Category: Entertainment

Former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon has voiced his opinion on who should take the central midfield role in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. Speaking to The Athletic, Dixon suggested that manager Mikel Arteta should give the nod to young talent Myles Lewis-Skelly over Martin Zubimendi.

Dixon was impressed by Lewis-Skelly’s recent performances, describing him as ‘brilliant’. He acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but firmly backed the 19-year-old to handle the pressure of a final. ‘It’s a big call, but I’d probably play Myles. He’s already shown enough not to be fazed by that,’ Dixon stated.

The Arsenal legend’s recommendation comes as Arteta weighs his options for the highly anticipated clash against the defending champions. It remains to be seen whether the Spanish boss will opt for Lewis-Skelly or keep Zubimendi on the bench once again.

Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique has insisted that his squad possesses a stronger drive to conquer Arsenal in the Champions League final, citing the hunger that comes with defending a crown.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s showdown in Budapest, the Spaniard emphasized that the aim of becoming only the second club in modern history to retain Europe’s elite trophy surpasses Arsenal’s quest for a maiden title.

When pressed on the Gunners’ motivation for securing their first Champions League triumph, Enrique responded with a rhetorical question: “Do you truly appreciate how immense the ambition of winning back-to-back titles is? It eclipses everything. So we hold the advantage.”

The French champions booked their final berth after overcoming Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, while Arsenal dispatched Atletico Madrid to reach the decider. The match promises to be a clash of contrasting narratives—Arsenal chasing history versus PSG protecting their legacy.

Ousmane Dembele, the Paris Saint-Germain forward, has expressed his belief that Arsenal rightfully earned their place in the Champions League final. Speaking during a pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s showdown, the French attacker praised the Premier League champions for their attractive style of play and highlighted the influence of their manager, Mikel Arteta.

Dembele remarked that Arsenal are a formidable side, having demonstrated their quality by dominating the Premier League and impressing during the group stage of the competition. He noted their consistency and ability to deliver in crucial moments.

According to Dembele, Arsenal’s journey to the final has been exceptional, and they deserve to be there. He emphasized that the Gunners excel across all areas of the pitch, including set-pieces, which he believes is widely recognized. He also lauded Arteta as an outstanding coach.

The Gunners secured their spot in the Champions League final after overcoming Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals.

The Nigerian Football Federation has announced that Femi Azeez will replace Samuel Chukwueze in the Super Eagles squad for the upcoming international friendlies against Poland and Portugal.

Chukwueze was granted permission to miss both matches due to personal reasons, having recently buried his late mother in Abia State, southeastern Nigeria.

Azeez, who made a stunning debut for the Super Eagles by scoring a brace in a 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe, will now have the opportunity to showcase his talent against European opposition.

Before heading to Europe, the Super Eagles are set to face Jamaica in the Unity Cup final on Saturday night, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 PM Nigerian time.

Following the final, Eric Chelle’s side will travel to Warsaw for a friendly against Poland next Wednesday, before concluding their tour with a match against Portugal in Lierra on Wednesday, June 10.

In a fresh acknowledgment, FIFA has verified that Nigerian football legend Jay-Jay Okocha continues to hold the record for the highest number of successful dribbles in a single World Cup match. The football governing body revealed that during Nigeria’s Round of 16 clash against Italy at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, Okocha completed 15 successful dribbles—a feat that has stood unchallenged for over thirty years.

The former Super Eagles captain achieved this milestone against an Italian lineup featuring celebrated stars like Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta, and Demetrio Albertini. FIFA highlighted that despite the arrival of many world-class dribblers in subsequent tournaments, no one has surpassed Okocha’s mark. Joint second on the list are former Brazilian forward Jairzinho and ex-England midfielder Paul Gascoigne, each with 13 successful dribbles in a single match.

FIFA also recognized other legendary players among the tournament’s elite dribblers, including Eusebio, Johan Cruyff, Diego Maradona, and Jamal Musiala. Additionally, Lionel Messi holds the record for the most successful dribbles across all World Cup appearances with 125, while Maradona recorded the highest number of successful dribbles in a single tournament with 53 during the 1986 World Cup.

This reaffirmation cements Okocha’s legacy as one of the most technically gifted footballers in World Cup history and solidifies his status as one of Nigeria’s most iconic sporting figures.

Rangers International FC, the newly crowned champions of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), have scheduled a trophy parade for next week Tuesday. The event is set to kick off at noon from the team’s camp in Enugu, as confirmed by sources within the club.

The Flying Antelopes secured their ninth NPFL title after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Ikorodu City at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos last weekend. The win also secures them a spot in the upcoming CAF Champions League season under the guidance of head coach Fidelis Ilechukwu.

During the parade, players and officials will traverse various neighborhoods in Enugu, culminating at the Okpara Square. Following the city tour, the team will proceed to the Government House for a reception hosted by Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah.

The celebration marks a significant achievement for Rangers, who have now won the top-flight league nine times in their history. The parade is expected to draw large crowds of enthusiastic supporters eager to celebrate with the team.

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has thrown his support behind Arsenal ahead of their UEFA Champions League final showdown against Paris Saint-Germain. In a heartfelt message shared through Ferrari’s official channels, the British racing icon, a lifelong Arsenal fan, urged Mikel Arteta’s squad to seize the moment and enjoy the biggest match of their careers.

Hamilton, who has followed the Gunners since childhood, praised the team for their Premier League triumph this season and encouraged them to complete a historic double by lifting the European trophy. He emphasized the importance of belief and enjoyment, telling the players to go out and perform with freedom.

“I’m so proud of you guys,” Hamilton said. “Keep pushing, keep believing. I’ll be watching, so just have fun. You’re already the greatest.”

The 39-year-old’s endorsement adds to the growing anticipation surrounding the final, where Arsenal seek their first Champions League title under Arteta’s guidance. Hamilton’s words are likely to galvanize the squad as they prepare to face a formidable PSG side determined to claim their maiden European crown.

In a significant recognition of his outstanding performances, Paulinus Okon has been named the Player of the Season for Akwa United, a team competing in the Nigeria National League (NNL). The midfielder played a crucial role in helping the ‘Promise Keepers’ secure second place in NNL Conference A during the 2025–26 campaign, contributing four goals throughout the season.

As a token of appreciation for his contributions, Okon received a reward of N1 million. Meanwhile, the club’s top scorer award went to Micheal Okenwa, who found the back of the net five times, earning him a N1.5 million prize. Yannick Menegbe was also honored for his creative output, receiving the most assists accolade.

Despite a strong season, Akwa United narrowly missed out on promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), finishing just behind conference winners Sporting Lagos.

Jose Mourinho has officially put pen to paper on a three-year contract to become the new head coach of Real Madrid, marking his highly anticipated return to the Santiago Bernabeu after more than a decade. The Portuguese tactician, who guided the club to a La Liga title, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Super Cup during his previous tenure from 2010 to 2013, will step into the role following the recent dismissal of Alvaro Arbeloa.

According to sources, Mourinho’s appointment will not be publicly announced until after Real Madrid’s presidential election on June 7, but the agreement has been finalized. The 63-year-old leaves Benfica, where he took charge in September and led the team to a third-place finish in the Primeira Liga, to take over the reins at the Spanish capital.

Mourinho inherits a squad that endured a disappointing 2025-26 season, finishing without any silverware as rivals Barcelona clinched the La Liga title with a 2-0 victory in El Clasico. Real Madrid also suffered a heavy 6-4 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals. The veteran manager is expected to bring his trademark intensity and tactical acumen to restore the club’s fortunes.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided a positive update on the fitness of Jurrien Timber and Noni Madueke ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. During his Friday press conference, Arteta confirmed that both players are available to start the match in Budapest.

“Timber is fit. Fit enough to start? Yeah. Madueke? Yeah, he is fit. The only one is Ben [White],” Arteta told reporters.

Timber has been sidelined since March after sustaining an injury during Arsenal’s victory over Everton. Meanwhile, Madueke scored a goal in the team’s league title-clinching win at Selhurst Park on the final day but picked up a minor injury concern during that match.

Ben White remains unavailable due to a knee injury he suffered against West Ham earlier this month, ruling him out of the highly anticipated European final.