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Ireland and UK to host Euro 2028, UEFA confirms

The FAI has guaranteed a legacy fund of €6.2m for the Irish game after being confirmed as co-hosts of Euro 2028.

UEFA today ratified the sole bid from Ireland and UK to stage the 24-nation showpiece, with two berths reserved for two of the five federations that don’t qualify on the pitch.

Aviva Stadium is to host six matches, four group, one last-16 and a quarter-final, with the disused Casement Park, Belfast lined up for five, should delays and funding challenges be addressed.

“The ExCo decision was formally taken after a presentation by the Ireland and UK Football Association executives and Welsh football star, Gareth Bale,” an FAI statement reads.

“Shamrock Rovers player and Ireland underage international Ade Solanke represented Ireland in Nyon as one of six youth football ambassadors who play an active role supporting the development and diversity of the game in their local communities.

“The third biggest sporting event in the world, UEFA EURO 2028 Ireland & UK will be the largest major sporting event the nations have ever jointly staged – presenting an exciting summer of football to inspire the next generations.

“The UEFA EURO 2028 bid was successful thanks to its clear and compelling vision to help domestic and European football grow a more diverse and inclusive game, connect with new audiences and inspire the next generation of players, fans and volunteers. Ireland and the UK expressed this vision as ‘Football for all. Football for good. Football for the future’.

“Ireland and the UK were also awarded the tournament based on the nations’ collective wealth of operational experience and world-class technical facilities – with a long track-record of staging successful major sporting events across all host cities.”

An FAI statement also attempted to deal with the legacy element of this tilt: “The bid has the full backing of the respective Ireland and UK Governments who see this as a significant opportunity to generate meaningful sporting, economic, environmental and social benefits. The Government partners have agreed to a shared €51 million legacy fund which will be invested to develop football and create additional legacies across our five Associations.

“The FAI and the Government of Ireland are committed to a €6.2m Irish legacy fund which will be earmarked for investment across all facets of our sport. This fund is in addition to other revenue tournament-related revenue streams for the FAI which will be directed back into the development of the game in Ireland.”

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Nigeria Premier League

Kano Pillars Chairman praises players despite loss to Remo Stars

Kano Pillars

Kano Pillars chairman Alhaji Ali Muhammad Umar has commended his team despite their 2-1 defeat to Remo Stars in Ikenne on Sunday.

Speaking to the club’s media, Umar expressed pride in the players’ performance and praised their dominance throughout the match.

“I must commend the players and the technical crew for the way they approached the game. From the first whistle to the end of regulation time, they played with passion and dominated the match,” Umar stated.

He acknowledged the unpredictable nature of football, attributing the loss to bad luck.

“Sometimes, football can be cruel, and we were just unlucky not to secure all three points. We must build on this performance. The season is still ongoing, and I believe with more effort, we will achieve our objectives,” he added.

Kano Pillars are set to face rivals Katsina United in a rescheduled matchday 20 encounter at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Wednesday.

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Nigeria Premier League

Brown Ideye Set to Return for Enyimba After Injury Layoff

Brown Ideye

Former Super Eagles forward, Brown Ideye, is set to make his return for Enyimba in their upcoming league game following a brief injury layoff.

The 36-year-old striker has missed Enyimba’s last two league matches due to a minor injury. Enyimba’s media officer, David Orji, confirmed that Ideye has resumed personal training in preparation for his return to action.

“Ideye is back in training after sustaining a minor injury and should be fully fit soon,” Orji stated.

Ideye has made four league appearances for Enyimba, scoring once. Enyimba will host league leaders Remo Stars in a week 24 fixture in Aba on Sunday, as they aim to improve their standing from the eighth position in the league table, where they currently have 31 points.

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Nigeria Premier League

Mangut Blames Pitch Condition for Plateau United’s Draw Against Niger Tornadoes

Plateau United

Plateau United’s technical adviser, Mbwas Mangut, has pointed to the poor condition of the playing surface at Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna as a factor in his team’s 1-1 draw with Niger Tornadoes.

In a post-match interview, Mangut acknowledged the impact of the pitch on his team’s performance, though he expressed satisfaction with the result.

“We are happy with the one point; we came with the mindset to see if we can get the maximum points,” he said.

“You could see the condition of the ground; it didn’t allow us to express ourselves the way we used to play.”

Mangut reassured fans, saying, “With what we are doing, every fan should be patient. I believe that at the end of the day, this team will definitely be where they belong. There are so many factors that will take us to that level, and we are working on that.”

With the draw, Plateau United moved up to 15th position on the table.

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