Liverpool Join Chelsea in Race to Sign Hugo Ekitike From Frankfurt

Liverpool have entered the race to sign Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike, joining Chelsea in pursuit of the highly-rated attacker, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg Liverpool’s new manager Arne Slot is reportedly interested in bringing the 21-year-old to Anfield, with talks already taking place. However, Chelsea, under the leadership of Enzo Maresca, are seen as the frontrunners in the race for Ekitike’s signature. Eintracht Frankfurt have not yet received a formal offer for the player, but reports suggest they could demand up to £83 million (€100 million) for the Frenchman, who impressed last season. The battle between the two Premier League giants could intensify in the coming weeks as both clubs look to strengthen their attacking options.

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Unity Cup: Super Eagles, Black Stars In Explosive Clash in London

Three-time African champions Nigeria and four-time champions Ghana will bring alive the Unity Cup Invitational Tournament in London on Wednesday when both regional rivals clash in the second semi-final of a tournament of immense cultural and sporting relevance. Both teams bring a number of critical elements into the encounter taking place at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium, including a 74-year rivalry in which Ghana have smiled more than Nigeria, but either team has felt like they lost a World War 3 whenever results did not go their way. Until March last year, when they won a friendly match against the Black Stars 2-1 in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, thanks to goals from Cyriel Dessers and Ademola Lookman, the Super Eagles had not beaten their West African foes in 18 years. That was when Taye Taiwo’s shot from a free-kick outside the box condemned the Black Stars to defeat in a group phase encounter in Port Said, at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations. The Black Stars won the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification pitching both teams together, on the away goal rule, and retain the bragging rights of the biggest win in their clashes – a 7-0 spanking of then Red Devils in a Jalco Cup match in Accra on 30th October 1955. Ghana also won the two teams’ only previous clash at Brentford, running away 4-1 victors in a friendly encounter on 6th February 2007. However, the Super Eagles have equally had their day in the sun, such as the 3-0 trashing of the Black Stars in Port Harcourt to earn passage to the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals, and eliminating the Cup holders from the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations. Wednesday’s clash in west London is another opportunity for the Super Eagles to prove their mettle, with Head Coach Eric Chelle having called an interesting blend of home-based talent and boys based overseas. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is expected to be in goal, with Semi Ajayi, Felix Agu, Sodiq Ismaila, Igoh Ogbu, Bruno Onyemaechi, Junior Nduka, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi and Waliu Ojetoye available for slots in the defence, and Frank Onyeka, Wilfred Ndidi, Papa Daniel Mustapha, Saviour Isaac and Collins Ogwueze tugging for the midfield shirts. Christantus Uche was yet to arrive in the team’s Doubletree By Hilton Ealing abode as at Tuesday evening. Ahmed Musa, Simon Moses, Kelechi Iheanacho, Nathan Tella, Cyriel Dessers, Samuel Chukwueze, Sikiru Alimi and Adamu Abubakar are available for Coach Eric Chelle in the fore-line, as Tolu Arokodare, who a few days ago clinched Belgium Pro League’s top scorer award, was scheduled to arrive on Tuesday night and might not feature having not trained with the team. NIGERIA, GHANA IN HISTORY 20 0ct 1951 (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 5 Ghana 0 11 Oct 1953 (Jalco Cup): Ghana 1 Nigeria 0 30 Oct 1954 (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 3 Ghana 0 30 Oct 1955 (Jalco Cup): Ghana 7 Nigeria 0 27 Oct 1956 (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 3 Ghana 0 27 Oct 1957 (Jalco Cup): Ghana 3 Nigeria 3 25 Oct 1958 (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 3 Ghana 2 10 Oct 1959 (Olympics Qualifier): Nigeria 3 Ghana 1 26 Oct 1959 (Olympics Qualifier): Ghana 4 Nigeria 1 22 Nov 1959 (Jalco Cup): Ghana 5 Nigeria 2 28 Aug 1960 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 4 Nigeria 1 10 Sep 1960 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 2 Ghana 2 9 Oct 1960 (Nkrumah Cup): Nigeria 0 Ghana 3 29 Oct 1960 (Zik Cup): Nigeria 1 Ghana 1 8 Apr 1961 (AFCON Qualifier): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0 30 Apr 1961 (AFCON Qualifier): Ghana 2 Nigeria 2 17 Dec 1961 (Friendly): Ghana 5 Nigeria 1 10 Nov 1962 (Friendly): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0 23 Feb 1963 (Nkrumah Cup); Ghana 5 Nigeria 0 30 Oct 1965 (Zik Cup): Nigeria 0 Ghana 4 7 Nov 1965 (Zik Cup): Ghana 3 Nigeria 0 23 Jan 1967 (Zik Cup): Nigeria 2 Ghana 2 12 Feb 1967 (Zik Cup): Ghana 2 Nigeria 0 22 Oct 1967 (Zik Cup): Ghana 2 Nigeria 1 23 Dec 1967 (Zik Cup): Nigeria 2 Ghana 2 10 May 1969 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 2 Ghana 1 18 May 1969 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 1 Nigeria 1 8 Jan 1973 (All-Africa Games): Nigeria 4 Ghana 2 10 Feb 1973 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 2 Ghana 3 – abandoned, match awarded 2-0 to Ghana 25 Feb 1973 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0 11 Aug 1974 (Festival): Nigeria 1 Ghana 0 17 Aug 1974 (Festival): Nigeria 0 Ghana 1 24 Aug 1975 (Festival): Ghana 1 Nigeria 2 30 Aug 1975 (Festival): Ghana 3 Nigeria 0 4 Sep 1977 (Ecowas Cup): Nigeria 2 Ghana 1 8 Mar 1978 (AFCON): Ghana 1 Nigeria 1 21 July 1978 (All-Africa Games): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0 1 May 1983 (ECA Anniversary): Ghana 1 Nigeria 0 15 Oct 1983 (Olympics Qualifier): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0 30 Oct 1983 (Olympics Qualifier): Ghana 1 Nigeria 2 5 Mar 1984 (AFCON): Ghana 1 Nigeria 2 27 July 1986 (Friendly): Ghana 2 Nigeria 0 2 Sep 1990 (AFCON Qualifier): Ghana 1 Nigeria 0 13 Apr 1991 (AFCON Qualifier): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0 23 Jan 1992 (AFCON): Ghana 2 Nigeria 1 9 Mar 1994 (Friendly): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0 28 Aug 1999 (Friendly): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0 11 Mar 2001 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0 29 July 2001 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 3 Ghana 0 3 Feb 2002 (AFCON): Ghana 0 Nigeria 1 15 Dec 2002 (Friendly): Ghana 0 Nigeria 1 30 May 2003 (LG Cup): Nigeria 3 Ghana 1 23 Jan 2006 (AFCON): Ghana 0 Nigeria 1 6 Feb 2007 (Friendly): Ghana 4 Nigeria 1 3 Feb 2008 (AFCON): Ghana 2 Nigeria 1 28 Jan 2010 (AFCON): Ghana 1 Nigeria 0 11 Oct 2011 (Friendly): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0 25 Mar 2022 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0 29 Mar 2022 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 1 Ghana 1 23 Mar 2024 (Friendly): Ghana 1 Nigeria 2

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Gateway Games 2024: Ogun Clinches Mixed Doubles Title in Table Tennis

Host state Ogun added to its medal tally in table tennis at the 22nd National Sports Festival—tagged Gateway Games 2024—by securing gold in the Mixed Doubles category. On Monday, Ogun had already claimed two gold medals in the para table tennis events. Building on that success, the duo of Bode Abiodun and Tosin Oribamishe delivered a stellar performance in the Mixed Doubles final, defeating Bayelsa’s Azeez Solanke and Iyanuoluwa Falana. Their path to the final wasn’t without challenges. In the semifinals, they faced stiff competition from Edo’s Rilwan Akanbi and Aminat Fashola. It was Abiodun’s experience that proved decisive, helping the Ogun team edge out a narrow 3-2 victory to book their place in the final. Unlike the hard-fought semifinal, the final saw a dominant performance from the Ogun pair. They cruised to a straight-sets 3-0 victory over Bayelsa, bringing Ogun’s gold medal count in table tennis to three. Meanwhile, the singles competitions are heating up as they enter a critical stage. Defending women’s singles champion Fatimo Bello of Delta has confidently declared her intent to retain the title. “Expect a different performance in this festival because nothing can stop me from retaining the title. It’s going to be tougher this year, but I’m fully ready for any opponent here in Abeokuta,” said Bello. The men’s singles event promises a fierce contest with more than ten top contenders, including foreign-based stars such as Olajide Omotayo, Bode Abiodun, Taiwo Mati, Bode Kayode, and Azeez Solanke. They will be joined by local talents like Matthew Kuti and Abdulbasit Abdulfatai, as well as defending champion Amadi Omeh of Edo. Chairman of the Lagos State Table Tennis Association (LSTTA), Tunji Lawal, praised the organizers and emphasized the importance of talent identification at the festival. “I must commend the Ogun State government for putting on a great show. The turnout for the table tennis event has been impressive. With more players participating, we increase our chances of discovering new talent. This is a promising development for the sport in Nigeria. Hopefully, we can find the next Quadri Aruna at this year’s Gateway Games,” Lawal stated.

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Unity Cup 2025: Africa Meets The Caribbean in London on GOtv

The 2025 edition of the Unity Cup kicks off today in London. The competition returns after 21 years, ready to deliver a week of football, culture, and community. Running from May 27 to 31 at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, the tournament features four national teams: Nigeria, Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago, each competing in a straight knockout format. It’s football with flair, backed by a deeper mission: celebrating the enduring ties between Africa and the Caribbean. Today’s opener sees Trinidad & Tobago face Jamaica at 7:45 pm, while tomorrow brings a blockbuster clash between long-time West African rivals Nigeria and Ghana at 7 pm. Winners advance to the final on May 31, with a third-place playoff earlier that day. But Unity Cup 2025 is more than a sporting contest. It doubles as a diaspora culture festival, with music, food, and performances that reflect the richness of African and Caribbean heritage, especially among UK-based communities. Launched in 2002 to promote unity through sport, the tournament returns at a time when questions of identity, solidarity, and representation feel more urgent than ever. Its comeback is both timely and symbolic. For participating teams, the stakes go beyond pride. Nigeria, for example, sees the Unity Cup as a valuable warm-up ahead of their FIFA World Cup qualifiers, giving the coaching crew a chance to test combinations and sharpen the team’s rhythm. With top-level football, carnival-like atmosphere, and GOtv bringing it straight to your screen, Unity Cup 2025 is shaping up to be an unforgettable celebration of connection, on and off the pitch. Stay tuned to GOtv for match details and coverage updates.

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Car Collides With Pedestrians Near Liverpool Victory Parade

A man has been detained after a car collided with pedestrians in Liverpool city centre during Liverpool FC’s Premier League victory parade. Emergency services descended on Water Street after Merseyside Police were contacted just after 6pm on Monday with reports of the incident. The car stopped at the scene and a man was detained. The Prime Minister and the Home Secretary are being kept updated about the events, the PA news agency understands. People were injured in the incident, with images capturing someone being taken away on a stretcher and a man walking with his arm around a police officer for support. Footage showed police cordons in place around the heavily littered road, with a large police presence, ambulances and a fire engine also at the scene. A spokesperson for the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said: “We are currently assessing the situation and working with other members of the emergency services. “Our priority is to ensure people receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible.” Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson, whose seat includes the city centre, said: “I sincerely hope all those involved are safe and get home to their loved ones soon.” While a spokesman for Liverpool City Council confirmed the local authority is liaising with police about the incident. Liverpool FC held an open-top bus parade to celebrate its Premier League triumph, with fans lining the streets along the 10-mile route. Councillor John Hughes estimated in excess of one million people were attending, beating the 750,000 present for the 2019 Champions League parade. Hundreds ignored police advice not to climb on structures – or adhere to the ‘no pyro’ request – as every vantage point, ranging from multi-storey car parks, scaffolding, rooftops, on top of petrol stations, traffic lights and lamp posts, was taken.

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Villa Denied Champions League Spot After Controversial Loss to Man United

Manchester United dashed Aston Villa’s Champions League dreams with a 2-0 win on the final day of the Premier League season, a match marred by controversial refereeing decisions that left Villa furious. Despite United’s struggles throughout the season, they surprisingly dominated the opening half against a Villa side fighting for a top-five finish. Villa’s hopes were further dented when goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez received a red card just before the break. Villa thought they had snatched a lifeline in the 72nd minute when Morgan Rogers bundled the ball into the net, but referee Thomas Bramall controversially ruled it out for a foul on United’s goalkeeper, Altay Bayindir. Moments later, Amad Diallo headed United into the lead, compounding Villa’s frustration. A late Christian Eriksen penalty sealed the result, leaving United in 15th and Villa to settle for a Europa League place despite a season that had promised so much more. Villa’s manager Unai Emery was left fuming after the final whistle, while United ended a poor season on a rare high, albeit with questions over the refereeing that shaped the game’s outcome.

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Super Eagles, Super Falcons Camps Bubble!

Ahead of different international friendly games, the camps of Nigeria’s senior teams (Super Eagles and Super Falcons) have come alive with most invited players already in. As at 18: 55hrs on Monday, 18 of the 23 Super Falcons invited for the friendly matches against Cameroon (31st May at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo and 3rd June at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta) had arrived at the team’s Am2pm Hotel in Ijebu-Ode. At about the same time, on the same day, 22 of the 26 Super Eagles invited for the Unity Cup Invitational Tournament in London had arrived at the team’s Doubletree Hilton Ealing. The Eagles take on the Black Stars of Ghana at the Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford on Wednesday, 28th May and then play a second match at the same venue on Saturday 31st May. The opponent will be determined by their result against the Black Stars, and the result of the 27th May clash between Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago. SUPER FALCONS IN IJEBU-ODE Rasheedat Ajibade, Michelle Alozie, Toni Payne, Francisca Ordega, Omorinsola Babajide, Rofiat Imuran, Oluwatosin Demehin, Olamide Bolaji, Josephine Mathias, Sikiratu Isah, Jennifer Echegini, Osinachi Ohale, Amarachi Odoma, Morufa Ademola, Miracle Usani, Emem Essien, Blessing Ilivieda, Linda Jiwuaku SUPER EAGLES IN LONDON Ahmed Musa, Simon Moses, Kelechi Iheanacho, Semi Ajayi, Frank Onyeka, Nathan Tella, Cyriel Dessers, Felix Agu, Igoh Ogbu, Wilfred Ndidi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Junior Harrison Nduka, Sodiq Ismaila, Waliu Ojetoye, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, Papa Daniel Mustapha, Saviour Isaac, Collins Ogwueze, Sikiru Alimi, Adamu Abubakar, Stanley Nwabali, Samuel Chukwueze

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Oshodi Seeks Re-Election as ITTF Executive Vice President

Nigeria’s Wahid Enitan Oshodi will be among 17 global candidates vying for eight available positions as Executive Vice Presidents of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) on Tuesday, May 27, in Doha, Qatar. The election will take place during the ITTF Annual General Meeting. All candidates have been vetted and approved by the Nominations Committee following the ITTF Electoral and Appointment Regulations, following their meeting on March 6, 2025. Oshodi, one of four incumbents seeking re-election, is widely regarded as a strong contender due to his significant contributions during his first term on the Executive Board. His leadership and diplomacy have earned him respect within the global table tennis community. In 2024, Oshodi was elected President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ITTF Africa), further cementing his influence in the sport. He played a pivotal role in resolving tensions between World Table Tennis (WTT) and the athletes’ community, enhancing his reputation as a unifying figure. Other candidates for the Executive Vice President positions include: Hajera Hajee (South Africa), Robert Jjagwe (Uganda), Ayman Ali (Sudan), Beatrice Romanescu (Romania), Paul Calle (Ecuador), Ichiro Hoshino (Japan), Imre Kovacsics (Hungary), Veli Ozan Cakir (Turkey), Alaor Azevedo (Brazil), Alaa Meshref (Egypt), Anthony Moore (Australia), Liu Guoliang (China), Stefano Bosi (Italy), Princess Zeina Rashid (Jordan), Virginia Sung (USA) and Ryu Seungmin (South Korea). Meanwhile, Andrew Mudibo (Kenya), Elhajji Monqid (Morocco), and Lotfi Guerfel (Tunisia) have withdrawn their candidacies. In addition to the Vice Presidential race, the ITTF Presidential election will also take place, featuring three candidates: incumbent Petra Sörling (Sweden), Khalil Al-Mohannadi (Qatar), and newcomer Mohamed El Hacen Ahmed Salem (Mauritania). Sörling, the first female ITTF President, was elected in 2021 during a turbulent period marked by the global pandemic and geopolitical tensions. Her tenure has been credited with stabilising the federation’s finances and promoting unity through sport. She also became the first ITTF President to earn a seat on the International Olympic Committee (IOC), a milestone that has elevated the sport’s global profile. Backed by major sporting nations, Sörling is seeking a second term to build on the momentum of the past four years and continue advancing the sport worldwide. The ITTF, with 227 member associations, remains the largest sports federation globally, and the upcoming elections are expected to shape the future of table tennis for years to come.

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