Sports
Yaya Toure leads Serbian club to UEFA Champions League
Former Ivory Coast and Manchester City midfielder, Yaya Touré has become the first African coach to lead a club into the UEFA Champions League group stage after guiding Slovan Bratislava through the final qualifying round.
Toure achieved the feat on Wednesday as Slovan defeated Celje 2-1 after extra time in the second leg of their qualifying tie.
The Slovakian champions progressed 3-2 on aggregate to secure their place in the Champions League group stage.
Slovan took the lead in the 18th minute through Andraž Šporar before Celje equalised from the penalty spot through Svit Šešlar in the 34th minute.
With the tie heading towards extra time, Cristian Martínez became the match-winner for Touré’s side when he struck in the 100th minute to send Slovan through.
The achievement represents a significant milestone for African coaches in European football.
Nigerian coach Ndubuisi Egbo had previously come closest to reaching the Champions League group stage, after guiding Albanian side FK Tirana through the qualifying rounds in 2020. However, Tirana failed to make it to the group stage.
Touré, 43, only took charge of Slovan in July 2026, making the Champions League qualification particularly impressive given that it is his first senior managerial appointment.
His side have also made an unbeaten start to the Slovak League campaign, winning all four of their opening matches as defending champions.
Touré brings considerable Champions League pedigree from his playing days, having won the competition with Barcelona during the 2008/09 season.
He also won two La Liga titles with the Spanish giants before moving to Manchester City, where he became a key figure in the club’s rise to dominance.
The Ivorian won three Premier League titles with City and was part of the Ivory Coast squad that lifted the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015.
Since retiring from professional football in 2020, Touré has gradually transitioned into coaching.
He worked as an assistant at Standard Liège and with the Saudi Arabia national team before taking charge of Tottenham Hotspur’s Under-16 side.
Touré will now await Thursday’s Champions League draw, when Slovan Bratislava will discover their opponents in the group stage.
The achievement places the former African football star in a new chapter of his career, this time making history from the touchline.
Sports
FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup: Flamingos record 2-0 win over Puerto Rico
Nigeria’s U-17 Women National Team, the Flamingos, kept their campaign at the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco on track with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Puerto Rico in their Group B encounter on Tuesday night in Rabat.
The 2022 World Cup bronze-medallists started the game with real intent, pressing high and creating early problems for the Puerto Rican defence. It was a lively opening from both sides, but the Flamingos soon took control with their quick movement and direct play going forward.
The breakthrough came in the 25th minute when in-form striker Oluwakemi Adegbuyi finished brilliantly from Queen Joseph’s assist to put Nigeria 1-0 up. That goal settled the Nigerian girls and gave them the confidence to dominate possession for most of the first half.
In the second period, the Flamingos continued to push for another goal. Queen Joseph, Tosin Rafiu and Favour Nkwocha all came close, while Puerto Rico also tried to find a way back into the game with a couple of changes. Coach Hakeem Busari responded by introducing Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku in the 67th minute to add more energy and bite in attack.
The pressure finally paid off in the 90th minute when Nigeria got the second goal as substitute Precious Oscar nodded home a cross from Kemi Adegbuyi to seal the contest at 2-0. The team showed great maturity to see out six minutes of added time and secure all three points. The victory is a big boost for the Flamingos as North Korea defeated Poland 6-1 in the other match of Group B. The high-score deficit against the Poles is an advantage to the Flamingos ahead of Friday’s Group B encounter against the Koreans.
Sports
NPFL hammers Doma Utd with N5.25m fine, orders 3 home matches behind closed doors
Gombe based Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side, Doma United has been fined N5.25 million and ordered to play its next three home matches behind closed doors following security breaches and supporters’ misconduct during its 1-1 draw with Kun Khalifat FC.
The sanctions followed the club’s supporters alleged attack on Kun Khalifat of Owerri during the Matchday 9 fixture played at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe on Saturday, October 17.
In a disciplinary notice issued on Monday, the NPFL said Doma United failed to provide adequate and effective security, allowing unauthorised persons to access restricted areas.
The club was also fined 1 million for hostile conduct towards match officials and another 1 million for gross misconduct involving an official of the visiting team.
The club was further tasked to pa additional N250,000 as compensation for the medical treatment of Kun Khalifat head coach, Obinna Uzoho, who sustained an injury during the incident.
The total financial penalty amounts to 5.25 million, alongside the restriction barring spectators from the club’s next three home fixtures.
The disciplinary action also affects the match commissioner, who has been recommended for demotion to a lower league over alleged dereliction of duty, inadequate supervision and insufficient reporting of the match.
The club has 48 hours from the date of the notice to appeal the decision.
Sports
FIBA congratulates new NBBF president, recognizes election
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has congratulated Dr. Abdullahi Mustapha on his election as President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), acknowledging the successful conduct of the federation’s elective congress held on October 15, 2026.
A statement from the NBBF Media office said FIBA, in an official letter signed by FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis congratulated Mustapha and all elected board members who will serve the federation for the 2026-2030 term.
FIBA’s letter acknowledged receipt of the NBBF’s communication confirming the outcome of the election and commended the federation’s commitment to good governance and compliance with its constitution and applicable FIBA regulations.
The recognition represents a significant endorsement of the electoral process and Mustapha’s emergence as NBBF president, reinforcing the international body’s acknowledgement of the new leadership.
FIBA also recognized the support provided by relevant Nigerian authorities and stakeholders throughout the electoral process, highlighting the importance of institutional cooperation in advancing basketball administration in the country.
The international federation also expressed appreciation to the outgoing NBBF board, led by Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, for its work and contributions to Nigerian basketball.
Zagklis further recalled his recent meeting with Mustapha in Berlin and expressed his expectation of meeting him again in person, wishing the new president and his colleagues success throughout their tenure.
The new leadership is expected to build on the recognition and institutional support to strengthen basketball development, improve governance and advance Nigeria’s competitiveness on the continental and international stages.
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