Sports
BREAKING: FIFA clears Ademola Lookman to represent Nigeria
World football governing body, FIFA, has cleared Leicester City FC of England player, Ademola Lookman, to represent Nigeria at the international level.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) disclosed this in a statement by its Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, on Thursday.
According to the statement, FIFA’s Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, Emilio Garcia Silveiro, on Thursday, conveyed to the NFF the decision of the Single Judge of the Status Chamber of the Football Tribunal: “The request made by the NFF – Nigeria Football Federation for a change of association of the player Ademola Olajide Lookman is accepted.
“The player Ademola Olajide Lookman is eligible to play for the representative teams of the NFF – Nigeria Football Federation with immediate effect.”
Reacting to this development, the NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, hailed the record-time approval granted the fresh application by FIFA on Lookman’s desire to wear the green-white-green shirt at the international sphere.
He said, “We sent in the application on Wednesday night after putting all the necessary documentation together. We are happy to receive the approval today.”
Lookman was born in south London. He qualified to play for the Super Eagles through his Nigerian parents.
He received his first international call-up when he was named in the England U19 squad named for Mexico.
He was subsequently named to the squad for the European U19 Championships that summer.
Lookman was selected in the England under-20 team for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
He scored three goals in the tournament, two against Costa Rica in the last 16 and one goal against Italy in the semi-finals.
Recall that in December 2021, FIFA also approved the NFF’s application for the switch in allegiance for Ashleigh Megan Plumptre to represent Nigeria internationally.
Both Lookman and Plumptre had represented England at various junior cadres.
Sports
Newcastle stun Liverpool to secure Carabao Cup victory
Newcastle stun Liverpool to secure Carabao Cup victory
Newcastle United clinched their first domestic trophy in 70 years with a stunning 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday. Goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak sealed a historic win, igniting celebrations among the club’s passionate supporters.
Defender Burn put Newcastle ahead just before halftime, powering in a header from a corner to send the black-and-white-clad fans into raptures
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Buoyed by their lead, Newcastle doubled their advantage in the 52nd minute when Swedish forward Isak coolly slotted the ball past Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Premier League leaders Liverpool pulled one back deep into stoppage time through Federico Chiesa, but it was too little, too late as Eddie Howe’s side held firm to lift their first major domestic trophy since 1955.
Newcastle stun Liverpool to secure Carabao Cup victory
Sports
EPL: Merino header gives Arsenal slim win over Chelsea
EPL: Merino header gives Arsenal slim win over Chelsea
Chelsea’s challenge for a place in next season’s Champions League faltered in a toothless 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday as Fulham beat Tottenham 2-0.
Mikel Merino scored the only goal of a disappointing contest at the Emirates as Arsenal pulled clear in second place and to within 12 points of runaway leaders Liverpool.
Chelsea badly missed the presence of the absent Cole Palmer due to illness as they meekly surrendered to a damaging defeat for their hopes of a top-four finish.
The Blues remain in fourth for now but have five sides from Manchester City in fifth to Aston Villa in ninth within four points of Enzo Maresca’s team.
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Arsenal have struggled badly for goals since the loss of Kai Havertz to a season-ending injury has forced midfielder Merino into a makeshift centre-forward role.
The Spanish international proved the match winner from a corner as he looped a header from Martin Odegaard’s delivery inside the far post on 20 minutes.
Chelsea barely threatened but were nearly gifted a route back into the game when David Raya fumbled Marc Cucurella’s shot and the ball trickled wide.
At the other end, Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez made a brilliant stop to prevent Merino doubling Arsenal’s lead with the best effort of the second half.
But the game petered out with little goalmouth action as a limp performance will do little to quieten the critics of Maresca’s style of play among the Chelsea support.
EPL: Merino header gives Arsenal slim win over Chelsea
Sports
Chelsea beat Man City to win Women’s League Cup
Chelsea beat Man City to win Women’s League Cup
Chelsea edged past Manchester City in the Women’s League Cup final to win their first trophy under Sonia Bompastor and keep their bid for a historic quadruple alive.
Bompastor has exceeded expectations since succeeding Emma Hayes as head coach last May, winning 26 of her 28 games.
Mayra Ramirez netted an early opener for Chelsea, bundling in a rebound that bounced off City skipper Laia Aleixandri at Derby County’s Pride Park.
Aoba Fujino levelled after the break with a stunning strike, but an own goal by Yui Hasegawa restored Chelsea’s lead and ended their three-year losing streak in League Cup finals.
“It feels great, for sure. I’m really happy,” Bompastor said.
“From the beginning of the season we said we are going to be ambitious and when you have the opportunity to win a first title that is always really positive so I am really happy for that reason and I am really proud of my players.”
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City, who were playing their first game under interim boss Nick Cushing following Gareth Taylor’s sacking five days ago, dominated play after Chelsea’s opener.
But they were unable to find a way through during the first half as Chelsea’s solid centre-back paring of Millie Bright and Nathalie Bjorn stood firm, limiting City’s chances to ambitious efforts from the edge of the box.
Chelsea appeared to regain control after the interval, but Fujino’s powerful strike flew past Hannah Hampton and into the roof of the net before Hasegawa’s own goal handed momentum back to Bompastor’s side.
They remain in the hunt for the Champions League and FA Cup, while they have all but secured a sixth successive Women’s Super League (WSL) title, sitting eight points clear at the top of the table with six games remaining.
This final marked the start of an intense 12-day battle, with Chelsea and City playing each other four times in a row.
Chelsea beat Man City to win Women’s League Cup
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