Brendan Rodgers Resigns As Celtic Manager, O’Neill And Maloney To Lead Team Temporarily

Brendan Rodgers Resigns As Celtic Manager, O’Neill And Maloney To Lead Team Temporarily

Celtic have announced that Brendan Rodgers has stepped down as manager, bringing his second spell at the club to a close. The resignation comes after Sunday’s 3-1 Scottish Premiership defeat to Hearts, which left Celtic eight points behind the Edinburgh side. “Celtic Football Club can confirm that football manager Brendan Rodgers has today tendered his resignation,” the club said. “Brendan will leave his role with immediate effect. He leaves with our thanks for the role he has played during a period of continued success for the club, and we wish him further success in the future.” The search for a permanent manager is already underway. In the interim, former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill and ex-player Shaun Maloney will oversee first-team affairs. Rodgers, 52, returned to Celtic in June 2023, adding back-to-back league titles to his previous successes in 2017 and 2018. His first spell at the club, from 2016 to 2019, saw him guide Celtic to successive league and cup trebles, including a record 106-point unbeaten season—the first in the Scottish top flight since 1899. Rodgers has also managed Swansea, Liverpool, and Leicester. During his second tenure at Celtic, he secured the Scottish Cup and League Cup alongside consecutive league triumphs. However, this season has been difficult, marked by Celtic’s shocking Champions League exit to Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty, raising questions about the club’s European ambitions.

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Nigeria Bankers Games 2025 Kicks Off With a Bang

Nigeria Bankers Games 2025 Kicks Off With a Bang

The University of Lagos Sports Complex was abuzz with excitement on Saturday, as the Nigeria Bankers Games (NBG) 2025 officially kicked off. The opening ceremony was a grand spectacle, featuring a colourful performance by bankers from various institutions, showcasing their team spirit and athletic prowess. First Bank of Nigeria Plc, the defending champions, retained their title in the march past event with an impressive score of 98.2%. Access Bank and Wema Bank secured the second and third positions, respectively, with outstanding performances. The ceremony featured a thrilling aerobics session, led by an energetic instructor, emphasizing the importance of work-life balance. The theme was at the forefront of the games, promoting camaraderie and friendly competition among banking professionals. Before the kickoff of the day’s football matches, the Class of 2025 Hall of Famers were unveiled. Eleven ambassadors of the Nigeria Bankers Games were inducted, recognising their exceptional commitment and achievements in the competition. The outstanding individuals include; UBA’s Peter Nwachukwu, First Bank’s Solomon Idowu, UBA’s Augustine Ihenyen, FCMB’s Vincent Egemba and Uyi Uhunmwangho of Stanbic IBTC. The list also saw First Bank’s Olayemi Okam, UBA’s Ben Ekwere, Stanbic IBTC’s Efe Omoduemuke, First Bank’s Yusuf Abiodun, Wema Bank’s Kayode Osumah and Sterling Bank’s Fredrick Rekuoya were inducted. The football event kicked off with a novelty match that saw the All-Star Team narrowly defeating Palmpay 1-0 in a closely contested game. The first match of NBG 2025 was between the 2024 edition football champion, Sterling Jets from Sterling Bank, and the overall champions of the 2024 games, Wema Bank. The match was also closely contested and came to life in the 25th minute when Ayomide Ojo of Wema Bank scored from close range following a mix-up among the Sterling Jets players. However, the defending champions equalised 10 minutes into the second half time through Tobi Mejidi’s strike, and the teams remained tied after regulation time. Opeoluwa Anjorin, Chief Executive Officer at MediaVision Limited, extended her heartfelt appreciation to all participating teams and partners for their unwavering commitment to the Nigeria Bankers Games brand. The partners include headline sponsors Whatadeal and Infinix Mobile, as well as Guinness Nigeria, Power Oil, CWAY, Pocari Sweat, and Salonpas. This platform not only promotes work-life balance but also fosters meaningful connections across the banking sector in a spirit of friendly competition, driving camaraderie and excellence among participants.

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FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Finals: Flamingos Tackle Italy for a Spot in Quarter Finals

On Tuesday, 28th October, 2025, at Pitch 2 of the Football Academy Mohamed VI, Rabat, Nigeria’s Flamingos will confront Italy in a much-anticipated Round of 16 match at the ongoing FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, with a spot in the quarter-finals up for grabs. Both countries will be meeting for the first time at this stage of the competition. Italy with three straight wins, viz a thrilling 4-3 victory over Brazil, 3-1 victory over host Morocco, and another commanding 3-0 victory over Costa Rica, led Group A with maximum points and arrive in Rabat in fine form. Nigeria, on the other hand, qualified as one of the best third-place teams, after a tough opening to the tournament with a 4-1 loss to Canada and a narrow 1-0 loss to France. They recovered well with a decisive 4-0 victory over Samoa to guarantee their spot in the Round of 16. The Flamingos will be hoping to improve on that outcome and contend for a spot in the quarter-finals with new-found confidence and vigour. But the Italians, who are yet to lose a game, spearheaded by Giulia Galli, who leads the tournament in goals with five, will be full of confidence as they try to extend their winning streak. Tuesday night’s encounter, starting at 8pm, promises to be full of fireworks as both teams contest for a spot in the World Cup’s Round of 8.

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Juventus Sack Igor Tudor After Lazio Loss

Juventus has dismissed head coach Igor Tudor following a 0–1 Serie A defeat to Lazio, with the club’s management citing the need for a change after a string of poor results. According to Fabrizio Romano, Tudor has been officially informed of his sacking by the Juventus board. Massimo Brambilla will serve as interim coach while the club evaluates candidates for a permanent replacement. The loss to Lazio was Tudor’s third consecutive defeat, extending Juventus’ winless streak to eight matches. The team has struggled to find consistency, with difficulties both in attack and defense. Reports suggest that Italian manager Raffaele Palladino could be considered as Tudor’s successor, potentially taking over for the remainder of the season if the board approves the appointment.

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Mbappé And Bellingham Score As Real Madrid Defeat Barcelona 2–1 In El Clásico Thriller

Real Madrid came out on top in Sunday’s El Clásico, defeating arch-rivals Barcelona 2–1 in a thrilling encounter at the Santiago Bernabéu. Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring for Madrid early in the first half with a clinical finish, before Jude Bellingham doubled the lead shortly after the break with a powerful strike from the edge of the box. Barcelona fought back late in the game, pulling one back through Robert Lewandowski, but their efforts weren’t enough to stop Madrid from claiming all three points in front of a roaring home crowd. The victory strengthens Madrid’s position at the top of the La Liga table and extends their unbeaten run against Barcelona in competitive fixtures this season. It was a fiery match filled with intensity, drama, and world-class football — a true El Clásico that lived up to its reputation.

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Matty Cash Strike Seals 1–0 Win For Aston Villa Over Manchester City At Villa Park

Aston Villa stunned Manchester City 1–0 at Villa Park on Sunday, thanks to a brilliant first-half strike from Matty Cash that sealed a memorable Premier League victory for Unai Emery’s men. The decisive goal came in the 19th minute when Cash fired home from the edge of the box after a clever corner routine from Emiliano Buendía. The full-back’s precise finish proved enough to hand Villa all three points in a tense and fiercely contested match. Manchester City, who had not suffered a defeat since their 2–1 loss to Brighton in August, struggled to find their rhythm throughout the game. Erling Haaland missed a golden chance to equalize moments after Cash’s opener and later had a late goal disallowed for offside. Aston Villa defended superbly, with centre-backs Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa standing firm to repel City’s attacks. Emiliano Martínez made a crucial save to deny Haaland in a one-on-one situation, while John McGinn came close to doubling Villa’s lead with a deflected effort on his 200th Premier League appearance. City showed more urgency after the break, but their attacking moves lacked precision. Tijjani Reijnders dragged a shot wide after a mazy run, and Savinho twice tested Villa’s defence, only for Torres to clear one effort off the line. Villa nearly added another goal when McGinn’s close-range volley was blocked from a low corner, but the hosts ultimately held firm to secure a fourth consecutive league victory and bounce back from their Europa League loss to Go Ahead Eagles. The win also extended Villa’s impressive home record — they are now unbeaten in 31 Premier League home games when scoring first since February 2023. It marked their third straight home victory over City in the competition. Matty Cash, who has now scored twice against City — his joint-best return against any opponent — was once again the hero. The only downside for Villa came when Buendía limped off injured in the first half, despite having provided the assist for the match-winning goal. The result keeps Villa firmly in the top-four conversation, while City’s title defense takes a dent after a frustrating day in front of goal.

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Eze Fires Arsenal To 1–0 Victory Over Crystal Palace As Gunners Go Four Points Clear

Eze Fires Arsenal To 1–0 Victory Over Crystal Palace As Gunners Go Four Points Clear

Arsenal edged Crystal Palace 1–0 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, October 26, 2025, in a hard-fought Premier League encounter that tested their patience and composure. The decisive moment came in the 39th minute when Eberechi Eze, facing his former club, struck a composed volley into the bottom-right corner after a well-delivered free-kick routine. Declan Rice’s curling cross was nodded down by Gabriel Magalhães, allowing Eze to pounce and give Arsenal the breakthrough they had been pushing for all half. Before the goal, Arsenal had dominated possession but struggled to find a cutting edge against Palace’s deep defensive setup. The Emirates crowd erupted when Eze’s finish found the net, giving the hosts the momentum heading into halftime. The second half saw Crystal Palace attempt to claw their way back into the game, but Arsenal’s backline — marshaled by William Saliba and Gabriel — stood firm. Palace’s best chance came from a swift counterattack, but goalkeeper David Raya reacted sharply to keep his clean sheet intact. Bukayo Saka nearly doubled Arsenal’s lead late on, only for Marc Guehi to clear his effort off the line in one of the game’s most dramatic moments. Despite pressing for a second goal, Arsenal had to settle for the lone strike that proved enough to seal the win. The victory extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run in the Premier League to six matches and ten in all competitions, moving them four points clear at the top of the table. For Eze, the night carried special significance as he scored against the club where he made his name. His goal — his first in Arsenal colors — underscored the growing influence he’s beginning to have under Mikel Arteta. While the Gunners’ attacking fluency still lacked its usual sharpness, their defensive solidity and control once again showed why they’re serious title contenders this season.

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Liverpool Boss Arne Slot Admits Reds Have ‘No Answer’ to Long Balls After Brentford Defeat

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has conceded that his side are still struggling to cope with teams deploying long-ball tactics and low defensive blocks, following a 3-2 defeat to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. The loss marked Liverpool’s fourth consecutive Premier League defeat, leaving them in sixth place and piling further pressure on Slot just months into his first season in charge. Brentford executed their game plan to perfection on Saturday evening, completing 62 long passes — their highest total of the season — as they overpowered the Reds with their direct style of play. Dango Ouattara opened the scoring from a long throw by Michael Kayode, a scenario Liverpool had specifically trained for on Friday. Kevin Schade then doubled Brentford’s lead on the counter-attack before halftime, exposing the Reds’ vulnerabilities in transition once again. “It is definitely that teams have a certain playing style against us; it is a very good strategy to play,” Slot said in his post-match press conference.“We have not found an answer yet. Going 1-0 down after five minutes does not help, and while we can still score goals, we are conceding far too many. That is not just on the defence — it’s about all 11 players.” Liverpool did manage to find the net twice, but defensive lapses continued to undermine their efforts. The defeat means the Reds have now lost as many league games this season as in the entirety of last season. Slot also pointed to the club’s record-breaking £446 million summer spending spree — which brought six new signings to Anfield — as a factor in their inconsistent performances. “It has something to do with when you change a lot in the summer,” he admitted. “I did not expect it to go with four losses in a row.” Despite intensive preparation for Brentford’s long throws and counter-attacks, Slot lamented his team’s inability to execute the basics. “Today, I don’t think we did the basics right,” he said. “Too many duels were lost, too many second balls weren’t won. That was the main thing we have to improve. Every time, a different problem has cost us the game.” With Liverpool looking a shadow of their former selves, Slot now faces the difficult task of restoring confidence and defensive solidity before their next Premier League fixture.

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