Interesting Returnees to Champions League set to offer live intriguing matches on DStv, GOtv

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Of the 32 teams participating in the 2023/24 edition of the UEFA Champions League, 15 of the teams are returning to the biggest continental club football tournament, having missed out on the most recent editions.

 

While Manchester City is tipped to retain their prize, one cannot rule out the possibility of a surprise run by any of the 15 challengers returning to contend for the most coveted club football prize. DStv and GOtv customers are set to enjoy exclusive access to Champions League matches all season long when the tournament begins.

 

Which of these teams is likely to become a dark horse in the Champions League? Lets take a look at their profiles and history in the competition:

 

Group A

 

Manchester United and Galatasaray have been paired in the same group as Bayern Munich and Copenhagen. Manchester United last played in Europe’s top competition in 2022 when they were knocked out in the Round of 16 by Atletico Madrid. The three-time Champions League winners have failed to mount any serious challenge since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

 

Galatasaray’s last appearance in the Champions League came in the 2019/20 season when they failed to pick up any win in six group stage games. Okan Buruk’s men will have to scale a difficult group to be considered a dark horse in the tournament.

 

Group B

 

The trio of Arsenal, RC Lens and PSV will challenge Sevilla in Group B. Arsenal has not competed in the Champions League since their humiliating round of 16 10-2 aggregate defeat against Bayern Munich in the 2016/17 season. Interestingly, Arsenal are third on the bookmakers list of favourites to win the competition this year.

 

RC Lens are returning to the competition 21 years after their first and only appearance in the tournament in 2002/03. The French side narrowly missed out on winning Ligue 1 last season, it remains to be seen if they will be able to replicate their fine form in Europe.

 

One-time winner, PSV Eindhoven last appearance in the Champions League was in the 2018/19 season where they failed to pick up any win in the group stage. But, Peter Bosz’s men will be hoping to draw inspiration from the club’s 2004/05 semi-final run.

 

Group C

 

SC Braga and debutant Union Berlin will have to challenge Italian champions Napoli and 14-time Champions League winners, Real Madrid in Group C. SC Braga failed to scale the group stage in the 2012/13 season when they last challenged in the Champions League. The Portuguese side will have to put up a solid performance to avoid another early exit.

 

German side Union Berlin will make their debut in Europe’s top tournament following an impressive campaign in the Bundesliga last season. It remains to be seen if they are capable of causing an upset against Napoli and Real Madrid.

 

Group D

 

Real Sociedad will go against Inter, Benfica and RB Salzburg. The Spanish side last competed in the 2013/14 group stage season.

 

Group E

 

Feyenoord and Lazio are up against Atletico Madrid and Celtic. 1970 winners, Feyenoord last played in the group stage in the 2017/18 season. While Lazio succumbed to a 6-2 aggregate defeat against Bayern in the 2020/21 season. The duo stand a good chance to advance to the Round of 16.

 

Group F

 

Newcastle is drawn in a tough group with PSG, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund. The English side last competed in the Champions League in 2002/03 where they were eliminated in the second group stage. Eddie Howe’s men will have to be at their best to reach the Round of 16 this time around.

 

Group G

 

FK Crvena zvezda and Young Boys will lock horns with reigning champions Manchester City and RB Leipzig. 1991 winner, FK Crvena zvezda last appearance in 2019/20 ended in the group stage, same for Young Boys who failed to qualify from the group stage in 2021/22. Both teams have a tough job ahead if they aim to make the Round of 16.

 

Group H

 

Antwerp will go against Barcelona, Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk. The Belgian side last competed in the first round of the old European Cup tournament in 1957/58. The jury is out to judge how  Mark Van Bommel will fare against their group stage opponents.

 

To gain exclusive access to the UEFA Champions League, reconnect or upgrade to DStv Prestige, Premium, Compact Plus,  Compact, or GOtv Supa+. If you are a new customer, you can visit the nearest DStv or GOtv dealer to purchase your decoder. For existing customers, download the MyDStv or MyGOtv app or dial *288# to reconnect or upgrade.


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Seven AFRIMA Diamonds begin journey to African music glory The stage was set, the lights dazzled and the future of African music took centre stage as the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) and the African Union Commission (AUC) unveiled seven emerging artistes tipped to become the continent’s next generation of superstars. During the AFRIMA Diamond Party and Prize Presentation held on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at Voyage Lagos, Nigeria, AFRIMA Awards, through its Talent Discovery and Promotion programme, formally launched Ellacentric, Black Astro, Yamayeh Vibez, Mayowa Afolabi, DELLFIRE, El Nayaan and Blinkz Baba into the African music space, declaring them the latest talents poised to take African music to greater heights. The seven artistes, collectively known as the AFRIMA Diamonds, emerged from a continent-wide talent search that attracted entries from aspiring musicians across Africa. Speaking at the event, the President and Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mike Dada, delivered a stirring charge to the young talents, predicting that they could become dominant forces in African music within the next two to three years. Standing before an audience of entertainment executives, artistes, influencers and industry stakeholders at the prestigious Voyage Lagos, Dada said the Diamonds had been carefully selected because of their exceptional talent and potential to shape the future of African music. “You are not here by accident. You were chosen because we saw something special in you. We saw talent, passion, discipline and the potential to become stars not just in your countries, but across Africa and the world. “I am challenging you today to go out and dominate the music space in the next two to three years. The opportunity is here. The platform is here. The spotlight is on you. The next move belongs to you,” he said. Dada said AFRIMA’s vision extends beyond celebrating established stars, stressing that the awards platform was committed to building a pipeline of globally competitive African talents. He noted that Africa’s growing youth population presents a unique opportunity for governments and industry leaders to invest in the creative sector. “The world is moving towards a content creation economy. Content is the new currency. Young people are creating value every day through music, digital media, fashion and entertainment. Our culture is our competitive advantage. The question is how we can leverage it for economic benefit, job creation and sustainable development. That is the direction AFRIMA is focused on, and we will continue to invest in initiatives that empower young Africans through creativity,” he said. The seven Diamonds earned their place after a rigorous selection process conducted by AFRIMA’s International Jury before being introduced to a wider audience through performances at the AFRIMA Music Village during the ninth AFRIMA Awards. At the party in their honour, the Diamonds once again took centre stage, delivering electrifying performances that left guests cheering and offered a glimpse into what could become the next wave of African music stars. An emotional Black Astro described the initiative as a turning point in his career. “This opportunity has changed everything for me. AFRIMA has given us visibility, confidence and access to people who can help shape our future. We are ready to show the world what we can do,” he said. Mayowa Afolabi said, “Being named an AFRIMA Diamond is a dream come true. This platform has given us an opportunity that many young artistes spend years searching for.” Ellacentric also expressed gratitude for the journey, describing the experience as a powerful reminder that perseverance and hard work can eventually pay off. As part of their rewards, the seven artistes secured participation slots in the Showbiz 101 Workshop and Music Creation Camp organised by bridgeAFRIC, where they will receive mentorship and collaborate with some of Africa’s leading music producers and artistes. Speaking on behalf of New Media Technologies Nigeria, the national distributor of SE Electronics, Bolaji Onisiwo, while presenting the musical equipment, said, “You have been identified as some of Africa’s brightest emerging talents. With that comes the responsibility to keep learning, improving and representing the continent positively through your music. These are not just gifts but investments, and how you use them will determine how far your careers can go,” Onisiwo said. The event, which had hospitality and entertainment provided by Voyage Lagos, attracted some of renowned names in the creative and entertainment industry, including Radio personality and Hypeman extraordinaire, Do2dtun Energy Gahd; Head of International Jury of AFRIMA, Olisa Adibua; Principal Consultant, Equally Diverse Solutions, Bolaji Durojaiye; CEO Voyage Lagos, Nader Issa; UK Rapper, SneaKBO; Chief Brand, Communications & Programming Officer, Murphy Ben International, Mark Redgard and CEO, DNMT, Michael Igbelabo, among others. With the celebrations over, attention now shifts to the seven AFRIMA Diamonds. For them, the journey has only just begun, and if Dada’s prediction proves accurate, Africa may have witnessed the unveiling of its next music sensations

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Seven AFRIMA Diamonds begin journey to African music glory The stage was set, the lights dazzled and the future of African music took centre stage as the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) and the African Union Commission (AUC) unveiled seven emerging artistes tipped to become the continent’s next generation of superstars. During the AFRIMA Diamond Party and Prize Presentation held on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at Voyage Lagos, Nigeria, AFRIMA Awards, through its Talent Discovery and Promotion programme, formally launched Ellacentric, Black Astro, Yamayeh Vibez, Mayowa Afolabi, DELLFIRE, El Nayaan and Blinkz Baba into the African music space, declaring them the latest talents poised to take African music to greater heights. The seven artistes, collectively known as the AFRIMA Diamonds, emerged from a continent-wide talent search that attracted entries from aspiring musicians across Africa. Speaking at the event, the President and Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mike Dada, delivered a stirring charge to the young talents, predicting that they could become dominant forces in African music within the next two to three years. Standing before an audience of entertainment executives, artistes, influencers and industry stakeholders at the prestigious Voyage Lagos, Dada said the Diamonds had been carefully selected because of their exceptional talent and potential to shape the future of African music. “You are not here by accident. You were chosen because we saw something special in you. We saw talent, passion, discipline and the potential to become stars not just in your countries, but across Africa and the world. “I am challenging you today to go out and dominate the music space in the next two to three years. The opportunity is here. The platform is here. The spotlight is on you. The next move belongs to you,” he said. Dada said AFRIMA’s vision extends beyond celebrating established stars, stressing that the awards platform was committed to building a pipeline of globally competitive African talents. He noted that Africa’s growing youth population presents a unique opportunity for governments and industry leaders to invest in the creative sector. “The world is moving towards a content creation economy. Content is the new currency. Young people are creating value every day through music, digital media, fashion and entertainment. Our culture is our competitive advantage. The question is how we can leverage it for economic benefit, job creation and sustainable development. That is the direction AFRIMA is focused on, and we will continue to invest in initiatives that empower young Africans through creativity,” he said. The seven Diamonds earned their place after a rigorous selection process conducted by AFRIMA’s International Jury before being introduced to a wider audience through performances at the AFRIMA Music Village during the ninth AFRIMA Awards. At the party in their honour, the Diamonds once again took centre stage, delivering electrifying performances that left guests cheering and offered a glimpse into what could become the next wave of African music stars. An emotional Black Astro described the initiative as a turning point in his career. “This opportunity has changed everything for me. AFRIMA has given us visibility, confidence and access to people who can help shape our future. We are ready to show the world what we can do,” he said. Mayowa Afolabi said, “Being named an AFRIMA Diamond is a dream come true. This platform has given us an opportunity that many young artistes spend years searching for.” Ellacentric also expressed gratitude for the journey, describing the experience as a powerful reminder that perseverance and hard work can eventually pay off. As part of their rewards, the seven artistes secured participation slots in the Showbiz 101 Workshop and Music Creation Camp organised by bridgeAFRIC, where they will receive mentorship and collaborate with some of Africa’s leading music producers and artistes. Speaking on behalf of New Media Technologies Nigeria, the national distributor of SE Electronics, Bolaji Onisiwo, while presenting the musical equipment, said, “You have been identified as some of Africa’s brightest emerging talents. With that comes the responsibility to keep learning, improving and representing the continent positively through your music. These are not just gifts but investments, and how you use them will determine how far your careers can go,” Onisiwo said. The event, which had hospitality and entertainment provided by Voyage Lagos, attracted some of renowned names in the creative and entertainment industry, including Radio personality and Hypeman extraordinaire, Do2dtun Energy Gahd; Head of International Jury of AFRIMA, Olisa Adibua; Principal Consultant, Equally Diverse Solutions, Bolaji Durojaiye; CEO Voyage Lagos, Nader Issa; UK Rapper, SneaKBO; Chief Brand, Communications & Programming Officer, Murphy Ben International, Mark Redgard and CEO, DNMT, Michael Igbelabo, among others. With the celebrations over, attention now shifts to the seven AFRIMA Diamonds. For them, the journey has only just begun, and if Dada’s prediction proves accurate, Africa may have witnessed the unveiling of its next music sensations

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