Former Super Eagles defender and Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo has stepped down as the Saudi Pro League’s chief football executive.

The Saudi Pro League confirmed on Tuesday that Emenalo, who also headed the league’s Player Acquisition Center of Excellence (PACE), will leave at the expiration of his contract after joining the organisation in 2023.

In a statement, the Saudi Pro League thanked Emenalo for his contributions and wished him success in his future endeavours.

Reflecting on his tenure in a statement to The Athletic, Emenalo described the league’s transformation as an “audacious ambition” that many initially believed was unattainable.

“When I joined SPL’s transformation journey in 2023, what struck me most was the audacity of its ambition. We set out to do something few believed possible, on a timeline fewer still thought realistic,” he said.

He added that his team had established the structures and standards needed to sustain the league’s long-term growth.

Canadian rapper Drake has won more than $1 million after Canada beat South Africa 1-0 in their FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match.

The victory also saw his $770,000 bet return a payout of $1,001,000.

Drake shared a screenshot of the wager on Instagram before kick-off, showing he had backed Canada to qualify.

He said that the bet came after an exchange with South African DJ Black Coffee, writing: ”@realblackcoffee was chirping in the DM I had to raise the STAKES.”

Canada sealed the win in stoppage time when Stephen Eustáquio struck the only goal of the game at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

The result sent the co-hosts into the Round of 16 for the first time in FIFA World Cup history.

For South Africa, the defeat ended a memorable campaign.

Bafana Bafana reached the knockout stage for the first time after finishing second in their group and qualifying for the expanded 2026 tournament ahead of Nigeria.

World football’s governing body FIFA has suspended Nepal’s football association, officials said Thursday, barring the country from all international competitions.

Nepal is currently ranked 175th in FIFA’s world rankings.

The women’s national team ranks 88th.

FIFA said in a letter to the All Nepal Football Association that the decision came after “undue interference by a third party”, referring to arguments between ANFA and Nepal’s National Sports Council, the country’s authority for sports administration, over governance of Nepali football.

FIFA holds that a national football association must operate independently of government bodies.