Sports
Onuachu ignites Trabzonspor’s title charge with scoring prowess
Trabzonspor surged to a 3-1 away win over Kayserispor in the 25th week of the Süper Lig, with Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu scoring twice to cement his influence on the team’s campaign and etch his name deeper into the club’s history.
Signed permanently this season after a standout loan spell in 2023-24, Onuachu has continued his remarkable scoring form. In his first season, he netted 15 goals in 21 league matches, averaging 0.71 goals per game.
This term, he has already matched and exceeded expectations with 20 goals in 22 appearances, lifting his scoring rate to 0.90 per match.
Closing in on legends
The Nigerian forward is now chasing Trabzonspor icons in the club’s goal-scoring records.
He trails only Alexander Sörloth, who scored 24 goals in 2019-20, and Georgian star Şota Arveladze, the 25-goal king from the 1995-96 season.
With nine matches remaining, four more goals would see him match Sörloth, five would tie Arveladze, and six could make Onuachu the highest-scoring foreign player in a single season for Trabzonspor.
Should he finish as the league’s top scorer, Onuachu would claim Trabzonspor’s sixth Golden Boot.
Previous holders include Necmi Perekli (18), Fatih Tekke (31), Şota Arveladze (25), Burak Yılmaz (33), and Sörloth (24).
Dominating the goal charts
Currently leading the scoring race with 20 goals, Onuachu holds a four-goal advantage over Eldor Shomurodov and seven over Talisca and Mauro Icardi.
His goals account for 39% of Trabzonspor’s league tally, and after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, he has struck nine times in seven consecutive matches.
Onuachu’s impact stretches across the season.
He opened the campaign with the decisive goal against Kocaelispor and added crucial strikes against Samsunspor, Gaziantep FK, Fatih Karagümrük, Kayserispor, Çaykur Rizespor, Alanyaspor, Başakşehir, Konyaspor, Kasımpaşa, Antalyaspor, and more.
Despite missing three games due to suspension and international duty, he quickly resumed his scoring streak upon return.
Trabzonspor sit third with 54 points. In matches where Onuachu scored, the team has won 11, drawn four, and lost just once, collecting 37 points from his contributions alone.
Escalating tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran are rippling across the sporting world, disrupting schedules, stranding athletes, and forcing organizers to make urgent adjustments.
From the snow-covered slopes of the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics to tennis courts in Dubai and football stadiums across the Middle East, sports federations are grappling with unprecedented challenges caused by travel chaos and security concerns.
Paralympic Games arrival disrupted
The International Paralympic Committee said several delegations traveling to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games are facing delays as Middle Eastern airspace closures prevent flights from reaching Europe on schedule.
“The closure of airspace is impacting the arrival of some stakeholders. We are working diligently with Milano Cortina 2026 to find solutions for those affected,” an IPC spokesperson said Tuesday.
Athletes and support staff have reported extended layovers and missed connections, raising concerns over preparation and acclimatization for the Games.
Tennis and badminton chaos
Tennis in the UAE has been particularly hard-hit. The ATP Challenger event in Fujairah was canceled following a security alert, and the ATP arranged charter flights to evacuate players at no cost.
Russian stars Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, who recently competed in Dubai, struggled to reach California for the Indian Wells Open.
Two-time Olympic badminton medalist PV Sindhu withdrew from the All England Open after being stranded at Dubai airport for several days, returning safely to Bangalore.
“The last few days have been intense and uncertain,” Sindhu wrote on social media, highlighting the personal toll of the crisis on athletes.
Iranian women football players granted asylum
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women football players who fled after refusing to sing the national anthem at an Asia Cup match, fearing reprisals at home.
Police helped two additional players escape the supervision of minders, though one later reversed her decision and returned to Iran.
Officials relocated the remaining players to a secure location after Iranian state media branded the team “wartime traitors.”
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke emphasized that authorities were taking all measures to ensure the athletes’ safety.
Football and hockey disruptions
The U.S. men’s hockey team withdrew from a World Cup qualifier in Ismailia, Egypt, following a State Department advisory urging Americans to leave nations near conflict zones.
The International Hockey Federation expressed full support for the withdrawal.
Iraq’s football coach Graham Arnold called for the postponement of the country’s inter-confederation World Cup playoff in Mexico later this month, citing travel lockdowns in the Middle East.
“If we have to field a team entirely composed of overseas-based players, our chances of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1986 will be severely compromised,” Arnold said.
In Iran, all sporting events remain canceled, including the Persian Gulf Pro League. Bahrain has also suspended domestic competitions.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s top-flight football league plans to resume this week following a pause prompted by regional security concerns.
The Asian Champions League has postponed multiple rounds of 16 fixtures involving Middle Eastern clubs, with quarter-finals in both the Elite and Challenge leagues also delayed.
Afghanistan’s limited-overs cricket series against Sri Lanka, scheduled in the UAE from March 13–25, has been postponed as well.
Motorsport uncertainty
The World Endurance Championship postponed its Lusail, Qatar, season opener originally scheduled for March 28, with a new date to be announced later.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said safety and well-being will guide decisions on upcoming Formula One races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Teams and drivers are monitoring developments closely, as the crisis casts doubt over the feasibility of next month’s races.
Global implications
The ripple effects of the conflict extend beyond scheduling.
Thousands of flights across some of the world’s busiest transit hubs have been canceled, affecting not only elite athletes but also staff, media, and support personnel.
Organizers face logistical hurdles in rebooking travel, ensuring player safety, and maintaining competition integrity.
Athletes report emotional stress and uncertainty, highlighting the human cost of geopolitical instability on international sport.
Galatasaray supporters turned a Champions League night into an emotional tribute on Wednesday, unveiling a powerful choreography for Victor Osimhen before the club’s last-16 clash with Liverpool.
The striking display unfolded in the North Tribune at Rams Park, where thousands of fans raised a giant tifo dedicated to the Nigerian striker, celebrating both his football journey and the personal story that shaped him.
At the heart of the choreography was a touching illustration of Osimhen walking with his young daughter in his arms, a symbol of the family he has built through years of struggle and perseverance.
In the upper right corner, supporters placed a portrait of his late mother, a figure Osimhen has often described as the emotional center of his life despite losing her at a very young age.
Stretching beneath the images was a message written in English: “We are family and family is everything.”
The stadium erupted as the display rose above the North Tribune, flags waving in rhythm while chants of Osimhen’s name rolled through the packed arena.
Tears on the pitch
Osimhen noticed the tribute as players emerged for the match and could not hide his emotions.
The 27-year-old forward wiped tears from his eyes while applauding the crowd, visibly moved by the scale and meaning of the display.
Supporters continued chanting his name as the choreography unfolded, turning the pre-match atmosphere into one of the most memorable moments of the night.
For Osimhen, the tribute carried deep personal meaning.
He has spoken openly about losing his mother when he was just a small child, a loss that shaped much of his early life while growing up in Lagos.
His father died in 2020, leaving football as both his escape and his path forward. Those struggles have become part of his public story, one supporters in Istanbul clearly understand.
Bond beyond football
Since arriving at Galatasaray from Napoli in 2024, Osimhen has quickly become one of the team’s most beloved figures.
His goals, relentless work rate and connection with supporters have turned him into a central figure in the club’s modern era.
The choreography served as a reminder that his impact stretches beyond goals and assists.
The night also delivered on the pitch.
Galatasaray edged Liverpool 1-0 in the first leg of the Champions League tie, taking a narrow advantage into the return match at Anfield. Osimhen helped spark the decisive moment early, winning an aerial duel that led to Mario Lemina scoring in the seventh minute.
After the final whistle, the evening came full circle.
Osimhen returned to the pitch with his daughter, celebrating with supporters who continued singing his name. The striker applauded the stands and shared a joyful moment with fans, echoing the family theme that defined the night.
Samsunspor step onto the European stage Thursday night chasing a slice of club history.
The Turkish side host Rayo Vallecano at Samsun 19 Mayıs Stadium in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League round-of-16 tie, hoping home support can push them closer to a first-ever quarterfinal appearance in a major European competition.
Standing in their way is a Rayo team with slightly deeper continental pedigree.
The Madrid-based club famously reached the UEFA Cup quarterfinals in the 2000-01 season and now arrive in northern Türkiye determined to take control of the tie before the return leg in Spain.
European comfort
Samsunspor’s path to the last 16 was not straightforward. An inconsistent league-phase campaign forced the Turkish side into a knockout play-off, but Thorsten Fink’s team responded in emphatic fashion.
The Red Lightning swept aside North Macedonian club Shkendija 5-0 on aggregate, including a commanding 4-0 victory at home that showcased their ability to dominate on European nights.
Yet their domestic form tells a different story.
Samsunspor sit eighth in the Süper Lig, 14 points off the European qualification places, and arrive for Thursday’s clash after a painful 3-2 loss to Fenerbahçe in which they conceded twice late to surrender the result.
That defeat ended a five-match unbeaten run across all competitions, a stretch that included three wins, two draws and five consecutive clean sheets.
Defensive discipline has been a cornerstone of Samsunspor’s European campaign. The Turkish club have kept five clean sheets in eight Conference League matches this season, a record they hope will hold firm against one of the competition’s most dangerous attacking teams.
Thursday’s meeting also carries a sense of novelty. It will mark the first competitive encounter between Samsunspor and a Spanish club, while Rayo Vallecano are facing Turkish opposition for the first time in their history.
Rayo’s firepower
Rayo Vallecano earned a direct place in the round of 16 after finishing fifth in the league phase with four wins, one draw and one defeat.
Iñigo Pérez’s side were among the most prolific teams in that stage, scoring 13 goals. Only AEK Athens managed more.
Despite that attacking strength, Rayo have struggled to replicate their form away from home. They recorded just one victory on the road during the league phase and conceded five of their seven goals in those matches.
Their travel woes have continued domestically. A 1-1 draw at Sevilla in La Liga last weekend extended Rayo’s winless away run to five matches across all competitions, a stretch that includes three defeats and two draws.
Injury headaches
Samsunspor enter the match with a lengthy injury list.
Jaurès Assoumou remains sidelined with an unspecified issue, while Bedirhan Çetin continues recovering from a knee injury and Afonso Sousa is out with an ankle problem. Ali Badra Diabaté, Saikuba Jarju, Yalçın Kayan, Emre Kılınç, Elayis Tavşan, Efe Berat Toruz and veteran full-back Zeki Yavru are also unavailable.
Despite those absences, the hosts still possess one of the competition’s most dangerous finishers. Forward Marius Mouandilmadji arrives in red-hot form and currently leads the Conference League Golden Boot race with seven goals in eight appearances.
Discipline could also play a role. Yunus Emre Çift and Rick van Drongelen are both one booking away from suspension and would miss the second leg if cautioned.
Rayo Vallecano have their own concerns. Midfielder Pathe Ciss is recovering from a knee knock suffered in the recent win over Oviedo, while Diego Méndez remains a long-term absentee as he continues rehabilitation. Carlos Martin is also unavailable, limiting options in attack.
Several key Rayo players must also tread carefully. Goalkeeper Augusto Batalla, playmaker Isi Palazon, captain Oscar Valentin and veteran midfielder Oscar Trejo are all one booking away from suspension ahead of the return leg.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will move forward as scheduled despite rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, with FIFA officials insisting the global tournament is simply too significant to halt.
Speaking Monday at the International Broadcast Centre in Dallas, FIFA chief operating officer Heimo Schirgi acknowledged that the ongoing war involving Iran, Israel and the United States has created uncertainty. Still, he stressed that football’s biggest event remains on course.
“At some stage we will have a resolution, and the World Cup will go on,” Schirgi said. “The World Cup is too big, and we hope that everyone who has qualified will be able to participate.”
The tournament, set to begin June 11, will be the largest in World Cup history, expanding from 32 teams to 48 and spanning three host nations: the United States, Mexico and Canada. Matches will be played across 16 cities, including 11 venues in the United States.
FIFA officials say they are closely monitoring the evolving situation in the Middle East, particularly the status of Iran, which qualified for the tournament through Asian Football Confederation competition.
Iran is scheduled to compete in Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt, with two matches planned in Los Angeles and another in Seattle.
Schirgi said FIFA remains in regular contact with Iran’s football federation, though he declined to discuss details of those conversations.
“If I had a crystal ball I could tell you what will happen,” Schirgi said. “But the situation is changing day by day. We are working with federal and international partners and evaluating developments continuously.”
Political tensions could also complicate travel logistics. The U.S. administration has imposed restrictions affecting several nations that have already qualified, including Iran, Ivory Coast, Haiti and Senegal.
Officials, however, have indicated that players, team staff and their immediate families will be granted entry for the tournament.
Beyond the geopolitical backdrop, FIFA leaders framed the World Cup as a rare global unifier.
“Given the state of the world today, this will be a great opportunity to bring everyone together,” Schirgi said. “The World Cup is truly global. People from everywhere come together and celebrate the game.”
Dallas itself is preparing for a central role in the event. FIFA officials gathered in the city to unveil plans for a month-long fan festival and to inspect construction of the International Broadcast Centre inside the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.
The massive media hub is expected to operate around the clock during the tournament and host between 3,000 and 3,500 journalists and broadcasters from around the world. It sits about 20 miles from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, where nine World Cup matches are scheduled.
Ticket sales have also drawn scrutiny. FIFA faced criticism over premium seat prices that reach as high as $8,680 for category-one seats, with early-round tickets exceeding $2,700 in some cases.
Schirgi defended the organization’s recent decision to reopen a 48-hour ticket window, saying it was designed to give fans another chance after initial demand exceeded supply.
“If someone applied for a category-three ticket and we didn’t have enough available, we offered them the opportunity to purchase a higher category,” he explained.
After backlash over prices, FIFA also announced it would allocate a limited number of $60 tickets for each match to the 48 participating national federations, allowing loyal supporters access to more affordable seats.
The rivalry that has come to define the modern UEFA Champions League returns to the spotlight Wednesday when Real Madrid host Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu for the first leg of their last-16 showdown.
This will be the 16th meeting between the clubs in Europe’s premier competition and the first time in Champions League history that two teams meet in the knockout rounds in five straight seasons.
The matchup has grown into one of the tournament’s defining rivalries, often shaping the path to the trophy.
Madrid enter the tie chasing a record-extending 16th European title but their road has been far from smooth.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s side finished ninth in the league phase, narrowly missing automatic qualification and forcing them into the knockout playoffs.
A damaging 4-2 defeat at Benfica on the final matchday sealed that fate, but Madrid responded by eliminating the Portuguese club 3-1 on aggregate to reach the round of 16 for a remarkable 23rd consecutive season since the format was introduced in 2003-04.
Domestic form has been uneven. Madrid suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Getafe before grinding out a dramatic 2-1 victory away to Celta Vigo last week, when captain Federico Valverde struck in the 95th minute to keep the Spanish giants within four points of leaders Barcelona with 11 La Liga games remaining.
The Bernabeu, however, remains a formidable stage.
Madrid have won four of their five Champions League home matches this season, scoring 12 goals, though the lone defeat came against City in December when goals from Erling Haaland and Nico O’Reilly secured a 2-1 league-phase win.
Despite losing their last four UEFA meetings with English teams, Madrid’s overall home record in Europe remains intimidating.
They have been beaten just three times in their last 25 Champions League matches at the Bernabeu, winning 19.
History also favors them in this round. Madrid have advanced from 13 of their last 15 round-of-16 ties and have won the first leg in 10 of their last 12 at this stage.
City arrive in stronger form after navigating the league phase comfortably with 16 points from eight matches, a sharp improvement from last season when they finished 22nd and were eliminated by Madrid in the playoffs.
Among their five wins in the phase was that 2-1 victory in Madrid, only City’s second success in eight visits to the Bernabeu.
Erling Haaland has been a key figure, continuing his remarkable Champions League scoring pace with 56 goals in 56 appearances. The Norwegian has also thrived against Spanish opposition, netting 10 goals in his last 10 matches against La Liga sides in the competition.
Domestically, Pep Guardiola’s team have gathered momentum. City have gone unbeaten in nine games across competitions since late January, winning seven and drawing two. A frustrating 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest left them seven points behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race, but a heavily rotated lineup bounced back with a 3-1 FA Cup victory over Newcastle United on Saturday.
Wednesday’s match will mark Guardiola’s 190th Champions League game as a manager, tying the record held by Alex Ferguson. Yet City’s away record in the competition has been shaky lately, with just two wins from their last eight road matches. Spanish opponents have also proven tricky over two legs, with City losing seven of their last 10 such ties in UEFA competitions.
Even so, their broader record against Spanish teams is strong. City have lost only three of their last 18 European matches against La Liga clubs and have already beaten both Madrid and Villarreal away in this season’s competition.
Madrid face a mounting injury list heading into the clash. Star forward Kylian Mbappe and midfielder Jude Bellingham are expected to miss the match with knee and hamstring injuries respectively. Rodrygo remains sidelined with an ACL injury, while Eder Militao, Dani Ceballos and Alvaro Carreras are also unavailable.
Eduardo Camavinga and David Alaba are fitness doubts, though Dean Huijsen and Franco Mastantuono return from domestic suspensions.
If Camavinga proves fit, he is expected to join Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield, while Arda Guler could feature centrally or on the right flank.
Much will depend on Vinicius Junior, though the Brazilian has struggled against City, failing to score in his last six meetings with them. Still, his Champions League scoring pattern offers hope. Twelve of his last 13 goals in the competition have come after halftime. He is expected to start on the left side of the attack, with either Gonzalo Garcia or former City prospect Brahim Diaz leading the line.
City arrive with fewer injury concerns. Only defender Josko Gvardiol and midfielder Mateo Kovacic are ruled out. Guardiola is likely to restore his strongest lineup after making 10 changes in the FA Cup.
Erling Haaland will spearhead the attack after being rested against Newcastle. Behind him, Guardiola faces a selection puzzle with several attackers pushing for starting roles. Omar Marmoush impressed with a brace last weekend, while Savinho also scored. They compete with Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki for places in the front line.
In midfield, Ballon d’Or winner Rodri is expected to anchor the side alongside O’Reilly and captain Bernardo Silva, while Matheus Nunes continues his adaptation at right back opposite the dangerous Vinicius.
Graham Arnold has urged FIFA to postpone Iraq’s intercontinental FIFA World Cup playoff in Mexico later this month, citing travel disruption caused by the escalating conflict in neighboring Iran.
The Iraq national football team fear they may struggle to transport players and staff to Monterrey for the March 31 playoff against either the Bolivia national football team or the Suriname national football team because of widespread travel restrictions across the Middle East.
Arnold warned that assembling a squad made up only of players based outside Iraq would significantly weaken the team’s chances of reaching the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
“It wouldn’t be our best team and we need our best team available for the country’s biggest game in 40 years,” the Australian told Australian Associated Press (AP) from his home in the United Arab Emirates.
“The Iraqi people are so passionate about the game of football that it is insane. The fact that they haven’t qualified for 40 years is probably the main reason I took this job.
“But at this stage, with the airport being shut down, we are working hard to try to find another alternative.”
Iraqi airspace has been closed since the United States and Israel launched air attacks on Iran on Feb. 28 and the Islamic Republic responded by firing missiles and drones at Israel, Gulf states and other nearby countries.
Bolivia and Suriname are scheduled to meet in the intercontinental playoff semifinal in Monterrey on March 26 to decide which team will face Iraq in the final five days later.
“In my opinion, if FIFA were to delay the game, it gives us time to prepare properly,” Arnold added.
“Let Bolivia play Suriname this month and then a week before the World Cup we play the winner in the U.S. The winner of that game stays on and the loser goes home.
“Our federation’s president, Adnan Dirjal, is working around the clock trying to plan and prepare to make everyone in Iraq’s dream come true, so we need this decision made quickly.”
The finals will take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
There was no immediate response from FIFA, global football’s governing body, to a request for comment on Arnold’s suggestion.
New Caledonia, Jamaica and the Democratic Republic of the Congo will travel to Guadalajara later this month to compete in the other three-team playoff for a place at the World Cup finals.
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