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Thousands Hail Spurs' Europa League Heroes in Victory Parade

Tottenham's Son Heung-min holds the Europa League trophy during an open-top bus parade. BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP
Tottenham's Son Heung-min holds the Europa League trophy during an open-top bus parade. BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP
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Thousands Hail Spurs' Europa League Heroes in Victory Parade

Tottenham's Son Heung-min holds the Europa League trophy during an open-top bus parade. BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP
Tottenham's Son Heung-min holds the Europa League trophy during an open-top bus parade. BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP

Europa League winners Tottenham were saluted by around 150,000 ecstatic fans during an open-top bus parade through north London on Friday.
Ange Postecoglou's side beat Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao on Wednesday to end the club's 17-year trophy drought.

Brennan Johnson's first-half strike sealed Tottenham's first European silverware for 41 years, making amends for the team's dismal form in the Premier League this term, said AFP.

A white double-decker bus with 'Europa League winners' emblazoned on it carried Tottenham's players on an "emotional" journey to their stadium.

Jubilant supporters packed the streets to hail the players, with chants of "glory, glory Tottenham Hotspur" echoing as the bus rolled past.

Tottenham's South Korean captain Son Heung-min held the trophy aloft on the top deck of the bus as his team-mates proudly displayed their winners' medals and Postecoglou waved to fans.

An estimated 150,000 supporters were expected for a parade that was due to last around 90 minutes.

Tottenham players were seen partying in a London nightclub after arriving back from Bilbao.

And Dutch defender Micky van de Ven soaked up the scene at the parade and said: "Unbelievable man. Yeah I slept only a little bit since then.

"Emotional, so emotional. The season we've had, it was so difficult, but we got the trophy and we're so happy. I'm so proud of the boys.

"If you experience this, you want to do it over and over again. We're going to try to do the same beautiful things next season."

It was Tottenham's first trophy parade since winning their last FA Cup in 1991, while their last silverware came in the 2008 League Cup.

Postecoglou's side are currently 17th in the Premier League, one place above the relegation zone, as they face up to their worst finish since 1976-77.

But Graham Roberts -- a member of the Tottenham team that won the 1984 UEFA Cup -- backed his old club to chase more silverware now the trophy curse is over.

"This will give them belief now. All that pressure that was there, that's gone," Roberts said.

"We have to strengthen our squad, but I think we have a great bunch of boys.

"They love Ange, they went round him, they cuddled him, they wanted him in the photos. The team spirit is there.

"We'll get more now, the rest will come. Wednesday was one of the greatest nights. I had tears in my eyes. The fans were magnificent. They deserve it."

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Havertz Hails Arsenal Turnaround in Champions League Win Over Sporting

Arsenal's Kai Havertz celebrates after scoring the 0-1 goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)
Arsenal's Kai Havertz celebrates after scoring the 0-1 goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)
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Havertz Hails Arsenal Turnaround in Champions League Win Over Sporting

Arsenal's Kai Havertz celebrates after scoring the 0-1 goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)
Arsenal's Kai Havertz celebrates after scoring the 0-1 goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)

Arsenal's 1-0 win over ‌Sporting in the Champions League quarter-final was a big turnaround for the English club after the back-to-back defeats in the FA Cup and League Cup, attacker Kai Havertz said.

Havertz scored the winning goal against Sporting in the tie after coming on as a substitute to give Arsenal an advantage heading into next week's return leg in London.

"Definitely a ‌big turnaround ‌for us because we lost the ‌last ⁠two matches. So ⁠we wanted to get a turnaround today and we made that happen," the German told Amazon Prime.

Arsenal's "quadruple" hopes have been downgraded to a "double" this season following their defeat by Manchester City in the League Cup ⁠final and shock loss to Championship ‌side Southampton in the ‌FA Cup on Saturday.

However, Havertz said the north ‌London club can still end the season ‌with trophies.

"We stick together as a group, we have so much more to come this season. Seven weeks to go, we can win big titles, ‌and we're going to go for that," he said.

Havertz was also full ⁠of ⁠praise for goalkeeper David Raya, who was the player of the match in the Champions League tie as he was forced into making several crucial interventions.

"For me, the last two seasons, the best keeper in the world. He's (David Raya) outstanding, he's saved us so many times, and we're very glad to have him."

Arsenal, who are top of the standings with 70 points, host Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.

Sports

Harry Kane Leads Bayern to 2-1 Win over Real Madrid in 1st Leg of Champions League Quarterfinals

Bayern Munich's English forward #09 Harry Kane celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 7, 2026. (Photo by Oscar DEL POZO / AFP)
Bayern Munich's English forward #09 Harry Kane celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 7, 2026. (Photo by Oscar DEL POZO / AFP)
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Harry Kane Leads Bayern to 2-1 Win over Real Madrid in 1st Leg of Champions League Quarterfinals

Bayern Munich's English forward #09 Harry Kane celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 7, 2026. (Photo by Oscar DEL POZO / AFP)
Bayern Munich's English forward #09 Harry Kane celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 7, 2026. (Photo by Oscar DEL POZO / AFP)

Harry Kane delivered for Bayern Munich on his return from injury, scoring a goal and helping set up another in his team's 2-1 win at Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Kylian Mbappé scored Madrid's goal after the visitors had taken a two-goal lead at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer came up big for Bayern with several key saves to keep the German champions with the first-leg edge.

Kane had been listed as a gameday decision after missing the team’s Bundesliga match last weekend because of an ankle injury.

“We knew that coming to Madrid and trying to get a result is always difficult," Kane told TNT Sports. "We played some really good stuff and we could have done even better — maybe the final ball, the final finish, we had some good chances. But credit to Madrid as well.”

The result left Bayern with an edge ahead of the second leg in Germany next week as it tries to reach the Champions League semifinals for the first time since 2023-24, when it was eliminated by eventual champion Madrid.

“We are still alive, clearly,” Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa said, according to The Associated Press. “We are one goal away. We have shown that we can win anywhere. We showed it with the scoring chances that we had against an opponent that we knew was going to make it difficult for us.”

Arsenal won 1-0 at Sporting Lisbon in the other quarterfinal on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Barcelona will host Spanish rival Atletico Madrid, and Liverpool will visit defending champion Paris Saint-Germain.

Madrid and Bayern are playing their sixth knockout-stage meeting in 14 seasons, with the Spanish powerhouse having won four of their five two-leg matchups since the 2011-12 season.

Kane participated in the build up of Bayern’s first goal in the 41st minute, exchanging passes with Serge Gnabry who ultimately fed a through ball for Luis Díaz inside the area. The Colombia forward calmly sent a low shot past Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.

Kane scored himself in the 46th with a nice one-timer from the top of the area, firmly finding the corner with a low strike. It was his 11th Champions League goal, equaling his best scoring season in the European tournament. He finished with 11 goals in 2024-25.

Kane has scored 22 Champions League goals since the start of the 2024-25 season, the most of anybody.

Mbappé scored his 20th Champions League goal since the start of the 2024-25 season in the 74th, finding the net from close range after a pinpoint low cross by Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Mbappé leads the scoring this season with 14 goals, which is double the forward’s total last season. He is three goals shy of the most goals in a single Champions League campaign achieved by Cristiano Ronaldo with Madrid in 2013-14.

Vinícius Júnior had one of Madrid’s best chances in a one-on-one situation with Neuer in the 61st, but the Brazil forward couldn’t get past the Bayern goalkeeper and his attempt hit the outside of the net. A few minutes later, Neuer — who had nine saves in total and was named the man of the match — dived to his right to make a nice stop on a shot by Mbappé.

Neuer had already made two tough saves to keep Madrid from finding the net in the first half on other attempts by Mbappé and Vinícius.

“I had the feeling that he was in very good shape and we needed him — not only for his experience, but his quality,” Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said of the 40-year-old Neuer.

“He reacted in very difficult stages of this game. With his work rate in training, I’m not surprised.”

Madrid defender Álvaro Carreras made a goal-line clearance on a shot by Dayot Upamecano in the first-half.

It was a bad touch by Carreras near midfield that led to Bayern's second goal.

“We went out for the second half and they immediately scored," Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger said. “I’d say we gifted Bayern both their goals here. We need to do better.”

Bayern lost to Inter Milan in the quarterfinals last season. Record 15-time European champion Madrid was eliminated by Arsenal in the last eight last year.

Bayern is unbeaten in its last 14 games in all competitions, with 12 wins. Madrid was coming off a 2-1 loss at Mallorca on Saturday that hurt its La Liga title hopes.

Sports

7 Eritrean Players Flee after AFCON Qualifier

Eritrea national football team (Eritrean National Football Federation)
Eritrea national football team (Eritrean National Football Federation)
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7 Eritrean Players Flee after AFCON Qualifier

Eritrea national football team (Eritrean National Football Federation)
Eritrea national football team (Eritrean National Football Federation)

Seven Eritrean footballers have disappeared after the national team’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying win over Eswatini last week, coach Hesham Yakan and an activist for Eritreans in exile said.

Eritrea returned to AFCON qualifiers this year for the first time since the 2008 campaign, having previously barred its teams from travelling abroad after several players from its under-20 side fled to Uganda in 2019.

“Most of them are substitute players,” Yakan told Reuters. The players have been missing since the second leg of the tie on March 31, and the coach said he believed they ⁠would try to ⁠find economic opportunities in wealthier countries.

“I do not think they will continue playing football,” said Yakan, a former Egypt defender who featured at the 1990 World Cup.

Eritrea won the first leg 2-0 in Morocco, where the match was played because the country does not have a stadium that meets Confederation of African ⁠Football requirements for international fixtures.

Eritrea, whose line-up included several players based at clubs in Australia, Germany, Norway and Sweden, completed a 4-1 aggregate victory with a 2-1 win at Eswatini’s Somhlolo National Stadium on March 31.

George Ghebreslassie, an Eritrean exile who runs a non-profit organization supporting Eritrean refugees, also confirmed that the players had left.

“It happens quite a lot,” said Ghebreslassie, who left Eritrea in 1999.

“It shows the kind of situation we have in Eritrea. We thought things would change, but nothing has changed. ⁠People have ⁠become hopeless in their own country.”

Eritrea’s Minister of Information Yemane Gebremeskel declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. A spokesperson for the Eritrean National Football Federation did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

“These players are poor. It was their first time flying,” a source close to the team said. “This is about looking for work and improving their income.”

Eritrea has been ruled by President Isaias Afwerki since independence in 1993, and human rights groups have repeatedly described his government as repressive.

The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.