Former Barcelona, PSG and AC Milan star Ronaldinho is set to return to competitive football at the age of 46.

The comeback

Ravenna manager Andrea Mandorlini confirmed on Friday, 13 November 2026, that the Brazilian will start for the Italian Serie C club in a local derby against Forli on Sunday, 15 November, as one of three forwards. Mandorlini described him as one of the greatest players of the modern era, adding that the coaching staff would decide together how long he plays.

A long wait

Ronaldinho joined Ravenna as an investor in August. His last competitive appearance was for Brazilian club Fluminense in September 2015, making Sunday's match his first in more than ten years.

Background

Ronaldinho won the Ballon d'Or in 2005 and the World Cup with Brazil in 2002, and is remembered as one of the most gifted and entertaining players of his generation.

Nigeria's Olympic Eagles suffered a 2-0 defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the first leg of their second-round qualifier for the 2027 Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations.

The match

In Lubumbashi on Friday, 13 November 2026, Nigeria started brightly, with midfielder Victor Samuel shooting narrowly wide early on and missing a one-on-one chance soon after. The hosts took the lead inside 20 minutes with a goal that Nigeria felt should have been ruled out for a challenge on goalkeeper Samuel James. Brighton forward Zadok Yohanna was then forced off injured on the half-hour, and DR Congo doubled their lead five minutes before half-time.

Who was in charge

The team was led by Ikorodu City coach Bright Osehai Ozebagbe and former U-20 assistant coach Deniran Ortega, while Eric Chelle was with the Super Eagles, who beat Tanzania 3-1 on the same day.

What happens next

Nigeria will need to overturn the two-goal deficit in the return leg at home to reach the tournament.

Brighton forward Zadok Yohanna, who was making his first start for the U-23 side, has been ruled out of the return leg with the injury he picked up in Lubumbashi.

Nigeria's Super Eagles beat Tanzania 3-1 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, 13 November 2026, in a crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

How the match went

Alhassan Yusuf gave Nigeria a dream start with a goal in the second minute, but Tanzania equalised through Alphonce Masanga. Ademola Lookman was forced off injured late in the first half and replaced by Moses Simon. Coach Eric Chelle then brought on Tolu Arokodare and Moses Usor in the second half, and the change paid off immediately: Arokodare scored in the 52nd minute, and the two substitutes combined for Arokodare's second goal and Nigeria's third in the 60th minute.

Table

The win moved Nigeria to second in Group L, one point behind Guinea-Bissau, who were held 1-1 by Madagascar. Nigeria play Tanzania again in their next match, and a win there would take them to nine points, putting them in a strong position to qualify with two games left.

Arokodare delivers

Arokodare, who has been in strong form on loan at Ajax in the Netherlands, had promised to carry his club form into the national team in the absence of the injured Victor Osimhen. Chelle later sent him a message after his brace.

Lookman a doubt

After the match, Chelle said Ademola Lookman was a doubt for the return fixture against Tanzania. He said the Atletico Madrid forward had felt discomfort in his knee before a knock to the same area made it worse, and the coaching staff are not expected to rush him back. Tanzania are one of the co-hosts of AFCON 2027, along with Kenya and Uganda.

A scan later confirmed a knee ligament sprain, and the Super Eagles' medical team ruled Lookman out of the second leg in Zanzibar, where Nigeria will defend a two-goal advantage. Victor Osimhen is also missing the November games.

Details of the Federal High Court judgment that nullified the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have emerged from the certified true copy of the ruling.

The resignation letter

Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment on 5 November 2026, examined three main issues. The first was a letter said to show that the party's deputy national chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, had resigned in May 2025, before the meeting that installed the new leadership. After comparing signatures, the judge found clear differences, described the letter as fictitious or fabricated and rejected it as evidence.

Powers of the executive committee

The ADC argued that its constitution allowed the National Executive Committee to dissolve the old leadership and appoint a new one. The judge accepted that parties may run their internal affairs, but held that this cannot override the Constitution and the Electoral Act, which require parties to elect their principal officers through periodic democratic elections. He ruled that the committee's administrative powers did not allow it to appoint national executives in place of an election.

No proof of a vote

The judge also found that the party could not show that members or delegates had been given the chance to vote for candidates of their choice, and said notifying INEC of a meeting was not the same as complying with the law.

Background

The judgment also voided the primary that produced Atiku Abubakar as the ADC's presidential candidate. The party has appealed, and INEC says it will obey the final court decision. Atiku and his running mate Rotimi Amaechi are continuing to campaign.