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FIRST 11: Flamingos Soar Into World Cup, Football Mourns Pope Francis

The leagues in Europe are entering the final lap; the African Champions League was on the menu for football fans across the continent. 

By Emmanuel Egobiambu
Updated April 26, 2025
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From Europe to Africa, South America to Asia, the sports world was buzzing, witnessing the unusual, heartbreaking, and shocking. 

The leagues in Europe also entered the final lap, while games in the CAF Champions League were on the menu for football fans in the last seven days.

First 11, the recap of the major highlights in sports, covers these and other talking points this week. Stay tuned!

Flamingos Sour Past Algeria Into World Cup

Starting from the home front with good news! The Flamingos have qualified for the World Cup after easing past Algeria. The U-17 women’s team played out a goalless draw with their opponents on Friday after they thrashed them 4-0 in the first leg of the game.

The Flamingos will now fly Nigeria’s flag for the competition, billed between October and November 2025 in Morocco. The Nigerian side crashed out of the 2024 edition in the quarter-finals. Their best finish was a third place in India 2022.

Liverpool on Title Cusp

Liverpool’s Colombian midfielder #07 Luis Diaz (2nd R) celebrates with Liverpool’s English midfielder #17 Curtis Jones (R), Liverpool’s Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah and Liverpool’s Northern Irish defender #84 Conor Bradley after scoring his team first goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on April 13, 2025. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

 

In the meantime, Liverpool are on the brink of a record-equalling 20th Premier League title and need just a point to do so after second-place Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on Wednesday. That dream title could come as early as Sunday if they avoid defeat against Tottenham at Anfield.

Vardy Bows from Leicester City

Liverpool’s fellow Premier League side, Leicester City, earlier in the week confirmed the departure of veteran forward Jamie Vardy. The lightning-quick forward who was described by the club as their “greatest-ever player” was a key member of the side that lifted the English league title against seemingly impossible odds in 2016.

Leicester City’s English striker #09 Jamie Vardy leaves the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Liverpool at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)

 

Vardy, a former England international, joined the Foxes in 2012 from non-league side Fleetwood for just £1 million ($1.3 million) and has scored 198 goals in nearly 500 appearances. The club captain is Leicester’s record Premier League goalscorer with 143 goals.

Meanwhile, there are also matches in the English FA Cup semi-finals this weekend to look forward to. Crystal Palace will take on Aston Villa while Manchester City battle Nottingham Forest.

READ ALSO: Ipswich Relegated From Premier League After One Season

Nigeria Names World Relays Team

Tobi Amusa. Facebook/World Athletics.

 

Nigeria has named a strong squad for the 2025 World Athletics Relays, including 100 metres hurdles world record holder Tobi Amusan. The country will compete in the men’s 4×100 metres, women’s 4×100 metres, 4×400 metres mixed relay, and the newly introduced 4×100 metres mixed relay at the event billed for Guangzhou, China, from May 10th to 11th.

Eniola Bolaji Honoured

The Paralympic bronze medallist, Eniola Bolaji.

 

There was also cheerful news for Nigeria in badminton after paralympic bronze medalist Eniola Bolaji was honoured with the 2024 Africa Women in Badminton Award. The feat was a recognition of her achievements and journey in para-badminton.

Eniola was given the award during the Badminton Confederation Africa Annual General Meeting on Thursday in China. She becomes the second Nigerian to receive this award after Obiageli Solaja got it in 2019.

Sundowns Silence Ah Ahly, Book Date With Pyramids

Sundowns’ players celebrate at the end of the second leg of the CAF Champions League football match between Egypt’s Al-Ahly and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns at the Cairo International Stadium on April 25, 2025. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)

 

In football, Al Ahly defender Yasser Ibrahim conceded a 90th-minute own goal to give Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa a place in the CAF Champions League final, where they will face another Egyptian club, Pyramids.

Ahly and Sundowns drew 1-1 before a capacity 73,000 Cairo crowd and, after a 0-0 semi-final first leg, Sundowns qualified on the away-goal rule and will host the first leg of the final on May 24.

Anthony Joshua Ends Homecoming

Still on the continent! Anthony Joshua has bid farewell to the country after weeks of fraternizing with fans in his ancestral home. The two-time heavyweight champion, who had been in Nigeria for weeks, spent time rehabilitating from an injury and preparing for his next fight. The 35-year-old had memorable moments in the country, including a viral video of him getting a street-side haircut. He was also spotted jogging on the streets of Sagamu, Ogun State, his ancestral home, exchanging warm greetings with locals.

The British-Nigerian boxer thanked Nigerians for their hospitality throughout his stay, saying he was grateful for their “energy, generosity and kindness”.

Barca, Real Madrid For Copa Del Rey Showdown

Real Madrid’s French forward #9 Kylian Mbappe runs past Barcelona’s French defender #23 Jules Kounde during the Spanish Super Cup final football match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the King Abdullah Sport City in Jeddah on January 12, 2025. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)

 

Back to football and Spain, the Copa del Rey final will be held today between Real Madrid and Barcelona. That game has been marred by controversies following a comment by match officials who criticised Real Madrid’s comments on referees. Those remarks infuriated Real Madrid, who boycotted the pre-match news conference and training session on Friday, and threatened to ditch the game. But the Galaticos will now play the game billed for 9 pm (WAT).

D’Tigress Get Opponents

The D’Tigress pose for a photo following their Afrobasket win. Source: Facebook/NBBF.

 

D’Tigress were placed in Group D of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket and will take on Mozambique and Rwanda in the group stage of the competition. The Nigerian senior women’s football team are the defending champion, having won it in 2023. The 12-nation tournament will be held in Ivory Coast from July 26 to August 3 at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan.

Games Moved After Pope’s Death

A woman walks past All Saints’ Church with a portrait of the late Pope Francis placed at the entrance, in Colombo, on April 26, 2025. (Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP)

 

Inter Milan’s match against Roma has been postponed due to a clash with Pope Francis’ funeral which the Vatican announced will take place on Saturday, Serie A said on Tuesday. Serie A said all three matches scheduled for Saturday would be rescheduled, with Inter’s — moved to Sunday at 1300 GMT — being the highest profile as they contest the league title with Napoli.

Evra To Make Mixed Martial Arts Debut

In this file photo taken on August 23, 2017 then Marseille’s defender Patrice Evra holds a press conference at the Velodrome Stadium in Marseille. BORIS HORVAT / AFP

 

Lastly, a former France fullback Patrice Evra is turning to mixed martial arts and will fight his first bout in May in Paris, American promoter the Professional Fighters League (PFL), announced on Friday.

The PFL said the 43-year-old had been training in combat sports since 2016 alongside his friend, the Paris-based PFL star Cedric Doumbe.

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