IN UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUES
Barcelona twice came from behind against Inter Milan to snatch a three-all draw in a six-goal first-leg thriller to leave their Champions League semi-final finely poised.
Inter stunned the hosts after just thirty seconds when Marcus Thuram turned in Denzel Dumfries’ low cross with an audacious backheel flick to score the fastest goal in a last-four game in the competition’s history.
Denzel Dumfries scored a brace for Inter Milan, while Barcelona’s three goals were scored by Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and own-goal from Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
The breathless affair leaves the tie in the balance with the second leg on Tuesday at the San Siro in Milan
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Chelsea women has secured a sixth successive Women’s Super League title as Lucy Bronze’s goal wrapped up victory over Manchester United.
An eruption of celebration broke out in the away end as the England international flicked a header past goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, all but confirming Chelsea’s task was complete late in the second half.
It has been a brilliant start to Bompastor’s tenure the Frenchwoman carrying the baton on with ease and building on former manager Emma Hayes’ legacy.
Chelsea women can still win the Treble this season with an FA Cup final against Manchester United to come in May and the Women’s League Cup trophy already in the bag.
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Tottenham star James Maddison says his teammates fully support manager Ange Postecoglou and believe they can still turn their season into something special.
Spurs are 16th in the Premier League table after a dismal domestic campaign and pressure is mounting on Postecoglou despite their contrasting fortunes in Europe.
The North London club, who have not won a trophy in seventeen years, host Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday.
Maddison who acknowledges the club’s disappointing season, said the narrative surrounding the manager was not healthy.
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Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has returned to full training following an ankle injury.
The Norwegian, suffered the injury in the two-one FA Cup quarter-final win over Bournemouth on 30th March.
Haaland has been working on an individual training programme during his recovery, but was back with the first-team group on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Rodri has also been training with the first team, having been out since September with a serious knee injury.
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Evanilson’s suspension has been rescinded after Bournemouth successfully appealed against his red card in their one-all Premier League draw with Manchester United on Sunday.
The striker was initially given a yellow card for a challenge on Noussair Mazraoui, but it was upgraded following a video assistant referee review.
Evanilson appeared to slip as he closed down the United defender.
The red card would have meant a three-match ban, but the Brazilian was now available to face Arsenal on Saturday.
Bournemouth is 10th in the table with four games remaining.
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Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has diluted his control of the club in preparation for Champions League qualification.
Uefa, European football’s governing body, has strict rules regarding multi-club ownership models such as the one Marinakis heads up.
In addition to owning Forest, the Greek businessman also controls Greek team Olympiakos, and Portuguese side Rio Ave.
Forest and Olympiakos are both on course to qualify for next season’s Champions League, a prospect that would contravene Uefa’s rules that state clubs under the same ownership cannot compete in the same European competition.
Documents filed at Companies House show that Marinakis has ceased to become a person with significant control of NF Football Investments Limited, the vehicle that owns the City Ground club.
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Former Chelsea star Joe Cole says he will love to see Jose Mourinho return to the Premier League.
Cole played under from 2004 to 2007 Mourinho during his first spell as manager at Chelsea.
During their time together, the Blues won two Premier Leagues, one FA Cup and two League Cup.
The Portuguese is currently head coach of Turkish giants Fenerbahce who are in a title race with rivals Galatasaray.
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Former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp says calling England boss Thomas Tuchel a German spy was a joke that badly backfired.
Redknapp made the comment about the German manager when speaking at a charity event last month and also appeared to make a Nazi salute.
Former Chelsea manager Tuchel officially started his England role in January and led them to World Cup qualifying wins over Albania and Latvia in his first two games in charge.
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IN NIGERIA
Flying Eagles head coach Aliyu Zubairu says his team’s main objective is to secure a World Cup ticket at the 2025 Africa Under-twenty Cup of Nations.
Zubairu stated his players are ready for the task ahead.
The Flying Eagles, who last tasted success on the continent in 2015 are among the favourites to win the title at this year’s edition of the biennial competition.
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Former Nigerian international Dimeji Lawal has advised the Flying Eagles to aim for the maximum points in the team’s opening fixture against Tunisia on Thursday at the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Lawal emphasised that the Flying Eagles must avoid conceding the first goal against Tunisia, warning of their crafty tactics.
The seven-time U-20 African champions and two-time FIFA U-20 World Cup runners-up, are placed in a tough group that includes Tunisia, Morocco, and Kenya.
Aliyu Zubairu’s side will take on the North Africans at the 30th June Air Defence Stadium, Cairo on Thursday.
The Group B encounter will kick-off at 4pm Nigerian time.
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Flying Eagles striker Kparobo Arierhi has been named among the rising stars to watch at the tournament by the Confederation of African Football, CAF.
Kparobo was one of Nigeria’s top performers at the WAFU B U-20 Championship in Lome Togo last year.
The 18-year-old scored three goals in the competition with the Flying Eagles claiming the trophy after edging past Ghana’s Black Satellites in the final.
The Lillestrøm of Norway hitman will shoulder goal scoring responsibility for the team once again in Egypt.
Fulham, Crystal Palace and Everton are all interested in Super Eagles star Wilfred Ndidi, who plays for Leicester City.
The Nigeria international is available for nine million pounds following Leicester City’s relegation to the Sky Bet Championship.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side relegation was confirmed following a one-nil defeat to Liverpool at the King Power Stadium.
Ndidi has a contract with the Foxes until 2027 but could be set for an earlier departure this summer.
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Galatasaray general secretary Eray Yazgan has opened up on the possibility of Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen staying at the club beyond this summer.
The striker linked up with the Turkish Super Lig champions on loan from Serie A club Napoli last September.
The Nigeria international has impressed since his arrival at the club, recording thirty-one goals and seven assists in thirty-six appearances across all competitions.
Osimhen has a seventy-five million euros release in his contract.
The forward has been linked with a number of top clubs in Europe, including Chelsea, Manchester United and Juventus.
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Champions of the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League season, Remo Stars would be presented the league title on Sunday, 11th May, after their last home game of the season against Southwest rivals Ikorodu City, the league board has confirmed.
Remo Stars won their first-ever NPFL title with three games to spare on Sunday, clinching the title in front of their fans in Ikenne with a 1-0 win over Niger Tornadoes in a match-day 35 game.
Second-half substitute Olamilekan Adedayo proved decisive for the club again, scoring a late stunner to send the arena into a romp after their visitors had frustrated them for 83 minutes.
With three matches left to play this season, Remo Stars will be at home for the last time against Ikorodu City on matchday 37, and they can restart their title celebrations with the Southwest derby.
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The Nigeria Junior swim Team has arrived in Egypt for the Africa Junior Swimming Championship in Egypt slated for 29th April – 3rd May 2025
The Team which Consists of 14 Swimmers, 8 boys and 6 girls was led by the President of the Aquatic Federation of Nigeria Chinonye Aliyu, The Secretary General of the Federation Taiwo Oriss, Parents of the Swimmers, The Head coach Yellow Yeiyah and his assistant Labake Oriretan.
The Team which had been in camp for over Two weeks is geared up for victory with Abduljabal leading the boys 50 meters and 100 meters while Kashope and Aidan are the reliable options in the 50 meters and 100 meters backstroke event.
In a significant boost for the future of sports development and youth empowerment in the Southwest region, the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, DAWN Commission, has formally endorsed the SouthWest Games.
It describes it as a transformative platform perfectly aligned with the region’s aspirations for sustainable growth and regional integration.
Its Director General, Seye Oyeleye, made the declaration while receiving the Organising Committee of the South West Games 2025 at the Commission’s headquarters in Ibadan.
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After two days of pre – liminary matches at the 5th Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial National Table Tennis Championships, the tournament progresses to the knockout stage.
The competition intensifies as players vie for spots in the finals. All group matches concluded at the Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial Hall in Otan Ayegbaju, Osun State.
Attention now shifts to the knockout rounds, where seeded players will compete for glory in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events.
Unseeded duo Samuel Boboye and Iyanuoluwa Falana, representing Bayelsa State clinched the mixed doubles title on Wednesday, at the 5th Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial National Table Tennis Championships held in Otan Ayegbaju, Osun State.
Boboye and Falana emerged as champions in the mixed doubles event by defeating the number two seed, Abdulbasit Abdulfatai and Sukurat Aiyelabegan of Kwara State, with a score of 3-1 (11-1, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7).
The Bayelsa pair attributed their victory to focus and composure, despite facing top-seeded players, and expressed their ambition to secure more laurels for the Niger Delta team.
A major upset occurred in the U-15 boys’ singles, where the number one seed, Ayoola Usman, was eliminated by an unseeded player in the last 16 of the tournament.
Nigerian forward Kparabo Arierhi has been named among the top talents to watch at the ongoing U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
African football governing body, Confederation of African Football, included the 18-year-old striker on its official list of standout players for the tournament which kicked off on 27th April and runs until 18th May, alongside Senegal’s Pierre Dorival, Egypt’s Mohamed Abdallah, and Ghana’s Jerry Afriyie.
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OTHER LEAGUES
Brendan Rodgers, David Gray, and John McGlynn are on the shortlist for PFA Scotland’s Manager of the Year award.
Celtic boss Rodgers last won the award after an invincible treble in the 2016-17 season, and his side are on the brink of another domestic clean sweep.
A win against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final next month would add to the League Cup and Premiership title already won by Rodgers, his team, and the improvement in their Champions League results.
Gray, is in his first season as manager of Hibernian and after a difficult start when his team were bottom of the league, has them in third place and in pole position for European football.
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The Atlanta Falcons has been fined two hundred and fifty thousand dollars by the NFL after Jax Ulbrich, the son of their defensive co-ordinator Jeff Ulbrich, prank called quarterback Shedeur Sanders during the NFL Draft.
Jeff Ulbrich also personally been fined one hundred, thousand dollars for the incident, which the Falcons had said involved 21-year-old Jax Ulbrich getting Sanders’ number from an iPad when visiting his parents’ home and writing it down to later conduct a prank call.
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OTHER SPORTS
In Basketball; The governing body for basketball in the country is expected to announce their new hire for the men’s programs as soon as Thursday morning and is closing on their preferred women’s candidate.
On the men’s side it will fall to Gordon Herbert to lead Canada’s push for its first Olympic medal in basketball since 1936.
The women’s side remains under wraps for the moment, but negotiations are close to being finalized, with a candidate that combines NCAA, international and WNBA experience to the role.
In Boxing; UFC president Dana White has teamed up with influential Saudi figure Turki Alalshikh to launch a brand-new boxing venture, aiming to revolutionise the sport through their upcoming project, TKO Boxing.
While White believes his UFC success blueprint can work in the boxing world, longtime promoter Eddie Hearn is not buying it.
The Matchroom boss, known for his work with stars like Anthony Joshua, has made it clear: boxing’s battleground is not the same as MMA, and White’s approach might not fly.
In Tennis, An authoritative Jack Draper booked his place in the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open with a convincing 6-2, 6-2 win against Tommy Paul.
The British number one broke the American in the third and seventh games and served out to love to take the first set in thirty-two minutes.
Draper, who is at a career-high sixth in the world rankings, is the fifth seed at the Madrid Open and the highest ranked player remaining.
He will play Matteo Arnaldi in the last eight after the Italian, who knocked out Novak Djokovic, beat Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 7-5.
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Also, World number one Jannik Sinner has considered walking away from tennis during his doping case, stating he did not feel comfortable as players looked at him differently during the Australian Open.
The 23-year-old Italian returned two positive tests for banned substance clostebol in March 2024 and accepted a three-month ban from the World Anti-Doping Agency in February, just weeks after successfully defending his crown in Melbourne.
Sinner had previously been cleared of any wrongdoing by an independent panel, but Wada launched an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, seeking a ban of up to two years.
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In formula one, Mexico City will stay on the Formula 1 calendar until at least 2028 after signing a new three-year contract.
The deal ends uncertainty over whether the race would continue after Mexican driver Sergio Perez lost his seat on the grid, having been dropped by Red Bull at the end of last season.
The race has been supported by the Mexican government, both national and local, and businesses.
Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, is a former mayor of the capital and a supporter of the race, along with the new mayor of Mexico City.
Billionaire businessman Carlos Slim Domit, one of the world’s richest men, has also backed the GP.
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In Golf, Rory McIlroy will play the Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club as part of his preparations for the Open Championship in his native Northern Ireland this summer.
The Masters champion will aim to win a second Open title at Royal Portrush from 17th to 20th July.
The Scottish Open is the final event before golf’s fourth and final major of the year and McIlroy will return to the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, where he won the title in 2023 by beating Scotland’s Bob MacIntyre by one shot.
Rose, MacIntyre, Matt Fitzpatrick, Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas are some of the other names who have already committed to playing the Scottish Open.
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In Cricket, Chennai Super Kings’ chances of reaching the Indian Premier League play-offs are over after they were beaten by Punjab Kings despite Sam Curran’s 88.
England all-rounder Curran’s highest IPL score was the backbone of CSK’s one hundred and ninety all out but Punjab chased their target with two balls to spare even with a late stutter, winning by four wickets.
Shreyas Iyer hit a majestic seventy-two and opener Prabhsimran Singh fifty-four, leaving only six to get from the last two overs.
Iyer was bowled with nine balls to go and Suryansh Shedge followed for one but Marco Jansen inside edged for four to seal victory.
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In Rugby, An independent review has called for the of the Rugby Football Union Council, whose sixty-three members include representatives from England’s counties, the military and Oxbridge, to be abolished.
The Council, whose members work on a voluntary basis, but receive expenses, free tickets and hospitality, oversee the RFU’s board.
It has responsibility for regulations governing the game, giving it a potentially decisive say on issues such as how the Premiership and top-flight clubs operate.
The Council also included advocates for referees, players, the Premiership, the Championship and the National League.
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TODAY’S FIXTURE
IN UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE-SEMI-FINALS
Athletic Club vs Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur vs Bodø / Glimt
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IN UEFA CONFERENCE LEAGUE- SEMI-FINALS
Djurgården vs Chelsea
Real Betis vs Fiorentina
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IN ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Nottingham Forest vs Brentford
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
JUST REMEMBER YOU CANNOT CLIMB THE LADDER OF SUCCESS WITH YOUR HANDS IN YOUR POCKET. WORDS FROM ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER.
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