Sports

FIRST 11: Musa Makes Eagles Comeback, Man United Struggles + More

Published

7 months ago

March 8, 2025

What a week it has been for sports fans! The UEFA Champions League was back on the screens. It was exciting watching all of Europe’s big teams battle it out on the pitch! From stunning setbacks to intriguing comebacks, there was no shortage of drama, upsets, and thrills across the sporting world this past seven days! In this week’s First 11 – a recap of the most talked about headlines in sports – we are breaking down all the biggest moments and storylines in the world of sports!

So, grab some popcorn, let’s get started!

Ahmed Musa Returns From Hiatus

Charity, they say, begins from home! So, First 11 kickstarts from Nigeria where in a surprising move, Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle invited Ahmed Musa to Nigeria’s World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later in the month. The Kano Pillars man was part of the team at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) but played no minute in the side’s silver-winning campaign.

Musa
Musa is Nigeria’s highest goalscorer at the World Cup.

Since then, Super Eagles managers have not invited the former Leicester City forward forward. But he has been included in the 39-man provisional list for the must-win games, sparking debates among football fans. Nigeria are fourth in the five-team lot having managed just a miserable three points from four games played in Group C of the African qualification series for the 2026 World Cup.

Super Falcons Still African Queens

Meanwhile, the Super Falcons have continued their dominance of women’s football in Africa, maintaining their top spot on the continent. In the latest FIFA rankings released Thursday, the Nigerian senior female national team was ranked 36th on the global scene.

South Africa, 18 places behind the Nigerian girls, are second in Africa, dropping four places from the last rankings. Morocco are third in the continent and 60th on the world stage.

Super Falcons

The rankings come months before Nigeria take to the stage in a bid to wrestle the Wpmen AFCON (WAFCON) crown from South Africa.

Switching gears to the Champions League now! Liverpool came up clutch on Wednesday seeing off Paris Saint-German (PSG) in a clash that headlined the first leg of the round of 16. In a match that saw PSG enjoy the lion’s share of possession but lacked ruthlessness, Liverpool were fortunate to win the tie thanks to Harvey Elliott’s strike – his first touch after his introduction late into the game. Arne Slot’s side will now hope to add to the lone goal win in the return leg next week.

Arsenal, in another game in the competition, demolished PSV 1-7 to have a leg in the quarter-final of the tournament. Real Madrid defeated rivals Atletico 2-1 while Benfica lost to Barcelona.

In the all-German tie, Bayern Munich beat Dortmund, Feyenoord lost to Inter Milan and Aston Villa bashed Club Brugge of Belgium.

Sociedad Frustrate Man United

But there were also actions in the Europa League on Thursday with Manchester United continuing their poor run of games. The English side were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Sociedad. What is behind Man United’s struggles? Can they turn their season around?

Chelsea saw off FC Copehangen in the UEFA Conference League to ease the pressure on Coach Enzo Maresca.

Joey Barton Stirrs AFCON Debate

In other football news that made headlines in the week, it appears the last has not been heard about the AFCON pedigree. This time, former Manchester City player Joey Barton doubled down on English ex-international Jamie Carragher’s claim that the tournament is not a major competition while discussing Liverpool star Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or.

Carragher came under fire over the comment but in defence of the Englishman, Barton claimed no African defender can lace the former Liverpool star’s shoes.
Infantino on World Cup

Moving on to some cheering news! The World Cup now comes in a new style! That is because starting from the 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey, they will be a Super Bowl-style half-time show.

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino said the Coldplay band members Chris Martin and Phil Harvey will determine the artists who will perform.

The decision followed a meeting of FIFA’s commercial and media partners in Dallas ahead of the 2026 tournament which will be co-hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The World Cup promises to be an exciting time!

In a related event, FIFA will pay a total prize money of one billion dollars to participants in the Club World Cup in the United States later this year.
The figure is significantly higher than the prize money offered for either the last men’s or women’s World Cups.

Isak Burgled

On a sad note, Newcastle striker Alexander Isak’s home was raided by a “professional group of travelling burglars” who stole his car and jewellery worth £68,000 ($87,000), a court heard on Wednesday.

The Sweden international was not in his house in Northumberland, in northeast England, when the gang broke in through a glass door last April, Newcastle Crown Court was told. The thieves had already stolen jewellery and clothes worth more than £1 million from a businesswoman and designer goods worth £100,000 from another woman in the previous days.

Osaka Crashes Out

Heading to the courts, Naomi Osaka was shattered after a heartbreaking defeat in the Indian Wells on Wednesday. She fell 6-4, 6-4 to Camila Osorio in the Japanese star’s first tournament since injury forced her out of the Australian Open.

Former world number one Osaka, now ranked 56th in the world, looked rusty against the 52nd-ranked Colombian, struggling to find the range on her powerful groundstrokes on a chilly night in the California desert.

Historic James

Still in the courts but this time in basketball, LeBron James became the first player in the NBA to score 50,000 career points, extending his lead as the league’s record scorer by reaching a milestone tally that may never be surpassed. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar went into the game against the New Orleans Pelicans with 49,999 regular and postseason points after a 17-point performance in Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers. But it did not take long for the 40-year-old NBA icon to get the solitary point needed to reach the 50,000-point mark. This feat cements James’ status as one of the greatest to have played the game!

Back to football! Four years after the death of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona, seven healthcare professionals will go on trial next week accused of negligence during his final days.

More than 100 witnesses, including members of Maradona’s family and doctors who tended to him down the years, will take the stand throughout the four-month trial, which starts Tuesday in the Buenos Aires suburb of San Isidro.
The seven defendants risk between eight and 25 years in jail if convicted.

Lastly, the French League’s disciplinary commission banned new Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca until November after an altercation with a referee.
To compound his plight he has also been banned from entering his own team’s changing rooms until mid-September, the commission’s president Sebastien Deneux announced.

Well, fans await to see how well Fonseca will fare! First 11 is your recap of the most important happenings in sports for the week! It returns next week!

Source: Channels TV

Related Topics:#Super Eagles Ahmed Musa Super Eagles Coach

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Sports

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

Published

1 day ago

September 26, 2025

Editor

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Sports

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

Published

2 days ago

September 25, 2025

Editor

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.

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.

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

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

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:

Sports

SWAN Orders Nationwide Boycott Of NFF Activities

Published

3 days ago

September 24, 2025

Editor

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, has announced a nationwide boycott of all activities related to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, including the Federation’s upcoming Annual General Assembly, AGA, scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The directive, issued on Wednesday by the leadership of the association, follows what SWAN described as the NFF’s “deliberate and persistent exclusion” of the Association from the Congress, the Federation’s highest decision-making body.

In a statement jointly signed by the SWAN President, Mr. Isaiah Benjamin, and the Secretary-General, Ambassador Ikenna Okonkwo, the Association condemned the NFF’s actions as “unacceptable, retrogressive, and an affront to the sporting media’s role in national football development.”

“The media is a critical tripod in the growth of sports globally. SWAN, as the professional body coordinating sports journalism in Nigeria, has consistently engaged with the NFF on the need to restore our rightful place in its Congress. Yet, while the Federation claims to be expanding its Congress, it continues to sideline us—a move that is both short-sighted and detrimental to Nigerian football,” the statement read.

SWAN accused the NFF leadership of adopting a divisive approach to football administration, warning that the continued decline in the nation’s football fortunes is a reflection of ongoing maladministration.

“Despite enormous financial and institutional support from the Federal Government, state governments, and private sponsors, Nigeria’s football continues to nosedive.

“It is time to put a decisive end to this dangerous trend. Nigeria cannot afford to watch its most cherished sport deteriorate under avoidable circumstances,” the statement read.

Effective immediately, all SWAN members across the country are instructed to cease coverage and promotion of any NFF-related activity.

“A task force will be set up to ensure strict enforcement of this directive. Simultaneously, the Association will begin a thorough investigation and public exposure of the maladministration and backward practices now synonymous with the Federation’s operations practices that have contributed to Nigeria’s repeated World Cup qualification failures,” the statement added.

SWAN reaffirmed its position as a critical stakeholder in Nigerian football and vowed to resist any attempt to marginalize the sporting media.

“The exclusion of SWAN from the NFF Congress is no longer acceptable and will not be tolerated. We stand resolute in defending the integrity and rightful role of the sporting media in the Nigerian football ecosystem,” the statement concluded.