Sports
Nottingham Trash Brighton 7-0 At City Ground
Nottingham Forest produced a breathtaking performance at the City Ground on Saturday, demolishing Brighton 7-0 to bolster their push for a Champions League spot.
Chris Wood was the star of the show, netting a sensational hat-trick as Forest bounced back in style from last week’s 5-0 drubbing at Bournemouth.
Morgan Gibbs-White, Neco Williams, and Jota Silva also found the net, while an early own goal from Brighton captain Lewis Dunk set the tone for a disastrous afternoon for the Seagulls.
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The emphatic victory puts Forest level on points with second-placed Arsenal and seven points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea, firmly in contention for a return to European football.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler named an ultra-attacking lineup with five forwards in an attempt to unsettle the hosts.
However, his gamble backfired spectacularly as Forest tore through the visitors with ruthless efficiency.
The onslaught began in the 12th minute when Dunk inadvertently diverted Gibbs-White’s low cross into his own net. Just moments later, Gibbs-White doubled the lead with a powerful header from an Anthony Elanga corner.
Elanga, who was a constant menace down the right flank, then set up Wood for his first of the game with a pinpoint cross, allowing the New Zealander to head home his 15th league goal of the season—a new personal best.
Forest showed no signs of slowing down after the break. Elanga once again turned provider, cutting the ball back for Wood to tap in his second.
The striker then completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Gibbs-White was dragged down in the box by Tariq Lamptey.
With three goals on the day, Wood is now closing in on Stan Collymore’s record of 24 goals for Forest in a single Premier League season.
Brighton’s misery was compounded in the dying moments when Neco Williams smashed in from close range before Jota Silva pounced on a wayward pass from goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to round off the scoring.
The victory marks Forest’s 10th win in 12 league matches, a stunning turnaround under Nuno Espirito Santo.
With fifth place likely to secure Champions League football due to England’s strong performances in Europe, Forest’s dream of returning to continental competition for the first time since 1996 is becoming more of a reality.
Meanwhile, Brighton’s European ambitions suffered a severe setback.
Hurzeler’s side has now won just two of their last 11 league games, and their defensive frailties were ruthlessly exposed in a humbling defeat.
Norway pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday night, defeating five-time champions Brazil 2-1 to book a place in the quarter-finals.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland inspired the Scandinavian side with a brilliant second-half brace at MetLife Stadium, ending Brazil’s hopes of winning a record-extending sixth World Cup title.
After a tightly contested encounter, Haaland broke the deadlock in the 79th minute with a powerful header to give Norway the lead.
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Brazil’s hopes of a comeback were dashed in the closing moments when Haaland struck again in the 90th minute, sealing a famous victory for Norway and sending them into the last eight of the tournament.
The result marks one of the competition’s biggest surprises, with Norway eliminating one of the pre-tournament favourites to continue their impressive World Cup campaign.
Norway will now turn their attention to the quarter-finals, while Brazil bow out of the tournament with their quest for a sixth World Cup crown brought to an abrupt end.
United States President Donald Trump has welcomed FIFA’s decision to suspend the red card issued to USA striker Folarin Balogun, clearing the forward to feature in the country’s crucial Round of 16 clash against Belgium at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
FIFA announced the decision on Sunday, overturning the suspension that would have ruled Balogun out of Monday’s knockout encounter after he was sent off during the USA’s match against Bosnia last week.
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The development comes as a major boost for the United States, with Balogun expected to play a key role in the team’s bid to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
Reacting shortly after FIFA’s announcement, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to praise the governing body for what he described as the right decision.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote.
Balogun’s availability is expected to strengthen the American attack against Belgium in one of the standout fixtures of the World Cup Round of 16.
The striker has been a key figure for the USA throughout the tournament, and his return provides a timely boost as the team prepares for one of its toughest tests in the competition.
A new report has raised concerns over the future of Nigerian football, warning that the country could miss another FIFA World Cup unless significant changes are made to the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The report, released as the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues in the United States, Canada and Mexico, argues that Nigeria’s continued absence from football’s biggest tournament reflects deep-rooted administrative problems rather than a shortage of football talent.
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According to the report, failing to qualify for the World Cup has hurt the international profile of Nigerian players and slowed the growth of the domestic game.
It says the country’s football potential will remain underutilised unless the federation undergoes far-reaching reforms.
The report also notes that several football stakeholders and respected sporting figures have repeatedly called for the NFF to be restructured and insulated from political influence.
They believe only a transparent and professionally managed federation can restore confidence in Nigerian football.
It identifies a number of long-standing issues, including alleged financial mismanagement, delayed payment of players’ bonuses, inconsistent coaching appointments and poor administrative planning, as factors that have contributed to the Super Eagles’ recent struggles on the international stage.
Beyond the national team’s disappointing results, the report argues that years of weak governance have affected player welfare and weakened youth football development, limiting Nigeria’s ability to compete consistently with the world’s top football nations.
The report concludes that meaningful leadership reforms within the NFF are essential if Nigeria hopes to reclaim its place at future FIFA World Cup tournaments and restore the country’s reputation as one of Africa’s football powerhouses.
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