Swedish prosecutors have closed a rape investigation related to football star Kylian Mbappé, which was launched after an alleged incident at a hotel in Stockholm during his visit in October.
In a statement released Thursday, lead investigator Marina Chirakova confirmed that there was insufficient evidence to continue the case.
“During the course of the investigation, there has been a designated person suspected on reasonable grounds of rape and two cases of sexual assault, but my assessment is that the evidence is not sufficient to proceed and the investigation is therefore closed.”
“The designated person has not been notified of suspicion of a crime.”
While prosecutors never publicly named the suspect, Swedish media had widely reported that Kylian Mbappé, who was in Stockholm during a break in the Spanish football season, was the individual under investigation.
However, Mbappé’s representatives quickly dismissed these claims as “totally false” and “a slanderous rumour.”
Mbappé’s lawyer, Marie-Alix Canu-Bernard, and his representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the announcement on Thursday.
The decision to drop the case ends a brief but intense legal scrutiny for the Paris Saint-Germain star.
The Nigerian U-17 girls’ football team, the Flamingos, sent a powerful message in their opening match of the WAFU-B Girls Cup in Ghana, demolishing Niger Republic 9-0 in a dominant performance.
Following the match, Flamingos’ head coach Bankole Olowokere was satisfied with the team’s display, praising their preparation and the continuity of the squad and highlighting the players’ experience on the international stage.
“The team has gone to the World Cup and played with the Super Nations, it’s just one of those things, and this is a team that has been training for quite a while now, so that’s just one of those things. It’s just a message.”
He credited the team’s success to strong planning and consistent preparation, emphasizing that continuity among the players has been a key factor in their performance.
“Continuity, preparation, I think a good team is about good planning, good preparation. That’s just one of those things.”
The coach also acknowledged the importance of keeping the focus on their own game while respecting their future opponents.
“At the time we don’t want to score, so we just have to play ball to their 18 and return back to our group. Just to avoid their elimination and protect their job as well. I always talk about myself, I take opponents the way they are.”
Olowokere cautioned against overconfidence, stating that every opponent must be taken seriously.
“It’s not good for them to be full of themselves. When they come, we never know what other people have. So when they come, we take them as who they are.”
The coach is now setting his sights on the next challenge – facing Ghana.
“They know they are determined to come and play against them here, so we never know. I can’t tell what they have in their preparation, so let them come.”
With the 9-0 victory under their belt, the Flamingos are ready to face whatever comes their way as they continue their journey in the tournament.
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has announced a significant policy change, banning transgender women from competing in certain domestic female tennis and padel tournaments in Britain, effective January 25.
The new rules, which apply only to higher-graded domestic inter-club competitions, will not affect entry into prestigious events like Wimbledon or other international tournaments such as those governed by the ITF, WTA, and ATP.
Transgender women, who were (allegedly) assigned male at birth, will no longer be eligible to compete in these higher-tier domestic events.
The policy will not extend to club-level tournaments or local social events, where individual venues can still set their own participation guidelines.
The LTA stated that the updated policy aims to balance “two potentially conflicting responsibilities: the need to ensure competition in our sport is fair and a responsibility to make sure tennis is welcoming and inclusive for everyone.”
“We appreciate the diversity of opinion around this matter and will keep the policy under review in the years ahead,” the LTA added.
This policy revision follows similar moves in other sports. Recently, the LPGA Golf Tour decided to ban transgender women who have gone through male puberty from competing in elite golf events.
Likewise, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced it will bar players who have experienced male puberty from participating in top-tier women’s cricket starting in 2025.
The LTA’s decision comes amid broader discussions in sports about the participation of transgender athletes, with governing bodies in athletics, swimming, and cycling also tightening their eligibility criteria for female competitions.
In the tennis world, the WTA’s gender participation policy, based on guidelines from 2015, remains under review, with new regulations potentially taking into account the International Olympic Committee’s transgender eligibility framework published in 2021.
All eyes will be on Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie this Monday, as she competes for the coveted 2024 CAF Women’s Player of the Year Award, which would crown her as the next Queen of African football.
The 24-year-old, who has dazzled in her role as the last line of defense for both Nigeria and her club Paris FC, is one of three finalists for the prestigious award, alongside Zambia’s Barbra Banda and Morocco’s Sanaâ Mssoudy.
The ceremony, set to take place at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco, promises to be a night to remember.
After a rigorous voting process, Nnadozie’s remarkable season has put her in the spotlight for the award, previously won by Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala.
Nnadozie’s stellar performances in France’s Division 1 Féminine have earned her widespread recognition.
She was named Goalkeeper of the Season in 2023/24, following a series of crucial saves and clean sheets that helped Paris FC secure a third-place finish.
With a 33% clean sheet ratio, her presence at the back has been indispensable in keeping her team in title contention.
Her performances for Nigeria, including at the Paris Olympic Games, further cement her place as one of the continent’s most reliable talents.
As the new season progresses, Nnadozie’s ambition remains clear: she hopes to continue breaking barriers, lifting both her club and country to greater heights.
The race for the award is tight, with Barbra Banda of Zambia also in contention, fresh off a standout season with Orlando Pride and a historic performance at the Paris Olympics, and Sanaâ Mssoudy of Morocco, who played a pivotal role in her team’s run to the final of the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League.
Regardless of who wins, one thing is clear: Chiamaka Nnadozie is setting a new standard for African footballers on the global stage.
Will Monday’s ceremony crown her as the next queen? The answer will soon be revealed.
Nigeria’s U17 girls, the Flamingos, put on a spectacular performance on Thursday in their second match of the 2024 WAFU U17 Girls’ Cup, demolishing Niger Republic 9-0 in Ghana.
Shakirat Moshood was the star of the show, scoring four goals as the Flamingos ran riot.
The match began with a bang as Aishat Animashaun opened the scoring just five minutes in, following a pinpoint cross from Mary Mamudu.
The Flamingos’ attacking onslaught continued with Moshood’s stunning 35-yard strike in the 17th minute, leaving Nigerien goalkeeper Ndiaye Fatai Basiru with no chance.
Moshood added another six minutes later, assisted by Animashaun, before Janet Akekoromowei made it 4-0 in the 33rd minute with a close-range finish.
Akekoromowei struck again just before halftime to claim a first-half hat-trick, as the Flamingos led 7-0 at the break.
Moshood completed her own hat-trick in the dying moments of the first half, making it 7-0, and didn’t stop there.
Early in the second half, she completed her fourth goal of the match, a solo effort that made it 8-0.
Peace Effiong capped off the rout with a long-range shot in the 79th minute to seal a dominant 9-0 victory.
The Flamingos will now shift their focus to their upcoming match against Cote d’Ivoire on Monday.
Emmanuel Osahon, the owner of Robo Queens FC, has raised alarm over the state of grassroots sports in Nigeria, citing poor funding and resources as major barriers to the country’s athletic development.