Sports

Mbappé Unveiled in Spectacular Real Madrid Presentation

Published

2 years ago

July 16, 2024

Kylian Mbappé was officially introduced as a Real Madrid player in front of tens of thousands of supporters at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on Tuesday. The 25-year-old French international, who joined on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, signed a five-year contract with the LaLiga champions after passing a physical earlier in the day at Madrid’s Valdebebas training site.

Fans had gathered eagerly for hours, filling the 85,000-capacity stadium to witness Mbappé’s long-awaited introduction. The presentation ceremony commenced at 12:30 p.m. Spanish time, marking a historic moment in the club’s illustrious history.

“It’s incredible to be here,” Mbappé addressed the crowd in Spanish, his excitement palpable. “I dreamt for many years about playing for Real Madrid, and today that dream comes true.”

Acknowledging the persistence and belief shown by Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, Mbappé expressed gratitude: “I want to thank the president first. He believed in me from the first day. A lot of things happened, but I want to say thank you to everyone who has worked for me to come here. Now I’m here, I’m a Real Madrid player.”

Reflecting on his lifelong ambition, Mbappé added, “Since I was a kid, I had one dream, to play here. Being here means a lot to me … Now I want to achieve another dream, to reach the level of this club, the best in the world. I can say one thing: I’ll give everything for this club and this badge.”

The presentation ceremony saw Mbappé joined on stage by Florentino Pérez, honorary president Pirri, and Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane, who had invited Mbappé for a trial at the club in 2012.

Pérez, addressing Mbappé directly, praised his determination and dedication: “Congratulations for having achieved a dream. I know how excited your family is. You fell in love with Real Madrid as a boy. Your love for Real Madrid, identifying with this badge, has given you the strength to overcome every obstacle to be here as a new Real Madrid player.”

Earlier in the day, Mbappé underwent medical examinations at the Sanitas clinic in La Moraleja, where doctors assessed his fitness, including a broken nose sustained during Euro 2024. The extent of any required treatment or surgery for the injury remains undisclosed.

Following the presentation, Mbappé is set to face questions from the media in his first official news conference as a Real Madrid player, where he is expected to outline his ambitions for the upcoming season and beyond.

News

Super Eagles Climb to 26th in FIFA Rankings

Published

5 hours ago

January 20, 2026

By Samuel Adeola

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have risen to 26th in the latest FIFA men’s world rankings following their impressive outing at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Nigeria moved up 12 places, its highest ranking in 16 years after finishing third at the tournament. The Eagles played seven matches during the ranking period, recording six wins and one defeat.

Their AFCON campaign featured a 4-0 round-of-16 victory over Mozambique, a 2-0 quarter-final win against Algeria, and a semi-final loss to hosts Morocco on penalties after a goalless draw. Nigeria later defeated Egypt 4-2 on penalties, following another 0-0 draw, to clinch the bronze medal.

FIFA said Nigeria gained 79.09 points, the biggest increase in the latest update. Morocco climbed to eighth, Senegal rose to 12th after winning the title, while Spain retained top spot ahead of Argentina and France.

News

Abuja Stadium Set to Take ₦24bn from NSC’s ₦203bn Allocation

Published

6 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Samson Adeyanju

By Onyeanya Immaculata

The rehabilitation of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, is expected to gulp ₦24.642bn from the ₦203.603bn allocated to the National Sports Commission (NSC), in the 2026 appropriation bill.

The allocation is part of Nigeria’s expanded 2026 sports budget, which rose by about 300 per cent from ₦78bn in 2025, following President Bola Tinubu’s presentation of a ₦58.18tn “Budget of Restoration” to the National Assembly.

The increased funding targets infrastructure renewal, athlete development and participation in major international competitions.

Budget details show that ₦18.775bn is earmarked for the first phase of rehabilitation of the stadium’s main bowl, ₦5.8bn for the completion of a high-performance centre, and ₦65m for internet bandwidth via fibre optic and LAN/WAN connectivity at the stadium and other national sports facilities.

An additional ₦15.5bn is proposed for the construction of a sports secretariat within the complex.

NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, has said work on the stadium is expected to begin before the end of 2025 as part of efforts to revive Nigeria’s sports infrastructure.

Opened in 2003, the Abuja stadium has struggled to meet standards for hosting major fixtures, despite a renovation between 2020 and 2022.

The pitch deteriorated shortly after the upgrade, forcing the Super Eagles to move home matches to Uyo. Nigeria last played at the venue in March 2023, losing 1–0 to Guinea-Bissau.

Built at a cost of about $360m, the 60,491-capacity stadium hosted the 8th African Games and remains Nigeria’s flagship sports facility.

The NSC’s 2026 budget also provides ₦4.223bn for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, ₦5.105bn for preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games, ₦1bn for the 2026 Winter Olympics, and ₦14.2bn for Nigeria’s participation in AFCON, WAFCON and other FIFA competitions.

News

Infantino Condemns Senegal Players’ Walkout After AFCON Final Drama

Published

1 day ago

January 19, 2026

By Samuel Adeola

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has condemned the conduct of some Senegal players and officials following chaotic scenes during the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco on Sunday.

Several Senegal players walked off the pitch late in normal time to protest a penalty awarded to Morocco after a VAR review for a foul on Brahim Diaz. The match was still goalless at the time.

Infantino described the action as “unacceptable,” insisting that leaving the field of play in protest undermines the integrity of football. He also warned that violence and disorder have no place in the sport.

Tensions had already risen after a Senegal goal was ruled out moments earlier, a decision many players disputed. While most of the team left the pitch, Sadio Mane remained and attempted to persuade his teammates to return.

The situation escalated as some Senegal supporters tried to access the pitch, leading to clashes with security officials and a delay of nearly 20 minutes. When play resumed, Diaz’s penalty was saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Senegal eventually secured a 1-0 victory through a Pape Gueye goal in extra time.

Despite the controversy, Infantino praised Morocco for hosting a successful tournament but stressed the need for teams to respect match officials’ decisions, adding that CAF is expected to take appropriate disciplinary action.