Sports

World Cup Qualifiers: D’Tigers end perfect window with Rwanda rout

Published

2 hours ago

July 6, 2026

Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, produced another commanding display on Sunday, defeating Rwanda 106-62 to complete a flawless qualifying window and secure passage to the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The emphatic victory ensured Nigeria finished the three-game window with a perfect record, having earlier defeated Tunisia and Guinea, underscoring the team’s resurgence under head coach David Fizdale.

Point guard Uche Iroegbu orchestrated the Nigerian offence with an outstanding all-round performance, finishing with 17 points and seven assists. Caleb Agada, Ikechukwu Mekowulu and Stan Okoye each contributed 13 points as D’Tigers showcased their attacking depth and defensive intensity.

Nigeria took control early and never looked back, dominating both ends of the floor to overwhelm the Rwandans in one of their most convincing performances in recent years.

They won the first quarter 25-14 before taking a 49-29 lead into the break.

Fizdale’s men became even more ruthless in the third quarter, opening up an unassailable 80-44 lead before finishing the game strongly with 26 points in the fourth quarter.

D’Tigers had opened the qualifying window with a hard-fought 84-81 victory over Tunisia before following it up with a dramatic 80-79 comeback win against Guinea.

The victory capped an impressive turnaround for a team that entered the qualifying window under pressure to revive its World Cup hopes after winning only one of their first three games in the previous qualifying window.

Nigeria finished on 10 points, level with Tunisia and Guinea, as the top three teams from each of the four groups advanced to the second round, which will be played between August 2026 and February 2027.

The remaining 12 teams will then be divided into two groups of six, carrying over their results from the first round. The top two teams in each group, along with the best third-placed team, will qualify for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar.

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Sports

2026 World Cup will be my last tournament, says Cristiano Ronaldo

Published

2 hours ago

July 6, 2026

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Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the final World Cup of his illustrious career, saying he is focused on enjoying every moment of the tournament.

The 41-year-old made the announcement while speaking to reporters on Sunday ahead of Portugal’s Round of 16 clash against Spain.

“It’s about enjoying it as much as possible,” Ronaldo said.

“This will be my last World Cup, but let’s hope tomorrow isn’t my last game,” he added.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner said he would eventually step away from international football with no regrets, insisting he had given everything to the game.

“The day will come [when I retire from international football]. But I’ll be honest: whatever happens tomorrow, Cristiano will leave with a clear conscience—100%, no, 1,000%. Because I’ve given everything in football,” he said.

Ronaldo added that his motivation to continue playing is driven purely by passion rather than the need to prove anything.

“I don’t need it; I have a good life, but it’s about passion. I play football because I love it… You have to enjoy every day. And I’ve scored three goals at this World Cup. I’m not doing too badly, right?” he said.

The Portuguese star has enjoyed another memorable campaign in the United States, Canada and Mexico, becoming the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cups after netting twice against Uzbekistan in the group stage. He also scored from the penalty spot against Croatia in the Round of 32, registering his first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout match.

Reflecting on the tournament, the former Manchester United forward described it as the most emotionally rewarding World Cup of his career.

“It’s been fantastic. It goes beyond the pitch. This is the World Cup I’ll remember the most because of people’s passion. It’s even more this time; I don’t know why. It’s been, emotionally, the best. I’ve enjoyed it very much,” he said.

Despite never having won the FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo said his legacy would not be defined by whether he lifts the trophy.

“I’m not lacking anything in life. I’m not going to be more or less Cristiano because I win the World Cup. We have the qualities to win, but only one country can win it. Age gives you maturity and experience,” he said.

Ronaldo, who is under contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr until 2027, also expressed gratitude for the criticism he has received throughout his career, saying it has helped shape him as a person.

“I’m thankful even for the attacks I receive, turning 40 — and I hope to live another 40 years — with the criticism, that’s how you grow the most as a person, and I thank you, journalists, for that,” he said.

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Sports

CAF Opens Bidding For 2028, 2032, 2036 AFCON Tournaments

Published

2 days ago

July 4, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially opened the bidding process for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), inviting its 54 Member Associations to compete for the right to host the continent’s biggest football tournament.

CAF announced the move in a statement published on its official website, signalling the start of the race to stage three editions of its flagship competition over the next decade.

The governing body stated that all 54 Member Associations are eligible to submit bids, with the selection process aimed at identifying hosts capable of delivering world-class tournaments that meet CAF’s technical, commercial, and operational standards.

According to CAF, the bidding framework was developed with the support of its independent expert adviser, PwC, alongside technical, financial and external legal advisers. The framework is designed to ensure a transparent, fair and competitive selection process.

The announcement comes as attention gradually shifts towards the 2027 AFCON, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027. The tournament will be the first AFCON to be staged across the three East African nations.

CAF has steadily strengthened the competition’s global appeal in recent years, with growing commercial value and record audiences across television and digital platforms.

The AFCON remains the continent’s premier sporting event and one of the world’s most-watched football competitions. CAF said the tournament attracts a cumulative global television audience of more than 3.2 billion viewers, alongside over six billion digital views.

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Sports

Messi Sets World Cup Record As Argentina Edge Cape Verde

Published

2 days ago

July 4, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, has written his name into the history books again after inspiring his country to a 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in their World Cup Round of 32 clash.

It was reports that the 39-year-old forward opened the scoring for Argentina in the encounter, becoming the first player in FIFA World Cup history to score seven or more goals in two different editions of the tournament.

Messi had previously achieved the feat at the 2022 World Cup, where he played a leading role in Argentina’s title-winning campaign. His latest goal in the 2026 edition further underlined his enduring influence on the global stage.

The Inter Miami forward also reached another landmark during the game, becoming the first footballer in history to play 30 matches at the FIFA World Cup.

The former Barcelona captain has continued to defy age, maintaining his place as one of Argentina’s most decisive players despite being in the twilight of his career.

His goal against Cape Verde added to his impressive recent run at the tournament, having scored 12 goals in his last eight World Cup matches against Australia, Netherlands, Croatia, France, Algeria, Austria, Jordan and Cape Verde.

Following the victory, Argentina will now turn their attention to their Round of 16 fixture against Egypt on Tuesday.

Messi will be hoping to continue his fine form as the defending champions push for another deep run in the competition.

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