GLOBAL ASSOCIATION NEWS
UEFA has included the likes of Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne and Inter Milan’s Andre Onana in the Champions League team for this week.
UEFA made the announcement in a post via its website on Thursday following the conclusion of the Champions League semi-final first-leg fixture on Wednesday.
Recall that Inter Milan defeated AC Milan two-nil on Wednesday at San Siro, while Real Madrid and Manchester City drew one-all on Tuesday.
===================================
A handful of European clubs have refused to release their youngsters for the Under-twenty World Cup, meaning some of the brightest young stars in football will be absent from the tournament.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Juventus have all blocked their starlets from attending the Under-twenty World Cup in Indonesia later this month after FIFA decided to stage the tournament outside the international window.
Given the Premier League and Serie A are still running, the clubs are not obliged under the current FIFA rules to release their players.
Therefore, the European sides can prevent their youngsters from attending the tournament.
===============================
NIGERIA
Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets crashed out of the under 17 AFCON 2023 after falling 2-1 to fellow West Africans Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals in Algiers.
The result meant the Golden Eaglets won’t feature in the under 17 World Cup that would take place later this year, with Burkina Faso completing the quartet of teams to represent Africa in the tournament.
The other teams are Senegal, Mali and Morocco.
The Nigerians have their poor finishing skills and defensive blunders to blame for the result.
===============================
The Nigerian Ambassador to Argentina, Philip Ikurusi, has charged the Flying Eagles to not only evoke the spirit of their 1989 and 2005 predecessors but also go a step further by winning for Nigeria for the very first time the FIFA U-20 World Cup trophy in Argentina this summer.
Ikurusi who made the call when he visited the team’s camp, advised the players to be focused and play as a unit, as success in football can only be achieved through teamwork.
Responding, Flying Eagles Head Coach, Ladan Bosso expressed appreciation to the Ambassador for the visit while promising the team is ready to make the nation proud.
The Flying Eagles, who finished third at the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Egypt earlier in the year, will tackle Dominican Republic, Italy and Brazil in Group D.
================================
Two-time champions Mali progressed to the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after seeing off Congo 3-0 in Annaba on Thursday.
The victory also assures Mali of a place at the FIFA World Cup, the third of four African countries to book their tickets.
Ange Tia, Mamadou Doumbia and Mohamoud Barry got the three goals for the Malian Eagles to hand them a place in the last four and a ticket to the global showpiece.
================================
Senegal captain, Amara Diouf says he is delighted to have broken Nigerian Victor Osimhen’s goals scoring record at the Under-seventeen Africa Cup of Nations.
The Senegalese scored a brace against South Africa in the quarter-finals in Algiers on Wednesday to take his tally to five goals in the tournament.
The left winger surpassed the record of four goals set by Osimhen at the 2015 tournament in Niger, with two more games to play.
========================
Affected clubs in Group A of the abridged 2022/23 Nigeria Professional Football League have expressed displeasure over the proposed date for the Super six play-offs by the Interim Management Committee of the league.
The IMC proposed twenty-third May to third June for the Super six play-offs, while the regular season in Group B would end on Sunday twenty-first May.
According to the IMC, the need to accommodate the outstanding fixtures of Rivers United necessitated the shift in schedule, while match-day 18 will be completed in Group A on fourteenth May as scheduled.
The proposed schedule leaves potential top-three teams for the play-off in Group B with just two days to make the trip to Lagos, venue of the Super 6.
=================================
Ahead of the ICC World Cup Africa Division One qualifiers, Nigeria’s Under 19 male cricket team would travel to India for a tour.
Coach of the team, Daniel Gim, confirmed that the team was hoping to depart the country eighteenth May.
Gim added the aim is to expose the players and prepare them adequately for the U-19 World Cup qualifiers in July in Tanzania.
The team finished second place behind Kenya in the Division Two qualifiers in Abuja in 2022, with Sierra Leone taking the third place position out of the six teams that participated.
===================================
ENGLAND
===================================
West Ham’s dreams of a first major trophy since 1980 are still alive as they came from behind to secure a narrow Europa Conference League semi-final first-leg win over Dutch side AZ Alkmaar at London Stadium.
The Hammers’ hopes of reaching the final in Prague on seven June were hanging by a thread when Alphonse Areola made a mess of saving Tijjani Reijnders’ low shot four minutes before the break.
But in front of jubilant home support, David Moyes’ side turned the tie on its head after half-time.
The duo of Said Benrahma and Michail Antonio scored a goal each for West Ham, while AZ Alkmaar’s only goal was scored by Tijjani Reijnders
==========================================
Manchester City will receive close to three hundred million pounds in prize money should they clinch their historic Treble.
The team’s pursuit of the rare achievement is gathering pace as the season draws to a close and they have hit their stride at an ideal time.
Pep Guardiola’s side sit at the top of the Premier League table, a point clear of Arsenal with four matches to play.
They also have a game in hand over the Gunners.
===========================================
Chelsea interim manager, Frank Lampard called up the team’s Under-fourteen captain to senior training on Thursday after the youngster was spotted going through the gears with first-team stars at Cobham.
Teenager Charlie Holland could be seen training alongside the likes of Joao Felix, Thiago Silva, Conor Gallagher and Raheem Sterling after a shock promotion from Lampard ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest.
Holland, who captained the Blues’ Under fourteen to Albert Phelan Cup South success earlier this month, first enjoyed a light jog with the team while appearing to share a few words with Gallagher – a former member of Chelsea’s academy.
=================================
Chelsea have frozen their general admission season ticket prices for the twelveth straight year in a move to appease fans on the back of a disastrous season.
Despite forking out an unprecedented six hundred million pounds on new signings this term, the Blues are languishing in eleven place after losing fourteen of their thirty-four Premier League matches so far.
They have employed four different head coaches after sacking Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter with Bruno Saltor and current caretaker Frank Lampard both enjoying interim spells in charge – while struggling for form in the league and crashing out of every cup competition.
=====================================
Leeds United manager, Sam Allardyce says the fear of relegation should motive his side to fight, as they prepare to host Newcastle United on Saturday.
With three matches remaining, Leeds sit nineteenth in the Premier League table, two points from safety.
Leeds’ final two matches see them travel to face West Ham next week before hosting Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of the season and Allardyce admitted he would be pleased just to have a chance of staying up on the final day.
Meanwhile, Newcastle are third in the table and pushing for Champions League qualification, something Allardyce had ambitions of overseeing during his time in charge of the club.
===========================================
Manchester United are considering a move for highly-rated young Dutch keeper Bart Verbruggen from Anderlecht.
The goalkeeping situation at Old Trafford has been one highly debated in recent weeks, with David de Gea’s contract at the club expiring this summer.
De Gea’s place in the starting eleven has been called into question after recent errors in United’s Europa League exit to Sevilla, as well as his costly mistake in the one-nil loss to West Ham.
=============================================
Manchester United legend, Dwight Yorke has questioned suggestions that the club has made progress under Erik ten Hag.
The Red Devils have improved on their league position this season following the dismal ending to the last campaign, but are sweating on their place in the top four following back-to-back defeats against Brighton and West Ham.
Ten Hag’s side won the League Cup and are in the FA Cup final but have not been able to mount a title challenge this season having lost nine times in the league.
======================================
The Glazers have identified their preferred bidder for Manchester United, more than six months on from the club first being put up for sale.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to be identified by the Glazers as their preferred bidder as the process takes a significant step forward and the American family’s controversial ownership of the club looks to come to a close some eighteen years after they first took over.
Having announced during the World Cup that they were seeking fresh revenue streams, be that an investment in the club or an outright sale, much speculation has surrounded United and the potential next owners.
=====================================
Arsenal are fearful of being priced out of a move for their top summer transfer target Declan Rice amid a potential bidding war for the West Ham captain.
Rice has been made Arsenal’s main target with boss Mikel Arteta aiming to strengthen the heart of their midfield.
The England midfielder’s contract expires in 2024 but West Ham can trigger a one-year extension.
=====================================
Liverpool are the strongest candidates to sign Sporting Lisbon’s defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte this summer.
The Reds could look to bolster their midfield with three additions in the next transfer window, with Jurgen Klopp looking to drastically improve this area of the pitch given their struggles this season.
Portuguese outlet Record claim Anfield chiefs are set for talks with Ugarte, who could be a cheaper alternative to other midfielders they have been linked with.
===========================================
Liverpool will stop working with specialist throw-in coach Thomas Gronnemark at the end of the season.
Jurgen Klopp brought the Dane in five years ago to help improve this particular area of Liverpool’s game.
Gronnemark wanted to increase the number of times he worked with the Liverpool players at the AXA Training Centre but Klopp and his staff decided against it and they have amicably parted ways.
====================================
Former Everton star Royston Drenthe has revealed he had rows with David Moyes when he was at Goodison Park and felt the Scot tried to ‘get under his skin’ during his loan spell from Real Madrid.
The ex-winger had a successful season-long spell with the Toffees in the 2011-12 campaign, playing twenty-seven times and scoring four goals, but while he enjoyed his time on Merseyside, he said he did not always see eye-to-eye with his manager.
Drenthe said he was a ‘different character’ at the time and concedes he could not see that Moyes was trying to help him at the time..
====================================
A memorial service has been held to mark the 38th anniversary of the Bradford City fire in which fifty-six people died.
The disaster happened as Bradford City played Lincoln City at Valley Parade in the Bantams’ final home game of the season on eleven May 1985.
As a result of the fire, fifty-four Bradford City fans and two Lincoln City supporters lost their lives.
The service took place at the Bradford City Fire Memorial sculpture in Centenary Square.
================================
England Under-twenty boss, Ian Foster has named his squad for the upcoming World Cup in Argentina, with Chelsea winger Carney Chukwuemeka leading the names bidding to dazzle this summer.
There will be a number of young prospects on display during the tournament that England won in 2017, with a handful of Premier League starlets being called up by manager Foster who masterminded the European Championship win last year with the England Under-nineteen.
===============================
Manchester City women’s new director of football, Nils Nielsen says the team want to be “the number one club in England.
Nielsen said his role will be to connect the dots by taking a lead on player recruitment and taking charge of coach and player development.
Manchester City last won the Women’s Super League in 2016 and have failed to get out of the Champions League qualifying groups for the past two seasons, and Nielsen said the club are “a bit behind the best teams” in the country.
The former Denmark and Switzerland women’s head coach was appointed this month.
=============================
OTHER SPORTS
Royal Ascot has renamed one of its most iconic races in honour of late Queen Elizabeth II.
Britain’s former monarch, who passed away in Balmoral Castle last September, had a lifelong association with Royal Ascot, developing a love and passion for horse racing throughout her seventy-year reign.
The Platinum Jubilee Stakes, a six-furlong sprint which is staged on the Saturday of Ascot’s five day meeting, will from now on be known as the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
============================
OTHER LEAGUE
Federico Gatti scored a ninety-seventh-minute equaliser to earn Juventus a draw against Sevilla in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.
Gatti headed in from two yards after Paul Pogba superbly kept the ball in as a Danilo header was set to drift wide.
It cancelled out Youssef En-Nesyri’s twenty-sixth-minute goal, with the striker stroking in Lucas Ocampos’ cross.
===================================
Edoardo Bove’s second-half goal gave Jose Mourinho’s Roma the advantage over Bayer Leverkusen after the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.
Bove’s passed into the bottom corner after Tammy Abraham’s shot was saved to score his first European goal.
Leverkusen’s best chance saw Florian Wirtz drag wide in the sixth minute.
They had a chance to equalise in the eighty-sixth minute but Jeremie Frimpong’s effort after a mistake by Rui Patricio was blocked.
==================================
Jose Mourinho remains on course for a sixth European final as a manager after seeing his Roma side claim a narrow one-nil win over Bayer Leverkusen at the Stadio Olimpico in the Europa League semi-final first leg.
The Portuguese boss was hailed as the ‘King of Rome’ after guiding the Serie A side to an inaugural Europa Conference League title last term – in the process delivering the club’s first trophy in fourteen years.
Mourinho’s contract at Roma is due to run until the summer of 2024 but in recent days there has been plenty of talk of him upping sticks this summer for an eleventh managerial challenge, at Paris St-Germain.
==================================
Barcelona have reportedly drawn up a superb eight-man shortlist to replace captain Sergio Busquets after the midfielder announced his decision to leave the club at the end of the season.
The team manager Xavi is keen to sign a top defensive midfielder this summer to replace Busquets.
Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan is at the top of the wishlist, and Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante is another free agent Barcelona is keen on signing and is working on getting an agreement done this summer.
Other players on Barcelona’s list are Fiorentina’s Nordin Amrabat and Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozovic.
Martín Zubimendi, Hugo Guillamón, and Nico González are the other names mentioned.
===========================================
Borussia Dortmund star, Jude Bellingham’s Real Madrid move has moved a step closer after he accepted ‘all details’ of the offer from the Spanish giants.
The star looks nailed on to move to the Bernabeu this summer as Real Madrid were closing in on a deal for the one hundred and thirty million pounds-rated England international.
He had been strongly linked with a move to Liverpool and Manchester City after his impressive displays for England at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but Madrid have emerged as the frontrunners for his signature.
===================================
Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a luxury watch worth ninety-two thousand pounds at the launch of a new collection, with the garish green design featuring twenty-six white diamonds – and his classic celebration on the back.
The superstar is no stranger to being showered with endorsements, merchandise and goodies, and he looked delighted after being gifted the custom watch from Jacob and Co.
Ronaldo was pictured at the opening of their boutique store in Saudi Arabia where the legendary forward is plying his trade with Al-Nassr as part of his role as an ambassador for the brand.
================================
Scotland have confirmed they will face World Cup finalists France in Lille on Tuesday, seventeen October – their final friendly fixture of 2023.
The match at Decathlon Arena will take place five days after Scotland take on Spain in their Euro 2024 qualifier.
Steve Clarke’s side are currently unbeaten in six competitive fixtures and sit top of Group A after two games.
France have won both their Group B qualifiers since losing the World Cup final to Argentina on penalties.
===================================
The Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2024 qualifier away to France later this year will be played at Parc des Princes in Paris.
The French usually play their home games at Stade de France in St Denis but that stadium is unavailable as it is a rugby World Cup venue.
France host the Republic on seven September, with the rugby World Cup starting the following day.
=============================
TODAY’S FIXTURES
IN SPANISH LA LIGA
Mallorca vs Cádiz
================================
ITALIAN SERIE A
Lazio vs Lecce
SOCCER ACTION CONTINUES THIS WEEKEND.
=====================================
In Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL.
Bayelsa United vs Niger Tornadoes
El Kanemi Warriors vs Plateau United
Gombe United vs Akwa United
Lobi Stars vs Wikki Tourist
Nasarawa United vs Bendel Insurance
Remo Stars vs Kwara United
Shooting Stars vs Enyimba
======================================
IN ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
ON SATURDAY
Leeds United vs Newcastle United
Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest
Crystal Palace vs AFC Bournemouth
Manchester United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Southampton vs Fulham
ON SUNDAY
Brentford vs West Ham United
Everton vs Manchester City
Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion
======================================
IN SPANISH LA LIGA
ON SATURDAY
Real Sociedad vs Girona
Osasuna vs Almería
Villarreal vs Athletic Bilbao
Real Madrid vs Getafe
ON SUNDAY
Celta Vigo vs Valencia
Elche vs Atlético Madrid
Real Valladolid vs Sevilla
Espanyol vs Barcelona
==============================
IN ITALIAN SERIE A
ON SATURDAY
Salernitana vs Atalanta
Spezia vs AC Milan
Inter Milan vs Sassuolo
ON SUNDAY
Hellas Verona vs Torino
Fiorentina vs Udinese
Monza vs Napoli
Bologna vs Roma
Juventus vs Cremonese
==========================
That ends TBS Sports as edited by Babajide Alli-Balogun, and Tosin Ojoborun.
securityandsafetymatters 