Sports

As the world gets set for for the FIFA 2026 World Cup Mundial, the first of its kind to be jointly hosted by three countries – the United States of America, Canada and Mexico, the global soccer body, FIFA, is putting seamless plans in place for the football fiesta. Though Nigeria failed to qualify for the second consecutive time in a roll for the 48 nations newly expanded soccer tournament. However, some few Nigerians will still play some important roles in different capacities at the world’s biggest soccer showpiece. Aside a few top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) led by its former President, Amaju Pinnick, who is a member of the Organising Committee for FIFA competitions, football enthusiast and seasoned journalist, Hilary Damissah, joins a global multi-racial an...

Paris Saint-Germain's successful defence of the UEFA Champions League title has significantly influenced the race for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, with several PSG stars strengthening their claims for football's most prestigious individual award. Although the club season has concluded, the upcoming FIFA World Cup remains a crucial factor that could ultimately determine the winner. 10. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) Harry Kane currently tops the rankings after enjoying a phenomenal campaign for Bayern Munich. The England captain scored 65 goals and provided seven assists, helping the German giants secure three domestic trophies. With England considered one of the favourites for the World Cup, Kane has a major opportunity to solidify his position as the frontrunner. 9. Ousmane Dembele (Pari...

Paris Saint-Germain’s historic Champions League victory was overshadowed by widespread unrest across France, with more than 400 arrests made after post-match celebrations turned violent. Thousands of PSG supporters poured into the streets on Saturday night to celebrate the club’s European success. Festivities erupted along the Champs-Élysées and around the Parc des Princes, but the jubilant atmosphere was disrupted as incidents of violence broke out in Paris and several other cities. French authorities confirmed that 416 people were arrested nationwide, including 280 in Paris. The disturbances also left seven police officers injured, while vehicles, businesses, and public infrastructure suffered damage during clashes between some fans and law enforcement officers. As fireworks and...

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle has revealed that Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman will miss next month’s high-profile international friendly matches against Poland and Portugal. After the Unity Cup, the Super Eagles are scheduled to face Poland on Wednesday, June 3, before taking on Portugal on Wednesday, June 10. Both Osimhen and Lookman were originally included in Chelle’s squad for the friendlies. However, speaking after leading the Super Eagles to a fourth Unity Cup title following a 3–0 victory over Jamaica in the final on Saturday, Chelle explained that the two star players will not be available for different reasons. “For now we have two games, Poland and Portugal, and I have lots of problems because some players have visa issues, players like (Samson) Tijani...

Spanish giants Atlético Madrid are reportedly open to selling Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman just months after signing him from Atalanta in one of the most notable transfers of the winter window. Reports from Spain and Turkey, cited by Fotospor, suggest that Atlético would be willing to consider bids in the region of €60 million for the Super Eagles star during the upcoming summer transfer window. Lookman joined Atlético in February for an initial fee of around €35 million plus add-ons and signed a long-term contract that runs until 2030. However, despite contributing four goals in La Liga as well as finding the net in both the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League, the 28-year-old is said to have struggled to fully adapt to the tactical demands of coach Diego Simeone. The ...

Nigeria’s Super Eagles continued their dominance in the Unity Cup, defeating Jamaica 3-0 at Valley Stadium in London to retain the 2026 title. The victory secured another Unity Cup triumph for Nigeria in a rematch of last year’s final against the Reggae Boyz. While the previous encounter was decided by penalties, the Super Eagles B team left no room for drama this time, delivering a commanding performance to settle the contest within regulation time. Midfielder Alhassan Yusuf starred with a brace, while skipper Terem Moffi added another goal as Nigeria claimed a record-extending fourth Unity Cup title. The result preserved Nigeria’s flawless record in the competition, making them the only nation to have lifted the trophy since the tournament began. The Super Eagles got off to a...

Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa will contest the 2026 UEFA Super Cup after both clubs secured their respective European trophies this season. UEFA confirmed on Saturday that the prestigious curtain-raiser will be held on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg. The match will pit back-to-back Champions League winners PSG against Europa League champions Aston Villa. PSG secured their place with a dramatic defence of the Champions League title, defeating Arsenal 1-1 (4-3 on penalties) in the final on Saturday. Under manager Luis Enrique, the French giants have established themselves as Europe’s dominant force, winning the competition in consecutive seasons. Aston Villa, meanwhile, claimed their first major European honour since 1982 by lifting the Eur...

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has labelled Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) as the best team in the world after his side suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the 2026 UEFA Champions League final in Budapest. The Gunners, who recently secured the Premier League title, were denied their first-ever Champions League crown after losing 4-3 on penalties to PSG following a 1-1 draw after extra time on Saturday. The result extended Arsenal’s long wait for European success, two decades after their first Champions League final appearance ended in defeat against Barcelona. Speaking after the match, Arteta admitted that PSG were the superior side for much of the contest and described his immediate reaction to the loss as one of deep disappointment. The Spanish coach reserved special praise for PSG m...

Arsenal's long-awaited dream of conquering Europe ended in devastating fashion on Saturday night as Paris Saint-Germain shattered the hopes of millions of Gunners fans around the world, claiming the UEFA Champions League title after a dramatic final. After a season filled with belief, resilience, and unforgettable moments, Arsenal stood just one game away from making history. Supporters dared to dream that decades of heartbreak in Europe's elite competition would finally come to an end. Instead, the final whistle brought tears, silence, and unimaginable disappointment. The North London club battled bravely throughout the contest, but PSG proved too strong when it mattered most, denying Arsenal the chance to lift the famous trophy for the first time in the club's history. Player...

Paris Saint-Germain have been crowned UEFA Champions League champions after defeating Arsenal 4-3 in a dramatic penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw after extra time at the Puskás Arena. Arsenal got off to a dream start, taking the lead in just the sixth minute. Kai Havertz finished brilliantly from a Leandro Trossard assist to put the Gunners ahead and leave PSG chasing the game early on. The French side responded strongly after the break and eventually found an equalizer. Their breakthrough came in the 65th minute when Ousmane Dembélé calmly converted a penalty awarded after a VAR review, making it 1-1 and setting up a tense finish. Both teams created opportunities in the remaining minutes of normal time and throughout extra time, but neither could find a winning goal. Arsenal ...