Village Gazette

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup kicks off its new 32-team format across America from June 14 to July 13. On June 19, fans can catch Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly and Inter Miami vs. Porto, with games airing on major sports networks. Top international clubs play at U.S. stadiums, as North America cements its role in global soccer.

ICC Chair Jay Shah kicked off the 2025 World Test Championship Final at Lord’s by ringing the bell, calling it a 'privilege.' South Africa chose to bowl first in a high-stakes clash with Australia. Both teams featured bold lineup changes, and Day 1 ended with Australia on top after a strong bowling display.

Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Haiti locked in their places at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. Canada shattered scoring records, Costa Rica impressed with both offense and defense, and all four teams join the U.S., Panama, El Salvador, and Qatar to represent CONCACAF.

Al-Hilal have parted ways with coach Jorge Jesus after a dip in form left them trailing Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League title race. Despite last season's successes, the club fell out of the AFC Champions League and now must regroup under interim boss Mohammed Al-Shalhoub.

Boston Celtics trounced the New York Knicks 127-102 in Game 5, cutting their playoff deficit to 3-2. Derrick White exploded for 34 points, while Jaylen Brown nearly triple-doubled. The Celtics rallied without Jayson Tatum, and the series heads back to New York for Game 6.

Arsene Wenger backs Arsenal to overcome PSG in the Champions League semis, highlighting their mental edge and questioning PSG's ability to handle pressure. He points to Arsenal's clarity of purpose and PSG's struggle between attack and defense as decisive factors.

When the Alau Dam gave way in September 2024, Maiduguri found itself under water, leaving up to 400,000 homeless and exposing residents to fresh waves of hunger and insecurity. While survivors struggle in packed shelters, stalled repairs and political wrangling mean another disaster could hit with the next rainy season.

Real Madrid names a rotated starting lineup to face Getafe in La Liga, resting key players like Mbappé for the Copa del Rey final and giving youngsters Endrick and Güler rare starts. Bellingham and Rüdiger start on the bench.

Mudashiru Obasa stormed back to the Lagos State House of Assembly denying his impeachment and rejecting allegations of misconduct. After a heated crisis marked by Mojisola Meranda’s brief tenure, a court ruling overturned his removal, reinforcing his grip on the Speaker’s seat.

In a dramatic showdown, Simba SC overturned a first-leg deficit to secure a place in the CAF Confederation Cup semifinals. A 2-0 win in regulation, with goals from Elie Mpanzu and Steven Mukwala, led to a penalty shootout in which Simba triumphed 4-1 against Al Masry. The victory sets them up for a semifinal clash with either Zamalek or Stellenbosch.

Aston Villa claimed a strong 3-0 win over Brighton, climbing to seventh in the Premier League standings. Marcus Rashford scored his first league goal for Villa, with Marco Asensio and Donyell Malen also finding the net. Despite Brighton's efforts, Villa's victory hints at their growing ambition for a European competition spot.

Arsenal mounted an impressive rally to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit against Real Madrid, advancing to the UEFA Women's Champions League semifinals with a 3-0 win at home. Key roles were played by Alessia Russo, who scored twice, and Mariona Caldentey. The record attendance at the Emirates Stadium witnessed Arsenal's first such comeback in seven years. Manager Renee Slegers attributed the victory to strategic halftime changes.