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Super Eagles Slip To 45th Position In Latest FIFA Ranking

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have slipped one place in the latest FIFA men’s world rankings released on Thursday.

Previously ranked 44th, the three-time African champions now sit in 45th position in the world.

The Super Eagles also dropped to sixth position in Africa.

The Atlas Lions of Morocco are the highest ranked African team (11th position).

Terangha Lions of Senegal, Pharaohs of Egypt, Desert Foxes of Algeria, and Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire complete the top five African teams on the ranking.

The Super Eagles were in action recently in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa.

Eric Chelle’s side defeated the Amavubi 1-0 in Uyo, and held Bafana Bafana to a 1-1 draw in Bloemfontein.

European champions, Spain replace Argentina at the top of the ranking, ending the South American’s two-year reign.

Slovakia are the biggest risers, climbing 10 places.

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Arteta hails Martinelli’s instant impact in Bilbao

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised Gabriel Martinelli after the forward came off the bench to score within seconds of his introduction during the Gunners’ 2-0 Champions League win over Athletic Club on Tuesday night.

The Brazilian found the net just 36 seconds after entering the pitch, becoming Arsenal’s fastest-ever substitute goalscorer in the competition.

His strike, along with Leandro Trossard’s late effort, ensured the Premier League side began their European campaign with maximum points at San Mames.

Substitutes make the difference

Arteta opted to start with summer arrivals Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke in attack, but it was the substitutes who proved decisive.

Martinelli opened the scoring in the 72nd minute before turning provider for Trossard’s goal, as the pair combined twice to secure victory.

Speaking after the match, Arteta explained that he sensed Martinelli was ready to make an immediate impact.

“I looked on the bench, I looked at him, and in his eyes I could see that he [Martinelli] was ready, Leo as well,” the Spaniard said.

“That’s going to help us a lot for the future, it is going to dictate the quality of our season. The finishers are going to be more important this year than the starters. I love it. That’s the attitude I need from all of us.”

History made in Champions League

Martinelli’s strike not only broke the deadlock but also set a club record, while he and Trossard became the first Arsenal pair to assist each other’s goals as substitutes in the Champions League.

Arteta admitted that leaving players out of his starting lineup remains a difficult task, especially in such a prestigious competition.

“It’s always very difficult emotionally to leave players out. I know how much they want to play in this competition and what it means to them.

“Every time you do a line-up, you are disappointing a lot of players. It hurts me,” he added.

Arsenal now shift focus to domestic matters, returning to the Emirates for a Premier League clash against Manchester City on Sunday.

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UCL: Kane double sinks Chelsea in Munich

Harry Kane scored twice to inspire Bayern Munich to a 3-1 win over Chelsea in their Champions League group stage opener, though the visitors left Germany frustrated after the hosts escaped a potential red card.

Chelsea, returning to the competition after a two-year absence, made a bright start but defensive lapses and wastefulness in front of goal proved costly against a Bayern side unbeaten at home in the group stages since 2013.

Early promise undone by errors

Enzo Maresca’s side had some good time in the first half and could have gone ahead through Enzo Fernández, who miscued from close range after good work by Cole Palmer.

But Bayern struck first when Michael Olise’s cross was deflected into his own net by Trevoh Chalobah.

Moises Caicedo then fouled Kane inside the box, gifting the England striker his 94th Bayern goal in 102 appearances.

Chelsea responded quickly, Palmer combining with Malo Gusto before firing a superb equaliser into the top corner.

Kane decisive after the break

Bayern pressed aggressively in the second half and Robert Sánchez made key saves to deny Kane and Olise.

The breakthrough arrived once more when a Chelsea turnover allowed Kane to collect a loose ball in the area and finish low into the corner for his second of the night.

The strike took Kane’s career tally against Chelsea into double figures.

Chelsea’s frustrations grow

Chelsea thought they had reduced the deficit late on when Palmer converted from Andrey Santos’ pass, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

The Blues were also incensed when Bayern’s Jonathan Tah avoided a second booking for hauling back Joao Pedro, with Maresca shown a yellow card for protesting.

Despite positive spells, Chelsea’s defensive errors and missed chances left them with little to show on their Champions League return.

Bayern, meanwhile, extended their formidable home record and made a strong statement of intent the opening group stage game.

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Salah breaks Champions League record in Atletico victory

Mohamed Salah sealed his legendary status at Liverpool by setting a unique Champions League record during the Reds’ thrilling 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid at Anfield.

The Egyptian forward produced both a goal and an assist inside the opening six minutes, a feat never before achieved by a player representing an English club in Europe’s elite competition.

Andy Robertson, restored to the starting lineup, bundled home Salah’s free-kick for the first goal.

Two minutes later, Salah, through his trademark brilliance, weaving past defenders to finish clinically from Ryan Gravenberch’s pass.

Historic milestones for Salah

Salah’s strike was more than just a decisive contribution on the night. It marked his 250th goal in English football, a tally that includes two during his brief Chelsea spell before his Anfield career flourished.

In addition, his appearance against Atletico was his 74th in the Champions League for Liverpool, surpassing Steven Gerrard’s record of 73.

Only Jamie Carragher, with 80, now stands ahead in the club’s European appearance charts.

Beyond Salah’s individual exploits, Liverpool’s sharp start against Atletico offered encouragement for manager Arne Slot, whose new-look squad has yet to fully gel.

The visitors grew into the contest and forced Liverpool into defensive work, but the hosts held firm to secure another dramatic win under the Anfield lights.

Focus turns to Merseyside derby

Attention now shifts to domestic duties, with Everton visiting Anfield on Saturday.

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UCL: Mbappé brace secures Real Madrid win over Marseille

Real Madrid have kickstart their UEFA Champions League with a 2-1 win over Marseille at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday night.

Club star, Kylian Mbappé scored twice from the penalty spot to cancel out Timothy Weah’s opener.

The French forward’s goals ensured Los Blancos avoided an upset against a spirited Marseille side, who played with belief in their first Champions League outing since 2023.

The result, however, was overshadowed by controversy after a late handball call went against the visitors.

Weah strikes first for Marseille

Marseille silenced the home crowd midway through the first half. Mason Greenwood created the opening, slipping a clever pass into the path of Weah, who calmly finished past Thibaut Courtois in the 22nd minute.

The goal sent the 4,000 travelling OM fans into celebration as Roberto De Zerbi’s men took a shock lead.

But Real responded fast. Minutes later, Rodrygo was brought down by Geoffrey Kondogbia inside the box, leaving the referee no choice but to award a penalty.

Mbappé stepped up and converted confidently in the 29th minute to restore parity.

Red card drama and late penalty

The match remained finely balanced after the break, with both sides creating chances. Marseille’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang went close, while Courtois was forced into saves from long range efforts.

The contest took a twist in the 65th minute when Real full-back Dani Carvajal was shown a straight red card for a headbutt on goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli, leaving Madrid with ten men.

Marseille pressed for a winner, but their move was halted by a contentious decision.

In the 81st minute, Facundo Medina was penalised for handball inside the box, despite protests from OM players. Mbappé converted the resulting penalty for his second of the night, giving Madrid the lead.

Marseille fall short despite late push

In the closing stages, Marseille threw men forward in search of an equaliser. Greenwood came closest, blasting over from close range, but Real Madrid held on to secure all three points.

The victory puts Xabi Alonso’s side on course in Group Stage action, while Marseille will be left to rue the chances they couldn’t convert.

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Arsenal begin Champions League campaign with hard-fought 2-0 win in Bilbao

Arsenal opened their 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over Athletic Club at San Mamés on Tuesday night.

The Premier League side struggled to break down a well-organised Spanish defence in the first half, with chances at a premium.

Despite dominating possession, Mikel Arteta’s men lacked the incisiveness to turn control into goals.

Substitutes change the game

It was Arteta’s changes from the bench that proved decisive in the second half. Belgian forward Leandro Trossard and Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli combined to devastating effect, delivering the breakthrough in the 72nd minute.

Trossard released Martinelli with a perfectly timed pass, and the Brazilian showed composure to control with his head before racing through and drilling low past goalkeeper Unai Simón.

The pair linked up again minutes later to secure the result. This time Martinelli turned provider, cutting back smartly for Trossard, who calmly slotted home for his first goal of the season.

Depth proves decisive

The two goals highlighted Arsenal’s strength in depth, as Arteta’s tactical substitutions swung the game in their favour after a cagey opening hour.

The Gunners had circulated the ball patiently without reward, but the introduction of direct, pace-driven play ultimately broke Athletic’s resistance.

Appreciation for travelling fans

At the final whistle, Arsenal players made their way towards the travelling supporters high in the stands to applaud their backing.

The victory sets Arsenal off to a strong start in Group Stage action.

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Tobi Amusan Wins Silver at World Athletics Championships

Nigeria’s sprint hurdler Tobi Amusan has come second in the women’s 100 metres hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Monday, September 15.
The Nigerian star sprinter took home the silver medal after narrowly missing out on gold to Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji.
Kambundji, 23, stunned the field with a blistering run of 12.24 seconds, setting a new national record and securing Switzerland’s first-ever world title in the event.
Amusan, the 2022 world champion and world record holder, followed closely in 12.29 seconds to earn Nigeria’s 12th medal in World Championships history.
The bronze medal went to American Grace Stark, who clocked 12.34 seconds. Her teammate Masai Russell, hampered by the slowest reaction time in the race at 0.240 seconds, finished fourth in 12.44.
Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska equalled her season’s best with 12.49 seconds to take fifth place, just edging out Bahamian Devynne Charlton, who posted the same time. Jamaica’s Danielle Williams, the 2023 world champion, crossed in 12.53 seconds for seventh, while the Netherlands’ Nadine Visser completed the line-up in eighth with 12.56.
Amusan, 28, had entered the final as one of the favourites after dominating her semi-final heat with a time of 12.36 seconds, finishing ahead of Visser and Skrzyszowska. However, despite a strong start in the final, she was unable to hold off Kambundji’s late surge.
The Nigerian sprint star adds silver to her collection after her historic victory in Eugene in 2022, when she set the world record of 12.12 seconds, a mark that still stands.
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Haaland double inspires Manchester City to derby win over United

Erling Haaland continued his high flying form as Manchester City beat rivals Manchester United 3-0 in Sunday’s Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium.

Phil Foden’s early header put the hosts ahead, before Erling Haaland struck twice in the second half to seal the victory for Pep Guardiola’s men.

Foden strikes first

City took the lead inside the opening 20 minutes when Jeremy Doku’s clever wing play carved open United’s defence, allowing academy graduate Foden to nod in from close range.

The goal gave City the edge as they controlled possession and kept United pinned back.

Haaland takes charge

The pressure paid off after the restart. A flowing move saw Haaland finish clinically to make it 2-0 just after half-time.

The Norwegian capitalised again midway through the second half, latching onto a midfield error from United before rifling home his second of the day.

Haaland’s brace took his tally to five goals in four games against United this campaign.

Emotional tribute at the Etihad

Before kick-off, both clubs joined in a minute’s applause to honour former world champion boxer Ricky Hatton, a lifelong City supporter who was found dead at his home in Manchester earlier in the day at the age of 46.

United left searching for answers

For United, the loss piles pressure on Ruben Amorim, whose side continue to carryover their struggles from last campaign.

They currently occupy the 14th spot with just one win from their last four league outings. They play host to Chelsea next weekend in another challenging encounter.

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Manuel Neuer rules out German national team return

German veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has poured cold water on speculation linking him with a return to the national team.

The 39-year-old made it clear after Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga clash on Saturday night that his international career is over.

Rumours had gathered earlier last week following comments attributed to his agent, who hinted Neuer would “not say no” if head coach Julian Nagelsmann opted for a recall.

The veteran had already been quizzed about the possibility during a Bayern media session three days ago.

Neuer, however, has now closed the door emphatically, insisting his focus lies solely with Bayern Munich.

‘A conscious decision to step away’

“It was a conscious decision for me to step down from the German national team,” Neuer said post-match.

“Accordingly, that’s not something that’s an option for me. I’m concentrating on my club. I was with the national team since 2009.

“I think the European Championship [in 2024] was a nice conclusion, though it wasn’t the best way to end things, losing against Spain in my own country.”

Looking back with pride

Neuer stressed he has no regrets about his international journey, which included lifting the 2014 World Cup. “I think I gained a lot from German football and hopefully gave enough back.

“I had a very successful and nice time. I’m not thinking about returning at all. I can’t visualize Manuel Neuer returning to the German national team.”

Final word on the matter

Addressing media speculation, Neuer added: “I haven’t talked about it with my agent. But the fact remains that I have decided not to return to the German national team. That is my final decision.”

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2025 World Championships: Tobi Amusan Cruises Into 100m Hurdles Semi-Finals

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan has advanced to the semifinals of the women’s 100m hurdles at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

The defending champion, who won gold at the 2022 edition in Oregon and finished sixth at Budapest 2023, looked in sharp form as she dominated heat six with a time of 12.53 seconds to advance comfortably on Sunday, September 14..

Bahamas’ Devynne Charlton, the world indoor champion and one of Amusan’s main rivals, came second in 12.69s, while Italy’s Elena Carraro placed third in 12.86s to also secure qualification.

Amusan, who holds the world record of 12.12s set in 2022, is aiming to reclaim her world title after losing it last year. Her progression to the semis keeps Nigeria’s medal hopes alive in Tokyo.

Elsewhere, Nigeria’s Kanyinsola Ajayi and Israel Okon will feature in the men’s 100m semi-finals later today (Sunday), as the country continues its push for podium finishes at the Championships.

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