Sports
Klopp To Support Man Utd, Warns Against Arsenal
Jurgen Klopp has warned Manchester United they will get beaten by Arsenal next month if they play like they did against his Liverpool side.
Klopp urged Liverpool to stay calm after losing the Premier League leadership this weekend, drawing 2-2 at Old Trafford on Sunday.
United could yet help Klopp’s side, as they host Arsenal, the new leaders, on the season’s penultimate weekend.
However, Klopp fears United need to up their game if they are to halt Mikel Arteta’s side.
“Probably,” said the Liverpool boss, when asked if he would be cheering for United on 11 May. “If we are still around then that would be great.
“But Arsenal are a good football team. If they [United] play like today, Arsenal will win the game, I am 100 percent sure. I am sorry to say that.”
Sunday’s match was Liverpool second visit to Old Trafford in three weeks, and they had a total of 53 shots over those two matches, yet won neither.
They were beaten 4-3 in an FA Cup quarter-final on March 17, and have now dropped what could be two crucial Premier League points in their battle with Arsenal and Manchester City.
“It is a fact we should have won both games but didn’t,” Klopp said.
Nevertheless, he added that Liverpool supporters should not lose faith in their club’s ability to mark the German’s final season at Anfield by winning a record-equalling 20th title.
“To the whole Liverpool community, just stay calm,” he said.
Liverpool’s goal difference is nine inferior to Arsenal, while they are a point ahead of Manchester City.
Whilst some of their remaining fixtures offer the opportunity to improve on that front, Klopp feels it would be a mistake to focus on that.
He said: “People will tell us we need to better our goal difference and to go for that but that would be the dumbest thing we could do.”
“That doesn’t happen on purpose, you don’t go into a game wanting to score eight goals and it happens.
“I knew it would be super tricky until the end. Until yesterday we were top, now it’s Arsenal and, I don’t know when, then it may be somebody else.
“I’m not over the moon about it. It’s not the best result I have ever seen but I am fine with it. You shouldn’t do what we do today constantly, that won’t be enough. Definitely not. But we know that.
“We want to be there after the last matchday. It’s obviously better to be there the whole time and have distance between you and the others. But we will keep going with all that we have.”
The Delta State Sports Commission has come under scrutiny following the state’s disappointing performance at the just-concluded National Youth Games (NYG) in Asaba, where Lagos dethroned Delta to clinch top spot.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, visibly displeased with both the poor outing of Team Delta and the organizational lapses witnessed during the Games, summoned an emergency meeting with the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) immediately after the closing ceremony.
Delta, which had dominated the NYG by finishing first in the last eight editions, only managed second place this time — a result the governor described as “totally unacceptable,” especially given the state’s significant investment in the event.
According to a reliable source privy to the meeting, Governor Oborevwori expressed deep disappointment, stressing that his administration had provided all necessary support to the Sports Commission and the LOC to ensure Delta retained its traditional top position.
In a decisive move, the governor demoted his Executive Assistant on Sports and former Director-General of the Sports Commission, Festus Owhojero, under whose leadership the Games were organized. Owhojero was reassigned from Executive Assistant (EA) to Senior Special Assistant (SSA) with immediate effect.
The governor’s action, our source revealed, reflects his zero-tolerance stance on incompetence and underperformance within his administration. Mr. Owhojero thus becomes the first high-profile casualty of the governor’s resolve to reposition sports in Delta State.
Furthermore, Oborevwori directed the Sports Commission and LOC officials to submit a detailed report on the Games, outlining what went wrong and providing recommendations for improvement. The governor emphasized the need for urgent reforms to restore Delta’s dominance, especially as the state is set to host the next edition of the Games under an existing memorandum of understanding (MoU).
The Nigeria Football Federation has distanced itself from a post-match statement that criticised some Super Eagles players following the team’s 1-1 draw with South Africa in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
The statement, issued by the NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, singled out forward Cyriel Dessers and captain William Troost-Ekong for criticism.
It accused Dessers of being sluggish and faulted Ekong for the own goal that gave Bafana Bafana the lead.
However, NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, said on Wednesday that the statement did not represent the official position of the Federation.
“I saw the release just like everyone else did. Nobody in the Federation is happy with it,” Sanusi said.
“The NFF did not authorise that statement. We have great respect for all the players. Blaming an individual for a team result is unfair.”
He added that the Federation regards the South Africa match as a collective effort and will not support attempts to scapegoat any player.
“When we win, it’s a team victory. When we lose, it’s also collective. No player should be singled out,” Sanusi said.
He described the targeted criticism of Troost-Ekong as unjustified, noting that the defender had previously been celebrated as the Most Valuable Player at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire.
“It was an unfortunate own goal. His intention was to clear the ball. Anyone who knows football understands that such things happen,” he said..
Sanusi also expressed confidence in the team’s unity, revealing that efforts were ongoing to regroup and refocus ahead of the remaining qualifiers and AFCON.
“Our house is in order. We’re preparing for the rest of the qualifiers and the AFCON in Morocco,” he said.
“There’s no problem with our players or coaching crew. Our relationship remains cordial. The government and the NFF are proud of the players’ efforts.”
The Federation had initially praised Calvin Bassey for his equalising goal and lamented the team’s failure to convert second-half chances.
But Sanusi made it clear that internal disciplinary action would be taken over the unauthorised release.
“I can assure you the NFF will take action on the matter,” he said.
Nigeria currently sit third in Group C of the CAF World Cup qualifiers with 11 points from eight matches. South Africa lead the group with 17 points.
The Super Eagles must now win their remaining games against Lesotho and Benin Republic and hope other results go their way to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Tagged “Boxing Jams Music,” the year-end edition will once again blend elite professional boxing with live musical performances. Fans can look forward to thrilling bouts across weight divisions and electrifying performances by some of Nigeria’s top entertainers.
Flykite Productions’ Chief Operating Officer, Bamidele Johnson, said the forthcoming edition will build on the event’s tradition of combining sport and music in a festival-like atmosphere. He assured fans of an unforgettable Boxing Day experience, with added entertainment elements planned.
“GOtv Boxing Night 34 will once again deliver the best of both worlds of top-class boxing and live music. We are committed to giving fans a truly memorable Boxing Day experience at Tafawa Balewa Square,” he said.
Over the years, Boxing Jams Music has grown into the country’s biggest sport-entertainment spectacle, hosting title bouts sanctioned by continental and global bodies alongside live performances by top acts such as Burna Boy, Teni, Mayorkun, Zlatan and Wande Coal.
-
Politics2 days ago
2027: Bayelsa APC Adopts Tinubu As Sole Candidate … As Lokpobiri, Lyon Shun Meeting
-
Sports2 days ago
GOtv Boxing Night 34 holds Dec. in Lagos
-
Politics2 days agoAlleged Smear Campaign Against Yakubu, CSOs Demand Apology From Uzodimma
-
Sports2 days ago
WCQ: NFF Denies Post Match Statement
-
Politics2 days ago
Why INEC Can’t Punish Politicians For Early Campaigns – Yakubu
-
Politics2 days ago
2027: Jega Condemns Premature Campaigns, Blames Elected Officials
-
Politics2 days ago
Stopping Natasha’s Resumption Threatens Nigeria’s Democracy – ADC
-
Sports2 days ago
Gov. Decries Delta’s Poor Performance At 2025 NYG