Category: Sports

Former Liverpool defender, Jamie Carragher, has claimed Arsenal must keep winning their Premier League fixtures or they could lose the title.

Carragher was analyzing last weekend’s matches, where both Arsenal and Manchester City picked up three points.

The Gunners won 1-0 at West Ham, while City hammered Brentford 3-0 a day before.

Mikel Arteta’s men are five points clear and only have Burnley (H) and Crystal Palace (A) left to play.

City will play Palace, Bournemouth and Aston Villa in their remaining games.

Carragher said: “Where they could put pressure on Arsenal is if they get a decent scoreline against Crystal Palace.

“They scored three against Brentford, Arsenal obviously only got one against West Ham.

“If City could win by three or four goals, I think that could put pressure on Arsenal and almost take the idea that you could afford to draw a game.

“If the goal difference is heavily in Man City’s favour going to the last game of the season, that is real pressure on Arsenal

“Arsenal have to keep winning or they lose the title.”

EPL: Arsenal have to keep winning or they lose the title – Carragher

Kano Pillars captain Ahmed Musa is confident the club will maintain their top-flight status at the end of the season.

The four-time Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, champions have endured a difficult campaign.

The Sai Masu Gida boosted their survival hopes with a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Plateau United at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Sunday.

Veteran midfielder Rabiu Ali scored the winning goal from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time.

Pillars moved to 10th position on the table with 48 points from 36 matches.

The Sai Masu Gida must win their last game of the season against Plateau United to guarantee their safety.

“I’ve said this over and over again from the beginning of the season that Kano Pillars won’t go down,” Musa told reporters.

“So, we’ll keep fighting until the final game of the season.”

NPFL: Musa upbeat Kano Pillars will survive relegation

Former Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has expressed his opinion on whether Marcus Rashford’s loan agreement should be made permanent this summer by the club.

The English player, currently on loan from Manchester United, set the stage for the Catalans’ El Clasico victory on Sunday by scoring a free-kick in the ninth minute.

The Blaugrana have the option to permanently sign Rashford for €30 million.

However, the LaLiga champions have not yet disclosed their position regarding the extension of his contract with the club.

Following Rashford’s remarkable performance against Real Madrid, Koeman clarified his viewpoint on the matter.

The Dutch coach emphasized that Barcelona would ‘deeply regret’ if they chose not to secure Rashford on a permanent basis.

Koeman is of the opinion that €30 million is a steal for a player of Rashford’s caliber. He also pointed out how the forward ‘thoroughly dismantled’ Real Madrid in the El Clasico with his pace and intensity.

Koeman was cited by Diario AS as saying, “If Barcelona allows him to return to Manchester United after this loan, I believe they will deeply regret it.

“Because 30 million euros in today’s market for a player with these attributes, these statistics, this experience… that is a bargain.

“Rashford poses a threat to teams. Madrid appeared frightened every time he turned and sprinted. Against Real Madrid, he utterly overwhelmed them on the counter-attack. The speed, the intensity, the directness, the confidence—Madrid could not cope with him.”

Koeman concluded by stating that it would be ‘absurd’ if the Barcelona management opted against signing Rashford permanently due to hesitance about paying €30 million for him.

“Every time Barcelona moved forward, he was the threat. He scores a free kick in El Clásico, stretches the entire defensive line, creates numerical advantages, presses, gets behind the defense, and yet there are individuals within the club who hesitate to pay 30 million euros? That seems absurd to me.”

LaLiga: ‘You’ll deeply regret it’ – Ronald Koeman warns Barça over Rashford decision

Former Spain midfielder, Xabi Alonso, is believed to be the leading candidate to become Chelsea’s new manager, according to talkSPORT.

The Blues are hoping to appoint Liam Rosenior’s successor before the 2026 World Cup kicks off.

They have already made contact with Alonso, who is out of job after he was sacked by Real Madrid.

Fulham’s Marco Silva and outgoing Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola both remain on the list.

Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner and ex-Flamengo coach Filipe Luis are the other names under consideration.

Luis was a name Chelsea discussed before appointing Rosenior with talks eventually centring on a potential switch to Strasbourg prior to Gary O’Neil’s appointment.

EPL: Xabi Alonso set to become Chelsea’s next manager

Benfica manager, Jose Mourinho, has given two conditions if he is to make a return to Real Madrid this summer.

Mourinho is being linked with a sensational return to the LaLiga giants, who have gone two seasons without silverware.

However, the 63-year-old wants a high level of influence over the club’s recruitment strategy and transfer activity.

Mourinho wants to take decisions on the positions that need strengthening rather than just individual names.

His current view is that the squad is unbalanced in several key areas.

The second condition sees Mourinho insisting that the hierarchy and autonomy of the coaching staff be strictly respected.

For Mourinho, the first-team environment must carry his personal seal, free from external interference that might destabilise the dressing room.

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LaLiga: Mourinho gives two conditions for Real Madrid return

The Nigeria National League, NNL, has confirmed the promotion of four clubs to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, as well as ratified the demotion of 10 clubs to the Nationwide League One, NLO.

The promoted clubs are Doma United, Sporting Lagos, Ranchers Bees and Inter Lagos.

The relegated clubs are Gombe United, Sporting Supreme, Mighty Jets, City FC and Dakkada FC.

Others are Abia Comets, Gateway FC, First Bank FC, Osun United and Rovers FC.

The decision was reached after the end of the season board meeting held in Ikenne.

Sporting Lagos were crowned the champions of the 2025-26 NNL season.

NNL confirms promoted, relegated teams for 2025/26 season

Rangers striker Godwin Obaje has moved back to the top of the scorers’ chart in the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, DAILY POST reports.

Obaje grabbed a brace in Rangers’ hard-earned 2-1 victory over Bendel Insurance at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Sunday.

The experienced striker has now scored 14 goals for the Flying Antelopes in the NPFL this season.

Obaje is just a goal away from his 100th goal in the Nigerian top-flight.

The 30-year-old was top scorer in the NPFL in 2016 with 18 goals.

Remo Stars’ Victor Mbaoma and Ikorodu City striker Joseph Arumala are also in contention to win the award, having scored 13 goals each this season.

NPFL: Obaje, Mbaoma, Arumala in battle to emerge top scorer

Arsenal have announced that Beth Mead will leave the club at the end of this season.

Mead will depart after nine seasons with the Gunners, after her current contract expires.

During her time with the English club, she won six major honours, including the Champions League.

In recent weeks, Mead has been linked with a move to Manchester City, where her partner, former Gunners forward Vivianne Miedema, plays.

The 31-year-old made 258 appearances and scored 83 goals.

Mead isn’t the only player who will get to say goodbye to the fans this week either, as Arsenal play their final home game of the season against Everton on Wednesday night.

Earlier in the day, Arsenal announced that two more players will be leaving at the end of the season, in Laia Codina and Victoria Pelova.

Arsenal announce departure of three players

Rivers United technical adviser, Finidi George, has commended his players for their bravery in the victory over Wikki Tourists.

The Pride of Rivers defeated Wikki Tourists 3-2 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi on Sunday.

Jonathan Mairiga opened scoring for Wikki Tourists in the 21st minute, before Rivers United equalised in the 34th minute through Handsome Surveyor.

Just four minutes into the second half, Wikki Tourists regained the lead through Imamu Bala.

Rivers United’s persistence paid off in the 59th minute as Chijioke Mbaoma equalized with a composed finish.

Taofeek Otaniyi scored the decisive goal in the 83rd minute to seal all three points for Finidi George’s side.

Finidi admitted that the encounter was difficult.

“It was a difficult match because we have to come back on two occasions to finally win the game,” Finidi stated in a post-match interview.

“I must commend my boys for doing this in Bauchi in front of their home supporters, it’s a tough one.

“We will return home to win our home game and leave the rest to what ever happens in other centers.”

NPFL: Finidi reflects on Rivers United’s win in Bauchi

Former Chairman of the Nigeria Electricy Regulation Commission, NERC, Sam Amadi, has suggested that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara lacked the political leverage to confront his opponents.

Amadi made the remark on Monday in a post on X after Fubara’spreferred candidates in the forth coming 2027 elections were screened out by the All Progressives Congress in favour of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

DAILY POST reported the disqualification of all 32 aspirants reportedly backed by Fubara by the screening committee of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 Rivers State Assembly election.

At the same time, the four-man committee cleared 29 serving members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Wike, led by Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol, to participate in the APC primaries.

Reacting, Amadi wrote: “Sad. Fubara should have known he had no leverage. What his opponent does in the political economy of election rigging he cannot do.

“Sometimes it is good to fight even if you cannot win. Fighting as a dignified person is enough reward.”

Meanwhile, Fubara on Sunday declined to speak with journalists after appearing before the APC governorship screening committee at the Plateau State Governors’ Lodge in Abuja.

The Rivers governor, who was questioned by reporters after the screening exercise, only responded briefly, saying, “No comment,” before leaving the venue.

Wike: Why Fubara couldn’t have won Rivers power battle – Sam Amadi