Ademola Lookman will face Arsenal in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League semi-finals after Atletico Madrid and the Premier League side secured their places in the last four, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Atlético booked their spot for the first time since the 2016/17 season after edging past Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate despite a 2-1 second-leg defeat on Tuesday.

Arsenal, meanwhile, confirmed their progression with a 1-0 aggregate victory over Sporting CP on Wednesday to set up the semi-final clash.

Lookman proved decisive in Atlético’s quarter-final, scoring in the 31st minute of the second leg after Barcelona had overturned a two-goal deficit through Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres. His goal restored Atlético’s aggregate advantage and ultimately secured their passage.

The Nigerian forward, who joined Atlético from Atalanta during the winter transfer window, has quickly become a key figure in the squad, contributing 10 goals across all competitions since his arrival.

Looking ahead to the semi-final, Lookman acknowledged the quality of Arsenal but insisted his side are prepared for the challenge that comes with facing elite opposition at this stage of the competition.

“Another strong team, another top team,” he said.

“When you’re in the semi-finals of the Champions League, whoever you get will be tough. It’s a big occasion and one we’re really looking forward to.”

His strike against Barcelona also saw him join an exclusive list of Nigerians to have scored in a Champions League quarter-final, alongside Obafemi Martins, Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen.

Atlético manager Diego Simeone reserved special praise for Lookman’s influence, highlighting his unique qualities and growing importance to the team.

“Since I’ve been in the club, we never had players like that with those features,” Simeone said.

“He’s still evolving. He’s improving a lot defensively, which makes him even more important. And, of course, he’s carrying more weight in the team.”

The Argentine also emphasised the forward’s attacking strengths and impact on Atlético’s style of play.

“He’s brilliant offensively. He’s very courageous. He’s very good on the one-on-one,” he added.

“And when we attack, we play it from the heart. The amount of running was unbelievable. His offensive importance, giving pace to the team when he was on the ball, was key.”

Despite the praise, Simeone believes there is still more to come from the Nigerian international.

“We need more from him. He has more in his tank. We’ve seen it in Nigeria,” he said.

With six goals already for Atlético and his influence continuing to grow, Lookman now heads into a high-stakes semi-final against Arsenal with the opportunity to further cement his place among the club’s key players as they pursue European glory.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

The Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Wasilat Adegoke, on Monday, reiterated the state government’s commitment to youth development and grassroots sports as Ibadan prepares to host the grand finale of MTN Champs Season 4, which is expected to draw over 3,200 athletes from across Nigeria.

She stated this during a press briefing held at Jericho, Ibadan, ahead of a three-day championship scheduled to take place at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.

Adegoke explained that the state government had made adequate preparations to host athletes, officials and spectators, emphasising that the competition aligns with its broader agenda of youth empowerment and sports development.

MTN Champs is a track and field competition set to discover outstanding athletes from schools across Nigeria.

The Season 4 Grand Finale, scheduled to run from April 14 to April 17, 2026, is expected to bring together young athletes, coaches, sports enthusiasts and key stakeholders in a competitive atmosphere aimed at promoting excellence and opportunity in athletics.

The commissioner said, “The state government is fully committed to providing an enabling environment for programmes like this to thrive. We see sports as a critical tool for youth engagement, talent discovery and socio-economic development.

“The government would continue to support initiatives that identify and nurture young talents. The championship would further position the state as a hub for sporting excellence.

“The government is proud to partner with stakeholders to host this grand finale. We believe that many of these young athletes will go on to represent Nigeria on the global stage.”

Earlier, the founder of Making of Champions, Bambo Akani, revealed that a total of 3,200 athletes, 215 schools and 325 teams had registered for the competition.

Akani, who described the event as a significant platform for discovering and nurturing young athletic talent, added that several standout performers from previous editions are already benefiting from international opportunities.

“Some of the talented athletes discovered from earlier editions are currently on full scholarships in various schools in the United States. This shows the impact of what we are building,” he said.

He expressed confidence that athletes discovered through the MTN Champs initiative would continue to make the country proud in international competitions.

“We are not just organising competitions; we are building future champions. I strongly believe that many of these young athletes will go on to represent Nigeria with distinction at global events,” Akani added.

Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen, will be fully fit to face Fenerbahçe in their crucial Super Lig match in two weeks’ time after being reintegrated into squad training on Saturday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Osimhen has been sidelined with an arm injury sustained against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League play-off before the international break, but the Nigerian is gradually returning to full fitness ahead of the Super Lig title run-in.

The 27-year-old has undergone surgery and took part in non-contact team training on Saturday, but he was not listed as Galatasaray faced Kocaelispor on Sunday.

According to a source close to the player and Nigerian OAP, Buchi Laba, Osimhen will be ready to return to action for the Istanbul derby on Sunday, April 26. There is also a chance he could feature against Gençlerbirliği, either in the league next Saturday or in their Turkish Cup quarter-final tie on Wednesday, April 22.

“The King is back! Victor Osimhen was part of training yesterday. Non-contact,” he wrote.

“There’s a little chance he will be available for the Gençlerbirliği game, whether in the league or cup, but he will be 100 per cent ready to start against Fenerbahçe in the league.”

On Saturday, his club also said, “Victor Osimhen trained with the team during the first part of the session, then continued his work under the supervision of physiotherapists on the field and in the gym as part of the special programme prepared for him.”

As their club led the Super Lig with two points before Sunday’s game, Galatasaray fans are hopeful of his earlier-than-expected return, especially ahead of the derby against rivals Fenerbahçe on April 26.

Osimhen, who joined Galatasaray on a permanent deal for €75m last summer, has made a significant impact, scoring 12 league goals and adding seven more in European competitions this season.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN