FIFA have ordered Yemen to forfeit their World Cup qualifying match against North Korea 3-0 for fielding a banned player. North Korea had won the game on 11 June 1-0 but FIFA increased the score the score in North Korea’s favour because Mudir Al Radaei lined up in the Yemen defence when he should have been serving a one-match ban after getting two yellow cards in previous matches. Sadly the Yemen’s football team had to take to the sea to make the said World Cup qualifying match with North Korea, as it is the only route out of their war torn country.

Nani has completed his move to Fenerbahce. The Portuguese winger has signed a three-year deal and that Manchester United will receive a fee of £6m euros.

Sunday 5 July 2015:

Ifeanyi Uba 1 – 0 Shooting Stars

Sharks 0 – 0 Nasarawa

Dolphin 1 – 1 Wikki Tourists

Giwa 2 – 1 Heartland

Taraba 0 – 0 Kwara United

Kano Pillars 1 – 0 El-Kanemi

Enyimba 2 – 2 Abia Warriors

Bayelsa United 2 – 0 Warri Wolves

Lobi Stars 1 – 1 Sunshine Stars

Akwa United 2 – 0 Enugu Rangers

USA ended their 16-year FIFA Women’s World Cup™ drought in the most emphatic manner imaginable with a Carli Lloyd hat-trick lifting the Stars and Stripes past holders Japan for their third title. A scarcely believable four-goal salvo inside the opening 16 minutes meant there was only ever going to be one winner to the joy of the largely pro-USA 53,341 crowd in Vancouver. USA were quickest to the ball from the opening whistle and immediately reaped greater rewards than they could ever have imagined. A low driven Megan Rapinoe corner from the right deceived a flat-footed Japan defence and Lloyd finished first time from near the penalty spot to put a perfect flourish to a training ground move. Barely 150 seconds had passed on the stadium clock but, incredibly it was about to get even better for the Stars and Stripes. A low free-kick from Lauren Holiday evaded a swathe of players before the ball found its way, almost magnetically, to Lloyd who applied the finishing touch from close range. USA were 2-0 up inside five minutes and Lloyd had nabbed the two fastest goals in Women’s World Cup Final history.

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Super Falcons and Portsmouth Ladies striker, Ini Umotong was in the Nigeria’s squad to the Women’s World Cup ending today in Canada. Although she did not get the chance to play but she insists making the squad is big deal. Read what she told Punch’s ’Tana Aiyejina in an interview:

How did you feel when you were named in the Falcons’ World Cup squad despite not being part of the qualifiers for the event?

Representing your country at the World Cup is every footballer’s dream, and being given the chance to represent Nigeria among so many very good talents was just incredible. I was really excited.

The Falcons crashed out in the group stage of the Women’s World Cup in Canada. What lessons did you learn from the outing?

I think our main problem was that we came out against Australia thinking it would be an easy game, so we let our guard down massively for the game. The biggest learning curve would be to treat every game like a World Cup final.

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Nigeria international striker Anthony Ujah has revealed he turned down ‘bigger financial offers’ from Russia and China in order to secure his preferred move to Werder Bremen. The 24-year old scored 36 goals in 102 appearances for German side Cologne to attract interest from an unnamed club in China who were set to triple his wages. He also received big offers from two Russian clubs but Ujah opted for Werder Bremen to continue his development  in the German Bundesliga.

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Chile secured the first major trophy in their history on home soil courtesy of a penalty shootout win over Argentina in the Copa America final. Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez slotted in the winning spot-kick after Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain fired over and Ever Banega was denied by Claudio Bravo. Higuain had earlier missed from close range after 90 minutes of few chances. Sanchez came closest in extra time for Chile, who scored all four of their penalties in the shootout. Where Chile held their nerve, Argentina wilted in the shootout at the end of a performance that fell well short of the heights they reached in their 6-1 semi-final win over Paraguay. Le Albiceleste are without a major trophy in the last 22 years since winning the 1993 Copa America in Ecuador.

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England outlasted two-time champions Germany in extra time to secure third-place thanks to a lone Fara Williams penalty. It was a first-ever win for England over Germany in 21 attempts after a match of end-to-end action and endeavour from both teams. The action started on eight minutes as a Tabea Kemme’s cross caused chaos for England, forcing Steph Houghton to hook clear off the line just moments after receiving treatment for an ankle injury. Within a minute Germany striker Celia Sasic had a chance to extend her lead atop the adidas Golden Boot chart but her weak shot was easily gathered by goalkeeper Karen Bardsley.

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Coach Stephen Keshi has been sacked as coach of Nigeria and replaced by Shaibu Amodu, the country’s Football Federation (NFF) has announced. The move comes barely two weeks after the NFF opened an investigation into reports that Keshi applied to manage Ivory Coast while under a valid contract with Nigeria. Keshi recently claimed an un-named agent had submitted his name without his knowledge for the Ivory Coast position. An NFF statement outlined his fate.

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Former Liverpool Captain Steven Gerrard is already in Los Angeles and is pictured here holding the number 8 shirt he will be wearing as he prepares to star for MLS side LA Galaxy.

Former Chelsea and Arsenal striker Nicolas Anelka has been named player-manager of Mumbai City. Anelka, 36, played for the Indian Super League side last season under ex-Manchester City manager Peter Reid. “He impressed us all with his tactical knowledge and excellent motivational skills,” said Mumbai City co-owner and Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor. Anelka has filled a player-coach role before during a season spent at Chinese club at Shanghai Shenhua in 2012. The Frenchman only managed two goals in seven league games in his first season at Mumbai but returns as the club’s ‘marquee’ player, meaning he is eligible for a higher salary. “We are all very excited to start this new season. I’m personally very eager to take on this new role for the club and put a strong competitive team on the pitch,” said Anelka, who has played for 12 clubs in his career. Mumbai finished seventh of eight teams in the Indian Super League’s inaugural 2014 season. “We will provide Nicolas all the support required to try and win the league this year,” added Kapoor. Anelka’s spell in charge of Shanghai in 2012 lasted around two weeks before French coach Jean-Florent Ikwange Ibenge was appointed on an interim basis. Uncertainty at the club prompted Anelka’s move back to England with West Bromwich Albion, who terminated his contract after less than a year following his ban for use of the controversial “quenelle” goal celebration.

New AC Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic says it is time for the club to be feared again. The Serb became Milan’s fourth coach in just over 18 months and was presented alongside club president Silvio Berlusconi on Friday. “The only way I can win over the fans is hard work,” Mihajlovic said. “Milan have always been a side to be feared and I want that Milan side back. I want my Milan team to instil fear in other teams.”

Chelsea have confirmed they have agreed a season-long loan deal for Monaco’s Radamel Falcao. The Colombia striker spent last season at Manchester United, where he made 29 appearances, scoring four goals. He said: “I am very happy to be joining Chelsea and can’t wait to start training and help with our aim of retaining the league title and being successful in Europe.”

Here is Falcao’s career goal stats:

• River Plate (2004-09) – 90 games, 34 goals
• Porto (2009-11) – 72 games, 62 goals
• Atletico Madrid (2011-13) – 86 games, 68 goals
• Monaco (2013-14) – 20 games, 11 goals
• Manchester United (2014-15) – 29 games, four goals

West Brom hope to have new owners by the end of the month after the granting of exclusive negotiations to an unnamed bidder. Exclusivity grants a bidder sole rights to deal with Baggies owner Jeremy Peace for up to six weeks. Peace, who owns 88% of the club, has been chairman for 13 years, and said in February he would be willing to sell “if it was right for the club”. West Brom finished 12th last season under Tony Pulis. Exclusivity allows only the bidding party to submit a formal bid after due diligence. If Peace is happy with the amount offered, then the bidder has up to six weeks to complete the deal. Until that six-week period is over, no other interested party can get involved. It means the club could be sold before the start of the new Premier League season. West Brom stressed in their statement  that the club’s summer transfer business would be unaffected by the negotiations. Since Peace became chairman in 2003 the Baggies have spent only four years outside the top flight. The club reported pre-tax profits of £14.7m on an income of £86.8m for the year ending 30 June 2014.

Manchester City have had their restrictions on transfer spending and Champions League squad size lifted after meeting their financial fair play target, say UEFA. City had their Champions League squad capped at 21 players last year and their spending on new signings last summer restricted to £49m as punishment for breaching FFP rules. UEFA said in a statement: “The UEFA CFCB [club financial control body] has lifted a number of restrictions on Manchester City after the club reached certain targets towards break-even compliance as part of the ongoing monitoring of their settlement agreement. “The club remains under strict monitoring and has still to meet break-even targets and is therefore subject to some limitations in 2016.”

Manchester United winger Nani is to have a medical at Turkish side Fenerbahce after the clubs agreed a 6m Euro fee. The 28-year-old Portugal international moved to Old Trafford in 2007 from Sporting Lisbon. He spent last season back on loan with the Portuguese side, scoring 11 goals. Fenerbahce said  negotiations to “transfer the player” were under way and that “Nani will be in Istanbul on Sunday for medical check up”. Nani has won four Premier League titles and the Champions League during his time with Manchester United. He signed a five-year deal with the club in September 2013.

THIRD PLACE MATCH; Saturday 04 July 2015:

Germany vs England 9 pm

FINAL MATCH; Sunday 05 July 2015:

USA vs Japan 12 am (6th July)

*Time = Nigerian

Stoke striker Peter Odemwingie has been given a new one-year contract extension. The Nigeria international will remain at the Britannia Stadium until the end of the 2015-16 campaign but there is the option of a further 12 months. Odemwingie, who joined the Potters in January 2014, recovered from a serious knee injury which sidelined him for eight months to return to action in April.

Former Germany defender Philipp Lahm has denied reports he is set to come out of international retirement, insisting his decision to quit following the 2014 World Cup was final. German newspaper Bild reported that both Lahm and Per Mertesacker were considering returning to the international team after the pair ended their association following the World Cup in Brazil. But 31-year-old Lahm, who plays for Bayern Munich, told France Football: “I will not go back. Those who know me know that when I make a decision, it is final.”

FIFA President Sepp Blatter tells German magazine Bunte: “I am a religious person and pray, too. I own a golden cross that has been blessed by Pope Francis. I believe I will go to heaven one day. But I believe there is no hell. I disagree with the Pope on that.” Blatter adds: “I have a clean conscience. If somebody accuses me of being corrupt, I ask him whether he knows the meaning of that word. Whoever calls me corrupt will have to prove it, but nobody can prove that because I am not corrupt.”