Sports
NPL: Pillars Keep Pressure On Rangers
Kano Pillars moved level on 58 points with Rangers at the top of the Nigeria Premier League at the last weekend.
Pillars claimed a 2-1 win over Dolphins while Rangers were going down 0-1 to arch rivals 3SC in Ibadan, but the Flying Antelopes keep hold of top spot by virtue of a superior goals difference.
Mustapha Musa put Pillars in front after 34 minutes. Emem Edok found parity for Dolphins three minutes into the second half, before Pillars’ highest goal scorer, Gambo Mohammed secured the points just shy of the hour mark.
Mohammed’s goal takes his tally to 12 for the season.
Pillars and Rangers are now both on 58 points but the Flying Antelopes maintain the top spot on a goal difference.
In the big game of the weekend, Rangers travelled to Ibadan to confront age-long rivals 3SC in front of a full house at the Lekan Salami Stadium.
But they were turned back empty-handed. Moses Ogaga’s goal after 26 minute goal proved sufficient to hand the Oluyole Warriors all three points.
The result caps a remarkable revival for 3SC, moving them within five points of the leaders, in a season where they found themselves contemplating life in the drop zone early in the campaign.
Lobi’s late push for the title gathered pace with a 2-0 win over Niger Tornadoes, taking them to 57 points, just one point behind Rangers and Pillars, with a game in hand.
A thrilling, if goalless first half was followed by two goals in the second. Goalkeeper John Lawrence put away a penalty 10 minutes after the break, and substitute Blessing Okardi made sure on 72 minutes.
In Bauchi, Wikki Tourists beat Gombe United 3-1 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium.
Wikki were in front as early as three minutes through Bilya Mohammed, but had to wait another 52 minutes for Ikechukwu Ikembri to add the second. Austin Ufoma reduced the arrears for Gombe in the 88th minute, but Wale Amusa snuffed out any hopes of a comeback on the stroke of time.
In Port Harcourt, Sharks advanced their continental ambitions with a 2-0 win over Heartland.
Amakiri George tapped in after good work from Nigeria international Juwon Oshaniwa.
ThankGod Amaefule tucked away a disputed penalty on the hour mark to seal victory.
Sunshine Stars got a shock 2-1 away win at Warri Wolves in a match played behind closed doors.
Goals from Dayo Ojo and Izu Azuka ensured the CAF Champions League campaigners took an unassailable lead.
Gift Atulewa converted a penalty for Warri Wolves, but the home side could not salvage the situation. The win lifts Sunshine to fifth place with 52 points, and a game in hand.
Sports
Gyokeres Situation, Transfer Under Cloud At Sporting

Sporting have not received an offer for striker Viktor Gyokeres and there is no gentleman’s agreement for him to leave for £59million, says club president Frederico Varandas.
Sweden international Gyokeres, 27, has been heavily linked with Manchester United and Arsenal after scoring 97 goals in 102 matches during two seasons in Portugal.
He has a 100m euro (£85m) release clause in his contract.
It has been widely reported that, after staying at Sporting last summer, Gyokeres and Sporting agreed he could leave for 70m euros (£59m) this summer.
However, Varandas said the club’s only promise to Gyokeres was that they would not demand his full release clause.
“I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for 60m euros plus 10m euros because I never promised that,” Varandas said.
“To this day Sporting has not had an offer for Gyokeres, neither today nor last season.”
Gyokeres spent three seasons with Coventry City in the Championship before joining Sporting under Ruben Amorim.
Manchester City director of football Hugo Viana was sporting director at Sporting last summer, when Gyokeres’ agent sought assurances about his leaving if a suitable offer arrived.
“One of the agent’s biggest concerns was whether we would demand the termination clause,” said Varandas.
“He wanted to guarantee certain things. And what was agreed? That Sporting would not demand a release clause now.
“For one reason: he was going to be 27 years old and no player leaves Portugal at 27 for 100m eurors or 90m euros.
“In that same meeting the agent wanted to anchor the exit to a value. I said this sentence: ‘It’s not worth us setting a value because I don’t know what will happen in a year’s time. I don’t know if it will be 40m euros, 60m euros or 80m euros. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand 100 million euros.’”
Sports
Concacaf Opposes 64-Team W’Cup Plans

Concacaf President Victor Montagliani has criticised a proposal to expand the 2030 men’s World Cup to 64 teams.
The plans, put forward by South American governing body Conmebol, have also drawn opposition from Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
The tournament will be hosted by Spain, Morocco and Portugal, after the opening matches are held in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
The 2026 World Cup, which will take place across the United States, Mexico and Canada, has already been expanded from 32 to 48 teams.
But Conmebol said it wanted to add more participants to mark the competition’s 100-year anniversary.
“I don’t believe expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams is the right move for the tournament itself and the broader football ecosystem, from national teams to club competitions, leagues, and players,” Montagliani told Tidesports source
“We haven’t even kicked off the new 48-team World Cup yet, so personally, I don’t think that expanding to 64 teams should even be on the table.”
Concacaf is the governing body of football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
The decision to expand the 2026 World Cup to 48 teams was taken in 2017 following a unanimous vote at a Fifa congress.
Fifa’s 75th congress will be held in Paraguay on 15 May, when Conmebol’s proposal could be discussed.
If the proposal is accepted, the 2030 edition would consist of 128 matches, double the number played under the 64-game format used from 1998 and 2022.
In March, Ceferin described the proposal as a “bad idea” while AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa said it would cause “chaos”.
“If the issue remains open to change, then the door will not only be open to expanding the tournament to 64 teams,” said Salman.
“But someone might come along and demand raising the number to 132 teams. Where would we end up then? It would become chaos.”
Sports
Brazil Edge Paraguay, Book W’Cup Spot

Brazil qualified for the 2026 World Cup this week with a 1-0 win against Paraguay in South American qualifying to give Carlo Ancelotti his first win as manager.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jnr scored from close range in the second half, finishing after fine work from Manchester United-bound playmaker Matheus Cunha.
The victory, Ancelotti’s first after a 0-0 draw against Ecuador on his debut last week, means Brazil has now qualified for every edition of the World Cup.
“We needed to win and qualify for the World Cup,” said Vinicius Jr.
“Now the coach will have more time to work. Of course today wasn’t one of our best performances, but the important thing is always to win.
“Now it’s time to celebrate qualifying.”
Elsewhere, World Cup holders Argentina played out an entertaining 1-1 draw with Colombia in Buenos Aires.
Liverpool winger Luis Diaz opened the scoring with a fine individual goal, dancing through three defenders before finishing past Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Argentina was reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes remaining when Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a high-boot challenge on Colombia’s Kevin Castano.
But Lionel Messi’s side found an equaliser nine minutes from the end through Lyon’s Thiago Almada, leaving Colombia four points clear of seventh-placed Venezuela.
Ecuador, Argentina’s nearest challengers, booked their spot at next summer’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States after a 0-0 draw away at Peru.
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