SPORTS
Sawane Scores Winner as Senegal Clinch U-17 AFCON Title

Mamadou Sawane on Friday scored the winning goal as Senegal came from a goal down to clinch their first ever U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in Algiers.
Sawane headed home the winning goal seven minutes from time as Senegal scored twice in four minutes to beat Morocco 2-1 at the Nelson Mandela Stadium.
Skipper Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal had given Morocco a 14th minute lead, one they kept until the 79th minute when Serigne Diouf scored a VAR awarded penalty.
Sawane towered the entire defense to head home four minutes later, completing the hard-earned turnaround for the Teranga Cubs.
Senegal have now won a third consecutive continental title within four months.
Their team of local based players won the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) title in February at the same venue of their conquest on Friday.
Senegal also won the U-20 AFCON title in Egypt in March.
Their senior national team began the continental dominance last February when they clinched the AFCON 2021 crown.
They Also won an AFCON Beach Soccer title later in the year.
Heading into the Friday night’s duel, both teams were in unfamiliar territory, playing their first ever final, but it was Morocco who would go ahead first.
Skipper Ait Boudlal peeled away from his markers before beating the keeper to the ball to head home from an Abdel Hamid Maali corner.
It was a nerve calming goal for Said Chiba’s boys, as just 10 minutes before, the Senegalese had come close with skipper Amara Diouf having a freekick fly inches wide off target.
The game went into a full contest, with both sides battling for possession, but clear-cut chances at goal diminishing.
In the second half, Senegal started faster off the blocks, Mamadou Sadio shooting just over with only 45 seconds gone on the clock.
On the other end, Morocco had a chance when Maali struck a shot from the edge of the box, but it flew wide.
Senegal’s turnaround came in the 76th minute when Moroccan skipper Ait Boudlal was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box.
After visiting the pitch-side monitor, the referee awarded the penalty and Serigne tucked it home.
The goal inspired the Senegalese and they piled pressure on Morocco in the final 10 minutes of the game.
Just four minutes later they had their reward when substitute Sawane stormed into the edge of the six yard box to head home the winner.
The goal punctured the entire Moroccan side, and even senior national team coach Walid Regragui who had flown in for the final, was dismayed, standing in anguish at his sitting spot in the VIP box.
Senegal managed to see off the remaining minutes, including six minutes of added time, to win the title for the first time. (NAN)
NEWS
Gov. Mbah Declares Enugu Int’l Marathon Annual Event

Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has declared Enugu City International Marathon as an annual event to aimed at harnessing the skills of the youths.
The state governor, who kicked off the 42 kilometre race with a gun sound at exactly 6.30am, emphasized the significance of the event, saying over 100 international athletes from around the world participated.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the marathon which began from Mgbemena area of the state passed through Coal Camp Road, Independence Layout, Zik Avenue, Okpara Square, Presidential and NTA Roads, Market Square and Ebe Ano Tunnel Road.
Mbah also participated in the 10 kilometre race which kicked off at exactly 9:30am.
In the male and female categories, Kenyans took the first positions with the prize sum of $15,000 each, first runners up from Ethiopia, were given $10,000 each, 3rd positions smiled home with $5,000 each while other and consolation prizes were given to other athletes.
The governor expressed his profound joy for its success, noting that the race was ran alongside Nigeria’s top distance runners, making it the largest road race ever staged in southeastern Nigeria.
He added that the state hosted the marathon to make Enugu State a sporting hub for global competitions and activities
This, he said, would showcase the richness of the state and its hospitable disposition to the entire world and attracting over 3 million tourists into Enugu.
According to him, making the marathon an annual event will drive tourism, stimulate local businesses, and create lasting economic benefits as Enugu is open for tourism, investment, and world-class sporting events.
The event attracted the likes of former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, an legendary movie actor, Nkem Owo popularly known as Osuofia, among others.
The marathon featured live entertainment, including a performance by popular Nigerian artiste Kcee, transforming the event into a full-scale celebration of sport, music, and entertainment
SPORTS
2025 Chief Margaret Icheen Benue Football League Kicks Off in Makurdi

The 2025 edition of the Chief Margaret Icheen Benue State Football League kicks off on Sunday in Makurdi.
Icheen, a board member of the Nigerian Football Federation, who performed the ceremonial kick-off at the Benue State University Sports Arena, commended the Benue Football Association (BFA) for naming the league after her.
The former speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly said that she was happy to witness another opening ceremony of the state league.
She said that such tournaments were beyond just playing football, but were meant to discover talents, who can build up the system of football.“Because of the many talents that we have in this state, we need to have more than one team representing the state.
“I want to ask the participants to take this tournament very seriously so that they can achieve something meaningful afterward.
“I urged the referees to ensure that this tournament goes on successfully to the end,” she urged.
The Chairman of the Benue Football Association, Paul Edeh, said the momentum of this year’s league would be far better than the previous years because of the number of teams participating in the league.
Edeh said that more than 40 teams have registered to participate in the league, which shows the BFA’s commitment to growing football at the grassroots level.“We will be sustaining the tournament by increasing the prize money. The winner goes home with half a million naira; the runner-up gets ₦300,000, while third place will be rewarded with N200,000.
“In addition, the eight teams that would qualify for the Super Eight will go home with a brand new set of jerseys and a minimum of five balls.“All the coaches that finished in the first four would get automatic scholarships to study at the National Institute for Sports in Abuja.“Our belief is that when we sustain coaches training, we will be able to discover talents that we need in the state,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary, Benue State Ministry of Sports Development, Philip Nongu, lauded the organisers of the league.Nongu pledged the ministry’s support for the success of the league and other sporting activities in the state.Report says that Unity Football Academy defeated Sulash Football Academy, 6-1, in the opener fixture of the league.
The winners took the lead in the first minute of the encounter, but the opponent equalised halfway into the first 45 minutes.Unity FA, however, restored their lead a few minutes before the end of the first half through a penalty.
The Match Day One winners doubled their lead a few minutes into the second half through another penalty before putting the match beyond the reach of Sulash by scoring three more goals. (NAN)
Entertainment/Arts/Culture
Liverpool Trashed Tottenham Hotspur To Secure 20th EPL Title
by Muhyideen Jimoh
Liverpool clinched the Premier League title in style as they came from behind to thrash Tottenham 5-1 at Anfield.
First-half strikes from Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo all but wrapped up a record-equalling 20th top-flight title.
This was before Mohammed Salah’s 28th goal of a prolific campaign and a Destiny Udogie own goal made the scoreline emphatic.
Spurs briefly threatened to spoil a party that began hours before kick-off by taking an early lead through former Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke but the Londoners put up little resistance as the Reds clicked into gear.
The title, secured with four games to spare, is only the Merseysiders’ second in 35 years.
It is also the first in that period they have been permitted to celebrate in front of fans after their 2020 success came during the COVID-19 pandemic