Category: Sports

Sporting Lagos have secured promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, following a 1-0 victory over Osun United, DAILY POST reports.

Alex Leme scored the decisive goal in the 17th minute of the encounter which took place on Thursday.

Jeffrey Butler’s side are making a return to the NPFL after two years.

Sporting Lagos finished top of Conference B table with 36 points from 18 matches.

Akwa United finished in second position despite a 2-1 victory over Solution FC.

The Promise Keepers opened scoring through Aniebiet Sunday in the 50th minute.

Michael Okenwa doubled the advantage three minutes later.

Solution FC reduced the deficit towards the end of the game.

Inter Lagos and Doma United have previously secured promotions to the NPFL.

NNL: Sporting Lagos clinch return ticket to NPFL

Former Arsenal star, Paul Merson, has predicted the Premier League matches taking place this weekend.

Brentford will host Fulham in the Premier League tie on Saturday afternoon, while Newcastle United will face Bournemouth.

Chelsea will clash with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night.

Manchester City will welcome Arsenal to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday evening.

Stating his prediction, Merson tipped Brentford to beat Fulham 2-0 at home.

Merson’s other predictions, according to Sportskeeda, are:

Leeds United 2-0 Wolves

Newcastle United 2-2 Bournemouth

Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion

Nottingham Forest 2-0 Burnley

Aston Villa 2-0 Sunderland

Everton 1-1 Liverpool

Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal

Crystal Palace 1-2 West Ham United

Chelsea 2-1 Manchester United

EPL: Paul Merson predicts Man City vs Arsenal, Chelsea vs Man Utd, other fixtures

Rivers Angels head coach, Tosan Blankson, has commended his players for their performance in the draw against Bayelsa Queens.

Blankson’s side were held to a goalless draw by Bayelsa Queens at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

Blankson insisted that his players showed positive mentality throughout the encounter.

“The mentality of my players against Bayelsa Queens was top notch, they gave their best,” Blankson stated in a post-match interview.

Blankson declared that the team have already begin preparation for the Super Six playoff tournament.

“We are not bothered about gaining points or losing points all I know is that we have already started preparations for Super Six playoff.”

Bayelsa Queens, Rivers Angels and Edo Queens have all secured their spots in the playoff tournament.

NWFL: Blankson hails Rivers Angels mentality after Bayelsa Queens’ draw

Inter Miami captain, Lionel Messi, has bought UE Cornelia.

Messi had completed a deal that gives him 100 percent ownership of the Spanish third division team.

This means the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is now the outright owner of the club.

UE Cornellà currently sit third in their Tercera División group, five points behind leaders Manresa.

With a playoff place already secured, they are aiming to achieve promotion.

Messi follows in the footsteps of eternal rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, in buying into a club in Spain.

Ronaldo, earlier this year, acquired a stake in Almería.

Lionel Messi buys football club

Arsenal midfielder, Declan Rice, has insisted that his side knows what to expect when they face Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League semi-final later this month.

Rice spoke at his post-match interview after leading Arsenal to a 0-0 draw against Sporting CP in the Champions League quarter-final second leg encounter played on Wednesday at the Emirates Stadium.

Recall that Arsenal progressed to the Champions League semi-final on a 1-0 aggregate win against the Portuguese side.

Speaking to TNT Sports about Arsenal’s upcoming clash with Atletico, Rice said, “Delighted. A really tough test over two games.

“To go to back-to-back semi-finals is an amazing achievement for this group, and we want to now go one step further and get to the final.

“We played Atlético once this year, and it was a really good game; we know what to expect. Bring on these last couple of weeks.”

Arsenal had defeated Atletico Madrid earlier this season in the Champions League when both sides met.

UCL: We know what to expect – Declan Rice on Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid semi-final

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