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Crystal Palace Defeat Rayo To Win First-Ever Conference League Title
Crystal Palace Defeat Rayo To Win First-Ever Conference League Title
Jean-Philippe Mateta scored as Crystal Palace beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in the UEFA Conference League final in Leipzig on Wednesday to secure the club’s first European trophy in its history.
After a cagey opening half with few clear chances, Mateta turned in a rebound for the game’s only goal on 51 minutes, sending departing coach Oliver Glasner off in style.
Glasner departs with a third trophy in two years as Palace manager, the most successful period in the club’s history, after dashing Rayo’s hopes of landing their first major silverware.
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The win also completed Glasner’s objective of returning Palace to the Europa League, the competition they qualified for this season before falling foul of multi-club ownership rules and being demoted to the Conference League.
The Austrian, already a Europa League champion with Eintracht Frankfurt, once again showed his excellence in knockout competitions.
Palace overcame the sales of Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi this season, and the fallout from the latter’s January exit, to cap their first full venture into European competition with a title.
France striker Mateta, the hero on the night, was a failed medical away from leaving Palace for AC Milan this winter.
Crystal Palace’s French striker #14 Jean-Philippe Mateta kicks a corner flag to celebrate scoring the opening goal 1-0 during the UEFA Conference League final football match between Crystal Palace FC and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid in Leipzig, Germany, on May 27, 2026. (Photo by Ronny HARTMANN / AFP)
Palace became the third London side in as many years to win the competition, after West Ham in 2024 and Chelsea in 2025, demonstrating the Premier League’s unmatched financial muscle.
With Aston Villa already Europa League winners, Premier League champions Arsenal can complete a clean sweep in European competition by beating Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on Saturday.
Palace received a boost just before kick-off when midfielder Wharton overcame an ankle injury to start.
Underdogs in their semi-final triumph over Chelsea’s BlueCo stablemate Strasbourg, Rayo arrived in Leipzig riding a rich vein of form, unbeaten in nine matches.
With Rayo finishing eighth and Palace 15th in their leagues, both knew victory on Wednesday was their only hope of returning to the European stage.
Rayo had the first chance of the match when Alemao flashed just wide of the post with 25 minutes gone.
Crystal Palace’s players applaud the Rayo Vallecano team after the UEFA Conference League final football match between Crystal Palace FC and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid in Leipzig, Germany, on May 27, 2026. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)
Palace had a golden chance at an opener just before the break. Wharton looped an inch-perfect cross over the Rayo defence, but Tyrick Mitchell’s header floated just wide.
Crystal Palace
The game burst into life early in the second half as Palace eventually found their stride.
Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla got two hands to Wharton’s powerful shot from the edge of the box but could only parry it into the path of Mateta, who reacted quickly to tap home.
Palace were inches from doubling their lead shortly after when Yeremy Pino slammed a free-kick which bounced off both posts, Rayo somehow clearing after the ball hit a defender and came off the woodwork for a third time.
In truth, Palace were rarely troubled after taking the lead, keeping Rayo at bay and adding another trophy to last year’s breakthrough FA Cup triumph and the Community Shield at the start of this season.
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Crystal Place
UEFA Conference League
Olukoyede Charges Students To Embrace Integrity For Future Leadership
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has charged students across the country to cultivate discipline, integrity and hard work as essential qualities for future leadership.
He gave the charge in Abuja recently at a sensitization lecture for pupils of Loyola Jesuit Basic School, Karu – Karshi Road, Gidan Mangoro, Abuja who visited the EFCC Academy on an educational excursion.
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Represented by the Head, Media Academy Unit, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE 1 Chidimma Amanambu, the EFCC Chairman urged the pupils to shun dishonesty and criminality while striving for excellence and good conduct.
“You are the future leaders. Be disciplined, truthful, original and hardworking. These values will make you responsible leaders that Nigeria will be proud of,” he said.
Olukoyede
During the interactive session, Deputy Superintendent of the EFCC, DSE Angel O. Israel, delivered a lecture on “Consequences of Crime and the Benefits of Good Morals,” where the pupils were enlightened on the history, mandate and operations of the Commission, as well as offences investigated by the EFCC and career opportunities within the agency.
Speaking on behalf of the pupils and management of the school, the leader of the delegation, Ramat Joshua, expressed appreciation to the Commission for the impactful session and exposure provided to the students. Eereporter.com
Police Arrest 2 Suspected Cultists, Recover Arms In Edo
The Police, stormed venue of a gathering at Ohonre community in Benin City, Edo State, arrested two suspected cultists.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of the Edo State Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, in a statement, indicated that the suspects, identified as Victor Peter and Ogbewe Iyemoma, were arrested by operatives attached to the Ugbowo police Division, who responded to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.
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The PPRO said that the team responded promptly and Mobilized to the location in a hot chase of the suspects, leading to the arrest of the two cultist and recovery of 1 Cut-to-size gun, in their possession for unlawful purposes.
Police
The police said the suspects have confessed to being members of the notorious Maphite cult group
The PPRO said that the State Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, reiterated the Command’s resolve to deny criminal elements any opportunity within the state, while urging residents to continue providing timely and credible information to the police. Eereporter.com
Dino Melaye Congratulates Atiku Over ADC Primary Victory, Says “You Did It Like Arsenal”
Dino Melaye, a former federal lawmaker and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has juxtaposed Atiku Abubakar’s landslide victory at the party’s presidential primary poll with Arsenal’s recent English Premier League triumph.
Melaye and Atiku are Arsenal fans.
Tunde Ogbeha, returning officer of the ADC presidential primary poll, announced Atiku as winner of the exercise on Wednesday night.
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Atiku polled 1,846,370 votes to defeat two other contenders — Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, former managing director of the defunct FSB International Bank; and Rotimi Amaechi, ex-governor of Rivers.
Amaechi polled 504,117 votes, while Hayatu-Deen scored 177,120 votes.
Atiku would be gunning for the presidency for a sixth time in 2027. He has, however, appeared on the ballot as a presidential candidate on three occasions — 2007, 2019, and 2023.
On May 19, Arsenal won its first English Premier League title in 22 years after rival Manchester City dropped points in a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
In a one-liner X post on Thursday, Melaye said Atiku may just be doing it like Arsenal.
Dino Melaye, Atiku
“Oga you did it like Arsenal,” he wrote.
His comment comes amid controversy trailing the ADC primary, with Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen rejecting the results over alleged irregularities and voter disenfranchisement.
ADC presidential primary
African Democratic Congress (ADC)
atiku abubakar
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