Nigeria was eliminated from Group D at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after a late goal from France. The Flamingos lost the cadet championship second time in a row.
Although the matches were uneven, a French girls’ strike in the 82nd minute gave them a 1-0 victory over the West Africans in Morocco.
Following Nigeria’s parry the ball safely, Fathallan Maissa scored the only goal for the French side. Nigeria was devastated as a result of the ball’s squirming through her hands.
READ MORE: [U-17 Women’s W/Cup] Canada defeats Nigeria 4-1 in the third-minute clash of the Flamingos.
Nigeria lost its first consecutive women’s world championship defeat in the Women’s U-17 World Cup.
Following Canada’s humiliating defeat on Sunday, which Coach Bankole Olowookere’s side lost 1-4. Nigeria had a sense of urgency when the French punished their lack of cutting edge late in the game.
If Samoa defeated the Flamingo in their next game on Saturday by a wide margin, they could still be one of the best losers.
That’s not all, either! If their goal of making it to the quarter-finals is realized, they will anticipate success in other games as well.
In a second Group D encounter, Canada defeated Samoa 6-0 to take the lead.
With six points, North Americans and France now have a chance to advance to the next round of the competition.
In a Champions League game on Wednesday, Galatasaray defeated Bod/Glimt 3-1 to claim a brace from Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen.  ,
Just three minutes into the match, The Super Eagle fired a right-footed ball past Mario Lemina into the bottom corner.
30 minutes later, Osimhen made a defensive error mistaken for Fredrik Björkan, who then increased the home team’s lead.
Osimhen, Salah, and Hakimi are on the list for the top CAF player of the year nominees, read more here.
On October 22, 2025, Galatasaray’s Nigerian forward #45, Victor Osimhen, makes gestures during the UEFA Champions League, league phase – day 3, football game between Galatasaray SK and Bodo/Glimt at the Rams Park in Istanbul. (Photo by YASIN AKGUL/AFP)
For the first half, the game ended in that manner. Yunus Akgün scored three goals in the 60th minute when the second half resumed.
In the 74th minute of the tie, Andreas Helmersen scored a consolation goal for Bod/Glimt.
In a 2026 World Cup qualifier, Osimhen scored a hat-trick for the Super Eagles after scoring a 4-0 win over Benin Republic.
In addition, Marcus Rashford scored twice for Barcelona in a 6-1 victory over Olympiacos on Tuesday, earning a hat-trick and putting the Catalan giants back on course for the Champions League.
Lamine Yamal, a teen star, was also on target for Hansi Flick’s side, who had previously faced Paris Saint-Germain in their previous European match.
Ayoub El Kaabi scored a penalty saver for the Greek champions after Lopez double, but Santiago Hezze’s red card made it possible for the injured-hit Barcelona to record a high scoreline and place them temporarily in third place.
Victor Osimhen, the Super Eagles’ striker, has been chosen as one of the top contenders for the CAF Player of the Year award.
Mohamed Salah, the star forward for Egypt and Liverpool, and Achraf Hakimi, the defender for Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco, are also in the running.
Francine Anguissa, the Cameroon’s midfielder, Fiston Mayele, Fiston Mayele, Denis Bouanga, Serhou Guirassy, Oussama Lamlioui, Morocco, and the Senegalese duo Iliman Ndiaye and Pape Matar Sarr are other contenders.
On Thursday, the 2025 CAF Awards – Men’s Categories Committee announced the nominees.
READ MORE: Ajibade and Okoronkwo Nominated for CAF Women’s Player of the Year.
The award recognizes the continent’s top players, coaches, clubs, and national teams.
For the time being considered, 6 January to 15 October 2025, players and coaches have had a significant impact on the African and global game, according to a statement from CAF.
A panel of experts, which included CAF Technical &, Development Committee members, experienced coaches, CAF Legends, and selected media representatives, chose 10 nominees for each category based on their performance in all competitions, added the continent’s football governing body.
Stanley Nwabali, Nigeria’s top safe hands, was also nominated for the award for “goalkeeper of the year.”
For the top price, he will have Morocco’s Yassine Bonou, South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, Cameroon’s André Onana, and Senegalese Edouard Mendy to contend with.
Other honors include club of the year, interclub player of the year, coach of the year, young player of the year, national team of the year, and club of the year.
Following Tuesday’s impressive performance against Atletico Madrid, Viktor Gyokeres says he is eager to respond to manager Mikel Arteta’s request to bring his goal-scoring momentum into the Premier League.
In Arsenal’s 4-0 victory over Atletico in the Champions League at the Emirates Stadium, attacker Gyokeres scored twice to end a seven-game losing streak with a goal.
Following his £58 million ($77 million) transfer from Sporting Lisbon, where he scored 97 goals in 102 appearances, the 27-year-old scored five goals for the Gunners.
With Arsenal back in domestic action against London rivals Crystal Palace at the Emirates on Sunday, Gunners boss Arteta vowed to keep the goals coming.
Gyokeres claimed, “I’m more hungry now.” You always want to contribute with work rates and other things, but it’s a little special when you also score goals. Therefore, I have a strong desire to do that.
The spirit of the group and the spirit of the group are very special and unique.
When you deliver these performances in victories, it instills confidence in the team. Although the belief must always exist, it does so naturally. We simply want this to continue.
As many clean sheets have Arsenal managed to collect in their three European games so far this season.
In their first 12 games, they have conceded just three goals, just one of which came from open play, to champions Liverpool and Newcastle at home and Manchester City at home.
David Raya, the goalkeeper for Arsenal, said: “I give clean sheets the same credit as goals.
It will make games easier to win if we keep clean sheets. Being extremely strong and not giving away too many chances is really, really important for the entire team.
“The depth of the squad is incredible. Numerous players can play two, three, or four positions, which is a good thing.
The manager has a variety of options when it comes to playing as a striker (versus Atletico), and he is using it to his advantage.
Everyone is in favor of that, and it gives us an extra level in both in training and in games because if we don’t practice, we can lose our seats.
Premier League leaders Arsenal will lead Manchester City by three points heading into this weekend’s group of matches.
Liverpool are a further point in the opposite direction.
With a 3-0 win at St. James’ Park, Newcastle inflicted more Champions League pain on Jose Mourinho’s Benfica with the debut of Harvey Barnes.
As Benfica continue to struggle in Europe’s elite competition this season, Anthony Gordon fired the Magpies in front.
With two composed right-footed finishes, Newcastle were well on the verge of qualifying for the league phase, which was introduced just after the hour mark.
On October 21, 2025, Newcastle United’s English midfielder #10 Anthony Gordon celebrates scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League game between Newcastle United and Benfica at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north of England. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP)
In their opening game, Eddie Howe’s men won two games, including a 4-0 victory over Union Saint-Gilloise, following a defeat to Barcelona in the previous one.
In the Champions League standings, Newcastle moves up above Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Mourinho, who respects his mentor and former Newcastle boss Bobby Robson, who is embodied in a statue at St. James’ Park, admitted to being a “little Magpie” to Portuguese press last month.
Robson used Mourinho as a translator at Sporting Lisbon, Porto, and Barcelona to give him a break while he was coaching.
Robson requested the Portuguese work for him as an assistant manager at Newcastle in 1999, but Mourinho turned down the opportunity to take over as manager following his successful debut at , Benfica.
Mourinho’s Chelsea resumption last month saw the Portuguese giants lose 1-0.
READ ALSO: Champions PSG vs. Leverkusen 7-2 in the Champions League
On October 21, 2025, Newcastle United’s Brazilian midfielder #39 Bruno Guimaraes (R) shoots but falls short in the English Premier League game between Newcastle United and Benfica at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north of England. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP)
Benfica are the only team to have lost three of their three Champions League games this season, but they were left disappointed that they didn’t create more chances in the first half.
Dodi Lukebakio was a constant threat to visitors down the road.
Before Lukebakio’s curling effort from long range crashed off the post, the Belgium winger forced Nick Pope into a brilliant save at his near post.
The hosts, however, made the 32-minute breakthrough.
Jacob Murphy’s low cross was played in by Bruno Guimaraes down the right, and Gordon converted it for his third Champions League goal this season.
When Lewis Miley headed over from a corner completely unmarked, Newcastle should have increased their lead.
Antonio Silva fouled Barnes, who had already sped clear, before firing low and hard into the far corner, who was given the assist for the second goal.
Seven minutes into Newcastle’s Premier League goalscoring woes were put to one side by Gordon’s put-ahead goal. Barnes was followed by another composed finish.
To place 14th in the table, Howe’s team has only seven goals in its eight league games.
However, they could contend for a top-eight place finish in the Champions League to automatically advance to the last 16 after games against Athletic Bilbao, Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen, and PSV before a difficult final-night stopover of reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain.
As both teams finished with 10 men in the Champions League on Tuesday, defending champions Paris Saint-Germain defeated Bayer Leverkusen 7-2 on their return from injury.
Dembele, who had made his first appearance since early September with a hamstring injury, made his debut just three minutes after being substituted for PSG’s sixth.
Willian Pacho, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes, and Vitinha also scored as the visitors played down the slack at Leverkusen’s BayArena while Desire Doue and Vitinha also netted.
On October 21, 2025, Paris Saint-Germain’s French midfielder #14 Desire Doue celebrates scoring the 1-4 goal with his teammates at the BayArena stadium in Leverkusen, western Germany’s BayArena stadium. (FRANCK FIFE/AFP photo)
“We are a team that always aspires to succeed,” said the coach. We want to win everything over once more this year, according to PSG coach Luis Enrique.
“We will have to work hard, but we still have confidence,” he said. This title needs to be reclaimed.
Illia Zabarnyi was sent off for PSG in the 37th minute for a second spot kick of the match, but Aleix Garcia scored both of the hosts’ goals.
Robert Andrich was also dismissed from Leverkusen after he had just slammed his elbow against Doue.
[READ ALSO] [/READ], High-flying Arsenal crush Atletico Madrid As Gyokeres Ends Goal Drought
On October 21, 2025, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) play at the BayArena stadium in Leverkusen, western Germany, France’s French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele instructs Paris Saint-Germain’s #29 Bradley Barcola. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP)
Kasper Hjulmand, the coach for Leverkusen, claimed that his team “lost it in seven minutes before halftime.”
He continued, “We were level, but we wanted too much.” In that seven-minute period, we made too many errors and were too open.
We have the world’s best team at the moment. They are very strong.
PSG have struggled with injuries and inconsistent play this year, but once both teams were reduced to ten men, they won the game.
PSG’s attempt to compete for second place in Europe will face more difficult challenges than Leverkusen’s rebuilding team, which only had six starters who had just signed for the club in the summer.
The French champions displayed both their formidable wealth and the strength needed to overcome setbacks brought on by the breakthrough campaign from the previous year.
Dembele begins with a bench position.
On October 21, 2025, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) play at the BayArena stadium in Leverkusen, western Germany, with Portugal’s #17 Vitinha celebrating scoring his team’s seventh goal with #10 Ousmane Dembele. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP)
The announcement that Dembele and Marquinhos were fit enough to travel to Germany boosted PSG’s preparation for the game.
The pair, who had a crucial role in PSG’s barnstorming treble last season, watched from the bench as PSG took the lead after just seven minutes.
For Pacho to head in from the far post, Mendes crosses over the Leverkusen defense.
With 25 minutes left, Alejandro Grimaldo hit the post with his spot kick, which earned Leverkusen a penalty for a Zabarnyi handball.
When Andrich’s needless foul on Doue on 33 minutes reduced Leverkusen to 10 men, the writing was on the wall.
However, shortly afterward, Zabarnyi’s performance went from bad to nightmare, with Garcia scoring from the spot and seeing red for clumsily downing Christian Kofane.
The French side reacted by scoring three goals in eight minutes to stun the hosts instead of reacting with a tighter red card.
To enter the break 4-1 up and cruising, Doue scored twice on either side of a Kvaratskhelia scorcher.
Five minutes into the second half, Mendes scored to give PSG a start.
PSG had the final word, despite Garcia’s 54-minute long, all-time Leverkusen triumph.
Dembele scored the winning goal from a close angle, and Vitinha finished the game with even more gloss, completing an incredible European night for the defending champions.
