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Bayern Get Away With Shock Loss As Leverkusen Fall To Defeat

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A 10-man Bayern Munich got away with a shock 3-2 home defeat to Bochum on Saturday after title chasers Bayer Leverkusen were beaten 2-0 by Werder Bremen.

Despite the loss, just Bayern’s second of the season, the Bavarians still hold an eight-point lead over defending champions Leverkusen with nine games to play.

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Leverkusen’s woes were deepened with an injury to star midfielder Florian Wirtz, who limped off after a rough challenge having played just 14 second-half minutes.

With an eye on Tuesday’s return leg in the Champions League last 16 against Leverkusen, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany named a heavily changed XI, including leaving striker Harry Kane on the bench.

READ ALSO: Barcelona’s Clash With Osasuna Postponed

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Bayern midfielder Raphael Guerreiro’s 14th minute goal, when the Portuguese hammered a loose ball into the net, had Bayern on track before Serge Gnabry missed a 21st-minute penalty.

With Kane, who has converted his past 30 penalties in a row, sitting on the bench, Gnabry stepped up but hit the ball against the post.

Guerreiro however scored again with a rare header on the 28-minute mark, just three minutes before Bochum’s Jakov Medic pulled one back with an unstoppable rocket.

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Ibrahima Sissoko headed Bochum level six minutes into the second half and Matus Bero put the underdogs in front 71 minutes in, going the length of the field to knock in a Philipp Hofmann pass.

READ ALSO: EPL: Liverpool Come From Behind To Edge Southampton, Go 16 Points Clear

Bochum’s surprise victory, their first win in Munich since 1991, took them three points clear of the automatic relegation placings.

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“There are no excuses — we lost,” Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said, adding “even with 10 men, we should at least have the expectation of avoiding defeat.”

Leverkusen were down after just seven minutes when Romano Schmid tapped in from close range.

With Leverkusen failing to click, coach Xabi Alonso brought Wirtz from the bench at halftime, but the Germany midfielder was brutally fouled eight minutes afterwards and limped from the field and left the arena on crutches.

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READ ALSO: UEFA Champions League: Bayern Hopeful Kane Fit For Celtic Clash

Any injury to Wirtz, the club’s talisman and best player this season, would be a serious blow to Alonso’s side, particularly ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League match against Bayern, who hold a 3-0 lead from the first leg.

“We’ll have to wait and see,” Alonso said after the match, adding “we don’t have any results yet.”

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Bremen’s Mitchell Weiser, who fouled the Germany midfielder, apologised after the match, saying “I hope it’s not that bad — I’m lucky it wasn’t a red card.”

Borussia Dortmund’s slim chances of reaching the top four took a hit with a 1-0 home loss to Augsburg, with Jeffrey Gouweleeuw’s first half header the only goal in the game.

READ ALSO: 18-yr-old Former Bayern Munich Player Suffers ‘Brain Death’ After Collision

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Dortmund were toothless in attack and offered little against an in-form Augsburg, who have conceded just three goals in the league in 2025 — the best mark in Europe.

Dortmund, last season’s Champions League finalists, sit 10th in the league, seven points off the top four.

Elsewhere, St Pauli scored their first goal in five matches in a 1-1 draw at Wolfsburg, going two points clear of the relegation playoff spot.

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Fellow promoted side Holstein Kiel also picked up a point with a hard-fought 2-2 home win over Stuttgart.

Later on Saturday, Freiburg host RB Leipzig.

AFP

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Super Falcons Begin WAFCON Campaign With 3-0 Win Over Tunisia

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Nigeria began their pursuit of a record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title with an emphatic 3-0 win over Tunisia in Casablanca.

Veteran striker Asisat Oshoala opened the scoring in the fourth minute, capitalizing on a low, in-swinging free-kick from Rinsola Babajide. The former Barcelona star bundled the ball into the net during a scramble in the Tunisian penalty area.

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READ ALSO:Brighton Sign Super Falcons Goalkeeper Nnadozie From Paris FC

Babajide, who switched allegiance from England to Nigeria in 2023, doubled Nigeria’s lead just before halftime. The winger fired past Tunisia goalkeeper Soulaima Jobrani in first-half stoppage time to register her first-ever goal at a senior international tournament.

Chinwendu Ihezuo sealed the win late in the match, finishing off a precise cross from Ashleigh Plumptre in the 84th minute.

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The victory puts Nigeria at the top of Group B, ahead of the group’s other fixture between Algeria and Botswana later on Sunday (19:00 GMT).

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Arsenal Sign Spain Midfielder Zubimendi

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Arsenal on Sunday announced the signing of midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad in a deal reportedly worth around £55 million ($75 million).

Euro 2024 winner Zubimendi had previously been a target for Liverpool and was also linked with Real Madrid.

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This is a huge moment in my career,” said the defensive midfielder, who is understood to have put pen to paper on a five-year deal.

“It’s the move I was looking for and one I wanted to make. As soon as you set foot here, you realise how big this club and this team are.

“I set my sights on Arsenal because their style of play is a good fit for me. They have shown their potential recently and the best is yet to come.”

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READ ALSO:UK Police Charge Ex-Arsenal Midfielder Thomas Partey With Rape

The Athletic reported that Arsenal paid above Zubimendi’s 60 million euro ($71 million, £51 million) buyout clause in order to spread the cost of the fee over a number of installments.

Zubimendi, 26, made 236 appearances in all competitions for Sociedad after graduating from the club’s academy and has played 19 times for Spain.

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He will reinforce manager Mikel Arteta’s midfield options after the departures of Thomas Partey and Jorginho.

Zubimendi’s arrival paves the way for Arsenal’s record signing Declan Rice to play a more attacking midfield role alongside captain Martin Odegaard.

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Martin is a player who will bring a huge amount of quality and football intelligence to our team,” said Arteta.

He will fit in really well and he has all the attributes to be a key player for us.”

Zubimendi is Arsenal’s second signing of the summer transfer window after goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga joined from Chelsea.

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The Gunners are also expected to complete the signing of midfielder Christian Norgaard from Brentford.

Arsenal finished second in the Premier League last season for a third straight year and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League but ultimately ended up without a trophy for a fifth consecutive season.

READ ALSO:JUST IN: Arsenal Eliminate Real Madrid From Champions League, Advance To Semi-final

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Attention will now turn to the forward line as the Gunners try to see off champions Liverpool and Manchester City and claim a first league title since 2003/04.

Arteta’s men had to cope without a natural striker for much of last season due to long-term injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

Reports on Sunday suggest a deal for Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres is on the verge of being sealed to fill the need for a new number nine.

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Arsenal have also been linked with a move for Chelsea’s Noni Madueke.

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WAFCON 2024: Nigeria Vs Tunisia – Date, Time And Where To Watch

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Nigeria’s Super Falcons will begin their 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign with a Group A showdown against Tunisia on Sunday, July 6, 2025.

Nigeria eyeing record 10th title against Tunisia

The Super Falcons, nine-time champions, are aiming to extend their dominance in African women’s football with a 10th WAFCON title. Their last win came in 2018. Despite their pedigree, Nigeria has stumbled in recent tournament openers, losing their first games in the past two editions—making a strong start this time essential.

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READ ALSO:Brighton Sign Super Falcons Goalkeeper Nnadozie From Paris FC

Strong preparations under Coach Madugu

Head coach Justine Madugu’s team arrives in Morocco in good form, with a 3-1 victory over Ghana’s Black Queens and a goalless draw against Portugal bolstering confidence. The squad also carries a positive mindset, with winger Rinsola Babajide expressing belief in their preparation and focus.

Adding to the excitement, key players Asisat Oshoala and Rasheedat Ajibade recently unveiled the newly designed WAFCON trophy, symbolizing the team’s hunger to reclaim continental glory.

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READ ALSO:Super Falcons To Face Portugal Ahead Of WAFCON 2025

Tunisia hoping to spring a surprise

Ranked 89th in the world, Tunisia enter the tournament as underdogs but are determined to prove themselves. Recent results, including friendly losses to Kenya (1-0) and Morocco (4-2), suggest inconsistency, but the North African side remains ambitious. They will be hoping to upset the Super Falcons and gain early momentum in a group that also features Algeria and Botswana.

Where to Watch

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The Nigeria vs Tunisia match will be broadcast live on AfroSport and SuperSport via DSTV. The match kicks off at 5:00 pm Nigeria time at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, Morocco.

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