Retrospect: Review Of Major Sporting Events That Made Headlines

From Monday to Saturday, the sports world this week saw sweet victories, heartbreaking defeats, and some farewells, especially in football.

In Europe, the leagues are getting to their climax, intercontinental club competitions are nearing the final phase in Africa, and in Nigeria, the stories are about the National Sports Festival in Ogun and the Super Eagles’ team list for the Unity Cup.

Man United Suffer Europa Heartbreak

Manchester United suffered a heartbreak!  After an underwhelming campaign, the 20-time English champions thought there would be a way out — win the Europa League and qualify for next season’s Champions League. And so, they headed for Bilbao, Spain, on a redemption journey!

They faced a familiar foe – Tottenham – in the second-rate European club competition. The Red Devils, just like their opponents, needed the trophy to banish the ghosts of an abysmal season.

On the night, however, it was Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs who were crowned champions after a 1-0 win, breaking Manchester United’s heart.

That defeat meant Spurs won their first trophy since a League Cup victory in 2008, further compounding United’s miserable season, where they are languishing in 16th with just one game to go.

Amorim Defiant, Offers To Leave United

In the aftermath of that defeat, Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim offered to leave the club if the Premier League side no longer wanted him. The Portuguese said he will quit “without any conversation about compensation”. 

READ ALSO: Retrospect: Review Of Major Sporting Events That Made Headlines Last Week

The loss compounds a disastrous season for the club, which will finish in their lowest league position since they were relegated in 1974. United are 16th in the table with one league game remaining, against Aston Villa on Sunday. But the former Sporting Lisbon boss, who has won just six Premier League games at United, said he still believed in his ability to turn things around at Old Trafford but would walk if he was no longer wanted.

Osimhen Scoops Double In Turkey

Meanwhile, Tottenham were not the only team that scooped a trophy this past week. On the first day of the week, Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen helped his Turkish side, Galatasaray, win the Super Lig, the club’s second title in days.

Galatasaray had won the Turkish Cup last Wednesday, with the Super Eagle also scoring a brace in that match.

On Sunday, Osimhen registered another goal as his club defeated Kayserispor to be crowned Turkish champions. The Nigerian, on a season-long loan from Napoli, has 25 league goals this season with two matches to go.

Lookman, Osimhen To Miss Unity Cup

At the home front, Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle, has named his squad for the Unity Cup — a competition involving four countries aimed at celebrating cultural and football ties — and for a friendly game against Russia.

The team, however, excluded some notable names like Osimhen and reigning African Player of the Year, Ademola Lookman. Instead, Chelle invited 25 players in a blend of foreign-based footballers and standout stars from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). The Unity Cup is billed to start May 27th and end May 31st, after which the Super Eagles face Russia in a friendly in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.

Super Falcons Ready For Cameroon’s Lionesses

Like their male counterpart, Super Falcons coach, Justin Madugu, also invited 23 players for the double-header games against Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses.

The powerhouses will battle it out on Saturday, May 31st, in Ikenne-Remo before another game on Tuesday, June 3rd, at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta. The match is preparation for Nigeria ahead of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, billed for Morocco between 5th – 26th July.

Arsenal On Date With Destiny In Women’s Champions League

Still talking women’s football! The final of the UEFA Women’s Champions League took the spotlight this week. Spanish giants Barcelona are up against Arsenal. The Catalan giants have reached six of the last seven finals and won the competition three times, while Arsenal last made it in 2007 for their maiden victory. Barca are on course for a repeat of last season’s quadruple, but Arsenal hope to be the sand in the gears in the Lisbon showpiece.

French Open To Serve Off Sunday

In the meantime, the French Open will begin on Sunday as players head to Paris for the second Grand Slam of the year. However, there won’t be a familiar face — Rafael Nadal — on the courts after the 14-time champion retired last year.

But top stars such as Iga Swiatek, Jannik Sinner, and Carlos Alcaraz will be among the players battling for honours. Alcaraz is the defending men’s singles champion.

A Legend Leaves Real Madrid

Real Madrid’s Croatian midfielder, Luka Modric, said he would leave the Spanish giants after the Club World Cup this summer.

The Croatian has played nearly 600 games for Real Madrid since joining from Tottenham in 2012, winning the Champions League six times, the Copa del Rey twice, and four La Liga titles among 28 trophies in total.

Modric struggled at the start of his Madrid career after a move worth around €35 million ($40 million) but quickly found his footing and developed into one of the world’s best midfielders. Modric, who became Madrid captain last summer, won the Ballon d’Or in 2018 for his performances with Madrid and also his country, as Croatia finished as runners-up at the World Cup in Russia.

U-20 AFCON: Nigeria Win Bronze, South Africa Crowned Champions

At home in Africa, the Flying Eagles may have had an eye for the trophy at the U-20 AFCON, but the age-grade team settled for the bronze medal. They defeated hosts, Egypt, 4-1 on penalties after the game ended 1-1.

South Africa —who beat Nigeria in the semi-final — were crowned champions of the tournament following a slim 1-0 victory over Morocco.

Golden Eaglets Soar At Gateway Games, Delta Leads Chart

At the National Sports Festival in Ogun State, Nigeria, the Golden Eaglets soared into the semifinals of the football event, beating Ebonyi State 5-0 on Friday. As of the time of this report, Delta State has leapfrogged Bayelsa to top the medals table in the first week of the games.