Sports

Meet The Invincibles: See Three Football Teams Unbeaten In One Season

Published

2 years ago

April 13, 2024

Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen of 2023-24 stand on the cusp of greatness, with just 11 matches theoretically between them and a record undefeated season for a top-five European league team.

Of the 42 matches they have so far played this campaign, they have won 37, drawn five and lost a grand total of zero.

Bayer could win the Bundesliga for the first time in their history this weekend when they take on Werder Bremen, while they won their Europa League quarter-final first leg against West Ham 2-0 and face second-division Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final on May 25.

Should their record stay unblemished across their remaining fixtures in all three competitions they will become the first side to go a full season undefeated both domestically and in European competition.

It is a scenario few, if any, would have ever predicated at the start of the season, with German giants Bayern Munich having won the last 11 league titles and no Bundesliga team ever even completing a domestic league season without losing at least once.

In the history of the sport worldwide, many teams have gone an entire league season without losing, such as Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal “Invincibles” of 2003-04, but to do it across multiple competitions is rarified territory.

AFP Sport highlights three teams that completed a full season without tasting defeat across several competitions:

– Al Ahly –

Egyptian giants Al Ahly won the league and the CAF Champions League without any losses in 2004-05, but were denied from completing the treble only by a penalty shoot-out elimination in the Egypt Cup after their round of 16 tie ended in a draw.

That season in the league, they finished a staggering 31 points clear of second-placed Enppi SC and failed to win only two of 26 matches.

The dominant double was made all the sweeter by a CAF Champions League semi-final victory against bitter Cairo rivals Zamalek by an aggregate score of four goals to one.

– Preston North End –

One must go back to the 19th century to find such an example in the English game, indeed all the way back to the very advent of the English League in 1888.

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Preston North End won a league and cup double in the 1888-89 season, which saw them go undefeated through 22 league matches and claim the FA Cup final 3-0 against Wolverhampton Wanderers at London’s Kennington Oval.

– Johor Darul Ta’zim –

Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim completed an undefeated domestic quadruple in the 2023 Malaysian season.

With the domestic league and cup running from February to December 2023, Johor Darul Ta’zim won a staggering 37 out of 38 games on their way to claiming the country’s Super Cup, Piala Malaysia Cup, FA cup and league title.

Sadly, their domestic dominance didn’t translate to the bigger challenges of the Asian Champions League where they won three group games but lost three.
VANGUARD

Related Topics:European league Xabi Alonso

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Sports

NPFL26: Bendel Insurance Beat Kano Pillars 3-2

Published

17 hours ago

November 15, 2025

Editor

Bendel Insurance jinx of inconsistent and goal drought in the current Nigeria Premier Football League season were on Saturday evening broken at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin as they defeated Kano Pillars 3-2 to move a step out of the deep.
‎
‎The Benin Arsenals returned to winning ways with a remarkable 3-2 comeback
‎victory over the sai Masu Gida side with goals from Kayode Oke, Emmanuel Dung and Akpan Emmanuel who handed
‎ Kennedy Boboye his first maximum points since joining Insurance over a month ago.
‎.
‎Kayode Oke opened scoring for Insurance in the 17th minute, but veteran midfielder Rabiu Ali got an equalizer for the visitors from the penalty spot in the 34th minute.

READ ALSO:Bendel Insurance Head Coach Suspended
‎
‎Four minutes later, Chiedozie Okorie gave Pillars the lead in the halftime of the match day 13 encounter under the rain.
‎
‎Insurance returned for the second half with double substitution and mounted much pressure on the visitors and got rewarded for their efforts with a spirited comeback when Emmanuel Dung powered an equalising goal for Insurance in the 77th minute with a rocket strike from the edge of the box to send the already agitated home fans into wild jubilation.
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‎As time drifted away from the regulation mark, Emmanuel Akpan sealed the victory with a stoppage-time strike in the 88 minutes.

‎It was Insurance second victory and first for coach Kennedy Boboye in the current football season.

The Benin Arsenals now move up to 17th on the table with 12 points.

READ ALSO:Enabulele Congratulates Bendel Insurance For Pre-Season Tournament Performance
‎
‎Speaking during a post match media conference, coach Kennedy Boboye said that he was relieved to have his first maximum points as Vendel Insurance Manager after five matches -one loss, one win and three draws so far.
‎
‎He said that he remains focused and determined to get out of the red zone.

‎”I am relieved and happy we got the victory we have been looking for and I must give it to my players,fans and the supporters club who are always there for us irrespective of the results we posted.
‎I dedicate the victory to them,” he said.
‎

Sports

Arsenal’s Gabriel Injured In Senegal Friendly

Published

18 hours ago

November 15, 2025

Editor

Arsenal’s defensive rock, Gabriel Magalhães, limped off during Brazil’s 2-0 friendly win over Senegal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

This injury is going to be a major headache for Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta, who still has many players out injured.

The 27-year-old Brazilian center-back was forced to depart in the 64th minute, clutching his right thigh and groin area following a seemingly innocuous challenge. He was replaced by Flamengo’s Wesley.

This comes at the worst possible time for the Premier League leaders, who face Tottenham in the North London Derby on November 23, barely a week away, followed by Champions League and league tests against Bayern Munich and Chelsea.

Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti later confirmed it was a muscular issue but offered no timeline, stating: “We’ll have to wait and see on the extent—it’s too early to say.”

Sports

One Year Of Sports Excellence Under Governor Okpebholo’s Leadership

Published

3 days ago

November 13, 2025

Editor

By Edoko Wilson Edoko

The Edo State Sports Commission has celebrated one year of steady progress and transformation under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Executive Governor of Edo State. The past year has seen significant reforms, innovation, and achievements across all levels of sports in the state.

Led by Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, the Commission has revived Edo’s sporting heritage and re-established the state as a dominant force in Nigerian sports — fulfilling Governor Okpebholo’s vision of a vibrant, talent-driven, and development-oriented sports ecosystem.

At the 2025 National Youth Games in Asaba, Team Edo achieved its best performance yet, finishing among the top teams with 33 gold, 18 silver, and 28 bronze medals. The state also finished third at the maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival in Uyo, winning 89 medals, and recorded a 302-medal haul at the 22nd National Sports Festival in Abeokuta.

Hon. Enabulele credited these achievements to Governor Okpebholo’s commitment to athlete welfare and grassroots sports development.

Edo athletes also shone internationally. Seven Edo Queens FC players were called up to the U-20 Super Falconets, while five female rugby players represented Nigeria at the World Rugby League Series in Canada. Para-athletes and deaf athletes brought home several medals from regional and continental championships, including 17-year-old Ojieabu Favour Omo, who won six medals at the African Para-Cycling Track Championship in Cairo.

Team Edo dominated several national competitions, including para-powerlifting, karate, badminton, swimming, and kung fu tournaments. The state also hosted the South-South Zonal Eliminations for the National Sports Festival, earning praise for its professionalism.

The Commission deepened the link between education and sports through the Governor’s Cup, rewarding winning schools with new buses, and introduced the Under-17 Chess Tournament to promote intellectual sports. Plans for an Edo Indoor Cricket Complex are also underway.

Edo Queens FC maintained their regional dominance as WAFU B Champions, while Coach Moses Opuamowei Aduku’s leadership of the Super Falconets further underscored Edo’s excellence.

Governor Okpebholo was honoured by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) as Distinguished Governor of the Year for his contributions to sports development. Hon. Enabulele also received the SWAN Diamond Jubilee National Award for exemplary leadership.

The Commission has expanded Edo’s sports structure with the inauguration of the Armwrestling Association Board and continued medal-winning performances in taekwondo, powerlifting, and athletics.

“As our Governor marks one year in office, Edo’s sports continue to soar,” Hon. Enabulele said. “Our goal is to make Edo a model for sports governance and athlete development in Nigeria. With the Governor’s support, we are confident of achieving even greater success.”

Edoko Wilson Edoko is the Media Officer to the Executive Chairman of Edo State Sports Commission.