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FIFA Pays Tribute To Nigerians Who Died While Watching 2023 AFCON

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The world football governing body, FIFA has sent its condolences to Nigeria and the families of the Nigerians who lost their lives while watching the Super Eagles vs South Africa 2023 AFCON semi-final clash on Wednesday, February 7.

According to reports, a former member of the House of Representatives from the Ika Federal Constituency of Delta State, Cairo Ojougboh, died while watching the Super Eagles clash with South Africa.

Osondu Nwoye, a businessman from Anambra state who resides in Abidjan slumped and died while watching the AFCON game in the stadium.

Another Nigerian, Mikail Osundiji, died while watching the game in Abeokuta, Ogun state. Deputy Bursar of Kwara State University, Malete, Ayuba Abdullahi also slumped and died after Victor Osimhen’s goal was disallowed during the game.

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Others are a youth corps member in Adamawa, Samuel Yunana, and 43-year-old Mikail Osundiji in Abeokuta.

Recall that the game ended in a 1-1 draw and was decided by a penalty shootout and fortunately, Super Eagles came out victorious.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have tragically passed away as well as the entire football community in Nigeria. Rest in peace”, FIFA wrote via its X official account.

Also, the Super Eagles of Nigeria’s official Instagram page posted on Thursday: “In a cruel twist of fate, their fervent passion for the beautiful game unwittingly led them to their final moments as Nigeria vs South Africa match unfolded, they were lost in the thrill of the game, unaware of the looming danger.”

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The Super Eagles prayed that the departed “find eternal peace, forever remembered for their love of football and the togetherness it brings. Rest in peace.”

The Super Eagles are expected to pay tribute to the departed souls by wearing black hand bands during the 2023 AFCON final against Ivory Coast on Sunday, February 11.

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Osimhen Nets €75 M Galatasaray Move After Scoring Spree in Turkey

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Napoli star Victor Osimhen, fresh off a sensational loan season with Galatasaray—where he notched 37 goals in 41 appearances and claimed a Turkish league and cup double—has now secured a permanent switch to the Turkish giants. Galatasaray met Napoli’s €75 million release clause, offering Osimhen a four-year contract at around €16 million net per season, plus bonuses .

Key facts:

Loan success: 2024–25 loan spell saw Osimhen lead the Süper Lig with 26 goals in 30 games, driving Galatasaray to domestic glory .

Age & record: At 26, Nigeria’s powerhouse striker departs Napoli—where he scored 76 times in 133 games—bringing elite pedigree to the Turkish side .

Deal structure: Galatasaray is finalizing payment matching the €75 m clause, reportedly via installments over five years, pending Napoli receiving full financial guarantees .

Personal terms: Osimhen penned a deal worth approximately €16 million per year net, solidifying a top-tier contract in Turkish football .

This signals a major statement of intent from Galatasaray, snagging one of Europe’s most feared strikers after a record-breaking loan season. It’s a game-changer in the Süper Lig.

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Chelsea thrash PSG 3-0 to win FIFA Club World Cup

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Cole Palmer scored two goals and made another as Chelsea stunned Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the Club World Cup on Sunday, beating the European champions 3-0 at the MetLife Stadium to win the first edition of FIFA’s new competition.

PSG were the favourites for a game attended by Donald Trump after coming to the United States fresh from winning the UEFA Champions League and having destroyed Real Madrid 4-0 in the semi-finals.

But having been three goals ahead midway through the first half in the semis, this time the roles were reversed as PSG found themselves 3-0 down by the break.

Palmer opened the scoring midway through the first half and struck again to make it two on the half-hour mark, before taking advantage of passive defending to set up Joao Pedro for the third on 43 minutes.

A bad day for PSG was summed up when Joao Neves was shown red following a VAR review four minutes from the end for pulling Marc Cucurella by the hair off the ball.

It was a scoreline that few could have predicted as Chelsea capped what has been a long but memorable season — they are the first ever winners of the 32-team Club World Cup having also won the UEFA Conference League and finished fourth in the Premier League.

They will also take away around $125 million in prize money, meaning the prospect of a drastically curtailed summer break before returning for next season will surely feel worth it.

For PSG, meanwhile, the financial rewards are similar but there will be genuine disappointment at falling short of adding this title to their Champions League triumph and French league and cup double.

Nevertheless, conquering Europe was always the main aim this season for Luis Enrique’s team, who now have exactly a month to digest this and take a holiday before returning to action in the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham Hotspur.

– Trump in attendance –

There was a real sense of occasion at the MetLife Stadium, with the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline and with President Trump in attendance along with First Lady Melania Trump in a crowd of 81,118.

There was even the first-ever half-time show at a FIFA tournament, adding a Super Bowl feel to a final played at the home of NFL sides the New York Giants and New York Jets.

As for the football, for the second time in six weeks PSG found themselves involved in a final that quickly turned into a one-sided affair.

The club claimed a historic 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League final, but here they were ripped apart by Chelsea on another hot afternoon.

Palmer almost put Chelsea ahead inside the opening 10 minutes, before PSG should have scored at the other end only for Desire Doue to try to pass to Achraf Hakimi rather than shoot inside the box, allowing Cucurella to block.

It was Chelsea who struck in the 22nd minute as Malo Gusto got the better of Nuno Mendes down the right before seeing his shot blocked by Lucas Beraldo. The ball came back to Gusto and he teed up Palmer to finish into the bottom-left corner.

Palmer has been the face of Chelsea on billboards in the United States during the tournament and he lived up to his star billing by scoring again on the half-hour.

Released on the right with PSG left-back Mendes out of position, Palmer advanced towards the box before stroking a low shot into the same corner.

Joao Pedro played a part in the build-up to that goal and the Brazilian, signed during the tournament from Brighton, then got his name on the scoresheet to make it 3-0.

Scorer of both goals against Fluminense in the semi-finals, he clipped a shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma after being supplied by Palmer.

PSG had conceded a single goal in their previous eight matches and they never really looked like producing a comeback, even if Neves headed just wide in first-half stoppage time.

Substitute Liam Delap almost got a fourth for Chelsea midway through the second half, before Neves was shown red to complete a bad day for PSG.

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UEFA demote Crystal Palace to Conference league

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UEFA have demoted FA Cup champions Crystal Palace to the Conference League, with Nottingham Forest to take their Europa League slot.

According to UEFA, Palace were sanctioned after breaching its rules on multi-club ownership.

The rule states that clubs with the same owner are barred from competing in the same UEFA competition if an individual or ownership group is considered to have a decisive influence over more than one of those teams.

Nottingham Forest are expected to replace them in the tournament, although the Court of Arbitration for Sport have yet to decide.

John Textor, Crystal Palace’s largest shareholder and the owner of Lyon. had till March 1 to resolve the multi-club ownership issues.

However, Textor recently agreed a deal to sell his Palace shares to the US billionaire Woody Johnson, but the move has not been completed and was deemed to have come too late.

Lyon were also expected to face similar sanctions but won their appeal against relegation to Ligue 2 this week, clearing them to take their place in the tournament.

The Crystal Palace officials have revealed that they will appeal the demotion at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

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