Sports Archives - Freedom Online https://freedomonline.com.ng/category/sports/ ...express yourself Sun, 19 Jul 2026 23:56:54 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.5 https://freedomonline.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/cropped-icon-32x32.png Sports Archives - Freedom Online https://freedomonline.com.ng/category/sports/ 32 32 FIFA WORLD CUP 2026: Spain outclass Argentina 1-0 to lift second title, sweep awards; Messi weeps https://freedomonline.com.ng/fifa-world-cup-2026-spain-outclass-argentina-1-0-to-lift-second-title-sweep-awards-messi-weeps/ https://freedomonline.com.ng/fifa-world-cup-2026-spain-outclass-argentina-1-0-to-lift-second-title-sweep-awards-messi-weeps/#respond Sun, 19 Jul 2026 23:48:04 +0000 https://freedomonline.com.ng/?p=281405 Ferran Torres’ goal in the 106th minute delivered Spain its second World Cup title on Sunday in a win over Argentina that was tense but one-sided. The shot was Spain’s 12th on goal, all while defending champion Argentina had produced zero. Yet for how often Spain peppered Argentina’s defence with shots, its brilliant goalkeeper Emiliano […]

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]]> https://freedomonline.com.ng/fifa-world-cup-2026-spain-outclass-argentina-1-0-to-lift-second-title-sweep-awards-messi-weeps/feed/ 0 FIFA World Cup Final: Shakira, Burna Boy, Ghetto Kids Prepare Halftime Show https://freedomonline.com.ng/fifa-world-cup-final-shakira-burna-boy-ghetto-kids-prepare-halftime-show/ https://freedomonline.com.ng/fifa-world-cup-final-shakira-burna-boy-ghetto-kids-prepare-halftime-show/#respond Sat, 18 Jul 2026 12:56:27 +0000 https://freedomonline.com.ng/?p=281333 Colombian music star Shakira, Grammy-winning Nigerian Afrobeats artiste Burna Boy and Uganda’s Ghetto Kids have begun rehearsals for their performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. The artistes are expected to perform during the tournament’s final halftime show at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, United States. Videos circulating on social media showed Shakira and […]

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]]> https://freedomonline.com.ng/fifa-world-cup-final-shakira-burna-boy-ghetto-kids-prepare-halftime-show/feed/ 0 How Lionel Messi is rewriting World Cup history https://freedomonline.com.ng/how-lionel-messi-is-rewriting-world-cup-history/ https://freedomonline.com.ng/how-lionel-messi-is-rewriting-world-cup-history/#respond Sat, 18 Jul 2026 10:26:52 +0000 https://freedomonline.com.ng/?p=281310 *Before Lionel Messi… World Cup records were spread across various legends of the game. 🇩🇪 Most goals scored: Miroslav Klose 🇦🇷 Most assists: Diego Maradona 🇧🇷 Most goal contributions: Pelé 🇦🇷 Most successful dribbles: Diego Maradona 🇦🇷 Most chances created: Diego Maradona 🇧🇷 Most goal contributions in the knockout stages: Pelé 🇳🇱 Most Man of […]

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]]> https://freedomonline.com.ng/how-lionel-messi-is-rewriting-world-cup-history/feed/ 0 Mikel Obi: NFF clueless on how to run football https://freedomonline.com.ng/mikel-obi-nff-clueless-on-how-to-run-football/ https://freedomonline.com.ng/mikel-obi-nff-clueless-on-how-to-run-football/#respond Fri, 17 Jul 2026 19:35:57 +0000 https://freedomonline.com.ng/?p=281296 A former skipper of the Super Eagles, Mikel Obi, has emphatically stated that the current crop of football administrators do not have an idea of how to run the game. Mikel stated that football today demands much more than what we are experiencing in the Nigeria Football Federation. He added that he would have loved […]

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]]> https://freedomonline.com.ng/mikel-obi-nff-clueless-on-how-to-run-football/feed/ 0 Ajayi wins 100m men’s race at Eugene Diamond League https://freedomonline.com.ng/ajayi-wins-100m-mens-race-at-eugene-diamond-league/ https://freedomonline.com.ng/ajayi-wins-100m-mens-race-at-eugene-diamond-league/#respond Sun, 05 Jul 2026 18:31:22 +0000 https://freedomonline.com.ng/?p=280435 Nigerian sprinter, Kanyinsola Ajayi, has won the 100m race in the Eugene Diamond League in the star-studded final equaling his national record of 9.84 seconds (0.1) to win the men’s 100m at the Prefontaine Classic. Ajayi, the reigning NCAA champion, beat World Champion, Jamaican Oblique Seville, to the second position. American Christian Coleman came third […]

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]]> https://freedomonline.com.ng/ajayi-wins-100m-mens-race-at-eugene-diamond-league/feed/ 0 CAFCL/CC: Rangers, Rivers United, Shooting Stars to begin continental campaign September https://freedomonline.com.ng/cafcl-cc-rangers-rivers-united-shooting-stars-to-begin-continental-campaign-september/ https://freedomonline.com.ng/cafcl-cc-rangers-rivers-united-shooting-stars-to-begin-continental-campaign-september/#respond Fri, 03 Jul 2026 06:27:33 +0000 https://freedomonline.com.ng/?p=280235 Nigeria’s representatives in the 2026/27 CAF inter-club competitions will begin their continental campaigns in September following the release of the official match calendar by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). CAF confirmed that the 2026/27 CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup will kick off with the first preliminary round, with the first-leg matches scheduled for […]

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]]> https://freedomonline.com.ng/cafcl-cc-rangers-rivers-united-shooting-stars-to-begin-continental-campaign-september/feed/ 0 NPFL 2026/27 to start in August https://freedomonline.com.ng/npfl-2026-27-to-start-in-august/ https://freedomonline.com.ng/npfl-2026-27-to-start-in-august/#respond Wed, 01 Jul 2026 08:49:43 +0000 https://freedomonline.com.ng/?p=280091 The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has officially unveiled the calendar for the 2026/27 season, with the timeline for the President Federation Cup also included. The schedule provides clubs, players, match officials, broadcasters and other stakeholders with a clear roadmap for the campaign, allowing for better planning and preparation ahead of the new season. Looking […]

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]]> https://freedomonline.com.ng/npfl-2026-27-to-start-in-august/feed/ 0 FIFA World Cup 2026: Nine African teams qualify for R32 https://freedomonline.com.ng/fifa-world-cup-2026-nine-african-teams-qualify-for-r32/ https://freedomonline.com.ng/fifa-world-cup-2026-nine-african-teams-qualify-for-r32/#respond Sun, 28 Jun 2026 06:49:58 +0000 https://freedomonline.com.ng/?p=279889 *AFRICA MAKES A HUGE STATEMENT AT THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP! African football has delivered one of its strongest-ever group stage performances, with nine of the continent’s 10 representatives securing qualification for the Round of 32. ✅ 🇿🇦 South Africa ✅ 🇩🇿 Algeria ✅ 🇨🇻 Cabo Verde ✅ 🇨🇩 DR Congo ✅ 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire […]

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]]> https://freedomonline.com.ng/fifa-world-cup-2026-nine-african-teams-qualify-for-r32/feed/ 0 2026 World Cup officially most attended ever, says FIFA https://freedomonline.com.ng/2026-world-cup-officially-most-attended-ever-says-fifa/ https://freedomonline.com.ng/2026-world-cup-officially-most-attended-ever-says-fifa/#respond Sat, 27 Jun 2026 07:27:11 +0000 https://freedomonline.com.ng/?p=279838 Following the match between Ecuador and Germany at the New York/New Jersey stadium, the tournament’s cumulative attendance surpassed 3.6 million spectators. For comparison, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar had just over 3.4 million spectators. The previous attendance record was set in 1994, when the World Cup — also held in the United States — […]

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]]> https://freedomonline.com.ng/2026-world-cup-officially-most-attended-ever-says-fifa/feed/ 0 FIFA World Cup 2026: Ronaldo sets new record https://freedomonline.com.ng/fifa-world-cup-2026-ronaldo-sets-new-record/ https://freedomonline.com.ng/fifa-world-cup-2026-ronaldo-sets-new-record/#respond Tue, 23 Jun 2026 19:20:00 +0000 https://freedomonline.com.ng/?p=279613 Cristiano Ronaldo has set a new record in the current FIFA World Cup 2026 by scoring a brace at his age. The 41-year-old had previously scored at the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments before extending the record at the 2026 competition. The goals also came in Ronaldo’s 24th World Cup appearance, moving him […]

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]]> https://freedomonline.com.ng/fifa-world-cup-2026-ronaldo-sets-new-record/feed/ 0 Chelle gets new contract, expanded role; league champions to receive ₦1bn https://freedomonline.com.ng/chelle-gets-new-contract-expanded-role-league-champions-to-receive-%e2%82%a61bn/ https://freedomonline.com.ng/chelle-gets-new-contract-expanded-role-league-champions-to-receive-%e2%82%a61bn/#respond Tue, 23 Jun 2026 18:57:46 +0000 https://freedomonline.com.ng/?p=279608 A high-level strategic meeting between the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Tuesday in Abuja, produced a series of far-reaching decisions aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s national teams and transforming the domestic football landscape. The meeting, held at the Commission’s headquarters, was attended by NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, NSC Director-General […]

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]]> https://freedomonline.com.ng/chelle-gets-new-contract-expanded-role-league-champions-to-receive-%e2%82%a61bn/feed/ 0 Messi makes history, becomes FIFA World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer (See Top-5 Scorers) https://freedomonline.com.ng/messi-makes-history-becomes-fifa-world-cups-all-time-leading-goalscorer-see-top-5-scorers/ https://freedomonline.com.ng/messi-makes-history-becomes-fifa-world-cups-all-time-leading-goalscorer-see-top-5-scorers/#respond Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:26:29 +0000 https://freedomonline.com.ng/?p=279554 Lionel Messi (38 years) made history on Monday, becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in men’s FIFA World Cup history. He broke the previous record of 16 goals by scoring his 17th and 18th tournament goals in the 38th and 90th+ minute of Argentina’s Group J match against Austria in Dallas. The Record-Breaker: His historic 18th […]

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]]> https://freedomonline.com.ng/messi-makes-history-becomes-fifa-world-cups-all-time-leading-goalscorer-see-top-5-scorers/feed/ 0 FIFA World Cup 2026: Miguel Almiron first player sent off for covering mouth https://freedomonline.com.ng/fifa-world-cup-2026-miguel-almiron-first-player-sent-off-for-covering-mouth/ https://freedomonline.com.ng/fifa-world-cup-2026-miguel-almiron-first-player-sent-off-for-covering-mouth/#respond Sun, 21 Jun 2026 10:11:25 +0000 https://freedomonline.com.ng/?p=279465 Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron became the first player to be shown a red card for covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent during his side’s World Cup group match against Turkey in San Francisco. Almiron, 32, obscured his mouth with his hand while speaking to Turkey’s Mert Muldur, who immediately informed an official standing next […]

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]]> https://freedomonline.com.ng/fifa-world-cup-2026-miguel-almiron-first-player-sent-off-for-covering-mouth/feed/ 0 FIFA World Cup 2026: Fastest Mundial to hit 100 goals in 68 years https://freedomonline.com.ng/fifa-world-cup-2026-fastest-mundial-to-hit-100-goals-in-68-years/ https://freedomonline.com.ng/fifa-world-cup-2026-fastest-mundial-to-hit-100-goals-in-68-years/#respond Sun, 21 Jun 2026 10:01:53 +0000 https://freedomonline.com.ng/?p=279463 The 2026 World Cup has become the fastest edition of the tournament to hit 100 goals since 1958 – with the landmark reached in the 33rd game. Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo brought up the century with the Netherlands’ third goal in a 5-1 win over Sweden on Saturday. It is the first time in 68 […]

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]]> https://freedomonline.com.ng/fifa-world-cup-2026-fastest-mundial-to-hit-100-goals-in-68-years/feed/ 0 EPL: Arsenal begin title defence against Coventry August 21 https://freedomonline.com.ng/epl-arsenal-begin-title-defence-against-coventry-august-21/ https://freedomonline.com.ng/epl-arsenal-begin-title-defence-against-coventry-august-21/#respond Fri, 19 Jun 2026 10:18:16 +0000 https://freedomonline.com.ng/?p=279315 Premier League 26/27 season will start a week later due to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to fixtures released on Friday June 19 at 10am. Arsenal will kick off their title defence at home to Championship winners Coventry on Friday August 21 – one of SIX games live on Sky Sports across the opening […]

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