Category sport-news

Tems, Doja Cat, J Balvin To Headline First-Ever Club World Cup Final Halftime Show

By in News, sport-news

Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, known as Tems, has been announced as one of the headline performers for the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup Final Halftime Show, scheduled to take place at the MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey on 13 July 2025.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino made the announcement in a statement on Monday, hailing the moment as historic for football and global music culture.

“For the first-ever halftime show in a FIFA competition, we’re proud to partner with Global Citizen to bring together a global superstar lineup. Together we are going to make history on a special occasion where football and music unite the world,” Infantino said.

Tems will share the stage with American rapper and singer Doja Cat and Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin in a performance curated by Coldplay’s lead vocalist, Chris Martin.

The trio will perform during the final of the newly expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, which will be played across 11 cities in the United States from 14 June to 13 July.

In a statement, Tems expressed her excitement, saying, “We’re going to bring the world together for a beautiful moment — to celebrate football, feel the unity that music brings, and improve the lives of millions of children through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. I can’t wait — see you at the Club World Cup final!”

She also reposted the announcement on her Instagram page on Monday.

READ ALSO: FIFA Announces Special Transfer Window For Club World Cup Teams

‘Historic Moment’

A photo combination of FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the Club World Cup trophy

Tems, who previously headlined the 2023 NBA All-Star Game halftime show and performed at major festivals such as Coachella 2024 and Glastonbury, becomes the first Nigerian artist to perform for the FIFA World Cup halftime show.

Doja Cat’s participation adds further star power to the event, which FIFA says will be streamed globally and available to watch for free on DAZN.com.

J Balvin described his involvement as a dream come true.

“This is a historic moment for me, for Latin culture, and for every kid who dreams big,” the Colombian singer was quoted as saying.

The halftime show also marks the launch of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, a philanthropic initiative announced at the Global Citizen NOW Summit in April by Infantino and Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans.

The fund aims to raise $100 million to expand access to education and football opportunities for children around the world.

“With every ticket sold during the tournament, $1 will be donated to the fund,” FIFA confirmed.

Infantino added in his statement via Instagram that, “This show will be unforgettable – not just for its spectacle on a landmark night, but also for the lasting impact it will make.”

Mobolaji Johnson Arena To Host 2025 President Federation Cup Grand Finale

By in News, sport-news

For the second successive year, the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos, will host the grand finale of the President Federation Cup competition, which is scheduled for Saturday, 28th June.

The compact but dainty facility by the waterfront hosted last year’s grand finale, in which El-Kanemi Warriors defeated Abia Warriors to emerge winners of the men’s competition, while Rivers Angels edged Naija Ratels 1-0 in the women’s version. 

The venue is also the site of the former King George V Stadium, which was later renamed Lagos City Stadium, and later known as Onikan Stadium.

READ ALSO: NFF Approves Okwaraji Memorial Championship, 36 Years After His Death

Lagos State has hosted a total of 60 grand finales of Nigeria’s oldest Cup competition, which was known variously in the past as Governor’s Cup, FA Cup, Challenge Cup and Federation Cup.

Of the 60 Final matches, 18 were staged at the King George V, between 1945 and 1962. The venue was then renamed Lagos City Stadium, and continued to host the final matches until 1972, when the clash between Mighty Jets and Bendel Insurance was stalemated at 2-2 and had to be replayed. The replay was taken to the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, and that was the first time the Final was played outside Lagos.

The National Stadium, Surulere, which was built in 1972 to host the 2nd All-Africa Games that Nigeria staged in 1973, commenced hosting of the grand finale in 1974, as there was no competition in 1973 due to the 2nd All-Africa Games and the maiden edition of the National Sports Festival.

The National Stadium, Surulere hosted a total of 22 Final matches, with the last Final there in 2002, when Julius Berger defeated Yobe Desert Stars 3-0 to emerge champions.

Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos hosted eight Final matches (2007 & 2009, and 2011-2016). The grand finale has also taken place previously at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi (1989 and 1994), Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi (1992 and 2008), Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna (1993, 1997, 2003 and 2019), Rancher Bees Stadium, Kaduna (1998), Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City (2004 and 2021), Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt (2005), MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta (2006), Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano (2010), Agege City Stadium (2017) and the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba (2018 and 2023).

NFF Approves Okwaraji Memorial Championship 36 Years After His Death

By in News, sport-news

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has approved the Sam Okwaraji Secondary Schools Soccer Championship across Nigeria.
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‎The approval is sequel to the endorsement of the Senate Committee on Sports Developments led by Senator Abdul Ningi.
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‎This initiative, which is billed to be an annual event, is an initiative of the Samuel Okwaraji Foundation to immortalise the late Nigerian international who slumped and died at National Stadium Surulere, Lagos in August 1989, during a crucial FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Angola.

Retired Great Hakuho Says Leaving Sumo After Bullying Scandal

By in News, sport-news

Retired sumo great Hakuho said Monday he was quitting the ancient sport in Japan after his wrestling stable was closed because of a bullying scandal involving his protege.

“It has been 25 years of being loved by sumo and loving sumo,” the Mongolian-born Hakuho told reporters, confirming he was “leaving the Japan Sumo Association”.

“I have no regrets,” he said, adding that his family supported his decision.

Hakuho won a record 45 tournaments before retiring from competition in 2021 to coach wrestlers, but his stable was indefinitely shut in April last year.

The 40-year-old was handed an embarrassing demotion for failing to control the behaviour of his protege Hokuseiho, who allegedly punched his lower-ranked stablemates and stole money from them.

Sumo has been dogged by multiple scandals in the past including allegations of bullying, illegal betting and links to organised crime.

READ ALSO: Japan Urges Universities To Accept Students In US

Sumo
Former yokozuna Hakuho attends a press conference to announce his retirement from the Japan Sumo Association and future plans in Tokyo on June 9, 2025. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)

Hakuho, who returned to Tokyo from Mongolia for the press conference, said he had “cried a lot”.

Having no clear indication of when the stable could resume operations was the main reason for his decision to walk away, he said.

Japanese media said last week that the sumo association, which declined to comment at the time, had accepted Hakuho’s resignation.

Hakuho said Monday he was “moving on to a new dream” and that in the future “I intend to focus on projects to expand sumo to the world”.

“I believe that… sumo can bring hope to resolve the discrimination, prejudice and roughness in the world today,” he said.

An adviser to the company Hakuho is setting up to promote sumo said that the new project called “World Sumo Grand Slam” targets amateur wrestlers.

READ ALSO: Japan To Provide $15.5b Tariff Help To SMEs

Hakuho was born Munkhbat Davaajargal and was the son of a champion Mongolian wrestler who won his country’s first Olympic medal at the 1968 Games.

Hakuho moved to Japan aged 15.

He was turned away by most stables because no one wanted someone “as pale and skinny as me”, according to his 2016 autobiography.

But he managed to persuade a trainer to take him on and made his sumo debut in 2001.

Hakuho won his first top-division title in 2006 and went on to fight at the sport’s highest rank of yokozuna more times than anyone in history.

He took Japanese citizenship in 2019, a requirement to run his own stable.

Chelsea Sign Mamadou Sarr From Strasbourg

By in News, sport-news

Chelsea on Monday confirmed the signing of Mamadou Sarr from Ligue 1 side RC Strasbourg, with the defender signing a contract until 2033.

Sarr was a regular for Strasbourg during the 2024/25 campaign and played a key role in the French team securing qualification for European football next season.

The 19-year-old made 28 appearances across all competitions and helped the club seal a place in next season’s UEFA Conference League play-off.

READ ALSO: Inter Milan Hire Chivu As New Coach

The France Under-20 international joined Strasbourg last August and quickly established himself as a regular starter in defence.

Inter Milan Hire Chivu As New Coach

By in News, sport-news

Inter Milan have chosen Cristian Chivu to lead the Serie A club into a new era, confirming the former Romania defender as Simone Inzaghi’s replacement ahead of the upcoming Club World Cup.

“Inter Milan is pleased to welcome Cristian Chivu as the new head coach of the first team. The coach has signed a contract with Inter until 30 June 2027,” Inter said in a statement.

Still reeling from humiliation at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, Inter have gambled on novice Chivu after failing to get Cesc Fabregas from Como.

Chivu has reportedly agreed a two-year contract with Inter worth 2.5 million euros ($2.85 million) a season, taking charge of one of Europe’s biggest clubs only a few months after beginning his senior coaching career with Parma.

Parma confirmed Chivu’s departure earlier on Monday, setting up his arrival at Inter where he won three Serie A titles and the 2010 Champions League as a player.

READ ALSO: Fan Dies After Falling From Stands At Nations League Final

The 44-year-old replaced Fabio Pechia in February and guided Parma to Serie A safety in his first job in football of any form since leaving Inter’s youth set-up last summer.

“I thank the club, staff, players and fans for having believed in me and our project,” said Chivu on Instagram.

“Together we overcame obstacles and wrote a page (in Parma’s history) which will remain in my heart.”

Chivu’s first match in charge of Inter will be against Monterrey in the Club World Cup next week, in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

He will lead a group of players who looked dead on their feet during their 5-0 hammering against PSG in the Champions League final late last month.

Inzaghi left Inter in the wake of the Italians’ thumping in Munich, taking the job at Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal who are also taking part in the Club World Cup.