Sports
Mino Raiola: Anxiety Over Pogba, Haaland’s Agent Health
Football super-agent Mino Raiola, who looks after players such as Paul Pogba, Erling Haaland and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is ‘critically ill’ in a Milan hospital, Skysports reports.
Raiola was hospitalised on Thursday and widespread reports in Italy claimed he had died, but Alberto Zangrillo, head of the Intensive Care Unit at San Raffaele Hospital, told Italian news agency ANSA, “I am outraged by phone calls from so-called journalists speculating on the life of a man who is fighting.”
The Italian, who also manages the likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marco Verratti and Matthijs de Ligt, has been behind some of football’s biggest transfers in recent years, including Pogba’s return to Manchester United in 2016 for a then world-record £93m.
Also, reports that football “super agent” Mino Raiola has died are “fake news”, his agency told AFP on Thursday after Italian media widely claimed that he had passed away aged 54.
When asked by AFP whether the reports were true, Raiola’s agency said: “Mino is not dead, the stories are fake news”. The agency would not reveal Raiola’s whereabouts nor whether he was sick.
Raiola, whose clients include World Cup winner Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and one of world football’s hottest new properties, Borussia Dortmund forward Erling Braut Haaland, is one of the sport’s biggest agents and most controversial characters.
He has been accused of inflating player ssalaries to unsustainable levels and has been embroiled in controversy over commissions made on transfers.
In October 2016 former Juventus general manager Giuseppe Marotta said that Raiola earned 27 million euros ($28.3 million) from the sale of France international Pogba from Juventus to Manchester United that summer.
Football Leaks claimed that Raiola had received 49 million euros from three parties in the then world record 105 million-euro transfer.
AFP
Sports
Full List Of Nominees For CAF Awards 2025 Unveiled
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the complete list of nominees for the 2025 CAF Awards, set to take place later this year.
The CAF aawards celebrates outstanding performances and achievements across African football, recognising excellence among players, coaches, clubs, and national teams in both the men’s and women’s categories.
This year’s shortlist features a blend of experienced stars and emerging talents who have made remarkable contributions to African football over the past season.
Nigerian players such as Rasheedat Ajibade, Chiamaka Nnadozie, and Esther Okoronkwo headline the women’s nominations, while Nigerian clubs and coaches also appear in various categories — reflecting the country’s continued influence in African football.
Below is the full list of nominees in the women’s categories for the CAF Awards 2025:
CAF Awards: Women’s Player of the Year
- Portia Boakye
- Tabitha Chawinga
- Temwa Chawinga
- Ghizlane Chebbak
- Mama Diop
- Rasheedat Ajibade
- Esther Okoronkwo
- Sanaa Mssoudy
- Barba Banda
- Racheal Kundananji
Women’s Club of the Year
- Gaborone United
- ASEC Mimosas
- TP Mazembe
- USFAS Bamako
- ASFAR
- DE Agosto
- Mamelodi Sundowns
- Bayelsa Queens FC
- Aigles De La Medina
- JKT Queens
Women’s National Team of the Year
- Cameroon U17
- Ghana
- Ivory Coast U17
- Mali
- Morocco
- Nigeria U17
- Nigeria
- South Africa
- Tanzania
- Zambia U17
Women’s Young Player of the Year
- Habiba Essam
- Habiba Sabry
- Stella Nyamekye
- Doha El Madani
- Winfrida Gerald
- Ester Maseke Marwa
- Adji Ndiaye
- Shakirat Moshood
- Mercy Chipasula
- Ruth Mukoma
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year
- Chloe N’Gazi
- Sedilame Boseja
- Fideline Ngoy
- Habiba Emad
- Chiamaka Nnadozie
- Khadija Er-Rmichi
- Fatoumata Karentao
- Cynthia Konlan
- Adji Ndiaye
- Andile Dlamini
Coach of the Year (Women)
- Adelaide Koudougnon
- Siaka Gigi Traore
- Lamia Boumehdi
- Genoveva Anonman
- Justine Madugu
- Bankole Olowookere
- Jorge Vilda
- Kim Bjorkegren
- Desiree Ellis
- Carol Kanyemba
Sports
Nigerian-Born Benin Republic Footballer, Razak Omotoyossi Dies At 39
Nigerian-born Beninese international Razak Omotoyossi has passed away at the age of 39, though the cause of death has not yet been revealed.
His death was confirmed on Tuesday, August 19, by his former Swedish club, Helsingborgs IF.
In a post on X (Formerly Twitter), the club wrote: “Helsingborgs IF is in mourning.
“We have been informed that our former player Razak Omotoyossi has passed away at the age of 39. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
Omotoyossi, who switched nationality to represent Benin after starting his career in the Nigerian league, became one of the country’s most celebrated footballers.
He scored 21 goals in 55 international appearances, placing him among Benin’s all-time top scorers.
He is fondly remembered for his performance during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where he netted all four goals in Benin’s 4-1 victory over Togo and finished as joint top scorer of the campaign alongside Samuel Eto’o.
He also made history as the first player to score for Benin at the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
At club level, Omotoyossi had a career spanning Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, with stints in South Africa, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Moldova, Sweden, and France.
He particularly excelled at Helsingborgs IF in Sweden, where he featured in the UEFA Champions League before moving to French side FC Metz.
Sports
Super Falcons Arrive Abuja After WAFCON Victory, Set For Trophy Parade
The Super Falcons of Nigeria have arrived Abuja following their successful outing at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, JomogNews reports.
Players and officials of the team arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Monday afternoon.
They will hold a trophy parade along popular districts in the Federal Capital Territory.
The contingent is expected to move through Airport Road, Berger Junction, Maitama and Wuse Market.
The Super Falcons will be hosted by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa later in the day.
Nigeria won a record-extending 10th WAFCON title on Saturday night following a dramatic 3-2 victory over hosts Atlas Lionesses of Morocco.
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