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Lookman’s Hat-Trick Powers Atalanta To Historic Europa League Triumph

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Ademola Lookman fired Atalanta to Europa League glory with a sensational hat-trick, sealing a 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the final on Wednesday.

This triumph marks Atalanta’s second major trophy in their 117-year history and breaks Italy’s 25-year drought in the competition, last won by Parma in 1999 when it was known as the UEFA Cup.

Manager Gian Piero Gasperini expressed immense pride in his squad, heralding the victory as the end of “cursed” years for Italian clubs in the Europa League.

Lookman, whose career resurgence under Gasperini has been noteworthy, opened the scoring early with a precise finish after a brilliant run by Davide Zappacosta.

He doubled the lead with a stunning right-footed strike from outside the box, taking advantage of a defensive lapse by Leverkusen.

The Nigerian forward completed his hat-trick 15 minutes before full-time, sealing the fate of the German champions, who had been unbeaten in 51 games before this final.

Ademola Lookman etched his name in the history books on Wednesday by becoming the first player to ever score a hat-trick in a Europa League final.

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Court resumes hearing in case involving Anthony Joshua’s driver

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A Magistrate Court sitting in Sagamu, Ogun State, has resumed hearing in the case against Adeniyi Kayode, the driver of a Lexus SUV involved in the fatal road crash that claimed the lives of two close associates of heavyweight boxing star, Anthony Joshua.

Kayode, 46, was arraigned before the Sagamu Magistrate Court on January 2, with Magistrate Olufunilayo Somefun presiding.

He is facing a four-count charge bordering on dangerous driving causing death, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care and attention resulting in bodily harm and property damage, as well as driving without a valid national driver’s license.

The charges are said to be contrary to various provisions of the Federal Highway Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, as applicable in Ogun State.

The court had earlier granted the defendant bail in the sum of ₦5 million with two sureties.

The case stems from a tragic accident that occurred on December 29, 2025, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where the Lexus SUV reportedly collided with a stationary truck.

The crash led to the deaths of Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, both close associates of the former world heavyweight champion.

Joshua and the driver were said to have sustained minor injuries in the incident. The boxer was later discharged from the hospital after being certified medically stable to continue his recovery at home.

Following the tragedy, Joshua, accompanied by his mother, visited a funeral home in Lagos to pay his last respects as arrangements were made to repatriate the bodies of the deceased to the United Kingdom.

Ayodele and Ghami were laid to rest after a funeral prayer held on January 4, 2026, at the London Central Mosque, followed by burial at Hendon Cemetery.

Their deaths, particularly Ghami’s as Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach and Ayodele’s as his personal trainer and confidant, drew widespread tributes from across the global boxing community.

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Senegal win chaotic AFCON final after Morocco miss penalty and stage walk-off protest

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Senegal 1-0 Morocco (after extra time): Brahim Diaz fluffed a ‘Panenka’ penalty for the chance to win the Africa Cup of Nations, after the Senegal team had stormed off the pitch in protest | By WILL CASTLE

Pape Gueye’s stunning goal in extra time won the Africa Cup of Nations final for Senegal – after hosts Morocco missed the chance to win the trophy for the first time in 50 years as Brahim Diaz fluffed a ‘Panenka’ penalty following a controversial late decision that sparked an extraordinary protest from the Senegal team.

The final in Rabat descended into chaos deep into stoppage time when Morocco were awarded a penalty after a VAR review by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala when Diaz went down the box under the challenge of El Hadji Malick Diouf.

Senegal, who had an opening goal disallowed for a soft foul on Morocco captain Achraf Hakimin moments before, were outraged and the majority of the Senegal team, led by head coach Pape Thiaw, stormed off the pitch, leading to a 14-minute delay.

When Senegal were convinced to come back onto the pitch by talisman Sadio Mane, Diaz, with the chance to win a historic Africa Cup of Nations title for the hosts Morocco in the 24th minute of stoppage time, chipped his penalty softly down the middle – resulting in the easiest of saves for goalkeeper Mendy.

The final then went to extra time, where Gueye scored a stunning goal to win Senegal their second Africa Cup of Nations title in four years, in a final that will be remembered as one of the most chaotic international matches of all time.

 

 

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Obodo Village Wins Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s Multimillion Naira Football Competition in Thrilling Penalty Shootout

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Mark Chisom, Owerri— January 15, 2026

Obodo Village has emerged victorious in the highly anticipated Samuel Anyanwu Football Competition, clinching the championship after a dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Egbelu Village. The match, held today at Amaimo Central School in Ikeduru Local Government Area, ended in a 0-0 draw, setting the stage for the nerve-wracking penalty shootout.

After both teams failed to score during regular play, the match proceeded to penalties, where Obodo Village showed exceptional composure to convert five of their attempts, while Egbelu Village could only manage four.

The competition, which began several weeks ago, saw teams from various villages across the community compete for the championship title. The final match was the culmination of months of preparation, with both teams showcasing remarkable skill and sportsmanship.

In his address at the closing ceremony, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the tournament’s sponsor, congratulated both teams for their determination and sportsmanship throughout the competition. “This tournament was not just about winning but about fostering unity and teamwork among our communities,” Senator Anyanwu said. “I am proud of the dedication each team showed, and I look forward to even greater participation in the future.”

Senator Anyanwu also announced plans to sponsor a bigger football competition in December 2026, further emphasizing his commitment to nurturing local talent. Additionally, he promised to sponsor exceptional footballers to modern football academies, offering them the opportunity to develop their skills at a professional level.

Obodo Village’s win has been hailed as a historic achievement for the community, with fans and supporters celebrating their hard-earned victory.

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