The United States will serve as hosts of the expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in 2025, after being unanimously voted upon by the FIFA Council.

The host selection process considered infrastructure and service requirements before deciding the United States stood as ‘a proven leader in staging global events’. The tournament also precedes the 2026 World Cup, also set to be co-hosted by U.S., giving FIFA an opportunity to maximize synergies and kick off the development of football in the North American region.

“We are thrilled that the United States has been selected to host the most prestigious club competition in world soccer. This adds to the already unprecedented runway of top-tier events in which either our National Teams are involved or are taking place in our country and is yet another opportunity to grow the game here in the United States,” said U.S. Soccer President Cindy Cone.

“The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be the pinnacle of elite professional men’s club football, and with the required infrastructure in place together with a massive local interest, the United States is the ideal host to kick off this new, global tournament,” added FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

“With some of the world’s top clubs already qualified, fans from every continent will be bringing their passion and energy to the United States in two years’ time for this significant milestone in our mission to make football truly global.”

The tournament’s new format will see 32 clubs compete, replacing the seven-team version to create a milestone competition every four years. In order to qualify, clubs must win a continental championship in any of the four years from 2021 to 2024 within the five main confederations: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America.

Europe was awarded 12 slots, South America boasts six and every other region holds just four. Extra entries are expected to be awarded according to each team’s ranking by results of a four-year span in the continental competitions.

The tournament is expected to run for approximately three weeks, guaranteeing the 32 teams at least three games each playing in eight groups of four. FIFA has yet to finalize details, with a lot of the competition’s formatting still subject to change.

Athletes, aerobic clubs and school children joined millions across the world on Saturday to take part in the 2023 Olympic Day celebrations, with “Lets Move” as the theme of the event, at the National Stadium in Lagos State, Nigeria.

President of International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, in a message read by Habu Gumel, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), preached togetherness on Olympic Day celebrations.

Bach urged member associations to embrace sport as it embodies the spirit of togetherness as well as spreading joy to participants.
President of International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach.

“The beauty of sports is that it inspires the world to move and it brings us all together as a community, no matter where we are or how we choose to move,” he said.

“When we do sport, it inspires us to always give our best. When we do sport, it keeps our mind and body strong and healthy.”

The Chairman of the Sports-for-All Commission, Ibrahim Abdul of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), called on Nigerians to show interest in global events.

”This is a significant event that promotes the values and goals set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC),” Abdul said.

The Secretary of Sports For All Commission, Augustine Odigie, said that this year’s theme for the Olympic Day celebration “Let’s Move,” sends a powerful message promoting physical activity and a healthy lifestyle.

”It is encouraging to note that 17 states in Nigeria participated in this year’s Olympic Day,” Odigie said.

”This number showcases the wide participation and interest in the celebration, further reinforcing the success of the occasion.”

Some Nigerian Olympians, led by Chioma Ajunwa and Henry Amike, were also part of the event.

Highlights of the Olympic Day include aerobics, dance, jogging and cultural displays. The participants were issued certificates of participation.

Reigning World 100m hurdles champion and record holder, Tobi Amusan will start her 2023 European outdoor campaign on Tuesday in Ostrava, Czech Republic with a titanic battle for supremacy between her and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, the Tokyo Olympics champion.

The Nigerian and the Puerto Rican have both been confirmed for the event in which the reigning Olympic champion is the defending champion as it were after running 12.56 last year to win at the 61st edition of the event.

Also confirmed for the race are Tia Jones, the 2018 World U20 champion who holds a personal best of 12.38 and 2019 World champion, Nia Ali.

The attention will however be on Amusan and Camacho-Quinn who have taken their NCAA rivalry to the international stage.

The Puerto Rican ran 12.54 in 2016 to beat the Nigerian (12.79) to the NCAA 100m hurdles title in Eugene, Oregon while Amusan extracted her pound of flesh a year later also in Eugene, winning by the narrowest of margins (12.57 to 12.58).

Since then, the two have met 13 more times with Camacho-Quinn having a 9-6 head to head lead over the reigning world champion.

At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Camacho-Quinn sped home first in 12.37 while Amusan came in fourth in 12.60. The Nigerian however had the better of the Puerto Rican at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, running a wind-aided 12.06 to win the gold with the 26 year old Puerto Rican third in 12.23.

Amusan (12.29) would triumph again at the Diamond League final in Zurich while Camacho-Quinn (12.49) placed fourth.

Like she did last year. the Puerto Rican is flying again in the circuit this term with the 12.31 she ran at the end of May the fastest in the world so far.

Apart from the supremacy battle, what is also at stake is the 12.56 meeting record which Camacho-Quinn missed by one hundreth of a second last year.

Turkish Super Lig outfit Besiktas have tabled an offer for Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho, according to the Star.

Iheanacho is among the players expected to leave Leicester City this summer following the Foxes’ relegation from the Premier League.

Everton, Burnley and Nottingham Forest are among the clubs interested in the Nigeria international.

Besiktas are now leading the race for his signature after establishing contact with Leicester City.

The Black and Whites want to sign Iheanacho on loan, with an option to make the deal permanent.

The 26-year-old was named Leicester City Player of the Season last season.

Nigeria’s contingents to the FIBA U16 competition continue to prove their mettle in the competition taking place at Eden Heart Sports Hall in Ghana..

The Nigerian boys were the first to make the headlines with a comfortable 67-38 victory over their Ivorian counterpart.

The girl’s team took over from them on Friday with another superb performance which saw them secure a 73-24 win and sent a warning signal to other participating teams.

The Nigerian U16 boys on Saturday will face hosts, Ghana at 2 pm

The championship serves as a qualifier for FIBA U16 African Championship to be hosted by Tunisia later this year.

Substitute striker Emmanuel Yeboah scored twice to help Ghana beat Congo 3-2 in a thrilling CAF U23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group A encounter, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco.

After a goalless first half where both sides exhibited resilience, Ghana returned to the pitch in the second half with an insatiable hunger for goals. Ghana’s head coach, Ibrahim Tanko, introduced Yeboah and Hafiz Ibrahim and their impact was instantaneous.

Just five minutes after, Ernest Nuamah handed Ghana the lead with a simple tap-in from Emmanuel Yeboah’s well-executed cross from the right wing. In the 75th minute, Yeboah outpaced a defender on the left wing and unleashed a well-placed shot that left the Congo goalkeeper well beaten. 2-0!!
Ghanaian striker Emmanuel Yeboah celebrates goal.

Ghana pressed on to extend the lead and their efforts paid off when Congo’s Djigo Saikou committed a foul inside the box, leading to the referee awarding a penalty after 83 minutes.

Yeboah confidently converted the penalty, extending Ghana’s lead to 3-0.
Ghanaian striker Emmanuel Yeboah.

In the third minute of added time, Congo managed to salvage a goal when substitute Reich Kokolo headed in a well-delivered free kick. A minute later, Yann Kouori-Ngatse capitalised on Ghana’s defensive lapses to score Congo’s second goal.

However, Ghana held on as the match finished 3-2.

In a captivating Group A encounter in Rabat, the Black Meteors of Ghana emerged victorious, although they faced nail-biting moments in the dying minutes when Congo mounted an impressive comeback from a 3-0 deficit.

Ghana will return to action on Tuesday with a crucial Group A clash against hosts Morocco, while Congo Brazzaville will also take on Guinea in the day’s second match.

In the opening match on Saturday, Morocco secured a 2-1 victory over Guinea.

Sunday’s U23 Africa Cup of Nations results

Ghana U23 3-2 Congo Republic U23

Egypt U23 0-0 Niger U23.