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The Carabao Cup quarter-final lineup is officially set after a thrilling round of fourth-round matches that delivered high drama, major shocks, and standout performances across England. Eight teams — Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Brentford, and Cardiff City — will now battle it out for a place in the semi-finals, with the draw held late on Wednesday night, October 29, 2025.
The biggest shock came at Anfield, where Crystal Palace pulled off a stunning 3-0 victory over defending Premier League champions Liverpool, deepening the crisis surrounding manager Arne Slot. The result marked Palace’s third straight win over Liverpool this season, as Eberechi Eze and Odsonne Édouard inspired a historic triumph that silenced the home crowd.
Elsewhere, Chelsea edged a pulsating 4-3 win over Wolves, securing their quarter-final spot in dramatic fashion. Arsenal continued their fine form with a 2-0 victory over Brighton, led by goals from Bukayo Saka and teenage prodigy Ethan Nwaneri, while Manchester City eased past Swansea 3-1 to keep their treble hopes alive. Newcastle United also advanced with a convincing 2-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur, sealing a strong statement of intent.
On Tuesday night, Cardiff City became the story of the round, defeating Wrexham 2-1 in an all-Welsh showdown to become the only non-Premier League side in the last eight. Fulham also survived a nerve-wracking penalty shootout against Wycombe Wanderers, winning 5-4 after a tense 1-1 draw. Brentford, meanwhile, dismantled Grimsby Town 5-0, underlining their growing threat in the competition.
The quarter-final matches are scheduled for the week commencing Monday, December 15, with most fixtures expected on December 16 and 17. With heavyweights and dark horses alike still in the mix, the road to Wembley just got a lot more unpredictable.
Football fans and social media users have been left buzzing after seeing what one of former France and Arsenal legendary attacker, Thierry Henry children asked him after he showed them a statue of himself outside the Emirates Stadium.
According to the photo shared on Facebook, the former legendary France attacker, Thierry Henry and his children were spotted looking at a statue of himself celebrating one of his iconic goals against their North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur outside the Emirates Stadium.
Seeing their dad, Thierry Henry statue outside the Emirates Stadium, one of his children asked him while he was looking so serious.
Revealing what Thierry Henry child asked him after he showed them his statue outside the Emirates Stadium, GiveMeSport posted: “Thierry Henry took his children to see his statue outside of the Emirates
One of his kids asked him why he had that serious look…”
This Facebook post, has attracted reactions from football fans and social media users, as some have called Henry a great legend, while some have called his response a savage one.
Here are some screenshots of reactions from football fans and social media users:
Mrs. Ibukun Simon, wife of Super Eagles winger Moses Simon and Chief Executive Officer of Simoiben Football Academy, has vowed that her football institution will continue to groom exceptional talents capable of shining on the world stage, just like Nigeria’s emerging defensive sensation, Benjamin Fredrick.
According to a report by Own Goal Nigeria on Friday, October 17, 2025, Mrs. Simon made the pledge while reflecting on the academy’s achievements and the remarkable rise of Fredrick one of its most successful graduates. She stated that Simoiben Football Academy remains committed to discovering, nurturing, and developing future stars who will not only represent Nigeria but also compete at the highest levels of international football.
Fredrick’s story has become one of Nigerian football’s most inspiring success tales in recent years. The 19-year-old defender, who joined Simoiben Academy at the age of 10, rose through the ranks under the mentorship and guidance of the academy’s coaching staff before securing a move to the English Premier League side Brentford. He is currently on loan at FC Dender in Belgium, where he continues to impress with his composure, versatility, and tactical intelligence.
Fredrick’s consistent performances at both club and national levels have earned him recognition as one of Nigeria’s brightest young prospects. Whether deployed as a centre-back or right-back, his strength, positioning, and ability to read the game have drawn comparisons to top European defenders.
Speaking about his journey, Mrs. Simon expressed immense pride in his development and said his progress serves as motivation for other players coming through the ranks at Simoiben Football Academy.
“We have some of the best young players in Nigeria, and many more will likely follow in the footsteps of Fredrick or even better,” she said.
She further highlighted that the academy’s philosophy focuses not only on football skills but also on discipline, education, and character building key attributes she believes are essential for long-term success.
“It’s not just about producing footballers; it’s about producing role models who can represent Nigeria positively anywhere they go,” she explained.
Mrs. Simon also mentioned other promising graduates making waves in Europe, including Emmanuel Michael, who currently plays for LASK Linz in Austria. She noted that Michael’s steady progress is another testament to the academy’s commitment to quality and excellence.
“There is Emmanuel Michael at LASK in Austria as well. The idea is to help as many talented young footballers to achieve their dreams,” she concluded.
The Simoiben Football Academy, founded by Moses and Ibukun Simon, has in recent years gained recognition as one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing youth football development centres
.Based in Benin City, Edo State, the academy focuses on identifying raw talents from grassroots communities and providing them with access to structured training programs, international exposure, and mentorship opportunities.
Football analysts have praised the academy for its contribution to grassroots football development in Nigeria, noting that its success stories could inspire other professional players to invest in similar initiatives. With the rise of players like Fredrick, the academy has become a symbol of hope for thousands of aspiring footballers across the country.
Sports observers believe that initiatives like Simoiben Academy could play a major role in reducing Nigeria’s reliance on foreign-born players by developing homegrown talents who can compete globally.
As Mrs. Simon continues to push her academy’s vision forward, she remains confident that the next generation of Nigerian football stars is already emerging from their ranks.
“Our goal is simple to keep producing stars who will represent Nigeria with pride and excellence,” she said with conviction.
Nigeria will take on Gabon in the semi-finals of the African section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup play-offs, following the conclusion of the qualifying group matches on Tuesday, PUNCH Online reports.
The Super Eagles booked their place after a 4–0 victory over Benin earlier in the day, while Gabon confirmed second place in Group F with a 2–0 win against Burundi and Ivory Coast’s thumping of Kenya to win the group.
DR Congo also sealed their qualification with a narrow 1–0 win over Sudan to finish runners-up in Group B behind Senegal, with Cameroon joining them after placing second in Group D behind Cape Verde.
The play-offs, which will feature the four best runners-up from the nine African qualifying groups, are scheduled to take place in Morocco from November 13 to 16.
Nigeria, expected to remain the highest-ranked African side among the four when FIFA releases its updated rankings on October 23, will face the lowest-ranked team among the four, Gabon.
Cameroon and DR Congo will contest the other semi-final.
Both semi-finals will be played on November 13, with the winners meeting three days later in a single-leg final.
The overall winner will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs in March 2026 for a chance to qualify for the World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The matches will be played as single-leg knockouts in a venue to be determined by CAF later.
If tied after 90 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time will follow, and if the scores remain level, a penalty shoot-out will decide the winner.
Morocco will host the mini-tournament, which gives Africa an additional opportunity to secure a place at the expanded 48-team World Cup.
All nine African group winners have already qualified directly for next year’s finals, while the play-offs will determine whether the continent can add one more representative through the inter-continental route.
Benin Republic coach, Gernot Rohr, has admitted mixed emotions after watching Victor Osimhen — a player he once discovered — score a stunning hat trick.
According to a report by Own Goal Nigeria on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, the Nigerian striker’s brilliance powered a 4–0 demolition of Rohr’s team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday.
Speaking to owngoalnigeria.com after the match, Rohr acknowledged the gulf in quality between the two sides but took pride in Osimhen’s remarkable growth since his teenage years.
The veteran German tactician, who once managed the Super Eagles, revealed that he was the one who first handed Osimhen his senior team opportunity
“When I brought Osimhen in the team, he was 17, and we made here our first game against Tanzania, and he was already in our selection,” Rohr told Owngoalnigeria.com.
However, pride quickly turned to pain as his former protégé delivered a ruthless performance against Benin.
“I am very happy to see him like that, but I’m not happy that he did it against me and again,” Rohr said with a wry smile.
“I hope that he will do it in the playoffs for your country, which I love. But today, we are a little bit disappointed because the dream to go to the World Cup for us is finished.”
Rohr admitted that the defeat effectively ends Benin’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria’s emphatic victory keeps their qualification hopes alive, while Benin’s campaign now turns toward rebuilding for the future.
Lesotho national team coach Leslie Notsi has explained why his players were inconsolable after their game with Nigeria at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday.
Likuena lost 2-1 to the Super Eagles in the penultimate round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying Group C to remain second from bottom in the pool with nine points from as many matches.
Meanwhile, Nigeria remained in third position with 14 points from the same number of games and in with a shot at qualifying for the global showpiece to be hosted by USA, Mexico and Canada.
Lesotho had held Nigeria goalless at the break and had two opportunities towards the end of the game to equalize when they were trailing 2-0.
According to a report by Tribuna, on Thursday 9th October 2025, Brazilian model and social media influencer Anna Silva has caused a stir by claiming that Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior frequently focuses on sexual topics in their private conversations
.Silva, whose comments have quickly gone viral, accused the footballer of steering their chats toward explicit content, despite her efforts to engage in deeper discussions. “Vinicius only thinks about sx,” she said. “I told him that I’m sapiosexual — I like intelligent conversations, I enjoy people who have something to talk about. But with him, it was always sx, s*x talk.”
The influencer explained that she was disappointed with Vinicius’ apparent lack of depth in personal interactions. She emphasized her preference for meaningful dialogue over sexual innuendo. “I don’t like someone who just keeps talking about dirty stuff with me, you know? He can’t hold a conversation,” Silva added, highlighting her frustration with the repeated focus on sexual topics.
The revelations have ignited widespread debate online. Social media users are divided, with some criticizing Silva for going public with private messages, while others support her for calling out what they consider inappropriate behavior from a high-profile celebrity. A number of fans have defended Vinicius, asserting that private conversations should remain private, while others commend Silva for her candidness and willingness to address uncomfortable situations.
The viral interview has brought renewed attention to the personal lives of football stars and the challenges of managing public scrutiny in the age of social media. It has also sparked broader discussions about celebrity conduct and the limits of personal boundaries in digital communications.
Head coach of South Africa, Hugo Broos, has highlighted the advantage his team has over Nigeria and the Benin Republic ahead of the final rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers this month.
According to Broos, the Bafana Bafana holds the upper hand over Nigeria and the Benin Republic in the race to secure the 2026 World Cup ticket because the Super Eagles can only have 17 points if they win their last two games.
The Belgian tactician also noted that Benin Republic cannot win their last two games against Nigeria and Rwanda, respectively.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of South Africa’s crucial fixture against Zimbabwe on Friday, Broos told reporters: “That game on Friday is maybe the most important.
“If we can win that game, you have 17 points. Nigeria, if they win their two games, can only have 17 points, the same thing for Rwanda.
“But Benin cannot win their two games because they play against Nigeria and Rwanda; therefore, the game on Friday is so important for us to win.”
Benin Republic is currently on top of Group C with 14 points and has a superior goal difference ahead of second-position South Africa, which also has 14 points.
Nigeria and Rwanda both have 11 points each and sit in third and fourth positions, respectively.
Saturday night, Galatasaray and Besiktas fought to a 1-1 tie in the Turkish Super Lig, with Nigerian internationals Wilfred Ndidi and Victor Osimhen on opposing teams. But in the Turkish Super Lig Istanbul derby between Besiktas and Galatasaray, Victor Osimhen and Besiktas defender Topcu got into a heated argument, with Osimhen reportedly holding his neck.
When Wilfred Ndidi witnessed his teammate on the national team, Victor Osimhen, arguing with his club teammate, Topcu, he had to step in to break up the altercation and keep Osimhen from receiving a red card during the match. “Things got intense” is the tweet that Soar Super Eagles posted along with a picture of the tense moment between Victor Osimhen and the Besiktas defender.
Nigerians and social media users have responded to this Soar Super Eagles post in a variety of ways. Some have praised Wilfred Ndidi for intervening to terminate the altercation, while others have asserted that Osimhen would have received a red card if it had been the Premier League.
Here are a few screen grabs of responses from social media users and Nigerians:
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ preliminary match against Lesotho played on 21 March 2025.
In a statement released on Monday, FIFA confirmed that South Africa breached Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and Article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Preliminary Competition Regulations by featuring the player, who was not eligible for selection.
As a result, FIFA has awarded the match to Lesotho with a 3–0 scoreline, overturning the original result.
In addition to the forfeiture, SAFA has been ordered to pay a fine of CHF 10,000, while Teboho Mokoena has received an official warning from the world football governing body.
According to FIFA, the parties involved have been notified of the decision and have ten days to request a motivated decision, which, if requested, will be published on legal.fifa.com.
The ruling, however, remains subject to appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee, in line with the relevant provisions of the Disciplinary Code.
