Sports
Yaya Toure leads Serbian club to UEFA Champions League
Former Ivory Coast and Manchester City midfielder, Yaya Touré has become the first African coach to lead a club into the UEFA Champions League group stage after guiding Slovan Bratislava through the final qualifying round.
Toure achieved the feat on Wednesday as Slovan defeated Celje 2-1 after extra time in the second leg of their qualifying tie.
The Slovakian champions progressed 3-2 on aggregate to secure their place in the Champions League group stage.
Slovan took the lead in the 18th minute through Andraž Šporar before Celje equalised from the penalty spot through Svit Šešlar in the 34th minute.
With the tie heading towards extra time, Cristian Martínez became the match-winner for Touré’s side when he struck in the 100th minute to send Slovan through.
The achievement represents a significant milestone for African coaches in European football.
Nigerian coach Ndubuisi Egbo had previously come closest to reaching the Champions League group stage, after guiding Albanian side FK Tirana through the qualifying rounds in 2020. However, Tirana failed to make it to the group stage.
Touré, 43, only took charge of Slovan in July 2026, making the Champions League qualification particularly impressive given that it is his first senior managerial appointment.
His side have also made an unbeaten start to the Slovak League campaign, winning all four of their opening matches as defending champions.
Touré brings considerable Champions League pedigree from his playing days, having won the competition with Barcelona during the 2008/09 season.
He also won two La Liga titles with the Spanish giants before moving to Manchester City, where he became a key figure in the club’s rise to dominance.
The Ivorian won three Premier League titles with City and was part of the Ivory Coast squad that lifted the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015.
Since retiring from professional football in 2020, Touré has gradually transitioned into coaching.
He worked as an assistant at Standard Liège and with the Saudi Arabia national team before taking charge of Tottenham Hotspur’s Under-16 side.
Touré will now await Thursday’s Champions League draw, when Slovan Bratislava will discover their opponents in the group stage.
The achievement places the former African football star in a new chapter of his career, this time making history from the touchline.
Sports
Bwari edge Kuje to win FCT FA Women’s Inter-Area Council Championship
Bwari Area Council have emerged champions of the second edition of the FCT Football Association, FCT FA, Women’s Inter-Area Council Tournament.
Bwari defeated Kuje 1-0 in Saturday’s final at the Area 3 Football Pitch, Abuja, to claim the six-team round-robin women’s championship which ran from August 21st to September 5, 2026 and replicate their success in the men’s competition.
The decisive moment came just one minute into the final when Patricia Habila struck to give Bwari an early lead.
Kuje responded with sustained pressure in search of an equaliser, but Bwari’s defence stood firm to preserve the advantage and secure the trophy.
The victory means Bwari are champions in both the men’s and women’s editions of the FCT FA Inter-Area Council competitions, underlining the Area Council’s impressive performance across grassroots football.
Defending champions Amac settled for third place after recovering from a 1-1 draw against Kwali in the third-place playoff. Amac subsequently prevailed 3-1 on penalties to secure the bronze medal.
FCT FA Chairman Adam Mouktar Mohammed congratulated Bwari for their triumph and praised the participating Area Councils for their commitment to the development of the women’s game.
“This is exactly what grassroots football development should be about, giving young players the opportunity to compete, gain experience and be identified. We are encouraged by what we have seen and will continue to support competitions that create opportunities for our girls,” Mohammed said.
Sports
NPFL: Rivers United reward players, officials for impressive start to new season
Rivers United players and officials have been rewarded with cash bonuses for their impressive start to the new season.
The Pride of Rivers earned ₦2 million for their 2-0 victory over Plateau United in their 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, opener.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Barrister Chris Green, rewarded the team with ₦1 million for each goal scored in the match.
Rivers United were also rewarded with $2,000 for their draw against FC San Pedro of Cote d’Ivoire in the CAF Champions League.
The Port Harcourt club held FC San Pedro to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their first preliminary round tie.
The club praised the players and officials for representing Rivers State and Nigeria well on both domestic and continental fronts.
The bonuses are part of efforts to motivate the squad as they balance commitments in the league and on the continent.
Rivers United will now turn their attention to the return leg against FC San Pedro in Ikenne as they seek to advance to the second preliminary round.
Sports
Edo Queens emerge 2026 WAFU B Women’s champions
Edo Queens Football Club, weekend defeated Ghana’s Women League champions, Ampem Darkoa Ladies FC 4-1 in a penalty shootout to win the WAFU-B tournament for the second time.
It was a breathtaking scene in Ouagadougou on Saturday night when the Nigerian champions produced a spirited comeback twice to frustrate the Ghana’s champions who were yet to suffer any defeat at the tournament before the thrilling shootouts ensued.
The fiercely contested final match had ended 2-2 at regulation period of 90 minutes as goals from Doosuur Anastasia Atume (4mns); Oluebube Umejiaku (90+4mns) canceled out Beline Nyarkoh 2nd and 74th minute brace.
Edo Queens lifted the WAFU-B cup for the first time in 2024 and progressed to a 4th place finish at the CAF Champions League proper in Morocco.
The Nigeria’s representatives redeemed their image with the 4-1 victory over their Ghanaian counterparts Ampem Darkoa Ladies who handed them the only defeat they suffered in the WAFU-B tournament.
The group B last game ended 2-1 in favour of Ampem , topping the group ahead of Edo Queens.
On the road to the finals, Edo Queens at the semi-finals stage, recorded an overwhelming 5-1 victory over the host country’s USFA just as Ampem Darkoa Ladies spanked Benin Republic’s FC Dynamique 4-1 to advance to the final in the championship.
The Benin girls trashed AS Garde Nationale of Niger 7-0 in their first group match and later triumphed over ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast 3-1 before their 2-1 loss to Ampem Darkoa Ladies in the third match.
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