Sports
Pep Focuses on Champions League Glory with City
With Arsenal FC having handed Manchester City the initiative in the race for the English Premiership League (EPL) title, City’s coach, Pep Guardiola is looking to cement his glorious reign, which dates back to the 2016/2017 season with European glory.
City go into Wednesday’s semifinal second leg clash with Real Madrid with the tie delicately poised at 1-1. Pep and his side are in the hunt for the treble having booked a date for the English FA cup final with city rivals Manchester United, as well.
“We arrive really good for the fact we are in the FA Cup final, one game away to win the Premier League and semi-final of the Champions League, but at the same time we have to play much better than the Madrid (away) game,” Guardiola pointed out.
Success on these fronts would see City become just the second side ever to win the treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in the same season.
The Cityzens, as the City fans are called are exuding optimism because the club require just a win from their three outstanding EPL games to guarantee a fifth trophy in six seasons.
Football buffs around the world are tipping the Guardiola tutored side to revenge the semifinal loss to Real Madrid in last season’s UCL and also consider City better placed to defeat Inter Milan, who beat city rival AC Milan to book a place in this season’s UCL final, billed for Istanbul.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich’s coach is sharing the optimism of the fans as could be seen when he spoke to the media on Tuesday, ahead of the second leg clash with Real Madrid.
He said, “My legacy, our legacy is exceptional already.
“We are not stupid (not) to know how important is tomorrow’s game. It’s one of the most important since we are together here.
“We cannot deny that, for the competition, for the rival, for many things. I said to the players ‘live it like a huge opportunity, enjoy the moment’.
“How fortunate we are. We are incredibly lucky to be here. It’s in our hands, it depends on us, we don’t have to do something exceptional, just be ourselves and win one game to reach a final.”
Part of the factors counting in their favour is that City are yet to lose a Champions League at home in five years and have won all 14 games on home soil in 2023.
“It’s a dream come true to be here,” added Guardiola, who twice won the competition as Barcelona coach.
Norway pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday night, defeating five-time champions Brazil 2-1 to book a place in the quarter-finals.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland inspired the Scandinavian side with a brilliant second-half brace at MetLife Stadium, ending Brazil’s hopes of winning a record-extending sixth World Cup title.
After a tightly contested encounter, Haaland broke the deadlock in the 79th minute with a powerful header to give Norway the lead.
SEE ALSO: Trump Reacts as FIFA Clears Balogun to Face Belgium in World Cup Clash
Brazil’s hopes of a comeback were dashed in the closing moments when Haaland struck again in the 90th minute, sealing a famous victory for Norway and sending them into the last eight of the tournament.
The result marks one of the competition’s biggest surprises, with Norway eliminating one of the pre-tournament favourites to continue their impressive World Cup campaign.
Norway will now turn their attention to the quarter-finals, while Brazil bow out of the tournament with their quest for a sixth World Cup crown brought to an abrupt end.
United States President Donald Trump has welcomed FIFA’s decision to suspend the red card issued to USA striker Folarin Balogun, clearing the forward to feature in the country’s crucial Round of 16 clash against Belgium at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
FIFA announced the decision on Sunday, overturning the suspension that would have ruled Balogun out of Monday’s knockout encounter after he was sent off during the USA’s match against Bosnia last week.
SEE MORE: Fresh Report Warns Nigeria May Miss Another World Cup If Current NFF Stays
The development comes as a major boost for the United States, with Balogun expected to play a key role in the team’s bid to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
Reacting shortly after FIFA’s announcement, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to praise the governing body for what he described as the right decision.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote.
Balogun’s availability is expected to strengthen the American attack against Belgium in one of the standout fixtures of the World Cup Round of 16.
The striker has been a key figure for the USA throughout the tournament, and his return provides a timely boost as the team prepares for one of its toughest tests in the competition.
A new report has raised concerns over the future of Nigerian football, warning that the country could miss another FIFA World Cup unless significant changes are made to the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The report, released as the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues in the United States, Canada and Mexico, argues that Nigeria’s continued absence from football’s biggest tournament reflects deep-rooted administrative problems rather than a shortage of football talent.
SEE MORE: GTI Commends NSC, NFF for Commitment to NPFL Transformation
According to the report, failing to qualify for the World Cup has hurt the international profile of Nigerian players and slowed the growth of the domestic game.
It says the country’s football potential will remain underutilised unless the federation undergoes far-reaching reforms.
The report also notes that several football stakeholders and respected sporting figures have repeatedly called for the NFF to be restructured and insulated from political influence.
They believe only a transparent and professionally managed federation can restore confidence in Nigerian football.
It identifies a number of long-standing issues, including alleged financial mismanagement, delayed payment of players’ bonuses, inconsistent coaching appointments and poor administrative planning, as factors that have contributed to the Super Eagles’ recent struggles on the international stage.
Beyond the national team’s disappointing results, the report argues that years of weak governance have affected player welfare and weakened youth football development, limiting Nigeria’s ability to compete consistently with the world’s top football nations.
The report concludes that meaningful leadership reforms within the NFF are essential if Nigeria hopes to reclaim its place at future FIFA World Cup tournaments and restore the country’s reputation as one of Africa’s football powerhouses.
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