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Category: Sports

Alexander-Arnold Says He Will Always Love Liverpool No Matter the Reception

Fola Badmus04 mins

Trent Alexander-Arnold says he will always love Liverpool regardless of how he is received at Anfield when Real Madrid face his former club in the Champions League on Tuesday. The 27-year-old defender is expected to be included in Real Madrid’s squad for the clash after recovering from a hamstring injury. Speaking to Prime Video Sport ahead of the match, Alexander-Arnold said: “When the draw was announced, I think everyone kind of knew it was going to happen — it was destined for that fixture to come. Obviously, they’re a top team, so I knew at some point I’d end up going back there or playing against Liverpool. It’s happening so soon. Mixed emotions. I think it’ll be a very, very difficult game but one that I’m excited for.” Alexander-Arnold said he will not celebrate if he scores and addressed the reception he expects from Liverpool fans, adding: “Whatever way I’m received is the decision of the fans. I’ll always love the club, I’ll always be a fan of the club. I’ll always be thankful for the opportunities and the things we achieved together – they’ll live with me forever. No matter what, my feelings won’t change towards Liverpool. I’ve got memories there that will last me a lifetime and, no matter how I’m received, that won’t change.” The right-back’s move to Madrid reunited him with England team-mate Jude Bellingham, who he admitted played a key role in convincing him to join the Spanish giants. “There was a lot of speculation, the ‘agent Jude’ stuff,” Alexander-Arnold said. “It was more so in his first season (at Real), we’d meet up at England camps and everyone would want to know what it was like behind the scenes. “He said it was incredible, and he’d never seen anything like it. The drive from the whole club to win and the expectation to win. He talked so highly of the club, and I’d made my mind up at the end of the day, I needed a change for me. I wanted a new challenge on and off the pitch.”

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Ronaldo Rejects Claims Messi Is The Greatest Of All Time

Wale busari01 mins

Cristiano Ronaldo has downplayed suggestions that Lionel Messi is the greatest footballer of all time. During an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, the Al Nassr star said he does not accept claims that the Argentine is better than him. “Messi better than me? I don’t agree with that opinion,” said the 40-year-old. “I don’t want to be humble.” The long-standing rivalry between the two icons has divided football fans for nearly 20 years. Both have dominated world football with numerous titles for club and country, though Messi holds eight Ballon d’Or awards compared to Ronaldo’s five.

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Basketball: Rivers Hoopers End 2025 Final Eight Playoffs with Comfortable Win Over Falcons

Wale busari06 mins

Kelvin Amayo dropped seventeen (17) points to lead Rivers Hoopers to an 83-69 victory over Kwara Falcons, as the defending champions wrapped up their 2025 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Final Eight Playoffs in comfortable fashion. Amayo, who missed Rivers Hoopers’ loss to Lagos Legends due to fitness concerns, put up a commanding performance against Kwara Falcons which included a game-high five (5) assists as well as five (5) rebounds. With a record of six losses from six games at the Final Eight Playoffs and having already suffered three straight defeats to Rivers Hoopers during the Group and Inter-Group Phases, 2022 champions Kwara Falcons entered the game with nothing but pride to play for and started brightly to take the first quarter 16-19. But once Mustapha Oyebanji shot from a distance to tie the game upon resumption for the second quarter, and Peter Olisemeka made a three-point play, scoring a layup and a foul, the KingsMen took total control of the game until full-time. The reigning champions carried an eleven-point lead into the half-time break (45-34), then Kwara Falcons reduced the margin to seven points at the end of the third quarter (63-56), before the hosts eventually wrapped up the game fourteen points better than their opponents (83-69). Aside from Amayo, three other KingsMen also notched double digits for points, as Oyebanji dropped fourteen (14) points, which included four (4) three-pointers; Malik Miller scored thirteen (13) along with seven (7) rebounds; and Buchi Nwaiwu put up ten points as well as six (6) rebounds. The Rivers Hoopers bench chipped in with forty-three (43) points in a performance which was pleasing for Head Coach Ogoh Odaudu. “We’re happy we made the Final Four; that was our target right from the beginning, and we’ve done that. [But] it’s not over yet; we are going to take a couple of days off, get some rest, and then come back and try to fix all the things we didn’t quite do well on this Final Eight,” he said. Through the Final Eight, the KingsMen displayed the best offensive efficiency, but the seasoned gaffer thinks his team has work to do on the defensive end. “Well, we’ve been talking about it a lot. I emphasise every day about rebounds and what we need to do. We have to make stops, we have to box out, and we have to play help defense. As a unit we have to play better defense, and that’s mostly what we’re going to be working on. We have two to three weeks between now and the Final Four, so we’re going to make sure that before jump ball we’ll be fine,” he insisted. The Final Four, which will crown Nigeria’s basketball kings for 2025, will see Rivers Hoopers attempt to successfully defend their title for the second year running against the likes of Lagos Legends, Gboko City Chiefs, and Nigeria Customs. Looking ahead to the Final Four, 2024 NPBL Finals Most Valuable Player Kelvin Amayo promised a better showing. “I came [into the team] the day before the Final Eight, so we had a plan to get me going little by little. Every single day I feel like I was getting better and in better shape, and today I feel like I was good and pushed myself even more. Now there’s two weeks, and you’ll see a bigger show in the Final Four,” said Amayo. The 2025 NPBL Final Four is slated to hold between 20-24 November, 2025. Games will be played in a round robin format, with all teams playing once against the other three teams.

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Haaland Double Fires Manchester City Past Bournemouth To Extend Home Dominance

Wale busari03 mins

Manchester City returned to winning ways with an emphatic performance at the Etihad, easing past Bournemouth to continue their climb back into title contention. Pep Guardiola’s side, who had suffered a disappointing defeat at Aston Villa in their last league outing, have now strung together two consecutive victories — first cruising past Swansea in the Carabao Cup, and now overpowering a Bournemouth team that has been in fine form this season. City were in complete control throughout, extending their perfect Premier League home record against Bournemouth to nine wins in nine meetings. Erling Haaland was once again the difference-maker, netting twice to take his league tally to 13 goals this season. The Norwegian striker finished both chances with trademark composure after being set up by two brilliant passes from Rayan Cherki, who ran the show in midfield. Haaland’s double saw him join Robbie Fowler and Luis Suárez as only the third player to score two or more goals in four consecutive Premier League home appearances. He could have had a hat-trick but missed further opportunities before being substituted for Omar Marmoush late in the game. Young defender Nico O’Reilly added a third goal to put the result beyond doubt, driving home a precise pass from Phil Foden — who was making his 200th league appearance for the club. Rodri returned to action after a month on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, while substitute Tijjani Reijnders also threatened with a late strike that forced a fine save from Djordje Petrovic. With Arsenal currently setting the pace in the title race, Manchester City’s sharp response after their Villa defeat suggests the champions are rediscovering the form that made them the dominant force in English football.

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Flying Eagles Coach Lands Egyptian Club Deal

Fola Badmus02 mins

The Head Coach of the Flying Eagles of Nigeria Aliyu Zubair, has joined Telecom Egypt SC as the Coach of the Egyptian second division league side. The coach, who recently led the Nigerian team to the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, was unveiled by the Egyptian side in a two-year deal.   Zubair was unveiled by the club leadership at their headquarters in Cairo, the capital of Egypt.   The appointment comes off solid coaching credentials and his track records from leading the Kwara United youth team in his home town of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, to handling the National U20 team.   He is reputed for the promotion of two different teams: Gombe United in 2021 and Elkanemi Warriors in 2024, to the top-flight league in Nigeria from the second division.   Zubair also led Elkanemi Warriors of Maiduguri to win Nigeria’s most prestigious and oldest tournament, President Federation Cup, in 2024, an achievement he had earlier recorded as an Assistant Coach when Akwa United won the FA Cup trophy.  

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Basketball: KingsMen Overcome Spartans to Seal Final Four Spot

Fola Badmus07 mins

Isaiah Williams scored nineteen (19) points, including five (5) out of seven threes, as reigning champions Rivers Hoopers put their narrow loss to Lagos Legends behind them by recording an 86-83 victory over Nile University Spartans on day six of the Nigeria Premier Basketball League Final Eight Playoffs on Saturday night. Following defeat to Lagos Legends in overtime on Friday, Peter Olisemeka said the KingsMen would look to regroup and come back stronger, and the team put up a composed performance to see off a tenacious Nile University team. The game opened with explosive shooting from range and end-to-end action as both teams looked to rebound from their respective losses on day five of the Final Eight Playoffs (Nile lost to Gboko City Chiefs on day five) and produced the highest-scoring quarter at the 2025 NPBL Final Eight Playoffs as Nile University took a slim 29-28 lead at the end of the first quarter. Rivers Hoopers took control of proceedings in the second quarter, with Isaiah Williams particularly instrumental as he scored ten of his team-leading nineteen points to ensure the hosts went into the break with a seven-point advantage at 49-42. Despite a late push from the Spartans, the KingsMen took full charge of the game and never trailed again and protected their lead to earn a fifth win from six games at the Final Eight Playoffs and returned to the top of the standings. Rivers Hoopers Head Coach Ogoh Odaudu was pleased with his team’s execution of their game plan. “Yes! I am very pleased because in the previous games we lost leads like that. But today they (the players) were very composed, and we were doing the things that we were supposed to do. We knew when to slow the ball down, we knew when to push it, and you could see that they were making many extra passes today. So, it is something I’m really pleased with, and I hope we’re going to continue playing like this and close out games strongly.” Olisemeka chipped in with nine (9) points and six (6) rebounds; Mustapha Oyebanji and Kelvin Amayo also had nine (9) points each, while John Idoga put up ten (10) points, and Buchi Nwaiwu contributed eight (8) points along with twelve (12) rebounds and five (5) steals. Nwaiwu and Idoga also shot one hundred per cent from the free throw line. Having come through tough battles against lesser fancied sides, Odaudu also acknowledged the growing level of competition in the NPBL. “We’re happy with the win, but like I’ve always said and will keep saying, the level of basketball [in Nigeria] has gone up. All the teams have risen up. There’s no such thing as coming to blow out any other team again. It’s not a situation where you can predict anything. All the teams are equal to the task, and on any day that you do not step up, you’re going to get surprised. The Rivers Hoopers bench contributed thirty-two (32) points during the KingsMen’s victory over Nile University Spartans, and with qualification for the Final Four secured, Odaudu said he expects to see them feature prominently in the team’s final game at the Playoffs. “We’re going to see a lot of them tomorrow. We’re not taking anything away from Kwara Falcons; we’ve played and beaten them a couple of times. But this time around we’re still going to make sure that we finish strong. But of course the people on the bench are going to get some minutes tomorrow, so we’re going to see a different mix of people on the court.” Up next, Rivers Hoopers will play against Kwara Falcons (the only team yet to win a game at this year’s Playoffs) by 5pm on Sunday, 2nd November, 2025. Day 7 – Sunday, 2nd November 11:00am: Hoops & Read vs Gboko City Chiefs 1:00pm: Nigeria Customs vs Kano Pillars 3:00pm: Nile University vs Lagos Legends 5:00pm: Rivers Hoopers vs Kwara Falcons All games will be played at the Basketball Stadium, #59 Niger Street, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

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Wolves Sack Vitor Pereira After Winless Run Leaves Club Bottom Of EPL

Wale busari03 mins

Wolverhampton Wanderers have sacked head coach Vitor Pereira after a woeful run of results left the club bottom of the Premier League table and without a single win this season. Pereira’s final game in charge was Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Fulham — a performance he admitted was Wolves’ “worst” since his arrival. The loss extended their winless streak to 10 league matches, with only two points collected so far. The 57-year-old Portuguese coach signed a contract extension in September, keeping him at Molineux until 2028, but growing frustration among fans and a lack of progress made his position untenable. Wolves also suffered a 4-3 defeat to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup last week, crashing out at the round of 16. Pereira joined the club in December 2024 after the dismissal of Gary O’Neil, when Wolves sat 19th in the Premier League with just six points from their first 19 matches. He initially revived their fortunes, leading them to safety with a 16th-place finish thanks to ten wins in their final 22 games. That momentum soon faded. Following a six-game winning streak in April, Wolves have now gone 14 league matches without victory — losing 11 of those fixtures, including back-to-back defeats to Burnley and Fulham. Tensions between Pereira and the supporters boiled over last weekend when he appeared to argue with fans after the late loss to Burnley, amid chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning.” The same chants echoed at Craven Cottage a week later. “Two months ago they sang my name because of what we did last season,” Pereira said after the Burnley match. “Now, without results, they sing my name maybe to sack me. But if I were a supporter, I would still feel proud of my team because they worked and showed mentality.” Wolves’ problems deepened over the summer when key players Rayan Aït-Nouri and Matheus Cunha departed for Manchester City and Manchester United respectively. Despite adding seven new signings, Pereira failed to steady the team’s decline, leading to his dismissal.

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Liverpool End Losing Streak as Van Dijk Slams Ridiculous Takes, Outside Noise After Win Over Aston Villa

Fola Badmus03 mins

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has criticised what he called “absolutely ridiculous takes” and negative “outside noise” following the Reds’ 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at Anfield — a win that ended their four-game Premier League losing streak. Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Van Dijk admitted the recent run of poor form had been difficult but praised his teammates for sticking together amid intense public and media criticism. “There is a lot of noise that you have no control over,” Van Dijk said. “Some of those takes are absolutely ridiculous. It’s about sticking together. We’re not going out there to lose games or disappoint fans — we work our socks off to win. But there’s no guarantee in this league. You have to stay calm and keep working.” The Dutch defender also reflected on how quickly the narrative around the team has shifted compared to last season. “Last season everything was sunshine and rainbows. Now, from the outside world, it sounds like we’re in a relegation battle — that’s how it works in football,” he added. Liverpool manager Arne Slot also acknowledged the crucial role played by the home fans, saying their backing lifted the players during a difficult spell. “The support means a lot, especially when things are tough,” Slot said. “It shows what makes this club special — the fans stand by the team even when we’re struggling.” The win provides much-needed relief for Liverpool after a run of six defeats in seven games across all competitions, restoring confidence as they aim to climb back up the Premier League table.

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