Category: Sports

On Wednesday evening, the final Match Day of this season’s Champions League group phase, will be played across Europe.

And there is a chance that all six Premier League teams in the competition could progress into the knockouts.

Arsenal are almost guaranteed to finish top of the table, thanks to a perfect run so far.

They host Kairat Almaty and a draw would be enough for Mikel Arteta’s men.

For Liverpool, they sit in fourth place with 15 points and welcome Qarabag.

Victory will seal their top-eight spot, while a draw would leave the Reds vulnerable with eight clubs also on 13 points, meaning Slot’s side may be forced to a play-off.

Totteham occupy fifth position on the log with 14 points, ahead of their trip to Frankfurt.

A win in Germany will ensure they qualify for the last 16, but a point may not be enough to secure automatic qualification with 11 sides who could still overtake them.

Newcastle thumped PSV 3-0 last week and it boosted their chances of snatching an automatic spot.

The Magpies will clash with current holders Paris Saint-Germain and a win will secure their progress to the last 16 and a point may do it, as they have a strong goal difference.

For Chelsea, they occupy the last automatic spot with 13 points and travel to Napoli.

The Blues need victory to boost their hopes of qualifying for the last-16, but a victory alone may not be enough.

A draw against the former Serie A champions gives a chance to the teams circling below with rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in straightforward looking home fixtures.

Manchester City need a win at home to Galatasaray to stand any realistic chance of direct progression to the last-16, with a draw is not likely to be enough with eight teams level on points.

Five teams are currently ahead of Man City on goal difference in the table.

Champions League: How 6 EPL teams can qualify for knockouts

Raphael Onyedika has been named in Club Brugge’s squad for the crucial UEFA Champions League clash with Olympic Marseille, DAILY POST reports.

Onyedika missed last week’s clash with Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan due to a muscle injury.

The defensive midfielder returned from Africa Cup of Nations duty early last week.

Club Brugge are targeting a place in the knockout round of the Champions League.

The Belgian Pro League outfit currently occupy 27th position on the overall table.

The 24-year-old has scored once in eight appearances for Brugge in the competition this season.

UCL: Onyedika returns for Club Brugge vs Marseille

Chelsea Football Club has issued a statement following the unfortunate attack on two of its fans in Naples on Tuesday, just ahead of their UEFA Champions League match against Napoli on Wednesday evening.

In the statement on its website, the Premier League club urged supporters traveling to Naples for the game to “be extremely cautious,” as the two fans are currently receiving treatment for their injuries in the hospital.

“The club is aware of an incident that happened on Tuesday in Naples,” Chelsea’s statement partly read.

It said two fans have been hospitalized with injuries that are not “life-threatening.”

Chelsea also advised all traveling supporters to remain vigilant and heed the guidance provided prior to the match.

While there have been reports circulating on social media about possible stabbings involving Chelsea fans in Naples, the cause of the injuries has not yet been officially confirmed by the Napoli authorities.

Meanwhile, Napoli has a history of away supporters facing hostility from local fans.

UCL: They’re in hospital – Chelsea release statement after fans were attacked in Napoli

Former Arsenal striker, Alan Smith is backing his old team to win the Premier League title.

Last weekend, the Gunners saw their lead at the top of the table cut to four, after they suffered a 3-2 loss to Manchester United at the Emirates.

The result saw pundits and fans question Mikel Arteta men’s mentality in the title race.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Smith insisted that it only a setback.

“They have the best squad in the league, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.

“I think Arteta might just need to make some small changes to his tactics and maybe bring in some new players.”

Arsenal will face Kairat Almaty in their last Champions League group phase fixture on Wednesday, before they travel to Leeds this weekend in the league.

EPL: They’ve got best squad – Alan Smith names team to win title

Victor Osimhen will be looking to set another record when Galatasaray face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday (today).

Osimhen has scored 12 goals in European competitions for the Turkish Super Lig champions.

The Nigeria international shared the record with Milan Baros, and Shabani Nonda.

The Nigeria international will emerge as Galatasaray’s most prolific scorer in Europe should he hit target against Pep Guardiola’s side.

Osimhen has already registered six goals in five outings for Okan Buruk’s side in the Champions League this season.

Manchester City will the host the Yellow and Reds at RAMS Park.

UCL: Osimhen targets new record at Manchester City 

Former Super Eagles star, Sunday Oliseh, has talked about the difficulties he faced while serving as the national team coach.

He said that not having simple training tools made his job much harder.

The former Juventus player became the coach of the Super Eagles in 2015 after Nigeria did not make it to the Africa Cup of Nations.

On his YouTube channel, Oliseh talked about the tough conditions he faced while working, pointing out that there was no proper training equipment available.

On his appearance on the Oliseh’s Global Football Insights Podcast, Oliseh said, “When I was coaching the Super Eagles, we didn’t have the equipment.”

Oliseh said there was a time when the team had to put off training because there were no extra jerseys available and had to wait for the ones they had already worn to dry.

He added, “Sometimes I had to take the boys to training, but we couldn’t go at the usual time because we had to wait for the clothes they wear in the morning to dry, since they washed them.”

He said the situation was shocking, pointing out that getting sponsors and basic gear should not have been difficult for a country like Nigeria, which is known for its strong football presence.

“Those were the things I was facing. It was surprising to me because I knew that a strong country like ours should not have trouble getting sponsors,” he said.

Despite the difficulties, Oliseh had a mostly successful time with the Super Eagles, leading the CHAN Eagles to qualify for the African Nations Championship in Rwanda.

He also had good results with the senior team, with the side losing just two games, scoring 19 goals and letting in six goals in 14 matches before he left in February 2016.

What I faced as Super Eagles coach – Sunday Oliseh opens up

Nigeria’s Falconets will host Senegal in a 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying tie in Ibadan, DAILY POST.

The encounter at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasinga, Ibadan is slated for  Saturday, 7 February.

The players and their officials are expected to arrive Ibadan for their final preparations on Tuesday (today).

Senegal will host the reverse fixture on Saturday, 14 February.

The winner will face either Guinea-Bissau or Malawi in the final qualifying round.

Poland will host the competition from September 5 to 27, 2026.

U-20 WWCQ: Falconets, Senegal clash in  Ibadan

France legend, Frank Leboeuf has said that Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland may not win the Ballon d’Or this year because the award is not given to the best player.

The former Chelsea star thinks Mbappe is right in the position to win the individual award this season if it is rightly awarded, citing his great performances for club and country.

Leboeuf said that it is not handed to the best player every year.

He told Goal, “I don’t like the Ballon d’Or, because for me it doesn’t mean anything. It’s not the best player.

“The Ballon d’Or is supposedly for the best player in the world. I really want Mbappe to win the Ballon d’Or because he is an incredible player.

“But, nowadays, the main players are those that are winning. It’s going to be hard for Kylian Mbappe and for Erling Haaland.

“They have to really go for it because next season or the season after, it is going to be done.”

Mbappe finished seventh in the Ballon d’Or race in 2025, one place lower than his 2024 rank.

His best finish in the race remains the 2023 edition, when he was third behind Inter Miami captain, Lionel Messi and Manchester City star, Erling Haaland.

Ballon d’Or: ‘I don’t like it’ – Leboeuf gives only reason Mbappe, Haaland won’t award this year

Former Arsenal player, Bacary Sagna is confident Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe will win the Ballon d’Or this year.

Sagna hailed the individual performance of his countryman, saying that the only thing that could prevent him from doing well is a bad performance at the FIFA World Cup.

Sagna told Goal that he believes Mbappe will win the Ballon d’Or this year.

He doesn’t think any other player is as good as the Frenchman has been this season, and he believes that the good form will keep going into the World Cup next summer.

He said, “He will win it. I believe this is the right time for him to win it this year. I believe the World Cup will be a great event with the French national team participating.

“I believe he will do well in the Champions League with Real Madrid. On a personal level, he is already in a good position because he is doing well and is in first place.

“Unless he has a really bad World Cup, which I don’t think will happen, I believe he will win the Ballon d’Or this year.”

Mbappe has been playing very well this season, scoring 38 goals for his club and country.

He has scored 11 goals in the UEFA Champions League this season and is just one goal away from surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for the most goals in the group stage.

Ballon d’Or: ‘He’s already ahead of everyone’ – Sagna names player to win award

Nigeria’s Super Falcons will take part in the WAFU B Four-Nation tournament as part of their preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, DAILY POST reports.

Cote d’Ivoire will host the competition from from Friday, 27 February to Saturday, 7 March 2026.

Ghana and Senegal are the two other countries that will be participating in the competition.

The four countries will also compete at WAFCON 2026.

They will also the WAFU tourney to prepare for the competition.

Morocco will host the WAFCON 2026 finals from 17 March to 3 April 2026.

WAFCON 2026: Super Falcons head to Abidjan for WAFU tournament