This week saw some sweet victories, heartbreaking defeats, and farewells, especially in football, across the sports world.   ,
The stories revolve around the National Sports Festival in Ogun and the Super Eagles’ team list for the Unity Cup in Europe, where the leagues are at their peak, intercontinental club competitions are nearing their final stages in Africa, and the final phase of the Unity Cup’s final phase in Nigeria.
First 11‘s recap of the major stories that have shaped sports over the past seven days includes these and other important topics.
Man United Suffer Europa Heartbreak
First 11 kickoffs in Europe where Manchester United suffered a heartbreak! The 20-time English champions thought there was a way out after a disappointing campaign: winning the Europa League and making it to the Champions League next year. So they made their way to Spain’s Bilbao on a journey of redemption!
They faced a familiar foe – Tottenham – in the second-rate European club competition. The Red Devils needed the trophy to end the gloomy season’s ghosts, just like their rivals did.   ,
On the night, however, it was Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs who were crowned champions after a 1-0 win, breaking Manchester United’s heart.   ,
With just one game left, Spurs are now 16th in the league, making it their first trophy since winning a League Cup championship in 2008 with a victory in that defeat.   ,
Amorim Defiant Makes Offers to Leave the Union
In the wake of that defeat, Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim made an offer to leave the club if the Premier League side no longer wanted him. Without having a conversation about compensation, the Portuguese said he would leave.  ,  ,
The club will finish in their lowest league position since 1974, which adds to their disastrous season. With just one league game left, United face Aston Villa on Sunday, placing them 16th. But the former Sporting Lisbon boss, who has won just six Premier League games at United, said he still believed in his ability to turn things around at Old Trafford but would walk if he was no longer wanted.
In Turkey, Osimhen Scoops Double
Winners of the Turkish Cup! God is the Greatest ❤️ @GalatasaraySK pic. twitter.com/fyWf1TVBoB
Meanwhile, Tottenham were not the only team that scooped a trophy this past week. Victor Osimhen, a Nigerian, assisted Galatasaray’s Turkish side to claim the Super Lig, the club’s second title in a row, on the first day of the week.   ,
pic.twitter.com/g9ACyymdQG
The Super Eagle also scored a brace in the Turkish Cup match that Galatasaray won on Wednesday.
Osimhen scored a second goal on Sunday to claim the title of Turkish champions after defeating Kayserispor. The Nigerian, on a season-long loan from Napoli, has 25 league goals this season with two matches to go.   ,
Unity Cup Misses Miss Lookman and Osimhen
Eric Chelle, the head coach of the Super Eagles, has named his squad for the Unity Cup, a competition involving four nations that celebrates cultural and football ties, as well as a friendly game against Russia.   ,
However, the team snuck in some well-known names, including Ademola Lookman, the team’s current African Player of the Year, and Osimhen. Instead, Chelle selected 25 international footballers and NPFL (Nigeria Premier League) stars. The Unity Cup is billed to start May 27th and end May 31st, after which the Super Eagles face Russia in a friendly in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.   ,
Super Falcons Are Ready for Cameroon’s Lionesses
In addition to their male counterpart, Super Falcons coach, Justin Madugu, invited 23 players to their double-header games against Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses.   ,
The powerhouses will square off on May 31 in Ikenne-Remo before a second game on June 3rd at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta. The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for Morocco in July, will be a focus of Nigeria’s preparation for the event.   ,
Arsenal and Destiny Are On A Date In The Women’s Champions League
Women’s football is still being discussed! This week saw the UEFA Women’s Champions League final. Spanish giants Barcelona are up against Arsenal. Arsenal reached the final in 2007 with their first victory, while the Catalan giants have won the competition three times and six of the previous seven finals. Arsenal hope to be the sand in the gears of the Lisbon showpiece despite the fact that Barcelona are on the verge of a repeat of the quadruple from the previous season.
French Open To Serve Off Sunday
In the meantime, the French Open will begin on Sunday as players head to Paris for the second Grand Slam of the year. Rafael Nadal, a 14-time champion, will no longer be a familiar face on the courts after his retirement last year.   ,
But top stars such as Iga Swiatek, Jannik Sinner, and Carlos Alcaraz will be among the players battling for honours. The defending men’s singles champion is Alcaraz.
Aruna Quadri’s exit from the ITTF World Championships is disappointing.
The beautiful game
All the emotions as Quadri Aruna defeats Benedikt Duda to end his two-game losing streak and defeat Germany 4-2 in the #ITTFWorlds2025 #TableTennis photo. twitter.com/tJAaPqBIFf
Aruna Quadri of Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri was eliminated from the 2025 ITTF World Championships as preparations for the French Open progress to their best efforts. Hugo Calderano, a Brazilian player, defeated the table tennis legend in Doha’s Lusail Arena’s men’s singles final-16 match. Quadri, 36, was the only African to reach the last 16 in the tournament.
Real Madrid Loss: A Legend
Os quiero mucho pic, Madridistas. twitter.com/q2GHHs6zbN
Luka Modric, a Croatian midfielder, announced his departure from Real Madrid after the Club World Cup this summer.
The Croatian has played nearly 600 games for Real Madrid since joining from Tottenham in 2012, winning the Champions League six times, the Copa del Rey twice, and four La Liga titles among 28 trophies in total.   ,
After a 35 million dollar move to Madrid, Modric struggled at the beginning of his career, but he quickly found his footing and developed into one of the best midfielders in the world. Modric, who became Madrid captain last summer, won the Ballon d’Or in 2018 for his performances with Madrid and also his country, as Croatia finished as runners-up at the World Cup in Russia.
Nigeria wins bronze medal and South Africa wins the U-20 AFCON.
No way at all na him bad pass. Make una use this one hold body. #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 image https://twitter.com/lIzPnesVj4
The Flying Eagles may have wanted to win the bronze medal at the U-20 AFCON, but the age-group team chose to go with the bronze medal. After the game ended 1-1, they prevailed over Egypt as a penalty.   ,
Following a flimsy 1-0 defeat over Morocco, South Africa, who defeated Nigeria in the semi-final, were declared tournament champions.   ,
Golden Eaglets Soar At Gateway Games, Delta Leads Chart
Medal Table for Gateway Games 2024.
With 75 medals, Delta State continues to lead the league as of Friday, May 23rd, 5:30 PM.
Where is your state ranked?
#NationalSportsCommision #NationalSportsFestival #GatewayGames2024 photo twitter.com/FJcUR5ECSi
The Golden Eaglets defeated Ebonyi State 5-0 on Friday to advance to the semifinals of the football competition at the National Sports Festival in Ogun State, Nigeria. At the time of writing this report, Delta State had surpassed Bayelsa to take the title in the first week of the competition.
Source: Channels TV
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