
SPORTS
Ahmed Musa has called on his Super Eagles teammates to give their all in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin.
Musa reckoned it is important for the team to win the two games after a slow start in the qualifiers.
”Everyone knows the importance of both games, the players understand what’s at stake and I will want them to go all out and win both games,” the former Leicester told SCORENigeria
“I am upbeat they will do this.”
The Super Eagles will welcome Bafana Bafana of South Africa to Uyo on Friday June 7, before they fly out three days later for another World Cup qualifier against Benin in Abidjan.
The Super Eagles are third in Group C with two points from as many matches.
Nigerian iconic table tennis star, Quadri Aruna has reclaimed his spot as the number one table tennis player in Africa.
Recall that Quadri Aruna had a difficult first quarter of the year which forced him to lose the first spot on the continent for two months.
According to the latest ITTF rankings released by the world table tennis ruling body on Tuesday, May 28, Aruna is currently the 17th-ranked table tennis player in the world, and first-ranked in Africa.
The 35-year-old table-tennis icon displaced Omar Assar of Egypt who has now dropped to the second spot in Africa and 22nd spot in the world.
Recall that Assar took the first spot and remained there for two months after winning the 2024 African Games in Ghana.
The Egyptian lost points after the expiration of the quarter-final points he earned at the Durban 2023 World Championships in South Africa.
Egypt’s Mohamed El-Beiali is the third-best player in Africa and he is ranked 49th in the world after losing 4-0 to Quadri Aruna at the 2024 ITTF Africa Cup.
For women’s table tennis, Dina Meshref from Egypt remains the highest-ranked African player according to the latest ranking of the ITTF. She is ranked 24 in the world.
She is closely followed on the continent by her countrywoman, Hana Goda who is currently ranked 31st in the world.
The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria have failed to qualify for the U-17 Nations Cup despite beating Ghana 3-2 to win the bronze medal at the WAFU B tournament, which serves as the qualifiers for the competition.
Imrana Muhammad opened the scoring for Nigeria in the ninth minute following a goal mouth scramble.
Ghana restored parity when a Golden Eaglets defender diverted the ball into his own net.
Ghana took the lead for the first time in the game in the 27th minute when Harve Gbafa profited from a defensive blunder to beat goalkeeper Dominic Chinedu in goal for Nigeria.
Adeleke brought Nigeria back into the game before scoring a last minute winner to hand the Golden Eaglets a deserved 3-2 win.
The Confederation of African Football has clarified that next year’s Africa U17 Cup of Nations will still have 12 finalists in attendance, as against the minimum of 16 teams being projected by African football enthusiasts.
This means that despite defeating host nation Ghana in Tuesday’s third-place match of the WAFU B U17 Championship, the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria have not qualified for the finals.
CAF’s Director of Competitions, Samson Adamu confirmed that the final competition will have 12 teams and not 16, meaning the Golden Eaglets will miss out on the U-17 Nations Cup and ultimately the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
He said: “The final tournament will still have 12 teams.”
Expectations had been high among African football aficionados that the 2025 Africa U17 Cup of Nations would be expanded, following FIFA’s allocation, at its Congress in Bangkok, penultimate week, of 10 slots to the continent for the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup that Qatar has been designated to host.
Qatar will host five consecutive FIFA U17 World Cup finals beginning next year, each having 48 teams in attendance.
Nigerian striker Asisat Oshoala has won the best goal for the UEFA Women’s Champions League 2023/24 season, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Oshoala netted a stunning bicycle kick in Barcelona’s 5-0 win over Benfica in their opening group game en route to the Catalans claiming the Champions League for the second consecutive season.
With the Blaugrana already 4-0 up, Jonatan Giráldez sent the reigning Women’s African Footballer of The Year and she wasted no time in making her mark in the game, scoring the last goal of the encounter in style – her only goal of the competition.
She thereafter made a mid-season move to American side, Bay FC.
UEFA on Monday announced that Oshoala’s goal was the best among other goals selected.
“The top 10 goals of the 2023/24 UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign have been selected by UEFA’s Technical Observer panel, with Nigerian forward Asisat Oshoala taking the prize for Goal of the Season thanks to her stunning bicycle kick for Barcelona against Benfica on Matchday 1,” UEFA wrote on their website.
“Also for Barça, midfielder Aitana Bonmatí took second spot for her bending effort in the quarter-finals second-leg win against Brann, while Lyon’s Delphine Cascarino came third for her long-range strike in the quarter-finals second-leg victory over Benfica.”
Oshoala made history with Barcelona Femení by becoming the first African to win three UEFA Women’s Champions League titles.
The 29-year-old received a winner’s medal despite her mid-season transfer to Bay FC in the United States. The Super Falcons striker contributed to Barcelona’s Champions League campaign by playing in two group-stage matches and scoring once before her move.
Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, has dropped the biggest hint that he could leave Chippa United this summer.
Nwabali burst onto the scene at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in January this year.
The 27-year-old goalkeeper finished the competition with four clean sheets in seven appearances.
He also made two penalty saves in the shoot-out against South Africa in the quarterfinals.
This season, Nwabali has kept 11 clean sheets for Chippa United in 26 appearances.
Following his impressive performances, Nwabali has become a target for clubs abroad.
Saudi Pro League club Al Ettifaq, English Championship side Queens Park Rangers, and South African side Kaizer Chiefs have all been linked.
Following the final game of the season – a 2-0 defeat to Orlando Pirate – Nwabali dropped a hint on his future.
“Well, everyone would love to leave because when you are in some position, you need to grow,” said Nwabali.
“Like everyone in my position, I would like to grow more. I’m talking about clubs higher than this [bigger than Chippa United] because I have been giving my all to my club this season.
“I just wish to have another challenge at some other place,” Nwabali said.
[DailyPost]
Cristiano Ronaldo broke the record for the most goals in a Saudi Pro League season when he struck for the 34th and 35th time in Al Nassr’s final game of the campaign.
“I don’t follow the records, the records follow me,” the 39-year-old Portuguese forward tweeted afterward.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star struck in first-half stoppage time and again in the 69th minute with a header as Al Nassr defeated Al Ittihad 4-2 at home on Monday.
The previous record for most goals in a single season was the 34 scored by the Moroccan Abderrazak Hamdallah in 2018-19.
Al Nassr were already assured of a second-placed finish, coming a distant 14 points behind champions Al Hilal.
Ronaldo joined Riyadh-based Al Nassr in December 2022, the start of an influx of overseas players to the Saudi league on lucrative contracts.
Ronaldo, who led Portugal to victory at the 2016 Euros, has been selected for the squad for this year’s edition in Germany next month — his 11th international tournament.
He is the most capped player in men’s international football with 206 appearances and has scored a record 128 goals.
AFP
Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen has been named in the Serie A team of the 2023-24 season following his impressive performances for Napoli .
This is the second consecutive season Osimhen will be named in the team of the year after he played a pivotal role in Napoli’s title-winning campaign in the 2022-23 season.
He scored 26 goals in 32 Serie A appearances to win the league’s top scorer award.
Osimhen was included in the 23-man list announced on Serie A’s social media accounts on Sunday.
Despite Napoli’s poor defence of the Serie A title, Osimhen has distinguished himself with a series of match-winning performances.
Osimhen’s season has been blighted by injuries and he also missed one month of action due to his participation in the African Cup of Nations, where he led the Super Eagles to a silver medal finish in Ivory Coast.
The 26-year-old has scored 15 goals and recorded three assists in 24 Serie A appearances for Napoli this season.
He is currently the third highest goal scorer in the league behind Lautaro Martinez and Dusan Vlahovic, who have scored 24 and 16 goals respectively.
Napoli have endured a poor 2023-24 season, finishing 10th on the table which made them miss out on European competition.
Manchester United legend, Roy Keane has called on the club to support manager Erik ten Hag after he led the team to victory in the FA Cup final on Saturday amid speculations the Dutchman could be sacked in the coming days.
Ten Hag’s future at Man United is still unclear despite winning the FA Cup after his side’s 2-1 win over Man City in the final at Wembley Stadium.
Speaking to ITV Sport, Keane stated, “We don’t know if a decision has been made, we know the pressure the manager is under and the questions before the game.
“It’s always difficult when you are preparing for a cup final. In football you have to enjoy these moments, the staff, the players, the supporters. And then cross the bridge when it comes to it.
“The manager has done his job today. Beating Man City in an FA Cup final is an extra bonus. Fingers crossed they support the manager.”
Recall that two goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo gave Ten Hag’s side the victory over City as Jeremy Doku’s goal was not enough for the Premier League champion.
[DailyPost]
2026 FIFA WCQ: Finidi Lists Lookman, Osimhen, Nwabali, Ndidi, 19 Others For Bafana, Cheetahs
AFOLABINigeria’s Head Coach, Finidi George, has picked rave-of-the-moment Ademola Lookman, African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen and safe hands Stanley Nwabali among a crop of 23 players who will do battle with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana and the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
George also selected goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, England-based defenders Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi and Alhassan Yusuf, and forwards Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface and Terem Moffi.
Remo Stars’ hard-as-nails defender Sadiq Ismael is called for the first time, with Turkey-based midfielder Fisayo Bashiru, Bayer Leverkusen of Germany’s Nathan Tella and lanky forward Paul Onuachu also called.
Nigeria confront South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Friday, 7th June starting from 8pm, and then fly to Abidjan to tackle Benin Republic at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Monday, 10th June starting from 4pm CIV time (5pm Nigeria time).
Full List
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)
Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Sadiq Ismael (Remo Stars FC); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Benjamin Tanimu (Ihefu SC, Tanzania)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayspor, Turkey)
Forwards: Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France)
More...
Kylian Mbappe played his last match for Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday, winning the French Cup against Lyon.
The Ligue 1 champions won 2-1, thanks to goals from Ousmane Dembele and Fabio Ruiz.
Jake O’Biren pulled one back for Lyon in the second, before PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a superb save minutes later.
PSG, who are the Ligue 1 and French Super Cup champions, have now secured a record-extending 15th Cup title and first since 2021.
However, they were only able to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, where Borussia Dortmund eliminated them.
Mbappe leaves as a free agent and is widely expected to sign for Real Madrid.
Adam Idah scored a 90th-minute winner as Celtic beat Glasgow rivals Rangers 1-0 on Saturday to lift the Scottish Cup and complete a league and cup double.
A scrappy game was decided by an error as Jack Butland fumbled Paulo Bernardo’s effort and Idah pounced for his ninth goal of a loan spell from Norwich.
“I said I’d come here to try and score as many goals as I could, I didn’t think I’d score a goal like this in front of all these fans. It’s an amazing feeling,” said Idah, who only made the move to Glasgow in January.
People Talk: On sale of new Naira notes at Nigerian parties0:00 / 1:00
“It’s hard to put into words. Anyone here can see what it means to the fans, to the players. I’ve always supported Celtic, it’s amazing!”
Rangers thought they had taken the lead earlier in the second half when Abdallah Sima turned home a corner at the far post.
But after a VAR review, Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart was handed a reprieve in the final match of his career as the former England international had been pushed by Nico Raskin.
Celtic were far from their best but maintained their unbeaten record in five meetings against Rangers this season, which has also secured them direct qualification for next season’s Champions League by winning the Scottish Premiership.
Victory also continued Brendan Rodgers’ remarkable Scottish Cup record across two spells in charge of the Hoops.
Rodgers has never lost a Scottish Cup tie in 17 matches and takes his trophy haul as a Celtic boss to nine in three-and-a-half seasons.
Celtic’s win also has historical significance as they move level with Rangers’ total of 118 trophies.
The head-to-head between the clubs is also now level after 441 meetings with 169 wins each and 103 draws.
Erik ten Hag made a convincing case to be spared the sack as Manchester United upset Manchester City to take the FA Cup with a shock 2-1 victory in Saturday’s final.
Ten Hag was reportedly set to be dismissed regardless of the result at Wembley after a troubled campaign that even the United manager described as “terrible” this week.
But United’s hierarchy might be having second thoughts after Ten Hag’s tactical masterclass ruined City’s history bid.
City were hot favourites to win a second successive Premier League and FA Cup double.
Yet Ten Hag found a way to neutralise Pep Guardiola’s side as first half goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo put United on course to win the FA Cup for the first time in eight years.
Jeremy Doku squeezed an 87th minute strike past Andre Onana’s weak attempted save but it was too late to rescue City.
Having ended a turbulent season on a high note, if Ten Hag’s two-year reign does end, his exit would provoke memories of fellow Dutchman Louis van Gaal’s Old Trafford departure.
Van Gaal was fired just two days after United’s FA Cup final victory against Crystal Palace in 2016.
Ten Hag will hope a more apt comparison is Alex Ferguson’s 1990 FA Cup final win against Palace, which kick-started his remarkable run after calls for his sacking earlier that season.
Ferguson was in attendance as a match labelled Ten Hag’s funeral turned into a triumph for the much-maligned Dutchman.
United shareholder Jim Ratcliffe, who has control of football operations at Old Trafford, was also watching from the stands alongside co-owners Joel and Avie Glazer.
Linked with Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino and Gareth Southgate, among others, there is still plenty for Ratcliffe to ponder after United finished eighth in the Premier League this season — their lowest final position since 1990 — and crashed out of the Champions League in the group stage.
Ten Hag believes a lengthy injury list was the root of the problems and can point to the two trophies he has won in three cup final appearances with United as proof of what he can do when his team are at full strength.
Ten Hag ended United’s six-year trophy drought by winning the League Cup last year and has now avenged their 2-1 loss to City in the FA Cup final 12 months ago despite finishing 31 points behind the champions this term.
– Stay of execution –
United will also qualify for the Europa League, avoiding a first season without European action since 2014-15.
They benefitted from an unusually tepid City performance as their double bid fell flat in their first domestic defeat since losing at Aston Villa in the league 171 days ago.
Last weekend, City became the first team to win the Premier League in four consecutive seasons.
But Guardiola’s men looked hungover after the celebrations that followed their sixth title in seven years.
City were furious when their strong penalty appeal was rejected inside the first minute after Lisandro Martinez’s shove sent Erling Haaland sprawling.
Content to sit deep with all 11 men behind the ball, United stifled City impressively and gleefully accepted their gift-wrapped opener in the 30th minute.
Diogo Dalot’s punt forward should have been dealt with by Josko Gvardiol, but the left-back hesitated as he looked for an offside flag.
Gvardiol headed the ball over City keeper Stefan Ortega, who had rashly rushed off his line, leaving Garnacho with the simple task of tapping into the empty net as Ten Hag clenched his fist in celebration.
Garnacho, 19, was the first teenager to score in the FA Cup final since Cristiano Ronaldo for United against Millwall 20 years ago.
Just nine minutes later, the 19-year-old Mainoo punished more sloppy City defending.
Garnacho advanced unchecked down the right wing and found Fernandes, whose superb first-time pass reached the unmarked Mainoo for a clinical close-range finish.
City pushed harder after the interval but although Doku’s shot slipped through Onana’s grasp to set up a tense finale, it wasn’t enough to deny United.
As the final seconds ticked away, Ten Hag stood in the sunshine nervously waiting to celebrate a dramatic win that could earn an unexpected stay of execution or serve as his final fling.
Former England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney was appointed as the new manager of Championship side Plymouth on Saturday.
A move to Argyle is the fourth managerial role of Rooney’s coaching career, which has so far failed to live up to his stellar playing days.
“Taking this role at Plymouth Argyle feels like the perfect next step in my career,” said Rooney in a club statement.
“This is an opportunity to be part of an exciting project. I look forward to helping to build a squad of players to play expansive football – and to entertain the Green Army.”
The 38-year-old was sacked after just 83 days in charge of Birmingham earlier this year.
Rooney won just two of his 15 matches in charge of the Blues, which contributed to their relegation to League One.
He previously had a short spell with former club DC United in Major League Soccer.
But United’s all-time record goalscorer did thrive in difficult circumstances during his first job at Derby as the club entered administration.
“Throughout the interview process, Wayne showed himself to be a passionate, intelligent, and knowledgeable candidate with an appetite to prove himself and develop his managerial career,” said Plymouth chairman Simon Hallett.
“His ambitions and aims match ours perfectly and we feel he is the perfect candidate to provide the exciting and attacking brand of football that we all like to see and help us achieve the club’s mission.”
Plymouth narrowly avoided relegation in their first season back in English football’s second tier for 14 years, finishing 21st in the Championship.
AFP