Sports
JUST IN: Liverpool star Diogo Jota, brother dies in car crash days after his wedding
Liverpool star, Diogo Jota has tragically died at the age of 28 following a road traffic accident in Spain.
The Liverpool forward passed away following an accident in Zamora, Spain on Thursday morning.
Pedro Proenca, the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, later confirmed that Jota’s brother, Andre, 26, also died in the accident.
The news comes just under two weeks after the Portugal international got married to his long-term girlfriend Rute Cardoso, with whom he has two children. They tied the knot on 22 June.
Emergency services in the Castilla and Leon region confirmed the crash with a statement which read: “The 1-1-2 Castilla y León operations room received several calls reporting a vehicle accident at Km. 65 of the A-52, in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora.
A car was reported to have been involved in an accident and the vehicle was on fire.
“1-1-2 notified the Zamora Traffic Police, the Zamora Provincial Council Fire Brigade, and the Sacyl Emergency Coordination Center (CCU) of this accident.
“From there, a Medical Emergency Unit (UME) and the Primary Care Medical Staff (MAP) from the Mombuey Health Center were sent, who confirmed the death of two people on the scene.”
Proenca paid tribute to Jota in a statement on social media shortly after the news broke.
He said: “The Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and André Silva, this morning, in Spain.
“Much more than an amazing player, with almost 50 internationalizations for the National A Team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all teammates and opponents, someone with an infectious joy and a reference in the community itself.
“On my behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and André Silva, as well as Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where, respectively, lined up the players.
Diogo Jota recently got married to Rute Cardoso”
The Portuguese Football Federation has already asked UEFA for a minute’s silence, this Thursday, before the match of our national team with Spain, in the women’s European Championship.
“Lost to two champs. The disappearance of Diogo and Andre Silva represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football and we will do everything to, daily, honor their legacy.
“Portugal prime minister Luis Montenegro also paid tribute on social media.
He wrote: “The news of the death of Diogo Jota, an athlete who greatly honoured the name of Portugal, and his brother is unexpected and tragic.
“I leave the family my deepest condolences. It’s a sad day for football and for national and international sport.”
Jota’s previous club, FC Porto, also paid tribute to the forward and his brother.
They wrote: “FC Porto is in mourning. “It is with shock and deep sorrow that we send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who was also our athlete in the youth ranks.
Rest in peace.”Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 and scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the Reds, including six last season as the Reds won the Premier League title.
He also won the FA Cup and League Cup with Liverpool and the Nations League twice with the Portugal national team.
Sports
Fenerbahce sacks head coach Mourinho
We have parted ways with Jose Mourinho, who served as head coach of our professional A team since the 2024-2025 season.
•Jose Mourinho
Fenerbahce on Friday sacked Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho, two days after elimination from the Champions League playoffs by Benfica, the Turkish club said in a statement.
“We have parted ways with Jose Mourinho, who served as head coach of our professional A team since the 2024-2025 season.
We thank him for his efforts for our team and wish him success in his future career,” it said.
The former Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Roma coach who arrived at the Istanbul club in June 2024, led Istanbul’s Yellow Canaries to second place in the league last season behind Galatasaray, failing to end their title drought.
The draw for the league phase for the 2025/2026 Champions League have been conducted on Thursday.
This year, the competition will continue to use the ‘Swiss-style’ league phase rather than the group stage to which fans had become accustomed.
That means that 36 teams will again take part in the competition.
Then the top eight sides will then qualify automatically for the knockout stages, while the teams that finish in ninth to 24th place will be drawn in a two-legged play-off to secure a place in the last 16 of the competition.
Teams ranked 25-36 are eliminated from all competitions.Here are some of the fixtures:
Bayern Munich will face Chelsea (H), PSG (A), Club Brugge (H), Arsenal (A), Sporting CP (H), PSV (A), Union SG (H), Pafos (A)Chelsea will play Barcelona (H), Bayern Munich (A), Benfica (H), Atalanta (A), Ajax (H), Napoli (A), Pafos (H), Qarabag (A)Real Madrid take on Manchester City (H), Liverpool (A), Juventus (H), Benfica (A), Marseille (H), Olympiacos (A), Monaco (H), Kairat Almaty (A).
Inter Milan have been drawn against Liverpool (H), Dortmund (A), Arsenal (H), Atletico Madrid (A), Salavia Praha (H), Ajax (A), Kairat Almaty, Union SGBorussia Dortmund will face Inter Milan (H), Manchester City, Villarreal, Juventus, Bodo/Glimt, Tottenham, Athletic Club, Copenhagen (A)Liverpool play Real Madrid (H), Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Frankfurt, PSV, Marseille, Qarabag, Galatasaray (A)
Barcelona take on PSG (H), Chelsea, Frankfurt, Club Brugge, Olympiacos, Slavia Praha, Copenhage, Newcastle (A).
Sports
More than 6,300 athletes set for ninth national youth games in Delta
Defending champions, Team Delta, will be looking to hold on to their crown but face fierce competition from equally ambitious contingents at the 2025 edition.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has confirmed that more than 6,382 athletes and officials will converge in Asaba for the 9th edition of the National Youth Games.
The game will run from August 29 to September 6.
In a statement the NSC said that the figure was obtained from the completion of the Digital Registration Management (DRM) process, with participants drawn from all 36 states of the federation.
The games aim to promote grassroots sports and unearth the next generation of Nigerian champions.
The NYG has grown into a major sporting event, fostering unity and offering young talents a platform to shine on the national stage.
This year’s edition will feature 37 sporting events, promising a showcase of skill, teamwork, and determination across multiple disciplines.
Defending champions, Team Delta, will be looking to hold on to their crown but face fierce competition from equally ambitious contingents at the 2025 edition.
The NSC said that the Games remain “a celebration of talent, resilience, and national unity,” with nine days of thrilling action expected to produce the country’s future stars.
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