Category sport-news

Departing Ancelotti Has ‘No Problem’ With Real Madrid

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Carlo Ancelotti said on Tuesday he “has no problem” with Real Madrid ahead of his departure from the club at the end of the season to take over the Brazil national team.

The veteran Italian will become Selecao boss on May 26, the day after Madrid’s last La Liga match of the campaign.

The Spanish giants are yet to name a replacement, although Xabi Alonso is a strong favourite to take over after confirming he will leave Bayer Leverkusen.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Striker Awoniyi Rushed To Hospital For Abdominal Surgery

Real Madrid’s Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti gestures as he celebrates his team’s victory during the UEFA Champions League final football match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on May 28, 2022. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

The Brazilian football federation (CBF) announced Ancelotti’s appointment on Monday, before any official confirmation from Madrid regarding Ancelotti’s departure.

“The CBF issued that statement because I’ll be the coach of Brazil from the 26th. Madrid will issue a statement whenever they want, there is no problem,” Ancelotti told reporters on the eve of his team’s match against Real Mallorca.

“I will be the coach of Brazil, which is a challenge, but until then, I’m the coach of Real Madrid and I want to finish in the best possible way.

“I’m focused on the final stretch of this spectacular adventure.”

Ancelotti, who has won 15 trophies including three Champions League titles across two spells at the Santiago Bernabeu, has endured a difficult final season in charge.

Real’s La Liga title defence has faltered with Barcelona on the cusp of the title, while they also lost the Copa del Rey final to their arch rivals and were humbled in the Champions League quarter-finals by Arsenal.

Real Madrid’s Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti and his players celebrate with the trophy after the UEFA Champions League final football match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid, at Wembley stadium, in London, on June 1, 2024. (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP)

“Football, like life, is an adventure that begins and ends,” added the 65-year-old, who also lifted the European Cup twice as AC Milan coach.

“I’ve always kept in mind that this would end. I’ve had a great time… but in everything in life there comes a time when it ends.

“My seriousness and professionalism demand that I finish well here…

“I’ve never had a problem with the club and I never will.”

Madrid’s 4-3 loss to Barcelona on Sunday in El Clasico left them seven points behind Hansi Flick’s side with only three matches remaining.

Barca would secure the title if Madrid fail to defeat Mallorca on Wednesday.

“I’ve had a fantastic time here and I want to continue like this for the last two weeks I have left here,” said Ancelotti when asked about criticism from the press over his team’s performances this season.

“I’ve gotten the most out of myself and the titles speak for themselves.”

Nigerian Striker Awoniyi Rushed To Hospital For Abdominal Surgery

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Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery on an abdominal injury, according to reports on Monday.

The Nigerian international suffered the injury when he collided with a post during Forest’s 2-2 draw against Leicester at the City Ground on Sunday.

Awoniyi had stretched in a failed bid to convert Anthony Elanga’s cross and tried to carry on playing after receiving several minutes of treatment.

The true extent of the injury was only discovered by Forest’s medical staff on Monday, and reports said he was immediately taken for the surgery, which was not believed to be life-threatening.

“The Club can confirm Taiwo Awoniyi has undergone urgent surgery following an abdominal injury sustained during Sunday’s match against Leicester City,” the club said in a statement on their X handle.

“Everyone at Nottingham Forest sends their best wishes to Taiwo. The Club will provide further updates when appropriate.”

READ ALSO: Nigeria’s Flying Eagles Beat Senegal, Soar Into U-20 AFCON Semi-Final

The incident had provoked an angry reaction from Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who stormed on to the pitch and confronted boss Nuno Espirito Santo in a bizarre incident after the final whistle.

Marinakis said he was concerned about Awoniyi’s condition after he was left on despite Nuno consulting with his medical staff during stoppage-time.

It was a disappointing day for Forest, whose Champions League hopes suffered a major blow as a result of the draw with relegated Leicester.

Nuno’s seventh-placed are no longer in charge of their own destiny in their bid to appear in the Champions League for the first time since 1980-81.

They sit one point outside the Premier League’s top five places — which guarantee qualification for the Champions League — with two games left against West Ham and top five rivals Chelsea.

Forest are assured of at least a place in the UEFA Conference League, which will see them play European football for the first time since 1995-96.

Super Eagles Striker Tolu Arokodare Wins Best African Player Prize In Belgium

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Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare has added another feather to his cap, scooping the Ebony Shoe award, a prize that recognises the best player of African descent in the Jupiler Pro League.

Tolu, 24, saw off competition from compatriot and Club Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika; Union Saint-Gilloise’s duo of  Noah Sadiki (DR Congo) and Promise David (Canada), and Genk teammate Zakaria El Ouahdi (Morocco) to land the coveted award.

He got the prize on Monday night at the African Awards 2025 held at the Tangla Hotel in Brussels, Belgium.

READ ALSO: Nigeria’s Flying Eagles Beat Senegal, Soar Into U-20 AFCON Semi-Final

The Nigerian is one of the standout performers in Belgium this campaign, with 20 league goals and six assists under the tutelage of Thorsten Fink.

His impressive form puts him second on the leading goalscorers’ log in the Jupiler League. Tolu also has two goals to his name in the Belgian Cup this season.

He is the 34th winner of the Ebony Shoe prize, and the sixth Nigerian to bag the award. Other Super Eagles players who have won it include Daniel Amokachi (1992, 1994), Victor Ikpeba (1993), Godwin Okpara (1995), Celestine Babayaro (1996), and Paul Onuachu.

Onuachu was the last Nigerian to win it in 2021.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Striker Awoniyi Rushed To Hospital For Abdominal Surgery

Kevin Denkey, Moumou Dagano, Souleymane Oulare, and Onuachu are the other Genk players to get the Ebony Shoe award.

Following the award, his club said the “entire Genk family is extremely proud of this achievement”. The blue-white believe that,” With two match days to go, he still has a chance to become top scorer of the season”.

Lookman On Target As Atalanta Beat Roma To Secure Champions League Spot

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Atalanta qualified for the Champions League on Monday by beating Roma 2-1 and mathematically securing a place in Serie A’s top four.

Ibrahim Sulemana’s strike in the 76th minute moved Atalanta, in third, seven points ahead of fifth-placed Lazio with two matches remaining in the season.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s team had taken an early lead through Ademola Lookman only for Atalanta old boy Bryan Cristante to head Roma level in the 32nd minute.

READ ALSO: Carlo Ancelotti To Take Over As Brazil Coach

But Sulemana ended Roma’s long unbeaten run at 19 matches and left Claudio Ranieri’s side one point behind Lazio and Juventus, who sit fourth.

Roma can still snatch a spot in Europe’s top club competition but host in-form AC Milan next weekend while Juve welcome Udinese.

Reaching the Champions League would be a huge triumph for Ranieri as Roma looked like relegation candidates when he came out of retirement in November to take charge of his boyhood club for the third time.

Gasperini has been tipped to take over Ranieri after nine hugely successful years in the Atalanta dugout, winning the Europa League last season.

UPDATED: Nigeria’s Flying Eagles Beat Senegal, Soar Into U-20 AFCON Semi-Final

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The Flying Eagles have advanced to the semi-final of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), beating defending champions Senegal 3-1 on penalties.

Monday’s match ended barren in normal and extra-time, pushing the match to the spotkicks, where Nigeria emerged 3-1 winners. 

That victory earned Nigeria a spot in the U-20 World Cup, billed for Chile later in the year.

Coach Aliyu Zubair’s boys could not break the Young Lions of Teranga’s defence in a feisty game at the Suez Canal Stadium in Egypt.

The Flying Eagles were undefeated in the group stages, earning five points.
But many were unconvinced by the side’s showing, especially after the draw with already-eliminated Kenya.

As the game unfolded on Monday, the West African giants failed to convert their chances. The extra time also did not result in a goal.

But in the penalty shootout, Coach Aliyu Zubair’s boys maintained their cool as Precious Benjamin, Emmanuel Chukwu, and Israel Ayuma scored their spot kicks.

Goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt was the hero after saving two penalties.
Senegal failed to score their spotkicks as Pierre Dorival’s effort was saved, the same as Mame Mor Faye’s strike.

Ousmane Konaté also saw his penalty come off the crossbar.

READ ALSO: Carlo Ancelotti To Take Over As Brazil Coach

Although Seydi Diouck scored his kick, it was a little too late for the Senegalese.

With the result, the Flying Eagles soared closer to a record-extending eight U-20 AFCON crown.

An excited Coach Zubairu was full of praise for his boys for beating the defending champions despite the pressure that came with the match.

“We prepared for all scenarios, including penalties. I’m proud of the boys for executing under pressure,” he said.

Osaka knocked Out Of Italian Open As Fans Await Sinner

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Naomi Osaka was eliminated from the Italian Open on Monday after being beaten by Peyton Stearns 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4) as her struggles for form at the top level continued.

In the quarter-finals, Stearns will face either Danielle Collins, who knocked out reigning champion Iga Swiatek, or Elina Svitolina after coming through an attritional match which lasted the best part of three hours on a baking centre court.

Italian acrobatic patrol Frecce Tricolori flies on the stadium during the women’s single match between USA’s Peyton Stearns and Japan’s Naomi Osaka of WTA Rome Open tennis tournament at Foro Italico in Rome on May 12, 2025. (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO / AFP)

Osaka is another big name that American Stearns has beaten in Rome after also knocking out fifth seed Madison Keys in the previous round.

Former world number one Osaka has looked a long way from the player who has won four Grand Slams since returning last year from a 15-month break from tennis for the birth of her daughter.

Her comeback was also hampered by an abdominal injury that forced her out of the Australian Open, after which early exits at Indian Wells and Madrid highlighted how far she was from her best.

Osaka warmed up for Rome by winning a minor event in Saint Malo in France earlier this month.

But she has failed to get past the last 16 of a tournament higher than the WTA 125 series since losing the Auckland final back in January.

Later, Jannik Sinner continues his bid for a first Rome title against lucky loser Jesper de Jong who will come up against not just the world number one but also a partisan crowd.

No Italian has won the men’s Rome title since Adriano Panatta in 1976, and Monday’s match will be seen as another warm-up as Sinner tries to find top form ahead of the French Open which starts later this month.

Sinner’s compatriot Jasmine Paolini cruised past Jelena Ostapenko and into the women’s quarter-finals, easing past her Latvian opponent in straight sets 7-5, 6-2.