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Chelsea Close In On UEFA Conference League Final With Win 4-1 At Djurgarden

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Chelsea strolled to a comfortable 4-1 win at Djurgarden in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League semi-final on Thursday to all but book their spot in the final.

In the other semi-final, Spain’s Real Betis take a 2-1 lead into the return fixture against two-time runners-up Fiorentina.

First-half goals from Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke put Chelsea in control in Sweden, before Nicolas Jackson grabbed a brace midway through the second period.

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Enzo Maresca’s side have one foot in the final of the Conference League in their debut campaign in the third-tier European competition.

Lifting the trophy in the Polish city of Wroclaw on May 28 would add another continental title to the London club’s haul of two Champions Leagues, a pair of Europa Leagues and two UEFA Cup Winners’ Cups.

READ ALSO:Chelsea Squeeze Into Conference Semis Despite Legia Defeat

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Their opponents, on the other hand, don’t quite boast the same European pedigree, and in making the last four became the first Swedish side to play a semi-final in Europe since 1986/87.

To further add to Djurgarden’s underdog status, coach Jani Honkavaara only had 14 senior players fit to call upon for the visit of the Premier League giants.

Chelsea took the lead via Sancho on 12 minutes as the winger collected a lofted pass in the box and slotted the ball past the goalkeeper before the retreating Marcus Danielson sliced his attempted clearance against his own arm and into the goal.

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The goal settled Chelsea, who slowly got more accustomed to the artificial surface in Stockholm and began to dominate Djurgarden.

Madueke made that dominance pay two minutes prior to half-time when he opened up his body to feint a cross-goal shot with his left foot, before sweeping a first-time finish inside the near post.

READ ALSO: Chelsea Boss Maresca insists Money No Guarantee Of Success

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– Jackson at the double –

As the interval loomed, Djurgarden nearly caught Chelsea with a sucker-punch, only for the English club’s Swedish-born ‘keeper Filip Jorgensen to readjust brilliantly and tip Tokmac Nguen’s deflected strike behind for a corner.

Jackson put Chelsea three goals to the good one minute before the hour as he tapped in from close range following a defensive mix-up.

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The Senegalese striker doubled up six minutes later, unleashing a fizzing shot with his left foot from the edge of the box.

Teenager Isak Alemayehu Mulugeta snatched a consolation for Djurgarden in the 68th minute with a powerful downward header for his first senior goal.

In Andalusia, Betis had a dream start when Abde Ezzalzouli smashed the ball in off the crossbar on six minutes following battling centre-forward play by the in-form Cedric Bakambu.

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READ ALSO: Chelsea To Play Man City In Women’s Champions League

Fiorentina came within a whisker of equalising midway through the first half, but Rolando Mandragora’s powerful header zipped inches wide of goalkeeper Fran Vieites’ upright.

Former Barcelona centre-half Marc Bartra had a chance to double Betis’ lead at the end of the first period but blasted over from a corner.

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Manchester United loanee Antony then did get a second for the hosts with a fierce right-footed effort from outside the box which flew beyond David de Gea’s reach and into the top corner in the 64th minute.

Fiorentina halved the lead against the run of play with 17 minutes remaining as Luca Ranieri slotted home after being teed up by Robin Gosens.

The second leg ties will take place next Thursday.

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FIFA Suspends Seven Players Over Forged Documents

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FIFA on Friday suspended seven Malaysia national team players for 12 months and fined the country’s football association 350,000 Swiss francs ($440,000) over forged documents used for an Asia Cup qualifier.

World football’s disciplinary committee imposed the sanctions after the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) doctored documentation to be able to field the players in a 4-0 win over Vietnam in June, it said in a statement.

FIFA acted after it received a complaint regarding the eligibility of a number of players who featured in the match.

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As a result, Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomas Garces, Rodrigo Julian Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal Iraurgui and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano were all fined 2,000 Swiss francs.

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They were also banned from any football-related activity for 12 months.
Reacting to the suspension, the FAM said it would appeal the decision.

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The body said it would “use all available legal channels and procedures to ensure that the interests of the players and the Malaysian national team are always protected”.

“FAM would like to emphasise that the players involved, and FAM itself, have acted in good faith and with full transparency throughout this process,” the association said in a statement issued in Kuala Lumpur.

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The FAM maintained that documentation and procedures were managed transparently and along FIFA guidelines.

“In fact, FIFA has previously reviewed the qualifications of the players and provided official confirmation that they are eligible to play for Malaysia,” the FAM said.

Malaysia currently top their 2027 Asia Cup qualifying group with six points from two matches, pending any further FIFA sanctions.

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Flying Eagles Arrive Chile’s Talca For FIFA U20 World Cup Campaign

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The Flying Eagles arrived in the Chilean city of Talca on Thursday afternoon ahead of their participation in the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup.

Nigeria is placed in Group F alongside Norway, Saudi Arabia, and Colombia, with all group matches scheduled to be played in Talca.

Upon arrival, the two-time U20 World Cup finalists were warmly received by officials from FIFA, the Local Organising Committee, and hotel staff.

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The team later held its first training session in the evening to begin final preparations for the tournament.

READ ALSO:JSS 3 Student Hacks Man To Death In Cross River

According to The PUNCH, the Head coach of Nigeria’s U-20 national team, Ali Zubair, said the Flying Eagles have corrected the mistakes that cost them at the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations and are now better prepared for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.

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The Flying Eagles are lodged at Hotel Diego de Almagro in Talca. The team wrapped up a 12-day training camp in Santiago, where they played host nation Chile and Australia as part of the build-up to the FIFA U20 World Cup.

Nigeria opens its campaign for honours in this year’s edition with a game against Norway on Monday, 29th September at Estadio Fiscal de Talca, before other games against Saudi Arabia and Colombia.

READ ALSO:Christian Chukwu’s 1980 Green Eagles Teammate, Charles Bassey, Is Dead

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Nigeria’s national under-20 men’s football team is one of the most successful youth teams in Africa. The team has a rich history in the FIFA U20 World Cup, having participated in multiple editions since its debut in 1983.

Notably, the Flying Eagles have been runners-up twice — in 1989 (losing to Portugal) and 2005 (losing to Argentina, led by Lionel Messi).

They have also reached the semifinals on several occasions and are known for producing future Super Eagles stars such as Mikel Obi, Taye Taiwo, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Victor Osimhen.

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FULL LIST: Nigerian Boxer Efe Ajagba Breaks Into World’s Top 10 Heavyweights

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Nigerian heavyweight boxer Efe Ajagba has been ranked among the top 10 fighters in the world by The Ring magazine.

In its latest rankings updated on Thursday, Ajagba secured the No. 10 spot in the prestigious list, widely regarded as the sport’s most respected independent ratings.

The 30-year-old, who holds a professional record of 20 wins, one loss, and one draw with 14 knockouts, joins an elite lineup.

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READ ALSO:Two Japanese Boxers Die From Brain Injuries At Same Event

The heavyweight division is currently led by Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk, who holds the champion’s position, with Britain’s Tyson Fury ranked first among contenders.

New Zealand’s Joseph Parker and Germany’s Agit Kabayel occupy the top three positions.

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Ajagba’s inclusion comes after a string of impressive performances that have reignited his world title ambitions.

READ ALSO:I Saw My Wife’s Lover’s Boxers, Trousers, Shirts In Our Bedroom, Man Tells Court

His most recent victory solidified his status as one of the leading contenders from Africa in the heavyweight division.

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The Ring magazine, founded in 1922, updates its ratings monthly based on results, performance, and track record, with input from boxing journalists and historians worldwide.

The development makes Ajagba the only Nigerian currently ranked in the heavyweight top 10.

Below is the full updated heavyweight ranking by The Ring:

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