Former Chelsea striker Demba Ba has asserted that his ex-manager Jose Mourinho has a tendency to manipulate people’s emotions. Speaking to FourFourTwo, the 38-year-old revealed that there were times when he felt the urge to slam the former AS Roma coach’s head against a wall due to frustration during their time together at Stamford Bridge. “Some days, you want to hit his head against the wall, but, then, you leave and think, ‘That is probably one of the best managers ever.’ It’s crazy,” expressed Ba. “He has the ability to play with people’s emotions to get what he needs out…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has confirmed that Victor Osimhen will be departing from the club this summer. The highly sought-after striker, instrumental in Napoli securing their first Serie A title in over 30 years, has garnered interest from numerous clubs in the transfer market. Despite signing a new contract in Naples just last month, the 25-year-old Nigerian’s agreement reportedly includes a release clause of £112m. De Laurentiis revealed that the club was aware of Osimhen’s impending departure during the summer, and negotiations for the new contract were amicable, as evidenced by the extended duration. Hinting at potential destinations for…
Nigeria’s Alex Iwobi believes that securing 1-0 results is satisfactory at the moment, emphasizing that the Super Eagles’ primary goal is to win and advance to the next round at AFCON 2023. In response to Nigerian fans urging the team to score more goals in the competition, the Fulham star, in a video on the social media platform TikTok, has pushed back, expressing that the fans are never satisfied. Despite facing criticism for scoring only three goals in the group stage, Nigeria secured a spot in the round of 16 after finishing second in Group A behind Equatorial Guinea. Despite…
The Confederation of African Football has disclosed the reasons behind the exclusion of Nigerian referees from officiating at the Africa Cup of Nations and other continental football tournaments. Noumandiez Doue, the Head of Refereeing at CAF, addressed this issue during a CAF referees training session at Sol Beni (ASEC Mimosas Training Centre) in Abidjan. Doue acknowledged the competence of Nigerian referees but emphasized that they need to enhance their performance. For the past 18 years, no Nigerian referee has been selected for the biennial competition, sparking debates among football stakeholders in the country. In response to criticisms of the referee…
Mohamed Salah has reiterated his affection for Egypt but responded to critics after departing from their Africa Cup of Nations camp due to a hamstring injury. The winger was substituted at halftime during Egypt’s 2-2 draw with Ghana in their second group stage match. Initially expected to make a swift return, further examinations revealed a more serious injury, prompting his return to Liverpool for treatment. While Salah may rejoin the Pharaohs’ camp later in the tournament if he recovers quickly, his decision to leave has stirred controversy in Egypt. Legendary player Ahmed Hasan accused Salah of scheming his departure, a…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Altay Bayindir will be the starting goalkeeper against Newport County in the FA Cup on Sunday. With the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana, who is representing the Cameroon national team at the Africa Cup of Nations, Bayindir, who joined in the summer, is set to make his debut for United in the upcoming match. Ten Hag assured reporters, stating, “Yeah, he [Bayindir] will be in the goal. I think it is clear what we can expect from him. He waits for his chances but he is experienced. He played for…
Jamie Carragher, a revered figure in Liverpool’s history, has identified Xabi Alonso, his former teammate with the Reds, as the top choice to succeed Jurgen Klopp as the manager at Anfield. Klopp’s unexpected announcement on Friday revealed his decision to depart Liverpool at the end of the season, citing a depletion of energy as he concludes his ninth year in charge. Addressing the matter on Sky Sports, Carragher acknowledged the sadness surrounding Klopp’s departure, recognizing him as one of the greatest managers in world football and a significant figure in Liverpool’s history. Despite this, Carragher urged fans to shift focus…
Cameroon’s head coach, Rigobert Song, has emphasized the respect his team holds for Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen but made it clear that they do not harbor any fear towards the Napoli striker. The Super Eagles have secured victories in their last two AFCON encounters against the Indomitable Lions, aiming for a third consecutive win in the upcoming last-16 clash this Saturday. Despite Osimhen’s modest performance at the 2023 AFCON, having scored only one goal in three matches, Song is well aware of the 25-year-old’s capabilities when in form. “Osimhen is a significant player,” Song stated to the Guardian, as reported by…
The Football Federation of Côte d’Ivoire is in the process of arranging a temporary collaboration with Hervé Renard, the current coach of the France women’s national team, to guide the national team for the remainder of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which is being hosted in their home country. Renard, with extensive experience in managing football teams in both Côte d’Ivoire and the broader African continent, has previously held coaching positions with the national teams of Zambia, Morocco, and Côte d’Ivoire. Notably, he holds the distinction of being the first coach to secure the Africa Cup of Nations…
Ahead of their Round of 16 clash against Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, the Super Eagles of Nigeria are leaving no stone unturned, as reported by Soccernet.ng. Set to face their long-standing rivals on Saturday, January 27, at the Félix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Nigeria is keen on advancing to the AFCON quarterfinals. Despite Cameroon’s impressive track record with four AFCON Cup victories, the Super Eagles boast a more talented squad and are optimistic about securing their fourth AFCON win. Notably, injuries have affected key players like Wilfred Ndidi, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Victor Boniface. In their…
Nigeria’s head coach, Jose Peseiro, has clarified the absence of Kelechi Iheanacho from the playing field during AFCON 2023. Peseiro, who is leading the Super Eagles in Ivory Coast, revealed the rationale behind not featuring players like Iheanacho, Francis Uzoho, Ahmed Musa, and Terem Moffi in the tournament. Despite bringing a squad of 25 players, including Iheanacho, who was anticipated to play a significant role, the Leicester City striker has yet to make an appearance in the competition. Although available since the second game against Ivory Coast, Iheanacho has not been included in the playing XI. Notably, no Nigerian player,…
Barcelona is concerned that their left-back, Alejandro Balde, may need season-ending surgery after sustaining a hamstring injury during their 4-2 defeat to Athletic Club on Wednesday. The 20-year-old could only manage 23 minutes on the field before leaving with apparent distress, raising immediate concerns about the severity of his injury. Upon further examination of the suspected hamstring tear, Catalunya Radio reports that Balde has also been diagnosed with a tendon tear in his right thigh. Club officials are recommending surgery in Finland, with the recovery period estimated at four months, potentially ending Balde’s season prematurely. Barcelona is currently awaiting final…
Jurgen Klopp has revealed that he will be departing from Liverpool at the conclusion of the 2023/24 season, concluding his impactful nine-year tenure with the club. This surprising announcement has sent shockwaves through the footballing world, especially considering Klopp’s contract was initially set to run until 2026. However, the German manager confirmed his decision, citing a depletion of energy as the primary reason for stepping away from his role. In a statement to Liverpool’s website, Klopp expressed his deep love for the club, the city, the supporters, the team, and the staff. Despite his affection, he emphasized that he is…
Matchday 5 of the UEFA Women’s Champions League resumed on Wednesday with games held at various venues. The unpredictability of Group D games was evident, considering the form of key players in the teams involved. In a clash that unfolded at a tumultuous pace, Chelsea Women intensified the chaos for Real Madrid Women, securing a 2-1 victory. The first half remained goalless, suggesting Real Madrid Women might salvage a point. However, Guro Reiten’s 62nd-minute penalty tilted the balance in favor of Chelsea. Real Madrid Women responded with del Castillo equalizing in the 69th minute. A twist of fate occurred as…
Sergio Agüero, the Manchester City legend, has expressed his support for Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski under Xavi’s management. Lewandowski, who has netted 13 goals in 28 games this season for Barcelona, has recently faced criticism for a downturn in form. The Polish international managed only one assist and one goal in his last seven La Liga matches for the club. Responding to inquiries about Lewandowski’s performance, Agüero told Stakes, “You can’t consider him off-pace when he scored against Madrid, can you? Strikers are often judged by their goal-scoring output, and when that dips, people perceive them as ‘off-pace’.”
The Afcon tournament is undoubtedly one of the most significant football events in Africa. In the recently concluded group stage games in Group A, Nigeria secured qualification as runners-up with 7 points, alongside Equatorial Guinea, also with 7 points but securing a higher goal difference than Nigeria. The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon also advanced as runners-up, with Senegal topping the group and Guinea claiming the third spot. The clash between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon is scheduled to kick off at around 9:00 pm Nigerian time on Saturday. Reasons why Nigeria might triumph over…
Cameroon’s captain, Vincent Aboubacar, and winger Clinton N’Jie have returned to full team training in preparation for the upcoming clash with Nigeria in the ongoing AFCON 2023. Both Aboubacar and N’Jie have been sidelined due to injuries and have yet to feature for the former champions in the tournament. However, they participated in a training session with their teammates in Bouake on Wednesday night without encountering any difficulties. Rigobert Song’s team is set to travel to Abidjan on Thursday (today) in anticipation of the highly anticipated Round of 16 encounter against perennial rivals Nigeria. The match is scheduled to take…
Thiago Silva acknowledges that his career is reaching its conclusion and has revealed that discussions about a new contract with Chelsea are yet to take place. The 39-year-old defender, who joined Chelsea in 2020 from Paris Saint-Germain, has played a crucial role in the team, featuring in 141 games and contributing to three trophy victories, including the 2021 Champions League. Despite his significance, with his contract set to expire in June, Silva remains focused on the present. “I don’t have anything scheduled for later; I’m just looking to have fun,” Silva commented after helping Chelsea secure a place in the…
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has criticized UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin for supporting the European governing body’s decision to ban the English club from European competition in 2020. City faced suspension in February 2020 for what UEFA labeled as “serious breaches” of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) eventually overturned the ban in June 2020. Ceferin, a former lawyer, asserted that UEFA “know we are right.” This statement comes as City is also confronting allegations from the Premier League regarding the club’s potential breach of their own financial rules. However, addressing the media, Guardiola…
Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov expressed frustration while watching Antony and advised the winger to consider leaving Old Trafford if he cannot show improvement. Antony, who joined United for £85 million from Ajax in September 2022, had a promising first season, scoring eight goals and providing three assists in all competitions. However, in the current season, he has yet to register a goal or an assist. Berbatov sympathized with Antony’s talent but noted the player’s apparent frustration on the field, leading to overcomplicated plays and mistakes. Berbatov suggested that Antony needs guidance on his positioning, decision-making, and when to…