Sports

The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off draw took place on Friday, January 31 in Nyon, Switzerland. Champions League knockout phase play-off ties: Club Brugge vs AtalantaSporting CP vs DortmundManchester City vs Real MadridCeltic vs Bayern MünchenJuventus vs PSV EindhovenFeyenoord vs AC MilanBrest vs Paris Saint-GermainMonaco vs Benfica What are the Champions League knockout phase play-offs? The knockout phase play-offs are new to the competition in 2024/25. While the top eight sides in the league phase qualify automatically for the round of 16, the teams finishing in ninth to 24th place kick off the knockout stages. They compete in…

By our reporter Reigning African Footballer of the Year, Nigeria's Ademola Lookman, has notched up another award. The Atalanta FC hitman scooped up his team's Goal of the Month award for December,2024. It is Lookman's first time of winning the award this season. One of the most feared strikers in Europe, his brilliant strike in Gian Piero Gasperini’s side's 3-2 UEFA Champions League defeat to Real Madrid on December 10, 2024 won him the award. After turning Madrid defender Lucas Vazquez inside the box, the speedstar fired an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Lookman won 46% of the vote…

By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu The Federal Government (FG) and Enugu State Government have signed the host state agreement in respect of the 2026 National Sports Festival billed to hold in the South-East State. The agreement, which was signed by Director-General (DG) of National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, for the FG, and Governor Peter Mbah, for Enugu State, on Tuesday, has awarded the state full hosting rights for the 2026 edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF). Speaking at the signing ceremony at Government House, Enugu, Gov. Mbah thanked the Commission and other sports stakeholders for the confidence reposed…

Super Eagles winger, Ademola Lookman, has been named 2024 CAF men’s Player of the Year. The award is for the footballer adjudged the best in the year. The 27-year-old was announced the winner of the gong at the gala held in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Monday. The Atalanta of Italy star won the prize ahead of Cote d'Ivoire's Simon Adingra, PSG’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy and South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. Lookman has had a fantastic year, being the first player to score a hat-trick in the Europa League/UEFA Cup final since 1975, scoring three goals in 26 minutes…

The Super Eagles of Nigeria suffered a 1-2 defeat to Rwanda on Monday in Uyo in their final African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier. The loss, which occurred at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, marked a significant upset for the Nigerian team. Despite having already secured their place in the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco, the defeat at home left a blemish on the Super Eagles’ record. This was particularly notable as Rwanda had never beaten Nigeria in any competitive tournament before this encounter. Coach Augustine Eguavoen made significant changes to the team, introducing eight new players compared to the…

The Nigeria Football Federation has announced that it has reached an agreement with German tactician, Bruno Labbadia, to become the Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles. Labbadia who is 58 years old, becomes the 37th Head Coach of the Super Eagles after the resignation of former coach, Finidi George. Labbadia last managed VfB Stuttgart in the German Bundesliga. In a statement Tuesday, the federation’s General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi. said "The NFF Executive Committee has approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development sub-committee to appoint Mr Bruno Labbadia as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles”.…

Noni Madueke scored a second-half hat-trick as Chelsea crushed Wolverhampton Wanderers 6-2 away in a frenetic Premier League clash at Molineux on Sunday. Chelsea's first Premier League points of the season and the first for new manager Enzo Maresca arrived in spectacular fashion as the visitors ripped Wolves apart after the break following an absorbing first half. Maresca's side led twice in the first half with goals by Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer but both times Wolves deservedly hit back through Matheus Cunha and Jorgen Strand Larsen. Wolves fell part after the break, however, and Madueke took the game beyond…