With a fifth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois at London’s Wembley Stadium on Saturday, Oleksandr Usyk defeated Daniel Dubois to become the undisputed heavyweight world champion.
As a result of Victory, Ukraine’s Usyk, the WBA, WBC, and WBO champion, added his British opponent’s IBF belt to his collection by extending his unbeaten professional record to 24 fights.
When his trademark left hook prevented his British rival from beating the count, Usyk dropped his opponent to the canvas and finished the fight in emphatic fashion one minute and 52 seconds into the fifth round.
Read more about [WAFCON 2024] Nigeria defeats Zambia 5-0 to reach the semi-finals.
On July 19, 2025, Oleksandr Usyk and his team from Ukraine celebrate their undisputed world heavyweight title victory over British boxer Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in London. Adrian Dennis/AFP photo
Usyk remarked in the ring after coming to his knees in celebration, “38 is a young guy, remember”!
According to reports from Saturday, Marcus Rashford, an outcast at Manchester United, is close to signing for Barcelona.
The 27-year-old has joined Aston Villa on loan in the early part of February but hasn’t played for his boyhood club since December 12.
Since Ruben Amorim’s departure, the Spanish champion reportedly preferred him to Spain.
The negotiations for a season-long loan with an option to buy were moving along, according to Britain’s press association.
Rashford, who has made 138 goals in 426 first-team appearances, is one of five players to tell United they want to look at a future away from Old Trafford.
The England international made the admission in December that he was “ready for a new challenge” and that he would like to play alongside Lamine Yamal, a teen prodigy from Barcelona.
Since the start of the pre-season, Rashford has been training elsewhere for Amorim’s first-team squad.
In May, Barcelona’s sporting director Deco expressed his admiration for Rashford, and Hansi Flick, the head coach, called the forward a “fantastic player.”
Rashford, who signed for United in the summer along with left-back Diego Leon, lost the 10-piece to Brazil forward Matheus Cunha, who also signed for Old Trafford during the current transfer window.
Read more about [WAFCON 2024] Nigeria defeats Zambia 5-0 to reach the semi-finals.
After United finally agrees to a deal worth an initial $65 million ($87 million), Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo is expected to join them.
Any additional agreements United may need to fund through departures.
The wage bill would save a lot even if Rashford were to leave initially on a loan.
Nico Williams, a 23-year-old Spain winger, recently signed a new 10-year contract with Athletic Bilbao, despite speculation that Barcelona would sign him.
Flick’s first season at the club saw them capture both a league and cup title last year.
The sports week has been a busy one. The last seven days have been thrilling, from Chelsea’s victory at the Club World Cup to the Super Falcons’ triumph in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).  ,
The most intriguing sports gists are briefly summarized in First 11; this and other important details about how sports were shaped during the winning week.  ,
Super Falcons Win The WAFCON Semis In Style.
The Super Falcons of Nigeria made a statement of intent with their 5-0 win over Zambia in a quarter-final match on Friday following their debut at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
With their victory, Nigeria will continue to finish in the top four in every WAFCON, confirming their pre-tournament status as favorites for the title. In Nigeria’s final group game, Algeria held Algeria to a goalless draw, which gave them the lead on Friday. However, Justin Madugu’s team scored twice in the opening period of the one-sided affair before adding two more in the second half. They also showed class and title credentials in Casablanca.
The Super Falcons will take on Senegal’s and South Africa’s winner.  ,
WAFCON: Madugu Is Not Able to Win in the Zambian Football Championship
Madugu praised the team’s performance against the Copper Queens after the game, but said the victory does not mean the Super Falcons. The gaffer praised the women for showing class in that victory in his post-match briefing.  ,
However, he thinks there is room for improvement and that the 2018 WAFCON champions are determined to realize their goal, which is to win the 10th continental crown, which has been nicknamed “Mission X.”
World Women’s Euro Championship: Spain vs. Switzerland
Spain reach the first Women’s EURO semi-final since 1997 with the #WEURO2025 photo. twitter.com/o6WGeGey7h
This summer, the women’s continental competition WAFCON will take place. The Women’s Euro is also raging in Europe as teams compete to get into the semi-finals. Spain, the defending champion of the World Cup, defeated a determined Swiss side on Friday to reach the last four.  ,
The La Roja won thanks to Athenea del Castillo and Claudia Pina scoring once more. Before the tournament’s semi-final, Norway fell to Italy in the first quarter-final while England needed penalties to defeat Sweden on penalties. On Saturday, Germany and France will battle it out for the title of the semi-final quartet.  ,
Chelsea defeat PSG to win the club world cup
Following Chelsea’s final game against Paris Saint-Germain in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 13, 2025, the team’s players celebrate with the trophy alongside US President Donald Trump at the award ceremony for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Champions. (Photo by Paul ELLIS/AFP)
Chelsea were on cloud nine on Sunday when they defied the bookmakers to defeat Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the FIFA Club World Cup. The omnipresent Blues became the first team to win the expanded quadrennial event after defeating the European champions 3-3 in the US.  ,
As Enzo Maresca won his second trophy as Chelsea manager, English forward Cole Palmer won the game, scoring twice and establishing one more. Donald Trump, the US president, was a guest at the final, who presented the converted trophy to the London side.
Jannik Sinner wins the Wimbledon title with a victory.
The 2025 Wimbledon Open victory is celebrated by Sinner. AFP image
Jannik Sinner won his first Wimbledon title on Sunday, beating Carlos Alcaraz, in a match of his own.
The Italian won the All England Club matchup 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, and 6-4, before ultimately defeating Alcaraz, who he lost to in the French Open just 35 days prior.  ,
Snoop Dogg’s transition to Swansea co-owners brings music and football together.
Last week, Snoop Dogg surprised the team by wearing their new home jersey for the 2025-26 season on their social media channels.
When Snoop Dogg co-owned Swansea in the Championship League, it was an unlikely pairing between rap and football.  ,
Luka Modric, a former Real Madrid stalwart and World Cup winner, is the new owner of the club, joining the 53-year-old American.
Man City and Kitmaker Puma sign a mega deal.
In the English Premier League game between Fulham and Manchester City at Craven Cottage in London on May 25, 2025, Norwegian striker #9 Erling Haaland (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal from the penalty spot. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT/AFP)
In addition to that, Manchester City and Puma have signed a reportedly $1.3 billion ($1.3 billion) new kit deal worth a reported $1.2 billion ($1.34) over the upcoming ten years.
The largest kit manufacturing partnership in Premier League history is City’s extension of their contract with Puma. City’s new arrangement, which was agreed to be worth a £65 million per year deal with the German company in 2019, is thought to be worth a £100 million per year until 2035.
Longstaff Joins Leeds as Arsenal Bolster Attack With Madueke’s Arrival
The most recent hire in North London is… twitter.com/1b2weX9vf7
Arsenal, Manchester City’s Premier League rival, has signed England international Noni Madueke for about £48 million ($65 million). The deal is believed to be in the region of $65 million.  ,
Despite complaints from Arsenal supporters, Madueke agreed to a five-year contract with the Gunners when he relocated to the Emirates Stadium. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli will square off on Mikel Arteta’s side in the flanks.  ,
Sean Longstaff has also been signed by Leeds from Premier League rivals Newcastle. The four-year agreement, which cost no money, was reported to be worth an initial $ 13 million ($13 million), with an additional $ 12 million ($16 million) according to British media reports.
First Phase of Handball Premier Tourney Wins Safety Shooters and Safety Babes
In a handball match between two players in Benin City, Edo State,
The first phase of the 2025 Ardova Handball Premier League has already been won by Safety Shooters, Safety Babes, and  .  ,
At the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State, the clubs, owned by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), have risen to prominence in the men’s and women’s categories leagues, respectively.
Yamal wears the iconic Barcelona shirt and follows Messi’s footsteps.
Lamine Yamal’s new #10 jersey is displayed in the Camp Nou stadium’s Barcelona shop in a photo taken on July 16, 2025. (Photo by AFP photographer MANAURE QUINTERO)
Lamine Yamal, a former Young Barcelona star, took over the team’s number 10 shirt earlier this week. The 18-year-old winger helped the Catalan giants win a domestic treble last year, frequently compared to the Argentine superstar who also graduated from the club’s La Masia youth academy.  ,
In May, he became one of the highest-paid players at Barcelona and accepted a new contract until 2031.
Yamal made his club debut in 2023 wearing the number 41 shirt at the age of 15 and has scored 25 goals in over 100 appearances for the club.
NSC Promises Rewards To Nigerian Athletes At CAA
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The #CAAU18U20 Championships in Abeokuta are currently running, and the National Sports Commission has announced cash prizes for medal winners:
₦1, 000, 000 for Gold ₦750, 000 for Silver ₦500, 000 for Bronze
@ShehuDikko and DG Hon, NSC Chairman. … pic. twitter.com/vS6MjxIFLZ
The announcement of cash prizes for Team Nigeria at the upcoming CAA U18/U20 Athletics Championship in Abeokuta, Ogun State, may give Nigerian athletes something to cheer about.  ,
According to the National Sports Commission (NSC), athletes would get ₦1, 000, 000 for each gold medal, ₦750, 000 for silver, and ₦500, 000 for bronze medals.
As the first phase of the Ardova Handball Premier League 2025 came to an end at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State, Safety Shooters and Safety Babes, both owned by the Federal Road Safety Corp, have emerged as leaders in the men’s and women’s categories leagues.
Safety Shooters won only one game and won one game, putting them in the lead in the men’s standings, with a consoling 26-20 victory over Niger United on the final day.
Their campaign was supported by a league-high 322 goals and a staggering +91 goal difference, putting them ahead of COAS Shooters, who also won 28 points in first place based on superior goal difference.
COAS Shooters won their opening game 38–31 over De Defenders, but they had to settle for second place because of their +50 goal difference.
With seven victories, one draw, and two losses in ten matches, the Sokoto Rima Strikers finished with 25 points.
The top five were rounded out by title holders Correction Boys, who had scored 22 points, and Tojemarine Academy, who had 24 points.
Niger United, the previous champion, finished in sixth place with 19 points, while Osun United, who defeated Benue Buffaloes 20-19, also came in with 19 points but had a slightly lower goal difference.
The 8th to 11th spots were filled by De Defenders, Adamawa Warriors, Benue Buffaloes, and Lagos Seasiders.
In the seven-game period, defending champion Safety Babes, who won all of their games with 21 points, proved untouchable.
As they attempt to win an unprecedented quintuple of titles, they have scored 242 goals and conceded just 173.
Soof Omo Ogiefo defeated Sokoto Rima Queens 34–31 to clinch second place, extending that position.
With six wins and one draw, Sokoto Rima Queens finished the first phase with 22 points, one behind Safety Babes.
Imo Grasshoppers and Soof Omo Ogiefo tallied fourth and fifth places, followed by Plateau Peacocks, who had 15 points.
Read more about [WAFCON 2024] Madugu’s “Good Performance” as the Super Falcons defeat Zambia in a victory.
Defender Babes and Rivers Queens are both in the top six, while Ekiti Queens, who lost just one game, placed eighth in the women’s standings.
After the first phase of the competition is over, the focus now turns to the crucial second phase, which will feature the eventual champions and the survival battle taking center stage in Lagos later in the year.
In a quarter-final match of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), Super Falcons coach Justin Madugu praised the team’s dominant victory over Zambia.  ,
“We’re pleased that we’ve overcome this obstacle,” said the team. Our performance was excellent. After the impressive win at Casablanca, Morocco’s Larbi Zaouli Stadium on Friday, Madugu praised the girls’ strong performances and said, “we won.”
“And naturally, you are bound to be happy when you win games in the way that we want them to be today.”
In their quest for a 10th WAFCON crown, Nigeria made it to the semi-finals of the competition thanks to their victory.
WAFCON 2024: Nigeria defeats Zambia 5-0 to reach the semi-finals
In the final round of the tournament, Zambia defeated Nigeria in a third-place match, but the Super Falcons coach claimed Friday’s victory was not retaliation.
We didn’t consider it to be a revenge mission for us. Instead, the gaffer said, “We needed to win it to move on to the next round of the competition.”
“Yes, because we lost out to them in the third place match in the previous edition, and we have now won,” which is quite gratifying. We anticipated a win, though probably not the score line. And we had that in mind.
The scoreline may be flattering, but we still came out on top, and we knew we had the players with the necessary skills and that the players were already prepared.
Nigeria now has four matches to play without conceding a goal, which is a record for the tournament’s 13th semi-final appearance.
Additionally, it ensured that the Super Falcons won the championship’s 13th semi-final game.
