Football

Benjamin Mendy has been found not guilty of rape and attempted rape by a jury at Chester Crown Court. The former Manchester City player was accused of raping a 24-year-old woman in a bedroom at his home in Cheshire in October 2020. He was also charged with the attempted rape of a 29-year-old woman at his home two years earlier. Mendy, who had denied both charges, was found not guilty by the jury of six men and six women at Chester Crown Court. He said the encounters had been consensual.

As the year 2026 draws closer to the season of the FIFA World Cup, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will know their opponents in the 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers today at the draw in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has revealed that the draw will be live on CAF digital platforms and CAFONLINE.com a few hours after the 45th CAF Ordinary Assembly in Abidjan. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Federation of International Football, FIFA has banned Cristiano Ronaldo’s club, Al’Nassr following its failure to pay money involving, Ahmed Musa, Super Eagle captain, transfer to the club. The World Football governing body has banned the Al’NAssr from further signing of any new player into the club Saudi Pro League. FIFA sanctioned followed failure by Al’Nassr to pay Leicester City money they owe them over Ahmed Musa transfer.

According to Sky Sports News, Manchester United are edging closer to an agreement for Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana after more talks between the clubs. It is thought discussions over a compromise on the fee have been very positive after Inter were unwilling to budge on their £51m (€60m) asking price.

Carlo Ancelotti has been appointed the new head coach of Brazil's national team, but not for another year, the Brazilian Football Confederation announced Tuesday night. He will first finish his contract with Real Madrid and join the "seleção" in June 2024 for the Copa America. Ancelotti, 64, will be in charge of a national team for the first time in his coaching career, replacing Tite, who left the position after a quarter-finals defeat to Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Fabrizio Romano, a football transfer analyst shades more light on a report that links Arsenal F.C. with a move to sign Paris Saint Germain (PSG) hitman, Kylian Mbappe. The report says, “Mbappe has recently been linked with a surprise move to Arsenal.”