Sports

Trossard edges Arsenal past Fulham to keep Gunners top

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10 months ago

October 19, 2025

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Belgian’s first goal of the season from another Gunners set-piece secures 1-0 victory in west London

Leandro Trossard’s first Premier League goal of the season proved decisive as Arsenal returned to the top of the table with a 1-0 win at Fulham.

Having been displaced by Manchester City after their 2-0 defeat of Everton earlier on Saturday, the Gunners responded to move three points clear at the top.

Riccardo Calafiori had a sensational strike ruled out for offside in a low-key first half, but Trossard broke the deadlock in the 58th minute following a typically well-worked corner routine.

Bukayo Saka thought he had won Arsenal a penalty after tussling with Kevin inside Fulham’s box, but that decision was overturned following a VAR review, although the Gunners held on to their lead with relative comfort.

While Arsenal will sit pretty at the top for at least another week, even if Liverpool beat Manchester United on Sunday, Fulham are in 14th after a third straight defeat.

Mikel Arteta’s team had the ball in the back of the net in the 18th minute when Calafiori swept a curling effort into the top-right corner, but it was ruled out for offside.

Harry Wilson then fired narrowly wide after collecting Alex Iwobi’s drilled pass before Josh King almost caught David Raya out, with the visiting goalkeeper forced to tip a cross-shot over the bar.

A quiet performance from Viktor Gyokeres almost sparked into life after he was fed by Saka, but the Swede’s right-footed shot from a tight angle was blocked by Bernd Leno.

Arsenal’s persistence eventually paid off just before the hour mark when Saka’s inviting corner was flicked on by Gabriel Magalhaes for Trossard to turn home.

Saka’s overturned spot-kick was the closest either side came until the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, but Leno was on hand to deny Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli in quick succession.

Fulham certainly made Arsenal work for this victory, though Marco Silva’s team are in worrying form, and sit only three points above the bottom three – even if the season is still young, that is not a sight the Portuguese boss will be content with.

Matters might have been different if not for Raya, who made an early stop from Raul Jimenez before talented teenager King saw a shot towards goal headed over by Declan Rice.

Fulham continued to look the more threatening in the first half as Wilson and King came close, and there was little for Arsenal to write home about in the opening period, that disallowed Calafiori finish aside.

However, Fulham’s cause was not helped by the loss of Joachim Andersen to injury, and the defender’s absence in the area was perhaps pivotal as Trossard capitalised from a set-piece.

Fulham had their chances, though, with Wilson firing two shots over in quick succession, but their attempts at trying to break down the division’s sternest defence proved ineffective.

Silva’s side will try to get back to winning ways next Saturday, but face another tricky test away at Newcastle United.

Arteta and Arsenal knew the importance of all three points against a side they have often struggled against in recent seasons, though they could not get going from an attacking perspective before the break.

Arsenal’s most positive outlet during the first half came down their left between Trossard and Calafiori, who, as well as being denied by the offside flag, also struck a fierce volley over Leno’s crossbar six minutes before the break.

Gyokeres also came close, with Rice ending the first 45 minutes with a curling effort that narrowly evaded the left-hand post from just outside the box, but the Gunners were far from their attacking peak.

But as has often been the case under Arteta, Arsenal’s reliable weapon in their armoury – their set-pieces – came up trumps again. They have now scored 37 goals from corners in the Premier League since the start of the 2023/24 season, at least 16 more than any other team.

From there, the Gunners’ strong defence was able to navigate the remainder of the contest, doing what Fulham had done to them in the first half, with this result sending a message to their title rivals.

Arsenal return to UEFA Champions League action on Tuesday as they welcome Atletico Madrid to Emirates Stadium, before they host Crystal Palace in the league next weekend.

Sports

Sad; Katsina United footballer, Ozor, slumps, dies, Gov Radda mourns

Published

2 hours ago

August 12, 2026

Austin Ojomah

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Katsina State was thrown into mourning on Tuesday after the tragic death of Katsina United Football Club player, Chinedu Ozor, who collapsed during a pre-season friendly match against Niger Tornadoes FC at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium.

The promising footballer, who recently joined Katsina United from Kano Pillars FC, reportedly suffered a medical emergency during the encounter and was rushed to K-Dara Specialist Hospital, Katsina, where he was confirmed dead in the early hours of Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

Reacting to the heartbreaking incident, Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, expressed profound shock and sadness over the untimely passing of the young player, describing the loss as a devastating blow to the football community and the state.

In a statement issued on Tuesday night by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Mohammed, Governor Radda said the tragedy was especially painful as Ozor had been preparing to begin a new chapter of his career with Katsina United.

“The sudden death of Ozoh Chinedu is deeply shocking and heartbreaking. It is particularly painful that a young footballer with a promising career has lost his life at such a time,” the Governor said.
Governor Radda extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, Katsina United Football Club, the player’s teammates, coaches, management, supporters, his former club Kano Pillars FC, and the wider Nigerian football community.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Katsina State, I extend our condolences to the family of Ozoh Chinedu, Katsina United FC, his teammates, coaches, management, supporters, Kano Pillars FC and the entire football community,” he added.

The tragic incident has sent shockwaves across the country’s football fraternity, with tributes expected to pour in for the late midfielder, whose career was widely regarded as one of great promise.

Ozoh’s sudden passing has once again highlighted concerns over player health and emergency medical preparedness in competitive football, as the football community mourns the loss of a talented athlete whose life and career were cut short.

Sports

Countries That Qualified For 2027 Women’s World Cup As Cameroon Beat Nigeria In Quarter- Final

Published

2 days ago

August 10, 2026

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Cameroon on Sunday secured their place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after edging Nigeria’s Super Falcons 1-0 in their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final encounter.

The victory also sent the Indomitable Lionesses into the WAFCON semi-finals, securing their qualification for next year’s global tournament in Brazil.

The 2026 WAFCON doubles as Africa’s qualifying competition for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, with the four semi-finalists earning the continent’s automatic tickets to the tournament.

Cameroon join Algeria and Morocco, who had already sealed their places after reaching the semi-finals on Saturday.

Brazil will host the 2027 tournament, while the remaining qualifying places are being determined through continental competitions across the various confederations.

See full list of countries that qualified:

Host:

Brazil

AFC:

Australia
China PR
Japan
Korea DPR
Korea Republic
Philippines

CAF:

Algeria
Cameroon
Morocco

Concacaf:

None yet

CONMEBOL:

Argentina
Colombia

OFC:

New Zealand

UEFA:

Denmark
France
Germany
Spain

More teams are expected to secure qualification as the various continental qualification campaigns conclude.

The 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup will feature 32 teams.

Sports

Just in: Unlucky Sunday for Nigeria as Super Falcons, Flying Eagles crumble, World Cup hopes dimmed

Published

2 days ago

August 10, 2026

Austin Ojomah

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It is an unlucky Sunday for two National teams of Nigeria, the Super Falcons fell to Cameroon just as Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have been knocked out of the race for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup after suffering a heavy 4-1 defeat to Burkina Faso in the final of the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-20 Championship.

The defeat at the Stade Charles Konan Banny in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, also ended Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2027 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

The WAFU Zone B final carried added importance, as the winner was guaranteed a place at the 2027 U-20 AFCON, which will serve as the qualifying tournament for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

With Burkina Faso emerging victorious, the Young Stallions secured the region’s ticket, while Nigeria’s hopes of returning to the global youth tournament came to an end.

Burkina Faso took control of the final from the opening whistle, scoring three goals within the first 15 minutes and leaving the Flying Eagles with a huge deficit.

Nigeria struggled to contain the Young Stallings’ attacking pressure and could not recover from the early setback before the break.

Coach Abdu Maikaba’s side attempted to fight back after the interval but failed to produce the response required to turn the game around.

Burkina Faso eventually added another goal to complete a convincing 4-1 victory, while Nigeria’s consolation effort was not enough to change the outcome.

The result was particularly painful for the Flying Eagles after Burkina Faso had already defeated them 2-0 during the group stage.

Nigeria had hoped to avenge that earlier loss in the final but instead suffered another defeat to the Young Stallions when the stakes were highest.

The Flying Eagles had reached the final after overcoming Côte d’Ivoire in a dramatic semi-final.