Sports
UCL: Man Utd Knocked Out Of Champions League …As Man City Qualifies For Rounds Of 16
A young tennis player in action
Manchester United were eliminated from the Champions League in dramatic fashion by a late loss at Wolfsburg.
The Red Devils made an ideal start when Anthony Martial caressed Juan Mata’s pinpoint pass into the bottom corner.
Wolfsburg replied within three minutes through Naldo’s sharp volley and led when Vieirinha finished a flowing move.
United thought they were through after Josuha Guilavogui’s own goal, only to be condemned to the Europa League through Naldo’s late header.
Louis van Gaal’s side knew they would qualify for the last 16 by beating Wolfsburg, or if they matched PSV Eindhoven’s result against CSKA Moscow.
Twice inside the final 15 minutes, United thought they were progressing at the expense of the Dutch side, who needed to better United’s result to advance.
CSKA led 1-0 in Eindhoven as United also trailed, before both PSV and United were briefly level in their respective games.
But late winners for Wolfsburg and PSV knocked out Van Gaal’s team.
Meanwhile, Manchester City came back superbly to beat Borussia Monchengladbach and pip Juventus to the top of Group D.
David Silva finished a fine team move but goals from Julian Korb and Raffael put the Germans ahead at the break.
Crucially, Juventus fell behind at Sevilla and Raheem Sterling poked in to give City hope of the win they needed.
Sterling then raced clear to curl Manuel Pellegrini’s side ahead and substitute Wilfried Bony converted from six yards to cap an exhilarating night.
Bony’s finish sparked wild scenes at the Etihad Stadium and when news of Juventus’ defeat in southern Spain was confirmed, City fans could celebrate seeing their side top a Champions League group for the first time.
It looked a distant dream at the interval after 45 minutes in which Pellegrini’s side were again guilty of come charitable defending, but their second-half performance was outstanding as they began to dominate the ball and territory, building the pressure which eventually told.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.