Category: Sports

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham says the belief within the squad is unshaken as they prepare for a monumental second-leg Champions League comeback against Arsenal on Wednesday night at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Following a 3-0 defeat in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium, Madrid face their toughest challenge yet this season. No team in the club’s illustrious Champions League history has ever overturned such a deficit — but Bellingham insists the squad is ready for another legendary European night.

“It was one of the worst results we could possibly imagine,” Bellingham admitted during Tuesday’s press conference. “But for some reason everyone thinks it’s nailed-on we’ll come back, and it’s a nice feeling. It means there’s a lot of trust in the talent, and that we’re at a club like no other — the best in the world.”

The 21-year-old England international said the word remontada — Spanish for comeback — has dominated conversations at the club since the loss in London. “I’ve seen a million videos online. It’s really motivating stuff,” he said. “This is a night made for Real Madrid.”

Bellingham also urged Madridistas to bring their energy to the Bernabéu, saying the players feed off the fans’ passion. “They create an atmosphere that’s infectious. It brings out the best in us,” he added.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti, the most successful coach in the competition’s history with five titles, remained calm and composed ahead of the high-stakes clash.

“I’m focused, with a cool head,” said Ancelotti. “It’s not my first night like this and I hope it won’t be the last. These are the games we live for.”

The Italian tactician called on his players to combine “head, heart and balls” in their approach and signaled the importance of forward Kylian Mbappé, who was sent off in La Liga action against Alaves over the weekend.

“He’s hurt and disappointed, but trained very well yesterday,” Ancelotti noted. “We need him… more than ever. He has to score goals for us tomorrow.”

Madrid, 15-time Champions League winners, will look to write another epic chapter in their storied European history as they attempt to defy the odds against a confident Arsenal side aiming for their first semi-final appearance in over a decade.

Virgil van Dijk scored a crucial late winner as Liverpool defeated West Ham 2-1 at Anfield on Sunday, moving the Reds to within touching distance of the Premier League title.

Luis Diaz had fired Liverpool ahead in the 18th minute, tapping home after Mohamed Salah outmuscled young defender Ollie Scarles and delivered a perfect cross. The assist marked Salah’s 45th goal involvement this season — a new Premier League record for a 38-game campaign.

West Ham, battling relegation, showed resilience and eventually drew level four minutes from time when Andy Robertson mistakenly diverted Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross into his own net following a mix-up with Van Dijk.

However, Liverpool responded instantly. Just three minutes after the equaliser, Van Dijk rose highest to head in Alexis Mac Allister’s corner and restore the lead. The Dutchman celebrated passionately, kissing the badge — a possible sign of his commitment to the club amid reports of a new contract.

The win extends Liverpool’s lead at the top to 13 points, with just six games left to play. They could seal a record-equalling 20th English league title as early as next Sunday, if they win at Leicester and Arsenal lose away to Ipswich.

Despite some recent fatigue in their performances, Liverpool relied on goalkeeper Alisson Becker’s brilliance to stay ahead. The Brazilian denied Mohammed Kudus twice and thwarted Jarrod Bowen in a one-on-one situation, preserving the narrow lead.

West Ham, who now sit 17th in the table, nearly grabbed a dramatic equaliser when Niclas Fullkrug hit the bar deep into stoppage time. But Liverpool held firm, taking another significant step toward securing the title in Arne Slot’s debut season at the helm.

Chelsea’s Champions League hopes took a hit on Sunday as they were held to a dramatic 2-2 draw by Ipswich Town at Stamford Bridge, despite mounting a spirited second-half comeback.

The visitors stunned the home crowd with a first-half blitz. Julio Enciso opened the scoring in the 19th minute, converting calmly after a clever pass from Ben Johnson. Just over ten minutes later, Johnson doubled Ipswich’s lead with a powerful header from Enciso’s cross, putting the Blues on the back foot.

Chelsea found a lifeline almost instantly after the break. Within 20 seconds of the restart, Noni Madueke whipped in a cross that Axel Tuanzebe inadvertently diverted into his own net, shifting the momentum in Chelsea’s favour.

Despite the early setback, Ipswich defended resolutely. But substitute Jadon Sancho, greeted with boos as he entered the pitch, silenced critics with a moment of brilliance. In the 79th minute, he curled a superb strike into the top corner and celebrated defiantly by pointing to the name on the back of his shirt.

However, Chelsea couldn’t find a late winner as Ipswich held firm to secure a valuable point. The draw lifts Chelsea to fifth place in the Premier League, but they could be pushed out of the Champions League qualification spots if Newcastle United beat Manchester United later in the day at St James’ Park.

Nigeria international Alex Iwobi ended a 15-match goal drought by scoring in Fulham’s stunning 3-2 win over Premier League leaders Liverpool at the weekend. It marked his first goal since January 14 and played a pivotal role in handing Liverpool just their second league defeat of the season.

The 28-year-old midfielder struck in the 32nd minute with a left-footed shot that deflected off Andrew Robertson, putting Fulham 2-1 ahead. The Cottagers went on to secure a memorable victory, boosting their European qualification hopes as they sit eighth in the standings.

Iwobi now has eight goals and five assists from 31 league appearances this season.

Other African Stars Who Shone in Europe:

ENGLAND
Iliman Ndiaye (Everton)
Senegal’s Iliman Ndiaye scored a crucial penalty to earn Everton a 1-1 draw against Arsenal. His 49th-minute strike was his ninth goal of the season. “I’m not fully pleased,” he admitted. “I feel I can contribute more assists.”

SPAIN
Mouctar Diakhaby (Valencia)
Guinea defender Mouctar Diakhaby helped Valencia to a surprise 2-1 win over second-placed Real Madrid with a well-timed header. The result boosted Valencia’s hopes of avoiding relegation.

ITALY
Assane Diao (Como)
Senegal’s 19-year-old Assane Diao starred in Como’s 3-1 win at Monza, assisting the equaliser and scoring one himself. His performance highlighted his growing influence in Serie A following his Senegal debut last month.

GERMANY
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund)
Guirassy returned from injury to score his 25th goal of the season in Dortmund’s 4-1 victory at Freiburg. The Guinea striker netted just nine minutes after coming off the bench.

FRANCE
Abdoulaye Toure (Le Havre)
Guinean midfielder Abdoulaye Toure scored in Le Havre’s vital 2-0 win over Montpellier. He now has five goals in his last four matches, helping the club climb out of Ligue 1’s relegation zone.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has backed Bukayo Saka to make a game-changing impact in Tuesday night’s Champions League quarter-final showdown against Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium.

Saka, 23, is pushing for a return to the starting line-up after recovering from a lengthy hamstring injury that sidelined him for over three months. The England international marked his comeback with a goal against Fulham and impressed during Saturday’s draw at Everton.

“He’s in a much better place,” Arteta said ahead of the highly anticipated clash. “He played 30 minutes against Fulham and 49 against Everton. After that, he will be in a much better place.”

With Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes fading — they trail leaders Liverpool by 11 points — the Champions League remains Arteta’s final opportunity to secure silverware this season and end a five-year trophy drought.

Arsenal, aiming for their first Champions League crown, face a tough challenge in 15-time winners Real Madrid. The Gunners have only reached the final once, in 2006, when they lost to Barcelona.

“This is one of the most beautiful games you can play,” Arteta said. “It’s the highest level in European football, and we’re up against the dominant force in the competition over the last 20 to 25 years.”

Arteta, who made five changes against Everton to preserve his key players for the Real Madrid clash, now faces a defensive selection headache. With Gabriel Magalhaes out for the season, Jakub Kiwior stepped in at the weekend, but the manager may opt to shift Ben White to centre-back and bring in Jurrien Timber at right-back.

“We have alternatives,” said Arteta. “Ben hasn’t played much this season, so it’s important for him to get minutes and build understanding with the others.”

Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino is expected to be available despite suffering a head injury at Goodison Park, and Leandro Trossard — who scored his first league goal since January — hopes to retain his place in the starting XI.

“I’m very excited, it’s a big game for us,” Trossard said. “We know how good they are. They’ve won the most Champions Leagues in history. Hopefully, the atmosphere will be electric — we’ll need that advantage at home.”

Arsenal host Real Madrid in the first leg before heading to the Santiago Bernabéu for the return leg next week.

Liverpool’s prolific forward Mohamed Salah continues to dominate the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, leading the scoring charts with six goals for Egypt. The 32-year-old opened his campaign in emphatic fashion, netting four times in a 6-0 demolition of Djibouti on matchday one in Cairo. He later found the net in away fixtures against Guinea-Bissau and Ethiopia, strengthening Egypt’s push for qualification.

Meanwhile, Algerian striker Mohamed Amoura made headlines with a matchday six hat-trick in a 5-1 thrashing of Mozambique in Tizi Ouzou. He now shares second place on the scoring charts with five other players, each having netted five goals.

Group C Drama and Surprise Results

Group C has been the epicenter of upsets, with lower-ranked teams delivering unexpected results. Lesotho shocked Nigeria with a hard-fought draw, while Rwanda capitalized on a rain-soaked pitch to edge past South Africa. Benin added to the surprises, coming from behind to defeat Nigeria.

This week, another dramatic moment unfolded as Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Tawanda Chirewa scored a stoppage-time equalizer to secure a 1-1 draw for Zimbabwe in Nigeria.

Dominant Performances and Standings

High-scoring matches have been scarce, with only three 5-0 victories, two 6-0 wins, and a 5-1 scoreline recorded. However, the biggest rout so far came from African champions Ivory Coast, who dismantled Seychelles 9-0.

Top-seeded teams have largely lived up to expectations, with Egypt, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Algeria, and Tunisia leading their respective groups. Cameroon and Senegal, both boasting strong World Cup pedigrees, sit second in their groups, trailing Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of Congo by just one point.

However, not all top-seeded teams have excelled. Nigeria and Mali find themselves struggling in fourth place, each trailing group leaders South Africa and Ghana by six points.

Morocco’s Flawless Run

Morocco remains the only team among the 52 in contention to have won all five of their matches. The 2022 World Cup semi-finalists have recorded key victories, including two 2-0 wins over Tanzania, a 2-1 triumph over Zambia, a commanding 6-0 win against Congo Brazzaville, and a 2-1 success against Niger.

The Atlas Lions also benefited from hosting their away fixtures against Congo and Niger. While Congo has not disclosed the reason for surrendering home advantage, Niger was forced to do so due to a lack of a FIFA-approved stadium.

Common Scorelines

Across the 151 matches played so far, 1-0 has been the most frequent result, occurring 33 times. Closely following are 2-1 and 2-0 scorelines, each appearing 21 times. Meanwhile, 1-1 draws (19) and goalless stalemates (15) complete the list of the most common outcomes.

With four matchdays remaining in September and October, the race for World Cup qualification is heating up, promising more drama, surprises, and standout performances.

A last-minute goal from Tawanda Chirewa denied Nigeria victory as Zimbabwe secured a 1-1 draw in their Group C World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

Victor Osimhen had put Nigeria ahead in the 73rd minute with a well-placed header from Ola Aina’s cross. The Super Eagles appeared to be heading for three points until Chirewa struck in the 90th minute, slipping past defenders and toe-poking the ball under goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.

The match, played at the The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom capittal, saw Nigeria dominate possession and create several chances. Tolu Arokodare, who replaced Samuel Chukwueze in the 59th minute, was involved in the opener. He held up play before passing to Aina, whose precise delivery found Osimhen at the far post.

Nigeria had multiple opportunities to extend their lead. In the 83rd minute, Wilfred Ndidi missed a clear chance after being played in by Moses Simon, skewing his shot wide. Moments later, Osimhen was substituted due to cramp, with Victor Boniface coming on.

Zimbabwe nearly equalized in the 76th minute when Walter Musona’s effort struck the underside of the crossbar after a mix-up between Nwabali and his defenders.

The visitors eventually found their goal in stoppage time through Chirewa, who capitalized on a defensive lapse to earn Zimbabwe a crucial point.

Nigeria’s next fixture will be a crucial opportunity to regain momentum as they continue their World Cup qualifying campaign.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are set for a must-win clash against the Warriors of Zimbabwe in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

Both teams are desperate for victory as they seek to improve their standing in Group C. Nigeria currently sits behind Rwanda, Benin Republic, and South Africa with six points from five matches, while Zimbabwe remains at the bottom with just three points.

Nigeria Aiming to Build on Recent Victory
The Super Eagles come into the fixture with momentum following a 2-0 away victory against Rwanda, where star striker Victor Osimhen scored both goals. The win provided a much-needed boost for Nigeria, which has struggled for consistency in the qualifiers.

Under the leadership of new head coach Eric Chelle, the team will be hoping for a stronger performance compared to their first-leg encounter against Zimbabwe, which ended in a 1-1 draw last November.

Zimbabwe’s Qualification Struggles
The Warriors of Zimbabwe, still searching for their first win in the campaign, recently played out a 2-2 draw against Benin Republic. Despite their struggles, Zimbabwe will be looking to cause an upset against Nigeria and revive their slim qualification hopes.

In the previous meeting between the two sides, Zimbabwe took an early lead through a Walter Musona free-kick, before Nigeria salvaged a point with Kelechi Iheanacho’s penalty. The Super Eagles will be keen to secure all three points this time around.

Match Details
The match is scheduled to kick off at 5 PM Nigerian time on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. Fans can watch the game live on DSTV and StarTimes.

With a World Cup ticket at stake, the Super Eagles will need a convincing display to keep their qualification hopes alive.

The Akwa Ibom State Government has announced free tickets for the Super Eagles’ 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe on Tuesday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

In a statement on Monday, the state’s Commissioner for Sports, Paul Bassey, revealed that Governor Umo Eno purchased all 30,000 tickets to boost fan support. Distribution centers include radio stations, De Venus Bar, Uyo Township Stadium, and Ibom Plaza.

Bassey emphasized that no tickets would be available at the stadium and urged fans to get theirs in advance.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has pledged to distribute Super Eagles jerseys to the first 500 ticket holders.

The Super Eagles currently sit fourth in their qualifying group, with six points from five matches.