Sport - Page 17

Iran secured their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan in Tehran, becoming the second Asian nation to qualify after Japan. Mehdi Taremi was the hero for the hosts, scoring twice, including a crucial late

Yuki Tsunoda is reportedly set to replace Liam Lawson at Red Bull for the Japanese Grand Prix, following the team’s decision to drop the struggling New Zealander after just two races. According to Dutch newspaper reports Tsunoda will partner Max Verstappen at

Novak Djokovic eased into the Miami Open quarter-finals with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory over Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in just 82 minutes. The Serbian star, chasing his 100th tour-level title, is now three wins away from glory. Djokovic, a six-time champion in

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard has been ruled out indefinitely after doctors detected a blood clot in his right calf. The 34-year-old is now on blood-thinning medication and will undergo regular testing. Bucks General Manager Jon Horst emphasized that Lillard’s health is

South Africa strengthened their bid for a 2026 FIFA World Cup spot with a 2-0 win over Benin, but their qualification hopes could be threatened by a potential points deduction for fielding an ineligible player in an earlier match. Teboho Mokoena, who

Nigeria’s push for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification suffered another setback as Zimbabwe snatched a dramatic 1-1 draw with a last-minute equaliser in Uyo. The Super Eagles controlled possession and created chances but failed to break through a stubborn Zimbabwean defense. Victor

Argentina marked their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification in emphatic fashion, crushing Brazil 4-1 at the Estadio Monumental to extend their dominance in the South American qualifiers. The hosts struck early, with Julián Álvarez opening the scoring in the fifth minute after

Thomas Tuchel achieved his second consecutive win as the head coach of England during their World Cup qualifier against Latvia at Wembley. However, the match was more of a grind than an exhilarating encounter until England was able to assert their dominance.

New Zealand became the second nation to book their spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a 3-0 victory over New Caledonia this morning in Auckland. After a frustrating first half, Michael Boxall opened the scoring in the 61st minute with

Portugal booked their place in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals after a dramatic 5-3 aggregate win over Denmark, sealing victory with a 5-2 triumph in extra time in Lisbon. Cristiano Ronaldo missed an early penalty but later found the net as Portugal

France erased a 2-0 first-leg deficit and triumphed in a dramatic penalty shootout to eliminate Croatia and book their spot in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals. After a frustrating first half in Paris, Michael Olise sparked the comeback with a stunning free-kick

Virgil van Dijk and the Netherlands were left heartbroken after a dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout loss to Spain ended their UEFA Nations League campaign in Valencia. The thrilling quarter-final had finished 3-3 after extra time, with the Dutch scoring two penalties during

Raul Jimenez struck twice, including a stoppage-time penalty, as Mexico edged Panama 2-1 to claim their first CONCACAF Nations League title at SoFi Stadium. Jimenez opened the scoring in the 8th minute, heading in Roberto Alvarado’s pinpoint cross, but Adalberto Carrasquilla equalized

With Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification hopes hanging in the balance, Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has urged his team to stay focused ahead of Tuesday’s crucial clash against Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. Fresh off

Patrik Schick scored twice as the Czech Republic edged past the Faroe Islands 2-1 in their 2026 World Cup qualifier in Hradec Králové. Schick opened the scoring in the first half, heading in after a Lukáš Červ assist from a corner. The