’ll leave with a clear conscience because I’ve given everything to football,” he said.

Ronaldo explained that his desire to continue playing is driven by his love for the game rather than the need to prove himself.

“I play football because I love it. You have to enjoy every day. I’ve scored three goals at this World Cup, so I’m not doing too badly,” he said.

The Portuguese forward has enjoyed another impressive tournament, becoming the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cups. He scored twice against Uzbekistan during the group stage and added another goal from the penalty spot against Croatia in the Round of 32.

Reflecting on the tournament, Ronaldo described it as the most emotionally rewarding World Cup of his career.

“It’s been fantastic. This is the World Cup I’ll remember the most because of the passion of the people. Emotionally, it has been the best and I’ve enjoyed every moment,” he said.

Although he has never won the FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo said his legacy would not depend on lifting the trophy.

“I’m not lacking anything in life. I won’t be more or less Cristiano because I win the World Cup. We have the quality to win it, but only one country can become champions,” he said.

Ronaldo, who remains under contract with Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr until 2027, also expressed appreciation for the criticism he has received throughout his career, saying it has contributed to his personal growth.

“I’m thankful even for the criticism because that’s how you grow the most as a person,” he said.

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The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has commended the performances of African teams at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, praising their determination and resilience.

In a post on her verified X account, Okonjo-Iweala congratulated Morocco and Egypt for progressing to the next stage of the competition and described Cape Verde as one of the tournament’s standout African teams.

“So proud of the performance of the African teams at the World Cup! Morocco and Egypt have made it through so far, but Cape Verde was a standout,” she wrote.

She also applauded the efforts of DR Congo, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana despite their elimination from the tournament.

“DRC, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana also battled. Thanks to all for making us proud. Keeping fingers crossed on further progress!” she added.

Okonjo-Iweala further expressed hope that Nigeria would qualify for the next FIFA World Cup, saying it would be exciting to see the Super Eagles return to football’s biggest tournament.

“Would be exciting if Nigeria makes it through to the next World Cup,” she wrote.

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Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has disclosed how hard it has been for him and his teammates to not qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking publicly on the matter for the first time on a recent social media livestream, Osimhen said the pain of missing out on the tournament for the second consecutive time was a painful experience for the national team.

Last week, the 2026 World Cup kicked off with countries from around the globe participating, marking the first time in the history of the competition that 48 teams will compete.

However, Nigeria, a traditional powerhouse of African football, is not at the tournament, despite the fact that the continent has nine automatic qualifying places and one extra place for playoffs.

Reacting to the Super Eagles’ absence, Osimhen said the situation was painful, not only for him personally but also for the rest of the players.

“It’s bad for the rest of the guys, not just for me,” Osimhen said.

“We’ve missed out back-to-back. “Sometimes life happens so you just have to keep moving.”

The striker’s remarks are in line with many Nigerian football fans who were looking forward to a return of the Super Eagles to the global stage after missing out on the 2022 edition in Qatar.

Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup have ended after the Super Eagles finished second in their qualification group. They were later knocked out by DR Congo in the continental playoffs, a result that confirmed their absence from the expanded tournament.

The failure means Nigeria will miss the World Cup for the second consecutive edition, having also failed to qualify for the 2022 edition.

The country last played in the World Cup in 2018 in Russia, when the Super Eagles were eliminated in the group stage.

With Nigeria yet to feature in the tournament, many of the current national team have not yet had the chance to play on the biggest stage of football.

Osimhen is one of the top forwards on the continent who has never played for Nigeria at a senior FIFA World Cup.

Osimhen admitted the disappointment was hard to take but said the players had no choice but to move on and focus on future assignments.

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Veteran journalist and former presidential aide, Reuben Abati has called on Nigerians to support Mexico in its opening World Cup game against South Africa even as he said that there are still fears of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in the Southern African country.

Abati said the Federal Government was making efforts to evacuate Nigerians affected by xenophobic violence in South Africa when he spoke on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Thursday.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson had said earlier that arrangements had been concluded to bring back Nigerians that registered for evacuation, with an initial batch of 278 persons expected to return home,” he said.

Abati said the government had announced that it would assist and rehabilitate five batches of returnees, and over 1,000 Nigerians had indicated willingness to return.

He said the situation underscored the need for better living conditions in Nigeria, saying that if basic services such as electricity, water supply and healthcare were adequately provided at home, citizens would be less likely to seek opportunities abroad.

On football, Abati told Nigerians to back Mexico in its World Cup opener against South Africa at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

He joked that if he supported South Africa, people would accuse Nigerians of hogging opportunities that were meant for South Africans.

“All the arrangements have been made for those Nigerians that have signed up to be brought back to their country from South Africa because of the xenophobic attack,” the spokesman for the ministry of foreign affairs has said, Abati said. The first batch of 278 of them will be assisted, taken care of, rehabilitated by the Nigerian government.

‘We have been promised five batches. We hope that all the five batches over 1000 Nigerians saying that they will come back to their country. There must be a moral story there that if our country is properly organised nobody will need to go to seek electricity supply and water supply and good health care in other countries of the world.

“But today South Africa and Mexico will play the first game at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. I am appealing to all Nigerians to support Mexico so that we do not even get to the point where the South Africans will say “these Nigerians are here again. They are doing their job for them and there will be another wave of xenophobic attacks.

“I think we will be more safe to support Mexico in this first game of the World Cup. The match is at 1pm Mexico local time, that is 7pm this evening and I expect Nigerians to support Mexico.

They say we don’t like them. They say we’re doing their job. Let’s not do their job for them. “We will support Mexico.”

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