World Cup

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Nigeria’s Super Falcons have been eliminated from the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after a 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Cameroon on Sunday.

The result at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium ended Nigeria’s defence of the continental title and left the nine-time African champions facing a tougher route to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Cameroon secured the victory through Myriam Nyadjou, who scored the decisive goal in the 20th minute.

The encounter was closely fought, with both teams engaging in physical challenges and intense battles in midfield.

Nigeria struggled to create clear opportunities after falling behind. Captain Rasheedat Ajibade attempted to control the game and organise the Super Falcons’ attacks, but the team relied largely on efforts from distance during the first half.

Cameroon returned from the break with greater intensity and applied pressure higher up the pitch. The approach disrupted Nigeria’s attempts to build attacks and limited the Super Falcons’ ability to find openings.

Nigeria increased the pressure as the match progressed and continued its search for an equaliser into stoppage time. Cameroon, however, maintained its defensive shape until the final whistle.

The victory gave Cameroon its first WAFCON knockout-stage win over Nigeria since the 2012 third-place play-off.

Cameroon will now advance to the semi-finals, which guarantees the team a top-four finish and an automatic qualification spot for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Nigeria, by contrast, will have to go through a playoff tournament to secure a place at the 2027 World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo has made football history after becoming the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments.

The Portugal captain achieved the feat on Tuesday night after scoring twice in his side’s dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan in a Group K encounter.

Ronaldo first scored at the World Cup during the 2006 edition. He also found the net in the 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments before extending the record at the ongoing 2026 competition.

Portugal took the lead in the sixth minute after Joao Cancelo delivered a cross that Ronaldo converted with a neat finish at the near post.

Nuno Mendes later doubled the advantage with a low free-kick from outside the box before Ronaldo struck again shortly before halftime. Bruno Fernandes provided the assist for the forward, who calmly placed the ball into the bottom corner to make it 3-0.

The goal was Ronaldo’s 10th in World Cup history. The achievement moved him ahead of Portuguese legend Eusebio as the country’s all-time leading scorer at the tournament. Eusebio had scored nine goals during the 1966 World Cup.

Rafael Leao added another goal in the second half, while an own goal from Uzbekistan completed the emphatic win for Portugal.

Ronaldo also came close to increasing his tally further, but the Uzbekistan goalkeeper denied him on multiple occasions.

The victory moved Portugal to the top of Group K with four points ahead of their final group-stage match against Colombia.

By Muhammad Abubakar

Somali referee Omar Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Aston Villa, UEFA announced on Thursday.

The prestigious fixture, scheduled to take place in Salzburg, will see the Champions League winners PSG face Europa League champions Aston Villa in the traditional curtain-raiser to the European club season.

Artan’s appointment marks another milestone in a refereeing career that has earned widespread recognition across Africa and beyond. The Somali official is regarded by many football observers as one of the continent’s finest referees, having handled high-profile matches in both African and international competitions.

His selection for the UEFA Super Cup comes days after he was controversially excluded from the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States. Reports indicated that Artan was denied entry into the country, preventing him from participating in the tournament despite being considered among Africa’s top referees.

UEFA’s decision to entrust him with one of Europe’s most prestigious club matches is likely to be seen as a strong endorsement of his abilities and standing in world football.

The UEFA Super Cup annually brings together the winners of the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League, making it one of the most anticipated fixtures on the European football calendar.