Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of Nigeria defender Ola Aina on a one-year deal following the expiry of his contract at Italian side Torino, the Premier League club said on Saturday.

He will join his fellow Super Eagles’ player, Taiwo Awoniyi in the squad.

Aina, 26, came up through Chelsea’s academy before signing for Torino on a permanent transfer in 2019. He previously played in the Premier League during a loan spell with Fulham in the 2020-21 season.

“It’s exciting to be back playing in the Premier League. It’s the best league in the world and I always want to challenge myself,” Aina said in a statement.

Aina has been capped 30 times by Nigeria, having made his debut in 2017. He played for England at youth level.

Forest, who finished 16th in the Premier League last season, begin their league campaign against Arsenal on Aug. 12.

Friday’s goalless draw of Nigeria and Canada in the Group B match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand has yielded points of interest.

First it was the first time that the Nigerian team had played a goalless draw in what was their 27^th match in the history of the tournament.

The Super Falcons’ coach, Randy Waldrum at 66 years and 299 days becomes the  oldest coach to lead the Super Falcons out in a Women’s World Cup match, claiming the record from Thomas Dennerby (59 years and 313 daysin Nigeria’s match against Germany four years ago.

It was a match that Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie denied record-chasing Canada’s star, Christine Sinclair, a place in the World Cup scoring sheet.

Had the Canadian scored the 50^th minute penalty kick, she would have becoming the first player to score in six World Cups. She however became the second-oldest player to make an appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup at the age of 40 years and 39 days. The oldest player in tournament history is Brazil’s Formiga at 41 years and 112 days in the 2019 edition when Brazil faced  France.

When Chiamaka stopped the penalty kick, it meant that four of the last six penalties awarded at the FIFA Women’s World Cup have been missed.

Friday’s (early morning in Nigeria) match saw Sophie Schmidt becoming the second Canadian player to feature in five editions of the Women’s World Cup after Christine Sinclair, who has now played in her sixth tournament.

Purists may however have contrary views, especially concerning another Canadian player, Karina LeBlanc, a goalkeeper who also featured in five squads, but did not make an appearance in all of those editions.

With the Super Falcons not scoring in the match, it turned to be the sixth clean sheet that Canada have kept in their last ten FIFA Women’s World Cup outings.

It is also noteworthy that Canada have not conceded a goal in their opening match at three successive Women’s World Cup final competitions.

Poor Banyana Banyana! What a twist of fate for the African champions as they suffered a last minute heartache in their opening Women’s World Cup Group G match with overwhelming favourites, Sweden. On a wet Sunday in Wellington, New Zealand, the African champions  conceded a 90th minute goal to lose 2-1 to world No 3 Sweden.

South Africa’s Banyana Banyana were initially cruising to a possible victory as they took an early second half lead through striker Hildah Magaia.

But sad fate made them concede two goals in the final 25 minutes.

Sweden dominated possession the first half but in truth only really troubled Banyana goalkeeper Kaylin Swart from corners as they used their greater height and physicality to cause plenty of alarms inside the six-yard box.

Banyana just about survived as they managed to scramble the ball away, but Sweden also had several headed chances that they could not capitalise from.

The Banyana plan was clear, absorb the pressure and look to hit Sweden on the break with the pace of Thembi Kgatlana.

Kenyan athlete Faith Kipyegon smashed the women’s mile World Record at the Monaco Diamond League by almost five seconds on Friday, completing the race in a time of 4:07.64 to shatter Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan’s 2019 mark of 4:12.33.

Recall that Hassan’s record was also set in Monaco. And in a race where many of the competitors achieved Personal Best times, Kipyegon has now broken three world records in just two months, including the 1500m and 5000m.

“I have done good training so far and I just came for it. The time – yes, it was really good because the race was well planned,” Kipyegon, who took the lead with two laps to run, said. “It just went smoothly and to accomplish the world record – that is amazing.”

“I do not know how I am doing this because it just keeps going really in a good way. When I started this season, my goal was to just break the 1500m world record. It was still in my head and in my mind. Thank God I did also the one mile and the 5000m. So many.”

“I want to defend my world title at 1500m in Hungary but I am going to double also with 5000m in Budapest,” she added.

????WORLD RECORD????

4:07.64!

FAITH KIPYEGON HAS ABSOLUTELY OBLITERATED THE MILE WORLD RECORD TO COMPLETE A HISTORIC #DIAMONDLEAGUEHAT-TRICK.

1500M WR ✔️
5000M WR ✔️
MILE WR ✔️#MONACODL ????????
???? SOŇA MALÉTEROVÁ FOR @MEETINGHERCULISPIC.TWITTER.COM/WCF7ASUVAM

— WANDA DIAMOND LEAGUE (@DIAMOND_LEAGUE) JULY 21, 2023

The Olympic and world champion, Kipyegon, has marched across Europe in the last seven weeks dominating her contests. She started this imperious run of Wanda Diamond League form in Florence on 2 June, when she became the first woman to run 1500m in under 3:50.

She then conquered Paris a week later, this time splintering the 5000m record, before laying siege to the mile in Monaco. On a hot and humid evening, Kipyegon did not allow anything to distract her from the prize.

The Kenyan locked in immediately to the world record pace being marked by flashing lights inside the track and relaxed into an easy rhythm for three laps.

Boniface moved to the Bay Arena from Belgian Pro League side, Union St. Gilloise.

The 22-year-old,who will wear jersey number 22 signed a five-year contract.

The striker caught the eye of Bayer Leverkusen after scoring against them in the UEFA Europa League last season.

Leverkusen sporting director,Simon Rolfes was excited to have Boniface at the club.

“We’ve had Victor Boniface on our radar for a long time,” Rolfes told the club’s official website.

“His performance in a direct duel then absolutely confirmed our positive assessment. Victor is a very present center forward who is difficult to play and who poses a challenge for every defender just because of his physicality. In addition, he is also fast and technically adept.”

The striker scored six goals and provided two assists in the ten Europa League games last season.

He arrived Union St.Gilloise from Norwegian club, Bodo/Glimt last summer

Milan are making key progress in their move for Villarreal’s Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze.

MIlanNews’s Antonio Vitiello has reported about the Rossoneri’s chase of the player, stating that Milan are ready to make their decisive attempt to sign the 24-year-old and they have now come very close to meeting Villarreal’s demands for the winger. The move can actually close in a short period of time.

Milan are willing to offer just under €30 million and there is belief that the minor gap between the two clubs can be bridged soon enough.

The developments in this saga will also lead to decisive decisions being made in the centre-forward department as the Rossoneri have only one non-EU spot left and if Chukwueze joins, that spot will not go to Mehdi Taremi. Since Milan couldn’t agree a fee with Porto for the Iran international, they decided to push for Chukwueze.

Once they make a key decision about which non-EU player to sign, they will make the decisive move for the Nigerian and they will likely sign him.

Super Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum has heaped praises on Chiamaka Nnadozie following her crucial role in Nigeria’s goalless draw against Canada on Friday morning.

Nnadozie was awarded the Man of the Match after her starring role in the clash against the Olympic Champions, earning the Super Falcons a point.

Waldrum’s Falcons put up a spirited display against the CONCACAF nation in their first game of the 2023 Women’s World Cup at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

The game’s key moment came in the 50th minute when the Paris FC goalkeeper denied Canada’s all-time scorer Christine Sinclair from the penalty spot.

Nnadozie also made other vital saves to keep the Super Falcons in the game. Following this, Waldrum was full of praise for his goalkeeper after the game.

“Chiamaka has done this before, and I will say this, and I will embarrass her in front of you all, but I think she’s one of the best young goalkeepers in the World right now,” Randy said

The draw result now has both Canada and Nigeria trailing Australia with two points. The co-hosts had earlier beaten the Republic of Ireland in the group’s other game.

Randy Waldrum’s side will play Australia in their next game on Thursday, July 31, at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

Fulham and Ajax have reached final agreement for the transfer of Nigeria defender Calvin Bassey to the London club.

According to Dutch website vi.nl, Fulham have agreed to pay a total package of €21m for Bassey.

The agreed transfer fee is close to the amount Ajax paid to Scottish giants Rangers for Bassey last summer.

The versatile centre-back is expected to sign his contract papers next week.

Brighton & Hove Albion were the first Premier League club to show interest in the player.

The 23-year-old was keen to remain at Ajax but had a change of mind after he was informed of the decision of the club to sell him.

He scored one goal in 25 league appearances for the former European champions last season.

Lionel Messi began his Inter Miami career with a bang as the Argentinian magician ended his debut with a stunning free-kick winner against Cruz Azul deep in stoppage time.

Seven months on from lifting the World Cup, the eyes of the footballing world were trained on Florida as the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner made his eagerly anticipated first appearance.

After Robert Taylor’s excellent opener was cancelled out by Uriel Antuna, the 36-year-old struck at the death to send DRV PNK Stadium delirious and seal an unforgettable 2-1 Leagues Cup win.

“What I saw was the goal,” Messi said in an on-field interview amid the post-game celebrations. “I saw the goal. I knew that I had to score.

“It was the last play of the game and I wanted to score so I didn’t go to penalties.”

Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino, who managed Messi at Barcelona, said: “It’s a movie that we have seen before.

It was the dream end to an evening that attracted fans of all ages in ‘Messi 10’ shirts, with stars like LeBron James, Serena Williams, Kim Kardashian and, of course, Inter Miami owner David Beckham among those in the sold-out, expectant crowd.

Nottingham Forest have announced the signing of Nigerian defender Ola Aina.

Aina signed a one-year deal with options for the future also agreed in the contract.

The 26-year-old left Serie A club Torino at the end of last season following the expiration of his contract.

Aina spent nearly five years with Torino, making 102 league appearances for the Turin club.

He said on his move “I’m very excited to be here and I can’t wait to get started.

“I wanted to be back on English soil again and Forest is a club which has an exciting project and team.

“The manager as well, what he wants from the team is something which I want to buy into. He’s told me it’s a family club, he’s told me we have a great bunch of players and he’s told me I’ll enjoy it here.”

Aina started his career at Chelsea and has also featured for Hull City and Fulham in England.