By Emmanuel Ogbodo

Victor Osimhen delivered a masterclass performance on Friday night, scoring a hat-trick as Galatasaray cruised to a commanding 4-0 victory over Antalyaspor at Rams Park.

The Nigerian forward opened the scoring in the 30th minute, finishing off a precise pass from Álvaro Morata.

Morata doubled the lead from the penalty spot just before halftime, and Osimhen struck again in stoppage time, capitalizing on an assist from B. Yılmaz. He sealed his hat-trick in the 52nd minute after a well-placed pass from Y. Akgün.

The emphatic win cements Galatasaray’s grip on the Turkish Süper Lig title race, extending their points tally to 71.

The league leaders remain unbeaten, boasting 22 wins and five draws, with a 10-point cushion over Fenerbahçe, who have played two games fewer.

Osimhen’s latest heroics take his league tally to 20 goals in 22 appearances, making him the league’s top scorer.

Since joining on loan from Napoli after the fourth match of the season, he has netted 26 goals and provided five assists across all competitions in 30 appearances.

The match also marked a milestone for head coach Okan Buruk, who celebrated his 100th game in charge. Before kickoff, he was honored with a commemorative plaque.

Galatasaray made several second-half substitutions, with Roland Sallai, Dries Mertens, and Mario Lemina replacing Yunus Akgün, Lucas Torreira, and Osimhen in the 68th minute.

Antalyaspor’s only real threat came in the 73rd minute when Van de Streek’s shot was denied by goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.

Galatasaray will now shift focus to their upcoming clash against Beşiktaş, looking to extend their unbeaten run and tighten their grip on the league title.

By Adenike Lawal

The UEFA Champions League quarter-final lineup is confirmed, with eight top teams set to battle for European supremacy following a thrilling Round of 16.

This year’s quarter-finals will feature two teams each from England, Spain, and Germany, along with one representative from France and Italy.

Arsenal and Aston Villa will fly the English flag, while Real Madrid and Barcelona represent Spain.

Germany’s hopes rest on Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund, with Paris Saint-Germain carrying France’s ambitions and Inter Milan standing as Italy’s lone contender.

The Round of 16 delivered high-intensity drama, with Real Madrid edging past Atletico Madrid in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout. Paris Saint-Germain also advanced via penalties after knocking out Liverpool.

Arsenal produced a stunning performance, crushing PSV Eindhoven 9-3 on aggregate, while Aston Villa, Inter Milan, and Borussia Dortmund secured their spots with dominant displays.

The quarter-finals will kick off on April 8, with Arsenal hosting Real Madrid and Bayern München facing Inter Milan.

The action continues on April 9 as Paris Saint-Germain take on Aston Villa, while Barcelona battle Borussia Dortmund.

The return legs are set for April 15 and 16, where the teams will fight for a place in the semi-finals.

With these matchups set to ignite in April, football fans can expect nothing short of drama, passion, and unforgettable moments in the race for Champions League glory.

By Njoku Chijioke

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has finalized his 23-man squad for Nigeria’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

The highly anticipated list, expected to be officially unveiled by 3:00 pm today, follows intense debate over Chelle’s earlier 39-man provisional selection.

Sources suggest some surprise inclusions as the team prepares for must-win matches.

Nigeria, currently fifth in their qualification group with just three points from four games, will face Rwanda in Kigali on March 21 before hosting Zimbabwe in Uyo on March 25.

The squad will begin training in Kigali on Sunday.