This week has indeed been dramatic in the sporting world on both the local and international scene. Sporting Tribune brings thee biggest stories in sports this week.
Super Eagles’ head coach, Éric Chelle named his final list of 23 players for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Sporting Tribune reports that defenders Bruno Onyemaechi and Bright Osayi-Samuel, midfielders Raphael Onyedika and Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, and forwards Samuel Chukwueze and Sadiq Umar also made the list.
Czech Republic-based defender, Igoh Ogbu, makes the final cut, alongside home-based midfielder Papa Daniel Mustapha and red-hot Belgium-based forward, Tolu Arokodare.
The three-time African champions, will confront group C leaders, Rwanda, in Kigali on Friday, 21st March before taking on Zimbabwe’s Warriors at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo four days later.
Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez had a penalty dramatically ruled out in the shootout as Real Madrid edged out their city rivals to reach the quarter-finals.
Alvarez thought he had scored to level things for Atleti in the penalty shootout, but a VAR review suggested the Argentine international committed a double kick that marked his kick missed, leading to debates among fans, coaches, and pundits.
That prompted UEFA to consider reviewing the rules for penalties.
ALSO READ: Morocco 2025: Flamingos defeat Bantwana to reach final round of qualifying series
Liverpool’s Champions League ambitions ended after they lost on penalties to an outstanding Paris St-Germain side after a night of drama at Anfield.
PSG, needing to claw back a 1-0 deficit from the first leg at home, demonstrated how they have matured under coach Luis Enrique as they knocked out a Liverpool side touted as favourites to win the tournament.
Liverpool mounted sustained pressure during the game but struggled to break down PSG’s resilient rearguard, although it took a fine clawing save from Donnarumma to keep out Luis Diaz’s header, while substitute Jarell Quansah struck the post and Dominik Szoboszlai had an effort ruled out for offside.
PSG were by far the better side in extra time, with Alisson making a magnificent save from Dembele before Liverpool’s fate was sealed on penalties.
Manchester United head coach, Ruben Amorim described Bruno Fernandes as the ‘perfect captain’ after his hat-trick in United’s 4-1 Europa League victory against Real Sociedad at Old Trafford.
Fernandes’ goals (15) and assists (13) total of 28 in all competitions this season is the third highest among Premier League players. Only Erling Haaland (32) and Mohamed Salah (54) have more.
Amorim said, “When we need it, he is always there. He can bring the ball forward. He can score goals.
“He is a perfect captain for our team and we need to help him win titles.”
Manchester United co-owner, Jim Ratcliffe has said some players are “not good enough” and are “overpaid”.
Ratcliffe, a lifelong Manchester United fan, spent £1.3bn for a 28.94% stake in the club in a deal which saw Ineos take control of football operations.
In an interview, Ratcliffe addressed the side’s recent struggles on the pitch and lamented the fact the club still had payments owed on players signed before he took control, citing what he said was a £17m payment still to be made for Sancho this summer.
He said, “If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn’t buy, we’re buying Antony, we’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying Onana, we’re buying Hojlund, we’re buying Sancho. These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out.
“For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we’re paying £17m to buy him in the summer.
“It takes time for us to move away from the past into a new place in the future.”
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr compared Stephen Curry to a “ballerina” after he became the first player to reach 4,000 three-pointers.
Curry, who already held the record for most career three-pointers, required just two more to hit the milestone figure when he stepped on to court to face the Sacramento Kings.
The American, 37, achieved the feat in the third quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Kerr said, “It’s just such an obscene number. It’s hard to even comprehend and who knows, maybe it’ll be broken someday.
“It’s beyond the numbers. It’s the fluidity and the grace. Yes, it’s the audacity [to take some of the Curry threes], but it’s also the emotion and the beauty of it all.
“It’s mesmerizing. You see his movement on the floor. He’s like a ballerina out there. You’re not just watching sports, you’re watching art.”
Curry became the all-time leading scorer for three-pointers in 2021 when he surpassed Ray Allen’s record of 2,973 at Madison Square Garden.
Nigeria’s candidate, Amaju Melvin Pinnick failed to retain his FIFA Council seat, losing by a single vote at the poll that took place as part of the 14th CAF Extraordinary Congress in Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday.
The former NFF President scored 28 votes, only one short of both Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania and Souleman Hassan Waberi of Djibouti, who each scored 29 votes to make it to the exalted panel.
Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa swept 49 votes, with Egypt’s Hany Abou Rida and Niger Republic’s Djibrilla Hima Hamidou netting 35 votes each.
Organisers of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) are projecting no fewer than 3,000 bed spaces for athletes and coaches as well as over 2000 hotel accommodations for administrators, organisers, and very important guests.
This number excludes the expected influx of local and international media, scouts, sports enthusiasts, and tourists.
Earlier, Chairman of the Scouting and Mentorship Sub-Committee of the Niger Delta Sports Festival, Godwin Enakhena reiterated the committee’s resolve to harness the best of talents discovered during the Festival.
According to him, “We won’t compromise standards in getting the next generation of athletes during the NDSF. It’s not all about football, but all sports with the potential to put Nigeria at the top by winning medals.”
He also disclosed that the committee has assembled the best scouts and coaches to help identify, nurture and expose young talents from the Niger Delta region.
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