Kylian Mbappe netted his first La Liga goals for Real Madrid in a match against Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, breaking a three-game scoring drought since his strike against Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup.

Despite numerous attempts in the first half, the French captain finally scored in the 67th minute, finishing a slick move with his left foot after receiving a clever back-heel pass from Fede Valverde.

Mbappe doubled his tally eight minutes later from the penalty spot, and received a standing ovation when he was substituted for Luka Modric in the 84th minute.

Mbappe’s beaming smile marked a stark contrast to the frustration he had experienced since scoring his debut goal and securing his first trophy in Warsaw on August 14, followed by three goalless league games which drew criticism from the Spanish media.

However, coach Carlo Ancelotti defended Mbappe on Saturday, asserting that the forward was adapting well despite the lack of goals.

“He may not have scored, but his performances have been impressive and he has posed a constant threat,” said Ancelotti, emphasizing that the team's overall balance needed attention rather than singling out Mbappe.

The football community is mourning the loss of Sol Bamba, the former Premier League defender who passed away at the age of 39 while serving as the technical director for Turkish club Adanaspor. Bamba’s untimely death on Saturday has left fans, former teammates, and football enthusiasts heartbroken.

Bamba, who was known for his time with Leeds United, Cardiff City, and Leicester City, had been fighting Non-Hodgkin lymphoma since 2020.

The Ivorian international was serving as the technical director for Adanaspor, a Turkish club, when he passed away.

Adanaspor shared the heartbreaking news in a statement on X, saying, "Our Technical Director, Souleymane Bamba, who became ill before yesterday’s match against Manisa Football Club, was taken to Manisa Celal Bayar University Hospital, where he sadly lost his battle for life. We extend our condolences to his family and community."

Bamba had been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a rare cancer, on Christmas Eve in 2020.

Chidimma Adetshina, representing Taraba State, has been named Miss Universe Nigeria 2024.

Her path to the crown has been truly inspiring, showcasing the determination and elegance seen in the Miss Universe South Africa scenario, where she faced disqualification.

Africa Fact Zone shared the news in a video on X late Saturday.

"Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina is now Miss Universe Nigeria 2024," the video announced.

As reported by Pop Pulse, she will go on to represent Nigeria on the international stage in Mexico.

"Chidimma Adetshina has claimed the title of Miss Universe Nigeria 2024!” the post read. "She will be representing Nigeria at the Miss Universe finals in Mexico this November. Congratulations to Chidimma,” it added.

Novak Djokovic's pursuit of a historic 25th Grand Slam title came to an abrupt halt at the U.S. Open on Friday, as defending champion Djokovic was eliminated in the third round by Australia's Alexei Popyrin.

Meanwhile, Coco Gauff advanced despite a challenging match. Struggling to rediscover the form that earned him a gold medal at the Paris Olympics earlier this month, the 37-year-old Serbian fell 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, marking the first year since 2017 that Djokovic will finish without a major title.

This upset follows Carlos Alcaraz's surprising exit and opens the door for other contenders to chase Grand Slam glory. Frances Tiafoe kept his dreams alive of becoming the first American man to win the U.S. Open since Andy Roddick 21 years ago, defeating fellow American Ben Shelton 4-6, 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3 to progress.

Joining Tiafoe in the next round is Taylor Fritz, who cruised past Francisco Comesana 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. Fritz’s victory makes him the first American man to reach the last 16 at all four Grand Slams in a single year since Andre Agassi in 2003.

Reflecting on his achievement, Fritz noted, “It’s a pretty cool thing to do because just last year I was really struggling with Grand Slam results. So it’s nice to do a lot better at something I put a lot of emphasis on, which was performing at the slams and performing at the biggest tournaments.”

Gauff, who had only dropped six games in her first two rounds in New York, faced immediate pressure from Elina Svitolina but managed to advance in the tournament.

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, recently honored afrobeats sensation Rema with a royal plaque.

The plaque was presented to Rema during his visit to the Oba’s palace on Thursday, ahead of his homecoming concert at Ogbe Stadium in Benin City.

Earlier, on Wednesday, Rema took part in the groundbreaking ceremony for Edo Arena alongside Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

Governor Obaseki announced that the 6,000-seat arena would be named Rema Dome to honor the singer.

Rema, born Divine Ikubor, is a native of Benin City and has been a proud ambassador for Edo State, often showcasing the culture and legacy of the historic Benin empire through his music and performances.

His recent hit song, "Benin Boys," featuring fellow Edo artist Shallipopi, is a tribute to his hometown of Benin City.

The Federal Government has sanctioned a 50% subsidy for electricity used by public hospitals nationwide.

This decision aligns with the commitment made by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who assured that the government would subsidize electricity for hospitals and universities, including those connected to Band-A feeders.

This approval coincided with the disconnection of power at the University of Lagos, Akoka, by the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko DisCo) due to unpaid electricity bills, despite the government's pledge to support public universities in managing their electricity costs.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced this approval at the National Neo-Psychiatric Hospital in Barnawa, Kaduna State, during the unveiling of electronic health records, a new power supply source at the Lawal Jafaru Isah Emergency Complex, and a solarization project for the dialysis unit, which includes a solar-powered borehole.

Dr. Alausa stated that this initiative is intended to lower operational expenses for public hospitals and mitigate the financial burden on patients.

Renowned Nigerian music legend, Onyeka Onwenu, affectionately called the “Elegant Stallion,” is set to be laid to rest today in Lagos.

The singer passed away on July 30, 2024, at the age of 72 after collapsing at an event celebrating Dr. Stella Okoli, CEO of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, at Reddington Hospital, Ikeja.

According to the family, the funeral service will be held at the Fountain of Life Church in Ilupeju, and she will be privately buried in a vault in Ikoyi, as reported by CKN News.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in UEFA Champions League history, has been recognized with a special award by UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin for his outstanding contributions to the world's most prestigious club competition.

Ronaldo's remarkable achievements in Europe's top-tier club tournament, spanning over 18 years, were acknowledged during the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League group stage draw on Thursday, August 29, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

The former star of Sporting Clube de Portugal, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus has netted 140 goals in 183 Champions League appearances, placing him 11 goals ahead of Lionel Messi and 46 goals clear of third-placed Robert Lewandowski in the all-time scoring charts.

Ronaldo also holds the record for the longest scoring streak in Champions League history, having found the net in 11 consecutive matches between June 2017 and April 2018. Additionally, he has scored an impressive eight hat-tricks in the competition.

A multiple Ballon d'Or winner and UEFA Men's Player of the Year, Ronaldo is also the top scorer in all UEFA club competitions (145 goals in 197 appearances) and the highest goal scorer in men's international football (130 goals in 212 appearances).

Liverpool has reached an agreement for the transfer of Federico Chiesa from Juventus, pending international clearance.

The 26-year-old forward has undergone a medical examination, finalized a long-term contract, and is poised to join Liverpool's squad.

Chiesa, who boasts 51 caps for Italy and was part of their Euro 2024 squad, will make the move after a stint of four seasons and 131 appearances with Juventus.

In a statement to Liverpoolfc.com, Chiesa expressed his excitement, saying, “I am delighted to be joining Liverpool. When Richard Hughes approached me and inquired, ‘Would you like to come to Liverpool?,’ and the coach also made contact, I immediately accepted because I grasp the rich history of this club and its significance to the supporters.

“I am extremely enthusiastic and eager to get started.”

Chiesa commenced his career in Fiorentina's youth academy, progressing through the ranks to achieve his senior debut at the age of 18 against Juventus in Serie A during the 2016-17 season.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress has departed the police office in Abuja after spending a little over an hour with officials.

Last week, the police had summoned Ajaero to the IRT headquarters for questioning on August 20 at 10 a.m. regarding allegations of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony.

Although Ajaero was unable to attend on the specified date, he committed to responding to the invitation today.

He was accompanied by Femi Falana, SAN, Marshal Abubakar, Deji Adeyanju, and other senior officials of the NLC.