The decision, announced on Thursday, followed a review by the organisation’s nationality panel, which raised concerns over how the application was initiated.

According to the ruling, the Turkish Athletics Federation was found to be actively recruiting foreign athletes and encouraging rapid nationality changes for what was described as largely “mercenary” reasons.

Ofili was among 11 athletes included in a batch submission by Turkey seeking approval for nationality switches.

World Athletics warned that such practices could undermine the integrity of international competition, weaken national sports development systems, and limit opportunities for homegrown athletes.

The 23-year-old began pursuing the switch in 2025 after publicly criticising Nigerian officials over alleged mismanagement and obstacles to her career progression.

Ofili currently holds Nigeria’s women’s 200 metres record at 21.96 seconds and has a personal best of 10.78 seconds in the 100 metres, both achieved in 2022.

Motsepe had announced the visit at the end of March, saying he would travel to both Senegal and Morocco to promote unity and the growth of African football, amid mounting criticism of CAF’s decision.

He is expected to meet Senegal’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, at the presidential palace, with a press conference scheduled to follow.

The visit comes at a tense time for CAF after it overturned Senegal’s 1-0 victory over Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final played on January 18.

CAF later awarded Morocco a 3-0 win, citing rules regarding the abandonment of matches.

During the final in Rabat, Senegalese players, alongside head coach Pape Thiaw and his staff, walked off the pitch after Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty.

The penalty, however, was missed by Moroccan forward Brahim Diaz.

The Senegalese Football Federation has since appealed CAF’s decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The ruling has sparked strong reactions in Senegal, with the government calling for an international investigation into alleged corruption within CAF.

Reacting to the development, Motsepe said he would respect and implement the final decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, adding that his personal opinion on the matter is not relevant.

AFP

The England international, who was set to become a free agent at the end of the season, has now committed his future to the club after agreeing new terms.

Maguire joined United from Leicester City in a then-record £80 million deal in 2019 and has since made 266 appearances, scoring 17 goals.

The 33-year-old has remained an important figure in the team’s defence and has played a role in the club’s improved form in recent months. His performances since January also earned him a recall to the England squad for the March international fixtures.

Reacting to the new deal, Maguire expressed his delight at continuing his journey with the club.

“Representing Manchester United is the ultimate honour. I am delighted to extend my journey at this incredible club and continue to play in front of our special supporters. The ambition and potential of this squad is clear, and I am confident our best moments are still ahead,” he said.

Manchester United’s Director of Football, Jason Wilcox, commended the defender’s leadership qualities and professionalism, noting that his experience remains vital to the squad.

Maguire’s contract extension ensures that the club retains one of its most experienced players as it looks to compete for major honours in the coming seasons.

Tudor lost five of those matches in a 44-day reign to leave Spurs out of the Champions League and hovering just one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League.

The 47-year-old did not appear in front of the media after last weekend’s damaging 3-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest after learning of his father’s death just after the game ended.

“We can confirm that it has been mutually agreed for head coach Igor Tudor to leave the club with immediate effect,” Tottenham said in a statement.

“We also acknowledge the bereavement that Igor has recently suffered and send our support to him and his family at this difficult time.

“An update on a new head coach will be provided in due course,” the club added.

Tottenham are not in action again for another two weeks when they travel to Sunderland.

Former Brighton and Marseille coach Roberto de Zerbi has been linked with the job, while reports have suggested the club could turn to Sean Dyche’s Premier League experience to dig the

m out of trouble for the final seven games of the season.

Tudor was appointed in February following the dismissal of Thomas Frank.

Hired with a reputation of making an immediate impact during a nomadic coaching career, the Croatian was powerless to stop Tottenham’s slide towards the relegation trapdoor for the first time since 1977.Tottenham Hotspur’s Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons (L), Tottenham Hotspur’s Argentinian defender Cristian Romero (C) and Tottenham Hotspur’s Senegalese forward Pape Matar Sarr (R) react to conceding the third goal during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on March 22, 2026. (Photo by CARLOS JASSO / AFP)

The London club, ravaged by injuries this season, has not won a league match since late December and is out of every cup competition.

Even Tudor’s sole victory was fruitless as a 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid failed to overturn a 5-2 first leg deficit in the Champions League last 16.

His decision to start and then substitute back-up goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky after just 17 minutes of the first leg in Madrid summed up a chaotic, short-lived reign.

Premier League Slide

In the Premier League, he managed just one point from five games, which came against the odds in a 1-1 draw at Liverpool.

A 4-1 home defeat against north London rivals Arsenal got the former Juventus boss off to a bad start, and worse was to come in further losses to Fulham, Crystal Palace, and Forest.

Spurs won the Europa League last year under Ange Postecoglou to end a 17-year trophy drought but the Australian was sacked following a 17th-place finish in the Premier League.

Frank arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with an impressive track record at Brentford, and the club started the season with just one defeat in their first seven league games.

But they lost their way and club bosses axed the Dane under fan pressure following a run of just two wins in 17 league games.

With the fates of Burnley and Wolves almost certainly sealed, Spurs are battling for survival along with West Ham, currently in the relegation zone, Forest, and Leeds.

Relegation to the second-tier Championship would be a seismic event in English football.

Spurs, who play in a gleaming new stadium that holds more than 60,000 fans, are one of the so-called “Big Six” in the Premier League and were ninth in Deloitte’s latest Money League study for the richest clubs in world football.

Just a few years ago, they were Champions League regulars under former manager Mauricio Pochettino, reaching the final in 2019, but their decline has been precipitous.

AFP

The CAF Appeal Board ruled in favour of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, declaring that Senegal forfeited the January final after their players walked off the pitch during stoppage time in protest.

The protest followed a controversial penalty awarded to Morocco after a VAR review involving Brahim Díaz. Although Senegal later returned to the pitch, saved the penalty, and went on to win 1-0 in extra time, the disciplinary panel deemed their actions a serious breach of regulations.

As a result, the match outcome was nullified, and a 3-0 forfeit was awarded against Senegal, officially declaring Morocco as champions.

Speaking in a video statement released on the body’s YouTube channel on Wednesday, Motsepe addressed the controversy and its broader implications for African football.

“I have been informed of the ruling by the CAF Appeals Board concerning the appeal by Morocco relating to the [AFCON] 2025 final match.”

“I previously expressed my extreme disappointment with the incidences that took place at the final match,” Motsepe said.

He noted that the incident undermines ongoing efforts to strengthen credibility, integrity, and trust within African football competitions.

“The occurrences, what those incidents at the final match of the Senegal-Morocco expose, are the work that we are still dealing with concerning the suspicion and distrust. It’s a legacy issue.

“When I became president, one of the major concerns was the impartiality, the independence and the respect of referees and match commissioners, and a lot of good work has been done, but there’s also that continues to be suspicion because it’s a legacy issue. “It’s something that has been there for many, many years, and we consistently deal with it because that’s critically important,” the CAF boss said.

Motsepe also highlighted CAF’s approach to ensuring independence within its judicial bodies, stating that members are selected from across all 54 member associations and six regional zones to reflect diversity and professionalism.

“If you look at the composition of those bodies, they reflect some of the most respected lawyers and judges on the continent,” he said.

He further acknowledged Senegal’s decision to pursue another appeal, stressing that all member nations have the right to seek justice at higher levels.

“Every one of the 54 nations in Africa has a right to pursue their appeals and their advanced interests, not only at the highest level in Africa, in CAF, but also at the highest body, which is CAF.

“We will adhere to and respect the decision that’s taken at the highest level,” he said.

Reaffirming CAF’s commitment to transparency and fairness, Motsepe concluded:

“It is important for us that ordinary football supporters and spectators in every one of the 54 countries in Africa… regard the decisions of our judicial bodies as fair, with integrity and impartiality.

What is equally important is that they regard our referees, our VAR operators, and our match commissioners as people who are fair and just,” he concluded.

The ruling has sparked widespread reactions, with Senegal’s football federation describing the decision as a “travesty” and confirming plans to challenge it at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The decision marks a rare moment in football history, where the result of a major final was overturned due to actions taken during the match.

The family of the veteran football administrator confirmed his death on Monday through a WhatsApp message signed by a member of the family, Bolade Adesuyi.

The message read, “With great gratitude to God for a life well spent, we announce the passing of this great man, a Modakeke High Chief, the first indigenous Nigerian Super Eagles football coach, father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend, High Chief Festus Adegboye Onigbinde.

“We thank God for the fulfilled life and your contributions to the Nigerian nation and the world as an unequalled football coach.

We pray that your soul will rest perfectly in the bosom of your and our Lord Jesus Christ. Good night, till we meet to part no more.”

The family added that details of the final funeral arrangements will be communicated later.

After his first stint as coach of the then Nigeria national football team between 1982 and 1984, Adegboye Onigbinde returned to the national team in 2002. He replaced the late Shuaibu Amodu and led Nigeria to the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Nigeria, however, were eliminated at the group stage of the tournament after suffering defeats to Argentina national football team (1–0) and Sweden national football team (2–1), before playing out a goalless draw with England national football team.

Earlier in 1984, Onigbinde guided Nigeria to the final of the 1984 African Cup of Nations, where the team lost 3–1 to Cameroon national football team.

Later that same year, he took over as coach of Shooting Stars Sports Club and led the side to the final of the African Cup of Champions Clubs, where they were defeated by Zamalek SC.

After stepping down from the national team job, Onigbinde remained a highly respected football tactician in Nigeria and went on to serve as a technical instructor for both the Confederation of African Football and FIFA.

The world football governing body confirmed on Monday that South Africa has been stripped of three points in their ongoing World Cup qualifying campaign for fielding an ineligible player.

The ruling stems from the Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 victory against Lesotho in a crucial Group C qualifier played in March. FIFA’s disciplinary investigation found that South Africa illegally played midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who was ineligible to participate.

According to the findings, Mokoena had accumulated two cautions (yellow cards) in previous Group C fixtures, which mandated that he serve an automatic one-match suspension against Lesotho.

Despite this rule, the Mamelodi Sundowns player was featured in the starting lineup for the match. Coach Hugo Broos had previously acknowledged the administrative lapse, stating, “We did something bad, we did something we shouldn’t do.”

In applying its disciplinary code, FIFA has deemed the match automatically forfeited. Consequently, the result of the encounter has been overturned, and Lesotho is officially awarded a 3-0 victory against South Africa.

In addition to the three-point deduction, the South African Football Association (SAFA) has been issued a fine of 10,000 Swiss Francs ($12,536.04), while the player, Mokoena, received a formal warning.

The deduction has drastically altered the dynamics of Group C. South Africa, having lost the points from the Lesotho match, is now level with Benin on 14 points at the top of the standings, with the group leadership decided by goal difference.

Meanwhile, group favorites Nigeria and Rwanda now sit only three points behind the joint leaders, intensifying the race for the single automatic qualification ticket to the finals in North America.

The resolution of the matter was long-awaited, with FIFA receiving criticism for taking nearly seven months to settle the administrative issue.

This delay had prompted frustration from other teams in the group, including Benin’s coach, Gernot Rohr, who questioned the fairness of not having the correct log table situation determined before recent fixtures.

The case mirrors previous instances in African World Cup qualifying, such as the 2018 cycle where FIFA deducted three points from the Super Eagles of Nigeria for fielding an ineligible Shehu Abdullahi in a 1-1 draw against Algeria (later overturned to a 3-0 loss for Nigeria), and the 2014 qualifiers where the Cape Verde Islands lost out on a playoff spot after using a suspended player, Fernando Varela, allowing Tunisia to advance instead.

The two remaining rounds of qualifiers, scheduled for the following month, will now be pivotal, with South Africa set to face Zimbabwe away and Rwanda at home, while Benin travels to Rwanda and concludes their campaign against neighbouring Nigeria.

As the tournament advances into the knockout phase, the spotlight isn’t just on the teams chasing the title, but also on the sharpshooters making their mark. Following the conclusion of the Round of 16, the Golden Boot race is wide open, with ten players tied at the top—each netting four goals and playing vital roles in their teams’ progress.

Leading the scoring chart is Benfica’s Ángel Di María, who has been in fine form with four goals in as many games. Close behind are Al Hilal’s Marcos Leonardo, Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy, and Real Madrid’s Gonzalo García—all boasting four goals in just three appearances, underlining their attacking prowess.

Their clinical displays have been instrumental in securing quarterfinal spots for their clubs.

However, not all stars are still in the spotlight. Inter Miami, captained by football icon Lionel Messi, saw their journey end at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in the Round of 16. With the early exit, Messi’s bid to equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s all-time Club World Cup goal record (seven) has also come to a halt.

European powerhouses like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea remain in strong contention for the title. Bayern’s Harry Kane and Michael Olise, along with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Phil Foden, and Juventus’ rising star Kenan Yildiz, are all among the tournament’s top scorers—demonstrating the depth of attacking talent across Europe’s elite clubs.

With the quarterfinals looming, the race for the Golden Boot is shaping up to be just as thrilling as the battle for the trophy. Whoever claims the top scorer honor will not only earn personal acclaim but also help etch their club’s name in football history by securing FIFA’s prestigious champions badge for the next four years.

Top Scorers After Round of 16

• Ángel Di María – Benfica – 4 goals (4 matches)
• Marcos Leonardo – Al Hilal – 4 goals (3 matches)
• Serhou Guirassy – Borussia Dortmund – 4 goals (3 matches)
• Germán Berterame – Monterrey – 4 goals (3 matches)
• Gonzalo García – Real Madrid – 4 goals (3 matches)
• Harry Kane – Bayern Munich – 4 goals (3 matches)
• Michael Olise – Bayern Munich – 4 goals (3 matches)
• Erling Haaland – Manchester City – 4 goals (3 matches)
• Kenan Yildiz – Juventus – 4 goals (3 matches)
• Phil Foden – Manchester City – 4 goals (3 matches)

The tightly contested match ended 2–2 in regulation time, with Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze each scoring for Nigeria in the first and second halves, respectively. The deadlock led to penalties, where Nigeria held their nerve to secure the win.

Held from May 27 to 31 at the Brentford Community Stadium in London, the 2025 Unity Cup was a vibrant celebration of cultural heritage and football. The tournament featured four teams—Nigeria, Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago—and aimed to promote unity and pride among the African and Caribbean diasporas in London.

This year’s edition carried special significance, marking the return of the tournament after a 21-year hiatus since its last outing in 2004. Its revival highlighted the ongoing efforts to strengthen cultural bonds and community cohesion through the power of sport.

Federation Secretary General Reuben Kamanga and his assistant, John Msimuko—already under intense public scrutiny—have become the focus of an unusual incident. Reports from Lusaka indicate that the federation’s office was mysteriously locked by an unknown individual, with the keys nowhere to be found.

A note left at the scene called for the immediate resignation of both Kamanga and Msimuko.

As a result, staff members arriving for work were left stranded outside, unable to gain access to the premises.