Sports
Super Falcons Star Deborah Abiodun Suffers Season-Ending Injury
Nigerian international and Washington Spirit midfielder Deborah Abiodun has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 NWSL season, compounding a difficult period following the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria entered the tournament aiming for an 11th continental crown and a place at the World Cup in Brazil.
Abiodun, named in Justine Madugu’s 25-player squad, was expected to be a key figure in the midfield.
However, Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA World Cup after losing 2-1 to South Africa in a playoff.
Following her return to the Washington Spirit after participating in the WAFCON competition, the NWSL club confirmed on Monday that Abiodun will undergo surgery this week.
The 22-year-old was initially placed on the 45-day injury list earlier this month but has now been moved to the season-ending injury list, bringing her club campaign to a premature close.
Before her injury, Abiodun had made nine appearances for the Spirit, including four starts, accumulating 320 minutes on the pitch.
This professional setback comes as a big blow for the Super Falcons and their upcoming fixtures of games.
With her NWSL season now over, Abiodun faces a lengthy recovery period after a challenging few weeks for both club and country.
The midfielder will now focus on rehabilitation with the goal of returning to full strength for future campaigns.
Sports
PSG v Lyon Moved As Paris Prepares For More Protests
Paris St-Germain’s Ligue 1 match against Lyon has been pushed back 24 hours to Monday as the French capital prepares for another weekend of protests.
The fixture at the Parc des Princes in Paris had been scheduled to kick off at 19:45 GMT on Sunday but will instead take place at 20:30 on Monday.
The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) announced the postponement in a statement on Friday after French police prohibited the fixture from taking place on its original date.
French authorities are preparing a major security operation for demonstrations planned for Saturday.
Around 550,000 people took part in demonstrations last Saturday to protest rising fuel prices, education standards and the cost of living, which have escalated after weeks of student protests.
Marches took place in several major French cities, including Paris, backed by unions and student groups, and were marred by some incidents of violence, looting and destruction.
The security challenge is further complicated by Sunday’s NFL match between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints at the Stade de France, an event expected to require a significant police deployment.
The game will be played in Saint-Denis, about 10km from Place de la Bastille, where the protests are expected to begin.
The disruptions have already affected France’s domestic football schedule with Toulouse’s Ligue 1 home game against Troyes moved from Saturday to Sunday at the request of authorities.
Reigning French and European champions PSG are second in the standings after seven matches, while Lyon lead the table on 14 points, ahead of the holders on goal difference.
The match will also now be played on the same day as the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London.
Injured PSG pair Ousmane Dembele, the 2025 winner, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are among the contenders for the award.
Sports
Portugal National Team Congratulates Ronaldo On Extending Goal Tally
In Round 11 of the Saudi League, Al-Nassr faced Al-Fayha away from home. In the second half, Félix set up Ronaldo for a free kick, which Ronaldo converted for his 982nd career goal. Late in the match, Ronaldo started an attack that Ângelo Borges finished to seal a 3-1 victory for Al-Nassr.
The Portuguese national team posted a congratulatory message on social media after the match: “Cristiano Ronaldo adds another goal to his tally!”
Sports
El Clásico: Jurgen Klopp Tips Barca To Win On Sunday
Germany manager Jürgen Klopp has stated he favors Barcelona to win Sunday’s El Clásico against Real Madrid.
In his view, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona is clearly the stronger team at this stage. However, Klopp also admitted he has always had a personal preference for Barcelona.
In an interview with German broadcaster DAZN, Klopp confirmed he would not miss the highly anticipated Spanish football clash: “Of course, I will watch El Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid. I have watched this match at every stage of my life.”
Klopp also discussed how his views on the rivalry have evolved and why he supports compatriot Hansi Flick’s Barcelona.
Klopp said: “In the past, I supported Barcelona more because I hated how Pepe and other defenders used to just sweep everything away in the backline. That was the only reason I always supported Barcelona. Nowadays, I look at the game from a neutral perspective. I support the stronger team. And as things stand, that team is likely to be Barcelona.”
Barcelona has had a strong start to the season and will host their old rivals at Camp Nou, currently leading Real Madrid by six points. However, Barcelona suffered their first defeat of the season this week against Paris Saint-Germain.
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