Author: Gabby

Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, delivered a commanding performance against Guinea in the first leg of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. The match, held in Abidjan on Saturday, ended with a resounding 5-0 victory for the visitors.

Team captain Harmony Chidi was the star of the show, netting a hat-trick that put the Flamingos in a dominant position. The scoring began early, with Chidi finding the back of the net in the very first minute. She doubled the lead just 12 minutes later, showcasing her clinical finishing.

Oluwakemi Adegbuyi added the third goal in the 37th minute, and Chidi completed her hat-trick five minutes before halftime. The relentless attack continued into the second half, with Mary Dunstan scoring the fifth goal in the 56th minute to seal the emphatic win.

The return leg is scheduled for next Saturday at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, where the Flamingos will look to secure their place in the next round.

Former England international Michael Owen has identified the only two Premier League sides capable of mounting a serious title challenge against Arsenal in the upcoming campaign. The Gunners have already secured this season’s championship and will face Crystal Palace in their final match on Sunday.

Speaking to Metro UK, Owen stated: “I believe Arsenal’s toughest competition next season will come exclusively from Manchester.” He elaborated that Manchester City will remain formidable even if manager Pep Guardiola departs, noting they pushed Arsenal closely this term and clinched two domestic cups. “They’ll return even stronger,” Owen added.

The ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid star also tipped Manchester United as a genuine contender under Michael Carrick. “Look at their form since Carrick took over—they’re definitely in the title conversation,” Owen said. However, he dismissed Liverpool’s chances for now, concluding: “Liverpool aren’t quite there yet.”

Bayern Munich’s honorary president Uli Hoeness has fired a warning to Jose Mourinho regarding a potential move for winger Michael Olise. Hoeness made it clear that the French international is not for sale, even if Mourinho keeps a close watch on him.

Mourinho, who is set to take over as Real Madrid’s head coach, has been linked with a big-name signing to bolster his attacking options alongside Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. Speculation grew after Mourinho was spotted attending the DFB Pokal final between Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart on Saturday night.

When questioned about Mourinho’s interest in Olise, Hoeness responded firmly: “Jose Mourinho is in the stadium tonight to keep an eye on Michael Olise for Real Madrid? He can keep five eyes on him, he still won’t get him.”

The statement, relayed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, leaves no doubt that Bayern Munich has no intention of parting with the talented winger. Olise has been a key performer for the Bavarians, and the club values him highly.

Manchester City have kicked off negotiations to secure the services of Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, with the aim of bolstering the squad for their incoming manager Enzo Maresca. According to reports from Sky Germany, the Premier League champions have identified the Argentine World Cup winner as their top summer transfer target.

Initial discussions have already taken place behind closed doors, and Maresca—who is set to replace Pep Guardiola at the helm—is said to be particularly eager to reunite with Fernandez. The Italian tactician previously worked with the midfielder during his stint at Chelsea, where they developed a strong working relationship.

Fernandez’s future at Stamford Bridge has been in doubt ever since he publicly criticized the club’s handling of Maresca’s departure earlier this year. The 25-year-old also fueled speculation about a move to Real Madrid during a recent international break, which resulted in a two-game suspension handed down by Chelsea.

The Blues’ failure to qualify for the Champions League—following their exit two months ago—further heightened Fernandez’s uncertainty about staying in London. Now, with City making the first move, a potential transfer could materialize quickly.

Maresca is expected to sign a three-year deal with Manchester City, and the acquisition of Fernandez would represent a major statement of intent as the club transitions to a new era.

Chelsea icon John Terry has shared his forecasts for the concluding matches of the 2025/26 Premier League season, which are scheduled for Sunday. After Arsenal secured the title on Tuesday following Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth, Mikel Arteta’s squad are set to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in their last league outing. In a TikTok video, Terry predicted a 1-1 stalemate between the Gunners and Palace.

Terry’s other scoreline projections include Manchester City defeating Aston Villa 2-0, Brighton overcoming Manchester United 2-1, and Fulham losing 1-2 to Newcastle United. He also foresees Tottenham Hotspur falling 1-3 to Everton, Liverpool succumbing 1-2 to Brentford, and a 1-1 draw between Burnley and Wolves. Additionally, Terry anticipates Nottingham Forest losing 1-2 to Bournemouth, West Ham United beating Leeds United 2-1, and Sunderland suffering a 0-2 defeat to Chelsea.

David Raya, Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper, has extended a warm farewell to Karl Hein following the confirmation of the Estonian’s permanent move to Werder Bremen. The transfer was officially announced on Saturday, bringing an end to Hein’s eight-year association with the north London club.

Responding to Hein’s emotional Instagram post, Raya wrote: “All the best Karlitos, wish you nothing but the best, pleasure to have shared dressing room with you.” The Spaniard’s words reflected the close bond forged between the two goalkeepers during their time together at Arsenal.

Hein, 24, spent the 2025-26 season on loan at Bremen and will now join the Bundesliga side on a permanent contract in July 2026. In his farewell message, he paid tribute to Arsenal for nurturing his development from a teenager into a senior professional. “Where do I begin…eight beautiful years with this amazing club has come to an end,” he wrote. “It was a genuine privilege to be part of a club like @arsenal for such an extended period.”

The Estonia international, who has 45 caps for his country, also expressed gratitude for the support he received during his loan spells at Reading, Real Valladolid, and Bremen. Arsenal’s statement said: “Karl Hein will finalize a permanent move to Bundesliga side Werder Bremen in July 2026. We express our gratitude to Karl for his contributions… and wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”

Hein made his first-team debut for Arsenal in a Carabao Cup tie against Brighton in 2022 and has since accumulated valuable experience across different leagues. Bremen confirmed that Hein would become their new number one, with Mio Backhaus moving to Freiburg. The German club’s announcement highlighted that Hein, despite recent injury struggles, is expected to play a key role in their squad next season.

As Pep Guardiola prepares to leave Manchester City after his final match against Aston Villa, he has publicly expressed his unwavering faith in the club’s leadership concerning the ongoing investigation into 115 alleged financial breaches. The Spanish tactician, who departs before a verdict is announced, reiterated his belief that City’s hierarchy acted properly throughout the period in question.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s fixture, Guardiola acknowledged that the charges date back to between 2009 and 2018, overlapping with his tenure at the Etihad. Despite this, he emphasized that neither he nor the current playing and coaching staff were involved in the matters under scrutiny. “I trust them completely because I have spoken with them and I know how they operate,” Guardiola stated.

The 55-year-old manager has consistently maintained the club’s innocence and has even agreed to take on an ambassadorial role post-departure. He remains confident that the process will reach a fair resolution, distancing himself and the team from the alleged infractions. “It was a long time ago, and none of us here were responsible,” he added.

Guardiola’s exit marks the end of an era for City, with the club now facing an uncertain summer as the Premier League’s disciplinary case looms large. His comments aim to reassure supporters that the club’s integrity is intact, even as he hands over the reins.

Wayne Rooney, the former Manchester United striker, has shared his thoughts on the England squad selection for the upcoming World Cup 2026. According to Rooney, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer deserves a spot ahead of Noni Madueke, who currently plays for Arsenal.

During his appearance on The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC, the Manchester United legend argued that Palmer would be a more effective backup for Bukayo Saka than Madueke. Rooney believes Madueke has not been performing at a level that warrants his inclusion in the squad this season.

Rooney stated, “Cole Palmer has outperformed both Saka and Madueke in the 2025/26 season. I would have picked him, but that’s a decision the manager made. Looking at it, Arsenal haven’t done badly this season with Saka and Madueke as options, but Palmer should have been there.”

Thomas Tuchel, the England manager, explained his decision to exclude Palmer, citing a lack of individual form. Tuchel mentioned that Palmer has not been as influential as in previous seasons and has not made a significant impact when called up for national duty.

Tuchel said, “I believe Palmer suffered from a dip in form at Chelsea. He wasn’t as decisive or influential this season. Additionally, he wasn’t particularly effective when with us. His performance record with the national team was not enough to guarantee a spot. He had to withdraw multiple times due to injury, and when he was in camp, he didn’t deliver the impact we wanted.”

Since Tuchel took over in 2025, Palmer has failed to score in any of his three appearances and has missed a large portion of the World Cup qualifiers because of injuries.

Finidi George, the technical adviser of Rivers United, has expressed his hope that Ikorodu City can play a pivotal role in the outcome of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title race. The tactician is relying on the Lagos-based club to secure a favorable result when they face Rangers on the final day of the season at Mobolaji Johnson Arena this Sunday.

The Pride of Rivers find themselves in a must-win scenario as they prepare to host Katsina United in Port Harcourt. A victory is mandatory for Finidi’s men to keep their championship aspirations alive, but they also require Ikorodu City to at least avoid defeat against the league leaders. The coach emphasized that his squad is fully focused on delivering a win in their own match, while keeping a close eye on events unfolding in Lagos.

“We will concentrate on our game and see how the result in Lagos will be favorable,” Finidi stated during a media interaction with the club’s official channels. He acknowledged that Ikorodu City also have their own incentives to chase victory, which could work to Rivers United’s advantage. “Ikorodu City also want a win which is a plus for us as they also have something to play for. We have to win our own game too and hopefully the result will favor us,” he added.

Entering the final matchday, Rivers United are acutely aware that their fate is not entirely in their own hands. They must secure all three points against Katsina United and then hope that Ikorodu City can either hold Rangers to a draw or defeat them outright. The combination of results would catapult Rivers United to the top of the standings and hand them the coveted NPFL crown.

Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner Josephina Otabor, better known as Phyna, has expressed deep regret over how she handled the prize money from the show. She admitted that instead of investing the funds, she used them to support family members, a decision she now considers a major mistake.

During a recent live stream, the reality TV star opened up about her financial missteps. She confessed that her youth and inexperience led her to mismanage the money. Phyna also criticized her relatives for failing to provide sound financial guidance when she needed it most.

According to Phyna, her family members were constantly making demands for financial assistance rather than encouraging her to invest wisely. She recounted providing boreholes for several relatives, but as soon as she began refusing requests, conflicts arose. They would complain publicly and even tarnish her name in the media whenever she could not meet their expectations. Now that the money is gone, she faces the consequences alone.

The star lamented, “The biggest error was using my BBNaija winnings to help relatives instead of investing. I thought I was being helpful by clearing their debts and being generous. Not one older family member advised me on managing or investing the money. Everyone just kept asking for more. The moment I said ‘No,’ my problems with them began. Now that the cash is exhausted, I am left to deal with reality by myself.”

Phyna won the N100 million grand prize for the seventh season of Big Brother Naija in 2022. The prize included N50 million in cash and another N50 million worth of gifts from sponsors. The former housemate now wishes she had used the opportunity to secure her financial future rather than pleasing others.