Sports

UCL: Bayern may start 16-year-old goalkeeper against Atalanta – Kompany

Published

10 seconds ago

March 17, 2026

Bayern Munich could field 16-year-old goalkeeper Prescott in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie against Atalanta, Head Coach Vincent Kompany confirmed, following a string of injuries to the club’s senior goalkeepers.

Regular starter Manuel Neuer is still recovering from a muscle tear, while third-choice keeper Sven Ulreich suffered an adductor injury during Bayern’s 1-1 Bundesliga draw against Bayer Leverkusen.

Second-choice keeper Jonas Urbig is recovering from a concussion sustained in last week’s 6-1 win in Italy.

As reported by BBC Sport, Kompany said on Tuesday, “Jonas trained normally today. The decision tomorrow will be a medical one. If everything goes well, then Urbig will be in goal. If not, then we will have to find another solution.”

That solution could be Prescott, a German youth international who plays for Bayern’s under-19 team. As a minor, he will require clearance from German labor authorities to play in an evening match.

Kompany praised the young keeper’s composure, adding, “He is very calm. Overall, we as a staff are also calm. If he plays tomorrow he will have our full backing. Everyone will help. There will never be a young player who will be forced to play a main role. We have full confidence in him, whatever happens tomorrow.”

Neuer, 37, has appeared in 19 Bundesliga matches this season, while Urbig, 22, has eight league appearances, and Ulreich, 37, has featured once. Another teenage keeper, Leon Klanac, 19, is also sidelined with a thigh injury.

Bayern, defending Bundesliga champions and current league leaders, will face either Real Madrid or Manchester City in the UCL quarter-finals if they defeat Atalanta, making the goalkeeping situation a critical issue ahead of the high-stakes match.

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Sports

World cup play-off: NFF loses DR Congo petition, appeals FIFA verdict

Published

36 minutes ago

March 17, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Nigeria Football Federation said it has commenced the process of appealing the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, which rejected its petition against the Democratic Republic of Congo on the issue of eligibility of some players used by that country in a 2026 FIFA World Cup play-off match against Nigeria in Rabat, Morocco, last November.

Nigeria lost the match 4-3 on penalties, but the NFF protested the eligibility of some players in the DR Congo squad, citing perceived fraud in the issuance of passports that qualified a number of players of the Democratic Republic of Congo for the play-off.

After months of waiting, the NFF confirmed that it had received FIFA’s verdict but has launched an appeal.

“We have received the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee on our petition, but we are not satisfied with the decision, which rejected our petition.

“I want to assure Nigerians that the NFF has immediately commenced the process of appealing the decision,” said NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, in a statement on Tuesday.

DR Congo have been drawn to face the winner of the clash between the Jamaica national football team and New Caledonia national football team, with a place at the 2026 tournament at stake.

The Congolese are heading to Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico, where they will join five other countries vying for the final two places at the expanded World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

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Sports

FIFA sanctions Nigeria, DR Congo over W’Cup play-off infractions

Published

1 day ago

March 16, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Four months after the disputed 2026 FIFA World Cup African play-off final between Nigeria national football team and DR Congo national football team, FIFA has sanctioned the Nigeria Football Federation and the DR Congo Football Federation following disciplinary incidents that occurred during the match, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

DR Congo beat Nigeria 4–3 on penalties in Morocco to advance to the intercontinental play-offs.

According to FIFA’s latest disciplinary overview released for the World Cup qualifiers, both the NFF and the Congolese FA were found guilty of separate infractions during the match played on November 16, 2025.

FIFA stated that Nigeria was penalised for a breach relating to order and security at matches, specifically involving the throwing of objects by spectators under Article 17 and Article 17.2.b of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and the NFF was consequently fined 1,000 Swiss francs.

On their part, the DR Congo federation received a heavier sanction after supporters were found to have used laser pointers or similar electronic devices during the match. The act contravenes Article 17.2.d of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, leading FIFA to impose a 5,000 Swiss francs fine on the Congolese body.

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle also accused DR Congo officials of using voodoo in the wake of the defeat.

Meanwhile, the sanctions further heighten expectations about the anticipated verdict of the world’s football governing body over the NFF’s protest against the alleged use of ineligible players by DR Congo during the African play-off, particularly in the final.

Nigeria lodged the complaint after losing the African play-off, arguing that the Congolese federation misled FIFA in securing nationality switches for several overseas-born players.

The petition, submitted on December 15, 2025, asked FIFA to investigate the matter and potentially disqualify DR Congo from the qualification process.

The Nigerian federation’s document listed numerous foreign-born players who featured against the Super Eagles, including Lionel Mpasi, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku, Samuel Moutoussamy, Ngal’ayel Mukau, Noah Sadiki, Nathanaël Mbuku and Cédric Bakambu in the starting line-up, as well as substitutes Timothy Fayulu, Matthieu Epolo, Joris Kayembe, Edo Kayembe, Steve Kapuadi, Gédéon Kalulu, Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Mario Stroeykens.

In the complaint, released publicly by journalist Osasu Obayiuwana, Nigeria argued that several players obtained clearance to represent DR Congo only days before the decisive play-off match, despite having been called up earlier for the fixture.

While DR Congo are preparing for the World Cup play-offs, where they are scheduled to face the winner of the semi-final between New Caledonia and Jamaica on March 31 for a place at the World Cup, they have also dropped two of the disputed players — Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Mario Stroeykens — from their 26-man squad.

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Sports

D’Tigress Of Nigeria Beat Philippines In FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifier

Published

2 days ago

March 15, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Nigeria’s women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, came from behind to defeat the Philippines 101-84 in a Group A match at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Villeurbanne, France.

The African champions overturned a double-digit first-half deficit at the Astroballe to claim a convincing win after a tightly contested game that saw 12 lead changes across the opening three quarters.

The Philippines controlled much of the first half and opened a 10-point lead in the second quarter, going ahead 35-25 and later 37-27. The Asian side spent more than 22 minutes in front during the game, while Nigeria led for about 15 minutes. The scores were level for just under three minutes.

Midway through the third quarter, the African side erased a five-point deficit with a 17-12 run. Forward Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah capped the surge with a turnaround jump shot that tied the score at 67-67 with just over three minutes left in the period.

Guards Ifunanya Okoro and Elizabeth Balogun combined for nine points during that stretch, while Promise Amukamara secured key rebounds as Nigeria moved ahead 70-67 heading into the final quarter.

The Philippines attempted to respond through outside shooting from Janine Pontejos and Louna Ozar, but Nigeria’s inside scoring proved decisive as they gradually pulled away.

Nigeria sealed the win with a 9-0 run in the fourth quarter between the sixth and fourth minutes. The burst turned a narrow 81-80 lead into a 90-80 advantage. Balogun scored 5 points during the sequence, shooting perfectly.

Centre Victoria Macaulay delivered a strong performance with 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and two blocks in just over 21 minutes. She posted a +13 plus-minus rating during Nigeria’s second-half surge.

Forward Murjanatu Musa recorded 10 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, while Nicole Enabosi added 15 points and 12 rebounds. Enabosi also produced a nine-point burst in the opening quarter, helping keep Nigeria within reach early in the game.

Pontejos led the Philippines with 16 points, including an eight-point run late in the second quarter that helped extend their lead in the first half. Kacey Dela Rosa also contributed during a seven-point run late in the opening period.

Nigeria’s most effective lineup featured Ezinne Kalu, Amukamara, Macaulay, Balogun and Musa. The group spent nearly 16 minutes on the court together and recorded a +12 differential during key stages of the match.

It was reports that the win came after Nigeria’s eight-game winning streak in competitive matches ended with a 77-60 defeat to South Korea. That loss followed their opening 70-37 win over Colombia in the tournament.

Nigeria have already qualified for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup after winning the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket title.

They will face hosts France on Sunday as the tournament, which runs from March 11 to 17, continues in Villeurbanne.

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