Category sport-news

Zambia will face Nigeria in the thrilling Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024 quarterfinal at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, and both teams have made their starting lineups for the match.

The Falcons are attempting to reclaim their 1-0 defeat in the playoff for third-place in 2022. The Zambians won the competition for the first time in their history over the Falcons.

Starting XI in Nigeria

Chiamaka, Osinachi, Plumptre, Okoronkwo, Echegini, Demehin, Ajibade, Ayinde, Ihezuo, Ijamilusi, Alozie, and others

Starting XI in Zambia

An investigation has been opened into potentially fraudulent payments made by Kylian Mbappe to five police officers assigned to protect the French national football team, the public prosecutor’s office told AFP on Thursday.

The probe comes after a tip-off from the French finance ministry’s anti-money laundering unit, which reported “unusual financial transactions” benefitting the five police officers.

“Investigations, which are by their very nature complex in the case of financial transactions, are underway in order to establish whether any criminal offences have been committed”, the public prosecutor’s office said.

French investigative weekly Le Canard Enchaine on Wednesday reported that the France national team captain’s money was used to “pay under the table for private services”, to the tune of 180, 300 euros ($209, 000).

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The Real Madrid striker’s entourage issued a statement saying “everything was done in compliance with the rules”.

It added that Mbappe had “always chosen to donate in full his bonuses” for playing for France at international level.

“It’s what he did after the 2022 World Cup, with complete transparency”, the statement continued, saying the money went to charitable organisations and security personnel that accompanied the team.

Former Liverpool and Manchester United star Paul Ince has been banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay £7, 085 ($9, 524) after a drink-driving offence.

Ince admitted driving his black Range Rover while over the limit on June 28 in Cheshire.

The ex-England captain had a reading of 49 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when he was stopped by police, Chester Magistrates court heard on Friday.

Nigel Jones, prosecuting, said: “On the day in question, the defendant was witnessed by an off-duty police officer driving a vehicle perceived to be swerving across the road”.

He said the 57-year-old’s car swerved across the central reservation, hitting bollards and causing two tyres to burst.

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Frank Rogers, defending Ince, said: “My client finds himself today facing the huge impact of a ban, but he accepts he only has himself to blame for that.

” He misjudged the fact he believed at the time he would be under the limit. “

Rogers said Ince had been at Heswall Golf Club and had not eaten before having two drinks in the clubhouse.

” He felt fine to drive, of course, we now know that he shouldn’t have done, “Rogers said.

District Judge Jack McGarva told Ince:” The message has got to be if you’re going to drive, you don’t drink at all. “

Ince, who also played for Inter Milan and West Ham, earned 53 caps for England, winning two Premier League titles among a host of trophies during his six years as a United midfielder.

He moved into management after retiring, with his most recent spell in charge at Reading ending in 2023.

Manchester United have reportedly agreed to sign Cameroon winger Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford in a deal worth an initial £65 million ($87 million) as Ruben Amorim steps up his overhaul of the team’s misfiring attack.

Mbeumo attracted Amorim’s attention with 20 goals in 38 Premier League games for Brentford last season.

Tottenham, now managed by former Brentford boss Thomas Frank, were also chasing the 25-year-old before United’s improved offer sealed the deal after their two previous bids were rebuffed.

United will pay an additional £6 million in potential add-ons to Brentford.

Mbeumo is due to undergo a medical in time to travel to the United States on Tuesday as Amorim’s men start their pre-season tour.

He is set to become United’s third signing since the end of last season, joining Wolves forward Matheus Cunha and teenage Paraguayan defender Diego Leon at Old Trafford.

Amorim has been determined to revamp United’s forward options after a woeful campaign.

They suffered a toothless 1-0 defeat against Tottenham in the Europa League final and a 15th-place finish in the top flight that ranked as their lowest since 1973-74.

Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee struggled as Amorim’s main strikers last term.

Amorim has reportedly told Alejandro Garnacho to look for a new club, while Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho are expected to leave following their loan spells at Aston Villa and Chelsea, respectively.

Mbeumo will be Amorim’s latest recruit in his bid to revitalise moribund United.

Having already paid £62.5 million for Cunha, United’s spending spree comes despite their failure to qualify for the Champions League costing the club a minimum of £70 million.

The versatile Mbeumo is able to operate in a variety of roles on the flanks or in central attacking areas.

data-preserver-spaces=”true”>His pace, creativity, and clinical finishing should be a significant boost to data-preserver-spaces=”true”>United.

Mbeumo blossomed in six years at Brentford, scoring 70 goals and providing 51 assists in 242 appearances in all competitions following his move from French club Troyes in 2019.

He helped the Bees win promotion to the Premier League in 2021 and was instrumental in their impressive 10th-place finish in 2024-25.

Swansea City and Championship side Swansea City have an unlikely partnership, according to the Welsh club.

Luka Modric, a former Real Madrid stalwart and World Cup winner, is the new owner of the club, joining the 53-year-old American.

Snoop Dogg made an unexpected appearance last week on the team’s social media channels, presenting their new home jersey for the 2025-26 season, and the team announced on Thursday that he has become an investor.

His involvement comes after Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen, two American businessmen, purchased the club in November.

Swansea will hope that Snoop Dogg, who is actually Calvin Broadus, can use his 100 million social media followers to raise the club’s profile as they attempt to reclaim the title for the first time since being relegated in 2018, will use his 100 million followers to do so.

According to the owners of Swansea, greater revenue would enable them to invest more in new players in accordance with British football’s profit and sustainability regulations.

The 53-year-old rapper stated on the club’s website: “My love of football is well known, but it feels special for me to make my move into club ownership with Swansea City.

I really enjoyed the club’s history and the surrounding area. A working-class city and club are proud to exist here. a dog that defends itself, similar to me.

“Swansea City is a great place to live.”

After leaving Real Madrid this week, Modric, who is 39 years old, joined AC Milan, and Swansea announced in April, had a stake in the club.

This announcement is Swansea City’s next episode, to borrow a phrase from Snoop’s back catalogue, as we look to expand the club’s reach and profile, according to Swansea’s owners, in a statement.

Snoop has made it clear to us throughout the entire process how excited he is about joining the club that “Snoop’s enormous global fanbase and audience will certainly help us do that.”

Snoop has openly expressed his desire to play football and has a passion for the sport, and we anticipate that he will help us form as much of a competitive team as possible.

After recovering from a brief bout of viral meningitis that briefly threatened her tournament, Aitana Bonmati is feeling well ahead of Spain’s quarter-final match against Switzerland at Women’s Euro 2025.

As World Cup winners Spain fight for their first-ever women’s European Championship victory, two-time Ballon d’Or winner Bonmati will begin in Bern on Friday.

She made her debut appearance of the tournament last week with a 3-1 victory over Italy, which secured top spot and nine points in Group B. Due to her illness, she made substitute appearances against Portugal and Belgium.

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“From one day to the next, I was feeling great, and then, bam, something brand-new, a negative, and uncomfortable experience.” And you must endure, Bonmati told reporters on Thursday.

“Fortunately, I can say I can play in the quarter-finals today.” I must be appreciative.

I’ve had a difficult few weeks, and I want to enjoy myself because I haven’t been able to do much, I said. I’m hoping I can deliver.

Noelle Maritz, a Swiss defender, hopes that the Swiss will reach the final four of a significant international women’s tournament for the first time thanks to fervent home support at Wankdorf Stadium.

Although playing in front of so many people in such a large stadium is truly special, we all anticipated a positive atmosphere. Aston Villa defender Maritz told reporters, “The energy of the fans really pushes you on.”

“We had a really special moment when we won Group A and faced Finland, and the crowd cheered us.” Our fans had a wonderful time, and it was great to share such an original experience. Tomorrow will be filled with lots of energy, according to me, thanks to the fans.

Switzerland have a tough task ahead of Spain, who scored 14 goals in their three group games but is still under less pressure to win than their rivals, who are the favorites to win the trophy later this month.

Coach Pia Sundhage said, “I think the pressure is on now, and we have a chance,” and it’s a quarter-final.

We stood up and said, “This is so much better than it was just a few weeks ago,” during our five-versus-five training session.

“And I think a portion of that is that we are able to deal with the pressure because there has been a lot of pressure.”

On Wednesday in Zurich, the winner of the match from Friday will face either France or Germany in the semi-finals.