° Xabi Alonso

Former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has reached an agreement with Liverpool to become the club’s next manager.

According to Spanish outlet OK Diario, Liverpool are considering a three-year deal for the Spaniard. The proposed agreement would run for three seasons.

Alonso has long been viewed as a perfect candidate for the Liverpool job due to his strong ties with the club and his growing reputation as one of Europe’s most promising tacticians.

The Spaniard spent five seasons at Anfield between 2004 and 2009, winning the Champions League in 2005 and becoming a fan favourite during one of the most memorable periods in the club’s history.

His coaching achievements with Bayer 04 Leverkusen have further enhanced his reputation, placing him among the most sought-after young managers in European football.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled the African referees and video assistants selected to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, notably without a single Nigerian official on the list.

This absence has fueled a wider discussion about African referee representation at the global tournament. While CAF’s selection features a blend of experienced and emerging talents, the most surprising omission for many across the continent is highly-rated Somali official Omar Abdulkadir Artan, whose exclusion has largely overshadowed other selections

The chosen officials include Mauritania’s Dahane Beida, recognized for consistent performance, alongside established names like Algeria’s Mustapha Ghorbal, DR Congo’s Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo, Egypt’s Amin Omar, and Gabon’s Pierre Ghislain Atcho.

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team comprises Algeria’s Lahlou Benbraham, Egypt’s Mahmoud Ashour, and Eswatini’s Letticia Viana.

CAF stated that selections were based on “rigorous assessments of consistency, experience, and performance in continental and international fixtures.”

However, the complete lack of Nigerian representation, coupled with Artan’s unexpected omission, has prompted significant scrutiny and questioning of the selection criteria and process for the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

(Source: Leadership)

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Friday that Mexico will deploy 100,000 police, military and private security forces to secure the 13 games it will host during this summer’s football World Cup.

Mexico is co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup along with the United States and Canada, from June 11 to July 19.

Sheinbaum made the disclosure during a press conference at a military base in Zapopan, Guadalajara state , Mexico, on March 6, 2026.

Guadalajara, capital of Jalisco state, Mexico City and the northeastern city of Monterrey will host 13 games between them, including opening match on June 11 at Azteca Stadium in the capital.

President Claudia Sheinbaum unveiled the country’s security plan less than two weeks after an explosion of violence in Guadalajara, and other parts of the country, triggered by the death of a notorious drug lord.

Mexico City and Monterrey were spared by the violence.

Sheinbaum presented her plan at a military base in Zapopan, a suburb of Guadalajara, which was rocked by the killing of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, leader of the fearsome Jalisco New Generation Cartel (JNGC) in an army raid on February 22.