Virgil van Dijk has disclosed his uncertainty regarding his future with Liverpool in the aftermath of Jurgen Klopp’s departure. Klopp announced on Friday that he would be stepping down as Liverpool manager at the conclusion of the 2023/24 season, having informed the club of his decision back in November. In their first match since the announcement, Liverpool secured a convincing 5-2 victory over Norwich City in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday. Van Dijk, who scored during the emotional Anfield encounter, faced questions from the press post-match about his potential continuation with the club after Klopp’s departure. Responding to…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
A document purportedly originating from Ghana’s sports ministry suggests that the Ghanaian Football Association (GFA) spent nearly $9 billion on their unsuccessful AFCON 2023 campaign. In continuation of the recent disclosure concerning the Black Stars’ expenditures, fresh details have surfaced regarding their financial allocation for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament held in Côte d’Ivoire. Despite attempts by the government and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to keep this information confidential, recent revelations have brought the details to light. Financial Insights into the Black Stars’ Campaign The Ghanaian government and GFA have been tight-lipped about the financial intricacies of…
Nigeria’s Super Eagles are set to face the current world champions, Argentina, in an international friendly scheduled for March 2024. Despite no official announcement from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), sources reveal that the match will be held at the Olympics Sports Centre in Hangzhou, China. This upcoming friendly encounter will mark the fourth meeting between the Eagles and Argentina. In their previous friendly clash on November 17, 2017, in Krasnodar, Russia, the Super Eagles made a remarkable comeback, overcoming a 2-0 deficit to secure a 4-2 victory. However, Argentina retaliated during their final group stage match at the 2018…
Nigerian forward Isa Musa has officially committed to a fresh five-year deal with Danish Superliga outfit FC Midtjylland, as announced by the club on their website this Monday. In the statement released, the club mentioned, “The 19-year-old has solidified his commitment by signing a five-year contract that extends his association with FC Midtjylland until the conclusion of 2028.” Musa made the switch to Midtjylland from Nigerian affiliate club FC Ebedei just last year, securing a spot in the Danish club’s U19 roster. Having recently earned his first call-up for a first-team match against Silkeborg IF in the Superliga during March…
Bayern Munich has rejected what they term as ‘un-objective statements’ surrounding head coach Thomas Tuchel, who has been associated with the Barcelona managerial position. Xavi declared on Saturday night that he would be stepping down as Barcelona boss at the end of the season. During a fan event in Heidenheim the following day, Tuchel expressed openness to managing in Spain at some point in his career. However, former midfielder Dietmar Hamann misunderstood Tuchel’s comments during an appearance on Sky Sports Germany, launching a critical attack on the Bayern head coach. Hamann stated, “He [Tuchel] sits there and talks about Xavi,…
Football, deeply ingrained in the heart of Nigeria, transcends the realm of a mere sport; it is a dream factory, a transformative force that turns lives around, from grassroots beginnings to the pinnacle of success. As the Super Eagles secure a spot in the AFCON 2023 quarter-finals, it is an opportune moment to applaud this team—a symbol of hope and resilience. This article delves into the compelling narratives of Nigerian football stars who emerged from modest origins to attain iconic status on the global stage, narratives that mirror the spirit of the Super Eagles and the essence of AFCON. Victor…
On Sunday, the draw for the FA Cup fifth round was conducted, revealing intriguing matchups. Manchester City is set to face Luton Town away, while the triumphant team between Chelsea and Aston Villa will take on the victor of the clash between Leeds and Plymouth. Maidstone United, representing the sixth tier, is slated to compete against either Sheffield Wednesday or Coventry City. Liverpool is scheduled to host either Watford or Southampton at Anfield. The fixtures are scheduled to be played during the week commencing February 26. The complete FA Cup fifth-round draw includes: – Blackburn Rovers or Wrexham vs Newcastle…
Chelsea has decided against pursuing a transfer for Al Ittihad striker Karim Benzema, as per a report. The Blues are open to acquiring a new forward this month but are reserving a significant move for the summer, with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen anticipated as a top target. When reports suggested that Benzema might be seeking a return to Europe from Saudi Arabia, Chelsea was quickly mentioned as potential suitors, with fans excited about the possibility of a six-month loan for the 36-year-old. However, according to The Athletic, Chelsea has ruled out a move for Benzema before the January transfer window closes.…
Nigeria advanced to the quarterfinals of the AFCON Tournament with a convincing 2-0 victory over five-time champions Cameroon in the round of 16, thanks to two crucial goals by Ademola Lookman. The Super Eagles now gear up to face Angola in the quarterfinals after the latter secured their spot with a remarkable 3-0 win over Namibia. In terms of FIFA rankings, Nigeria currently holds the 42nd position globally, while Angola is situated at the 117th place. The much-anticipated quarterfinal clash between Nigeria and Angola is slated to occur at the prestigious Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on February…
Super Eagles Coach, Jose Peseiro, has acknowledged the tougher challenge that awaits his team in the quarter-final match against Angola, following their 2-0 victory over Cameroon in the round of 16 at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire. Despite praising his players for the successful match against Cameroon, Peseiro emphasized the need for focus and additional training before the crucial clash with Angola. The coach granted his players a two-day break to recharge before gearing up for the upcoming quarter-final encounter. Expressing satisfaction with the team’s spirit, Peseiro highlighted the…
Chelsea icon Didier Drogba has openly admitted that he felt “disgusted” when signing for the Premier League club. Despite enjoying immense success at Stamford Bridge, where he led Chelsea to four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, the Champions League, and three League Cups, Drogba initially harbored reservations about joining the club. In a famous decision, manager Jose Mourinho chose Drogba over Ronaldinho, successfully persuading Roman Abramovich to secure the Ivorian striker’s transfer from Marseille in 2005. Drogba, content at Ligue 1 side Marseille, was reluctant to leave. However, with a £24 million offer on the table, he underwent a…
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is set to receive a fine equivalent to two weeks’ salary, amounting to £650,000, following his attendance at a nightclub on Thursday. As reported by The Sun, Manchester United has chosen to impose a substantial fine on Rashford for his involvement in the nightclub event in Northern Ireland. Despite being spotted in a Belfast nightclub, the England international claimed illness and was consequently absent from training on Friday, leading to his absence from Manchester United’s 4-2 victory against Newport County on Sunday. Manchester United attributed Rashford’s omission to ‘illness,’ despite evidence of his nightclub attendance.…
Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro expressed confidence that his team will secure a spot in the semi-finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire if they deliver an improved performance against Angola in the quarterfinal stage. Peseiro shared this optimism in a post on his X account on Sunday, following Nigeria’s AFCON Round of 16 victory against Cameroon on Saturday, where his team secured a 2-0 win with Ademola Lookman’s brace. Peseiro tweeted, “Yesterday against Cameroon, we got an excellent win in yet another game without conceding a goal and where our boys were huge. Great…
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen asserts that the team has yet to showcase their peak performance at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Having secured three wins and a draw in their four matches in Cote d’Ivoire, including notable victories against hosts Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon, Osimhen acknowledges the team’s steady progress but believes there is more to come. “I cannot lie, we haven’t played the best of our football yet. I think the whole team has this mentality of winning, we want to win,” Osimhen expressed to reporters. Emphasizing the team’s unity and determination, he added, “For me,…
The Spanish La Liga club, Cádiz, has conveyed a message wishing a swift recovery to Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali ahead of Nigeria’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) round of 16 clash with Angola on Friday. Cádiz also praised Nwabali for his outstanding performances at the AFCON, labeling the Chippa United star as the ‘GOAT’ (Greatest of All Time). It is worth noting that Super Eagles manager Jose Peseiro chose Nwabali as his first-choice goalkeeper at the beginning of the tournament. Unfortunately, Nwabali sustained an injury during Nigeria’s AFCON round of 16 victory against Cameroon. The 27-year-old goalkeeper was…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has dismissed rumors suggesting he plans to leave the Premier League side and join Barcelona at the end of the current season. Contrary to speculation in Spain on Sunday, Sky Sports reports that Arteta has no intention of departing Arsenal. Earlier stories had circulated, claiming that the Spanish coach had informed his staff about his departure from the Emirates. Arteta is now being linked to the Barcelona managerial position, which will become vacant ahead of the 2024/2025 campaign. The speculation gained momentum after Barcelona’s current head coach, Xavi, announced on Saturday that he would step down…
A surge in demand for Nigeria’s matchday tickets has become evident during the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. With a crowd of 22,000 witnessing the Super Eagles’ 2-0 triumph over the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon last Saturday, a significant number of fans missed out on securing tickets for the historic clash. As anticipation grows, fans are now actively seeking tickets for the Super Eagles’ upcoming quarter-final clash against the Black Antelopes of Angola. The match is scheduled to take place at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan this Friday. Notably, there is a substantial presence of Nigerians in…
Barcelona’s nightmarish run of form persisted on Saturday with a tumultuous 5-3 defeat at home against Villarreal. Villarreal’s Gerard Moreno and Ilias Akhomach surged ahead 2-0, with Moreno having an early goal controversially disallowed. However, Barcelona, under Xavi’s management, mounted a spirited comeback, scoring three goals in 11 minutes. Ilkay Gundogan, Pedri, and an Eric Bailly own goal turned the tide in Barcelona’s favor. Nevertheless, Villarreal’s Goncalo Guedes scored late against the flow of the game, setting the stage for a captivating finale. Villarreal ultimately had the last word as Alexander Sorloth netted twice in stoppage time, securing a memorable…
Chelsea is prepared to allow Romelu Lukaku to depart in the summer, setting an asking price that would result in a record loss for the player. Currently on loan at Roma, Lukaku has impressed with 15 goals in 26 matches. However, despite his productive loan spell, Chelsea has been compelled to reduce the asking price for the 30-year-old, having struggled to offload him last summer. Under contract with Chelsea until 2026, Lukaku is deemed surplus to requirements, prompting the club to put him up for sale at a fee of €43 million, a significant reduction from the €113 million they…