The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • FIFA to award  first  Peace Prize at World Cup draw

    FIFA to award  first  Peace Prize at World Cup draw

    FIFA announced a new annual award called the FIFA Peace Prize which will be given to its first winner during the 2026 World Cup finals draw in Washington D.C. next month, world soccer’s governing body has said.

    Dubbed the “FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World”, FIFA said it was created to “reward individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace”.

    “In an increasingly unsettled and divided world, it’s fundamental to recognise the outstanding contribution of those who work hard to end conflicts and bring people together in a spirit of peace,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said.

    Read Also: GTI seeks investors’ partnership after successful NFF’s AGM

    “Football stands for peace, and on behalf of the entire global football community, the FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World will recognise the enormous efforts of those individuals who unite people, bringing hope for future generations.”

    U.S. President Donald Trump had announced in August that the World Cup draw will take place on December 5 at the John F Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts in Washington, where 48 teams will learn their group stage opponents.

    “We are uniting the world, Mr President, uniting the world, here in America, and we are very proud of that,” Infantino had told Trump before letting him hold the World Cup trophy.

    Trump had aggressively lobbied for the Nobel Peace Prize this year and the White House had criticised the Nobel Committee’s decision to grant it to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado last month.

    The World Cup will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11-July 19, with a record 104 matches in 16 host cities.

  • Morocco may miss injured Hakimi for AFCON  2025

    Morocco may miss injured Hakimi for AFCON  2025

    Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi will be out for at least six weeks after suffering a severely-strained right ankle, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.

    The right back was on the receiving end of a rough Luis Díaz tackle just before half time in PSG’s clash against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday.

    Díaz was sent off after intervention from VAR and Hakimi, on the day of his 27th birthday, was stretchered off with tears in his eyes.

    Scans on Wednesday revealed Hakimi hadn’t suffered a fracture and won’t require surgery, sources told ESPN.

    The Morocco international will have to stay immobilised for two weeks before starting his rehabilitation that will be at least four weeks, sources said.

    Hakimi’s injury puts his participation at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, which Morocco are hosting, at risk.

    Sources at PSG fear he might not make it back in time for the group stages of the tournament, which begins on Dec. 21, but feel he could return in time for the knockout rounds.

    Read Also: Reps to probe alleged misuse of FIFA grants by NFF

    Díaz took to social media after the match to wish Hakimi well.

    “It was a night full of emotions, ” he said on Instagram .”Football always reminds us that, in 90 minutes, anything can happen the best and the worst. I was sad not to finish the match with my teammates, but proud of their incredible effort.

    “Wishing Hakimi a quick return to the pitch.”

    Hakimi was one of three players injured against Bayern on Tuesday. Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé suffered a calf strain on his return from a hamstring injury while Nuno Mendes sprained his left knee, PSG confirmed Wednesday.

    Per sources, they are unlikely to return to action before the end of the year.

    Díaz has been similarly important for Bayern with 10 goals in his first 16 games for the German champions. He’s set to miss the Champions League visit to Arsenal on Nov. 26 following his red card.

  • Osimhen’s hatrrick humble Ajax 3–0 in UCL

    Osimhen’s hatrrick humble Ajax 3–0 in UCL

    Victor Osimhen delivered a masterclass on Wednesday night, powering Galatasaray to a dominant 3–0 win over Ajax in the UEFA Champions League with a dazzling hattrick in Amsterdam.

    The Nigerian striker was in unstoppable form at the Johan Cruyff Arena, finding the net three times in a performance that left Ajax’s defence in disarray. 

    He broke the deadlock in the 59th minute with a precise finish, then doubled the lead six minutes later from the penalty spot after being brought down in the area.

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    Osimhen completed his hat trick in the 78th minute with another assured penalty before making way for Mauro Icardi to a standing ovation from both sets of supporters.

    The emphatic victory boosted Galatasaray’s chances of advancing from the group stage and underlined Osimhen’s reputation as one of Europe’s most lethal forwards. With nine goals in his last seven games, the 26-year-old continues to prove why he is among the continent’s elite.

    “It’s not about me — it’s about the team,” Osimhen said after the match. “We came here with a plan and executed it perfectly. I’m happy to contribute with goals, but what matters most is the win.”

  • Yamal scores as Barca draw thriller with Club Brugge

    Yamal scores as Barca draw thriller with Club Brugge

    Lamine Yamal scored a fantastic goal as Barcelona came from behind three times to draw at Club Brugge in a remarkable Champions League game.

    The hosts thought they had won the game in injury time when Romeo Vermant slid in on Wojciech Szczesny before scoring into an empty net – but the goal was disallowed by the video assistant referee for a foul.

    Club Brugge took a sixth-minute lead when Carlos Forbs burst away down the right before squaring the ball for Nicolo Tresoldi to slide in.

    But less than two minutes later Barca were level through Ferran Torres’ first-time finish from Fermin Lopez’s cross.

    Fermin then curled a shot off the post – the first of three times Barca would hit the woodwork.

    And suddenly they were behind again as Brugge played their way through their high line too easily and Christos Tzolis fed Forbs, who slotted home inside the box.

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    Barca hit the crossbar twice, through Jules Kounde and then Eric Garcia’s drive from at least 30 yards out.

    And then Yamal struck as he beat two defenders with wonderful skill before playing a one-two with Dani Olmo and beating another man before slotting in.

    Forbs, who spent last season on loan with Wolves, missed a huge opportunity – but moments later made up for it by running on to Hans Vanaken’s through ball before clipping a shot past Szczesny.

    Brugge thought they had a chance to make it 4-2 when Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty, for an Alex Balde tackle on Forbs, but the decision was overturned by the video assistant referee.

    And Barca took advantage of that let off when Yamal’s cross was nodded into his own net by the unfortunate Tzolis.

    But right at the end Szczesny, who had dawdled on the ball, got hugely lucky when VAR bailed him out after losing the ball to Vermant.

    BBC SPORT

  • Foden and Haaland inspire Man City success over Dortmund

    Foden and Haaland inspire Man City success over Dortmund

    Phil Foden scored twice and Erling Haaland netted against his former club as Manchester City brushed aside Borussia Dortmund to strengthen their position in the league phase of the Champions League.

    Pep Guardiola’s men are unbeaten in their opening four matches and a third win moved them up to fourth in the table, with the top eight sides qualifying automatically for the last 16.

    Nico Kovac’s Dortmund side had started on the front foot but faded away as the hosts scored twice in seven first-half minutes to wrestle control of the contest.

    Foden was impressive throughout and he stung the palms of Gregor Kobel with a powerful strike from outside the box, before a curling free-kick straight into the hands of the visiting goalkeeper.

    It was third time lucky for the Englishman in the 22nd minute, picking the ball up outside the box and, as the Dortmund defenders stood off, Foden rolled a delightful finish low into the bottom corner.

    It was his first Champions League goal in exactly a year after netting in a 4-1 defeat by Sporting in last season’s competition.

    City then attacked at will and seemed intent on steamrollering the opposition as Kobel tipped over a close-range effort from Nico O’Reilly, before the prolific Haaland thumped home a cutback from Jeremy Doku in the 29th minute.

    Read Also: Reps to probe alleged misuse of FIFA grants by NFF

    It was the Norwegian’s fifth successive Champions League strike – becoming the first player to do so for three different teams – RB Salzburg, Dortmund and now City.

    Kobel was kept busy, batting away a thunderous drive from Tijjani Reijnders.

    But City pushed on after the restart and Foden doubled his tally in the 57th minute by curling home a delightful second.

    Dortmund, who are 12th in the table, staged a late rally and Waldemar Anton poked home a consolation from a Julian Ryerson cross.

    But substitute Rayan Cherki restored City’s three-goal advantage in added time with a lovely run and neat finish.

    BBC SPORT

  • UCL: Garnacho saves Chelsea from defeat at Qarabag

    UCL: Garnacho saves Chelsea from defeat at Qarabag

    Chelsea escaped suffering a historic defeat through substitute Alejandro Garnacho’s second-half equaliser, avoiding the embarrassment of becoming the first English team to lose to Azerbaijani side Qarabag.

    Garnacho equalised having come on as one of three half-time substitutes with his side 2-1 down through goals from Leandro Andrade and Marko Jankovic, after Estevao Willian had put the Blues ahead early on.

    Qarabag had lost all seven of their previous matches against English opposition. The last time they were in the Champions League, they faced Chelsea and lost both matches by an aggregate score of 10-0 and secured just two points from six matches.

    However, they gave Enzo Maresca’s side a real scare at the packed 32,000-seater Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, with a squad worth just £22m compared to that of Chelsea – valued at £1.5bn, according to figures by Transfermarkt.

    And it was Chelsea who initially took the lead. Estevao, 18, cut inside and shot low into the near post after linking well with his Brazilian team-mates Joao Pedro and Andrey Santos in the 16th minute.

    Yet Chelsea struggled defensively having made seven changes to the team that beat Tottenham on Saturday, with Jorrel Hato, 19, partly at fault for both first-half goals.

    Qarabag striker Camilo Duran overpowered the Dutch defender when competing for a long ball, hit his shot against the post, but winger Leandro Andrade brilliantly volleyed the rebound into the goal to equalise.

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    Midfielder Marko Jankovic then sent Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez the wrong way from the penalty spot to give Qarabag an unlikely lead – the penalty given after Hato handled Andrade’s cross.

    Maresca had already taken off injured midfielder Romeo Lavia after six minutes, replacing him with Moises Caicedo, and made three further changes at half-time, bringing on Garnacho, Enzo Fernandez and Liam Delap for young trio Andrey Santos, Jamie Gittens and Tyrique George.

    And it was Garnacho who levelled seven minutes into the half, latching on to Delap’s long ball, capitalising on a mistake from Kevin Medina and then shooting across goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski and into the corner.

    Both sides had further chances, with substitute Nariman Akhundzade shooting from range for the hosts, and Fernandez and Estevao having several attempts to win the game for Chelsea, along with the final substitute Facundo Buonanotte.

    In added time, both sides had chances to win it through substitutes – Danny Bolt and Garnacho both seeing shots from inside the area saved.

    The points shared leave the sides level on seven points in the 36-team league phase of the Champions League after four matches.

    BBC SPORT

  • Luis Enrique blames PSG defeat on ‘big gifts’ to Bayern

    Luis Enrique blames PSG defeat on ‘big gifts’ to Bayern

    Paris St. Germain coach Luis Enrique said his side handed Bayern Munich “big gifts” in their 2-1 Champions League defeat on Tuesday but refused to use injuries as an excuse.

    PSG were overwhelmed in the first half, falling 2-0 behind after a Luis Díaz double before the Colombian winger was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Achraf Hakimi.

    The Moroccan defender was substituted before the break, joining Ousmane Dembélé, who had already left the pitch injured.

    “We’ll have to wait until tomorrow after the tests,” Luis Enrique told a news conference.

    “Ousmane’s injury has nothing to do with the previous one. It’s football — a contact sport.

    “It’s unlucky because it’s complicated for the player, but these things happen, just like it happened to (Bayern’s) Jamal Musiala (against PSG at the Club World Cup last July).”

    PSG have been plagued by injuries this season, with Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Bradley Barcola, João Neves and Fabián Ruiz all sidelined.

    Luis Enrique admitted he must manage his squad more carefully but maintained that the defeat was not due to fitness issues.

    “In the first half, they were better than us. They created more chances, and we made some big gifts,” the Spaniard said.

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    “When you make that kind of gift to players like these, it’s normal to lose — we could even have conceded more goals.”

    PSG improved after the interval but failed to turn long periods of possession into goals. “We did the job well in the second half and could have drawn the game,” Luis Enrique added.

    In spite the setback, the coach said he remained composed and confident about the team’s progress.

    “I can’t remember a single match this season with the whole team fit,” he said.

    “We have to manage that. I’m not looking for excuses — it’s our responsibility to do better.

    “I’m calm and confident we’ll recover our players and our level. We’ve still played some very good matches.”

    The result left Bayern Munich top of the 36-team Champions League table with a maximum 12 points, while PSG sit third, three points behind.

    (Reuters/NAN)

  • Ajax  coach reveals plans to cage ‘skillful’ Osimhen in UCL showdown

    Ajax  coach reveals plans to cage ‘skillful’ Osimhen in UCL showdown

    • Dutchman describes Nigerian ace as a mix of Drogba and Ibrahimovic
    • By David Oyekan with Agency Reports

    Ajax head coach John Heitinga has heaped praise on Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, describing the Galatasaray forward as a rare blend of power and skill reminiscent of football greats Didier Drogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

    Heitinga made the comparison in his press briefing ahead of  today’s UEFA Champions League showdown between Ajax and Galatasaray in Amsterdam. The Dutch manager admitted his side must be cautious of the in-form striker, whose blistering pace and strength have made him one of Europe’s most feared attackers.

     “If I were to compare Osimhen to someone, it would be these two players Drogba and Ibrahimovic,” Heitinga said. “He combines both strength and speed, and his physical presence is incredible. We must be fully focused to contain him.”

    Osimhen has become a central figure for the Turkish champions since joining permanently from Napoli in the summer. During his loan spell last season, he scored 37 goals across all competitions, inspiring Galatasaray to a league and cup double  their first in more than a decade.

    The 26-year-old’s success in Istanbul came after Premier League clubs Chelsea and Manchester United failed to meet Napoli’s €75 million valuation. Galatasaray’s bold move paid off handsomely, making Osimhen the most expensive signing in Turkish football history.

    Read Also: Osimhen eyes UCL glory with Galatasaray

    The Nigerian forward has continued to set records this season. He became Galatasaray’s fastest scorer in the UEFA Champions League with an early goal against Bodo/Glimt, and also became the first player in the club’s history to score in seven consecutive European fixtures.

    His decisive strike against Liverpool helped Galatasaray secure back-to-back Champions League victories for the first time in 13 years — a testament to his growing influence in European football.

    A goal against Ajax in Amsterdam today  could see Osimhen extend his record-breaking run and further cement his reputation as one of Africa’s brightest stars on the continental stage.

    UCL: TODAY’S MATCHES

    Pafos vs. Villarreal

    Qarabağ vs.  Chelsea

    Ajax vs.  Galatasaray

    Benfica vs.  Leverkusen

    Brugge vs. Barcelona

    Inter Milan vs.  Kairat

    Man City vs.  Dortmund

    Borussia Dortmund

    Marseille vs.  Atalanta

    Newcastle vs.  Atletico

  • CAF expands  Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals to 16 teams

    CAF expands  Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals to 16 teams

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) will expand from 12 to 16 teams starting from the 2026 edition, restoring four of the continent’s traditional powerhouses — Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, and Egypt — to the prestigious tournament.

    In a communiqué issued on November 3,  CAF announced that its Executive Committee had approved the enlargement of the WAFCON “beginning with the next edition in 2026.”

    The decision comes after the conclusion of the earlier qualification process under the 12-team structure, which had seen several big names miss out. To ensure fairness, CAF stated that “the four best-ranked teams according to the current FIFA Women’s World Ranking, among those eliminated in the final qualifying round, will be selected to complete the list of 16 participating teams.”

    Consequently, Cameroon (ranked 66th  globally), Côte d’Ivoire (71st ), Mali (79th ) and Egypt (95th ) have been reinstated to join the 12 teams that secured qualification on the pitch.

    The move provides a major reprieve for Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses, who were eliminated by Algeria on a 3–1 aggregate, marking what would have been their second straight absence from WAFCON. Côte d’Ivoire narrowly lost to Burkina Faso, while Mali and Egypt were edged out by Equatorial Guinea and Senegal, respectively.

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    CAF emphasized that the expansion reflects its commitment to strengthening women’s football and promoting inclusivity across Africa. The new 16-team format will enhance competition and create broader opportunities for emerging nations to showcase their progress.

    Holders Nigeria, former champions South Africa and Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, Tanzania and Zambia qualified last week.

    Morocco participate as hosts. This is the third Women’s Cup of Nations that they are hosting but it has added importance as it serves as the African qualifiers for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, with the top four finishers heading to Brazil.

    Morocco are also hosting the men’s Cup of Nations finals from December 22 to January 18. It is made up of 24 teams.

    16 TEAMS FOR WAFCON 2026:

    Qualified : Morocco (Host); Zambia; Tanzania; Malawi; Algeria ;Nigeria; Ghana; Burkina Faso; Kenya; South Africa; Cape Verde and Senegal.

    Reinstated: Cameroon; Côte d’Ivoire ; Mali  and  Egypt.

  • Abandoned FIFA Project: Monimichelle faults NFF on funding as equipment  rot away in Ugborodo  

    Abandoned FIFA Project: Monimichelle faults NFF on funding as equipment  rot away in Ugborodo  

    • By David Oyekan

    Chief Executive Officer of Monimichelle Sports, Ebi Egbe, has accused the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of abandoning the FIFA Forward 2.0 infrastructure project in Ugborodo, Delta State, claiming that over ₦250 million worth of construction equipment is wasting away on-site after the federation stopped funding the project three years ago.

    In an exclusive interview on Brila FM’s “No Holds Barred”, Egbe revealed that the project  meant to boost grassroots football infrastructure under the FIFA Forward initiative — had been abandoned for the past three years despite significant progress before funding stopped.

     “The NFF stopped funding the project three years ago. The project was built to fail,” Egbe alleged. “I have worked more than $500,000 worth of construction, and I have equipment in Ugborodo worth over ₦250 million rotting away.”

    Egbe, whose company specializes in modern sports facility construction, expressed frustration over the NFF’s alleged mismanagement and lack of accountability regarding funds disbursed for the project.

     “I challenge anybody to go and quantify what has been done in Ugborodo. They should pay me my balance and see if the project won’t be completed,” he said.

    According to the Monimichelle boss, the NFF reportedly received $1.2 million from FIFA for the development, but he insists he was never paid that amount.

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    “I am hearing the NFF have received $1.2 million for the project. I have not received $1.2 million. I am owed $700,000. They are just lying to Nigerians. Do you know I was taxed on the $500,000 by the NFF?” Egbe stated.

    The Ugborodo facility was conceived as part of FIFA’s Forward 2.0 infrastructure support program, designed to improve football development across member nations by funding pitches, training centers, and administrative buildings. However, the alleged suspension of funding and stalled progress has cast doubts over Nigeria’s transparency in executing the project.

    While the NFF is yet to respond to Egbe’s claims, football stakeholders have called for an independent audit of all FIFA-funded infrastructure projects in Nigeria to ensure accountability and completion.