Sports
Nottingham Trash Brighton 7-0 At City Ground
Nottingham Forest produced a breathtaking performance at the City Ground on Saturday, demolishing Brighton 7-0 to bolster their push for a Champions League spot.
Chris Wood was the star of the show, netting a sensational hat-trick as Forest bounced back in style from last week’s 5-0 drubbing at Bournemouth.
Morgan Gibbs-White, Neco Williams, and Jota Silva also found the net, while an early own goal from Brighton captain Lewis Dunk set the tone for a disastrous afternoon for the Seagulls.
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The emphatic victory puts Forest level on points with second-placed Arsenal and seven points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea, firmly in contention for a return to European football.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler named an ultra-attacking lineup with five forwards in an attempt to unsettle the hosts.
However, his gamble backfired spectacularly as Forest tore through the visitors with ruthless efficiency.
The onslaught began in the 12th minute when Dunk inadvertently diverted Gibbs-White’s low cross into his own net. Just moments later, Gibbs-White doubled the lead with a powerful header from an Anthony Elanga corner.
Elanga, who was a constant menace down the right flank, then set up Wood for his first of the game with a pinpoint cross, allowing the New Zealander to head home his 15th league goal of the season—a new personal best.
Forest showed no signs of slowing down after the break. Elanga once again turned provider, cutting the ball back for Wood to tap in his second.
The striker then completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Gibbs-White was dragged down in the box by Tariq Lamptey.
With three goals on the day, Wood is now closing in on Stan Collymore’s record of 24 goals for Forest in a single Premier League season.
Brighton’s misery was compounded in the dying moments when Neco Williams smashed in from close range before Jota Silva pounced on a wayward pass from goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to round off the scoring.
The victory marks Forest’s 10th win in 12 league matches, a stunning turnaround under Nuno Espirito Santo.
With fifth place likely to secure Champions League football due to England’s strong performances in Europe, Forest’s dream of returning to continental competition for the first time since 1996 is becoming more of a reality.
Meanwhile, Brighton’s European ambitions suffered a severe setback.
Hurzeler’s side has now won just two of their last 11 league games, and their defensive frailties were ruthlessly exposed in a humbling defeat.
In the bid to help competing teams strengthen, the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) has opened the mid-season transfer window, in sync with the mid-season break.
The transfer window is open until March 11, 2025, giving clubs time to finalize their signings as the mid-season break officially ends on March 18, with the second stanza kicking off the next day.
However, the second stanza of the 2024/2025 NWFL Premiership season is set to resume on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
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Biztellers reports that the NWFL Premiership embarked on a break following the enterprising Matchday Seven encounters on February 26, 2025, with a record-highest 27 goals scored, including three hat-tricks across various centres.
On the mid-season transfer window, NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi emphasized its importance for clubs looking to strengthen their squads.
In her words, “This transfer window allows clubs to reinforce their teams and address key areas before the second stanza begins. We expect clubs to make strategic moves that will enhance the competition in the league.”
Remo Stars Ladies lead Group A with 19 points, closely followed by title holders Edo Queens with 17 points, while Abia Angels and Nasarawa Amazons are also in contention.
Rivers Angels lead Group B tied with Bayelsa Queens on 17 points, with Delta Queens, Naija Ratels, and FC Robo Queens trailing behind.
At the end of the season, the top teams will qualify for the NWFL Premiership Super 6 Championship, where they will battle for the league title.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons have maintained their status as Africa’s top-ranked women’s football team in the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings, released on Thursday, March 6, 2025.
Despite strong competition from other African teams, the Falcons remain 36th in the world, solidifying their dominance on the continent.
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Their closest African rivals include South Africa, Morocco, Zambia, and Ghana, who complete the top five teams in the region.
On the global stage, the United States leads the rankings, followed by Spain, Germany, England, and Japan.
Other teams making up the top 10 are Sweden, Canada, Brazil, Korea DPR, and the Netherlands.
The Super Falcons’ strong showing at recent international tournaments, including the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, has helped them maintain their position.
Enugu Rangers International FC’s, dean of defence, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, has been given the nod by Super Eagles head coach, Franco-Malian, Eric Chelle to join the Super Eagles Camp.
The defense stalwart of the defending Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, a strong member of the CHAN team, has been picked to join in defending the green-white-green in the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
Biztellers reports that Onyebuchi is amongst the 39-man provisional list released by the NFF, Tuesday.
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The list also has NPFL stars like goalkeeper, Kayode Bankole, Papa Daniel Mustapha, and skipper, Ahmed Musa (O.O.N).
The tough tackling defense ace who has featured twenty-eight times in all competitions for the ‘Flying Antelopes’ this season has also endeared himself to the Home Based Super Eagles team handlers with some sterling performances in the qualifiers for the next CAF TotalEnergies African Nations Championship KE-TZ-UG 2024 where Nigeria has been grouped with the likes of Senegal, Congo and Sudan.
The General Manager/CEO of Rangers, Amobi Ezeaku, said, “This is simply a reward for hard work. Onyebuchi has displayed a high sense of professionalism since joining us at Rangers with a lot of dedicated performances which I believe got the attention of the national team selectors and I believe he will deliver the goods at the highest stage. I strongly believe that he is the next big thing to happen in our football.”
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February 19, 2025 at 12:54 am
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