Sports
Sergio Aguero clashes with fan during pitch invasion after Manchester City are dumped out of FA Cup by Wigan
Sergio Aguero was attacked by a Wigan fan during a pitch invasion after Manchester City were sensationally dumped out of the FA Cup.
The Premier League leaders were stunned by the League One side in the fifth round.
The encounter came to life on the stroke of half-time after Fabian Delph was dismissed for a reckless challenge.
It saw Pep Guardiola clash with Paul Cook on the touchline before the spat continued down the tunnel.
Will Grigg then gave Wigan the lead after a Kyle Walker mistake and they held on until full-time.
The supporter threw a punch at Aguero and the City striker had to be restrained when he tried to retaliate.
Some Latics fans ran to taunt the City fans, who responded by ripping off parts of the advertising hoardings and throwing them onto the pitch.
The City supporters also threw missiles onto the pitch and both clubs could be in trouble with the FA over the crowd disturbances.
Pep Guardiola claimed he did not see Aguero being attacked and it is understood City will speak to Wigan to ask why they could not protect their players better.
“I was in the locker room,” said the City boss. “I did not see it.”
Aguero was initially restrained by Wigan defender Chey Dunckley and a member of the City backroom staff.
But clearly incensed by the incident, Aguero tried to get back at the supporter before being led off the pitch.
It wasn’t the only unsavoury incident at the final whistle as Manchester City fans also clashed with stewards.
Members of the travelling contingent ripped down signs in their anger, and launching them down onto the pitch.
Wigan chairman David Sharpe condemned the pitch invasion, saying: “It’s not nice to see. Football is emotional, that’s what it does to fans. But I don’t like to see this at the end of the game.
“It’s a massive result, but we have to stay classy in football. I didn’t like what I’ve seen here.”
A number of signs were torn down and thrown, while plastic bottles were also tossed from the stands.
Fans at the front of the stand also became embroiled in angry scenes with both police and match stewards.
Guardiola and Wigan boss Paul Cook angrily clashed three times over Fabian Delph’s sending off just before half-time and the pair had to be separated in the tunnel.
Guardiola was furious because he felt Cook helped persuade referee Anthony Taylor to dismiss Delph for his reckless lunge at Max Power when the official initially produced a yellow card.
Cook played down his involvement in Delph’s sending off, which rules him out of Sunday’s Carabao Cup Final.
“I wasn’t refereeing the game,” he said. “I can assure you of that. There were four people there with the fourth official.
“Others in the ground obviously deemed it to be a red card. The conversation about the game shouldn’t be about that. It’s a great night for Wigan Athletic and one we should enjoy.”
Guardiola was also reticent about his furious row with Cook and tried to play down their clash.
“It was a red card,” said the City boss. “The referee decided what he decided. I’m not here to judge. It could be a red card.
“If you want to ask me about football, ask me. Nothing happened in the tunnel. He was just stating his position, that’s all.
“They had one shot on target and we created lots, but football in the end is about the result and I congratulate Wigan.”
Will Grigg bagged the winner 11 minutes from time to earn Wigan a third quarter-final in six seasons at home to Southampton.
“When the draw was made, it was like we weren’t in it,” said Cook.
“I’m sure Southampton are as shocked as we are.”
Captain of the Super Falcons, Rasheedat Ajibade, has said the team is determined to become the best women’s football team in the world.
Ajibade spoke yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a reception hosted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in honour of the Falcons following their victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The Nigerian ladies clinched their 10th continental title after a hard-fought campaign, further cementing their status as Africa’s most successful women’s team.
Ajibade, in an emotional speech, said the team’s goal goes beyond continental glory.
“We’re not content to rest on our laurels. Our vision is bold. We want to become the best women’s football team in the world,” the Atletico Madrid star said.
She described herself as “a proud daughter of Nigeria” and paid tribute to the dreams of young girls across the country who look up to the team.
“This victory is not just a trophy. It is a testament to the unyielding spirit of Nigeria. It is a celebration of every young girl in our villages, towns, and cities who dares to dream,” she said.
Ajibade, who spoke on behalf of the team, coaches, and technical crew, thanked the Federal Government for its support and appealed for continued investment in women’s football.
President Tinubu, in his address, conferred national honours of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on all 24 players and the 11-member technical crew.
The President also approved the allocation of three-bedroom apartments to each team member under the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme and a cash reward of the naira equivalent of $100,000 for each player, while members of the technical team received $50,000 each.
He praised the Falcons for lifting the nation’s spirit and inspiring unity through their performance.
“You have inspired millions, especially young girls who now see proof that their dreams are valid and achievable,” Tinubu said.
“You have inspired me too. You represent the hope of today, tomorrow, and the day after. You ignited that hope. And we will continue to encourage you and the next generation.”
The President said the Falcons’ WAFCON victory was not just a sporting feat but a symbol of the courage, discipline and resilience that define Nigerians.
“Your victory represents more than a sporting accomplishment. It is a triumph of courage, determination, discipline, and consistency,” he said.
The reception was attended by top government officials, sports administrators, and stakeholders in the football community.
A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has congratulated the Super Falcons on their historic 3-2 comeback victory over hosts Morocco in the final of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.
The Falcons, who came from two goals down to seal the win in Rabat, clinched their 10th WAFCON title—further cementing their status as the most successful team in the history of the competition. Reacting to the victory, Oseni described the performance as “a warrior’s triumph that speaks volumes about the indomitable Nigerian spirit.”
In a statement issued by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele in Ibadan, the lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency said the team’s resilience should serve as a symbol of hope and unity for the entire nation. “They refused to surrender. That comeback from two goals down defines who we are as Nigerians—strong, focused, and unstoppable when united,” he said.
The Falcons had gone behind in the 13th minute when Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak capitalised on a loose ball to fire past goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie. The hosts doubled their lead through Sanaâ Mssoudy before halftime, putting Nigeria on the back foot before the break.
However, second-half goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and Jennifer Echegini turned the game on its head, securing victory for Coach Justin Madugu’s side and avenging their 2024 semi-final loss to the North Africans. Oseni also hailed Madugu’s tactical brilliance, describing him as “the architect of a new chapter in women’s football in Nigeria.”
The lawmaker who also chairs the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) joined other national figures, including President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, in celebrating the Falcons. The President had earlier taken to his verified social media accounts to praise the team’s performance, declaring, “Mission X: Complete!” while Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos, described it as a flawless display of Nigerian spirit.
Oseni urged the Falcons not to rest on their laurels but to build on the momentum ahead of their title defence and the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. “This is just the beginning. You have inspired millions of girls across the continent. Keep flying the flag and keep making Nigeria proud,” he added.
He also called on sports authorities and private stakeholders to invest more in women’s football, noting that the team’s success was proof of the untapped potential in the sector. “We have global stars in the making. Now is the time to give them the platform and support they truly deserve,” the lawmaker submitted.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons produced a thrilling comeback to defeat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Saturday, clinching their record-extending 10th continental title.
The win was sweet revenge for Justin Madugu’s side, who were eliminated by the Atlas Lionesses in the semi-finals of the previous edition.
Despite a bright start by the Falcons, it was the Moroccans who struck first in the 13th minute. A loose ball fell kindly to tournament top scorer, Ghizlane Chebbak, who rifled her effort past Chiamaka Nnadozie to hand the hosts an early lead.
Nigeria tried to respond through Ijamilusi Folashade, but her tame effort was easily gathered by Moroccan goalkeeper, Khadija Er-Rmichi.
The hosts doubled their lead in the 28th minute when Fatima Tagnaout released Sanaâ Mssoudy, who drove into the box and fired a low, left-footed strike beyond Nnadozie to make it 2-0.
Morocco maintained their advantage into the break as both sides went into the dressing room with the scoreline firmly in the hosts’ favour.
The Super Falcons returned with renewed purpose in the second half, stepping up their intensity and putting the Moroccan defence under sustained pressure.
Nigeria nearly pulled one back when a collision between Er-Rmichi and defender Nesryne El Chad almost gifted the Falcons a goal, but the Moroccan defence cleared their lines in time.
The pressure eventually paid off in the 63rd minute when a ball hooked back into the area by Ijamilusi struck the arm of defender Nouhaila Benzina, resulting in a penalty. Esther Okoronkwo stepped up and calmly converted from the spot to halve the deficit.
Eight minutes later, Okoronkwo turned provider, sprinting down the right flank before cutting back a well-timed pass for Ijamilusi, who made no mistake from close range to level the tie at 2-2.
The Falcons completed their sensational comeback in the 88th minute when Jennifer Echegini reacted quickest to a deep free-kick, stabbing home from close range to spark wild celebrations on the Nigerian bench.
The victory sees Nigeria reinforce their dominance in African women’s football, securing their 10th WAFCON title and reasserting their status as the queens of the continent.
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