IN UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

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Holders Paris Saint-Germain beat 10-man Monaco five-four on aggregate after two-all draw to advance to the last 16 of the Champions League.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Marquinhos scored a goal each for Paris Saint-Germain, while Monaco’s two goals were scored by Maghnes Akliouche and Jordan Teze.

The holders will face either Chelsea or Barcelona in the next round, and will discover their opponents in the knockout draw on Friday.

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Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior has scored as the team secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a two-one victory over Benfica at the Bernabeu.

The forward had been the centre of focus in the build-up to the game, having alleged he was racially abused by Gianluca Prestianni shortly after scoring the only goal in the first leg.

Prestianni was subsequently handed a one-match ban, meaning he missed Wednesday’s return leg, while support was shown for Vinicius by the home fans as a banner with the words no to racism in Spanish was displayed in the stands before kick-off.

Real Madrid’s second goal was scored by Aurelien Tchouameni, while Benfica’s only goal was scored by Rafa Silva.

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Galatasaray stars Victor Osimhen and Baris Yilmaz scored in extra time as the team held off a stirring fightback from 10-man Juventus to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.

Manuel Locatelli, Federico Gatti and Weston McKennie scored a goal each for Juventus.

A relieved Galatasaray will now face either Liverpool or Tottenham on their first last-16 appearance in Europe’s elite club competition since 2013-14.

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Atalanta has scored a dramatic penalty with the last kick of the game as the Italians staged an incredible fightback to beat Borussia Dortmund four-one and progress to the last sixteen of the Champions League.

The hosts had faced an almighty task after losing the first leg two-nil in Germany, but scored twice in the first half through Gianluca Scamacca and Davide Zappacosta to level the tie on aggregate.

Mario Pasalic and Lazar Samardzic scored a goal each for Atalanta, while Borussia Dortmund’s only goal was scored by Karim Adeyemi.

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Borussia Dortmund has criticised the disproportionate measures taken by the Italian authorities that means some of their fans will miss Wednesday’s Champions League match at Atalanta.

The Bundesliga club confirmed that some of their supporters had been denied entry to Italy, while others have been visited by the police at their accommodation.

Dortmund giants added that they found the measures incomprehensible and questioned the behaviour on the part of the authorities.

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Chelsea has been fined three hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds and West Ham three hundred thousand pounds over a mass confrontation between players during their Premier League game in January.

The incident at Stamford Bridge started when Chelsea forward Joao Pedro reacted to West Ham winger Adama Traore’s shove on Blues defender Marc Cucurella in added time.

In imposing the fines, an independent regulatory commission took the fact that both clubs had committed previous breaches of FA Rule E20.1 into account.

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Former Chelsea captain, John Terry says he is frustrated at being overlooked for a caretaker role following Enzo Maresca’s departure as head coach in January.

Terry, who works two days a month as a part-time mentor in Chelsea’s academy, was not included among the staff appointed to take temporary charge for the matches against Manchester City and Fulham after Maresca’s surprise exit.

Full-time Under-twenty-one coach Calum McFarlane was chosen as caretaker boss after Maresca left the club following a dramatic falling out behind the scenes.

Current head coach Liam Rosenior later took the role permanently after joining from sister club Strasbourg.

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Manchester United chief executive, Omar Berrada says the benefits of the club’s off-pitch transformation is being recognised through improved financial performance, even though the club’s debt is now approaching one point three billion pounds.

United have posted an operating profit of thirty-two point six million pounds for the six months to 31st December 2025.

This contrasts sharply with a loss of three point nine million pounds for the same period twelve months ago.

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U.S government officials have been warned that there could be catastrophic security consequences if cities hosting World Cup matches do not receive funding that has been frozen.

Almost nine hundred dollars designated for the eleven host cities in the US has not been received amid a partial federal government shutdown.

Officials at a House Homeland Security Committee hearing said the freezing of funds and a lack of co-ordination between local entities and the federal government are two of the main reasons why security preparations are behind schedule.

Chief operating officer of the Miami World Cup Host Committee, Ray Martinez, said it may have to cancel events unless organisers receive seventy million dollars by the end of March.

The World Cup, which is also being hosted by Canada and Mexico, starts on 11th June.

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IN NIGERIA

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Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade, Oluwatosin Demehin, Christy Ucheibe, Monday Gift, and Ngozi Okobi –

Okeoghene have all arrived the team’s camp in Yaoundé ahead of the friendlies against Cameroon.

Other early arrivals in camp are; Ogbonna Glory, Christopher Precious, Omewa Joy, Onyenezide Esther, Oloko

Fatima, and Nkwocha Favour.

Justine Madugu’s side will observe their first training session later tonight.

The Super Falcons will face the Indomitable Lionesses in the first friendly in Yaoundé on Saturday.

Both teams will clash again in the second friendly next week Tuesday.

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Former Nigeria defender, Monday Eguavoen has narrated how an improperly managed knee injury cut short his promising career and denied him a place at the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations.

The ex-international also spoke candidly about Nigeria’s uncertain path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, blaming poor qualification performances for the country’s current predicament.

Monday Eguavoen recalled that his national team career had just begun to blossom before the unfortunate setback.

He belonged to a generation of Nigerian players who played for passion rather than financial reward.

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Former Manchester City striker, Emmanuel Adebayor has blamed Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare’s lack of confidence for his penalty miss against Crystal Palace at the weekend.

Adebayor believed the Nigerian international lacked the confidence to convert the penalty.

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Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen has expressed his admiration for Juventus.

Osimhen stated that playing for the Biaconeri in future cannot be ruled out.

Juventus showed interest in Osimhen before he eventually joined Turkish Super Lig champions, Galatasaray.

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Former first-team coach Manchester United, Benni McCarthy says the Africa Cup of Nations schedule is a major reason why Manchester United did not try to sign Victor Osimhen.

Nigeria striker Osimhen attracted attention from Europe’s elite sides after scoring twenty-six league goals in 2022-23 to help fire Napoli to a first Italian title in 33 years.

McCarthy, who at the time was part of the Old Trafford staff under then manager Erik ten Hag, has revealed he played a role in the recruitment of strikers and thought Osimhen would fit perfect with the Red Devils.

The biennial staging of the Africa Cup of Nations, which regularly falls in the middle of the European season, meant United switched to other targets despite Osimhen initially being at the top of the list.

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Former Brazil international, Bruno Moraes has disclosed that Super Eagles striker Terem Moffi needs more time to adapt to Porto’s style of play.

Moffi joined the Portuguese club in the January transfer window from Nice and has yet to register a goal.

Moraes stated that it was a matter of time before the Nigerian international would start scoring goals.

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Saudi Arabia Professional League club Al-Ahli is interested in Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu, who plays for Trabzonspor.

Al-Ahli are willing to offer the Nigeria international six million euros annual salary.

Onuachu currently earns two million euros annually at Trabzonspor.

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D’Tigress head coach, Rena Wakama has announced a 17-women provisional squad ahead of the FIBA women’s basketball World Cup qualifying tournament, billed for 11th to 17th March 2026 in Lyon, France.

Reigning African champions D’Tigress will take on France, Germany, South Korea, Colombia and the Philippines in the qualifying tournament.

The squad, led by stars Amy Okonkwo, Sarah Ogoke, Promise Amukamara and Ezinne Kalu, also includes young players Pius Beggi Idubano, Adenike Olawuyi, Grace Efosa, Rita Igbokwe, Wandoo Hemba and Tewogbade Mololuwa.

D’Tigress will kick off the qualifiers against Colombia on 11th March, followed by matches against South Korea on 12th March, the Philippines on 14th March, France on 15th March, and Germany on 17th March.

The top three teams from the group will advance to the next stage.

The Nigerian senior women’s basketball team has already qualified for the 2026 FIBA World Cup 2026 in Berlin, Germany, which will take place from 4th to 13th September, by winning the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket title.

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British-Nigerian professional boxer Anthony Joshua’s family have declared that they will back him if he chooses to return to the ring.

The former heavyweight champion’s future was in doubt following the fatal car accident that claimed the lives of his strength coach, Sina Ghami, and personal trainer, Latif Ayodele, in Nigeria.

Joshua’s uncle, Ademola Joshua, has stated that the entire Joshua family would throw their weight behind him should he choose to lace up his gloves again.

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The Local Organising Committee for the third National Para Games has completed a thorough inspection of venues ahead of the multi-sport event scheduled to run from 26th March to 3rd April, 2026, at the MKO Abiola National Stadium Complex, Abuja.

The inspection exercise covered all designated facilities to assess readiness, identify technical gaps and ensure compliance with required standards for hosting a seamless and inclusive multi-sport event.

Fifteen sports venues across the stadium complex and other locations in the Federal Capital Territory were evaluated, including facilities for Amputee Football, Para Athletics, Para Badminton, Para Canoe, Para Cycling, Para Karate, Para Powerlifting.

Two Nigerian blind sambists, Rukayat Taiwo and Elizabeth Aseso, are set to make history as the first African women to compete at the World SAMBO Cup, which holds in Yerevan, Armenia, from 11th to 12th April, 2026.

Taiwo, a Lagos State champion, will compete in the 54 kg category while Aseso will feature in the 59 kg category at the competition, which will be staged at the Gazprom Training and Sports Complex.

Winners have emerged in the South-West and South-East zonal qualifiers ahead of this year’s Nigeria Cricket Federation National U-17 Championships for boys and girls.

The South-West and South-East zonal eliminations took place simultaneously at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and Owerri Government Secondary School in Owerri, Imo State.

In Abeokuta, Ekiti State emerged winners in the female category, followed by Lagos State in second place and hosts Ogun State in third.

Lagos State topped the male category ahead of Oyo State in second, while Ogun State finished third.

OTHER LEAGUES

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Inter Miami star, Lionel Messi has expressed his regret at not having learned English while growing up.

The 2022 World Cup winner admitted that his inability to speak English left him feeling out of place in certain situations during his illustrious career, especially when interacting with global figures.

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Former Italy coach, Cesare Prandelli has advised Juventus sign the trio of Sandro Tonali, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Riccardo Calafiori to improve their squad next season.

He stated that Juve should focus on bringing in a more Italian core to the team.

Prandelli noted that there was still business to do in-house before the summer transfer window arrives.

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The Scottish Football Association has confirmed that the Tartan Army have been given the green light to wear sporrans with their kilts at World Cup matches this summer.

Thousands of supporters are expected to travel to the US to cheer on Steve Clarke’s side after the men’s national team qualified for the first time since 1998.

The World Cup stadium code of conduct states ticket holders are only permitted to bring certain types of bags into stadiums.

Sporrans initially failed to meet the strict security criteria but, following talks between world football’s governing body Fifa and the Scottish Football Association, it has now been agreed fans will be able to wear them.

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OTHER SPORTS

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In Tennis, British number one Jack Draper suffered a second-round loss to Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech on his return to the ATP Tour at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

Contesting his first event on the men’s tour since the US Open six months ago, Draper marked his comeback from injury by beating Quentin Halys in straight sets on Monday.

But the 24-year-old’s tournament was ended by world number 31 Rinderknech in a 7-5, 6-7, 6-4 loss two days later.

Draper said he was really proud to make a winning return to the tour following a lot of down moments [during] the last eight months.

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In Cricket, Co-hosts Sri Lanka are out of the T20 World Cup after collapsing to a 61-run defeat by New Zealand in Colombo.

Needing to win to keep their semi-final hopes alive, Sri Lanka looked to be in control late into the New Zealand innings, having restricted them to 98-6 after 16 overs.

The bowlers crumbled in the face of a late surge from Mitchell Santner (47 from 26 balls) and Cole McConchie (31 not out from 23) and New Zealand bludgeoned 70 from the final four overs.

They led the way as New Zealand slumped from 75-2 to 84-6 in less than three overs.

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In Rugby, England’s first-choice scrum-half Alex Mitchell has been ruled out of the remainder of their Six Nations campaign with a hamstring injury suffered in Saturday’s 42-21 defeat by Ireland.

Mitchell has started England’s last 10 Six Nations matches having secured his spot as head coach Steve Borthwick’s preferred number nine in the run-up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Leicester’s Jack van Poortvliet replaced Mitchell off the bench in the 24th minute at Allianz Stadium.

Bath’s Ben Spencer is another scrum-half in the wider squad, while Sale’s Raffi Quirke has been called up as additional cover.

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TODAY’S FIXTURES

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IN UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE -KNOCKOUT ROUND PLAY-OFFS.

Ferencváros vs Ludogorets Razgrad

Red Star Belgrade vs Lille

Stuttgart vs Celtic

Bologna vs Brann

Celta Vigo vs PAOK

Genk vs Dinamo Zagreb

Nottingham Forest vs Fenerbahçe

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

When you give joy to other people, you get more joy in return. You should give a good thought to the happiness that you can give out…words from Eleanor Roosevelt.