Sports
Olympics 2024 football fixtures: Men and women football fixtures
Nigeria first match in the Olympics 2024 football category is against Brazil on Thursday evening.
“The Paris Olympics football events will take place from July 24 to August 10. Seven stadiums will be used throughout the tournament.
Nice, Bordeaux, and Saint-Etienne will host the group stage matches. The semi-final matches will be held in Lyon and Marseille, while the bronze medal matches will take place in Nantes for the men’s tournament and Lyon for the women’s tournament.
The two finals will be held at the iconic Parc des Princes in Paris, which can accommodate 48,000 fans. The men’s final will take place on August 9, and the women’s final will be on August 10.
The host nation, France, will play their first men’s game of the tournament against the United States on July 24, two days before the opening ceremony.
The women’s tournament will begin the following day, July 25. At Tokyo 2020, Brazil won the gold medal for men, while Canada took the gold medal for women.
Olympics 2024 football fixtures men:
Group A: France, USA, Guinea, New Zealand
Group B: Argentina, Morocco, Iraq, Ukraine
Group C: Uzbekistan, Spain, Egypt, Dominican Republic
Group D: Japan, Paraguay, Mali, Israel
Women Olympic tournament groups:
Group A: France, Colombia, Canada, New Zealand
Group B: USA, Zambia, Germany, Australia
Group C: Spain, Japan, Nigeria, Brazil
Which Format Will They Use for Olympic Football?
The most popular sport in the world is set to return for its 29th Olympic appearance for men and its eighth for women.
The basic rules of Olympic football mirror those of domestic and international competitions. Two teams of 11 players will compete in a 90-minute match, and the team that scores the most goals will win. Group matches can end in a draw, but knockout games will go into extra time and penalties if needed.
For the men’s tournament, 16 teams are divided into four groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the quarter-finals.
In the women’s tournament, 12 teams are split into three groups. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will qualify for the knockout stages.
For the men’s teams, only three players in each squad can be over 23 years old, while there are no age restrictions for the women’s teams.
Who Has Won the Most Medals in Olympic Football?
The USA is the most successful nation in Olympic football, having won eight medals, including four golds. Hungary follows with five medals, three of which are gold.
Great Britain has also had significant success in Olympic football, securing three gold medals.
Olympics 2024 football fixtures men schedule
Group stage
Wednesday, 24 July 2024
Group A: France v USA, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 8pm
Group A: Guinea v New Zealand, Stade de Nice, kick-off 4pm
Group B: Argentina v Morocco, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, kick-off 2pm
Group B: Iraq v Ukraine, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 6pm
Group C: Uzbekistan v Spain, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 2pm
Group C: Egypt v Dominican Republic, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 4pm
Group D: Mali v Israel, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 8pm
Group D: Japan v Paraguay, Stade de Bordeaux, kick-off 6pm
Saturday July 27
Group A: France v Guinea, Stade de Nice, kick-off 8pm
Group A: New Zealand v USA, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 6pm
Group B: Argentina v Iraq, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 2pm
Group B: Ukraine v Morocco, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, kick-off 5pm
Group C: Uzbekistan v Egypt, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 4pm
Group C: Dominican Republic v Spain, Stade de Bordeaux, kick-off 3pm
Group D: Israel v Paraguay, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 6pm
Group D: Japan v Mali, Stade de Bordeaux, kick-off 8pm
Tuesday July 30
Group A: New Zealand v France, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 6pm
Group A: USA v Guinea, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, kick-off 6pm
Group B: Ukraine v Argentina, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 4pm
Group B: Morocco v Iraq, Stade de Nice, kick-off 4pm
Group C: Dominican Republic v Uzbekistan, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 2pm
Group C: Spain v Egypt, Stade de Bordeaux, kick-off 2pm
Group D: Israel v Japan, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 8pm
Group D: Paraguay v Mali, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 8pm
Quarter-finals
Friday August 2
Match 25: 1A v 2B, Stade de Bordeaux, kick-off 8pm
Match 26: 1B v 2A, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 2pm
Match 27: 1C v 2D, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 6pm
Match 28: 1D v 2C, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 4pm
Semi-finals
Monday August 5
Match 29: Winner Match 25 v Winner Match 27, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 8pm
Match 30: Winner Match 26 v Winner Match 28, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 5pm
Bronze medal match
Thursday August 8
Match 31: Loser Match 29 v Loser Match 30, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 4pm
Gold medal match
Friday August 9
Match 32: Winner Match 29 v Winner Match 30, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 5pm
Women Olympic Football fixture schedule
Group stage
Thursday July 25
Group A: France v Colombia, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 8pm
Group A: Canada v New Zealand, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, kick-off 4pm
Group B: USA v Zambia, Stade de Nice, kick-off 8pm
Group B: Germany v Australia, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 6pm
Group C: Spain v Japan, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 4pm
Group C: Nigeria v Brazil, Stade de Bordeaux, kick-off 6pm
Sunday July 28
Group A: France v Canada, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, kick-off 8pm
Group A: New Zealand v Colombia, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 4pm
Group B: USA v Germany, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 8pm
Group B: Australia v Zambia, Stade de Nice, kick-off 6pm
Group C: Spain v Nigeria, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 6pm
Group C: Brazil v Japan, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 4pm
Wednesday July 31
Group A: New Zealand v France, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 8pm
Group A: Colombia v Canada, Stade de Nice, kick-off 8pm
Group B: Australia v USA, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 6pm
Group B: Zambia v Germany, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, kick-off 6pm
Group C: Brazil v Spain, Stade de Bordeaux, kick-off 4pm
Group C: Japan v Nigeria, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 4pm
Olympics 2024 football fixtures for Quarter-finals
Saturday August 3
Match 19: 1A v 3B/C, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 8pm
Match 20: 1B v 2C, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 2pm
Match 21: 1C v 3A/B, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 4pm
Match 22: 2A v 2B, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 6pm
Olympics 2024 football fixtures Semi-finals
Tuesday August 6
Match 23: Match 19 Winner v Match 21 Winner, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 8pm
Match 24: Match 20 Winner v Match 22 Winner, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 5pm
Bronze medal match
Friday August 9
Match 25: Match 23 Loser v Match 24 Loser, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 2pm
Gold medal match
Saturday August 10
Match 26: Match 23 Winner v Match 24 Winner, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 4pm
Nigeria squad
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie , Tochukwu Oluehi, Morufa Ademola
Defenders: Osinachi Ohale, Oluwatosin Demehin, Michelle Alozie , Nicole Payne, Chidinma Okeke, Jumoke Alani
Midfielders: Deborah Abiodun, Christy Ucheibe , Jennifer Echegini , Toni Payne, Rasheedat Ajibade, Regina Otu
Forwards: Esther Okoronkwo, Asisat Oshoala, Uchenna Kanu, Chiwendu Ihezuo, Chinonyerem Macleans, Ifeoma Onimonu, Gift Monday
Manager – Randy Waldrum
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.
Burnley beat Sheffield United 2-1 to seal automatic promotion to the Premier League on Saturday, with the result also sending Championship leaders Leeds United up alongside them.
Leeds had earlier thrashed Stoke City 6-0 to go top of the Championship on 94 points with two matches remaining and needed Burnley to then not lose to third-placed Sheffield United to make sure they would finish in the top two.
Burnley duly obliged with Josh Brownhill scoring twice at Turf Moor, either side of Tom Cannon’s equaliser.
Scott Parker’s side, who were relegated last season, joined Leeds on 94 points to leave Sheffield United on 86, and now face the prospect of trying to join them via the playoffs.
Joel Piroe scored a hat-trick in the opening 20 minutes for Leeds at a raucous Elland Road and added another before halftime as the hosts stormed 5-0 ahead by the interval.
Leeds are heading back to the top flight after being relegated in 2023 after three seasons in the Premier League.
Fourth-placed Sunderland are guaranteed a playoff place despite a 1-0 home defeat by Blackburn Rovers, who kept alive their slim hopes of a top-six finish.
Fifth-placed Bristol City went down 3-1 at relegation battlers Luton Town, but remained above Coventry City who also lost 3-1 to bottom club Plymouth Argyle.
Seventh-placed Middlesbrough will be kicking themselves as they failed to capitalise on the defeats for Bristol and Coventry as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Sheffield Wednesday despite taking an early lead.
With two games remaining, Bristol City have 67 points, Coventry have 66, and Middlesbrough have 63.
Millwall and Blackburn, with 63 and 62 points respectively, are also still involved in the playoff picture.
AFP
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