Category: Sports

Manchester City kept pace with Arsenal in the Premier League title race, with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

Following Arsenal’s narrow 1-0 victory at West Ham last weekend, City came into the game five points behind the Gunners.

Although Pep Guardiola made six changes to his starting XI for this game, they still dominated the visitors.

Phil Foden was especially in fine form, as he laid on the assists for Antoine Semenyo and Omar Marmoush to score before half time.

Savinho added a late third, as City went two points behind Arsenal.

Both teams have two matches left to play.

Arsenal play next against Burnley on Monday night, while City are away to Bournemouth on Tuesday.

EPL table: Man City thrash Crystal Palace to go two points behind Arsenal

Nigeria’s Falconets have been placed in Pot 2 ahead of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup draw, DAILY POST reports.

The event is scheduled to hold at the EC1 Cultural Centre on Friday.

The Falconets are among the four African countries that will participate in the biennial competition.

Ghana women’s national under-20 football team, Tanzania women’s national under-20 football team, and Benin women’s national under-20 football team are the other African representatives.

Moses Aduku’s side booked a spot at Poland 2026 after edging past the Young Scorchers of Malawi 3-2 on aggregate.

United States women’s national under-20 soccer team, Colombia women’s national under-20 football team, Mexico women’s national under-20 football team, Canada women’s national under-20 soccer team, and New Zealand women’s national under-20 football team are also in Pot 2.

The Falconets will be making their 15th appearance at the competition.

The tournament will run from September 5 to September 27, 2026.

U-20 WWC Draw: Falconets placed in Pot 2 

Real Madrid president, Florentino Perez, has claimed that his relationship with LaLiga rivals Barcelona is “completely broken”.

Perez also claimed that the Catalans have been paying off referees for two years.

In an interviw with El Chiringuito, he demanded for justice to be served in the Negreira case.

“My relationship with Barcelona is completely broken,” Perez said.

“I don’t want any connection with a club that has paid off referees for two decades.

“I want justice to be served in a case of this gravity like the Negreira.”

The Real Madrid president revealed that the club is preparing to present a 500-page dossier to UEFA next week, documenting what he describes as long-term sporting injustices.

LaLiga: Barcelona paid referees for two decades – Real Madrid president, Perez

Bichi First FC has received a boost with the return of midfielder Umar Sani ahead of the 2026 President Federation Cup.

Sani is returning from an undisclosed minor injury.

The enterprising midfielder played a key role in the Nigeria National League, NNL, side’s qualification for the finals of the competition.

Sani’s return is a big motivation for Bichi First FC as they push to make a statement in the competition.

Bichi First FC, alongside Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, side Barau FC, will represent Kano in this year’s competition.

The date for the Round of 64 is expected to be announced by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.

Sani returns to boost Bichi First ahead President Federation Cup

Abia Angels have hailed the contributions of head coach Mario Eshalomi to their Nigeria Women Football League, NWFL, Super Six playoff qualification feat.

The Abia-based side qualified for the playoff alongside Robo Queens and Nasarawa Amazons in the NWFL Conference B.

Abia Angels said the tactician propelled the team through a gruelling campaign.

“Coach Mario came in and changed the mentality. He made us believe we belonged in the Super 6,” the club stated on Wednesday.

Eshalomi joined Abia Angels from former NWFL champions, Rivers Angels.

He has previously managed Delta Queens and Royal Queens.

NWFL: Abia Angels credit coach Eshalomi for Super Six playoff feat 

Former Senegal international, Mbaye Diagne, has tipped Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen to break his long-standing Turkish Super Lig goalscoring record.

Diagne had set the record for the highest-scoring foreign player in a single Turkish Super Lig season.

He achieved the feat after scoring 30 goals during the 2018-2019 campaign for Kasımpaşa and Galatasaray, respectively.

Diagne netted 20 goals in 17 matches for Kasımpaşa in the first half of the season before adding another 10 goals in 12 appearances after his move to Galatasaray midway through the campaign.

Speaking about his record, Diagne insisted that he would only be comfortable seeing Osimhen surpass the milestone.

“I’m happy, very happy. I have scored a lot of goals. I’m also happy to be the top scorer here,” Diagne said as quoted by Turkish newspaper Vatan.

“Nobody has broken my goal record in the Super League. They probably won’t be able to. I could only accept it if my friend Osimhen broke it, but it is impossible for anyone else to break it.”

Osimhen has scored 15 Super Lig goals for Galatasaray this season, while his fellow Nigerian teammate Paul Onuachu has netted 22 goals.

Turkey: Impossible for anyone else – Diagne tips Osimhen to break his long-standing record

Nigeria’s Flamingos are intensifying preparations ahead of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Guinea.

Akeem Busari’s side arrived in Ikenne from Abuja on Sunday to continue their build-up towards the game.

The Flamingos will take on Lakeside Queens in a friendly at the practice pitch of the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne on Thursday.

DAILY POST recalls the team engaged in five friendlies during the first phase of their preparations in Abuja.

They are expected to play more friendlies before travelling to Conakry for the first leg on Sunday, 24 May.

The reverse fixture is scheduled for the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne one week later.

U-17 WWCQ: Flamingos intensify preparations for Guinea showdown 

Former France midfielder, Emmanuel Petit, has claimed only “a miracle” can see Chelsea beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final this weekend.

Petit, speaking with Boyle Sports, claimed the Blues wasted a lot of scoring chances as they lack a clinical edge.

On the other hand, he believes City are ruthless in front of goal.

He said, “I would say in a single game, a final, anything can happen. City won at Chelsea recently, and we saw only one team on the pitch. The question actually is, who cannot beat Chelsea?

“It seems that every single team can beat Chelsea, actually. So I don’t see why City, the way they play, the way they control the game, their players, the atmosphere, the environment, it’s totally different to Chelsea.

“So I don’t see why the players will probably react for this final when they didn’t do that for months now. We’ve been expecting them. So many times I’ve been frustrated about them because I was expecting a reaction, a proud reaction on the pitch all together.

“Forget about what you think or what you feel. Just do what you’ve been paid for. And they failed. All of them, they failed for weeks now. So Chelsea need a miracle. I will tell you it won’t happen because City are a better team in every way.”

FA Cup final: Petit predicts Chelsea vs Man City clash

Brazil head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has backed Jose Mourinho to do a good job if he returns as Real Madrid manager.

Ancelotti, in an interview with The Athletic, said the 63-year-old is the right man to restore order at the Bernabeu.

Mourinho is widely expected to leave Benfica this summer and rejoin Los Blancos.

Ancelotti, who famously won Real’s ‘La Decima’ Champions League crown after replacing Mourinho in 2013, said: “To be back at Real Madrid, I will be really happy for him.

“He can do a fantastic job, as he always did in all the clubs that he was at.”

LaLiga: Ancelotti speaks on Mourinho returning to Real Madrid

Manchester United have opened formal talks with interim manager Michael Carrick over getting the job on a permanent basis.

According to talkSPORT, Carrick is in a strong position to land the role ahead of next season.

The former United midfielder has received significant support from senior leadership ahead of an executive committee meeting this week.

The Red Devils insist nothing has been done yet, and that multiple names form part of their process.

But it is understood that the direction of travel is for Carrick, who replaced Ruben Amorim in January, to be named the preferred candidate for the role.

EPL: Man Utd take decision on Carrick becoming permanent manager