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Shooting Stars Assistant Coach Akin Olowokere Slumps, Dies During Training

The Nigerian football space is in shock following the sudden death of Akin Olowokere, who had just been named Assistant Coach at Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC).

The melancholy incident occurred early Monday morning during a routine training session in Ibadan.

Eyewitnesses recounted how Olowokere “slumped on the pitch during the team’s Monday morning training session and was rushed to the hospital,” where he was later pronounced dead

Another account confirmed: “He slumped on the pitch and was rushed to the hospital. Sadly, he was confirmed dead on arrival”

Olowokere was part of the freshly unveiled technical crew at 3SC, stepping in following the departure of the Gbenga Ogunbote-led coaching staff.

His reputation as a “soft-spoken” figure earned respect over years—first as a standout player with Sunshine Stars of Akure, and later as an assistant coach under Edith Agoye at the same club.

At the time of writing, the club has not released an official statement regarding the cause of death.

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Delap, Joao Pedro strike as Chelsea thrash Milan 4-1 in pre-season finale

Chelsea wrapped up their pre-season with a 4-1 win over AC Milan at Stamford Bridge to claim the VisitMalta Weekender trophy.

The Blues took the lead after just five minutes when Andrei Coubis turned the ball into his own net.

Joao Pedro quickly doubled the advantage, continuing his strong start since joining the club.

The Brazilian now has a total of five goals in five games for the Blues.

Coubis’ night deteriorated further as he received a straight red card in the 18th minute for denying Pedro a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Liam Delap extended Chelsea’s lead from the penalty spot just past the hour mark before Youssouf Fofana pulled one back for Milan.

In stoppage time, Delap struck again to complete his brace and seal a convincing win for Enzo Maresca’s side ahead of new season opener against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

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EPL: Slot identifies Salah’s replacement during AFCON

Arne Slot has confirmed that Jeremie Frimpong could fill in for Mohamed Salah when the Egyptian captain departs for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) in Morocco.

 

Salah is expected to feature for Egypt at the tournament, which will run from December 2025 to January 2026, potentially sidelining him for up to six Premier League matches.

 

Speaking to reporters, the Liverpool manager explained that Frimpong, signed from Bayer Leverkusen, was recruited partly with this scenario in mind.

“We brought in Frimpong as he can play right-back and right-winger,” Slot said.

“We thought about the fact we are going to miss Mo for six Premier League games maximum during AFCON, which is quite a lot when you consider how well he did last season.”

Salah played a crucial role in Liverpool’s recent title triumph, scoring 28 goals and providing 18 assists in 37 league appearances.

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Brighton owner explains selling top players to Chelsea

Brighton and Hove Albion CEO Tony Bloom has explained why he frequently sells the club’s best players to Premier League rivals Chelsea.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Bloom described Chelsea as his “best customer,” noting the club’s consistent return for Brighton talent.

The latest transfer saw Brazilian forward Joao Pedro join the Blues this summer in a £50 million deal.

Pedro, who made an instant impact at the Club World Cup, chose Chelsea over Newcastle United.

When asked if there was a special relationship with Chelsea, Bloom said: “We wish Joao well. And, you know, Chelsea have got loyalty points with me. They keep coming back.”

Among other players sold to Chelsea from Brighton include, Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo, and Robert Sanchez.

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WWE Legend, John Cena Reveals He Had Hair Transplant After Fans Ridiculed Him About Going Bald

WWE legend John Cena has opened up about how fans played a major role in his decision to get a hair transplant.

The 17-time world champion, currently on his retirement tour, shared that it was fans who first made him aware of his thinning hair, often holding up signs pointing it out during events.

The 48-year-old underwent a hair transplant last November and is pleased with the results.

Speaking to People Magazine, Cena said: ‘When I’m trying to hide my hair loss the audience is just bringing it to light, like ‘you’re going bald’. I used it as a thing of the point of the story we were in just because I also want the audience to know I see your signs, the one that says ‘Bald John Cena’, I get it but I also know it’s something I’m going through.

‘I want to be genuine with that audience letting me know, either do some work or shave your head. They pushed me into going to see what my options were. I ended up getting a transplant last November and the crazy thing I came back I came back for the retirement tour starting in January.

‘So I’m like alright successful surgery but I’ve got to get out there and go. It was not easy.’

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Ballon d’Or 2025: 30-man shortlist unveiled

The final nominees for the 2025 Ballon d’Or have been officially announced ahead of the award ceremony scheduled for Monday, September 22, in Paris.

The list features 30 players who stood out during the 2024–25 season, with performances across Europe’s top leagues and tournaments, including the Club World Cup, considered in the selection process.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele leads the race following a standout campaign that saw him guide PSG to a historic treble, including their maiden UEFA Champions League title.

However, strong internal competition comes from teammates Vitinha and Achraf Hakimi, both enjoying exceptional seasons.

Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal also made the shortlist after a breakout year, while Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Barça’s Raphinha were recognised for their impressive contributions in title-winning campaigns.

Here is the full list of 2025 nominees:

1. Gianluigi Donnarumma

2. Serhou Guirassy

3. Denzel Dumfries

4. Desire Doue

5. Erling Haaland

6. Jude Bellingham

7. Viktor Gyokeres

8. Achraf Hakimi

9. Harry Kane

10. Robert Lewandowski

11. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

12. Lautaro Martinez

13. Alexis Mac Allister

14. Ousmane Dembele

15. Kylian Mbappe

16. Scott McTominay

17. Joao Neves

18. Nuno Mendes

19. Michael Olise

20. Cole Palmer

21. Pedri

22. Fabian Ruiz

23. Declan Rice

24. Raphinha

25. Vinicius Jr

26. Virgil van Dijk

27. Mohamed Salah

28. Vitinha

29. Florian Wirtz

30. Lamine Yamal

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Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie Just Got Nominated for the Ballon d’Or Yachine Trophy

Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has been named among the five nominees for the 2025 Women’s Yachine Trophy — an award presented by France Football to honour the best goalkeepers in the world as part of the annual Ballon d’Or ceremony.

At just 24, Nnadozie has become one of the most dependable goalkeepers in international football, with her rise marked by remarkable performances and a string of well-deserved accolades.

She won the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award back-to-back in 2023 and 2024, a recognition of her consistent brilliance and commanding presence between the posts.

Her 2023/2024 season with Paris FC Féminines was nothing short of exceptional, earning her the title of Best Goalkeeper of the Season in the French Division 1 Féminine League. And she hasn’t slowed down since.

Just last month, at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), Nnadozie delivered yet another outstanding performance for the Super Falcons, securing the Golden Glove and being named Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament.

Now based in England, her nomination for the Yachine Trophy places her in elite company — alongside Ann-Katrin Berger, Cata Coll, Hannah Hampton, and Daphne van Domselaar — all celebrated for their impact over the past year.

The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on 22 September, with nominees in other categories being revealed throughout the day.

https://x.com/ballondor/status/1953413070195142847?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1953413070195142847%7Ctwgr%5E531fa903b27c901dc0e961c9ab0b9cd8f99c18a5%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bellanaija.com%2F2025%2F08%2Fchiamaka-nnadozie-ballon-dor-nomination%2F

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Cristiano Ronaldo lands in Portugal ahead of Al Nassr pre-season tour

Portuguese star, Cristiano Ronaldo, has landed in Lagos, Portugal, ahead of Al Nassr’s pre-season tour.

Cristiano Ronaldo landed in Lagos with his teammates on August 4, 2025.

This comes after they concluded a training camp in Lisbon and secured a 2-1 win against Toulouse, with Ronaldo scoring a goal.

Notably, Ronaldo has been in the headlines over his contract renewal with Al Nassr, securing his future with the club until 2027.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s new contract with Al Nassr includes a signing bonus of £24.5 million, which increases to £38 million if he activates the second year of the deal.

He will also receive performance bonuses, including £80,000 for every goal and £40,000 for every assist, with both amounts increasing by 20% in the second year.

This deal cements Ronaldo’s status as a one of the highest paid athlete in the world.

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Barcelona face La Liga block over Ter Stegen injury

Barcelona’s attempt to exploit La Liga’s injury exemption rule to register a new goalkeeper has hit a major snag, as Marc-André ter Stegen refuses to authorize the release of his medical records.

Following surgery on his back, the club hoped to use the injury rule, which permits clubs to replace players out for four months or more by reallocating 50-80% of their salary.

Barça planned to bring in Joan Garcia under this provision.

However, La Liga are refusing to process ter Stegen’s medical report without his signed consent.

Despite Barcelona claiming they have legal grounds to bypass his approval under data protection exemptions, the league insists the rules are clear, no signature, no review.

Cadena SER reports that unless ter Stegen relents, the Blaugrana will be blocked from registering Garcia or any replacement using the injury rule.

Barcelona had planned to meet the goalkeeper upon returning from South Korea to resolve the issue.

However, Diario AS now says the meeting has been cancelled.

The club, reportedly incensed by ter Stegen’s stance, believes he is acting in bad faith and undermining the team.

Without a breakthrough, Barcelona may enter the new La Liga season without a registered senior goalkeeper to cover ter Stegen’s prolonged absence.

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Paul Scholes argues Gyokeres ‘suitability’ for Arsenal

Paul Scholes has expressed doubts over Viktor Gyokeres’ suitability for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side.

This follows the striker’s £64 million move from Sporting Lisbon.

Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, the Manchester United legend questioned whether Gyokeres was Arteta’s first-choice signing, pointing to Arsenal’s prolonged negotiations and indecision.

Gyokeres, who struggled during an earlier stint at Brighton, rebuilt his career at Coventry City before exploding at Sporting, where he scored 97 goals in 102 appearances, including 52 last season and a Champions League hat-trick against Manchester City.

While acknowledging the Swede’s impressive record, Scholes queried his tactical fit at Arsenal.

He said that Gyokeres thrived in a counter-attacking system at Sporting, which contrasts with Arsenal’s possession-heavy approach.

“Is he going to be clever enough to make those runs in behind when Arsenal dominate the ball?” Scholes asked.

He also contrasted Gyokeres with Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, suggesting the latter possesses the movement and intelligence suited to a team like Arsenal.

Meanwhile, Gyokeres’ lacklustre debut, just two touches in 13 minutes during a 1-0 loss to Spurs in Hong Kong, did little to silence critics.

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