Category: Sports

Former Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, has criticized Barcelona following their display against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final second leg tie on Tuesday.

The former Super Eagles captain also lauded Ademola Lookman for his display against Hansi Flick’s side as Atletico Madrid advanced to the Champions League semi-final stage.

Speaking in an interview with Mundo Deportivo about the encounter, Mikel fired back at Barcelona’s complaints.

“Atletico Madrid had it. Ademola Lookman stepped up and decided the Champions League match, while Barcelona players were busy shaking hands with the referee as if he was going to change the score for them,” Mikel said.

“Barcelona failed to come back against Atletico Madrid on two different occasions. Now they want to blame the referee for their incompetent style of play. That is not how it works.”

UCL: They want to blame referee for their incompetence – Mikel blasts Barcelona, hails Lookman

FC Porto head coach, Francesco Farioli has backed Terem Moffi to impress in the club’s UEFA Europa League clash with Nottingham Forest.

Moffi , who joined the Dragons from French club, OGC Nice in January had a quiet game in the first leg of the quarter-final tie which ended in a 1-1 draw.

The striker was replaced early in the second half.

The Nigerian was named among the substitutes in Porto’s 3-1 victory over Estoril Praia last weekend.

“Both Francisco Moura and Terem Moffi have been giving everything they have,” Farioli said ahead of the clash with Nottingham Forest.

The 26-year-old has scored one goal in three appearances for Porto in the Europa League.

Europa League: Porto boss backs Moffi to deliver against Nottingham Forest

Bayern Munich defender, Josip Stanišić, has claimed that Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger insulted him after both sides’ UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg encounter on Wednesday.

Bayern Munich defeated Real Madrid 4-3 at the Allianz Arena to qualify for the Champions League semi-final.

The Bundesliga giants will now face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final stage in the coming days.

Speaking to Kicker after the game, Stanišić described Rudiger’s action as unacceptable.

“Rüdiger insulted me, and in my opinion, it’s completely unacceptable,” he said.

“Only one word was spoken, twice – you can ask him yourself – maybe he’s man enough to admit it.”

UCL: Rudiger insulted me – Bayern Munich’s Josip Stanišić speaks out after Real Madrid’s exit

Manchester City captain, Bernardo Silva, has confirmed he will leave the Premier League club this summer.

This will bring an end to his nine-year stint at the Etihad.

In total, Silva made over 450 appearances in all competitions for City.

The Portugal play maker scored 76 goals and provided 77 assists, winning six Premier League titles and one Champions League.

The 31-year-old also won two FA Cup triumphs, five Carabao Cup successes, three Community Shields, a FIFA Club World Cup and a UEFA Super Cup winner’s medal.

Just last month, Silva captained City to 2026 Carabao Cup glory against Arsenal.

EPL: Bernardo Silva confirms Man City departure

Swedish club Hammarby have signed Nigerian youngster Imran Musa on a permanent transfer, DAILY POST reports.

Musa linked up with Hammarby from Nigeria National League, NNL, outfit Beyond Limits FA.

The 18-year-old started his career at Shield City FA in Kano, before moving to Beyond Limits FA.

The winger established himself as a key player at Beyond Limits FA helping the club win 2025 TCC Cup and the 2025 Gothia Cup.

Musa will begin his time in Hammarby with the club’s development side. They play in the third tier of Swedish football.

He has already started training with his new teammates.

Transfer: Swedish club Hammarby sign Nigerian youngster

Sporting Lagos capitan, Solomon Uloko, has declared that it is time to achieve their target for the season.

Uloko revealed that their target is to secure promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL.

Sporting Lagos will lock horns with Osun United in a promotion decider at the Lanre Leke Stadium, Ileogbo, in Osogbo on Thursday.

The club must ensure they record victory in the game to seal their promotion to the top-flight.

Sporting Lagos are battling with Akwa United for promotion to the NPFL.

“Gaining promotion has been the goal right from the start of the season, Now is the time,” Uloko told the club’s media.

NPFL: Sporting Lagos captain rallies teammates ahead crucial Osun United clash

Sporting Lagos head coach, Jeffery Buttler, has described their final game of the 2025-26 season against Osun United as the biggest of their lives.

The club will take on Osun United at the Lanre Leke Stadium, Ileogbo, Osogbo on Thursday.

Sporting Lagos need a win in the game to have any chance of returning to the top-flight.

Second-placed Akwa United are one point adrift.

Buttler believes that all the hardwork since the start of the season is needed to achieve their target.

“You are about to play the biggest game of your lives,” Buttler stated in his address to the players ahead of the game.

“All the hardwork for the past eight months is needed if you re to gain promotion to the NPFL.

“It’s left for you players if you are going to make history with the club, you will have to fight.”

NPFL: Sporting Lagos ready for final day promotion push – Buttler

Napoli president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has revealed that manager Antonio Conte told him to sell Victor Osimhen and not Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the past.

According to De Laurentiis, Paris Saint-Germain had tabled a combined €200 million bid for both stars, but Napoli ultimately lost Kvaratskhelia to the French club, while Osimhen ended up at Galatasaray.

Reflecting on the decision, De Laurentiis confessed as he told The Athletic, “When we started with Conte, we received an offer of €200 million from PSG and others to sell Victor Osimhen and Kvara together.

“Conte said, ‘Osimhen, you can sell, but please don’t sell Kvara. This was a big mistake.”

Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen have been impressive since joining PSG and Galatasaray, respectively.

Conte told me to sell Osimhen, not Kvaratskhelia – Napoli’s De Laurentiis regrets big mistake

Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, has blamed their exit from the Champions League on key refereeing decisions.

Paul Cubarsi was dismissed for a last-man tackle as Atletico Madrid won the first leg at the Nou Camp.

Although Barca took a two-goal lead in the second leg, Ademola Lookman pulled one back for Atletico.

Hansi Flick’s men saw Ferran Torres’ second goal chalked off, before Eric Garcia was red-carded.

Laporta said: “In the first leg, we didn’t get a clear penalty and we got a red card when it had to be red on Pau Cubarsi’s foul.

“Then last night, the red card to Eric García was wrong. Koundé was there ready to win the ball. He wasn’t the last man.

“Also, it was wrong decision to disallow Ferran’s second goal and there was a penalty on Dani Olmo. Fermín got a big cut on his face… and not even a yellow card.”

UCL: Laporta lists five refereeing decisions that cost Barcelona against Atletico

Kun Khalifat FC Chairman, Michelle Amaefula, has commended his players for their recent impressive performances in the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL.

The Owerri-based club have recorded back-to-back wins in their battle against relegation.

Kun Khalifat FC currently sit bottom of the NPFL table with 39 points.

Amaefula insisted that they won’t give up in their fight for survival.

“As of last week we would have lost everything we have laboured for with injuries to some of our players,” Amaefula stated in an address to the players.

“I will continue to celebrate you all my players, what will happen will definitely happen but I can assure that we will remain in the NPFL.”

NPFL: Kun Khalifat will keep fighting for survival – Amaefula