EUROPA League
Francis Uzoho: Omonia Nicosia keeper and boyhood Man Utd fan stars at Old Trafford
For any boyhood Manchester United fan, playing at Old Trafford is a dream come true. Then, to produce the performance of your life, takes things to a whole new level.
That is exactly what happened to Omonia Nicosia goalkeeper Francis Uzoho on Thursday and even Scott McTominay’s stoppage-time winner for Manchester United would not spoil his moment.
Uzoho, 23, had only played 134 minutes so far this season, but produced a string of stunning saves as the Cypriots threatened a big Europa League upset.
McTominay finally broke his resistance as the hosts boosted their hopes of qualifying as group winners – but a beaming Uzoho refused to let that ruin his night.
“I am not disappointed,” Uzoho told BT Sport. “We had a good game, I am happy, it is not an easy stadium to play at.
“It is a dream come true. I have dreamed to play here for a long, long time.
“When I saw the draw, I wanted to play and I got the opportunity.
“Arguably it is the best I have played. I am proud of my team-mates though, because it is not a one-man job.”
It was a game that the hosts dominated, having 34 shots compared to three and 51 touches in the Omonia box, compared to six by the visitors at the other end.
However, it looked like Uzoho was on track for a clean sheet, saving the first 12 shots on target he faced, before McTominay’s 93rd-minute winner.
When the draw was made in August, Uzoho, who has played 25 times for Nigeria, replied to United’s tweet, saying “finally Theatre of Dreams here I come”.
He has now played there and produced a performance that will “change his career”, according to BT Sport pundit Owen Hargreaves.
“He had the game of his life, he was amazing,” added the former United and England midfielder.
“He will nick a move off that. To think he was their back-up goalkeeper.
“He was a wall. His agent will be on the phone and he will be having a Jerry Maguire phone call.
“We all have moments, games that change your career – everyone will know his name.
“This game will change his career, arguably change his life. It is spectacular, that is what sport is all about. He sums it up there with that beaming smile in the interview.”
Former Celtic boss Neil Lennon, now managing Omonia, said Uzoho “hasn’t shut up all week” about playing at Old Trafford.
“He was inspiring. I’m very proud of him,” said Lennon.
“When you play a team of this calibre you need your goalkeeper to play well and he was world class. I was so happy for him.
“He has had to be patient. The opportunity came along and I had a chat with him about what I wanted.
“I thought he was magnificent. He excelled under the spotlight. I’m so happy for him because all of his hard work has come to fruition.”
On Thursday morning not many people would have heard of Francis Uzoho. After Thursday evening, a lot more will know his name.
-BBC
Four-times Europa League winner Unai Emery booked an astonishing sixth final in the competition as a manager on Thursday when his Aston Villa team swept aside Nottingham Forest in the second leg of their all-English semi-final.
The 54-year-old Spaniard has won three times with Sevilla (2014, 2015, 2016) and once with Villarreal (2021) – either side of a defeat with Arsenal (2019) – deservedly earning him the epithet “Mr Europa League” from some fans and media.
Now he goes to the 2026 final seeking a fifth title, this time with Aston Villa against Bundesliga side Freiburg.
“His track record speaks for itself,” said Villa striker Ollie Watkins, heaping praise on his boss as the man to guarantee Europa League success. “We need to go and win it now.”
Emery was delighted with how his team overturned a 1-0 deficit to Forest in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final to score four times at home and win 4-1 on aggregate.
“Now we have to look to the final,” he said, hoping that Villa will do “something fantastic” for their fans.
Though thrilled at Thursday’s win, Emery left the pitch quickly after the final whistle, pumping his fist a few times at the crowd before letting his players enjoy the moment with fans
He and his Villa side will be favourites at the Europa League final in Istanbul on May 20, but Emery was taking nothing for granted. “Of course German teams are so difficult, their coaches, their players are so good,” he added of the upcoming opponents.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
List of teams which have qualified for the next round of the Europa League after the league phase concluded on Thursday, ranked by table position:
Directly to the round of 16:
1. Olympique Lyonnais (France)
2. Aston Villa (England)
3. Midtjylland (Denmark)
4. Real Betis (Spain)
5. Porto (Portugal)
6. Braga (Portugal)
7. Freiburg (Germany)
8. AS Roma (Italy)
Knockout phase play-off places (seeded)
9. Genk (Belgium)
10. Bologna (Italy)
11. VfB Stuttgart (Germany)
12. Ferencvaros (Hungary)
13. Nottingham Forest (England)
14. Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic)
15. Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)
16. Celta Vigo (Spain)
Knockout phase play-off places (unseeded)
17. PAOK (Greece)
18. Lille (France)
19. Fenerbahce (Turkey)
20. Panathinaikos (Greece)
21. Celtic (Scotland)
22. Ludogorets (Bulgaria)
23. Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
24. SK Brann (Norway)
-Reuters
UEFA Europa League – Aston Villa v RB Salzburg – Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain – January 29, 2026 Aston
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv will not accept any away fan tickets for their Europa League match at Aston Villa next month, even if local authorities reverse the decision to ban their supporters, they said on Monday.
The ban followed safety concerns raised by British Police, who cited potential protests outside Villa Park, following demonstrations at Israel’s recent World Cup qualifiers in Oslo and Udine.
“From hard lessons learned we have taken the decision to decline any allocation offered on behalf of away fans and our decision should be understood in that context,” Maccabi said in a statement.
“We hope that circumstances will change and look forward to being able to play in Birmingham in a sporting environment in the near future.”
Aston Villa announced the decision last week, saying they were following instructions from the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), who are responsible for issuing safety certificates for games at Villa Park.
West Midlands Police described the match as high risk, past incidents, including violent confrontations and hate crime offences involving Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters ahead of a November 2024 game in Amsterdam.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described the announcement as “shameful”.
Villa are third in the Europa League standings while Maccabi Tel Aviv are 30th after two rounds.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Morocco’s Saibari Joins World Cup Fast-Goal Elite with Scotland Winner
Koeman Gets Revenge as Netherlands Thrash Sweden 5-1 at World Cup
BET9ja FACT FILE
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
NIGERIAN FOOTBALL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SANUSI CHARGES NIGERIAN COACHES TO BE UPRIGHT, DILIGENT
- World Cup2 days ago
‘Most Oppressed Team’: Iran Set for FIFA Showdown Over Travel Rules
- World Cup5 days ago
Back in Canada After 39 Years: A Return to Where the Journey Began
- World Cup1 week ago
Atlas Lions Roar Again: Morocco Hold Five-Time Champions, Brazil In Another World Cup Statement
- World Cup5 days ago
Doku Faces World Cup-or-Fatherhood Dilemma as Belgium Star Awaits First Child
- World Cup6 days ago
Tunisia Become Second African Casualty as Sweden Hit Five in World Cup Rout
- World Cup6 days ago
Salah Eyes Birthday Gift as Egypt Seek Historic World Cup Breakthrough Against Belgium
- World Cup6 days ago
Advocaat Set to Make World Cup History as Curaçao Face Germany
- World Cup1 week ago
Ghana Protests Canada’s Visa Denial to Thomas Partey Ahead of World Cup Clash