Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

Arsenal maintained their perfect start to the Champions League league phase with a 2-0 victory over Olympiakos at the Emirates Stadium, as Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka delivered decisive goals in a controlled performance. The Gunners, who opened their campaign with a win over Athletic Club, made it two wins from two thanks to another influential display from Martinelli and the returning brilliance of captain Martin Ødegaard. Early Breakthrough Mikel Arteta’s men struck early, capitalising on their attacking intent from the outset. New striker Viktor Gyökeres bulldozed his way through the Olympiakos defence in the 12th minute, and though his…

Manchester City were held to a 2-2 draw by Monaco in the UEFA Champions League league stage at Stade Louis-II, as Eric Dier’s last-minute penalty cancelled out Erling Haaland’s first-half double.

The Champions League continues to serve up drama on and off the pitch as three English sides — Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham — prepare for crucial group-stage ties on a night that also sees Jose Mourinho return to Stamford Bridge with Benfica. For Liverpool, the trip to Istanbul to face Galatasaray comes under the shadow of a hostile atmosphere, with the Türk Telekom Arena infamously dubbed “hell” for visiting teams. Jürgen Klopp’s side are looking to recover from an inconsistent start to the European campaign, but the team news brought surprises: both Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak were named on…

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has been handed a one-match suspension by UEFA following his red card during a heated exchange with Liverpool fans at Anfield earlier this month. The Argentine coach was dismissed late in Atletico’s 3-2 Champions League defeat and has now been punished for what UEFA described as “unsporting conduct.” Incident at Anfield The flashpoint came deep into stoppage time after Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk scored a dramatic 92nd-minute winner. As Anfield erupted, Simeone appeared to react angrily towards a section of home supporters who had been jeering him throughout the game. The 55-year-old left his…

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has issued a stern warning to Warri Wolves following the suspension of the club’s head coach, Napoleon Aluma, by the Delta State Sports Commission. The league body has threatened sanctions if the club fails to comply with its operational requirements. League Queries Warri Wolves In an official letter signed by NPFL Chief Operating Officer Davidson Owumi, the league body demanded Warri Wolves submit contracts for all technical and management staff within 24 hours. The letter was prompted by reports that coach Aluma had been suspended without the NPFL receiving proper documentation from the club.…

The legendary San Siro, one of football’s most iconic stadiums, could be demolished after Milan’s city council approved a sale agreement involving both AC Milan and Inter Milan. The decision marks a turning point in Italian football history, as the two clubs prepare for a future without the famous ground that has hosted countless memorable matches. A Historic Vote Following a marathon debate lasting nearly 12 hours, Milan’s city council voted overnight to approve the sale of the 99-year-old stadium and its surrounding land to the two clubs. The proposed deal, worth 197 million euros (£172 million), still awaits formal…

As the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup kicks off in Chile, Norway’s U-20 head coach Bjorn Johansen has admitted that preparing for Nigeria’s Flying Eagles has been one of his biggest challenges so far. The two nations meet today in Talca in their opening Group F fixture at the Estadio Fiscal, and the Norwegian boss is fully aware of the unique threat posed by the West Africans. A Tough First Opponent Johansen’s squad, built on discipline, physical conditioning, and tactical structure, will face a Nigerian team that has a reputation for being explosive, talented, and difficult to predict. The coach…

Emma Raducanu’s inconsistent run of form continued at the China Open as the British number one squandered three match points before falling 6-3 6-7 (9-11) 0-6 to world number seven Jessica Pegula in Beijing. The loss echoes her earlier defeat this month to Barbora Krejcikova, where she also failed to convert opportunities to close out the contest. Early Promise, Painful Collapse Raducanu, ranked 32 in the world, began brightly, winning the opening set 6-3. Her aggressive groundstrokes and precise returning put Pegula under sustained pressure, forcing uncharacteristic errors from the usually composed American. The second set saw both players wrestle…

The tragic death of 21-year-old Billy Vigar, a former Arsenal youth player, has triggered widespread outrage and renewed demands for urgent safety reforms in English football. Vigar, who played for Chichester City, passed away on Thursday after sustaining a “significant brain injury” during a National League system match the previous weekend. While the club has not confirmed the precise cause, it is widely believed that Vigar’s fatal injury resulted from colliding with a concrete wall close to the pitch. The incident has drawn painful parallels to previous safety concerns and sparked criticism of football authorities for failing to act sooner.…

The debate over football’s congested calendar has intensified after the global players’ union, Fifpro, released its latest report warning of a growing crisis in player welfare. The union described the current state of the game as “a perfect storm of how not to treat a human,” highlighting excessive travel, a lack of recovery time, and unprecedented demands on young footballers. The Report’s Findings Fifpro’s fifth annual report, published this week, studied the 2024-25 season and revealed alarming numbers. Veteran midfielder Luka Modric, now 40, played more matches than any other player worldwide—76 games for Real Madrid and Croatia. Meanwhile, Australia…