Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side Rivers United have completed the signing of experienced left-back Imoh Obot from fellow top-flight club Abia Warriors ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Obot joins the Port Harcourt club as they strengthen their squad for the new campaign, which includes a return to the CAF Champions League.
The defender reunites with Rivers United head coach Finidi George, under whom he won the NPFL title during the 2022/23 season at Enyimba FC. His arrival is expected to provide experience, quality and depth to Rivers United’s defence as the club prepares to compete on both domestic and continental fronts.
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Imoh Obot in training with Rivers United
Before his move to Rivers United, Obot featured for Abia Warriors after leaving Enyimba, where he established himself as one of the league’s dependable defenders and helped the People’s Elephant secure a record ninth NPFL title in 2023.
The former Nigeria home-based Super Eagles defender has already resumed training with his new teammates and is awaiting his official unveiling by the club.
Obot’s signing is regarded as a major boost for the Pride of Rivers as they continue their preparations for the 2026/27 season, with expectations high that his experience will strengthen the team’s push for success in the NPFL and CAF Champions League.
France midfielder Adrien Rabiot stressed his side is not preparing a specific plan only for Spain’s Lamine Yamal, stressing that Les Blues would focus on La Roja’s overall attacking threat, including their possession, movement, creativity, and ability to find spaces. France will take on an in-form Spain side that advanced to the last four after defeating Belgium 2-1 in the quarterfinals. Spain enters the contest on a 36-match unbeaten run and will be aiming to secure a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final.
“There is no anti-Lamine Yamal plan. We are focusing on the Spanish national team, not just one player. We know they are dangerous across the board: him, the attacking players, their possession, their ability to find spaces near the box, and their combination play. We have to be alert to all of that. I don’t think we should focus solely on one individual,” Adrien Rabiot said as per Goal.com.
The winners of the semifinal will book their place in the title clash scheduled for July 19 (Local Time).
France have enjoyed the most convincing and controlled knockout-stage campaign among the four remaining teams. After finishing top of Group I, they opened the knockout rounds with a commanding 3-0 victory over Sweden in the Round of 32.
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They then edged past Paraguay 1-0 in a closely contested Round of 16 before producing another disciplined display to defeat Morocco 2-0 in the quarter-finals and secure their place in the last four.
France have scored six goals in the knockout stages without conceding a single one, underlining their defensive discipline and control under pressure.
Even in tightly contested encounters, their structure has remained solid, while France captain Kylian Mbappe has continued to provide the cutting edge in attack when it matters most.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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‘Tank’ then entertained talks for an immediate rematch and WBA title defence, only to instead schedule an exhibition match with Jake Paul later that year.
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In the end, though, Davis was removed from the event – which was set for last November – on account of him facing allegations of domestic violence.
Since then, he has remained out of the ring but is now angling for a return, albeit after rejecting an opportunity to reclaim his WBA lightweight title against Floyd Schofield.
For Davis, however, it appears the world titles are neither here nor there, even if he has been made WBA ‘champion in recess’ at 135lbs.
And the same, it seems, could be said of Shakur Stevenson, who holds the WBO super-lightweight strap but is not overly bothered about becoming an undisputed king.
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After announcing his signing with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, the 29-year-old told Chris Mannix that he sees his legacy being defined by the fights themselves, rather than whatever belts are on the line.
“If I go fight against Tank, no one cares whether it’s for undisputed or not. They just care that it’s the best vs the best.
“At first, [Davis] said he wouldn’t fight me. Now, I heard him say on Twitter that he will fight me, so it sounds like his tune is changing.
“He may not admit it, but I think he’s got a lot of respect for me as a fighter, which is why I think he plans on fighting me as his last fight on his way out the door.”
The two Americans have been on a collision course for quite some time, yet only now does Stevenson seem to believe there is a realistic chance of facing his rival.
Derek Chisora has weighed in on the Joe Joyce retirement debate after seeing his countryman “quit” in round 11 of his clash with Artem Suslenkov.
The two heavyweights squared off in Moscow, Russia, last weekend, featuring on the undercard of Murat Gassiev’s successful WBA title defence against Peter Kadiru.
Put simply, it was seen as something of a crossroads fight, between a grizzled veteran and an unbeaten, 30-year-old fringe contender.
Even before those two setbacks, many were calling for the ‘Juggernaut’ to retire, especially after his devastating stoppage losses to Zhilei Zhang in 2023.
Speaking to Seconds Out after the contest, Chisora gave his interpretation of what could lie ahead for his fellow veteran.
“He just quit – that was it. He thought he had it in him when he was training, and then he said he was not fit. I’m like, ‘You were training, though?’
“You know when the fire goes out – when boxing retires you? This is what we talk about. Suddenly, you don’t have enough to stop these younger men.
“Boxing retired [Joyce] today.”
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Interestingly, Chisora was targeted as an opponent during the early stage of Joyce’s career, back when the Olympic silver medallist was more mobile and, in truth, less shop-worn.
Didier Deschamps has reiterated his view that La Roja remain the favourites to win the World Cup. Spain face France on Tuesday for the chance to add a second star to their shirt, having lifted the trophy only once before, in 2010. Meanwhile, Senegal’s Football Federation held its first press conference since the sacking of head coach Pape Thiaw, shedding new light on the tensions behind his departure.
Manchester City star Phil Foden was not taken with England to the World Cup and has not really been missed
Thomas Tuchel knew what he was doing when he took the big calls of leaving both Phil Foden and Cole Palmer out of his England squad for the World Cup. The coach is experienced enough to know that such decisions would be thrown back in his face the second his plans did not work out.
Aside from some stickiness around the Ghana and Panama matches though, there has been very little mention of either the Manchester City or Chelsea playmakers. England have forgotten about them as Jude Bellingham has risen to the fore to help lead the Three Lions into the last four of the World Cup.
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This could of course be more disappointment on top of not being picked to go. Everybody wants to feel like they’re missed when they are not there, and Premier League footballers are constantly rated and compared with each other as part of the sport.
In the case of Foden though, having a summer where he is forgotten could well be perfect for him. The 26-year-old has already had nearly a decade of his life where expectation and hype have followed him everywhere he has gone, and living up to that is gruelling and virtually impossible.
City thought they had got the player back to his best last season as he dazzled in the first half of the campaign. However, when his form disappeared around January there was nothing that anyone was able to do to reverse that and it cost him a place in the City team and his England spot for the World Cup.
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Even if he had been included by Tuchel, Foden would barely have played given his current form. After months of that experience at the Etihad without seeing enough improvement, a new environment and a full break from football looks the better option.
A rare summer off has been used by Foden to watch tennis at Wimbledon, F1 at Silverstone, and get plenty of fishing in – as well as a holiday with his family. Turning up at his local to watch England has been the closest he has come to the World Cup experience.
It remains unclear whether that can spark Foden back into form, but space and time away from the spotlight is something that he has barely known for the last decade. Being kept out of the conversations around England this summer can only have helped the playmaker to keep his mind clear.
The midfield man has of course kept his fitness up and will be one of the first through the doors of the City Football Academy next week to start training with Enzo Maresca. The world may then be talking about an historic win for England in the final, but Foden knows exactly the challenge he has to pass in this season.
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Away from the attention, from next week Foden can start showing what his rest has done for him as he looks to return to being one of City’s most important players.
MS Dhoni and Kriti Sanon at India vs England ODI (X)
The opening ODI between India and England at Edgbaston on Tuesday had plenty of star power off the field as former India captain MS Dhoni and Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon were spotted in the stands watching the match.
Kriti Sanon appearance at India vs England ODI
Kriti Sanon appearance at India vs England ODI
The celebrity duo caught the attention of fans and broadcasters during England’s innings, with visuals of Dhoni and Kriti quickly making the rounds on social media. Their appearance added to the buzz surrounding the series opener, which marked the return of several senior Indian players, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah. While the cameras frequently panned towards the VIP stands, the action on the field also kept spectators entertained. England, who opted to bat first after winning the toss, looked set for a below-par total after collapsing from 61 without loss to 107 for six under relentless pressure from India’s bowlers. Jasprit Bumrah, returning after a six-week workload management break, produced a superb spell despite finishing with figures of 1 for 31. The pace spearhead bowled 36 dot balls and consistently troubled England’s top order with his movement and bounce. Young left-arm seamer Gurnoor Brar claimed two wickets in the space of three deliveries, dismissing Jacob Bethell and Ben Duckett, while Prasidh Krishna removed Jos Buttler and Sam Curran to leave the hosts reeling. However, Joe Root and Liam Dawson mounted a spirited recovery with a 121-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Root struck a composed 76, while Dawson registered a career-best 68 to steer England towards a competitive total. India eventually broke the stand through Axar Patel, who ran through the lower order to finish with career-best ODI figures of 4 for 62. His late burst ensured England were bowled out for 258 after threatening to post a much bigger score. Even as the contest unfolded on the field, Dhoni and Kriti Sanon’s presence in the stands remained one of the biggest talking points among fans, adding a touch of glamour to the series opener at Edgbaston.
Brighton have completed the signing of Croatian defender Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham for an initial club record £46m.
The 19-year-old, who played against England at this summer’s World Cup, has agreed a five-year contract with the Seagulls, with an option for a further 12 months. Spurs could receive an additional £4m in add-on fees, taking the overall fee to £50m, and the deal includes a 20 per cent sell-on clause.
Vuskovic joined Tottenham from Hajduk Split in 2025 and spent last season on loan at German club Hamburg. The centre-back, who made no competitive appearances for Spurs, was eager for first-team football and favoured a permanent move over another loan.
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler told his club’s website: “Luka has enjoyed a fantastic start to his career – it’s one we’ve followed closely. Last season he demonstrated he can play at a very high level and we want to help him build on that within our environment.
Hurzeler expressed his delight at signing Vuskovic (PA)
“There’s been a lot of external noise about Luka joining us, but he is still a young guy who will need time to adjust to the demands of playing for Brighton and the Premier League. We are confident that he will take this in his stride though.”
Vuskovic is Tottenham’s first major outgoing of the summer, following a number of high-profile signings made by the north London club.
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Tottenham spent £100m to sign Sandro Tonali from Newcastle, and also splashed out £85m on fellow midfielder Mateus Fernandes following West Ham’s relegation from the Premier League.
Meanwhile, the club also brought in Jan Paul van Vecke from Brighton earlier this month for £52m.
This follows Tottenham’s decision to sign a number of players on free transfers, including Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka.
Spurs are expected to continue adding to their squad, and have shown interest in Bournemouth youngster Eli Junior Kroupi.
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Brighton are also expected to bring in new players as they look to bolster their ranks ahead of their return to European football. The Seagulls will be playing in the Conference League next season after finishing eighth in the Premier League last term.
Jul 30, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) at bat during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
The American League and National League clash in the 96th Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed or streamed on FOX.
The AL holds a slight 48-45-2 series advantage, although the NL has won two of the past three installments, including last season’s 7-6 victory at Truist Park in Atlanta. Philadelphia Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber, the runner-up in Monday’s Home Run Derby, was the MVP after leading the NL to a win in the first-ever “swing-off”, deciding a winner with a HR Derby, the equivalent of penalties in a World Cup matchup.
Schwarber will be in the starting lineup for the NL, batting leadoff and serving as the designated hitter. Teammate Brandon Marsh will start in right field, and he bats seventh for Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who leads the NL. And, on the bump, Phillies LHP Cristopher Sanchez gets the starting nod.
Sanchez is 7-1 with a 0.86 ERA across 73 IP in 11 home starts this season, posting a 0.93 WHIP, while surrendering just two home runs at his home park. That’s pretty impressive. However, Sanchez just started Saturday, so don’t expect him to get a ton of work.
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider leads the American League, and he gives the ball to Blue Jays RHP Dylan Cease for his first-ever All-Star appearance. He is the first Jays starter since 2009, when the late Roy Halladay was the starting pitcher. Oddly enough, Sanchez is the first Phillies starting pitcher since…Halladay, in 2011.
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As far as weather, temperatures are forecasted to still be at 90 degrees at first pitch, which is very hot for Philadelphia. A hot wind from 11-14 MPH will be blowing from the southwest, which means we’ll have a bit of a jet stream to the right-center field power alley.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the likes Houston Astros DH Yordan Alvarez, batting second, and Tampa Bay Rays 3B Junior Caminero, jump on Sanchez in the first. He isn’t likely to go far after working just three days ago. In fact, betting OVER 0.5 RUNS (-105) – FIRST INNING is a strong play. We have Cease, who gives up plenty of walks, which is not great, and Sanchez, who might not be at 100 percent rest.
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As far as the entire game, I like the NL (-140) to get the job done. The National League has won two of the past three meetings, and historically, the NL has won three straight meetings when Philadelphia has hosted, dating back to July 8, 1952 at Shibe Park.
For years, especially in the 1990s and early 2000s, it seemed that the pitching was overpowering in these games. However, since 2018 in Washington D.C., we’ve seen a total of 59 combined runs in the past seven mid-summer classics. That’s 8.4 runs per game (RPG) in the span, so the lean is to the OVER 8 (-105) for the total.
Lastly, if you’re trying to bet the MVP, that’s a crapshoot. It literally can be any late-innings hero. Last season, Schwarber was 0-for-2 in the game, but he won MVP thanks to the silly swing-off thing. Anyway, while he didn’t have a great Home Run Derby showing, BRYCE HARPER (+1300) – MVP could come on in the middle to late innings, making for a storybook finish.
Arsenal have agreed a transfer fee to sell Belgium forward Leandro Trossard to Beskitas.
The 31-year-old has been given permission to travel to Istanbul to undergo a medical.
Trossard, who is contracted until 2027 with the Gunners, joined the club from Brighton for £21m plus add-ons in January 2023.
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“Negotiations have commenced with professional football player Leandro Trossard and his club Arsenal regarding his permanent transfer,” the Turkish Super Lig side said in a statement.
He has scored 36 goals and registered 34 assists in 174 appearances at Arsenal, helping Mikel Arteta’s side win last season’s Premier League title.
Trossard was a key player last season for Arteta, starting in the Champions League final defeat by Paris St-Germain and 21 times in the league.
Belgium reached the quarter-finals of this summer’s World Cup, with Trossard starting all six games and scoring twice.
England are looking for a new Test coach. Brendon McCullum will stand down as England Men’s Test head coach but will continue to guide the white-ball teams, the ECB said in a statement on Sunday. The development comes close on the heels of Ben Stokes‘ retirement from international cricket following a nightclub brawl and a subsequent one-Test ban. Among the names doing the rounds is Andy Flower. Flower is a well-respected figure and is the coach of IPL champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Flower’s colleague at RCB, Dinesh Karthik, believes Flower may not have the time to take up the England role.
“In all seriousness, I think he’ll be a great candidate,” Karthik said on Sky Sports.
“He definitely should be one of the names considered, but I would be very surprised if he took it, considering where England are and his packed schedule as well. He used to do a lot of leagues, and I’m sure that he didn’t have the time. I read an article which said that England would be happy to accommodate the IPL and then the rest of Test cricket, but with the schedule being the way it is, it’ll be very difficult. Like, when Jacob Bethell didn’t come in for the first Test, and Jofra Archer was not available, it kicked up a fuss, and there were plenty of people saying, ‘Why? How come one of the players is not there?’
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“With Andy Flower, who already has a pre-signed contract with RCB, which would mean that he would miss parts of those Tests, will it be okay for England in the preparation for the Ashes if they don’t have a coach for a Test match or two? I heard there’s a Test match against Bangladesh in May next year, and if Andy Flower is with RCB, that could be a challenge as well. Is he good? Definitely. He is probably one of the best in the world, if not the best. Will he have time? That’s the question. I would be very surprised if the answer is yes,” he said.
England will have a new Test team head coach when they face Pakistan in a three-match series, which is a part of the World Test Championship.
England lost the recent Test series against New Zealand 1-2 but thrashed India 4-0 in the just-concluded T20I series.
McCullum’s tenure as head coach will come to an end after four years in charge, having led the England team through one of its most exciting and progressive periods in Test history.
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ECB CEO Richard Gould said: “Brendon breathed new life into the England Men’s Test team during an exciting period which saw some amazing victories, and we’re grateful for all he has given to the role.
“We now believe that the time is right to make a change for the Test team as we target victory in the Ashes next summer.
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