The curtain came down on the 2025/26 Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) season on Sunday, bringing with it dramatic moments, celebrations, and historic achievements. Among the biggest headlines of the campaign was the remarkable resurgence of Shooting Stars Sports Club, who secured a long-awaited return to continental football. Popularly known as 3SC, the Ibadan-based side finished third on the NPFL table with 60 points from 38 matches, earning qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup. Although Shooting Stars suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Niger Tornadoes on the final day of the season, results elsewhere worked in their favor as…
Author: Damilola Amuda (Goalgetter)
The 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League season came to a thrilling conclusion on Sunday as Enugu Rangers emerged champions after a tense 2-1 victory over Ikorodu City at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos. Led by coach Fidelis Ilechukwu, the Flying Antelopes battled fiercely to secure their ninth Nigerian league title in what proved to be a dramatic final day of the campaign. The victory saw Rangers finish at the top of the NPFL table with 68 points from 38 matches, capping off an impressive and consistent season. Chidiebere Nwobodo was the hero of the day, scoring both goals…
Aston Villa produced a commanding performance in Istanbul to defeat Freiburg and lift the Europa League trophy, ending a 30-year wait for major silverware in unforgettable fashion. Under the lights at Besiktas Park, Unai Emery’s side delivered a display full of confidence, quality, and composure as they secured the club’s second major European title — 44 years after Villa famously won the European Cup in 1982. The victory also cemented Emery’s reputation as the undisputed master of the Europa League. The Spanish manager lifted the trophy for a remarkable fifth time, completing yet another extraordinary European campaign. Aston Villa wasted…
Southampton’s hopes of returning to the Premier League have collapsed in dramatic fashion after the club was expelled from the Championship play-offs for spying on rival teams during the season. The decision, confirmed by the EFL, has sent shockwaves through English football and sparked major questions about integrity, sportsmanship, and the lengths clubs are willing to go in pursuit of promotion. The EFL announced on Tuesday that Southampton admitted to “multiple breaches of EFL regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other clubs’ training.” The club was found guilty of spying on Oxford United and Ipswich Town during the Championship…
Manchester City are preparing for the end of an era, with Pep Guardiola expected to step down as manager following the club’s final Premier League match of the season against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium. According to reports, City have already identified former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca as the leading candidate to take over ahead of the 2026–27 campaign. Discussions between the club and the Italian coach are believed to be at an advanced stage, with Maresca eager to return to Manchester in a new role. The possible appointment would mark a remarkable rise for Maresca, who has rapidly…
Nigerian footballers enjoyed another memorable weekend across Europe, with several Super Eagles stars delivering standout performances for their clubs, while others celebrated major milestones in their careers. Iheanacho Crowned Scottish Champion with Celtic In Scotland, Kelechi Iheanacho helped Celtic F.C. secure the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership title after a dramatic 3-1 comeback victory over Heart of Midlothian F.C. at Paradise on Saturday. Celtic claimed their 56th league crown after recovering from an early setback in front of their home supporters. Iheanacho entered the match at halftime in place of Sebastian Tounekti and played his part as the Hoops sealed another historic…
Xabi Alonso has agreed a four-year deal to become the next permanent Chelsea head coach. The deal could be announced as soon as Monday. The former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid boss has finalised a four-year deal at Stamford Bridge, with an announcement expected imminently. Alonso has emerged in the last few days as the leading candidate to replace Liam Rosenior and though a number of other coaches have been under consideration, things have moved quickly. The club had intended to take their time over the appointment of their next coach and no decision had been expected before the end…
Michael Carrick has agreed a deal to continue as the permanent Manchester United head coach. Carrick will sign an initial two-year deal with the option of an additional 12 months. The final legal details are now being sorted and the club are hopeful of an announcement in the next 24 to 48 hours. Carrick has overseen a vast improvement at Old Trafford since replacing Ruben Amorim, who was sacked in January, successfully leading the club to Champions League qualification. His impressive body of work since his interim appointment has put the 44-year-old in pole position to become the club’s next…
Robert Lewandowski has confirmed he will leave Barcelona when his contract expires at the end of the season. Lewandowski joined Barcelona in 2022 and has made 191 appearances in all competitions, netting 119 goals. Across his four seasons in LaLiga, the Pole has won three LaLiga titles, including this season, as well as the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana three times. Lewandowski has started just 15 of his 29 LaLiga appearances this season, but is still Barcelona’s second-highest scorer in the competition this season, having netted 13 goals. “After four years full of challenges and hard work,…
Manchester City claimed their second trophy of the season as Antoine Semenyo’s sublime finish saw them beat Chelsea 1-0 to win the FA Cup. Saturday’s contest at Wembley was hardly a classic, but a moment of magic from Semenyo proved decisive. Pep Guardiola tinkered with his team, leaving Rayan Cherki on the bench, with Omar Marmoush a surprise inclusion, and City stuttered in the first half. While Chelsea did not test James Trafford, the Blues looked the brighter of the teams before the break, albeit Erling Haaland forced Robert Sanchez into action and saw a goal disallowed for Matheus Nunes drifting…