EPL: West Ham hold Man City as Arsenal open nine-point lead

English Premier League champions Manchester City suffered a setback in their title pursuit after being forced to a 1–1 draw by West Ham United at the London Stadium on Saturday night.

The result handed fresh momentum to leaders Arsenal, who extended their advantage at the top of the table to nine points earlier in the day with a 2–0 victory over Everton.

City looked on course for victory when Bernardo Silva opened the scoring in the 31st minute, his attempted cross drifting all the way into the far corner of the net to give the visitors the lead.

However, the advantage lasted only four minutes. West Ham responded from a corner as Konstantinos Mavropanos rose highest to power a header that struck the crossbar before bouncing over the line to restore parity.

City had several chances to reclaim the lead but were frustrated by West Ham goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and a lack of sharp finishing.

Erling Haaland endured another difficult outing, extending his league goal drought to three matches after seeing one effort saved and another dragged wide from inside the box.

Matheus Nunes and Jérémy Doku also failed to convert promising opportunities, while Hermansen denied attempts from Ryan Cherki and Rodri as West Ham held on for a valuable point.

The stalemate ended City’s four-match winning streak and left them on 61 points from 30 games, trailing Arsenal by nine points, although the league leaders have played one match more.

At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal sealed their win over Everton with two goals, the second scored by teenage sensation Max Dowman, who became the youngest scorer in Premier League history.

Elsewhere, Chelsea suffered a 1–0 home defeat to Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge, leaving the Blues with just one win in their last five league matches and stuck in joint-fifth place.

Other results

• Sunderland 0–1 Brighton & Hove Albion
• Burnley 0–0 Bournemouth

DR Congo FA president gets life jail over corruption scandal

The President of the Congolese Association Football Federation (FECOFA), Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after a court in the Democratic Republic of the Congo found him guilty of multiple financial crimes following a sweeping corruption investigation.

The conviction came after an eight-month probe into alleged financial misconduct within the country’s football governing body. Investigators uncovered evidence linking the federation chief to a series of offences, including money laundering, embezzlement, forgery, and the use of falsified documents.

The court delivered the life sentence in Mayolas’ absence, underscoring the gravity of the charges and the scale of the financial irregularities uncovered during the investigation.

Two other senior officials of the federation were also convicted in connection with the scandal. FECOFA Secretary-General, Badji Mombo Wantete, and the federation’s Treasurer, Raoul Kanda, were each sentenced to five years in prison for their roles in the misconduct.

Authorities described the ruling as a decisive step in the campaign to restore transparency and accountability in the administration of football in the Central African nation.

Government officials and sports administrators say the prosecution of top football officials sends a strong message that corruption in sports institutions will no longer be tolerated, regardless of status or position.

The verdict has triggered widespread reactions across the country’s football community.

Supporters, players, and stakeholders have called for deeper reforms within the federation to ensure that funds intended for the development of the game are properly managed.

Analysts say the case highlights the persistent governance challenges facing sports bodies across Africa and reinforces growing demands for stricter oversight and financial discipline in football administration.

Nigerian Midfielder Daniel Daga Jailed in Norway for Sexual Assault

Nigerian footballer Daniel Daga has been sentenced to six months in prison by a Norwegian court after being found guilty of committing a sexual act without consent. The ruling was handed down by the Nordmøre and Romsdal District Court on March 10, 2026, and also requires Daga to pay 10,000 Norwegian kroner in legal costs.

The 19‑year‑old Molde FK midfielder was charged under Section 297 of the Norwegian Penal Code following an incident reported to police in late April 2025. Prosecutors requested a six-month custodial sentence, which the court upheld after reviewing the evidence presented during the trial.

Daga’s lawyer, Astrid Bolstad, told the media that the player maintains his innocence and insists that the encounter was consensual. She added that the ruling is not yet legally binding and that Daga intends to appeal the verdict. Bolstad also emphasized that Daga should be treated like anyone else until the legal process is complete.

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In response to the court ruling, Molde FK confirmed that Daga will not feature in the club’s matchday squad until further notice. The club described the situation as “very demanding” and stressed its responsibility to handle the matter carefully while respecting the seriousness of the case. The club had previously withdrawn Daga from training and matches in December 2025 after the charge was filed.

Daga joined Molde FK ahead of the 2025 season from FC One Rocket and made 17 appearances, scoring three goals before the legal proceedings sidelined him. At the international level, he has represented Nigeria’s U‑20 national team, participating in the 2023 FIFA U‑20 World Cup, where he was the youngest player in the squad.

The case highlights Norway’s strict approach to sexual assault laws and raises questions about Daga’s future in professional football. The appeal process will determine whether he can challenge the conviction and potentially resume his career.

Nigerian Midfielder Daniel Daga Jailed in Norway for Sexual Assault