SPORTS
Mbappe Brace Helps PSG to Thrilling Win at Bayern Munich
Kylian Mbappe’s double and a goal from skipper Marquinhos guided Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to a 3-2 away victory over Bayern Munich in the 2020/2021 UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
Mbappe’s brace steered the visitors to victory over holders Bayern Munich in a topsy-turvy Champions League quarter-final first leg match at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
The France forward fired in his eighth goal of the competition in the 68th minute on a snowy evening in the Bavarian capital.
This was after Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in the 37th minute and Thomas Muller on the hour mark had cancelled out a two-goal PSG lead.
It was Bayern Munich’s first Champions League loss in more than two years and the first ever for coach Hansi Flick.
He had been unbeaten in his previous 16 matches in Europe’s premier club competition.
The Germans will be wondering how they failed to earn at least a point with 31 goal attempts to PSG’s six, 15 corner-kicks to one and a string of golden opportunities.
PSG had stunned the hosts in the third minute through Mbappe, whose powerful low drive squeezed through the legs of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
The French champions were brutally efficient and scored with their second chance of the game.
This was when Neymar picked out Marquinhos with a pinpoint cross and the PSG captain beat Neuer in the 28th minute.
Marquinos went off injured immediately after scoring.
The defender’s absence dealt a blow to Mauricio Pochettino’s back line before replacement Ander Herrera could settle in.
Bayern Munich quickly took control of the game and came close through Muller and Choupo-Moting, who was replacing the injured Robert Lewandowski.
Choupo-Moting had headed onto the crossbar in the second minute but did better with another header, and Muller brought the hosts level, nodding in a Joshua Kimmich free-kick.
The 22-year-old Mbappe then scored again, drilling in from a tight angle and with two defenders in front of him to put PSG back in front.
The 2019/2020 runners-up had to survive intense late pressure from Bayern Munich, with David Alaba and Muller going agonisingly close for the hosts.
But they hung on for victory ahead of next week’s return leg in Paris.(Reuters/NAN)
The finals of Gov. Peter Mbah Secondary Schools Games, on Thursday began in Enugu with the arrival and accreditation of athletes at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu.
Dan Onwuegbuna, Director, Information, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Enugu State, said in a statement on Thursday that the games would be held between Aug.
7 and Aug. 10 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and the Enugu State Sports Council.“The games is designed to help the state discover talents to represent the state at the forthcoming U15 National Youth Games scheduled to take place in Asaba, Delta, from Aug. 26 to Sept. 6,” he stated.
Onwuegbuna said that apart from representing the state at the Youth Games in Asaba, talented athletes discovered would represent the state in other competitions.
He quoted the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ekweremadu as thanking Gov. Peter Mbah for approving the games.
Onwuegbuna said that the games was made possible following the collaboration between the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the state Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB).
The games finals followed the outcome of the inter- Secondary Schools competitions held at the local government areas in the six Educational Zones in the State – Enugu, Agbani, Awgu, Udi, Nsukka and Udenu.
“The games will feature athletics, boxing, chess, basketball, volleyball, football, tennis and scrabble,” Onwuegbuna stated.
Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has been nominated for the 2025 Women’s Yachine Trophy, the Ballon d’Or award for the best female goalkeeper.
The 24-year-old recently joined Brighton Women FC from Paris FC after helping the French side win their first major title in nearly two decades.
Nnadozie delivered a heroic performance in the final of the 2025 Coupe de France Féminine, where Paris FC edged Paris Saint-Germain 5-4 on penalties following a goalless draw at Stade de l’Épopée in Calais.She was also instrumental in Nigeria’s success at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where the Super Falcons secured a record-extending 10th continental crown against host nation, Morocco.
Her standout displays earned her the Best Goalkeeper award and a place in the Team of the Tournament.
Other nominees for the Yachine Trophy include Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC), Cata Coll (Barcelona Femeni), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea Women) and Daphne van Domselaar (Arsenal Women).
Nigeria’s Super Falcons maintained 36th position in the latest FIFA women’s world ranking.
The latest ranking was released on FIFA’s official website yesterday.
While the Super Falcons remain the number one team in Africa, WAFCON 2024 runners-up Morocco are third on the continent and dropped to 64th spot in the world.
Former WAFCON champions Banyana Banyana of South Africa maintained 54th place in the world and second in Africa.
Ghana’s Black Queens who claimed third place at the WAFCON dropped to 67th position in the global ranking.
The Super Falcons recently won their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after coming from 2-0 down to beat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final.
Second half goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi and substitute Jennifer Echegini completed the turnaround.
Okoronkwo, scored a goal and provided two assists against the Moroccans was Named Player of the Match.
Chiamaka Nnadozie was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament while Captain Rasheedat Ajibade won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
Meanwhile, World champions Spain (1st, up 1) had an impressive run to the final of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 with five back-to-back wins, which was enough to see them reclaim top spot in the ranking, a position they previously held from December 2023 to June 2024.
The USA (2nd, down 1) have therefore been knocked off their perch, which they had occupied since August 2024.
However, three convincing home wins in friendlies during this period have kept the USA in contention, and they are now sitting less than two points behind Spain.
The top 10 has been shaken up completely since the June edition of the ranking, with France (6th, up 4) performing best among them.
France completed a flawless group stage at the European Championship before falling to Germany in the quarter-finals.
The next edition of the Women’s World Ranking will be published on 11 December 2025.
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