The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • 2027 Women’s WC: England , Spain drawn together in qualifiers

    2027 Women’s WC: England , Spain drawn together in qualifiers

    World Cup holders Spain and beaten finalists England will meet in the 2027 Women’s World Cup qualifiers following the draw held in Nyon, Switzerland on Tuesday.

    Spain won their first major title when they beat England 1-0 in the 2023 final in Sydney, while England beat the Spanish in a penalty shootout to retain their European Championship crown in this year’s final in Basel.

    The pair was drawn together in Group A3 alongside Iceland and Ukraine. Twice champions Germany will face Norway, Austria and Slovenia in Group A4, while France and Netherlands will clash in Group A2 along with Poland and Ireland.

    The 2027 World Cup will be held in Brazil and UEFA has 11 qualification spots available. An additional European nation could also qualify through the intercontinental playoffs.

    Read Also: CAF Champions League: Rivers United in Pot 3 as group phase draws hold  today

    Only the four group winners in each League A group will qualify automatically, with the other teams in League A guaranteed a playoff spot. Teams from Leagues B and C can only qualify via the playoffs.

    Qualification matches begin on March 3.

    LEAGUE A

    Group A1: Sweden, Italy, Denmark, Serbia

    Group A2: France, Netherlands, Poland, Ireland

    Group A3: Spain, England, Iceland, Ukraine

    Group A4: Germany, Norway, Austria, Slovenia

    LEAGUE B

    Group B1: Wales, Czechia, Albania, Montenegro

    Group B2: Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Turkey, Malta

    Group B3: Portugal, Finland, Slovakia, Latvia

    Group B4: Belgium, Scotland, Israel, Luxembourg

    LEAGUE C

    Group C1: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Estonia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein

    Group C2: Croatia, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Gibraltar

    Group C3: Hungary, Azerbaijan, North Macedonia, Andorra

    Group C4: Greece, Faroe Islands, Georgia

    Group C5: Romania, Cyprus, Moldova

    Group C6: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia

  • US rapper Snoop Dogg tells Iheanacho’s  Celtic to rehire Ange Postecoglou

    US rapper Snoop Dogg tells Iheanacho’s  Celtic to rehire Ange Postecoglou

    Ange Postecoglou has been linked with a return to the Celtic job since the departure of Brendan Rodgers and an unlikely voice has joined those calling for the Australian to come back to the Scottish Premiership side in U.S. rapper Snoop Dogg.

    Rodgers’ exit came amid mounting pressure over results, including a shock Champions League qualifying defeat by Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty and a 3-1 league loss at leaders Hearts which left Celtic trailing in the title race.

    The club’s former boss Martin O’Neill was appointed interim manager and the Northern Irishman has since guided them to a 4-0 league win over Falkirk and a 3-1 victory over rivals Rangers in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals.

    Read Also: CAF Champions League: Rivers United in Pot 3 as group phase draws hold  today

    Snoop Dogg, a hip-hop icon and long-time Celtic fan, said supporters would rather see Postecoglou at the helm, with the Australian manager available after being sacked by Nottingham Forest last month.

    Postecoglou spent two seasons at Celtic between 2021-23, guiding them to two Scottish Premiership titles and a domestic treble in his second season before leaving for Tottenham Hotspur.

    “I love sport, and in sport players leave, coaches leave, and you move on,” Snoop Dogg told Scotland’s Daily Record newspaper in an interview published on Sunday.

    “You got to give Martin O’Neill big respect, he is coming back when we need him. I think you got to bring Ange back. The club are going to do what they are going to do, but the fans would love to see him back.”

    Snoop Dogg is well known for his love of sport and became an investor in Championship club Swansea City earlier this year.

    The 54-year-old said he was keen on making a similar investment in Celtic, saying it was “something I have talked about in the past and if the opportunity was right I would be down for it.

    “Celtic is a huge club and fans want to see the best players playing in this great stadium. All the owners have got to do is ask,” he added.

  • UCL: Liverpool beat Real Madrid 1-0

    UCL: Liverpool beat Real Madrid 1-0

    Liverpool were back to their best as they dominated Real Madrid with an outstanding performance to secure a crucial Champions League victory at Anfield.

    Arne Slot’s Premier League champions ended a spell of six defeats in seven games with a win against Aston Villa on Saturday, and the revival continued as Real were overpowered.

    Liverpool’s victory was far more convincing than the scoreline suggests, with Alexis Mac Allister finally breaking the deadlock in the second half as former Reds defender Trent Alexander-Arnold watched from the bench with his new side strictly second best.

    READ ALSO: Fed Govt appoints Nwabueze as first tax Ombudsman

    Only the brilliance of Real keeper Thibaut Courtois kept Liverpool at bay, with a string of superb saves, including four from Dominik Szoboszlai and a brilliant reflex stop from Virgil van Dijk’s header.

    Courtois was powerless to stop Liverpool finally getting the goal their superiority deserved when Mac Allister stole in to head home from Szoboszlai’s free-kick after 61 minutes.

    Alexander-Arnold came on late in the game, amid a storm of booing from the Liverpool fans who once idolised him, but he was unable to fashion a breakthrough as Real – with Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe subdued – unable to deny Slot’s team an important three points.

    BBC SPORTS

  • UCL: Arsenal win in Prague to match 122-year club record

    UCL: Arsenal win in Prague to match 122-year club record

    Mikel Merino scored twice as Arsenal comfortably beat Slavia Prague in the league phase of the Champions League to extend their winning run to 10 matches in all competitions.

    It was also an eighth successive clean sheet – matching a club record set back in 1903 over two different seasons.

    Spaniard Merino was starting up front in place of the injured Viktor Gyokeres and, just as he did last season when he deputised for Kai Havertz, the midfielder showed his versatility to provide a focal point and make a crucial contribution for his team.

    Arsenal’s opening goal came in the 32nd minute when they were awarded a penalty after the video assistant referee (VAR) penalised Lukas Provod for handball after Gabriel flicked on a corner.

    Captain Bukayo Saka stepped up to drill the ball into the bottom corner.

    The Gunners weren’t at their best in the first half and had to navigate a tricky opening period, with Provod shooting wide for Slavia Prague when well placed.

    READ ALSO: Fed Govt appoints Nwabueze as first tax Ombudsman

    But Mikel Arteta’s side started the second half extremely well and doubled their lead seconds after the restart when Merino volleyed Leandro Trossard’s cross into the bottom corner.

    He added his second in the 68th minute when he rose to meet a Declan Rice cross as home keeper Jakub Markovic came out but failed to collect the ball.

    There was also another piece of history on the night as Max Dowman, at 15 years and 308 days old became the youngest player to feature in the Champions League when he replaced Trossard – breaking the mark set by Youssoufa Moukoko at 16 years and 18 days with Borussia Dortmund in 2020.

    Slavia Prague thought they had a penalty late on when Provod went down after a high challenge from Ben White, but the decision was overturned by a VAR check once the referee was sent to the monitor.

    The victory continued Premier League leaders Arsenal’s excellent start to the season, with four wins from four matches in the Champions League as they extended their unbeaten run to 13 matches in all competitions.

    BBC SPORTS

  • UCL: Napoli draw blank again in drab Frankfurt draw

    UCL: Napoli draw blank again in drab Frankfurt draw

    Napoli failed to score for a second match in a row as the Italian champions were held to a goalless draw at home by Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.

    Antonio Conte’s side were looking to bounce back from a humbling 6-2 defeat by PSV Eindhoven on matchday three, but struggled to create clear chances in the absence of injured midfielder Kevin de Bruyne.

    Napoli started well but lacked communication in the final third. Rasmus Hojlund and Frank Anguissa got in each other’s way with both trying to head in Eljif Elmas’ cross, before the winger saw his goal-bound strike inadvertently deflected over by Scott McTominay.

    READ ALSO: Fed Govt appoints Nwabueze as first tax Ombudsman

    The Scottish midfielder spurned two clear chances in the second half, first taking a heavy touch as he rounded Frankfurt goalkeeper Michael Zetterer, before later skying an effort following Anguissa’s cut back.

    Frankfurt substitute Ansgar Knauff drew a smart close-range stop from Napoli’s Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, but the Bundesliga side also lacked quality in attack.

    Zetterer made a crucial double save deep into injury time to condemn Napoli to back-to-back blanks at home, after drawing 0-0 with Como in Serie A on Saturday.

    Both sides have four points after four Champions League games.

    On matchday five Napoli host Qarabag (25 November, 20:00 BST), while Frankfurt take on Atalanta in Germany (26 November, 20:00 BST).

    BBC SPORTS

  • CAF Champions League: We are ready to compete – Finidi George

    CAF Champions League: We are ready to compete – Finidi George

    Rivers United head coach Finidi George has shared his thoughts following the club’s CAF Champions League group stage draw.

    The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side have been placed in Group A with defending champions Pyramids FC of Egypt, Morocco’s RS Berkane and Zambia’s Power Dynamos.

    Reacting to the draw, Finidi said the prospect of facing two formidable North African opponents will serve as added motivation for his players to rise to the occasion and prove their quality on the continental stage.

    “We will prepare when the time comes, but for now, we will just concentrate on our league game. When it’s getting closer, we try and prepare the boys mentally for what’s coming ahead,” Finidi told the club’s media.

    “It’s extra motivation for the players, having this platform on the big stage. I think it’s going to bring a lot of expectations and a lot of confidence for the players. They are all looking forward to using this platform to showcase what they have.”

    Rivers United are set to make their debut in the group stage of the CAF Champions League.

    The group stage fixtures are scheduled to take place from 21 November 2025 through February 2026, with the quarter-finals and semi-finals slated for April. The tournament will culminate in a two-legged final on 30 May and 6 June 2026.

  • UCL: Things to know as PSG take on Bayern Munich

    UCL: Things to know as PSG take on Bayern Munich

    Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain have battled through a turbulent start to the season marked by a series of injuries to key players, including Desire Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé, and Vitinha. Despite those setbacks, the French champions have managed to maintain their stride both domestically and in Europe.

    With most of their sidelined stars returning to action in October, PSG have steadied the ship and head into November sitting top of both Ligue 1 and their Champions League group.

    Their resilience was once again on display over the weekend as they edged past Nice 1–0 in the French top flight. Despite dominating possession with 77% and creating several clear chances worth 2.29 expected goals, PSG needed a dramatic 94th-minute strike from Gonçalo Ramos to clinch all three points.

    In Europe, Enrique’s men produced a statement performance in their last Champions League outing, dismantling Bayer Leverkusen 7–2 in a thrilling encounter. The match featured a missed penalty from Alejandro Grimaldo and two red cards—one for each side—but PSG’s attacking flair ultimately proved decisive.

    That emphatic win kept the Parisians top of their Champions League group with a perfect nine points from three matches. As they prepare to return to the Parc des Princes on Tuesday, Enrique’s side will look to extend their impressive home form, having won all but one fixture there this season—the only blemish being a 3–3 draw with Strasbourg on October 17.

    PSG vs Bayern Munich: Head-to-Head Record

    Paris Saint-Germain’s recent record against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League makes for grim reading. The French champions have lost each of their last four meetings with the German giants—their longest ever losing streak against a single opponent in the competition.

    Bayern have enjoyed the upper hand historically, winning eight of the 14 Champions League encounters between the two sides (losing six). Another victory in this fixture would not only extend their dominance but also see them become the first team ever to win three consecutive away games against PSG in the competition—having triumphed 1–0 at the Parc des Princes in both April 2021 and February 2023.

    PSG’s struggles in front of goal against Bayern have been particularly costly. The Parisians have failed to score in any of their last four Champions League clashes with the Bavarian club—their longest goalless run against a single opponent in the tournament’s history.

    Across those four matches, PSG have fired 40 shots and registered 14 on target, yet none have found the back of the net—a drought they will be desperate to end when the two European heavyweights meet again.

    PSG vs Bayern Munich Predicted Lineups

    Paris Saint-Germain: Lucas Chevalier, Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé.

    Head coach: Luis Enrique

    Bayern Munich: Manuel Neuer, Raphaël Guerreiro, Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah, Konrad Laimer, Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Michael Olise, Lennart Karl, Luis Díaz, Harry Kane.

    Head coach: Vincent Kompany

    Paris Saint-Germain Champions League form:

    W W W

    Read Also: Bayern Munich boost firepower with Diaz signing

    Paris Saint-Germain form (all competitions):

    D D W W D W

    Bayern Munich Champions League form:

    W W W

    Bayern Munich form (all competitions):

    W W W W W W

    Bet Prediction

    Over 1.5goals 

  • Galatasaray ready to make UCL statement – Osimhen

    Galatasaray ready to make UCL statement – Osimhen

    Nigeria international Victor Osimhen has expressed confidence that Galatasaray can make a strong impression in this season’s UEFA Champions League.

    The Turkish champions returned to Europe’s elite competition after a one-year absence, though their campaign began with a disappointing 4-1 loss to German side Eintracht Frankfurt.

    Okan Buruk’s men, however, responded impressively, recording back-to-back home victories against former champions Liverpool and Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt — with Osimhen scoring three goals across both matches.

    Ahead of their upcoming clash against Ajax on Wednesday, the Super Eagles forward reaffirmed the team’s determination to make their mark on the continental stage.

    Read Also: Osimhen eyes UCL glory with Galatasaray

    “I spoke with the President when I arrived here and we want to really make a statement in the Champions League,” Osimhen told UEFA.com.

    “We want to show that, in Turkey, we are the team that the whole world will know this year because we actually did something amazing in Europe.

    “We’ve dominated the league for years. We will keep on dominating it, but now it’s time to make a statement in the most prestigious games, Champions League games, because it’s beautiful when you play in the Champions League. So, for us, we want to make a statement.”

  • UCL: What to know as Liverpool welcome Real Madrid

    UCL: What to know as Liverpool welcome Real Madrid

    After drawing criticism for fielding a youthful, second-string lineup in the EFL Cup defeat to Crystal Palace, Liverpool manager Arne Slot had no choice but to deliver a statement victory against Aston Villa in the Premier League. Failure to do so would have only intensified speculation about his future at Anfield.

    Under pressure to halt a worrying run of results, the Dutchman avoided unwanted history—he could have become the first Liverpool boss to lose five straight Premier League games. Instead, he saw his team respond with a spirited performance. Mohamed Salah’s landmark 250th goal for the club set the tone before Ryan Gravenberch’s deflected effort sealed a much-needed 2–0 win on Merseyside.

    While Aston Villa contributed to their own downfall with defensive lapses, Liverpool’s individual and collective improvement was evident. The victory marked just their second win in eight matches across all competitions, signaling a potential turning point after a turbulent spell.

    One of those two wins came in Europe, where Liverpool thrashed Eintracht Frankfurt 5–1 on matchday three of the Champions League. That result lifted them into the top 10 of the league-phase standings, narrowly outside the automatic qualification spots for the last 16 on goal difference.

    However, consistency remains elusive. A poor showing against Galatasaray followed that Frankfurt triumph, before the Reds edged Atlético Madrid 3–2 at Anfield—a result that extended their remarkable run of 15 straight home victories in European group-stage or league-phase matches.

    Liverpool’s European record has been a mixed bag in recent seasons. Last term, Paris Saint-Germain ended their hopes of continental glory, but before that, the Reds famously beat Real Madrid 2–0 at Anfield to snap an eight-game losing streak against the Spanish giants.

    Both Carlo Ancelotti and Xabi Alonso have tasted defeat at Anfield in recent years—Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen side suffered a 4–0 thrashing in 2024—but Real Madrid’s current form under Ancelotti suggests they will arrive full of confidence.

    The Spanish champions have been near-flawless this season, winning 13 of their 14 matches in all competitions. Their only blemish remains a stunning 5–2 loss to Atlético Madrid. In Europe, they have swept aside Marseille, Kairat, and Juventus to make it three wins from three, while domestically, they lead the La Liga title race following a dramatic El Clasico victory over Barcelona and a 4–0 rout of Valencia.

    Despite being fifth among the Champions League’s perfect starters due to an inferior goal difference compared to PSG, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, and Arsenal, Real Madrid’s pedigree in Europe speaks for itself. Recent history has shown that underestimating Los Blancos on the continental stage is a mistake few survive to repeat.

    Liverpool Champions League form:

    W L W

    Liverpool form (all competitions):

    L L W L L W

    Real Madrid Champions League form:

    W W W

    Real Madrid form (all competitions):

    W W W W W W

    Liverpool possible starting lineup:

    Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike

    Read Also: Liverpool held meeting after Man Utd loss – Van Dijk

    Real Madrid possible starting lineup:

    Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Militao, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouameni; Guler, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr; Mbappe

    What Time Does Liverpool vs. Real Madrid Kick Off?

    Location: Liverpool, England

    Stadium: Anfield

    Date: Tuesday, Nov. 4

    Kick-off Time: 8 p.m. GMT / 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT

    Referee: István Kovács (ROU)

    VAR: Bastian Dankert (GER)

    Bet Tip

    Both Teams To Score
    Over 1.5 

  • Osimhen eyes UCL glory with Galatasaray

    Osimhen eyes UCL glory with Galatasaray

    “It’s time to make a statement

    By Daniel Oyekan

    Nigeria’s star forward Victor Osimhen  says  he  is ready to lead Turkish champions Galatasaray to new heights in the UEFA Champions League, declaring that “it’s time to make a statement in the most prestigious games.”

    After lighting up Europe with Lille and Napoli, the 26-year-old striker is back on the grand stage this time, wearing the yellow-and-red of Galatasaray, where he has already become a fan favourite. The Super Eagles forward joined the Istanbul giants permanently in the summer after a successful season-long loan in 2024/25.

    Galatasaray, who returned to Europe’s elite competition after a one-year absence, have enjoyed a strong group-stage start ahead of their Matchday 4 clash with Ajax tomorrow at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

    Osimhen has scored three goals in his last two Champions League appearances, propelling the club to back-to-back victories and putting them in contention for knockout qualification.

     “I spoke with the president when I arrived here, and we agreed that we want to make a statement in the Champions League,” Osimhen told UEFA  website. “We’ve dominated the Turkish league for years, but now we want to show that we can compete among the best in Europe.”

    The Nigerian’s ambition reflects his relentless spirit, a hallmark of his rise from humble beginnings in Olusosun, Lagos, to the top of world football.

    Read Also: TINFF 2025: Extra Mile wins best film by female filmmaker

     “I came from a very poor background. Olusosun shaped me. It taught me resilience,” Osimhen recalled. “Whenever I go home, I visit to show gratitude and remind young kids that if I could make it out of there, they can too.”

    His story has inspired millions across Africa, blending raw talent with determination. That same drive, he says, fuels his commitment to Galatasaray.

    “When I arrived in Istanbul, I had never seen anything like that before — thousands of fans at the airport at 3 a.m.,” he said. “It gives you that fire to give everything for the badge. I absolutely love this club and I’m ready to go through everything with them-the good, the bad, and the ugly.”

    Osimhen’s journey continues to mirror that of his idol, Didier Drogba, who also made his mark at Galatasaray before bowing out as a Champions League great.

     “In football, my hero was Drogba. I watched him and learned from how he played and lived. I tried to add his qualities to my own game,” he said. “In life, my biggest inspiration was my brother, he taught me how to hustle and never give up.”

    Now, with Galatasaray chasing European recognition, Osimhen believes the team’s resurgence can restore Turkish football’s pride on the continental stage.

     “We are the biggest club in Turkey, and one of the biggest in the world,” he said with conviction. “Now, we want to prove it in the Champions League,” he added.