Sports
PHOTOS: Eni Aluko Becomes 1st Black Female Football Club Owner In Italy
In a groundbreaking move, Eni Aluko, a former sports director for Aston Villa and Angel City, has become the first black female football club owner in Italy.
Aluko is part of a $100 million ownership group, known as Mercury 13, that has acquired a majority stake in FC Como Women, a club based in northern Italy.
Aluko, who has primarily focused on football broadcasting since her retirement, has now ventured into sports ownership, joining the Mercury 13 group. This move not only makes her the first black woman to own a football team in her native Italy but also serves as an inspiration for black sports investors and black ownership in general.
The Mercury 13 ownership group has pledged to invest $100 million in women’s football teams across Latin America and Europe, reflecting the growing interest and investment in the sport. With Aluko’s majority ownership of Como FC, the group is positioning itself to build a stable of women’s clubs, capitalizing on the increasing popularity of the women’s game.
Aluko’s journey to club ownership is a testament to her passion for the sport and her desire to make a lasting impact. As a former sports director, she brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her new role, and her involvement is expected to further elevate the profile of women’s football in Italy and beyond.
This landmark acquisition by the Mercury 13 group, with Eni Aluko at the helm, represents a significant milestone in the history of Italian football and the ongoing efforts to promote diversity and inclusivity in the sport.
Chelsea on Saturday maintained its top four position in the Premier league after thrashing Everton 1-0 at home.
A lone goal was put behind Everton’s goal keeper at the 27th minute of the second half by M.Jackson of Chelsea, his first goal in the Premiership.
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Team Nigeria has wrapped up its participation at the 2025 African Senior Weightlifting Championship in Moka, Mauritius, with a stunning haul of 18 medals—13 gold, 4 silver, and 1 bronze—cementing its status as a continental powerhouse in the sport.
Nigeria’s final day of competition saw Sarah Ovayioza deliver a show-stopping performance in the women’s 76kg weight class, lifting a combined total of 237kg in the snatch, clean, and jerk. Her flawless execution earned the nation three more gold medals and drew roaring applause from the crowd as she closed out Nigeria’s campaign in style.
Earlier in the tournament, Ruth Imoleayo Ayodele dazzled in the women’s 64kg category, completing a clean sweep of the three gold medals in her weight class.
Following suit, Onome Omolola Didih was the star of the 55kg division with another triple-gold performance, dominating her weight class from start to finish (three gold medals).
Two-time African Games gold medallist and reigning Commonwealth Games champion, Rafiatu Folashade Lawal , continued her golden streak in the 59kg category. Her lifts of 95kg (snatch) and 118kg (clean and jerk) for a total of 213kg secured yet another hat-trick of gold medals for Team Nigeria.
In the men’s events, Umoafia Joseph Edidiong powered through the 73kg category with a 147kg snatch to win gold, while narrowly missing out on a gold rush with two silvers in the clean and jerk.
Without minding what day of the week it was, Tuesday Emmanuel contributed to the medal count in the 67kg category, bagging two silver medals and a bronze after a combined lift of 276kg (130kg snatch, 146kg clean & jerk).
Although the championship continues until April 28, Nigeria’s contingent has concluded its events, proudly leaving the stage with one of the most impressive medal tallies recorded in recent history. The team’s performance yet again showcases Nigeria’s continued dominance and rising momentum in international weightlifting.
Today we dive into some of the clubs that have already qualified for the 2025-26 Champions League group stage based on the current standings in some of the top European leagues and teams that have mathematically secured a top finish as of today, April 22, 2025:
Liverpool: They have mathematically secured a top-five finish in the Premier League, guaranteeing their Champions League spot due to England’s strong UEFA coefficient ranking.
Arsenal: They are highly likely to qualify, holding a significant point advantage over sixth place.
Bayer Leverkusen: They have secured a top-four finish in the Bundesliga.
Bayern Munich: They have also secured a top-four finish in the Bundesliga.
Barcelona: They are currently in a position to qualify through their league standing.
Real Madrid: They are also in a strong position to qualify through their league standing.
Paris Saint-Germain: They are in a qualifying position in Ligue 1.
Now, those are the usual suspects. There are several other teams that have qualified as league champions in their respective countries, though their entry point, i.e., group stage or qualifying rounds, depends on their league’s UEFA coefficient ranking. Some are familiar; others, not so familiar. They are:
Qarabag (Azerbaijan)
Differdange 03 (Luxembourg)
Crvena Zvezda (Serbia)
Malmö FF (Sweden)
Kairat (Kazakhstan)
KuPS (Finland)
Shelbourne (Ireland)
RFS (Latvia)
Víkingur (Faroe Islands)
Breiðablik (Iceland)
Linfield (Northern Ireland)
The New Saints (Wales)
Virtus (San Marino)
Slavia Prague (Czech Republic)
Galatasaray (Türkiye)
Ajax (Netherlands)
Sporting CP (Portugal)
Genk (Belgium)
As the current season winds down, the number of qualified teams will increase. Follow the league standings in the major European leagues and the results of the current Champions League and Europa League to stay updated.
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