Sports
Barcelona Claims La Liga Title After Winning Espanyol
Barcelona has won La Liga for the first time since 2019 by winning Espanyol 4-2 on Sunday, wrestling the title back from rivals Real Madrid.
The Catalan giants clinched their 27th Spanish championship at the home of their neighbours, with scenes turning ugly at full time as celebrating Barcelona players were chased from the field by pitch invaders.
Robert Lewandowski struck twice for Barcelona, along with goals for Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde, while Javi Puado and Joselu pulled two back late on for the hosts.
Barcelona have endured a troubled period on and off the pitch in recent years but their triumph signals significant improvement, with coach Xavi Hernandez winning his first major trophy since taking over in November 2021.
President Joan Laporta’s rebuild was widely criticised last summer in light of the club’s perilous financial situation.
Early Champions League elimination was a blow, but the club won the Spanish Super Cup in January, before sealing La Liga glory with four games to spare.
“It’s a magnificent feeling, (of) work well done,” Xavi told Movistar.
“Ten months of work and sacrifice. The fans deserve it, the club, it gives us stability and security that things are being done well.
“We sealed La Liga with a fantastic game, we were brilliant.”
Xavi did not spring any surprises with his line-up and Barcelona’s first team took to the pitch with one goal firmly in mind, the end finally in sight.
They conjured an electric display, one of their finest this season, to seal their triumph and leave their city rivals 19th, four points from safety with four matches remaining.
Barcelona broke the deadlock after 11 minutes with a well-worked goal, finished off by Lewandowski for his 20th of the season in La Liga.
Ronald Araujo played an inch perfect long pass for left-back Balde, who blazed past Espanyol defender Oscar Gil and crossed for Lewandowski to bundle home from close range.
Gil was beaten by Balde again for the second goal, this time scored by the young left-back after Pedri darted to the byline and scooped an inviting cross to the back post.
It was Balde’s first goal for Barcelona, capping a superb breakthrough season for the youngster, who has phased veteran defender Jordi Alba out of the side.
Espanyol goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco tipped away a Lewandowski effort as Barcelona poured forward, with the hosts battling not to be blown away.
‘Can’t lack respect’
It worked for a while, but visitors grabbed the third before half-time when Raphinha put the ball on a plate for Lewandowski to roll home.
The Polish striker’s arrival from Bayern Munich was a key part of last summer’s rebuild and despite a dip in the second half of the season, has paid the Catalans back in goals.
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made a sublime save to deny former team-mate Martin Braithwaite from close range in stoppage time at the end of the first period.
Kounde headed home the fourth early in the second half from Frenkie de Jong’s perfect chipped pass as Espanyol’s defence crumbled yet again.
Some Espanyol fans headed for the exits early while others demanded the board resign, including aiming one unsavoury chant at the club’s Chinese owners.
Ter Stegen denied Puado when through on goal, determined to earn a La Liga record-equalling 26th clean sheet of the season in the top flight.
However moments later the Espanyol forward found himself through on goal once more and this time scored with a sublime lob — small consolation in the face of Espanyol’s defeat and Barcelona’s glory.
Joselu pulled another goal back in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late.
Xavi’s side celebrated at full-time, to the anger of Espanyol fans, who invaded the pitch, with Barcelona players sprinting down the tunnel to escape.
“The celebration is normal, but I know we’re not at home and we can’t lack respect,” added Xavi.
“I know it’s difficult to control but I told them the best thing would be to get inside now.”
AFP
Sports
Flamingos win WAFU B U-17 women’s tournament
The victory gives the Flamingos more confidence as they continue preparations for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup taking place in Morocco from October 17 to November 7.
Nigeria’s under-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, have been confirmed winners of the 2026 WAFU B U-17 women’s tournament following a 4-0 win over Togo U-17 team on the final day of matches.
Nigeria finished the tournament with five wins from five matches, becoming the first country to win all matches in the tournament, claiming a flawless record in the second edition of the regional championship.
The Flamingos dethroned Ghana who finished second in the six-nation tournament to relinquish the title after winning the maiden tournament in 2024.
Harmony Chidera scored a brace of penalties to lead Nigeria to the big win, with further goals from Umejiaku Oluebube and Oluwakemi Adegbuyi.
Chidera netted the first penalty on 15 minutes after Adegbuyi was brought down, and repeated the task successfully on 35 minutes when Adegbuyi was brought down again.
The third goal came in the 67th minutes from Oluebube’s harmless cross from the wing that sailed into the top corner of the net, and Adegbuyi got the goal her performance deserved in the 90th minute to seal the dominant victory.
Nigeria finished with 15 points on the log, six points ahead of Ghana who played hosts Ivory Coast in their final match of the tournament.
The victory gives the Flamingos more confidence as they continue preparations for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup taking place in Morocco from October 17 to November 7.
(Daily Trust)
Sports
Manchester City Faces Expulsion For Breaching 114 EPL Financial Rules
The club was accused of failing to provide accurate financial information and details of payments to players and coaches, as well as breaching financial sustainability rules.
Manchester City have been found guilty of all but one of the 115 charges they face for breaching English Premier League (EPL) financial regulations.
The Athletic reported that an independent panel reached the decision, but no sanction has been decided yet.
In response to the report, the club, expected to appeal the ruling, insisted the case “remains ongoing” and “subject to strict confidentiality.”
“As such, Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023,” the club said.
“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”
The case became public in 2023 after the EPL accused City of breaking the league’s financial rule from the 2009/10 season to the 2017/18 campaign.
The club was accused of failing to provide accurate financial information and details of payments to players and coaches, as well as breaching financial sustainability rules.
The period under scrutiny began barely two years after the Abu Dhabi United Group acquired the club in 2008, which catapulted City to one of the best EPL teams within a short time.
The club have won eight Premier League titles, four FA Cups, seven League Cups and one UEFA Champions League (UCL) under the Gulf group’s ownership.
City’s sanctions are likely to include a severe points deduction and possibly even expulsion from the EPL.
Everton and Nottingham Forest were both hit by points deductions in the 2023/24 season for single breaches of profit and sustainability rules
Sports
FIFA names Nigerian referee among 81 officials for U-17 World Cup
Abdulsalam has built considerable international experience, having participated in two CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments as well as several WAFU competitions.
FIFA| Nigerian referee Abiola Kasimu Abdulsalam
FIFA on Thursday named Zamfara-born Nigerian referee Abiola Kasimu Abdulsalam among the match officials for this year’s U-17 World Cup tournament in Qatar, ending Nigeria’s 25-year wait for a centre referee.
The 34-year-old is the only Nigerian centre referee on FIFA’s list and one of four referees selected from Africa for the competition.
In a post obtained from FIFA’s website on Thursday, FIFA named 81 officials for the tournament, comprising 27 referees and 54 assistant referees from 36 member associations.
Abdulsalam’s selection marks the first time in 25 years that a Nigerian centre referee will officiate at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Abdulsalam has built considerable international experience, having participated in two CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments as well as several WAFU competitions.
His recent performances have also earned him another major assignment, as he is scheduled to referee the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture between Cameroon and Comoros.
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