
Canadian Promise David leads Union to first Belgian league title in 90 years
BRUSSELS — Union Saint-Gilloise sealed its first Belgian league title in 90 years with a 3-1 win over Genk on Sunday.
Article content
Article content
Promise David, of Brampton, Ont., scored twice and Franjo Ivanovic added another goal to help the small Brussels club secure its first league title since 1935.
Article content
Union entered the final round of the championship playoffs with a one-point lead and after near misses in the past three seasons.
Article content
In 2022 and in 2024 Union led the regular season standings then faded in the playoffs to let Club Brugge take the title. The epic 2023 title race had a dramatic ending when a helicopter carrying league officials and the trophy had to turn away from Union's tiny Joseph Marien Stadium.
Article content
Only Union and Brugge were in title contention on Sunday. Brugge drew 1-1 with Antwerp to finish in second place, three points behind.
Article content
Union had a slow start to the season under new coach Pocognoli, after more sales of star players for eight-figure fees. Led by goals from David, Union moved up to third in the regular season standings.
Article content
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Globe and Mail
3 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
NIKE Bets on EMEA Growth: Can This Strategy Pay Off in FY26?
NIKE Inc. 's NKE EMEA strategy is emerging as one of the most promising growth levers for fiscal 2026, building on progress already made in cleaning up the marketplace and repositioning NIKE Digital as part of an integrated channel strategy. In fourth-quarter fiscal 2025, the region delivered growth in key performance categories like running and training, while women's sportswear footwear returned to growth. Wholesale sportswear also posted gains, reflecting the benefits of diversifying beyond classic franchises such as Air Force 1, Dunk and AJ1. The company ended the quarter with inventory slightly ahead of targets and a healthier balance of full-price sales. A core pillar of NIKE's EMEA push is the 'sport offense' realignment, dedicated cross-functional teams focused on specific sports to deepen athlete relationships, drive targeted innovation and tailor storytelling by market. This sharper focus enables the company to match local consumer demand with sport-specific product pipelines, such as high-performing running footwear (led by the Vomero 18 franchise) and expanded women's basketball offerings. The approach also supports sharper marketplace segmentation, allowing NIKE to deliver unique assortments to wholesale partners like JD Sports while maintaining premium positioning in NIKE Direct. In fiscal 2026, NIKE expects the EMEA region to benefit from a stronger holiday order book, bolstered by growth in performance categories and new dimensions in sportswear to offset declines in classic franchises. Momentum in the region is also supported by improved wholesale sell-through rates, healthier inventory levels and higher full-price sales penetration. If the sport offense model continues to generate both consumer excitement and channel profitability, EMEA could be a key driver of the company's return to sustainable growth in fiscal 2026. NKE's Competition in the Global Arena adidas AG ADDYY and lululemon athletica inc. LULU are the key companies competing with NIKE in the global market. adidas remains one of NIKE's strongest global competitors, leveraging its deep heritage in performance sports and lifestyle segments to maintain a strong foothold in markets like EMEA and Asia-Pacific. The brand continues to benefit from its credibility in football, running and training, reinforced by partnerships with elite clubs, athletes and cultural icons. In recent years, adidas has accelerated its innovation cycle, introducing performance-driven footwear like the Adizero and Ultraboost lines, while expanding its sustainability initiatives, such as increasing the use of recycled materials through its Primegreen and Primeblue platforms. lululemon has carved out a premium niche in athletic apparel, dominating the global yoga, studio and athleisure markets while steadily expanding into high-performance categories like running, training, golf and tennis. lululemon's vertically integrated model, with a strong direct-to-consumer foundation, allows for tight control over pricing, product drops and customer experience. NKE's Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates Shares of NIKE have lost 1.1% year to date compared with the industry 's decline of 5.2%. From a valuation standpoint, NKE trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 40.07X compared with the industry's average of 29.34X. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NKE's fiscal 2025 earnings implies a year-over-year decline of 12.04%, while that for fiscal 2026 indicates growth of 1.9%. The company's EPS estimate for fiscal 2025 and 2026 has been unchanged in the past seven days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research NIKE currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. See our %%CTA_TEXT%% report – free today! 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report NIKE, Inc. (NKE): Free Stock Analysis Report lululemon athletica inc. (LULU): Free Stock Analysis Report Adidas AG (ADDYY): Free Stock Analysis Report


Edmonton Journal
4 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
Real Madrid rejects U.S.-hosted match, claiming it would hurt integrity of competition
Real Madrid said it 'firmly rejects' having a regular-season Spanish league game played in the United States and warned of 'a turning point in the world of football.' Article content Villarreal, in contrast, is promising free travel and tickets for season-ticket holders if its match against Barcelona in Miami is approved in what would be a first for the league. The 17th-round match in La Liga would be played at the Hard Rock Stadium. Article content Article content Madrid said Tuesday it has taken action to keep the Dec. 20 match from happening in the U.S., claiming it would hurt the 'integrity of the competition' and the 'legitimacy of the results.' Article content Article content 'The measure, which was taken without prior information or consultation of the clubs participating in the competition, infringes the essential principle of territorial reciprocity, which applies in two-legged league competitions (one match at home and the other at the home of the opposing team), upsetting the competitive balance and giving an undue sporting advantage to the applicant clubs,' Madrid said. The club said the match would set 'an unacceptable precedent that opens the door to exceptions based on non-sporting interests, clearly affecting sporting integrity and risking the adulteration of the competition.' Article content 'If this proposal were to be carried out, its consequences would be so serious that it would be a turning point in the world of football,' Madrid said. Article content Article content The Europe-wide fan group Football Supporters Europe, or FSE, said it was 'liaising' with members, soccer stakeholders, affected groups, and partner organizations to 'collectively resist the latest threat to the very nature of football.' Article content 'We are following the broader impact on football with the utmost concern,' the group said. 'Moving games from their domestic territories strikes at the heart of the relationship between fans and their teams, breaking vital links between clubs and their communities.' Article content The group also criticized a similar move by the Italian league to play a match abroad. Article content The Italian soccer federation said in July that a plan was in motion to play the Serie A match between AC Milan and Como in the Australian city of Perth in February. Article content Madrid said it has asked FIFA, UEFA and Spain's top sports body to not authorize the game in the U.S. The Spanish soccer federation on Monday approved a request for the match to be played in Miami. UEFA and FIFA now have to approve the request before it can be made official.


National Post
4 hours ago
- National Post
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook ends contract standoff, agrees to four-year deal
Bills running back James Cook has ended his contract standoff by signing a four-year deal, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane said Wednesday. Article content Cook's deal will pay him $48 million over the four years, two people with knowledge of the agreement confirmed to The Associated Press. Article content Article content The contract includes $30 million in guaranteed money, one of the people said. They spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because financial details of the contract have not been announced. Article content Article content The Athletic first reported the agreement. Article content The new deal comes a day after the fourth-year player ended his weeklong standoff by returning to practice. Cook skipped four straight sessions and although he took part in warmups, he declined to play in Buffalo's preseason-opener against the New York Giants on Saturday. Article content 'I think there was good faith on both parts,' Beane said, noting an emphasis was placed on getting a deal done once Cook returned to practice Tuesday. Article content Cook was the NFL's co-leader with 16 touchdowns rushing last season. Article content Cook was selected by Buffalo in the second round of the 2022 draft out of Georgia. His older brother is Dalvin Cook, best known for his six seasons in Minnesota and who spent last year appearing in two games with Dallas. Article content Cook's 18 touchdowns, including two receiving, doubled his combined production in his first two seasons (four TDs rushing, five receiving). And he was part of an offense that finished second in the league in averaging more than 30 points per outing. Article content Article content Until Wednesday, Cook proved to be the odd-man out in general manager Brandon Beane's offseason binge of signing core players to multiyear contract extensions. The group was made up of quarterback Josh Allen, receiver Khalil Shakir, edge rusher Greg Rousseau, linebacker Terrel Bernard and cornerback Christian Benford. Article content In June, Cook said he didn't begrudge his teammates for getting extensions. Article content 'I love those guys. Whatever they got paid, they got paid. That's not my problem,' Cook said. 'In the meantime, I'm here to work and be where my feet are at.' Article content After practicing fully during the Bills' first eight sessions of training camp this year, Cook began his 'hold-in' on Aug. 3 by watching practice wearing a white sweatsuit along the sideline.