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2026 World Cup: FIFA Throws Out Nigeria’s Appeal Against DR Congo

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2026 World Cup: FIFA Throws Out Nigeria’s Appeal Against DR Congo

FIFA has dismissed Nigeria’s appeal challenging the eligibility of several DR Congo players, a decision that definitively brings the Super Eagles’ 2026 World Cup qualification campaign to an end.

Nigeria lodged the protest after losing to DR Congo in the CAF playoff final held on November 16 in Rabat, Morocco. The tense encounter finished 1–1 after regulation time, before the Congolese side triumphed 4–3 on penalties, sealing progression to the intercontinental playoffs.

The Super Eagles had gone ahead through Victor Osimhen, but Cédric Bakambu equalised for DR Congo, forcing the match into a shootout that ultimately ended Nigeria’s qualification hopes.

On December 16, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) submitted a formal complaint to FIFA, alleging that up to nine DR Congo players were ineligible due to alleged breaches of FIFA nationality and eligibility regulations. One of the players named in the petition was Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

However, FIFA reportedly threw out the appeal, citing insufficient evidence to support Nigeria’s claims, according to The Nation. The ruling closed the door on any administrative attempt to overturn the playoff result.

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The appeal centred on FIFA statutes governing nationality switches. Under FIFA rules, players are allowed to change international allegiance if they meet specific conditions, including nationality eligibility and the absence of senior competitive appearances for their previous country.

Wan-Bissaka, formerly of Manchester United, switched allegiance from England to DR Congo in 2024. While he represented England at youth level, he never played for the senior team, making his switch legally permissible under FIFA regulations.

Although Nigeria maintained that multiple DR Congo players violated eligibility rules, no detailed evidence or breakdown of the alleged infractions was made public. The NFF has also not issued an official response following FIFA’s decision.

DR Congo’s advancement marks a significant milestone, as the Leopards now move into the intercontinental playoffs in the race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The 2026 tournament will be the first to feature 48 teams, expanding Africa’s slots to nine automatic qualifiers, with one additional place available via the intercontinental playoff.

Nigeria’s elimination represents a major setback for one of Africa’s most successful football nations. The Super Eagles have qualified for six World Cups, with their last appearance coming at Russia 2018.

The playoff defeat, compounded by the failed appeal, deepened disappointment for Nigeria, who went into the tie as favourites based on ranking, pedigree and squad strength.

With FIFA’s ruling final, Nigeria’s focus now turns to future qualification campaigns, while DR Congo continue their push toward a historic World Cup return.

2026 World Cup: FIFA Throws Out Nigeria’s Appeal Against DR Congo

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Georgina Rodríguez reveals why she, Ronaldo married in their living room

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Georgina Rodríguez reveals why she, Ronaldo married in their living room
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez

Georgina Rodríguez reveals why she, Ronaldo married in their living room

Georgina Rodríguez has revealed why she and football star Cristiano Ronaldo chose to marry in the living room of their home in Cascais, Portugal, instead of holding the lavish celebrity wedding many might have expected.

The couple tied the knot in an intimate civil ceremony on August 11, 2026, almost a decade after they first met at a Gucci store in Madrid, where Rodríguez was working as a sales assistant.

The private ceremony took place at their summer home in Cascais, near Lisbon, with their five children and four witnesses in attendance.

Speaking to Vogue, Rodríguez said her idea of a dream wedding had changed considerably as she grew older and built a family with Ronaldo.

She recalled that as a young girl, she had imagined an extravagant wedding complete with a magnificent castle, an elaborate carriage, a long gown and a diamond crown.

However, her priorities changed over the years. Rodríguez said she eventually realised that she wanted something much more personal and meaningful.

She explained that rather than celebrating with a large crowd, she wanted to share the occasion with Ronaldo and their children in the comfort of their own home.

According to Rodríguez, the couple already had access to luxury properties, cars, horses and other symbols of wealth. Because of that, she felt that another extravagant display would not be as meaningful as a private family moment.

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The couple therefore chose their living room — the same space where they regularly eat breakfast, lunch and dinner — as the setting for their wedding vows.

For Rodríguez, the decision was also about creating a lasting memory for their children.

She said she wanted them to look back decades from now and remember that their parents exchanged their wedding vows at the same table where the family shared everyday meals and moments together.

The intimate nature of the ceremony did not mean that the couple overlooked the significance of their appearance.

Rodríguez wore a white silk Gucci outfit with satin shoes, while Ronaldo wore a light beige suit with custom loafers.

The involvement of Gucci also carried a special significance because the couple’s relationship began at the fashion house’s Madrid store in 2016.

Gucci creative director Demna Gvasalia described the opportunity to dress Rodríguez and Ronaldo for their wedding as particularly meaningful because of the connection between the brand and the beginning of their relationship.

The couple’s wedding was also documented by renowned photographer Juergen Teller, giving them a private record of the occasion.

Their celebration did not end with the civil ceremony. The couple later visited the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima for a religious blessing, according to reports.

Despite opting for a private wedding at home, Rodríguez confirmed that she and Ronaldo intend to hold a larger celebration in the future.

She said the planned event would allow their relatives and friends to celebrate their marriage with them.

Ronaldo and Rodríguez began their relationship in 2016 and subsequently built a family together. They became engaged on August 11, 2025, exactly one year before their wedding.

The couple have five children in their family, including Ronaldo’s eldest son Cristiano Jr., twins Eva and Mateo, and their daughters Alana and Bella. They also suffered the loss of their newborn son Ángel in 2022.

The decision to marry at home marked a notably private moment for one of football’s most famous couples.

Rather than making their wedding about luxury or celebrity attention, Rodríguez said the couple wanted the occasion to reflect their family life and create a memory that their children could carry with them for years to come.

Georgina Rodríguez reveals why she, Ronaldo married in their living room

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WAFCON 2026: Cameroon beat Malawi 3-0 to claim first-ever continental crown

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WAFCON 2026: Cameroon beat Malawi 3-0 to claim first-ever continental crown
Cameroons Indomitable Lionesses

WAFCON 2026: Cameroon beat Malawi 3-0 to claim first-ever continental crown

For decades, the trophy had remained agonizingly out of reach. Three finals. Three defeats. Zero goals scored. But on a balmy Sunday evening at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses finally rewrote their painful history, delivering a devastating first-half performance to defeat tournament debutants Malawi 3-0 and secure their first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title.

The victory not only ended Cameroon’s long-running final jinx but also established the Central African nation as just the fourth country ever to win Africa’s premier women’s football competition, joining an elite list that includes record champions Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and South Africa. More significantly, Cameroon became only the third African nation—after Nigeria and South Africa—to win both the men’s and women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles, cementing their place as a true powerhouse of African football.

From the opening whistle, Cameroon made their intentions clear. The Lionesses attacked with relentless intensity, and their pressure paid off spectacularly in the 20th minute. A well-worked move into the Malawi box created chaos among the Scorchers’ defenders, and Marie Manga rose highest to power a close-range header past the Malawi goalkeeper, sending the Cameroonian supporters into raptures. Just nine minutes later, in the 29th minute, the lead was doubled through a moment of individual brilliance. Naomi Eto, who had been a constant threat throughout the tournament, received the ball with her back to goal, turned sharply, and unleashed a stunning volley that flew into the corner of the net, leaving the Malawi defense completely helpless.

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The crowning blow arrived in first-half stoppage time, deep into the 45th minute. Eto turned provider this time, delivering a perfectly weighted cross that found Manga unmarked in the box. The striker made no mistake, calmly slotting home her second goal of the night to make it 3-0. It was a scoreline that effectively ended the contest before the interval and sent the Lionesses into the dressing room with an unassailable lead.

Malawi, playing in their first-ever WAFCON final, showed far more urgency and attacking intent after the restart. The Scorchers looked to their star sisters, Temwa Chawinga and Tabitha Chawinga, for inspiration, and the duo tried desperately to engineer a comeback. Temwa, who had already scored five goals in the tournament to win the Golden Boot, was closely marshaled by Cameroon’s disciplined defense, while Tabitha’s creative runs were repeatedly snuffed out by the Lionesses’ well-organized backline. Goalkeeper Michaely Bihina, who would later be awarded the Golden Glove for her outstanding performances throughout the competition, stood tall between the posts, making crucial saves whenever Malawi threatened. Statistical data from the match showed Cameroon registered 14 shots with 6 on target, while Malawi managed 9 shots with 3 on target. The Lionesses also had a slight edge in corners, winning 6 to Malawi’s 3, underscoring their attacking dominance.

When the final whistle finally blew, the scenes were one of pure jubilation. Cameroonian players collapsed to the turf in tears of joy, while substitutes and coaching staff raced onto the pitch to join the celebrations. For a team that had suffered heartbreaking final defeats in 2004, 2014, and 2016—all at the hands of Nigeria—this triumph represented the ultimate redemption. The victory was especially sweet given that Cameroon had initially failed to qualify for this expanded 16-team tournament before being added based on their world ranking, making their journey to the title even more remarkable.

The post-tournament individual awards further highlighted Cameroon’s dominance. Monique Ngock, who delivered commanding performances in midfield throughout the competition, was deservedly named Player of the Tournament, while Bihina’s heroics between the posts earned her the Golden Glove award. Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga, despite her team’s defeat, finished as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals, claiming the Golden Boot as a consolation for her remarkable individual campaign.

For Malawi, the tournament will forever be remembered as a historic breakthrough. The Scorchers, who entered the competition as the lowest-ranked team in the tournament at 153rd in the world, stunned defending champions Nigeria in the group stage before overcoming Ghana and Algeria in the knockout rounds to reach their maiden final. Their remarkable run also secured automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, a monumental achievement for a team that was playing in their very first WAFCON. Despite the final defeat, the Scorchers returned home as heroes, having captured the hearts of football fans across Africa.

The 2026 WAFCON concluded with Cameroon’s historic triumph bringing the curtain down on a memorable tournament. Algeria claimed the bronze medal after defeating hosts Morocco in the third-place playoff, but the night unequivocally belonged to the Indomitable Lionesses. As the trophy was lifted high above Rabat, it marked not just the end of a long wait, but the beginning of a new era for Cameroonian and African women’s football.

WAFCON 2026: Cameroon beat Malawi 3-0 to claim first-ever continental crown

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Arsenal thrash Man City 3-0 to win Community Shield

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Arsenal thrash Man City 3-0 to win Community Shield

Arsenal thrash Man City 3-0 to win Community Shield

Mikel Arteta’s side make history with fastest goal in 58 years as new signing Christos Tzolis stars with two assists in statement win over Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City

Arsenal produced one of the most dominant Community Shield performances in recent memory on Sunday, dismantling Manchester City 3-0 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff to claim their 18th Community Shield title and deliver an emphatic statement ahead of their Premier League title defence. The victory, which marks Arsenal’s fourth consecutive Community Shield win over City, was secured in devastating fashion—with goals inside the opening 28 minutes from Riccardo CalafioriKai Havertz, and captain Martin Ødegaard sealing the result before the hour mark. For new Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca, it was a sobering introduction to competitive football in the post-Pep Guardiola era, as his side struggled to create meaningful chances against a ruthless Arsenal outfit that looked sharper, fitter, and more determined from the very first whistle.

Any lingering doubts about Arsenal’s readiness for the new campaign were extinguished within 23 seconds of kick-off. Myles Lewis-Skelly, deployed in an advanced midfield role by Arteta, produced a moment of sublime vision—splitting the Manchester City defence with a perfectly weighted through ball to Riccardo Calafiori. The Italian left-back, who joined Arsenal last summer, showed ice-cool composure to slot past Gianluigi Donnarumma, leaving the City goalkeeper with no chance. The goal is the fastest scored in the Community Shield since 1968, when Manchester City’s Tony Book netted after 15 seconds against West Bromwich Albion. It set the tone for a first-half masterclass that left City chasing shadows. “We wanted to start aggressively,” Calafiori told BBC Sport after the match. “The manager told us to press high and trust our quality. When Myles played that pass, I knew I had to finish it—and thankfully I did.”

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The story of the afternoon, however, belonged to Christos Tzolis. The £34 million summer signing from Club Brugge made his competitive debut for Arsenal and delivered a performance that will have fans dreaming of silverware. Tzolis’s first assist came in the 28th minute. Ødegaard floated a pinpoint cross to the far post, where the Greek winger out-jumped his marker to head the ball back across goal. Kai Havertz was perfectly positioned to nod home, with Donnarumma inadvertently helping the ball over the line—2-0 Arsenal. Three minutes into the second half, Tzolis turned provider again. He picked out Ødegaard with a clever pass, and the Norwegian captain produced a moment of magic—taking a delicate first touch to glide past Josko Gvardiol before wrong-footing Donnarumma and rolling the ball into an empty net for 3-0Tzolis became the first player to register two assists in a Community Shield match since David Beckham in 1996—a remarkable achievement on his first competitive appearance for the club. “Christos was outstanding today,” Arteta said in his post-match press conference. “He’s settled in brilliantly and showed exactly why we brought him here. His creativity, his work rate—he’s going to be a huge player for us.”

For Manchester City, this was a stark reminder of the challenges ahead under Enzo Maresca. The Italian manager, who replaced the legendary Pep Guardiola after the Spaniard’s departure to the Brazil national team, watched his side struggle to impose themselves against a resolute Arsenal defenceDavid Raya was called into action only twice—denying Phil Foden with a sharp save in the 20th minute and later keeping out an effort from Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker, who won the Premier League Golden Boot with 27 goals last season, was rendered anonymous, managing just seven touches before being substituted in the 58th minute. City’s first competitive match without Guardiola in over a decade ended in their heaviest Community Shield defeat since 2014 (also 3-0 to Arsenal). The result represents the joint-heaviest loss for a Manchester City manager in his first game—a record previously held by Harry Newbould, who lost 4-1 to Arsenal in 1906. Maresca remained philosophical after the match: “We knew it would be difficult. Arsenal are champions for a reason. They were better than us in every department today—more aggressive, more clinical, more organised. We have work to do, but this is a long season.”

Martin Ødegaard, who was named Player of the Match for his influential performance, made it clear that Arsenal are aiming for more than just the Community Shield this season. “We showed our level today. We showed that we’re ready,” he told TNT Sports. “I think we showed that we’re serious—we want to do it again. When you get the taste of how nice it is, you want to do it again.” The captain also referenced Arsenal’s heartbreaking Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in May, which has fuelled the squad’s hunger for Europe’s biggest prize. “There’s more trophies to go for—that’s the aim,” Ødegaard added. “At this club, you want to win all of them. The Champions League is a big one, and we’re going to attack it.”

Arsenal will begin their Premier League title defence on Friday evening with a home fixture against Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium. Arteta will hope his side can carry this momentum into the league campaign, where they will face stiff competition from the chasing pack. Manchester City, meanwhile, face a quick turnaround. They open their Premier League season on Saturday against Brighton & Hove Albion—a fixture that now carries added significance as Maresca looks to restore confidence after this chastening defeat.

Arsenal thrash Man City 3-0 to win Community Shield

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