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Arsenal legend Paul Merson has predicted Real Madrid to beat Borussia Dortmund in Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final.
Merson believes the LaLiga Champions have too much firepower, adding that Carlo Ancelotti’s side will beat Dortmund 3-1 at Wembley Stadium.
“Real Madrid have way too much firepower in their squad, but it’s not to say Dortmund won’t have a trick or two up their sleeves.
“I think it will be an open game, but Carlo Ancelotti and Co. know how to get the job done on the grandest stage, so I think they will get their hands on the trophy for the 15th time in their history.
“Borussia Dortmund 1-3 Real Madrid,” Merson stated.
The kick-off time for the match is 8 pm.
[DailyPost]
Stanley Nwabali is glad to see Maduka Okoye return to the Super Eagles and claims there is no rivalry between them.
Nwabali established himself as the Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Okoye has been recalled to the team by head coach Finidi George after an impressive debut season at Serie A club Udinese.
The former Watford shot-stopper’s return is set to add more competition to the goalkeeping department.
Nwabali, however, said there is no rivalry between him and Okoye.
“There’s no debate. If Maduka can give what he’s giving Udinese to the country, then he should play,” Nwabali told Lagos Talks.
“It’s not like a club side, where you see a new signing and you talk about fighting, No. This is the country we are playing for, we are representing this green white green, and we want to see everyone happy.”
Uruguay striker, Edinson Cavani, has announced his retirement from international football on Thursday.
The 37-year-old is his country’s second all-time leading scorer and third most-capped player, with 58 goals in 136 appearances.
Cavani, who currently plays for Boca Juniors, wrote on social media: “I have been and always will be blessed to have pulled on this shirt to represent what I love most in the world, my country.
“I want to dedicate myself to this new stage of my career and give everything I have to where I need to be.
“Today I’ve decided to retire, but I’ll always follow you with my heart pounding, just like when I played in that beautiful shirt.”
Cavani made his debut for Uruguay in 2008 and played at four World Cups.
He also won the 2011 Copa America in Argentina.
Nigerian striker, Ademola Lookman's goal has won the 2023/24 Europa League goal of the season.
This is according to UEFA's Technical Observer Panel.
The panel named Ademola Lookman's second strike of the final for Atalanta against Leverkusen Goal of the Season.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's acrobatic finish against Ajax for Marseille earned runner-up spot, while Mohammed Kudus claimed third for his solo effort in West Ham's 5-0 victory at home to Freiburg.
2023/24 Europa League Goal of the Season:
1 Ademola Lookman (Atalanta 3-0 Leverkusen) – final, 22/05/24
2 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Marseille 4-3 Ajax) – Matchday 5, 30/11/23
3 Mohammed Kudus (West Ham 5-0 Freiburg) – round of 16 second leg, 14/03/24
4 Rafael Leão (Slavia Praha 1-3 Milan) – round of 16 second leg, 14/03/24
5 João Pedro (Brighton 1-0 Marseille) – Matchday 6, 14/12/23
6 Darwin Núñez (Sparta Praha 1-5 Liverpool) – round of 16 first leg, 07/03/24
7 Robert Andrich (Roma 0-2 Leverkusen) – semi-final first leg, 02/05/24
8 Victor Boniface (Leverkusen 5-1 Qarabağ) – Matchday 3, 26/10/23
9 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Marseille 4-0 Villarreal) – round of 16 first leg, 07/03/24
10 David Douděra (Milan 4-2 Slavia Praha) – round of 16 first leg, 07/03/24
Ahmed Musa has called on his Super Eagles teammates to give their all in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin.
Musa reckoned it is important for the team to win the two games after a slow start in the qualifiers.
”Everyone knows the importance of both games, the players understand what’s at stake and I will want them to go all out and win both games,” the former Leicester told SCORENigeria
“I am upbeat they will do this.”
The Super Eagles will welcome Bafana Bafana of South Africa to Uyo on Friday June 7, before they fly out three days later for another World Cup qualifier against Benin in Abidjan.
The Super Eagles are third in Group C with two points from as many matches.
Nigerian iconic table tennis star, Quadri Aruna has reclaimed his spot as the number one table tennis player in Africa.
Recall that Quadri Aruna had a difficult first quarter of the year which forced him to lose the first spot on the continent for two months.
According to the latest ITTF rankings released by the world table tennis ruling body on Tuesday, May 28, Aruna is currently the 17th-ranked table tennis player in the world, and first-ranked in Africa.
The 35-year-old table-tennis icon displaced Omar Assar of Egypt who has now dropped to the second spot in Africa and 22nd spot in the world.
Recall that Assar took the first spot and remained there for two months after winning the 2024 African Games in Ghana.
The Egyptian lost points after the expiration of the quarter-final points he earned at the Durban 2023 World Championships in South Africa.
Egypt’s Mohamed El-Beiali is the third-best player in Africa and he is ranked 49th in the world after losing 4-0 to Quadri Aruna at the 2024 ITTF Africa Cup.
For women’s table tennis, Dina Meshref from Egypt remains the highest-ranked African player according to the latest ranking of the ITTF. She is ranked 24 in the world.
She is closely followed on the continent by her countrywoman, Hana Goda who is currently ranked 31st in the world.
The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria have failed to qualify for the U-17 Nations Cup despite beating Ghana 3-2 to win the bronze medal at the WAFU B tournament, which serves as the qualifiers for the competition.
Imrana Muhammad opened the scoring for Nigeria in the ninth minute following a goal mouth scramble.
Ghana restored parity when a Golden Eaglets defender diverted the ball into his own net.
Ghana took the lead for the first time in the game in the 27th minute when Harve Gbafa profited from a defensive blunder to beat goalkeeper Dominic Chinedu in goal for Nigeria.
Adeleke brought Nigeria back into the game before scoring a last minute winner to hand the Golden Eaglets a deserved 3-2 win.
The Confederation of African Football has clarified that next year’s Africa U17 Cup of Nations will still have 12 finalists in attendance, as against the minimum of 16 teams being projected by African football enthusiasts.
This means that despite defeating host nation Ghana in Tuesday’s third-place match of the WAFU B U17 Championship, the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria have not qualified for the finals.
CAF’s Director of Competitions, Samson Adamu confirmed that the final competition will have 12 teams and not 16, meaning the Golden Eaglets will miss out on the U-17 Nations Cup and ultimately the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
He said: “The final tournament will still have 12 teams.”
Expectations had been high among African football aficionados that the 2025 Africa U17 Cup of Nations would be expanded, following FIFA’s allocation, at its Congress in Bangkok, penultimate week, of 10 slots to the continent for the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup that Qatar has been designated to host.
Qatar will host five consecutive FIFA U17 World Cup finals beginning next year, each having 48 teams in attendance.
Nigerian striker Asisat Oshoala has won the best goal for the UEFA Women’s Champions League 2023/24 season, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Oshoala netted a stunning bicycle kick in Barcelona’s 5-0 win over Benfica in their opening group game en route to the Catalans claiming the Champions League for the second consecutive season.
With the Blaugrana already 4-0 up, Jonatan Giráldez sent the reigning Women’s African Footballer of The Year and she wasted no time in making her mark in the game, scoring the last goal of the encounter in style – her only goal of the competition.
She thereafter made a mid-season move to American side, Bay FC.
UEFA on Monday announced that Oshoala’s goal was the best among other goals selected.
“The top 10 goals of the 2023/24 UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign have been selected by UEFA’s Technical Observer panel, with Nigerian forward Asisat Oshoala taking the prize for Goal of the Season thanks to her stunning bicycle kick for Barcelona against Benfica on Matchday 1,” UEFA wrote on their website.
“Also for Barça, midfielder Aitana Bonmatí took second spot for her bending effort in the quarter-finals second-leg win against Brann, while Lyon’s Delphine Cascarino came third for her long-range strike in the quarter-finals second-leg victory over Benfica.”
Oshoala made history with Barcelona Femení by becoming the first African to win three UEFA Women’s Champions League titles.
The 29-year-old received a winner’s medal despite her mid-season transfer to Bay FC in the United States. The Super Falcons striker contributed to Barcelona’s Champions League campaign by playing in two group-stage matches and scoring once before her move.
Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, has dropped the biggest hint that he could leave Chippa United this summer.
Nwabali burst onto the scene at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in January this year.
The 27-year-old goalkeeper finished the competition with four clean sheets in seven appearances.
He also made two penalty saves in the shoot-out against South Africa in the quarterfinals.
This season, Nwabali has kept 11 clean sheets for Chippa United in 26 appearances.
Following his impressive performances, Nwabali has become a target for clubs abroad.
Saudi Pro League club Al Ettifaq, English Championship side Queens Park Rangers, and South African side Kaizer Chiefs have all been linked.
Following the final game of the season – a 2-0 defeat to Orlando Pirate – Nwabali dropped a hint on his future.
“Well, everyone would love to leave because when you are in some position, you need to grow,” said Nwabali.
“Like everyone in my position, I would like to grow more. I’m talking about clubs higher than this [bigger than Chippa United] because I have been giving my all to my club this season.
“I just wish to have another challenge at some other place,” Nwabali said.
[DailyPost]
Cristiano Ronaldo broke the record for the most goals in a Saudi Pro League season when he struck for the 34th and 35th time in Al Nassr’s final game of the campaign.
“I don’t follow the records, the records follow me,” the 39-year-old Portuguese forward tweeted afterward.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star struck in first-half stoppage time and again in the 69th minute with a header as Al Nassr defeated Al Ittihad 4-2 at home on Monday.
The previous record for most goals in a single season was the 34 scored by the Moroccan Abderrazak Hamdallah in 2018-19.
Al Nassr were already assured of a second-placed finish, coming a distant 14 points behind champions Al Hilal.
Ronaldo joined Riyadh-based Al Nassr in December 2022, the start of an influx of overseas players to the Saudi league on lucrative contracts.
Ronaldo, who led Portugal to victory at the 2016 Euros, has been selected for the squad for this year’s edition in Germany next month — his 11th international tournament.
He is the most capped player in men’s international football with 206 appearances and has scored a record 128 goals.
AFP
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Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen has been named in the Serie A team of the 2023-24 season following his impressive performances for Napoli .
This is the second consecutive season Osimhen will be named in the team of the year after he played a pivotal role in Napoli’s title-winning campaign in the 2022-23 season.
He scored 26 goals in 32 Serie A appearances to win the league’s top scorer award.
Osimhen was included in the 23-man list announced on Serie A’s social media accounts on Sunday.
Despite Napoli’s poor defence of the Serie A title, Osimhen has distinguished himself with a series of match-winning performances.
Osimhen’s season has been blighted by injuries and he also missed one month of action due to his participation in the African Cup of Nations, where he led the Super Eagles to a silver medal finish in Ivory Coast.
The 26-year-old has scored 15 goals and recorded three assists in 24 Serie A appearances for Napoli this season.
He is currently the third highest goal scorer in the league behind Lautaro Martinez and Dusan Vlahovic, who have scored 24 and 16 goals respectively.
Napoli have endured a poor 2023-24 season, finishing 10th on the table which made them miss out on European competition.
Manchester United legend, Roy Keane has called on the club to support manager Erik ten Hag after he led the team to victory in the FA Cup final on Saturday amid speculations the Dutchman could be sacked in the coming days.
Ten Hag’s future at Man United is still unclear despite winning the FA Cup after his side’s 2-1 win over Man City in the final at Wembley Stadium.
Speaking to ITV Sport, Keane stated, “We don’t know if a decision has been made, we know the pressure the manager is under and the questions before the game.
“It’s always difficult when you are preparing for a cup final. In football you have to enjoy these moments, the staff, the players, the supporters. And then cross the bridge when it comes to it.
“The manager has done his job today. Beating Man City in an FA Cup final is an extra bonus. Fingers crossed they support the manager.”
Recall that two goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo gave Ten Hag’s side the victory over City as Jeremy Doku’s goal was not enough for the Premier League champion.
[DailyPost]
2026 FIFA WCQ: Finidi Lists Lookman, Osimhen, Nwabali, Ndidi, 19 Others For Bafana, Cheetahs
AFOLABI
Nigeria’s Head Coach, Finidi George, has picked rave-of-the-moment Ademola Lookman, African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen and safe hands Stanley Nwabali among a crop of 23 players who will do battle with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana and the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
George also selected goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, England-based defenders Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi and Alhassan Yusuf, and forwards Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface and Terem Moffi.
Remo Stars’ hard-as-nails defender Sadiq Ismael is called for the first time, with Turkey-based midfielder Fisayo Bashiru, Bayer Leverkusen of Germany’s Nathan Tella and lanky forward Paul Onuachu also called.
Nigeria confront South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Friday, 7th June starting from 8pm, and then fly to Abidjan to tackle Benin Republic at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Monday, 10th June starting from 4pm CIV time (5pm Nigeria time).
Full List
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)
Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Sadiq Ismael (Remo Stars FC); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Benjamin Tanimu (Ihefu SC, Tanzania)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayspor, Turkey)
Forwards: Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France)
Kylian Mbappe played his last match for Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday, winning the French Cup against Lyon.
The Ligue 1 champions won 2-1, thanks to goals from Ousmane Dembele and Fabio Ruiz.
Jake O’Biren pulled one back for Lyon in the second, before PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a superb save minutes later.
PSG, who are the Ligue 1 and French Super Cup champions, have now secured a record-extending 15th Cup title and first since 2021.
However, they were only able to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, where Borussia Dortmund eliminated them.
Mbappe leaves as a free agent and is widely expected to sign for Real Madrid.