Sports Archives | Page 44 of 111

Egypt 2025: Flying Eagles Reach Quarter-Finals

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago03 mins

Nigeria reached the quarter finals of the ongoing CAF U20 Championship in Egypt despite having to force Kenya’s Rising Stars to a 2-2 draw in the last match of group B on Wednesday. In the event, the Flying Eagles finished second on the table with five points, two behind group leaders Morocco who drilled Tunisia 3-1 in the other match of the pool and will remain in Cairo for the quarter finals, against the second-placed team in group A. Group A is made up of hosts Egypt, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Zambia and Tanzania. Seven-time champions Nigeria will now have to make the trip to Ismailia for their quarter-final game on Monday, against the second-placed team in group C. Group C is made up of title-holders Senegal, bitter-rivals Ghana, Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kenya’s Rising Stars made the game difficult for the Flying Eagles, as the wards of Aliyu Zubairu had to come from behind twice to salvage the encounter. Kevin Wangaya put the Rising Stars ahead after only five minutes, scoring from the penalty spot after a Nigerian defender stopped the ball with his hand in the box. Nigeria restored parity seven minutes later, after Kparobo Arierhi waltzed his way through the defence to place the ball firmly beyond the reach of the opposition goal-tender. The East Africans were back in front in the 68th minute, as the Flying Eagles’ rearguard ball-watched a freekick from the left and allowed William to blast the ball past goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt from Lawrence’s in-swinger. Five minutes later, Nigeria were level again, with captain Daniel Bameyi sending the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot after substitute Mendos Rickson was upended in the box. The Flying Eagles’ match on Monday will be the first quarter-final, starting at 3pm Egypt time (1pm Nigeria time) in Ismailia.

Guinness Brings Premier League Trophy to Nigeria

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago02 mins

As part of its commitment to provide its consumers and Nigerian football fans with unmatched experiences and memories, Guinness Nigeria, in partnership with the Premier League, today announced that it is bringing the prestigious English Premier League trophy to Nigeria. This visit will see the trophy visit Enugu on May 16th and Lagos on May 17th and 18th; providing football fans the opportunity to interact up close and personal, with the ultimate prize of the best football league in the world. The three-day, two-city tour will provide football fans around the world with a chance to be in proximity of the iconic Premier League™ Trophy and the heroes of the game. Both iconic cities- will also host Guinness MatchDay events; an elevated football viewing experience featuring multiple viewing screens to ensure fans don’t miss a moment, a replay and highlight corners with noise cancellation headsets, an iconic 360-degree Guinness ar serving an array of Guinness nspired cocktails, on-site customization of football jerseys, and other wonderful experiences that puts fans at the center of the football action. Marketing Director, Guinness Nigeria, Olayinka Bakare, further reiterated this: ”Our association with Football is a key platform to engage & elevate the experiences of our consumers. This is more than a tour. It is an iconic, unmissable experience. Besides the unique excitement of seeing the Premier League silverware in Nigeria, it’s about celebrating football’s power to unite us, whilst delivering unmatched football moments that only Guinness can offer.”

Manchester United Enters Talks With Victor Osimhen

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago03 mins

Manchester United have entered into talks with the entourage of Galatasaray centre-forward Victor Osimhen (26), Foot Mercato can reveal. The Nigerian international spends the season on loan with the Istanbul-based Süper Lig giants from SSC Napoli. Osimhen has easily settled in with Galatasaray, netting 33 goals and 8 assists in 37 games in all competitions. The former Lille OSC striker will leave Galatasaray as his loan does not include an option to make his move permanent. He has also set his sights on leaving Napoli. Foot Mercato understands that Osimhen is keen on joining the Premier League, and Manchester United may be one of the only clubs to meet his €12m per year wage demands. PSG are seemingly out of the running to sign Osimhen. The Red Devils are looking to change their attacking options as both Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee have, so far, failed to meet expectations following their big-money arrivals last summer. The outlet adds that Manchester United drew up a 4-man shortlist to identify their next striker. Among these names are Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap and Sporting Portugal’s Victor Gyokeres. The Swede appears to be Manchester United’s priority, mainly in the event of Champions League qualification, which would be obtained by winning the Europa League. But it seems Manchester United are keeping their options open. Indeed, the Red Devils have reportedly met Osimhen’s entourage this Monday. Foot Mercato understands that Napoli will ask north of €75m to allow Osimhen to leave Antonio Conte’s squad.

Rice Cook Real Madrid With Stunning Freekicks To Double Fires Arsenal to 3-0 Win Over

High Stakes for English Clubs as UEFA Semi-Finals Conclude on GOtv

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago04 mins

The second legs of the European semi-finals take centre stage this week, with six ties across the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League set to decide who advances to the finals. Five English clubs remain in contention, and each will be looking to complete the job or mount a comeback after the opening legs. On Tuesday, Barcelona and Inter Milan resume their heavyweight clash following a pulsating 3–3 draw at the Olympic Stadium. Xavi’s side, already crowned Copa del Rey winners and top of La Liga, were twice behind before salvaging a draw in the first leg. Inter, who eliminated Bayern Munich in the previous round, will fancy their chances at the San Siro, where the return leg promises to be just as dramatic. Arsenal will need to overturn a 1–0 deficit when they travel to Paris to face PSG on Wednesday. The Gunners were undone by a solitary goal at the Emirates last week and now face a daunting challenge against a French side that has already knocked out Liverpool and Aston Villa in earlier rounds. Arsenal, who are chasing their first Champions League final appearance since 2006, must produce a resolute performance in the French capital. In the Europa League on Thursday, Manchester United carry a commanding 3–0 lead into their second-leg fixture against Athletic Bilbao. The Reds were clinical in Spain and will look to manage the return leg at Old Trafford to book their place in the final. United’s domestic form may have faltered, but their European campaign has been efficient. Tottenham Hotspur also take a two-goal cushion into their second leg against FK Bodø/Glimt. Spurs, struggling in the Premier League, produced one of their better performances in the first leg, winning 3–1 in London. A professional outing in Norway would see them through to the final, keeping hopes of silverware and European qualification alive. Chelsea, meanwhile, are on the brink of reaching the UEFA Europa Conference League final after dispatching Djurgårdens 4–1 in the first leg in Sweden. The Blues, unbeaten in the competition this season, will aim to complete the job at Stamford Bridge and move one step closer to their first European trophy since 2021. Catch all the games on GOtv.

Egypt 2025: Kenya on Firing Line as Flying Eagles Aspire to Celebrate 100th AFCON Match

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago05 mins

Kenya’s Rising Stars are right in the firing line as seven-time champions and two-time runners-up Nigeria are determined to celebrate their 100th match of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations with a win in downtown Cairo on Wednesday evening. The clash, one of the closing games of group B of the ongoing CAF U20 Championship and which is scheduled to kick off 4pm Nigeria time, is on different gradients for both teams, with the Kenyans in need of a handsome win to stand a chance of progressing to the quarter finals while the Flying Eagles only require a draw. Second-placed Nigeria, on four points, will reach the last eight of the competition if they secure a draw (which will take their haul to five, and spring them to the next round irrespective of the result in the clash between first-placed Morocco and third-placed Tunisia). A win for Morocco will take them to seven points, and keep three-pointer Tunisia in third place, while a draw earns Morocco a total of five points from their three matches and keeps Tunisia at four. A win for Tunisia will take the Junior Carthage Eagles to six points and drag the Lion Cubs to third place. With 19 teams involved in the tournament, and teams drawn into three pools, the top two teams in each group, alongside the best two third-placed teams, will progress to the quarter finals. Despite their promise, the Rising Stars have failed to light up Cairo, losing a five-goal thriller to Morocco on the opening day and failing to deliver in the 1-3 loss to Tunisia on Sunday. Getting a win against Nigeria will be huge for the Kenyans, who have struggled badly over the decades against Nigeria opposition on the field of play. Their first three encounters, between 1968 and 1991, were friendly matches, with Nigeria winning twice in Nairobi and the other match (also in Nairobi) ending in a 1-1 draw. In a 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Nairobi in April 1985, goals by Fatai Amao and Rashidi Yekini, and a Hussein Khari own goal, gave Nigeria a 3-0 win. In the return leg in Lagos, Yekini and Dr Joe Masiga each scored a magnificent goal, but Dahiru Sadi and Yisa Sofoluwe added to Nigeria’s tally for a 3-1 win. Nigeria won 3-0 and 2-1 in 1988 and 1992 AFCON group phase matches respectively, and in a 1998 World Cup qualifying fixture, both teams drew 1-1 in Nairobi before Nigeria triumphed 3-0 in Lagos to qualify for France 1998. Nigeria won friendly matches in 2002, 2007 and 2011, and also beat the Kenyans home (3-0) and away (3-2) to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals. In 2013, a 1-1 draw in Calabar and 1-0 win in Nairobi in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers confirmed Nigeria’s undoubted superiority. In qualifying matches for the 1996 Olympic Games, both teams played a 1-1 draw in Nigeria, but the Dream Team victimised their hosts 3-0 in Mombasa. The Flying Eagles will be determined to underscore this superiority on Wednesday, in order to pop champagne in what will be their 100th match of the tournament and also stand a chance of finishing as group B winners.

Mbappé Double Keeps Real Madrid’s Title Dreams Alive with 3–2 Win over Celta Vigo

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago05 mins

Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid — May 2, 2025 Kylian Mbappé scored twice as Real Madrid edged Celta Vigo 3–2 in a thrilling La Liga encounter, keeping their title hopes alive ahead of a crucial El Clasico showdown with leaders Barcelona next weekend. After Barcelona’s comeback win over Valladolid on Saturday, the pressure was on Carlo Ancelotti’s side to respond—and respond they did, though not without late drama. Goals from Arda Güler and Mbappé (2) put Madrid 3–0 ahead, but a spirited second-half comeback from Celta left Los Blancos clinging to the result in the dying moments. “We fell apart… it’s something we’ve experienced before and can’t let happen,” said Real midfielder Fede Valverde. “Now everything depends on El Clasico—it’s the game of the year for us.” Madrid, plagued by defensive injuries and still reeling from recent Champions League and Copa del Rey exits, were powered early by 20-year-old playmaker Güler. The Turkish talent opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with a composed finish before assisting Mbappé’s second of the night. The French striker, now on 24 league goals, trails only Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski in the scoring charts. His sharp finishing provided Madrid’s cushion—but not comfort. Javier Rodriguez and Williot Swedberg struck late for Celta, setting up a tense finale. Iago Aspas’ creativity off the bench nearly forced an equalizer, and Courtois narrowly avoided calamity with a late fumble. The win ensures Madrid remain four points behind Barça with one week to go until their season-defining clash. Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid — May 2, 2025 Kylian Mbappé scored twice as Real Madrid edged Celta Vigo 3–2 in a thrilling La Liga encounter, keeping their title hopes alive ahead of a crucial El Clasico showdown with leaders Barcelona next weekend. After Barcelona’s comeback win over Valladolid on Saturday, the pressure was on Carlo Ancelotti’s side to respond—and respond they did, though not without late drama. Goals from Arda Güler and Mbappé (2) put Madrid 3–0 ahead, but a spirited second-half comeback from Celta left Los Blancos clinging to the result in the dying moments. “We fell apart… it’s something we’ve experienced before and can’t let happen,” said Real midfielder Fede Valverde. “Now everything depends on El Clasico—it’s the game of the year for us.” Madrid, plagued by defensive injuries and still reeling from recent Champions League and Copa del Rey exits, were powered early by 20-year-old playmaker Güler. The Turkish talent opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with a composed finish before assisting Mbappé’s second of the night. The French striker, now on 24 league goals, trails only Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski in the scoring charts. His sharp finishing provided Madrid’s cushion—but not comfort. Javier Rodriguez and Williot Swedberg struck late for Celta, setting up a tense finale. Iago Aspas’ creativity off the bench nearly forced an equalizer, and Courtois narrowly avoided calamity with a late fumble. The win ensures Madrid remain four points behind Barça with one week to go until their season-defining clash.

Chelsea 3-1 Liverpool: Palmer Stars as Blues Dent Champions’ Momentum

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago03 mins

Stamford Bridge, London — May 2, 2025 Chelsea bolstered their Champions League qualification hopes with an impressive 3-1 victory over newly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool on Friday evening. The visitors, managed by Arne Slot, were handed a guard of honour by Chelsea before kick-off in recognition of their title triumph last weekend. However, the Reds’ celebratory mood quickly faded as they were outplayed by a Chelsea side with everything still to fight for. Enzo Fernández opened the scoring for the hosts inside the opening five minutes, capitalising on a slip from Curtis Jones and finishing off a swift counterattack led by Pedro Neto. A second came before half-time when a mix-up in Liverpool’s defence led to Jarell Quansah inadvertently turning the ball into his own net. Despite making six changes to his regular starting lineup, Slot’s side briefly threatened a comeback when captain Virgil van Dijk rose highest to head home from a corner in the second half. But any hopes of a Liverpool revival were short-lived. A misplaced pass from Dominik Szoboszlai allowed Moises Caicedo to intercept and drive forward, drawing a foul from Quansah inside the box. Cole Palmer stepped up and calmly converted the penalty, ending a 12-game goal drought and restoring Chelsea’s two-goal cushion. Palmer also struck the post earlier in the game after a dazzling solo run, underlining his importance in Chelsea’s attacking play. The win lifts the Blues closer to a coveted top-four finish, while Liverpool’s rotated side struggled to find rhythm throughout. Chelsea will now look to build on this momentum in their final fixtures, while Liverpool’s focus shifts to finishing the season strong after their title celebrations.

Nnadozie’s Penalty Heroics End Paris FC’s Trophy Drought

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago05 mins

Nigerian international Chiamaka Nnadozie etched her name into Paris FC’s history books on Saturday night with a match-winning performance that clinched the club’s first major trophy in nearly two decades, as they edged city rivals Paris Saint-Germain 5–4 on penalties to lift the 2025 Coupe de France Féminine. Held at the Stade de l’Épopée in Calais, the tightly contested final ended goalless after 90 minutes of high-intensity action. But it was the 24-year-old goalkeeper’s heroics in the shootout—including two stunning saves—that sealed a historic night for Paris FC. Nnadozie denied Korbin Albert and Jade Le Guilly from the spot, delivering the decisive blow in sudden death and sparking wild celebrations among her teammates and the travelling fans. It marked Nnadozie’s first club silverware in Europe since her move from Nigeria’s Rivers Angels five years ago, where she had already won multiple domestic titles and shone for the Super Falcons on the continental stage. Tactical Battle Ends in Stalemate The final showcased top-quality football, with both sides creating chances. Paris FC nearly struck early, with Gaëtane Thiney narrowly missing the target in the fifth minute, followed by an incisive cross from Elisa de Almeida that just evaded Romée Leuchter. PSG responded with pressure of their own, led by Grace Geyoro and Marie-Antoinette Katoto, but Paris FC’s defensive line, marshaled by Griedge Mbock, held firm. Thiney had a goal ruled out for offside in the 27th minute as the intensity of the derby grew. Both goalkeepers were called into action throughout the match. Nnadozie made a crucial stop in stoppage time, acrobatically tipping Melween’s curling strike over the bar, reaffirming her status as the standout performer on the night. Nnadozie the Shootout Star The shootout began with Théa Gréboval converting for Paris FC. After early exchanges, PSG gained the upper hand when Clara Mateo struck the post. But Nnadozie turned the tide with a full-stretch save to deny Albert, and later stopped Le Guilly in sudden death to seal the 5–4 win. The result ended a 19-year trophy drought for Paris FC, whose last Coupe de France title came in 2005. It was a particularly emotional farewell for Gaëtane Thiney, playing her final cup match, and a crowning achievement for head coach Sandrine Soubeyrand, who steered the team through a formidable cup run. A Rising Legacy Nnadozie’s performance adds to an already glowing résumé. In the 2023–24 UEFA Women’s Champions League, she saved five penalties in eight matches, including key stops against Arsenal, Wolfsburg, and World Cup winner Olga Carmona of Real Madrid. Her international form has been just as commanding. She famously denied Christine Sinclair at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup to help Nigeria earn a crucial draw, and has produced match-saving penalty stops in the Africa Women Cup of Nations qualifiers and 2019 World Cup. With her latest heroics, Chiamaka Nnadozie has not only delivered a long-awaited trophy to Paris FC but also cemented her reputation as one of the world’s top goalkeepers, continuing to elevate African excellence on the global stage.