Category sport-news

The board and management of the state-owned Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi has been disbanded, according to Benue State governor Hyacinth Alia.

The instantaneous dissolution occurs.

Read more about the arrests of six police tactical teams in Benue.

The state government claimed the decision was intended to reposition the club so that it can perform better in both the Nigeria Premier Football League and other competitions.

The governor also directed that the Commissioner for Youth, Sports, and Creativity be given the all-clear, official documents, assets, and responsibilities with immediate effect, according to a statement from the governor’s chief press secretary, Tersoo Kula, partially read.

The board and management’s appreciation for their contributions to the club and the state was expressed by the governor.

He assured that the new management structure will be introduced soon to help with Lobi Stars’ expansion and competitiveness.

According to US media reports from Thursday, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier have been detained in connection with an investigation into illegal gambling.

According to a source with law enforcement, the 49-year-old Billups’ arrest was connected to an illegal poker game organized by the Mafia, according to ABC News.

According to the television network, Rozier was detained in a separate, separately related betting case.

At 10:00 am (1400 GMT), FBI Director Kash Patel was scheduled to make an announcement about the arrests in New York, according to CBS News.

READ MORE: &nbsp, Liverpool End Losing Streak With Thumping Win At Eintracht Frankfurt.

Billups, a former NBA star who played for the Detroit Pistons for five years, retired from the team in 2014 and is now the Trailblazers’ coach.

Later on Thursday, Billups made his first court appearance in Oregon, according to ABC.

Rozier, 31, was selected by the Boston Celtics with the 16th overall pick in the 2015 draft. He has 11 years of NBA experience.

On Wednesday, the Heat’s opening game of the NBA season was a loss for him.

According to a statement from the national football association, Zimbabwe’s head coach Michael Nees was fired on Wednesday after not winning any of the country’s ten qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Read more about the 9 African Nations that will host the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

The Warriors finished bottom of a group that neighbours South Africa won thanks to their fourth appearance at the world championship after drawing five games and losing five.

Since taking over the top two matches last year, the 58-year-old German has only won two of their 16 matches in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Namibia.

In the opening round of the AFCON competition, which begins in Morocco on December 21, Zimbabwe and South Africa were drawn.

With a 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday, Liverpool broke a four-game losing streak. Hugo Ekitike scored for the English champions against his former club.

After Ekitike scored for Liverpool, Florian Wirtz assisted him on his way back to Germany with goals assisted by Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahim Konate, Cody Gakpo, and Dominik Szoboszlai.

Liverpool were looking back on their worst losing streak in 73 years, which started in 1953-54, when they were relegated from the top flight.

Mohamed Salah was replaced by Arne Slot, and Liverpool won the match for the fifth consecutive game when Rasmus Kristensen scored on the counter.

However, the Reds quickly jumped into action, scoring three goals in ten minutes to give them a 3-1 lead at half-time.

For Gakpo and Szoboszlai, Wirtz laid on second-half goals to put the game to bed after he had not scored or assisted in either Premier League or Champions League since making his big-money move to Anfield.

Alexander Isak was substituted for Federico Chiesa at half-time after Wirtz failed to score on his goal contribution duck.

Liverpool’s confidence will improve, but Arne Slot’s side will have to put up more pressing challenges than Frankfurt, who have already conceded 23 goals in their last six games.

After 26 minutes, Nathaniel Brown picked Wirtz’s pocket before Frankfurt stooped up the field, Mario Goetze finding Kristensen, who had switched to his preferred right foot, and hammered home the opener.

When Andy Robertson won possession and made a superb long-range pass from deep to the breaking Ekitike, Frankfurt was pushed for a second after 35 minutes.

The former Frankfurt player apologized to the home fans as he received the pass, advanced goalwards, and slid it under Michael Zetterer.

The strike sent a shiver through Liverpool as it approached the end of the match.

Just four minutes later, when Van Dijk headed in a Cody Gakpo corner past his helpless goalkeeper, Ansgar Knauff, the Reds were two up.

Van Dijk’s center-back partner Konate repeated the move one minute later, heading in the corner once more after passing Knauff once more.

Wirtz’s opening half was uneventful, but when Liverpool started to shine, he appeared more assured.

Within four second-half minutes, the German midfielder put Liverpool on course for a significant victory by laying on goals for Gakpo and Szoboszlai.

With a 1-0 victory over Juventus on Wednesday, record 15-time champion Real Madrid continued to be 100% successful in the Champions League with a goal from Juve.

After England international Bellingham scored from close range in the second half, Xabi Alonso’s Spanish giants mostly outplayed their visitors but were unable to increase their lead.

At the Santiago Bernabeu, Italian giants Juventus, who are currently without a win in seven games across all competitions, battled hard but were unable to find an equalizer.

Madrid, who is one of five teams to have won all three of their opening league matches, including Paris Saint-Germain, was a perfect preparation for Sunday’s Clasico game against rivals Barcelona in La Liga.

After making his 300th appearance for the club, Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois stated, “I’m very happy with the win. It was a very tough game with chances at both ends and we had to sweat for it.”

It’s not easy when they defend with 11 men and want to go on the counter because they are Juve, not a small side.

In a tentative opening period, both teams made an effort to master each other, but eventually Alonso’s team took control.

Kylian Mbappe, a top-notch French superstar, received the ball from Brahim Diaz, who was unable to stop Michele Di Gregorio to slam his shot.

The striker whistled a superb dribble from the right into the box before cutting the ball back to Eder Militao on the edge of the box, who had just drained a perfect dribble.

In the first half, either team came as close as either side could, but after the break, the game resumed.

At the end of a quick break downfield, Courtois made a good save with his leg to deny Dusan Vlahovic.

After Vinicius Junior’s excellent work, Madrid took the lead, but they haven’t scored in the Champions League this season.

The Brazilian made a few yards for a shot that he curled against the post despite being surrounded by defenders in the area.

Bellingham, who was attacking midfield, showed his poacher’s instinct to react quickly and scored the rebound after 57 minutes.

After a slow start to the campaign following shoulder surgery in the summer to treat a long-term issue, the 22-year-old scored his first goal of the season in his seventh game.

READ MORE:   Arsenal’s Gyokeres “Hungry” To Build On Champions League Double

The “Best way possible” 

Mbappe, who had already scored in 11 of his previous matches for the club and nation, slipped as he shot, and Madrid sought a second goal with a low strike saved by Di Gregorio.

With a chance to get a draw, the Italian stopper made a stunning double save from Mbappe and Diaz.

As the clock struck zero, Raul Asencio slid in to block Lois Openda’s shot.

In an effort to extend his goalscoring streak, Mbappe needed one more effort from distance, but Di Gregorio was on par with him.

Igor Tudor’s Juve have lost all of their first three Champions League matches since Courtois was called back in stoppage time to stop Filip Kostic’s long-range strike.

Aurelien Tchouameni, a midfielder for Madrid, said, “We’ve kicked off this group phase in the best way possible.”

We faced a strong defense, which is not easy for us, but we were confident we would score.

Kenneth Taylor’s early red card allowed Chelsea to defeat the Dutch giants 5-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday at Stamford Bridge.

Marc Guiu and Moises Caicedo scored from the penalty spot before Enzo Fernandez and Estevao converted in the first half, paying off Enzo Maresca’s gamble by making ten changes.

After falling to Bayern Munich on opening night, Chelsea won the Champions League by two goals in the second half under the guidance of Tyrique George.

The Blues move up to 11th place in the table, while Ajax stays at the bottom of the standings for Champions League play.

READ MORE: Gyokeres’ Arsenal “Hungry” To Build On Champions League Double

In the Champions League this season, Ajax hasn’t scored or even scored since arriving in London.

Maresca clearly targeted Chelsea’s visit as one he could afford to rest a number of his key players because the club won the club world cup in July, which gave him the burden of an injury crisis.

Only Romeo Lavia, who had to score at half-time in the City Ground to win 3-0 at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, was recalled.

However, that included Brazil’s wonder kid Estevao, Caicedo’s record signing, and Fernandez’s return from injury.

Inter Milan and Marseille had a strong lead in Ajax’s opening two games, but any chance of a turnaround came to an end with VAR intervening, who saw Taylor’s high challenge on Facundo Buonanotte convert from a yellow to a red card after 15 minutes.

After sending a man off in four of their last six games, Maresca’s side faced questions about Chelsea’s discipline during the pre-game press conference.

This time, the advantage was made significant.

Wesley Fofana’s header was headed home from the resulting free kick after Taylor was sent off.

Caicedo has now scored four goals for Chelsea this campaign despite making just three in the process since making the £115 million ($154 million) move from Brighton in 2023.

The Ecuadorian’s shot deflected in off Josip Sutalo, which was a good thing.

When Tosin Adarabioyo trod on Raul Moro’s foot and Wout Weghorst converted from the penalty spot, Ajax were briefly given a lifeline.

Before the break, Chelsea could only get two more spot kicks to end the game.

Fernandez dusted himself off to slot home, but Weghorst was punished for his conduct.

The first of what is likely to be many Champions League goals was then scored by Estevao.

The 18-year-old won the penalty and won it with confidence before beating Remko Pasveer.

Fernandez and Caicedo were the only ones who were withdrawn from the second half due to Maresca making four more adjustments.

With a precise low finish from Andrey Santos’ backheel in just three minutes, George made his mark off the bench.