The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • Man Utd claim third straight win in six-goal thriller

    Man Utd claim third straight win in six-goal thriller

    Bryan Mbeumo scored twice as Manchester United survived a late scare against Brighton to claim a third successive Premier League win for the first time since February 2024, moving them up to fourth in the table.

    United were cruising after an hour, thanks to goals from Matheus Cunha, who broke his 16-match scoring drought by netting for the first time for his new club, Casemiro’s deflected effort, and Mbeumo’s neat finish.

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    But Danny Welbeck’s brilliant free-kick pulled one back against his old club with 16 minutes left. Then, two minutes into the seven added, Charalampos Kostoulas flicked home a near-post header.

    Suddenly, there were some worried faces in the United rank,s and it took an even later effort from Mbeumo, drilled into the roof of the net from 12 yards, to ease the tension.

  • Hakimi scores twice as PSG go top of Ligue 1

    Hakimi scores twice as PSG go top of Ligue 1

    An Achraf Hakimi double and a late goal from Desire Doue saw Paris St-Germain return to the top of Ligue 1 with a 3-0 victory at Brest.

    Hakimi opened the scoring with his first goal of the season when he latched onto the end of a lofted through ball from Vitinha.

    The full-back then doubled his and his side’s tally just before half-time, firing home from a tight angle inside the box.

    Read Also: Ballon d’Or: NFF congratulates Nnadozie, Madugu

    Brest could have halved the deficit after the break when they were awarded a penalty for handball following a VAR review, but Romain del Castillo blasted the spot-kick over the bar.

    Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele was brought off the bench to make his first appearance in the league since August after recovering from a hamstring injury.

    And he nearly marked his return with a goal but blazed over from the edge of the area.

    Doue smashed the post in stoppage but was not to be denied, firing home from inside the box with the last kick of the game.

  • Benin Unity Cup unveiled in Edo

    Benin Unity Cup unveiled in Edo

    The Benin Unity Football Cup, a grassroots sporting initiative sponsored by the Senator representing Edo South Senatorial District, Neda Imasuen, has kicked off in Benin City, the Edo state capital.

    Teams from Oredo, Egor, Ikpoba-Okha, Orhionmwon, Uhunmwode, Ovia North East, and Ovia South West would participate in the tournament.

    Senator Imasuen said the initiative was to discover and nurture budding football stars across the seven local government areas of the district.

    Speaking during the unveiling, Senator Imasuen said the project was born out of his passion for youth empowerment and the revival of football in Edo and Nigeria at large.

    He said the tournament aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the sporting vision Governor Monday Okpebholo.

    Read Also: Ballon d’Or: NFF congratulates Nnadozie, Madugu

    The Edo Senator noted that both leaders shared a deep interest in youth development and sports as a tool for empowerment.

    According to Imasuen, “The Benin Unity Cup isn’t simply football but a symbol of unity in Edo South. Let the 2025 Benin Unity Cup stand as a symbol of what we can achieve when we come together in purpose and in pride.

    “This initiative is not about my position, but about assisting our youths to discover their purpose.

    “Edo is overflowing with untapped talents. We must harness these opportunities so that our young people can have dignity, respect, and pride in what they do.

    Winners of the competition will get ₦1 million, and the runners-up will get ₦700,000.

  • National Volleyball League kicks off in Abia

    National Volleyball League kicks off in Abia

    The National Division One and Division Two Volleyball Leagues organised by the Volleyball Federation of Nigeria and sponsored by Alex Otti has kicked off in Umuahia, Abia State.

    The Championship features 34 teams from across the country, with about 22 States already participating in activities lined up for the ten-day event.

    Addressing journalists at the Umuahia Stadium, the Referee Coach for the tournament and Vice Chairman Nigerian Volleyball Referees Association, Mohamed Mohamed, assured of fair officiating in the competition and advised the athletes to be more disciplined in the field of play, saying that volleyball is known to be a disciplined sport.

    Read Also: Ballon d’Or: NFF congratulates Nnadozie, Madugu

    He also commended Governor Alex Otti for sponsoring the tournament for the second time.

    “Last year, we were here, and we so appreciate the Abia State Government for sponsoring such a competition. The same thing happened this year too, we are here again.

    “It’s always very hard for somebody to agree to sponsor such a competition, but we are lucky that the Abia State Government to agreed to sponsor it for the second time.

  • 10th Lagos Women Race set to empower participants

    10th Lagos Women Race set to empower participants

    The Coordinator, Lagos Women Run, Tayo Popoola, has stated that the All Women 10km Race aims to connect through their communities, while creating empowerment opportunities.

    The 10th edition with the theme: “One Run, a thousand Opportunities,” will come up on the November 8th, 2025, with the start point at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere and end at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Arena, Onikan.

    This year’s edition of the Lagos Women Run marks a significant milestone, celebrating the program’s journey, the vibrant city of Lagos, and the incredible women who have been part of it since its inception.

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    It will focus more on empowering women, acknowledging their dedication, and ensuring the program’s sustainability by providing participants with opportunities they deserve.

    Popoola added that the race has achieved remarkable success in making women happy and uncovering talents, serving as a platform for participants to train for bigger road races, which fosters a strong sense of community, allowing women of all ages to connect, network, and celebrate themselves.

    The event’s non-discriminatory nature makes it a level playing ground, open to everyone regardless of social status, by promoting general well-being among women.

  • Idowu: Grassroots reform must support football academies

    Idowu: Grassroots reform must support football academies

    Chairman of Nath Boys FC and a leading voice in Nigerian football development, has applauded the progress academies have made in nurturing talent, but insisted that without a strong grassroots and junior structure, the system remains incomplete.

    “I’m happy with the work academies are doing, that’s the progression,” Idowu said. “But I’d be happier if we had a proper youth and junior structure in place. Right now, it’s a bit disjointed.”

    Pointing to successful initiatives launched since 2010, Idowu stressed that grassroots football must be prioritized, with local coaches and academies given more prominence in talent development.

    Idowu cited Morocco as a model for long-term investment in grassroots football.

    The country’s success at both youth and senior levels, including its historic run to the World Cup semifinals, is built on a nationwide structure that starts in villages and culminates in elite facilities like the King Mohammed VI Football Academy.

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    “What Morocco has done is the result of a long journey. That center is just the tip of a grassroots pyramid. If you go to their villages, you’ll see the structure. That’s what we don’t have,” he said.

    He argued that Nigeria doesn’t need expensive stadiums to build a strong foundation. Simple grass fields and functioning junior leagues are sufficient. What are lacking, he said, are basic resources—starting with quality footballs.

    “Today, we can’t even get competition-grade footballs in Nigeria. Most of what’s sold is fake. Let the Sports Commission distribute quality footballs for free. It costs nothing.”

    Idowu believed the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) should focus on elite football, while junior development should be managed by state and local governments. He called for decentralization of funding and infrastructure to ensure children can play regularly without traveling long distances.

    Addressing the trend of top Nigerian players emerging from academies rather than league teams, Idowu attributed this to the academies’ openness to giving young players opportunities—unlike some league teams that are dominated by older players.

  • Chelle: We have to play or die to be at World Cup

    Chelle: We have to play or die to be at World Cup

    •Assures Super Eagles will beat Gabon

    Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has declared the team will give everything to qualify for the 2026 World Cup via the Playoffs.

    Nigeria failed to win the automatic qualification ticket to next year’s Mundial after they could only finish second behind South Africa.

    However, they have been handed a second chance to feature at the World Cup beginning with the CAF Playoffs in Morocco next month.

    Eric Chelle said the focus is now to secure this qualification.

    “We play or we die, that’s the reality of our situation,” he told Eagle7fm radio station.

    “We have to have the warrior state of mind, we have to be a shark, this is war.

    “The team have improved since I took over, but it’s difficult because there’s not enough time to work with the team, it’s being game after game

    “The most important thing now is November (World Cup Playoffs in Morocco), in reality the job starts now.

    “We were not lucky, we gave everything to the team. We did a great job in 10 months, I always knew we had a chance, I was only focused on the pitch, I let people talk.

    “We will continue with our energy because we want to go to the World Cup.”

    In the same vein, Chelle assured that the Super Eagles will beat Gabon to advance in next month’s continental 2026 World Cup Playoffs.

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    The Super Eagles battle the Panthers of Gabon on November 13 in Morocco in the first semifinal of the Playoffs.

     “Gabon are a good team with great players like Aubameyang and Lamina, a good coach with good philosophy,” he remarked.

    “This is a final and we have to focus only on ourselves.

    “We have a lot of injuries in our team, but for sure we are focused on this game and positive

    “If we’re at 100%, there’s no reason we cannot win this game. We will continue with our energy, we want to go to the World Cup.”

    Nigeria will tackle Gabon on November 13, with the overall winners taking on the winners of the other playoff clash between DR Congo and Cameroon to determine the team to feature at the Intercontinental Playoffs in Mexico in March.

  • Mbeumo double fires Manchester United past Brighton despite late scare

    Mbeumo double fires Manchester United past Brighton despite late scare

    Bryan Mbeumo struck twice as Manchester United held off a late Brighton fightback to secure a third consecutive Premier League victory — their first such run since February 2024 — moving up to fourth place in the table.

    United appeared to be in complete control after an hour, with Matheus Cunha ending a 16-match goal drought to open his account for the club, Casemiro’s deflected effort doubling the lead, and Mbeumo adding a composed finish for the third.

    However, Brighton refused to go quietly. Danny Welbeck curled in a superb free-kick against his former side with 16 minutes remaining, and in stoppage time, Charalampos Kostoulas glanced in a near-post header to make it 3–2, setting up a nervy finish for the hosts.

    Just when tension began to rise, Mbeumo restored calm with his second of the night — a fierce strike into the roof of the net from close range — sealing the win deep into added time.

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    The result lifts the mood at Old Trafford, a stark contrast to three weeks ago when a home defeat to Sunderland might have placed manager Ruben Amorim’s position under serious scrutiny. Now, there’s a growing confidence about his side, who could have wrapped up the game long before Brighton’s late surge.

    Cunha’s opener — his first goal for club or country since April — was a moment of quality, taking Casemiro’s short pass before bending a precise low shot beyond Bart Verbruggen. Casemiro then had fortune on his side when his strike deflected off Yasin Ayari to leave the Brighton goalkeeper stranded.

    Verbruggen later denied Benjamin Šeško and Bruno Fernandes — making his 300th United appearance — but he was powerless to stop Mbeumo from adding a third just after the hour mark.

    Brighton’s bench were furious that Patrick Dorgu escaped with only a yellow card for a foul on Yankuba Minteh in the build-up to Welbeck’s goal, but even after their late rally, United ultimately finished on top — and took all three points once again.

  • Fulham lose to Newcastle as Iwobi marks 300 appearances in EPL

    Fulham lose to Newcastle as Iwobi marks 300 appearances in EPL

    Fulham lost to Newcastle at the St. James Park in the English Premier League.

    Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes scored a dramatic late winner as Fulham’s losing run continued at St James’ Park.

    It looked like Newcastle were going to have to settle for a share of the spoils against injury-hit Fulham.

    But in the 90th minute Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno could only parry substitute William Osula’s shot into the path of Guimaraes and the midfielder took full advantage to fire home from close range.

    Nigerian international and Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi also marked his 300th game in the English Premier League in the game.

    The 29-year-old played 100 games for Arsenal, 123 games for Everton and 77 games for Fulham becoming the fifth African player to mark the achievement.

  • EPL: Talbi scores late winner as Sunderland stun Chelsea

    EPL: Talbi scores late winner as Sunderland stun Chelsea

    Sunderland moved into second place in the Premier League as winger Chemsdine Talbi scored a 94th-minute winner to stun Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

    Regis le Bris’ side were on the brink of earning a valuable point in west London, but snatched all three when Talbi converted from the edge of the box after a quick counter-attack.

    The victory – Sunderland’s first on the road this season – was all the more remarkable given Chelsea had taken an early lead when Alejandro Garnacho scored his first goal for the club with a fine solo effort.

    Sunderland levelled through Wilson Isidor, who netted from close range for his fourth goal of the season following Chelsea’s failure to clear their lines from a long throw.

    The Black Cats were less adventurous in the second half, seemingly content to settle for a point against the Club World Cup champions.

    But the home side struggled to create clear-cut chances and over-committed numbers in the search of a winner.

    Sunderland expertly exploited the space left in Chelsea’s half as substitute Brian Brobbery latched on to a long ball, held up possession and laid off for Talbi to score a famous winner.

    The win means the Black Cats move into second place, two points behind leaders Arsenal having played a game more than the Gunners.

    Chelsea, who would have gone second with a victory of their own, slip to seventh behind London rivals Tottenham.