UEFA Nations League Semi-Finals to Air Live on GOtv

The UEFA Nations League semi-finals will hold this week, with Germany facing Portugal and Spain playing against France. Both matches will air this Wednesday and Thursday respectively at 8:00pm and will be broadcast live on SS Football (Ch. 61) on GOtv. Germany’s journey to the semi-finals has been one of tactical discipline and attacking flair. Under the youthful and energetic leadership of coach Julian Nagelsmann, the Germans topped their group with ease, showcasing dominance on both ends of the pitch. Germany secured a 2-1 victory in Italy in the quarter finals first leg and in the second leg, a thrilling 3-3 draw at home ensured a 5-4 aggregate win for Germany. Under coach Julian Nagelsmann, the team has blended experienced players with emerging talents like Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala. With the semi-final being played on home turf, Germany will look to ride the momentum and the energy of their fans as they aim for their first Nations League title. Portugal, champions of the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019, have once again proven they are made for knockout football. Managed by Roberto Martínez, the Portuguese side had to dig deep in the quarter-finals, overturning a tricky first-leg result against Denmark to win 5-3 on aggregate after extra time. Germany has had the upper hand in recent meetings with Portugal, winning their last five matchups. However, both teams come into this game in strong form, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Meanwhile, Spain and France will go head-to-head in the other semi-final match on Thursday. Spain, known for their slick passing and possession based football, breezed through the group stage and edged past Netherlands in the quarter-finals. They will be banking on the brilliance of Pedri, Ferran Torres and Álvaro Morata to take on the French side. France boasts an array of exciting talent at the heart of their campaign. Their quarter-final win over Croatia on penalties was a tactical masterclass, setting up a mouthwatering clash with Spain for a spot in the final. The winners of the semi-finals will meet in the UEFA Nations League final on Sunday, June 8. The two losing teams will play in the third-place playoff, also scheduled for the same weekend.

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Showmax to Beam Live FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Nations League Finals, Others

While the thrilling finale of the Premier League may have drawn to a close, Showmax Premier League is excited to announce that the beautiful game is far from over. Football fans across Africa can look forward to an exhilarating off-season filled with world-class action, ensuring not a single moment goes by without live football entertainment. The football feast includes the highly anticipated FIFA Club World Cup, on Sunday, 15 June 2025, where the planet’s elite clubs will battle it out for the prestigious global trophy. The tournament also features a galaxy of European giants, including powerhouses such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, PSG, Inter, Porto, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, and Red Bull Salzburg. Adding to the star power, global icon Lionel Messi will lead his team, Inter Miami, into the competition, alongside strong South American contenders like Botafogo, Palmeiras, and Flamengo. This monumental tournament will be held in the United States, culminating in a spectacular final at the iconic MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. But the FIFA Club World Cup is just the beginning of Showmax Premier League’s comprehensive off-season offering. Fans can also look forward to the intense drama of the UEFA Nations League Finals, a biennial international football competition contested by the senior men’s national teams of the member associations of UEFA. This tournament, kicking off with the semi-finals on 4 June 2025, provides a competitive platform for Europe’s top nations, where footballing titans like Germany, Portugal, Spain, and France will vie for continental supremacy, battling through the semi-finals to reach the highly anticipated finals. The excitement continues with top-tier women’s football, as we bring you both the UEFA Women’s EURO tournament and the Women’s AFCON tournament. The UEFA Women’s EURO showcases the pinnacle of European women’s football, featuring the continent’s best national teams competing for glory and further elevating the sport’s profile. Similarly, the Women’s AFCON tournament highlights the incredible talent and growing prominence of women’s football across Africa, with nations battling for continental supremacy and qualification for global tournaments. Morocco will play host to the tournament from July 5-26, 2025 as the best women’s footballers in Africa gather to compete for the coveted trophy. Before you know it, the familiar roar of the Premier League will return as clubs embark on their Summer Series tours. These exciting pre-season clashes see top Premier League teams travel globally, competing in high-profile friendly matches to fine-tune their squads and prepare for the rigours of the new season. It’s a fantastic opportunity for fans to see their favourite teams in action before the competitive fixtures begin. And for the ultimate appetite cleanser ahead of the official kick-off, don’t miss the traditional Community Shield trophy match on, 9 August 2025,, a prestigious annual fixture that pits the reigning Premier League champions Liverpool against FA Cup champions Crystal Palace in a battle for early silverware and bragging rights.

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ISL Student-Athletes Smash Stereotypes With Stellar JAMB Scores

They are all athletes proudly wearing the colours of the International School, Lagos (ISL) at various tournaments—and they have excelled in every event. On the athletics track and basketball court, these student-athletes have consistently demonstrated exceptional talent, making ISL a formidable presence in inter-school sports competitions across the country. However, their achievements extend far beyond the sporting arena. In the classroom, they have also distinguished themselves, particularly in the recently concluded Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations, where many scored above the 300 mark. From 16-year-old Damiete Roberts, who scored an impressive 373, to 17-year-old Ayomide Oyedele, who earned 335, these students have proven that their commitment to sports has not hindered their academic performance. Others who stood out include Usman Mohammed (324), Abdulrahman Odunuga (324), Brian Alex-Nwangwu (301), Hadiyat Oladipo (305), and Olayiwola Are (328)—all of whom ranked among the top-performing students nationwide. An elated Coach Ijeoma Ernest of ISL attributed this remarkable academic feat to the unwavering commitment and collaboration between the students, the school, and their parents. “This is the result of the collective dedication of everyone involved—especially the ISL management led by the Principal, Kolawole Amusan, the parents and guardians, and the athletes themselves, who have mastered the balance between sports and academics,” Ernest said. “It’s a testament to our philosophy at ISL: we don’t just aim to excel in sports, but to nurture well-rounded, educated athletes who can thrive in any field. I’m thrilled to see our efforts bearing fruit in both arenas. We hope that future students will be inspired by this achievement and aim even higher. At ISL, we strive to be a model for schools across the country, showing that sports and education can go hand in hand without one compromising the other.”

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Chukwueze Reflects on Milan’s Disastrous Season

AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze has admitted that the 2024-25 season has been the worst of his career, in terms of team performance. The campaign did not start off the way that Milan hoped and they were forced into a coaching change in December, with Sergio Conceicao replacing Paolo Fonseca. He won a trophy after just a few days, namely the Supercoppa Italiana out in Saudi Arabia. Things only went downhill from there, with elimination in the Champions League against Feyenoord being the biggest disappointment. Conceicao’s side ended up finishing eighth place in Serie A and lost the Coppa Italia final against Bologna. Thus, the decision was made to enact some big changes ahead of 2025-26. Igli Tare came in as the sporting director one week ago, with Massimiliano Allegri’s return as head coach having been confirmed on Friday. Chukwueze was a guest on Victor Modo‘s podcast and he made some revealing comments about how he views the season that has just ended, though he did also praise the loyalty of the Milan fans. “Last season is something we don’t really want to talk about. It was a bad season for the Milan fans and for everyone involved. Honestly, it’s one of the worst seasons of my professional career. I’m not going to lie – we didn’t win anything, I didn’t play much, even though I had the stats. “We crashed out of the Champions League, lost in the cup, fell short in the league – everything just went wrong. It was a tough season, with injuries, changing the coach, bringing in a new one. It was all upside down. “The Milan fans are some of the best in the world. They truly deserve better. They travel with us in the rain, and even when it’s freezing, you see them taking off their shirts, chanting and showing unwavering support. “Unfortunately, we let them down this season. I hope next season will be much better in Milan — winning the Scudetto, the Coppa Italia, and securing Champions League qualification to make up for everything,” he assured.

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Mikel: Chelsea Spirit Will Improve with ECL Trophy Triumph

Chelsea hero John Obi Mikel believes winning the Europa Conference League title can boost the unity inside the club. The Nigerian was delighted seeing the Blues defeat Real Betis in Wroclaw last week. He told The Sun: “We enjoyed good times together. We went out to central London every time we won a trophy. We celebrated quite heavily because we were successful and were given a licence to go out and enjoy ourselves. “That brought that chemistry together because every year, every other year, we had something to celebrate. We were always winning something. So we were always having a massive party come the end of the season. That brought us together. “They have to win trophies in order to be able to bring that chemistry in the squad.”

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Nigeria’s Flamingoes to Know FIFA U17 World Cup Foes Today

The draw ceremony for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals will take place in Rabat, Morocco’s administrative capital, on Wednesday, 4th June. For the very first time, 24 countries will take part in the tournament, which is the ninth edition since the competition was launched in New Zealand 17 years ago. In Pot 1 will be hosts Morocco (one of Africa’s five flag-bearers), Spain, Japan, North Korea (Cup holders), USA and Nigeria (which is making its eighth appearance in the competition). Pot 2: Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Canada, New Zealand, Ecuador Pot 3: China, Cameroon, South Korea, Italy, France, Zambia Pot 4: Paraguay, Costa Rica, Netherlands, Norway, Cote d’Ivoire, Samoa

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FIFA Club Professionalisation and Management Program Begins in Abuja

A two-day FIFA Club Professionalisation and Management Programme workshop began in the Federal Capital, Abuja on Tuesday with President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON) charging the participants to devote attention to the various sessions in order to improve their wisdom, knowledge and understanding towards improving the lot of the country’s domestic game. “The Nigeria Football Federation has been intentional in impressing it on the Clubs that they must work hard towards financial sustainability, and generally contribute to making the football ecosystem better for all stakeholders to be proud of the industry. “This workshop will go a long way in getting the message across in more profound manner, that the leagues and club football are the lifeblood of a nation’s sport, and that significant contributions to the Gross Domestic Product of our country can only happen through the activities and the gravitas that the leagues and clubs are able to establish to generate direct, indirect and induced income.” Gusau’s message was delivered by the NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi (MON), who also implored the participants to be ready to implement the knowledge that they stand to gain in the two-day workshop for the good of the nation’s game. The vice chairman of Nigeria Premier Football League board, Alhaji Mohammed Nasir Saidu, represented the NPFL Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, who is also the NFF 2nd Vice President. Participants include Chairmen and CEOs of the 20 Clubs in the Nigeria Premier Football League, Chairmen and CEOs of the NPFL, NNL, NWFL and the NLO, as well as some top officials of the NFF. The sessions on Tuesday focused on strategic planning and finance. Wednesday’s sessions will be on governance and commercial and marketing.

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Int’l Friendly: Super Falcons Daze Lionesses in Abeokuta

Women Africa Cup of Nations-bound Nigeria sailed over Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses in a friendly encounter at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta on Tuesday. Captain Rasheedat Ajibade scored both goals, first in the 28th minute from the penalty spot, and then in the 43rd minute after capitalizing on a swift team move, assisted by Rinsola Babajide. Coach Justine Madugu said the victory is a good psychological boost for his squad as they continue preparations for the 13th Women AFCON taking place in Morocco, 5th – 26th July. Nigeria will be aiming for a 10th triumph in the competition, having won the trophy nine times since it was launched as a tournament in 1998. The Super Falcons also won in 1991 and 1995, when it was staged only as home-and-away FIFA World Cup qualifying games.

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