Sports

Champions League Final: Man City, Inter Set For Showdown

Published

3 years ago

June 10, 2023

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Manchester City and Inter Milan clash in Saturday’s Champions League final in Istanbul with the English side, under Pep Guardiola, strongly fancied to win European club football’s biggest prize for the first time.

The match at the 75,000-seat Ataturk Olympic Stadium, kicks off at 10:00 pm (1900 GMT) in the Turkish metropolis and brings the curtain down on a season that has stretched almost into mid-June after the long interruption for the World Cup.

City have spent the last decade chasing this trophy having been transformed following an Abu Dhabi-backed takeover in 2008.

Also-rans before Sheikh Mansour arrived, they are now England’s dominant force, fresh from winning a fifth Premier League title in six seasons.

Guardiola, chasing the third Champions League crown of his coaching career, has built a side that is playing arguably the finest football of any team since his great Barcelona of a decade ago.

Now they are through to their second Champions League final in three seasons, two years after losing to Chelsea in Porto, and are hoping to complete a treble after securing the Premier League and FA Cup.

The last English team to win that treble was Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, in 1999.

“We have been good in this competition, but we just need to find a way to win the first one,” said Kevin De Bruyne on Friday.

“If we do it, it would obviously be immense for the players, for the club, and for the fans it would be something amazing.”

City’s rise has been made possible by the investment from the Abu Dhabi United Group, which led to them generating the biggest revenues in world football in 2022 of 731 million euros ($787m).

Question marks surround their success, given City were charged in February by the Premier League with 115 alleged breaches of its financial rules between 2009 and 2018.

In Europe, meanwhile, City were banned for two years from UEFA competitions in February 2020 for “serious financial fair-play breaches”, although that sanction was later overturned.

Irresistible Force

City have become an almost irresistible force. They brushed aside RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the knockout rounds and have lost just once in 27 matches.

The goals of Erling Haaland — 52 in all competitions — have elevated them to another level, along with Guardiola’s decision to turn centre-back John Stones into a midfielder.

Inter, while one of Europe’s grand old names, should not be able to compete with City when you look at their finances.

The Nerazzurri have enormous debts and their income for last year was under half that of City.

However, they emerged from their group ahead of Barcelona before beating Porto, their first victory in a Champions League knockout tie since 2011.

They then saw off Benfica and AC Milan to reach the final. They have won 11 of their last 12 games and recently retained the Coppa Italia.

“We understand what they are as a team,” De Bruyne said.

“They defend incredibly well. We don’t expect it to be an open game. That doesn’t happen a lot in a final anyway.”

Having reached their first Champions League final since lifting the trophy for the third time in their history in 2010, Inter are in to win it.

“We know we have a great opportunity to write a new page in the history of our club,” said coach Simone Inzaghi.

More Ataturk Drama?

Inzaghi has a settled side, with a grizzled three-man defence, a classy midfield, flying wing-backs in Denzel Dumfries and Federico Dimarco, and Lautaro Martinez alongside veteran ex-City striker Edin Dzeko up front.

Both sides should be at full strength, with Kyle Walker set to start for City after missing training earlier this week.

It is Inter’s sixth European Cup final, but just their second in 51 years.

City’s only European trophy to date came in 1970, when they won the Cup Winners’ Cup, beating Poland’s Gornik Zabrze 2-1 in the final.

That match was not shown on British television due to a clash with the FA Cup final replay the same night.

A huge global audience will watch Saturday’s showdown, for which both clubs were officially allocated around 20,000 tickets.

It is the second Champions League final held at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, situated on the European side of the Bosphorus, 25 kilometres from central Istanbul.

Liverpool triumphed here in 2005, recovering from a three-goal deficit against Milan to draw 3-3 before winning on penalties.

AFP

Related Topics:Final Inter Milan MAN City

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Super Eagles Ahmed Musa Ends 15 years Career in football

Musa retired as Nigeria’s most capped international, having made 111 appearances for the Super Eagles.

Published

1 hour ago

December 18, 2025

OCHEFA

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“After a lot of thought, I have decided to retire from international football, bringing to an end almost 15 years with the Super Eagles. From the very first call-up, wearing the green and white meant everything to me.”

Ahmed Musa made the announcement on his social media platforms, yesterday

Musa who is now 33-year-old made his senior national team debut on September 5, 2010 in the qualification match for the 2012 AFCON against Madagascar at the age of 17.

He recalled his early years in the national team setup, noting that his rise coincided with invitations to multiple national teams at the same time.

“I was just a young boy when the journey started. I remember being invited at the same time to the U-20, U-23 and the Super Eagles. I was young, still learning, and always travelling, but I never complained.

Whenever Nigeria called, I showed up,” he said.

Musa retired as Nigeria’s most capped international, having made 111 appearances for the Super Eagles.

He described the milestone as a source of pride and responsibility: “To become the most capped player in the history of Nigerian football is a great honour. Every time I wore the jersey, I understood the responsibility that came with it,” he said.

Sports

Nigeria lost $10.5 million of the FIFA World Cup 2026 prize money

The Super Eagles’ World Cup campaign ended in disappointment after they lost in the final round of the playoffs to DR Congo.

Published

2 hours ago

December 18, 2025

OCHEFA

21 Views

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is set to miss about $10.5 million out of the $727 million huge financial outlay by FIFA for teams participating in the 2026 Wold Cup.

The Super Eagles’ World Cup campaign ended in disappointment after they lost in the final round of the playoffs to DR Congo.

The setback not only denied Nigeria a ticket to the Mundial but also shut out the country from significant financial rewards attached to participation.

The world soccer ruling body said the prize money for next year’s World Cup will be 50% higher than the previous edition after agreeing a record $727 million financial contribution to the tournament on Wednesday.

The biggest slice of FIFA’s funding package for the North American showpiece – $655 million – will be performance-based payments to 48 participating nations with the champions taking $50 million and the runners-up $33 million.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will also be groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to the global football community,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement.

The 16 nations that fail to survive beyond the initial group phase will earn $9 million while in addition, each qualified nation is entitled to $1.5 million to cover preparation costs.

This means that the NFF will miss at least $10.5 million if the team had qualified for the Mundial but that would not to be unless the federation is able to push through its protest on the alleged ineligibility of some of the Congolese players in the ill-fated play-off encounter in November.

Sports

AFCON 2025 Group D squads

The qualified teams in the group D are : Benin, Botswana, Senegal, and the DR Congo.

Published

3 hours ago

December 18, 2025

OCHEFA

22 Views

The qualified teams in the group D are : Benin, Botswana, Senegal, and the DR Congo.

Benin

Goalkeepers:

Saturnin Allagbe (Chauray/FRA), Marcel Dandjinou (Kruger Utd/RSA), Serge Obassa (Remo Stars/NGR)

Defenders:

Charlemagne Azongnitode (Oulo/FIN), Rodrigue Fassinou (Coton Sport), David Kiki (FCSB/ROM), Abdoul Rachid Moumini (Sumgayit/AZE), Tamimou Ouorou (Sobemap), Yohan Roche (Petrolul Ploiesti/ROM), Attidjikou Samadou (Smouha/EGY), Mohamed Tijani (Yverson/SUI), Olivier Verdon (Ludogorets Razgrad/BUL)

Midfielders:

Matteo Ahlinvi (Arsenal Tula/RUS), Mariano Ahouangbo (Olimpija/SLO), Gislain Ahoudo (Gabes/TUN), Sessi D’Almeida (Neftchi/AZE), Dodo Dokou (Leixoes/POR), Hassane Imourane (Grasshoppers/SUI), Rodrigue Kossi (Hassania Agadir/MAR)

Forwards:

Rodolfo Aloko, Razack Rachidou (both Kustosija/CRO), Adam Akimey (Helsingborgs/SWE), Romaric Amoussou (ASEC Mimosas/CIV), Jodel Dossou (Pays du Valois/FRA), Steve Mounie (Alanyaspor/TUR), Junior Olaitan (Goztepe/TUR), Olatoundji Tessilimi (SJK Seinajoki/FIN), Aiyegun Tosin (Lorient/FRA).

Botswana

Goalkeepers:

Kabelo Dambe (Township Rollers), Keeagile Kgosipula (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Goitseone Phoko (Jwaneng Galaxy)

Defenders:

Tebogo Kopelang, Thabo Leinanyane, Chicco Molefe (all Jwaneng), Mothusi Johnson, Alford Velaphi (both Gaborone Utd), Thatayaone Ditlhokwe (Al Ittihad/LBA), Mosha Gaolaolwe (Rollers), Shanganani Ngada (Mochudi)

Midfielders:Gilbert Baruti, Monty Enosa (both Mochudi), Lebogang Ditsele, Thabo Maponda (both Gaborone), Mothusi Cooper (Rollers), Godiraone Modingwane (BDF), Gape Mohutsiwa (Mouloudia Oran/ALG), Olebogeng Ramotse (Jwaneng).

Forwards:

Omaatla Kebatho, Thabang Sesinyi (both Jwaneng), Segolame Boy (Sua Flamingoes), Thatayaone Kgamanyane (Gaborone Utd), Tumisang Orebonye (Wydad Casablanca/MAR), Losika Ratshukudu (Ubuntu/RSA), Kabelo Seakanyeng (MAS Fes/MAR).

DR Congo

Goalkeepers:

Matthieu Epolo (Standard Liege/BEL), Timothy Fayulu (Noah/ARM), Lionel Mpasi (Le Havre/FRA)

Defenders:Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham Utd/ENG), Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian/SCO), Gedeon Kalulu (Aris Limassol/CYP), Steve Kapuadi (Legia Warsaw/POL), Joris Kayembe (Genk/BEL), Arthur Masuaku (Sunderland/ENG), Chancel Mbemba (Lille/FRA), Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley/ENG)

Midfielders:

Michel-Ange Balikwisha (Celtic/SCO), Theo Bongonda (Spartak Moscow/RUS), Brian Cipenga (Castellon/ESP), Edo Kayembe (Watford/ENG), Nathanael Mbuku (Montpellier/FRA),Samuel Moutoussamy (Atromitos/GRE), Ngal’ayel Mukau (Lille/FRA), Charles Pickel (Espanyol/ESP), Noah Sadiki (Sunderland/ENG), Mario Stroeykens (Anderlecht/BEL)

Forwards:

Cedric Bakambu (Real Betis/ESP), Simon Banza (Al Jazira/UAE), Meschak Elia (Alanyaspor/TUR), Samuel Essende (Augsburg/GER), Fiston Mayele (Pyramids/EGY).

Senegal

Goalkeepers:

Mory Diaw (Le Havre/FRA), Yehvann Diouf (Nice/FRA), Edouard Mendy (Al Ahli/KSA).

Defenders:

Ilay Camara (Anderlecht/BEL), Krepin Diatta (Monaco/FRA), El Hadji Diouf (West Ham/ENG), Ismail Jakobs (Galatasaray/TUR), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal/KSA), Antoine Mendy (Nice/FRA), Moussa Niakhate (Lyon/FRA), Mamadou Sarr (Strasbourg/FRA), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa/ISR)

Midfielders:Lamine Camara (Monaco/FRA), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano/ESP), Habib Diarra (Sunderland/ENG), Idrissa Gueye (Everton/ENG), Pape Gueye (Villarreal/ESP), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham/ENG)

Forwards:

Boulaye Dia (Lazio/ITA), Habib Diallo (Metz/FRA), Assane Diao (Como/ITA), Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich/GER on loan from Chelsea/ENG), Sadio Mane (Al Nassr/RSA), Ibrahim Mbaye (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Cherif Ndiaye (Samsunspor/TUR), Iliman Ndiaye (Everton/ENG), Cheikh Sabaly (Metz/FRA), Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace/ENG).

(AFP)