IN UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Barcelona star Raphinha has equalled Lionel Messi’s club record for goal involvements in a single Champions League campaign as the team thrashed Borussia Dortmund four-nil to take command of their quarter-final tie.
The Brazilian forward scored and assisted twice to reach nineteen goal involvements in the competition this term, the same as Messi achieved in the 2011-12 campaign.
Raphinha’s 12th European goal of the season gave Barcelona a deserved first-half lead, before Robert Lewandowski struck twice after the break and Lamine Yamal added a fourth to put the Spanish side on course for the semi-finals.
Barcelona will travel to Germany for the second leg on Tuesday, 15 April.
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Paris Saint-Germain star Nuno Mendes struck deep into stoppage time to give the team a significant advantage against Aston Villa in the Champions League quarter-final first leg at Parc des Princes.
Villa looked like they would only need to overturn a one-goal deficit at Villa Park until Mendes stole in to deliver a devastating blow to Unai Emery’s side in the dying seconds.
Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored a goal each for Paris Saint-Germain while Aston Villa’s only goal was scored by Morgan Rogers.
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Former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic has labelled Andre Onana as one of the worst goalkeepers in the club’s history.
Matic was responding to Onana’s comments about United being way better” than French club Lyon as the two sides prepare to meet in the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday.
Onana then posted on social media, denying he was being disrespectful.
The Europa League is the final opportunity for Ruben Amorim’s side, currently 13th in the Premier League to save a disappointing season.
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Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou says he is battling a negative agenda against the club where even good days are seen from a glass half-empty perspective.
Spurs are a lowly 14th after 31 games in the Premier League as they toil in an injury-hit season, and under-pressure Postecoglou said he detects an outside view that he was gone anyway even if the team win the Europa League.
The team face Eintracht Frankfurt in their European quarter-final on Thursday.
The competition offers Spurs their final hope of silverware this campaign as Postecoglou, looks to maintain his record of always winning trophies in his second season at a club.
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Liverpool is moving closer to agreeing a new contract with forward Mohamed Salah.
Talks between all parties are ongoing and a final agreement is yet to be reached, but sources indicated the club have made positive progress in their efforts and are hopeful a deal will be done.
Salah’s deal expires at the end of the season and there has been some uncertainty over his future, with clubs in Saudi Arabia keen to land the Egypt international.
The recent progress raised hope at Anfield that Salah will extend his stay at the Premier League club.
Also, the team’s captain Virgil van Dijk whose deal also expires in the summer provided a positive update on his own contract talks.
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Arsenal is to hold talks with teenage forward Ethan Nwaneri about a new long-term contract.
The 18-year-old played an important role for the Gunners this season and the club intend to reward the youngster with improved terms.
Nwaneri’s existing deal expires at the end of next season.
Following Andrea Berta’s arrival as sporting director, Arsenal have made extending their academy graduate’s contract among their key internal objectives.
The new offer would reflect his status as one of European football’s most promising teenagers.
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Manchester City has frozen season ticket and matchday ticket prices for the 2025-26 campaign following talks with the club’s fan advisory board.
City held an extraordinary meeting with City Matters on 3rd April and said the decision follows positive and constructive dialogue with the board over recent weeks.
The announcement follows further fan criticism for agreeing a global partnership with third-party ticket resale site Viagogo – their ninth partnership with a ticket resale platform.
City were accused of being “tone deaf” amid concerns hospitality tickets could be sold to away fans and standard tickets could be sold at inflated prices.
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IN NIGERIA
Flying Eagles has returned to Abuja as the team ramp up preparations for the 24th Africa Under-twenty Cup of Nations, which kicks off later this month in Egypt.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, confirmed that the team came back to Abuja after completing a three-week training camp in Katsina.
Sanusi emphasised that the coaching staff had a productive period to fine-tune the team, and they are now entering the final phase of preparation, which would focus on refining tactical and technical strategies.
He also noted that due to the change in host nation and the varying weather conditions in Egypt, the NFF is considering having the team depart for Egypt earlier, with plans for them to spend about ten days there before the tournament begins.
Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu has called up a squad of thirty-five players, consisting of three goalkeepers, eight defenders, ten midfielders, and fourteen forwards.
The team will use the FIFA Goal Project training field in Abuja for their sessions before heading to Egypt in the coming week.
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Remo Stars has rallied from two goals down to hold Lobi Stars to a two-all draw in a rescheduled matchday 30 tie at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
Johnmark Atule and Onyekachi Okafor scored a goal each for Lobi Stars, while Remo Stars’ two goals were scored by Haruna Hadi and John Abah
Remo Stars top the standings with sixty-one points from thirty-two matches, with second-placed Rivers United six points adrift.
Lobi Stars remain bottom of the log with twenty-five points from thirty-two matches.
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Organisers of Nigeria’s second-tier league, the Nigeria National League (NNL), has rescheduled the Matchday twelve Conference B fixture between Godswill Akpabio United of Uyo and Solution FC of Awka.
Solution FC, currently third in the Conference B table, are also in the Round of 16 of the President Federation Cup, where they are set to face NPFL side Kwara United on Wednesday, 16th April 2025.
To allow adequate preparation time for the crucial cup tie, the NNL has moved the fixture against Godswill Akpabio United to Friday, 12th April 2025.
Secretary of Solution FC, Chijioke Onyedika, who confirmed the development, stated that the match would now take place on Friday at the Uyo Township Stadium.
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FC Robo Queens has thrashed Rivers Angels three-nil in their Nigeria Women Football League, NWFL, matchday eleven encounter in Lagos on Wednesday.
Kemi Adegbuyi, Mariam Yahaya and Opeyemi Ajakaye scored a goal each for Robo Queens.
The win boosted the Lagos club chances of qualifying for the NWFL six.
The defeat put an end to Rivers Angels’ 10-game unbeaten streak.
Group A leaders Edo Queens maintained their unbeaten run courtesy of a one-nil win over Remo Stars Ladies, while in Group B, Bayelsa Queens maintained top position following a two-nil win over Benue Queens.
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Juventus has made an enquiring to sign Super Eagles winger Ademola Lookman from Atalanta during the summer transfer window.
The Nigerian international who scored thirteen goals from twenty-five games in the Serie A this ongoing season, has been in high demand from top clubs in Europe.
Atalanta have placed a sixty million euros price tag on Lookman and the Old Lady are hoping to convince Atalanta with a player plus cash deal.
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Former Besiktas coach Sergen Yalcin has disclosed that Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen and Alvaro Morata’s partnership at Galatasaray would not yield any meaningful impact.
Yalcin said the Nigerian international still needed to be guided to thrive compared to Morata.
Recall that Osimhen has netted twenty-eight goals in all competitions for the Turkish giants while Morata has scored three goals this ongoing season.
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Turkish Super Lig champions Fenerbahce is desperate to keep Super Eagles star Bright Osayi-Samuel.
Osayi-Samuel is into the final months of his contract with the Canaries and could leave on a free transfer this summer.
Jose Mourinho’s side have however reopened talks with the defender’s representatives to sort out the new deal.
The Nigeria international, who currently earns two point five million euros per year is demanding a significant pay rise.
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Chippa United head coach Thabo September has revealed that Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali could move elsewhere this summer.
Nwabali was linked with a move away from the Chilli Boys last summer following his impressive performance for Nigeria at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The 28-year-old instead signed a new three-year contract, and was also made the club’s captain.
The shot stopper is however still being monitored by clubs outside South Africa ahead of the summer transfer market.
Seven-time African champions Flying Eagles have returned to Abuja as they step up preparations for the 24th U-20 Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to kick off later this month in Egypt.
The Nigerian squad moved back to the Federal Capital Territory following a three-week training camp in Katsina, where they had initially gone to acclimatise to weather conditions similar to those expected in Ivory Coast where the tournament was meant to take place.
The change in location became necessary after Ivory Coast’s late withdrawal as hosts, forcing the Confederation of African Football to shift the competition to Egypt, which previously hosted the 2023 edition.
Team Bayelsa emerged champions of the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival, with 86 medals, consisting of 42 gold, 29 silver and 15 bronze.
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa applauded the state’s athletes to the just-concluded maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival for their first place finish.
Bayelsa topped the medals’ table by winning 42 gold, 29 silver and 15 bronze ahead of Delta State that got 41 gold, 26 silver, and 32 bronze medals to come second.
Edo secured the third position with 89 with medals 23 Gold, 35 Silver, and 31 Bronze.
Rivers won a total of 63 medals to come fourth with 21 gold, 16 silver and 26 bronze medals, with Ondo State coming fifth with 10 gold, 18 silver and 15 bronze medals with a total of 43.
2025 African Women’s Volleyball Club Championship hosts, Nigeria Customs Service lost to Kenya Commercial Bank 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-17) in the round of 16 clash, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
Chief of Naval Staff Spikers on Wednesday, delivered a convincing performance at the 2025 Women’s African Volleyball Club Championship, beating Sococim of Senegal 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-16) in the classification round in Abuja .
Al-Ahly of Egypt on Wednesday defeated Kenya Prisons Volleyball Club 3-1, with set scores of (25-12, 25-20, 22-25, 27-25.) at the ongoing 2025 African Women’s Volleyball Club Championship in Abuja.
Vice President of Kenya Commercial Bank Volleyball Club, Paul Bitok, has lauded to the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for organising the African Women’s Volleyball Club Championship in Abuja.
He praised the Nigerian Volleyball Federation for successfully hosting the continental championship for the first time.
The 2nd edition of the Ibadan Age Grade Swimming Championships has been scheduled to take place on Friday and Saturday, 18th and 19th April.
A total of 150 young swimmers are expected to converge at the University of Ibadan Swimming Pool during the Easter weekend, with the event starting by 9 am each day.
Four swimmers each are expected from the South West states while entries are also open to schools including tertiary institutions.
A total of 60 events will be competed for, from the 50m freestyle to the 400m long distance. All strokes, including back, breast and back strokes will be competed for at the event.
Controversial Nigerian street hop singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has declared he wants to fight former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua for N100m instead of his scheduled bout with colleague Darlington Okoye, aka Speed Darlington.
The “Zazuu” crooner, who made the decision in a video posted on his Instagram page, stated that Speed Darlington was an unworthy opponent and sought to battle the professional boxing star instead.
The singer also bragged about his status in the music industry, saying he is bigger and more popular than Speed Darlington.
OTHER LEAGUES
Australia women’s assistant coach, Melissa Andreatta has been appointed Scotland head coach on a four-year deal.
The 46-year-old is the permanent successor to Pedro Martinez Losa who left his role in December after failing to reach Euro 2025, subject to the completion of visa arrangements.
Michael McArdle oversaw the first four games of Scotland’s Nations League Group A1 campaign this year, finishing off with Tuesday’s six-one thrashing in Germany.
Andreatta has been assistant coach of the Matildas since 2019 and has also led the Under-23s since their inception in 2022.
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OTHER SPORTS
In Basketball; Saturday is going to be a party at the Swamp. Before the annual Florida football spring game, the national champion men’s basketball team will be honored with a special celebration.
The Gators won their third title after rallying against Houston to win a thriller 65-63 in San Antonio.
It capped an incredible 36-4 season in which they won the SEC tournament, beat two-time defending champion UConn to reach the Sweet 16 and took down conference rival Auburn in the Final Four.
Todd Golden became the youngest coach to win it all since Jim Valvano in 1983, and Walter Clayton Jr. was named Most Outstanding Player.
In Tennis, Novak Djokovic’s wait for his 100th ATP singles title continues after the two-time champion exited the Monte Carlo Masters in a straight-set opening loss to Alejandro Tabilo.
Djokovic made twenty-nine unforced errors compared to his eighteen winners in a subdued start to his clay-court season, resulting in a 6-3, 6-4 defeat.
But Chilean Tabilo, who beat Djokovic on the surface at the Italian Open eleven months ago, replicated that surprise victory to reach the third round.
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Also, Carlos Alcaraz rallied to a comeback victory over Francisco Cerundolo in the 21-year-old’s first clay match of the season.
Spanish world number three Alcaraz was unable to match Argentine Cerundolo in the first set but dominated thereafter, winning 12 of the last 13 games for a 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 victory.
Norwegian fourth seed Casper Ruud beat Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, 6-1, while Russian seventh seed Andrey Rublev overcame Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-4, 7-6.
Great Britain’s Jack Draper is back in action on Thursday, when the Indian Wells champion faces Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina for a quarter-final place.
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In Cricket, New England white-ball captain Harry Brook says he will not play in overseas franchise leagues for the near future as he manages his workload.
Brook, was named one-day and T20 skipper on Monday, replacing Jos Buttler, who quit after England’s failed Champions Trophy campaign.
The main concern about appointing Brook, who pulled out of the Indian Premier League last month, has been around his schedule as a regular in England’s Test, one-day and T20 sides.
Speaking to the media for the first time since his appointment, Brook suggested he will look to play in every England series but accepted “there might be a couple of opportunities to have a little break here and there.
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In Rugby, The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has taken control of Cardiff Rugby after the club’s legal entity was placed temporarily into administration by its directors.
The development was expected after Wales’ capital city side had served a notice of intent (NOI) to appoint an administrator for Cardiff Rugby Limited.
The WRU said Cardiff players and staff will be unaffected by the sale and fixtures will be fulfilled, with season and match tickets remaining valid.
The governing body of Welsh rugby also said prepayments for 2025-26 season tickets will be honoured, as will existing sponsorship arrangements that have been paid for in advance.
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TODAY’S FIXTURES
IN UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE- QUARTER-FINALS
Bodø / Glimt vs Lazio
Olympique Lyonnais vs Manchester United
Rangers vs Athletic Club
Tottenham Hotspur vs Eintracht Frankfurt
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IN UEFA CONFERENCE LEAGUE- QUARTER-FINALS
Legia Warszawa vs Chelsea
Celje vs Fiorentina
Djurgården vs Rapid Vienna
Real Betis vs Jagiellonia Białystok
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
My attitude is that if you push me towards a weakness, I will turn that weakness into a strength….words from Michael Jordan.
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