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Champions League final moved to Porto

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*12,000 Chelsea and Manchester City fans can attend

The Champions League final between Chelsea and Manchester City on 29 May will take place in Portugal with 6,000 fans from each club able to attend.

The game has been moved from Turkey to the Portuguese city of Porto because of coronavirus restrictions.

Portugal is on England’s green list so players and fans can attend without having to quarantine on their return home. Turkey is on the red list.

The final had been due to be staged at Istanbul’s Ataturk Olympic Stadium.

“To deprive supporters of the chance to see the match in person was not an option and I am delighted that this compromise has been found,” said Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin.

Uefa, UK government officials and the Football Association met to talk about Wembley hosting the game but no agreement could be reached on quarantine exemptions for sponsors, VIPs and broadcasters.

“Fans have had to suffer more than 12 months without the ability to see their teams live and reaching a Champions League final is the pinnacle of club football,” added Ceferin.

“After the year that fans have endured, it is not right that they don’t have the chance to watch their teams in the biggest game of the season.”

Both Chelsea and Manchester City say they are in discussions with Uefa and other stakeholders over ticketing and travel arrangements.

It is the second successive year the final has been held in Portugal with Lisbon the location for the delayed final stages of last season’s competition, won by Bayern Munich.

The final capacity limit at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto is still to be fixed.

Ceferin acknowledged that the UK government’s decision to place Turkey on the red list for travel was made in good faith but said it also left the governing body with “a major challenge”.

“The difficulties of moving the final are great and the FA and the authorities made every effort to try to stage the match in England, and I would like to thank them for their work in trying to make it happen,” he added.

“The Turkish Football Federation and the authorities have always been reliable partners of Uefa and I hope to be in Istanbul and Turkey for a Champions League final and many other events in the near future.

“I hope the final will be a symbol of hope at the re-emergence of Europe from a difficult period and that the fans who travel to the game will once again be able to lend their voices to showcase this final as the best in club football.”

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MOB UNITY CUP FINAL SET FOR JUNE 8 AT OLUYEMI KAYODE STADIUM

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The grand finale of the highly celebrated MOB Unity Cup has been scheduled to take place on Monday, June 8, 2026, at the newly renovated Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti.

The decision was reached during a meeting of the tournament’s Organising Committee held in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.

According to a press statement issued by the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee, Mr. Toyin Ayoola, football fans are in for an exciting double-header as the competition reaches its climax in both the male and female categories.

In the women’s final, Golden Queens of Ado-Ekiti will battle Oba Ademola Ajakaye Memorial Queens of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government for the coveted title. The match is scheduled to kick off at 2:00 p.m.

The men’s final will see NYSC Football Team of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government, popularly known as the Samba Boys, face Delight Football Club of Ado-Ekiti in what promises to be a thrilling encounter. The match, alongside other closing ceremonies, will commence at 4:00 p.m.

Speaking during the committee meeting, the Acting Chairman of the Organising Committee, Hon. Gbenga Banji, explained that the adjustment in the original date and venue arrangements was necessitated by the extensive renovation and upgrading works currently being carried out at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium.

It will be recalled that Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji initiated the comprehensive renovation of the stadium over a year ago with the aim of transforming the facility into one of the finest sporting arenas in Nigeria.

The MOB Unity Cup final will be among the first major sporting events to be staged at the stadium since the commencement of the renovation project.

Sponsored by the Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, the championship was established to promote grassroots sports development across Ekiti State while complementing the efforts of the state government in youth empowerment and talent discovery.

Over the years, the competition has produced several promising football talents who have gone on to feature prominently in domestic leagues and international football competitions.

The stakes are high for this year’s finalists, with the champions in both categories set to receive a cash prize of ₦1 million and the tournament trophy. The runners-up will take home ₦750,000, while the third-place teams will be rewarded with ₦500,000 each.

As anticipation builds ahead of the final, football enthusiasts across Ekiti State are expected to troop to the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium to witness the crowning of new champions in one of the state’s most prestigious grassroots football competitions.

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Team Nigeria Shines With 9 Gold Medals at African Cycling Championship

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Nigeria's Cyclists
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Team Nigeria delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 Confederation of African Cycling Para-Track and Track African Championships, winning a total of 16 medals in Abuja.

The championship, held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Velodrome, featured cyclists from across Africa, including Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Algeria and host nation Nigeria.

Nigeria finished top of the medals table with nine gold, five silver and two bronze medals after two days of competition.

Egypt came second with 14 medals, while Kenya finished third with nine medals. South Africa and Algeria completed the top five standings.

The Nigerian cyclists impressed home fans with strong performances in speed, endurance and technical events throughout the championship.

Organisers also received praise for the quality of facilities at the Abuja velodrome, which successfully hosted the continental competition.

More than 100 cyclists from eight African countries participated in the championship, competing for medals and continental ranking points.

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Tinubu Approves Nigeria’s Bid to Host 2026 CAF Awards

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved Nigeria’s bid to host the 2026 edition of the prestigious CAF Awards ceremony, in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s position in African football administration and international sporting events.

The approval was confirmed in a statement issued by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which also disclosed that the President endorsed Nigeria’s proposal to host the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly scheduled to hold later this year.

President Tinubu announced the approvals during the ongoing Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, after a high-level meeting with Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Other prominent personalities present at the meeting included Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, acting CAF General Secretary Samson Adamu, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, and former NFF President Amaju Pinnick.

The CAF Ordinary General Assembly, expected to hold in October, is one of the continent’s most important football gatherings. The event traditionally brings together presidents of CAF’s 54 member associations, officials from the six zonal unions, and top football administrators from across Africa to deliberate on key issues affecting the game on the continent.

Similarly, the CAF Awards remains one of Africa’s biggest football events, celebrating outstanding footballers, coaches, clubs, officials, and other stakeholders who have distinguished themselves during the year.

Nigeria previously hosted the CAF Awards ceremony on January 6, 2017, when Algerian star Riyad Mahrez won the Men’s African Player of the Year award, while Nigerian forward Asisat Oshoala clinched the Women’s Player of the Year prize.

CAF is expected to announce the final host city for both the General Assembly and the 2026 CAF Awards ceremony in the coming months.

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