IN UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Liverpool has completed one of the biggest smash and grabs in Champions League history to come away from their last-16 first leg against Paris Saint-Germain with a win.
PSG completely dominated the game, with twenty-seven shots, and Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson had to make nine saves.
Harvey Elliott netted with his first touch, after replacing Mohamed Salah, when he was picked out by Darwin Nunez.
Liverpool will host the second leg next Tuesday.
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Barcelona star Raphinha scored a late goal as the team claimed a narrow win over Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, despite going down to ten men.
The Brazilian capitalised on a defensive error to drive forward and slot in the bottom corner in the 61st minute, notching his 25th goal of the season and ninth in the Champions League campaign.
Raphinha also came to the rescue for five-time winners Barcelona in January when the two sides met in the league group phase, scoring a 96th-minute winner in a nine-goal thriller.
Barcelona held on to take a narrow lead to the Camp Nou for the second leg on Tuesday 11th March.
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Bayern Munich has one foot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after a comfortable three-nil win against 10-man Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Harry Kane gave the hosts an early breakthrough in the all-German meeting before Jamal Musiala doubled their lead by capitalising on a mistake from Leverkusen goalkeeper Matej Kovar.
The visitors went down to 10 men after a second yellow for Nordi Mukiele just past the hour mark, then Kane scored his 31st goal of the season from the penalty spot to seal the victory.
The second leg at BayArena will take place on Tuesday, 11th March.
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Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez scored a landmark goal as the team took a commanding lead against Feyenoord in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
Marcus Thuram struck their opener seven minutes before the break when he stabbed home Nicolo Barella’s looping ball into the box from close range.
The second leg takes place at the San Siro on Tuesday, 11th March.
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Wolves striker Matheus Cunha has been charged by the Football Association after his red card in the FA Cup penalty shootout defeat at Bournemouth.
It is alleged Cunha “acted in an improper manner” after he was sent off for clashing with Cherries defender Milos Kerkez in the final minute of extra time.
The 25-year-old lashed out at Kerkez three times fighting and kicking out at him before aiming a headbutt when the Hungary full-back got back to his feet.
The Brazil striker, who scored Wolves’ equaliser at the Vitality Stadium, has until Monday to respond.
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Newcastle defender Lewis Hall has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a foot injury.
The 20-year-old England international sustained the injury during his side’s two-nil Premier League defeat by Liverpool in February.
Hall’s absence was another blow to Eddie Howe’s side who take on Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, 16th March, with forward Antony Gordon set to be banned.
Hall established himself as the Magpies’ first-choice left-back this season, making twenty-seven Premier League appearances.
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The Football Association wants the three-match ban given to Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts for a dangerous challenge on Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta to be extended.
Roberts was sent off in the eighth minute of Millwall’s FA Cup fifth-round defeat at Selhurst Park on Saturday for a high challenge which left Mateta needing twenty-five stitches around his left ear.
The FA said the standard three-game ban for serious foul play was clearly insufficient and has submitted a claim to a regulatory commission to increase it.
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Chelsea women has moved eight points clear at the top of the Women’s Super League with a nervy victory over Leicester City at Kingsmeadow.
Leicester came into the game as one of only two sides, alongside Brighton last Sunday, to take points off Chelsea this season and again caused problems for Sonia Bompastor’s team.
Catarina Macario, Aggie Beever-Jones and Erin Cuthbert scored a goal each for Chelsea women, while Leicester City’s only goal was scored by Nicole Momiki.
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The Football Associations of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have expressed their intention to submit a joint bid to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup.
The announcement follows a decision by world governing body Fifa which recommended the tournament is hosted in Europe or Africa in that year.
Bids for the 2031 and 2035 finals will have to be submitted in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The United States are the favourites to host the 2031 tournament after pulling out of the vote for 2027, which was won by Brazil.
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IN NIGERIA
Nigerian football fans have expressed widespread optimism and excitement about the Super Eagles’ new 39-man provisional squad, selected by head coach Eric Chelle for the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Enthusiastic reactions erupted with supporters highlighting the strategic blend of experienced players and emerging talents that could potentially revive Nigeria’s World Cup qualification hopes.
The provisional squad, which includes the return of veteran captain Ahmed Musa and maiden call-ups for promising talents like Tolu Arokodare and Chrisantus Uche, has generated significant buzz among football enthusiasts.
Former Super Eagles forward, Obafemi Martins has backed the team to overcome their slow start and secure one of Africa’s qualification spots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Martins, who was in Abuja as a guest of the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, expressed his belief that the team has the talent to qualify.
He warned that missing out on a second consecutive World Cup would be a major setback for both the players and the country.
Receiving Martins in his office, Olopade expressed his delight at welcoming the former Nigeria international, describing him as a legend whose contributions to Nigerian football remain unforgettable.
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Former Nigerian international Julius Aghahowa has disclosed that Rwanda players will be eager to prove their worth against the Super Eagles in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
He made this known on the backdrop of the appointment of Adel Amrouche as the new head coach of their senior national team.
Aghahowa stated that Amrouche’s arrival might be advantageous and disadvantageous to the Super Eagles.
The Super Eagles will play away in Kigali on 21st March before hosting Zimbabwe on 25th March.
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Former Nigeria international Ifeanyi Udeze has questioned the Super Eagles 39-man provisional list ahead of this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Reacting to the provisional list, Udeze stated that this was not the right time for Chelle to familiarise herself with all the players.
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Czech Republic outfit Slavia Prague has praised their defender Igoh Ogbu following his maiden invitation to the Super Eagles.
The 25-year-old was named in Nigeria’s provisional squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda’s Amavubi and Warriors of Zimbabwe.
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Warriors of Zimbabwe head coach Michael Nees believes Nigeria’s Super Eagles are beatable in Uyo.
The Super Eagles will host Zimbabwe on matchday 6 in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Nees is confident his side can add to the Super Eagles’ poor home form.
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Former Liverpool defender, Jamie Carragher, has addressed criticism over his previous comments regarding the Africa Cup of Nations, which many perceived as dismissive.
Carragher acknowledged that his choice of words was poorly phrased.
He explained that his point was based on historical trends in Ballon d’Or voting rather than a personal opinion on AFCON’s significance.
He noted that Ballon d’Or voting has historically favoured competitions like the UEFA European Championship.
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The South Africa Football Association, has thrown the gates open for this weekend’s 2025 FIFA Under-seventeen Women’s World Cup clash between Bantwana and Flamingos.
The second round first leg tie will hold at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, Pretoria on Saturday.
The Association charged the fans to come out in large numbers to show their support for Bantwana.
The reverse fixture is slated for the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne on Saturday, 15th March.
The winner on aggregate would progress to the third round of the qualification campaign.
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Remo Stars head coach, Daniel Ogunmodede, says his team cannot afford to relax as the club pursue its first Nigeria Premier Football League title.
Ogunmodede stated that his team was fully prepared for the challenge ahead.
The Ikenne club currently enjoyed an eleven points lead at the top of the log.
Ogunmodede’s side still have eleven matches to navigate before the end of the campaign.
The Sky Blue Stars will be away to Bendel Insurance in a matchday 28 encounter this weekend.
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Rivers United head coach, Finidi George says his side will not give up on its fight to win the title.
The Port Harcourt club currently occupy second position on the table with forty-three points, eleven points adrift leaders Remo Stars.
With eleven games remaining before the end of the campaign, Finidi insisted that his team can still claim the top prize.
Rivers United will host Niger Tornadoes in its next game on Sunday.
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Lobi Stars has now adopt the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu as their new home ground.
The Makurdi club adopted the Lafia City Stadium as their temporary ground at the start of the season.
Lobi Stars later shifted to the Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi.
They played three matches at the ground before requesting for a change of venue.
Lobi Stars will host Ikorodu City at their new home ground this weekend.
Heavyweight boxers Efe Ajagba and Martin Bakole will now square off on 3rd May in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after their originally planned New York headliner was rescheduled, with the fight set to take place on the undercard of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s super middleweight championship match.
The rescheduling comes in the wake of Bakole’s recent knockout loss to Joseph Parker in February, where the Congolese fighter was defeated in the second round after stepping in as a late replacement for an ill Daniel Dubois.
Despite the setback, Bakole has quickly accepted the opportunity to face Nigeria’s Ajagba, maintaining his position as a top-five heavyweight in multiple rankings.
Nigeria’s U-23 and U-18 men’s handball teams have begun intensive preparatory camps ahead of two top international handball championships.
The national U-23 men’s handball team under the tutelage of Solomon Yola and Adebayo Yekini are presently undergoing intensive training at Package B of the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja ahead of the 5th IHF Emerging Nations Championship which will hold from March 11 to 16 in Vana, Bulgaria.
The national U-18 team led by coaches Emeka Nnamani and Joshua Ayo, have also begun preparation at the Rowe Park Sports Center, Yaba, Lagos ahead of the IHF Trophy Intercontinental Phase which will be held in Pristina, Kosovo from March 12 to 16.
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OTHER LEAGUE
Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho says managing in Scotland appeals to him.
Mourinho, who is preparing to face Rangers in the last 16 of the Europa League, is attracted by the passion of Scottish football.
He is content with life in Turkey but did not rule out the prospect of taking over at Celtic Park or Ibrox one day when asked if working in Scotland would interest him.
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World Football Chief Gianni Infantino says the 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey will make history by having a Super Bowl-style half-time show.
FIFA president Infantino said Coldplay band members Chris Martin and Phil Harvey will determine the artists who will perform.
Fifa is set to give more than one billion dollars in prize money to clubs participating in the Club World Cup as the European Club Association, negotiating on behalf of clubs in Europe including Chelsea and Manchester City, closes in on a deal.
Multiple sources confirmed that the thirty-two clubs involved, including twelve European clubs, will split what is anticipated to be the biggest prize in club football across a seven-match format.
The inaugural tournament, taking place in the United States, begins on 14th June and finishes with the final in New Jersey on 13th July.
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Former Real Madrid midfielder Alvaro Benito says the duo of Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius’ inability to defend is affecting the team.
Benito stated that Mbappe and Vinicius have not fulfilled the minimum services at a defensive level.
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OTHER SPORTS
In Basketball, LeBron James has become the first player in NBA history to score fifty thousand combined points as he helped the Los Angeles Lakers to victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
The 40-year-old American surpassed the mark early in the first quarter of his side’s 136-115 win, gathering a pass from Luka Doncic and sinking a sublime twenty-five foot three-pointer.
James, the leading scorer in the competition’s history finished the match on 34 points to take his career total to fifty thousand and thirty-three which is six thousand clear of second-placed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
James’ total is made up of a record forty-one thousand, eight hundred and seventy-one regular season points, adding to his eight thousand, one hundred and sixty-two postseason haul, where he is also the NBA’s leading scorer.
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In formula one, the chairman of Motorsport UK, David Richards has threatened world governing body the FIA with legal action if it does not address his concerns about governance.
Richards’ move comes after he was one of a number of FIA members who were barred from a meeting of its world council last week after refusing to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
Richards, the chairman of motorsport engineering company Prodrive and a former Formula 1 team boss, added he intends to remind the FIA of their responsibilities and hold them to account on behalf of the sport and their members worldwide.
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In Rugby, Elliot Daly will start ahead of Marcus Smith at full-back for England’s match against Italy on Sunday, with the Harlequins playmaker dropped to the bench.
Fraser Dingwall, who won his last England cap more than a year ago, comes into the centres alongside Ollie Lawrence, with Henry Slade left out of the matchday 23.
Dingwall’s inclusion means five of the seven backs are from Northampton, with Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith continuing their half-back partnership.
Jamie George starts at hooker as he becomes the seventh player to reach a century of caps for the England men’s team.
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In Cricket, New Zealand has powered their way into the Champions Trophy final with a thumping 50-run win over South Africa after centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson.
The Black Caps opted to bat first in Lahore and posted a tournament-record 362-6 in a superbly paced one-day innings.
It was built on a 164-run partnership for the second wicket between Ravindra and Williamson, who registered their fifth and 15th ODI hundreds.
New Zealand will now travel to Dubai to face India in Sunday’s final, hoping to win the trophy for a second time, 25 years on since they won their only ICC white-ball title.
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Also, Steve Smith has retired from one-day international cricket following Australia’s semi-final exit from the Champions Trophy.
The 35-year-old made one hundred and seventy appearances for Australia in his 50-over career, hitting 12 centuries and winning the ODI World Cup in 2015 and 2023.
Smith captained the side in Pat Cummins’ absence during his final ODI appearance on Tuesday, when Australia suffered a four-wicket loss to India in Dubai in the Champions Trophy.
The former Sussex batsman will remain available for Test and T20 selection for his country.
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In Athletics, Britain’s former world champion sprinter Richard Kilty has announced his retirement from athletics.
Kilty won sixty metres gold at the World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland in 2014 before claiming back-to-back European indoor sixty metres titles in 2015 and 2017.
He was part of Team Great Britain’s bronze medal-winning men’s four by one hundred metres relay squad at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, competing in the heats before Jeremiah Azu, Louie Hinchliffe, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake and Zharnel Hughes ran in the final.
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TODAY’S FIXTURES
IN UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE – ROUND OF SIXTEEN
AZ vs Tottenham Hotspur
Fenerbahçe vs Rangers
Real Sociedad vs Manchester United
Ajax vs Eintracht Frankfurt
Roma vs Athletic Club
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IN UEFA CONFERENCE LEAGUE – ROUND OF SIXTEEN
København vs Chelsea
Molde vs Legia Warszawa
Panathinaikos vs Fiorentina
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
In baseball and in business, there are three types of people. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who wonder what happened….words from Tommy Lasorda.
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