Al Nassr’s Saudi team, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, faced Japan’s Yokohama F-Marinos in the Asian Champions League quarter-final on Monday.
Ronaldo, a veteran former Real Madrid and Manchester United player, has won the UEFA Champions League five times but has never triumphed in Asia’s elite club competition.
Next month, Steve Holland, formerly Gareth Southgate’s assistant with England, will lead Al Nassr’s efforts against a Yokohama side led by the 40-year-old Portuguese.
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Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr play in the Saudi Pro League football game on January 26, 2025 at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh. (Fayez NURELDINE/AFP)
The tournament’s quarter-final, semi-final, and final, which have been renamed the Champions League Elite, will all take place over one leg in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The final eight games between Qatar’s Al Sadd and Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale will pit Al Nassr or Yokohama against Al Nassr.
Al Hilal, a four-time Asian champion, will face Gwangju FC from South Korea in the quarter-finals.
In the semi-finals, the winner will face Buriram United from Thailand or Al Ahli from Saudi Arabia, both of whom are from Saudi Arabia.
April 25 through April 27 is the final day of each of the four quarter-finals.
On April 29 and 30, the semi-finals will take place. May 3 will be the final.
Before Wednesday’s two 2026 World Cup qualifying matchdays in Africa, underperforming Nigeria and underprivileged Sudan are in the spotlight.
A Nigerian team with the past two African Footballers of the Year Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, who are seeded to win Group C and automatically qualify, sits fifth in a six-team division.
The Super Eagles met Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and South Africa in a three-year qualifying match before falling to Benin in search of their seventh World Cup appearance.
Nigeria has three coaches, including local Finidi George, Augustine Eguavoen, and Eric Chelle, since it finished 2024 Africa Cup of Nations runners-up to Ivory Coast.
Ivory Coast-born Chelle, who was fired by Mali after a subpar World Cup campaign, admits that starting with Zimbabwe and Rwanda at home this month, he will face a “huge challenge.”
The coach, who is bolstered by top-notch forwards Osimhen and Lookman, says that “football is about scoring goals, and I favor an attacking style.”
In Benghazi, Sudan, who is seeded fifth in Group B, will face Senegal, who has qualified for the World Cup three times, in a top-of-the-table match for the first time.
Because Sudan has been at war since April 2023, the match is in Libya. More than 12 million people have been displaced as a result of the conflict, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
READ MORE: [2026WCQ] Osimhen, Others Arrive Super Eagles Camp Ahead Crunch Rwanda Game
AFRICAN WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
On December 13, 2024, the FIFA World Cup trophy is displayed at the FIFA Headquarters in Zurich ahead of the draw for the 2026 Fifa World Cup European qualifiers. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI/AFP)
As the halfway point is reached by the African qualifying schedule, AFP Sport highlights five matchday five matches:
Ethiopia vs. Egypt
Ethiopia must also deal with recent Manchester City signing Omar Marmoush, as if trying to contain Egyptian legends Mohamed Salah and Mahmoud Trezeguet is not enough.
With five goals each, Salah and Trezeguet lead African qualifying by four points, with each scoring all but one of the Pharaohs’ eleven goals.
Ethiopia, which is ranked 113 places below Egypt, will host this game at home because Morocco is not a FIFA-approved stadium.
Senegal vs. Sudan
As they try to retake control of Senegal by two points, Ghana-born coach Kwesi Appiah has instructed his squad to imagine themselves to be world leaders.
“Believe in yourself to be as good as the Senegalese stars are.” You are fighting for your families and your country, he told them, “because war is raging in your homeland.”
Senegal can call on 32-year-old Sadio Mane, who has won the two-time African Footballers of the Year, but will miss out on the return of Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson due to a hamstring injury.
Nigeria vs. Rwanda
Despite being 80 places above Rwanda, Nigeria shouldn’t underestimate the Wasps in light of what transpired during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying last year.
Innocent Nshuti and Jimmy Mutsinzi scored within three minutes of each other in the second half of Rwanda’s 0-0 draw in Kigali before blowing it to 2-1 in Uyo.
Not just Chelle, but also a brand-new coach will be present. Instead of signing Algerian Adel Amrouche, Rwanda instead signed German Torsten Spittler’s one-year contract.
Gambia vs. Kenya
Benni McCarthy, a former South African international who was a member of the Manchester United coaching staff under the managership of Erik ten Hag, makes his World Cup debut as Kenya coach.
The 47-year-old says that we can surprise a lot of people by having the right mindset, dedication, and a willingness to learn and give everything the players have,” with the right mindset, dedication, and dedication from the players.
Because Group F champions from Africa, Ivory Coast, are expected to win, Kenya needs victories away from Gambia and Gabon to have a good chance of placing second and making it to the play-offs.
Ghana vs. Chad
Ghana coach Otto Addo can’t afford any more setbacks after failing to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and sending the world’s top team to shock Group I leaders Comoros.
Chad are pointless, have only scored once, and some stars are boycotting this game due to “poor organization,” so coach Kevin Nicaise resigned in favor of Qatari Tahir Zakaria Gardia.
So it’s difficult to imagine Ghana, which has been helped by Premier League stars Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, and Antoine Semenyo, failing to score three points before a difficult match against Madagascar.
The first players to arrive in Nigeria’s camp for the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier against Rwanda were super strikers Victor Osimhen, Bruno Onyemaechi, Papa Daniel Mustapha, and Kayode Bankole.
The team’s social media handles for a video post were visible at the Kigali International Airport in the country’s capital.
Before the game’s clash on Friday, team officials Eric Chelle and other coaches welcomed the players for camping.
The caption to the social media post read, “Early arrival of Super Eagles officials and four players: Victor Osimhen, Bruno Onyemaechi, Papa Daniel Mustapha, and Kayode Bankole,” read in the early hours of Monday.
Osimhen, who has been excellent this season, is expected to lead Nigeria’s attack against Rwanda.
[WCQ] Chelle Drops Musa, Iheanacho, and List 23 For Rwanda, Zimbabwe
Victor Osimhen, Bruno Onyemaechi, Papa Daniel Mustapha, and Kayode Bankole, four Super Eagles officials and players, arrive early in the #SoarSuperEagles #CampUpdate photo. twitter.com/ttvvWrDu73
Former Mali coach Chelle Images courtesy of Sodiq Adelakun on Channels TV.
With just three points from their final four games, Nigeria ranks fourth among its five-team members.
Chelle, the Super Eagles coach’ first game, had listed 23 players for the match along with another Group C World Cup qualifier scheduled for Nigeria on Tuesday for him.
For the clash, more players are expected to storm the team’s training base.
With just three points from four games, the Super Eagles are fourth in the five-team group. They are four points behind Rwanda’s leaders and have yet to win a game, which could mean they lose out on the second World Cup in a row.
With a comfortable victory at a mutely unlikely Leicester, United extended their unbeaten streak to seven games in open play.
United scored their first goal in 28 minutes with Rasmus Hojlund’s end to a 21-game goal drought.
Alejandro Garnacho’s first goal since November was delayed due to an early offside flag for the Argentine.
On March 16, 2025, during Leicester City’s and Manchester United’s English Premier League clash at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England, Portuguese defender #20 Diogo Dalot (L) turns away from Leicester City’s #10 Stephy Mavididi (R). (Photo by Adrian Dennis/AFP)
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However, Mads Hermansen should have prevented her from missing out on a quick shot that ensured Garnacho was not denied.
In the two meetings where United’s current manager Ruud van Nistelrooy was in charge of the Red Devils, United have won all four of their previous matches against Leicester.
The King Power has not yet had the same impact on the Dutchman.
On March 16, 2025, Manchester United’s Portuguese defender #20 Diogo Dalot (C) and teammates celebrate at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England, following the English Premier League game between Leicester City and Manchester United. The game was 3-0 for Manchester United. (Photo by Adrian Dennis/AFP)
Leicester are now nine points adrift of safety after losing 13 of their previous 14 league games.
Van Nistelrooy’s men also set a disappointing precedent by becoming the first Premier League team to play seven games away from home without scoring.
With a 2-1 win over Liverpool in the League Cup final on Sunday, Dan Burn and Alexander Isak shook off a 56-year trophy drought in stunning fashion.
The runaway Premier League leaders were shocked when Eddie Howe’s side’s outstanding performance made history at Wembley.
After the break, Isak’s 27th goal, his 27th goal in all competitions, doubled Newcastle’s lead.
In the final seconds, Federico Chiesa restored a lead, but Newcastle still managed to win their first major silverware since the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969.
The Europa League’s success is a remnant of a bygone era, but Newcastle fans’ memories of this long-awaited triumph will be forever preserved. They turned one half of Wembley into a sea of black and white with their exuberant celebrations.
It was Newcastle’s first significant domestic prize since the 1955 FA Cup.
30 different English teams have won silverware since the Magpies lifted the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, and Liverpool has since won 38 major prizes.
However, Howe’s team returned to Wembley and finally set the record straight after losing to Manchester United in the 2023 League Cup final.
Since their last trophy, Newcastle had endured five relegations to the second tier, with club legends like Alan Shearer, Paul Gascoigne, and Malcolm MacDonald not taking home any silverware during that time.
Newcastle have endured decades of underachievement and self-inflicted wounds that have rendered them a laughing stock for a long period of time despite a brief period when Kevin Keegan’s self-styled “entertainers” challenged for the title in the 1990s.
When a Saudi-backed consortium acquired unpopular owner Mike Ashley and quickly appointed Howe as their manager in 2021, all of that changed.
Newcastle have now become silverware winners as a result of Howe’s astute leadership and the Saudi financial backing.
Just days after their Champions League penalty shootout defeat against Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool suffered yet another agonizing defeat.
However, despite failing to win their first trophy under manager Arne Slot, Liverpool are only 12 points clear of the top of the Premier League, just one point away from a record-equal 20th English title.
History for Newcastle
Liverpool has won their 17 games thus far in 2015, 23 points clear of sixth-placed Newcastle in the league.
However, Howe’s men were not interested in being coerced into failings in the past.
Before kick-off, Newcastle supporters displayed a banner urging their team to “write your name in the history books.”
While Liverpool were sluggish and sloppy in possession, they rose to the challenge in spectacular fashion, snapping into tackles and counterattacking with purpose.
When Burn headed in the direction of the Brazil midfielder in a brilliant opportunity, Bruno Guimaraes nodded at Caoimhin Kelleher from close range to applaud Newcastle’s innovative start.
When Joelinton returned from midfield to stop Jarell Quansah in his tracks and celebrated with a fist-pumpping roar, Newcastle’s desire and drive were immediately apparent.
Liverpool failed to take the warning as the towering centre-back gave Newcastle the lead in the 45th minute despite nearly being outgunned by Burn’s aerial prowess once more.
With only the diminutive Alex Mac Allister nearby and he was largely unmarked, Burn was allowed to rise unchallenged and hit a powerful header into the far corner from 12 yards.
The journeyman centre-back, who received his first England call-up on Friday, had a fantastic week, with Burn’s goal, Newcastle’s first in a cup final since 1976.
The lethargic Reds couldn’t help but be alarmed when Isak put Newcastle into dreamland after 52 minutes, with Mohamed Salah completely anonymous as Liverpool talisman.
Isak drilled a superb first-time finish past Kelleher from 10 yards after Jacob Murphy met Tino Livramento’s cross with a header that found him.
Chiesa’s stoppage-time strike caused a frightful conclusion, but good things do happen when you wait.
And as a party that has been running for more than 50 years began to take shape all over Wembley, Newcastle fans and players celebrated ferociously.
Fulham beat Tottenham 2-0 on Sunday to end their quest for a spot in the Champions League next season after a toothless 1-0 defeat at Arsenal.
The only goal of the mediocre match at the Emirates came from Mikel Merino, who put Arsenal in command of the standings at the Emirates.
Due to illness, Chelsea meekly gave in to a crushing defeat in an effort to finish in the top four. They had to make up for the absence of Cole Palmer.
Arsenal’s Norwegian midfielder #08 Martin Odegaard (R) and Chelsea’s Ecuadorian midfielder #25 Moises Caicedo (C) square off against each other in the English Premier League game at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 16, 2025. (Photo by AFP’s BENJAMIN CREMEL)
The Blues are currently fourth, but they have five rivals in place of Enzo Maresca’s team, including Manchester City, fifth, and Aston Villa, ninth.
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Since Kai Havertz’s injury forced him to play a makeshift centre-forward role, Arsenal have struggled to score goals.
On 20 minutes, the Spanish international looped a header past Martin Odegaard’s delivery into the far post to claim the match winner.
Leandro Trossard (L) and Reece James (R) square off against Chelsea’s English defender during the English Premier League game between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 16, 2025. (Photo by Benjamin Cremel / AFP)
When David Raya fouled Marc Cucurella’s shot and it fell to the side, Chelsea barely faced threat, but they were nearly given a chance to return the favor.
Robert Sanchez’s excellent stop at the other end saw Merino’s best effort of the second half double Arsenal’s lead.
However, the game ended badly with little goalmouth action, as a weak performance by the Chelsea supporters won’t help at all.
Spurs’ European hangover,  
Tottenham won the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday against AZ Alkmaar, continuing their season without losing to a number of other Europeans who had hangovers at Craven Cottage.
As they move up to eighth place, four points off the top four, and three outside the top five, Marco Silva’s men are now in the Champions League race after winning the match against Fulham.
On March 16, 2025, during Fulham’s match against Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League, Andreas Pereira’s #18 Brazilian midfielder Andreas Pereira kicks off at Craven Cottage in London. (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP)
Thanks to English teams’ outstanding performances in European competitions, a top-five finish almost certainly will help them place in Europe’s top club competition next season.
However, Spurs have struggled to carry the weight of their Premier League form on Thursday nights.
In the 10 league games that followed a midweek Europa League game, Ange Postecoglou’s team have only won three times.
On March 16, 2025, Fulham’s Italian-born Nigerian defender #03 Calvin Bassey (L) and Fulham’s Brazilian striker #09 Rodrigo Muniz celebrate at the conclusion of the English Premier League game between Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur at Craven Cottage in London. Tottenham Hotspur defeat Fulham 2 – 0. (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP)
Despite being the better team throughout, Fulham waited until 78 minutes when Andreas Pereira’s pass fired home from Rodrigo Muniz.
In the end, Ryan Sessegnon clinched a brilliant second against his former club.
When Ruben Amorim’s team travels to shady Leicester later on Sunday, Manchester United will be in action.
