SAT, OCT 31:
Chelsea vs Man Utd 1:30pm
Coventry vs Sunderland 4:00pm
Brentford vs Nottm Forest 4:00pm
Bournemouth vs Leeds Utd 4:00pm
Man City vs Brighton 4:00pm
Hull City vs Ipswich 4:00pm
Tottenham vs C'Palace 6:30pm
Aston Villa vs Fulham 9:00pm
SUN:
Liverpool vs Arsenal 5:30pm
MON:
Newcastle vs Everton 9:00pm
FRIDAY, OCT 30:
Niger Tornadoes vs Barau FC 3:00pm
SAT:
Doma Utd vs Ikorodu City 4:00pm
SUN:
Enyimba vs Kun Khalifat 4:00pm
Shooting Stars vs Abia Warriors 4:00pm
Plateau Utd vs Warri Wolves 4:00pm
Kwara Utd vs Bendel Insurance 4:00pm
Inter Lagos vs Ranchers Bees 4:00pm
Rivers Utd vs Enugu Rangers 4:00pm
Kano Pillars vs Nasarawa Utd 4:00pm
Katsina Utd vs Sporting Lagos 4:00pm
SAT, OCT. 17
Everton vs Chelsea 12:30pm
Man City vs Ipswich 3:00pm
Fulham vs Hull City 3:00pm
Brentford vs Liverpool 3:00pm
Newcastle vs Aston Villa 5:30pm
SUN:
Bournemouth vs Sunderland 2:00pm
Brighton vs C'Palace 2:00pm
Leeds Utd vs Man Utd 2:00pm
Nottm Forest vs Arsenal 4:30pm
MON:
Tottenham vs Coventry 8:00pm
FRI, Oct. 16:
Shooting Stars vs Ranchers Bees 6:00pm
SAT:
Kwara Utd vs Abia Warriors 4:00pm
Doma Utd vs Kun Khalifat 4:00pm
SUN:
Rivers Utd vs Barau FC 4:00pm
Niger Tornadoes vs Ikorodu City 4:00pm
Inter Lagos vs Nasarawa Utd 4:00pm
Enyimba vs Warri Wolves 4:00pm
Kano Pillars vs Katsina Utd 4:00pm
Plateau Utd vs Sporting Lagos 4:00pm
Enugu Rangers vs Bendel Insurance (pp)
SAT:
Arsenal vs Leeds Utd 12:30pm
Ipswich vs Fulham 3:00pm
Sunderland vs Brighton 3:00pm
Aston Villa vs Brentford 3:00pm
Chelsea vs Bournemouth 3:00pm
Man United vs Tottenham 5:30pm
SUN:
C'Palace vs Nottm Forest 2:00pm
Hull City vs Everton 2:00pm
Liverpool vs Man City 4:30pm
MON:
Coventry vs Newcastle 8:00pm
FRIDAY:
Katsina Utd vs Enyimba 8:00pm
SAT:
Ikorodu City vs Kwara United 4:00pm
Ranchers Bees vs Niger Tornadoes 4:00pm
SUN:
Barau FC vs Enugu Rangers 4:00pm
Abia Warriors vs Rivers Utd 4:00pm
Kun Khalifat vs Shooting Stars 4:00pm
Nasarawa Utd vs Doma Utd 4:00pm
Warri Wolves vs Inter Lagos 4:00pm
Plateau Utd vs Kano Pillars 4:00pm
Sporting Lagos vs Bendel Insurance 4:00pm
SAT. Oct. 3:
Kano Pillars vs Sporting Lagos 4:00pm
Doma United vs Warri Wolves 4:00pm
SUN:
Rivers United vs Ikorodu City 4:00pm
Niger Tornadoes vs Kun Khalifat 4:00pm
Enyimba vs Plateau United 4:00pm
Bendel Insurance vs FC Barau 4:00pm
Enugu Rangers vs Abia Warriors 4:00pm
Inter Lagos vs Katsina United 4:00pm
Kwara United vs Ranchers Bees 4:00pm
Shooting Stars vs Nasarawa Utd 4:00pm
SAT. Sept. 26:
Sporting Lagos vs FC Barau 4:00pm
SUN:
Warri Wolves vs Shooting Stars 4:00pm
Kun Khalifat vs Kwara United 4:00pm
Nasarawa Utd vs Niger Tornadoes 4:00pm
Ranchers Bees vs Rivers Utd 4:00pm
Ikorodu City vs Enugu Rangers 4:00pm
Katsina Utd vs Doma United 4:00pm
Kano Pillars vs Enyimba 4:00pm
Abia Warriors vs Bendel Insurance 4:00pm
Plateau United vs Inter Lagos 4:00pm
A player of Kwara United takes on Nasarawa United's player, during their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) matchday five clash in Ilorin. The Harmony Boys won the tie 2-1.
Wed. Sept. 23:
Niger Tornadoes vs Warri Wolves 4:00pm
Enugu Rangers vs Ranchers Bees 4:00pm
FC Barau vs Abia Warriors 4:00pm
Doma United vs Plateau United 4:00pm
Inter Lagos vs Kano Pillars 4:00pm
Shooting Stars vs Katsina Utd 4:00pm
Enyimba vs Sporting Lagos 4:00pm
Bendel Insurance vs Ikorodu City 4:00pm
Kwara United vs Nasarawa Utd 4:00pm
Rivers United vs Kun Khalifat 4:00pm
SAT:
Ikorodu City vs Barau FC
SUN:
Ranchers Bees vs Bendel Insurance
Kun Khalifat vs Enugu Rangers
Nasarawa Utd vs Rivers Utd
Warri Wolves vs Kwara Utd
Katsina Utd vs Niger Tornadoes
Plareau Utd vs Shooting Stars
Kano Pillars vs Doma Utd
Enyimba vs Inter Lagos
Sporting Lagos vs Abia Warriors
FRI:
Brentford vs Chelsea 8:00pm
SAT:
Tottenham vs Aston Villa 12:30pm
Brighton vs Arsenal 3:00pm
Everton vs Ipswich 3:00pm
Newcastle vs Hull City 3:00pm
Nottm Forest vs Coventry 5:30pm
SUN:
Bournemouth vs Liverpool 2:00pm
Man City vs Sunderland 2:00pm
Leeds Utd vs C'Palace 2:00pm
Fulham vs Man United 4:30pm
By Ganiyu Salman
Veteran athlete, Mordiyyah Azeez, won a gold medal for Nigeria at the just-concluded 2026 World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, which attracted about 11,000 veteran and masters athletes [aged 35 and older] from over 90 countries.
Nigeria finished fourth at Daegu 2026 with two gold and one silver medals.
Toyin Afolabi bagged the second gold for Nigeria in W45 80m hurdles, while Mariam Adedu of the Nigeria Police Force won the silver medal in the W45 400m event.
The World Masters provides veteran athletes with an international platform to continue competing at an elite level after active participation in their various fields.
The historic moment came for Azeez on August 25, 2026 when she churned out a throw of 37.74 metres to grab the gold in the women’s javelin W50.
Azeez, an Assistant Superintendent with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), was celebrated, especially by her kinsmen following the feat in South Korea.
The Elero of Ileroland, Oba Wasiu Oyedele Saka Olokolonigi II, described the veteran athlete as one of the illustrious daughters of the land.
“This achievement is a source of immense pride to Ileroland, Oyo State and Nigeria, and this achievement will further place the name of the ancient community on the global sporting map.
“I commend Mordiyyah for her determination, discipline and commitment to excellence, particularly her ability to combine a demanding career in the Nigerian Immigration Service with a successful career in athletics.
“The gold medal is not only a personal achievement for the athlete, but also a significant inspiration to the sons and daughters of Ilero, particularly younger people who aspire to excel in sports and other fields of endeavour,” the monarch said in a statement.
Hailed from Ilero in Kajola Local Government Area of Oyo State, the 51-year-old began her sporting career as a pupil of 2nd Baptist Primary School, Ilero from 1981 to 1987.
Her prospect as a professional athlete began to manifest as a student at Ansar-Ud-Deen Comprehensive High School, Ilero.
In her first national outing, Azeez won a bronze medal for Oyo State at the All Nigeria Secondary School competition.
She won the gold at the 1991 and 1992 editions of the MKO Abiola U20 Athletics championships.
At the 1993 National Classics, she won a silver medal, while she also bagged a silver medal at the 1994 All Nigeria Mobil track and field championship.
Azeez came to the limelight when she won a gold medal for Oyo State in heptathlon and bronze in javelin at the 1998 National Sports Festival tagged Imo ‘98.
She represented Lagos State at the 12th National Sports Festival tagged
Her international sporting career began in 1997 when she represented Nigeria at the CAA African Junior Athletics Championship tagged Ibadan ‘97 and won a bronze medal in heptathlon.
Azeez also won a silver medal in javelin at the Regional Games in 2001 in Lagos.
She won a gold medal in heptathlon and silver medal in javelin at the 2002 All Nigeria Mobil Athletics Championship and bronze in javelin at the 2003 edition.
After retiring from active sports participation in 2009, Azeez shifted her focus on representing the Nigerian Immigration Service at different para-military games.
She won a gold medal at the Ministry of Interior Games (MIGA) in Kaduna in 2016 and also at the 2018 Games.
Azeez staged a return three years later when she featured at the National Sports Festival Edo 2021 for the FCT Abuja and finished fourth in javelin.
Representing the NIS, she won a bronze medal at the 2022 One Service, One Medal Games [OSOM Games] held in Abuja, which was her last podium appearance before the success story of the Masters Athletics this year.
The Golden Queen as fondly called revealed that she dreamed about being celebrated before her victory at Daegu 2026.
“I give glory to God for this achievement. The journey started in April this year when I heard about the first Masters Athletics Championship to be organised in Nigeria.
“I was fortunate to take part in the first Nigeria Athletics Masters held in Abuja in May this year. What first gave me the courage was that the competition was held in Abuja because it were to be another place, I may not be able to take part in it.
“The truth of the matter is that I had stopped training a long time ago and when this competition was initiated, I summoned courage to take part and I said to myself ‘let me give it a try’.
“In the last two, three years, I always dreamed about seeing myself in a competition where I emerged victorious. I always dismissed the thought because it’s like a joke more so because of my age. I’m over 50 now.
“At the end I put in for four events, shot put, javelin, discus and hammer throw at the first Masters Athletics in Abuja, and I won the gold in all.
“After the competition, I also featured in the second Nigeria Athletics Masters in Benin City in July this year and won three gold medals [in javelin, shot put and discus]. After the competition, we were told that there will be World Masters in August in South Korea and I made up my mind to be part of it. I’m the kind of person who doesn’t give up, I always believe in self-motivation.
“Thank God I received a tremendous support from my office, the Nigeria Immigration Service, to make the trip. My boss inspired me a lot. We got to South Korea and I tried my best in all the events I entered for, javelin, shot put and discus. My victory in javelin came as a miracle. I will say I came, saw and conquer in Korea.
“In fact, It was a long time ago I handled javelin. I think 2022 was my last competition at OSOM Games. So, I must say I returned with the Masters in May in Abuja and the Masters in Benin City before the World Masters in Korea.
“In Korea, my throw of 37.74m was good enough to earn me a gold medal. I had a little time to train and not even with the standard equipment, but my wealth of experience really helped me a lot. If I had had a personal coach and trained for at least two months, I would have performed better. There is another major Masters competition coming up next year in the United States, so, let’s see how far I can go in terms of preparations for the Games. But I give glory to God that He crowned my effort with success in Korea, it was a miracle so to say,” Azeez submits.
On her major regrets as an athlete, she submits philosophically.
“Well, my only regrets was the inability to make Team Nigeria’s squad for the 2003 All Africa Games [COJA Games] but I can still say no.
“I was among the best in the country then and I was in the national camp where only two of us will be selected for COJA 2003.
“During the last trials, I missed out on the chance narrowly, by one centimeter. I threw 47.70m and my teammate had a throw of 47.71m.
“It was a sad moment for me, but I took consolation in the fact that it was how God designed it. That year was tough for me, I shed tears so to say, but that is history. I give glory to God for everything,” Azeez added.
SAT, Sept 12:
Doma United vs Enyimba 4:00pm
SUN:
Niger Tornadoes vs Plateau Utd 4:00pm
Inter Lagos vs Sporting Lagos 4:00pm
FC Barau vs Ranchers Bees 4:00pm
Kwara United vs Katsina United 4:00pm
Abia Warriors vs Ikorodu City 4:00pm
Bendel Insurance vs Kun Khalifat 4:00pm
Shooting Stars vs Kano Pillars (pp)
Rivers United vs Warri Wolves (pp)
Enugu Rangers vs Nasarawa Utd (pp)
SAT: Sept. 12
Bournemouth vs Brentford 3:00pm
Liverpool vs Fulham 3:00pm
Chelsea vs Hull City 3:00pm
C'Palace vs Ipswich 3:00pm
Aston Villa vs Nottm Forest 3:00pm
Tottenham vs Everton 5:30pm
Sunderland vs Arsenal 8:00pm
SUN:
Coventry City vs Brighton 2:00pm
Man United vs Man City 4:30pm
MON:
Leeds United vs Newcastle 8:00pm
Hull City 2 Man Utd 0
Ipswich 2 Sunderland 1
Nottm Forest 0 Leeds Utd 1
Everton 2 C'Palace 0
Brentford 3 Tottenham 0
Man City 2 Bournemouth 1
Brighton 4 Aston Villa 0
Newcastle 2 Liverpool 2
Fulham ? Chelsea ?
Caption:
ECSTASY: Josko Gvardiol nets the winner for Manchester City against Bournemouth on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium.
The pair had been expected to meet in November in one of the biggest fights in British boxing history, but uncertainty over where the bout will take place has cast fresh doubt over the deal.
A former WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion, Joshua, and his promoter Hearn have signed a contract for it to be staged in the United Kingdom, while Saudi organisers are pushing for a move to the United States.
"Doesn't look like they're going to sign the fight and it doesn't look like it's going to happen all because Eddie Hearn and that want more money," Fury, who won 36 of his 39 pro fights said in a series of Instagram stories.
Joshua and Fury have separate contracts with Saudi Arabian-owned Sela. New York's Madison Square Garden is understood to be Sela's preference so that the fight - which will broadcast on Netflix - can cater for American audiences.
On Thursday, Hearn told IFL TV that a list of changes required for the fight to take place in America had been sent to Sela.
Hearn says the main change concerns compensation for Joshua because of the different tax implications of fighting in America.
"In layman's terms, by staging the fight in America, Anthony Joshua receives less money than he would do if the fight was in the UK where he was contractually agreed," he said.
Fury responded by calling Joshua and Hearn "disgusting" and "money-thirsty".
"It is what it is. Same old cliche a decade later. Keep running you little cowards," he added.
In further posts containing expletives, Fury called Hearn a "bag carrier" and criticised Joshua's mindset.
"I'll move on and fight somebody else but just know you never had the guts to fight Tyson Fury, ever, you little coward," Fury added.
In addition to the request for increased compensation, Hearn said his list of addenda covers practical matters including travel, accreditation and media arrangements.
Hearn said it had been approved by Joshua and his lawyer before being sent to Sela.
"We've had no feedback yet," Hearn said, adding that he had not heard from Sela for three or four days.
Reports on Thursday suggested a list of changes had been presented to the Saudi organisers. Hearn claims those reports were based on a leaked email and insists the issues raised in it were not part of the list sent to Sela.
"The addendum does not have one of those points raised in that leaked email," he said.
Hearn did confirm Matchroom held a meeting with Sela regarding money owed to the organisation for previously agreed contracts.
He said those issues, which reportedly included payments relating to darts and snooker events, international promotional fees, the World Series of Darts, the Ronnie O'Sullivan Snooker Academy in Riyadh and money owed to Matchroom from previous boxing events, were separate from the Joshua-Fury contract.
Hearn did not directly address claims that Joshua was still owed money from his most recent fight against Kristian Prenga.
"I'm not going to go into that at the moment. That's a contractual position that will be left for another day," he said.
Shooting Stars vs Inter Lagos
August 30:
Ikorodu City vs Ranchers Bees
Abia Warriors vs Kun Khalifat
Barau FC vs Nasarawa United
Bendel Insurance vs Warri Wolves
Rivers United vs Plateau United
Kwara United vs Kano Pillars
Doma United vs Sporting Lagos
Niger Tornadoes vs Enyimba
Arsenal vs Coventry City 8:00pm
Aug. 22:
Hull City vs Man Utd 12:30pm
Ipswich Town vs Sunderland 3:00pm
Nottm Forest vs Leeds Utd 3:00pm
Everton vs C'Palace 3:00pm
Brentford vs Tottenham 5:30pm
SUN:
Man City vs Bournemouth 2:00pm
Brigton vs Aston Villa 2:00pm
Newcastle vs Liverpool 4:30pm
MON:
Fulham vs Chelsea 8:00pm
Caption:
New signing, Taiwo Awoniyi, set to make debut for Coventry City on Friday, against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, London.
The former Borussia Dortmund forward also revealed how a quick phone call from Flick was all it took to seal his dream move to Spain.
Adeyemi has declared that he is ready to fight for his place in Flick's starting lineup, insisting he feels no fear about competing with Yamal.
Speaking to Mundo Deportivo during Barca's pre-season training camp at Saint George's Park, the German forward opened up about settling into his new surroundings.
Adeyemi completed his transfer from Borussia Dortmund to bolster the Catalan giants' attacking options ahead of the new campaign.
Rather than being intimidated by the competition in Barcelona's frontline, the 24-year-old expressed total confidence in his own abilities
When asked if he was worried about battling superstar teenager Yamal for playing time on the wing, Adeyemi offered a direct and fearless response. The versatile attacker made it clear that his focus remains entirely on his own performances on the pitch.
"No. I'm not afraid of any player." Adeyemi firmly stated during the interview. "I know that if I give my best, I'll have a chance to play."
Adeyemi also revealed that Flick required zero persuasion to bring him to the Camp Nou. The pair built a strong professional relationship during their shared time with the German national team, making the transfer a seamless decision for the forward.
"Convince is the wrong word," he added. "He simply called me and asked if I wanted to come. I told him, of course, because it's the biggest club in the world and these opportunities only come once. He didn't have to convince me. I've trusted him for a long time, and I have a lot of respect for him.
"I hope he sees things in me that I can contribute to the team on the pitch. He knows me very well from the national team, and we're very close."
Former IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO World heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, is expected to continue boxing for longer than was initially thought
Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, revealed 11 months ago that 2026 would likely be AJ's final year in the sport, but a lot has changed in that time, as the former Olympic champion could still fight until 2029.
After knocking out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul last December, Joshua was due to return to the ring in February to face kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven.
However, those plans were put on hold after Joshua was involved in a tragic car accident in Nigeria that killed two of his close friends and left him with minor injuries.
After a period of mourning and recuperation, Joshua signed to fight long-time rival Tyson Fury, providing both men winning their respective tune-up bouts.
Fury boxes rugged Polish veteran Mariusz Wach on Friday in Thailand, while Joshua takes on little-known Albanian Kristian Prenga one day later in Saudi Arabia.
Should the pair come out unscathed, organisers have tentatively pencilled in the much-anticipated domestic dust-up for November.
Every indication, therefore, points to the Fury fight being Joshua's final bow.
But according to Matchroom founder Barry Hearn, that won't be the case.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Hearn said: "[Anthony Joshua] is in an amazing place at the moment.
"Obviously I’ve seen him since 2012, we got very close. He’s like a member of our family really.
"I don’t think I’ve seen him so motivated for the long term.
"As I say, some of that has been fuelled by that tragic accident, but he’s now talking about the next three years in the ring.
"It was a year ago we were talking about potentially two fights and then go off to a happy retirement.
"He’s very motivated, he feels good about himself, but boxing is a funny sport.
"It takes one decent punch from a big lad to knock out anyone in the world."
If Joshua continues boxing for another three years, that would take his retirement age up to 39 years old.
