Sport

Japan Deny Zambia Freedom; Cage the Africans 5-0 in Women’s World Cup.

Published

3 years ago

July 23, 2023

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The poetic lines that ZAMBIA SHALL BE FREE by Kenneth Kaunda was not realized at the Women’s World Cup as Japan caged the Copper Queens of Zambia 5-0 at FMG Stadium Waikato on Saturday morning Nigerian Time in an outstanding Group C match.

It would have been an avalanche of goals against the Africans as a Mina Tanaka goals in the 23rd and 50th minute were turned down by the VAR and a penalty awarded Japan in the 52nd minute was also overturned.

Miyazawa had scored a brace in the match with the first goals cored 43rd minute from Fujino right foot cross and in the 62nd minute making the 3rd goal for Japan when Tanaka made a dribble run to give Miyazawa the ball to tap into an empty net.

Tanakawa scored the 2nd goal in the 55th minute through J. Endo assist and Endo herself got a deserved goal from a left footed strike off Y. Hasegawa pass. The 5th goal was dramatic as substitute goalkeeper, Sakala of Zambia had saved a penalty from Riko Ueki but the VAR rejected the kick as Sakala was said to have violated the rules of goalkeeping at penalty kick times and Ueki scored it 90+11th minute.

Zambia was plagued by negative developments before the tournament as first choice goalkeeper, Hazel Nali could not make the team due to an ankle injury and Coach Bruce Mwape called on teenager, Catherine Musonda who was red carded in the 90+7th minute against Japan after the second yellow card. Chitundu was sacrificed to have another teenage goalkeeper, Eunice Sakala who was saddled to save a penalty on assumption of duty. Part of the plague was dependable defender Grace Chanda who had to be rushed to hospital on Tuesday for an undisclosed ailment but FIFA granted a replacement for her.

Zambia is one of the eight teams making their debut alongside Haiti; Ireland; Morocco; Panama; Philippines; Portugal and Vietnam.

The Japan versus Zambia match is the second game of Japan against an African side after their 2-1 win over Cameroon at the 2015 group stage.

Japan with nickname Nadeshiko is making her 9th appearance and were champions in 2011 at Germany and Silver Medalists at Canada 2015.

Spain had spanked Costa Rica in the group opener and is currently second on the table by goals aggregate.

The second round matches of Group C will be on Wednesday 26th July when Spain will play Zambia and Japan will tackle Costa Rica. The last group matches will be played on Monday 31st July with Japan versus Spain and Costa Rica versus Zambia.

Still today, England will trade tackles with Haiti at 1030 hours in a Group D match at Suncorp Stadium Australia and at 1300 hours, Denmark and China will take to the turf in a group D match at NIB Stadium, Perth Australia.

Tomorrow Sunday 23rd July, Netherlands will engage Portugal in the other group E first round match expected to be officiated by Ukrainian Ref Kateryna Monzul. On 27th July the second round matches of the group will see USA versus Netherlands at the Wellington Regional Stadium and Portugal versus Vietnam at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton. The last group matches slated simultaneously for 1st August is Portugal tackling USA at Eden Park and Vietnam locking horns with Netherlands at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin.
On Sunday 23rd July, Sweden versus South Africa at 0600 hours; Netherlands versus Portugal at 0830 hours and France versus Jamaica at 1100 hours Nigerian time.

By Eniola Olatunji

Sport

Transfer News: Chelsea Sets Price Tag For Argentina Star

Published

1 week ago

July 12, 2026

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Chelsea are prepared to sell their Argentine star and they have set a price tag.

Chelsea have placed a €50 million valuation on Alejandro Garnacho, with the Argentina international winger linked with a departure from Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the West London club have established a dual-pricing structure for the 22-year-old. If a Premier League rival expresses interest, Chelsea will demand a £45 million fee. However, the club are willing to accept a slightly lower figure of around €50 million (£42.6 million) from foreign clubs.

Garnacho is not in the plans of newly appointed manager Xabi Alonso. The winger failed to report for the first day of pre-season training, staying away to actively explore an exit strategy alongside his representatives.

The impending transfer concludes a 12-month tenure in West London. Garnacho originally joined Chelsea from Manchester United in the summer of 2025 for a reported €46.2 million (£39.4 million) fee. He signed a long-term contract tying him to the club until June 30, 2032.

Despite the financial investment, he never established himself in the starting lineup. During the 2025/26 season, he registered eight goals and four assists across 43 appearances in all competitions. His domestic output was poor, starting just 14 Premier League matches and three in the UEFA Champions League and scoring only one league goal throughout the campaign

International News

Iran squad travel to Turkey for friendlies, US visas

Published

2 months ago

May 18, 2026

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Iran’s national football team was headed to Turkey on Monday to play a final friendly match and apply for visas to fly to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, Iranian media reported.

The team plan to participate in the tournament despite co-host Washington having launched a war against Iran with a massive wave of attacks alongside ally Israel on February 28.

The fighting has been on hold for weeks thanks to a ceasefire, but peace talks have failed to make a breakthrough and new drone attacks against Gulf countries at the weekend combined with threats from US President Donald Trump raising fears of a return to fighting.

The team “departed this morning for Antalya, Turkey to play its final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup,” the Tasnim news agency reported.

It said the squad consisted of 22 domestic-based players alongside their coaching staff.

On Saturday, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said they would also be completing visa applications for the US while in Turkey.

– ‘Let ’em play’ –

Iran secured their spot at the World Cup in March 2025, but since then the United States has twice launched attacks on the country.

US officials have insisted that Iran is welcome at the tournament, while organiser FIFA has said it will go ahead as planned and rejected Iranian suggestions that their games be moved to co-hosts Mexico or Canada.

“I think let ’em play,” Trump said in late April.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said any problem would not be with Iranian players but “some of the other people (they) would want to bring with them”, suggesting they may have ties to the Revolutionary Guards, which Washington has branded a terrorist organisation.

Last month, officials from Iran’s football federation abandoned a trip to the FIFA congress in Canada, saying they had been “insulted” by Canadian immigration officers.

One of their delegation, Mehdi Taj, is a former member of the Revolutionary Guards, which Canada has also designated a terror group.

The Iranian football team hope to play two friendlies in Antalya.

They have already confirmed one match, against The Gambia, on May 29, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team.

“No visas have been issued yet,” Taj, the head of Iran’s football federation, told Iranian media on Thursday.

On Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom held a meeting in Turkey with the federation, describing it as constructive, as did Taj.

When the squad reaches the United States, Iran will set up their base camp in Tucson, Arizona.

The team, who are in Group G, are due to kick off their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June, before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle.

AFP

International News

Man U In Three Players Swap Deal As Club Forfeits Financial Boost

Published

3 months ago

April 30, 2026

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AC Milan will consider three Manchester United players as part of a swap deal for Rafael Leao, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The outlet claim that United have already made contact with agents over a potential deal for Leao this summer, but their first choice target is Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers.

However, Leao could be an easier deal to do, with Milan now ready to listen to offers for the winger. The Italian side are reportedly asking for around €50 million (£43.3m) but their interest in three United players could possibly lead to a swap deal.

Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte and Marcus Rashford are all mentioned. All three players are expected to leave Old Trafford this summer.

Zirkzee has struggled to make an impact since his move from Bologna, while Rashford has spent the season on loan with Barcelona. The Spanish side have the option to make the move permanent for £26 million but they are looking less and less likely to trigger it.

United could therefore be looking for sale in the summer. Using him as part of a swap for Leao could be seen as a solution.

United have forfeited a financial boost from a friendly against RB Leipzig. Sky Germany report that as part of the agreement between the two sides over striker Benjamin Sesko, a friendly match must be played.

But instead of United financially benefitting from the game, Leipzig will instead receive all of the revenue. It’s reported that the game must be played within the ‘next few years’.

United completed a deal for Sesko last summer, paying a fee of around £66.3million. However, Sky Germany report that it is now set to rise to £74 million with add-ons.

It’s claimed that there will be around £3.5 million in bonuses for things such as appearances, goals and Champions League qualification.

In his first season with the club, Sesko has scored 11 times, in 31 appearances in all competitions. He scored what turned out to be the winning goal in Monday night’s win over Brentford.