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Real Madrid Beat Pachuca To Clinch FIFA Intercontinental Cup

Despite Real Madrid’s struggles in recent times, this was a result that was never in doubt. The Spanish giants brushed past Mexican side Pachuca to clinch the Intercontinental Cup title at Lusail Stadium last night.

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr scored a goal each, with Rodrygo adding another after a spectacular solo effort, as Real capped off an exceptional year with yet another title. Against underdogs Pachuca, Real faced an opponent well below their level. Still, as coach Carlo Ancelotti had warned on the eve of the match: “Every game is a trap, particularly the Cup ones.”

Madrid started off slow, but once they warmed up on a cold night, the La Liga and Champions League holders ran away with the title — their ninth global trophy, including three in the original Intercontinental Cup format and five FIFA Club World Cups. Ancelotti, who has been under pressure for his team’s underwhelming performances this season, became the most decorated coach in Real Madrid’s history with his 15th title, surpassing the 14 trophies won by Miguel Munoz, who managed the Spanish powerhouse in the 1960s and ’70s.

“I am very happy, it is natural,” the 65-year-old Ancelotti said. “We did the things we prepared, and this made the difference. Everyone played a good match. I am very happy. It was a match that, in the middle of the season, could have caused problems, and instead, we deservedly won it. We didn’t get off to a good start but finished well, showing great attitude.”

The Italian coach will hope that last night’s victory helps regroup his side, which has struggled defensively this season – not least due to the absence of defenders Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, both sidelined long-term with ACL tears.

Currently sitting third in La Liga with 37 points from 17 games, Real trail leaders Barcelona by just one point, although Barca have played an additional game. Their Champions League campaign, however, remains precarious, with automatic progression to the Round of 16 far from guaranteed.

Ancelotti will also be pleased with the performances of Mbappe and Vinícius, who combined for the opening goal. The French star, who missed Madrid’s 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano on Saturday due to a thigh problem, played 62 minutes without any visible discomfort. Meanwhile, Vinícius played the full match, having returned from injury during Tuesday’s Champions League win in Bergamo.

Exactly two years to the day after his iconic hat-trick in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final at the same venue — which France lost to Argentina on penalties — Mbappe opened the scoring with a clinical finish. Jude Bellingham’s perfectly timed pass set up Vinícius, who mesmerised with dazzling footwork to evade Pachuca goalkeeper Carlos Moreno. The Brazilian then squared the ball to Mbappe, who calmly slotted it into an empty net.

Pachuca had started the game with promise, as Luis Rodríguez tested Thibaut Courtois early on with a powerful drive, but the Belgian goalkeeper was equal to the task. Madrid gradually took control, and Mbappe nearly doubled the lead with a fierce 20-yard shot that narrowly missed the target.

The European champions doubled their advantage early in the second half when Rodrygo unleashed a sublime curling effort from the edge of the box in the 52nd minute. A brief VAR review followed to determine whether Bellingham, standing in an offside position, interfered with the play. The referee deemed otherwise, allowing the goal to stand.

Pachuca, to their credit, refused to fold under pressure. Captain Salomon Rondon came close to reducing the deficit twice — first with a perfectly struck free-kick saved by Courtois and then with a header that skimmed just over the bar.

Real Madrid, however, ensured victory was beyond doubt in the closing stages. Vinícius, fresh off being named The Best FIFA Men’s Player after missing out on the Ballon d’Or, converted an 84th-minute penalty after Oussama Idrissi fouled Lucas Vazquez in the box.

Rodrygo had special praise for Vinícius, calling his countryman “an example of resilience.” He said: “I’ve been following Vini since he started in Brazil. We never played against each other in the professional league, only with youth teams,” said the forward. “We’ve always talked about all the difficulties he had in the beginning. He is an example of resilience, for everything he went through, and now he has become the best player in the world. I’m always happy for my friend’s achievements, especially after seeing his work every day.”

Pachuca, winners of the Concacaf Champions Cup, defeated CAF Champions League holders Al Ahly of Egypt to reach the final. Real, however, did not take part in the earlier rounds. Pachuca coach Guillermo Almada admitted his side failed to capitalise on their opportunities and paid the price. “We had our chances, but their efficiency was decisive. We had opportunities and couldn’t capitalize on them. Many young players gained their first international experience throughout the tournament. It was an amazing experience. Of course, we wanted to win the final, but the effort was outstanding,” Almada said.

This is the first edition of the FIFA-backed Intercontinental Cup, which broadly maintains the format of the previous Club World Cup. The latter is being expanded to include 32 teams in 2025 and will now be played every four years. A past version of the Intercontinental Cup ran from 1960 to 2004, involving the champions of Europe and South America.

Madrid are set to play Pachuca again at next year’s Club World Cup in the United States, alongside an Al Hilal team featuring Neymar and Red Bull Salzburg. Carlo Ancelotti’s side will host Sevilla in La Liga on Sunday in their final game of the year. They are scheduled to return to the Middle East in early January for the four-team Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

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Federation Cup: GTI Thumbs Up NFF organisational Prowess, Lauds Clubs

Strategic partners to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the President Federation Cup (PFC), GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited, has commended the high level of organisational prowess exhibited by the nation’s football-ruling body and the quality of competitiveness among clubs featuring in the ongoing 2024/2025 PFC competition.

According to GTI Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba in Lagos on Friday, he commended all the clubs that registered for this year’s competition for exhibiting high level of discipline as the state finals are expected to be concluded this weekend. The contending teams are encouraged to uphold the spirit of Fair play.

“As it has been the tradition in the past, some of the big teams in this year’s edition have succumbed to the fire-power of the so-called minnows. In Abia State, a non-league club, Ahudiya Nnem FC, dumped out Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) club, Abia Warriors from this year’s edition. The Abiriba-based amateur side defeated Abia Warriors, last year’s national finalists 3-1 on penalties after the match ended one goal apiece in the regulation time in the semi-final decided at the Umuahia Township Stadium last week.

“Therefore, with the state finals slated for this weekend, fans are expected to look out for more surprises,” Ekejiuba said. “The PFC (formerly Federation Cup) is the oldest domestic football competition in Nigeria and GTI Group is committed to improving Nigerian football at all levels. We will continue to energise the competition as strategic partners to NFF and also make the competition more attractive.”

Meanwhile some finalists have emerged in the men and women categories for the PFC state finals to be decided this weekend. In Cross River State, Rovers United will be battling E World FC in the men’s final slated for E. J Esuene Stadium Calabar by 3pm on Saturday, while in Sokoto State, Sokoto United will square up against Sokoto North FC also in the men’s final on Sunday at Giginya Memorial Stadium Sokoto by 4pm.

From Rivers State, Rivers United will lock horns with Willbros FC in the men’s final game, while defending champions Rivers Angels will tackle Sporting Angels FC in the women’s final. Both matches will be played at Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Saturday, February 22, 2025.

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Organisers Unveil Nominees For 11th Nigeria Pitch Awards In Lagos

Nominees for the annual Nigeria Pitch Awards were unveiled at a Thursday ceremony in Lagos, southwest Nigeria. Expectedly, the nomination list is packed full of notable Nigerian footballers who have made significant impacts in their careers both for themselves and the nation in the year 2024.

Clubs, coaches, administrators, state governments and governors are not left out as the Nigeria Pitch Awards recognise, celebrate and honour those who have contributed in no small ways to the country’s football development.

President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Phillips, told newsmen in Lagos at the BON Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday, that the awards processes right from voting make it unique and standout, adding that “from inception, our intention was to create an award platform that has a unique character of its own; a character moulded by our core values of transparency, credibility and integrity. To achieve this, we have followed a carefully laid out award process which brings together a College of Voters comprising some of Nigeria’s most knowledgeable, experienced and professional sports journalists and an independent collation body. As organizers, we are very proud of and deeply appreciative of our College of Voters whose decisions year after year have shown them to be true and selfless patriots.

“The award process has been designed in such a way that it will not only be transparent but also sustainable. This is why the award process transcends organizers’ personal influence while putting the responsibility of deciding winners in the hands of professional journalists with many years of experience, knowledge and expertise in reporting and analysing football. We are sure that our College of Voters will always make the best possible decisions in the interest of our football. In the same vein, our independent vote collation body is a vastly experienced and professional player in Nigeria’s accounting and auditing sector. SIAO Partners which has over two decades of experience in accounting, prides itself as Nigeria’s largest indigenous professional services firm,” he said.

Representative of SIAO Partners, Oluwadare Ojelade further reiterated the integrity of the voting process, which he said gone through a painstaking independent and transparent process determined solely by the voters who are mainly sports editors, correspondents and reporters.

According to Ojelade, voting for the 11th Nigeria Pitch Awards began on 25 November 2024 and ended on 18 January 2025, while collation of the votes by the auditing firm, SIAO Partners, was done between 6-31 January when the nominees emerged.

FULL LIST OF THE NOMINEES

QUEEN OF THE PITCH

Rasheedat Ajibade Atlético de Madrid Femenino

Asisat Oshoala Bay FC

Chiamaka Nnadozie Paris FC

KING OF THE PITCH

Victor Osimhen Galatasaray S.K

Ademola Lookman Atalanta BC

William Troost-Ekong Al-kholood FC

GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR

Maduka Okoye Udinese Calcio

Stanley Nwabali Chippa United

Kayode Bankole Remo Stars

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR

Ola Aina Nottingham Forest FC

William Troost-Ekong Al-kholood FC

Calvin Bassey Fulham FC

MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR

Alex Iwobi Fulham FC

Frank Onyeka FC Augsburg

Wilfred Ndidi Leicester City FC

STRIKER OF THE YEAR

Victor Osimhen Galatasaray S.K

Victor Boniface Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Ademola Lookman Atalanta BC

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Remo Stars FC

Rangers International FC

Edo Queens

COACH OF THE YEAR

Moses Adukwu Edo Queens FC

Fidelis Ilechukwu Rangers International FC

Daniel Ogunmodede Remo Stars FC

SAM OKWARAJI AWARD

Segun Odegbami Nigerian Ex-International

Ahmed Musa Kano Pillars FC

Kunle Soname Bet9ja

STATE WITH THE BEST GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Edo

Lagos

Delta

FOOTBALL PITCH OF THE YEAR

Remo Stars Stadium Remo, Ogun State

Mobolaji Johnson Sport Arena Onikan, Lagos State

Godswill Akpabio Int’l Stadium Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

FOOTBALL FRIENDLY GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR

His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu Lagos State

His Excellency, Umo Eno Akwa Ibom State
His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki Former Governor, Edo State

CORPORATE SPONSOR OF FOOTBALL AWARD

GTI Financial Financial Services

MTN Nigeria Telecom

Bet9ja Sport Betting

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD

George Aluo Chairman NNL

Hon. Kunle Soname Chairman, Remo Stars

Ahmed Musa Kano Pillars FC

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – PRINT

Charles Diya New Telegraph

Abiodun Adewale Punch Newspapers

Johnny Edward The Nation Newspapers

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – TV

Mozez Praiz Supersport

Blessing Nwosu Silverbird TV

Cecilia Omorogbe Channels TV

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – RADIO

Micheal Obasi Hot FM Abuja

Chuma Nnoli Nigeria Info FM

Olawale Adigun MainlandFM

Anthony Bekederemo Brila 88.9 FM

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – ONLINE

Niyi Busari BSN Sports Concept

Samuel Ahmadu Savid News

Kunle Solaja Sports Village Square

News

Lagos FA Gets New Secretary, Yusuf Lawal

*Promises Victory For Team Lagos At 2025 NSF Zonal Elimination

The newly redeployed Secretary of the Lagos State Football Association (FA), Mr. Yusuf Akolade Lawal, has vowed to lead Team Lagos to victory in the 2025 National Sports Festival Zonal Elimination, building on his past successes in boxing. His new designation is part of the strategic redeployment exercise initiated by the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) aimed at strengthening leadership and expertise across different sporting disciplines in the state.

Yusuf brings a proven track record of success to his new role. His redeployment comes after a successful tenure as the Secretary of the Lagos State Boxing Association, where he played a pivotal role in Team Lagos’ historic four-gold-medal haul at the 2024 National Youth Games. His leadership and strategic acumen were instrumental in nurturing and developing young boxing talents, culminating in the donation of a multimillion-naira boxing gym by Yucateco Boxing Promotions to the Lagos State Sports Commission. This facility will serve as a hub for training and developing future boxing champions.

Speaking on his new role, Yusuf expressed confidence in Team Lagos’ ability to excel at the Zonal Eliminations, particularly in football, where the team aims to secure qualification for the 22nd National Sports Festival, scheduled for May 16–30, 2025.

“I am honoured to serve as the Secretary of the Lagos State Football Association and will bring the same winning approach that delivered an unprecedented four gold medals for Team Lagos in boxing at the National Youth Games 2024 to football. Team Lagos is not just going there to participate; we are competing to win at the National Sports Festival. Our athletes are well-prepared, and with the support we are getting from the Lagos State Sports Commission and other sports stakeholders, we will make Lagos proud and ensure the state remains a dominant force in Nigerian sports,” Yusuf stated.

Yusuf’s emergence as the new Lagos FA Secretary came on the back of the recent internal redeployment exercise at the Lagos State Sports Commission, which took place on February 10, 2025, and saw 55 Sports Officers reassigned across various sporting disciplines, many of whom had served as secretaries for 5 to 10 years in a single sport. This initiative, backed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, aligns with the Lagos. State Government THEMES+ development framework and LSSC’s broader vision of expanding knowledge, promoting adaptability, and developing multi-disciplinary expertise among its workforce.

The Lagos State Sports Commission, under the leadership of Director General Mr. Lekan Fatodu, has put comprehensive measures in place to ensure Team Lagos dominates at the Zonal Eliminations. From intensive training camps to top-notch welfare and strategic logistical support, the Commission is committed to providing everything needed for success.

Speaking on Yusuf’s reassignment and Team Lagos’ preparations, Mr. Fatodu reaffirmed his confidence in Yusuf’s capabilities and the team’s readiness:

“Yusuf Lawal has proven himself as a dedicated and results-driven sports officer. His transition to football is part of the Commission’s development-oriented effort to replicate success across multiple disciplines. We have left no stone unturned in preparing Team Lagos for the 2025 National Sports Festival, from top-tier training camps to technical support, premium welfare, and the full backing of the sports-loving Governor of Lagos, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, our athletes are primed for success.”

The 2025 National Sports Festival Zonal Eliminations will take place simultaneously across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones from February 23 to 28, 2025. In the South-West zone, Lagos will compete against Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti across eight team sports, including football, basketball, hockey, cricket, handball, volleyball, abula, and beach volleyball.