A blaze erupted outside Man City’s Etihad Stadium after a merchandise stand caught fire just hours before Wednesday’s crucial Champions League tie against Club Brugge.

The fire broke out shortly before 1800 GMT near the area where Pep Guardiola’s side had been due to enter the stadium around 30 minutes later.

Hundreds of fans had gathered outside the Etihad for a pre-match entertainment show which included on-stage interviews with City’s new signings Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov.

The show had already begun with City’s female players Rebecca Knaak and Aemu Oyama on stage at the time of the fire.

The event was suspended as flames took hold of the stand and stewards moved fans away before fire services arrived on the scene.

Stewards and security staff quickly evacuated the area and a fire engine was on the scene within minutes.

The fire soon appeared to be brought under control and it was announced that the stadium was open and fans could enter.

Three entrance gates inside the cordoned-off area close to the scene of the fire were still closed.

The remainder of the pre-match show was cancelled, but the match was due to go ahead as scheduled at 2000 GMT.

Premier League champions City must beat Brugge in their last match of the opening phase to advance to the Champions League play-off round.

Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface has completed his medicals ahead of a high-profile move to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr.

Bayer Leverkusen have since agreed to a €60 million transfer deal for the 24-year-old striker, reports SkySport Germany.

Boniface is set to earn a staggering €15 million net per season with the Riyadh-based club.

Reports of Al-Nassr’s interest in the Akure-born forward gained momentum recently, with the club seeking a replacement for the outgoing Anderson Talisca.

Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso confirmed on Tuesday that negotiations were progressing between the two clubs, with Boniface central to the transfer talks.

The move comes just a week after Boniface extended his contract with Bayer Leverkusen until 2026. Upon confirmation, he will become the second most expensive player to leave the Bundesliga club following Kai Havertz’s €80 million move to Chelsea in 2020.

Boniface will join an elite squad at Al-Nassr, featuring global stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane and Aymeric Laporte.

The striker initially joined Leverkusen in July 2023 for €20.5 million. He had a remarkable debut season, scoring 14 goals in 23 Bundesliga matches and helping his team clinch the league title without suffering a single defeat.

Boniface’s stellar performances earned him the Bundesliga Rookie of the Year award, having won the monthly equivalent four times.

Despite being sidelined with a thigh injury since November, Boniface has managed to net eight goals in 15 games this season for the German side.

Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman was crowned African Player of The Year, while the Super Falcons retained their Women’s National Team of The Year award, and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie successfully defended her Goalkeeper of The Year title at the 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday.

Lookman’s triumph made him the seventh Nigerian to win the prestigious award and maintained Nigeria’s impressive record in the category following Victor Osimhen’s victory last year.

The Atalanta striker’s remarkable year included three goals and two assists as Nigeria reached their eighth Africa Cup of Nations final in February, while his hat-trick secured the UEFA Europa Cup for Atalanta against Bayer Leverkusen in May.

The 26-year-old has continued his fine form this season, scoring 11 goals and providing five assists in 18 appearances across all competitions, including a notable strike against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.

His closest challengers included Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, whose second-half performance helped the Elephants overcome Nigeria in the AFCON final, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi.

The victory sees Nigeria move clear of Ivory Coast with seven Player of The Year awards, with previous winners being Rashidi Yekini (1993), Emmanuel Amuneke (1994), Nwankwo Kanu (1996 and 1999), Victor Ikpeba (1997) and Osimhen (2023). Only Cameroon, with 11 titles, have more.

Meanwhile, Nnadozie’s exceptional year was rewarded with a second consecutive Goalkeeper of The Year award, though she missed out on the Women’s Player of The Year prize to Zambian captain Barbara Banda, who ended Asisat Oshoala’s reign after the Nigerian won a record sixth title last year.

The Paris FC goalkeeper, who helped Nigeria qualify for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament after a 16-year absence, beat South Africa’s Andile Dlamini and Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi to retain her crown.

The Super Falcons’ recognition as Africa’s best women’s team capped a successful year that saw them maintain their position as the continent’s top-ranked side on FIFA’s rankings.

Nigeria Football Federation President Ibrahim Gusau, who received the award, dedicated it to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu.

However, the Super Eagles missed out on the Men’s Team of The Year award to AFCON champions Ivory Coast, with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana also nominated.

In other categories, Egypt’s Al Ahly were named Men’s Club of The Year, while TP Mazembe of DR Congo claimed the women’s crown ahead of Nigeria’s Edo Queens.

Senegal’s Lamine Camara retained the Men’s Young Player of The Year award, with Egypt’s Doha El Madani winning the women’s category despite competition from Nigeria’s Chiamaka Okwuchukwu.

South Africa’s Ronwen Williams completed a double by adding the Men’s Goalkeeper of The Year to his Interclub Player of The Year award, while Morocco’s Sanaa Mssoudy won the women’s interclub honour.

Ivory Coast’s Emerse Fae was named Men’s Coach of The Year following the Elephants’ AFCON triumph, with TP Mazembe’s Lamia Boumehdi winning the women’s award.

Angola’s Cristovao Mabululu claimed the Goal of The Year award to round off the ceremony’s honours.