Real Sociedad forward Umar Sadiq is poised to participate in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey clash for the LaLiga side as he has been included in the squad set to face Osasuna. Despite being initially ruled out of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations due to a knee issue last Friday, Sadiq resumed individual training with Sociedad. In response to his absence from the national team, Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro called up Paul Onuachu as a replacement for Sadiq. However, Sadiq’s return to training with Sociedad prompted strong reactions from fans, leading the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to issue…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has admitted that he has “a lot to say” after being left out of the Cameroon squad for the Africa Cup of Nations clash against Guinea on Monday. The goalkeeper faced significant criticism for choosing to delay his arrival at the tournament, opting to stay with Manchester United for the 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur and missing Cameroon’s opening match against Zambia. Onana encountered flight troubles but eventually arrived for the Guinea game, only to discover that he had been excluded from the squad. Reports suggest that the United goalkeeper was furious about the decision.…
A recent report suggests that Barcelona’s head coach, Xavi, is losing the support of certain players within the team’s dressing room. The Catalan giants suffered a significant setback in the Supercopa de Espana final against Real Madrid, enduring a 4-1 defeat after Vinicius Junior’s first-half hat-trick. Barcelona’s struggles extend beyond this loss, with a series of draws causing them to fall eight points behind surprise league leaders Girona at the midway point of the season, though they have a game in hand, and seven points behind second-placed Madrid. According to ESPN, there is growing discontent among some Barcelona players regarding…
Victor Osimhen, the standout player for the Super Eagles, clinched the Serie A title with Napoli last season and capped off 2023 as the African Best Footballer of the Year. Despite these individual achievements, the 24-year-old striker openly acknowledges that his ultimate ambition is to secure victory in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Nigeria. As Nigeria gears up to face Ivory Coast in their second group game at the 34th AFCON in Abidjan, Osimhen reiterated his objective, as reported by renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano. In an interview, Osimhen emphasized that winning the AFCON with the Super Eagles is…
Roma has appointed Daniele De Rossi as their new coach, despite his limited coaching experience, following the dismissal of Jose Mourinho, as announced by the Serie A club on Tuesday. The 40-year-old former Italy midfielder, who spent the majority of his playing career at his hometown club, returns to Roma where he enjoyed a distinguished playing career. Roma officially confirmed the appointment, stating, “AS Roma are pleased to confirm that Daniele De Rossi has been appointed as head coach until 30 June 2024.” De Rossi takes charge at Roma shortly after Mourinho’s abrupt sacking, which was revealed on Tuesday morning,…
With the January transfer window officially open, Manchester United football club, under the management of Erik ten Hag, is actively seeking to bolster their attacking options. The team currently finds itself in the 7th position on the Premier League table after a disappointing start to the 2023/2024 season, having played 20 matches. The struggle to find the back of the net has been evident, with players like Antony, Facundo Pellistri, and Anthony Martial failing to make a significant impact. In response to this, Manchester United is eyeing an improvement in their attacking lineup and has been linked to a potential…
Jose Mourinho has spoken for the first time since his dismissal as AS Roma manager on Tuesday morning. Following his sacking as AS Roma manager, Mourinho, also known as the ‘Special One,’ has broken his silence. Roma took the decision to part ways with Mourinho after the team’s 3-1 loss to AC Milan at San Siro, leaving them in ninth place on the Serie A table. Although Mourinho’s initial contract was set to expire at the season’s end, Roma chose immediate action. AS Roma confirmed Mourinho’s departure through a statement on their social media pages and official website, expressing gratitude…
After his dismissal by Roma, Jose Mourinho is on the lookout for a new opportunity, armed with an impressive CV. Joining the ranks of Manchester United managers who believed their exit was premature, Mourinho may reflect on his future as he clears his desk at Roma. In football, age doesn’t necessarily signal a career wind-down. Mourinho, with a storied journey from Porto to managing six clubs in seven stints, including two tenures at Chelsea, remains a serial winner. His CV boasts two Champions League trophies, eight domestic titles, and four World’s Best Coach awards. While critics downplayed his claim that…
Chelsea has reportedly made a substantial offer of £73 million to acquire Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting, according to blockbuster reports from Portugal. The Swedish striker, who joined from Coventry City in the summer, has been in impressive form with 20 goals and 10 assists in just 24 appearances. However, Sporting is said to be standing firm, insisting on the striker’s £87 million release clause and rejecting Chelsea’s £73 million bid. In another transfer update, Manchester United is said to be eyeing a move for Bayern Munich’s star defender Matthijs de Ligt in the upcoming summer transfer window. Reports from Sky…
South Africa’s kickoff to the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) turned nightmarish with a substantial defeat against Mali. AFCON 2023: Mali Leads Group E After Dominating South Africa Entering the 2023 AFCON with high hopes of surpassing previous performances, Bafana Bafana now find their aspirations for a second AFCON title in jeopardy. In their clash with Mali at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium on January 16, the expectation was for South Africa to secure at least a draw if not the full three points. Regrettably, the South African squad failed to find the net, succumbing to a 2-0 loss…
Alhassan Yusuf is set to sit out Nigeria’s Group B encounter against hosts Cote d’Ivoire, as he is nursing an injury. The 23-year-old sustained a thigh injury during Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea on Sunday. Fortunately, the injury is not severe, and he is anticipated to return for the Super Eagles’ final group match against Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau. Due to the setback, Yusuf missed training on both Monday and Tuesday. Head coach Jose Peseiro has several midfield options to choose from, with Joe Aribo, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, and Kelechi Iheanacho all available for selection.
Gift Orban is poised to join the growing Nigerian presence in the French Ligue 1, with Olympique Lyon reportedly on the verge of securing the young striker from Belgian club KAA Gent. Reports from Pulse Sports indicate that Orban, who was overlooked by Super Eagles boss Jose Peseiro for AFCON 2023, is set to make the move from Belgium to France in January. According to trusted transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Olympique Lyon is finalizing the deal to sign the 21-year-old talent, and the completion of the transfer is expected in the coming hours. Romano announced the imminent move on social…
The Nigerian journalist accuses South Africa’s manager, Hugo Broos, of being overly clever in his justifications following the team’s humiliating loss to Mali in the AFCON 2023. Solace Chukwu criticized the Belgian coach for attributing their 2-0 defeat to Mali to a physical mismatch. During the AFCON 2023 Group E opener, Mali demonstrated their prowess, establishing themselves as potential dark horses for the tournament. Despite a promising start for South Africa, including a missed penalty by Percy Tau, the Malian team dominated in the second half, securing victory with goals from Hamari Traore and Lassine Sinayoko. After the disappointing defeat,…
According to a report from the Evening Standard, Manchester United is actively pursuing Chelsea’s versatile defender, Trevoh Chalobah. The 24-year-old, who has not secured a regular spot in Chelsea’s starting lineup, is seeking more playing time, making a move to a prestigious club like Manchester United an attractive option. In the race for Chalobah’s signature, Manchester United faces competition from Inter Milan and Bayern Munich. Renowned for his flexibility, the Chelsea defender can operate both as a central defender and a fullback. This versatility makes him an appealing option for Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, especially for managing rotation…
The Best FIFA Awards took place on Monday night in London, UK, with Lionel Messi securing his third FIFA The Best Men’s Player award, beating competition from Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappé. Pep Guardiola, Messi’s former manager at Barcelona, received the Men’s Coach of the Year accolade. Aitana Bonmatí, the Barcelona and Spain midfielder, clinched The Best Women’s Player award, adding to her Ballon d’Or Féminin title. Here is the full list of winners: – Puskás Award: Guilherme Madruga (Botafogo-SP) – FIFA Fair Play Award: Brazil senior men’s players – FIFA Fan Award: Hugo Miguel Iñiguez…
Anthony Joshua Favors Usyk Over Fury in Heavyweight Showdown Anthony Joshua has expressed his prediction that Oleksandr Usyk will come out victorious in the upcoming undisputed heavyweight title clash against Tyson Fury. However, Joshua has revealed his preference for a future bout against Fury. Scheduled for March 8, Joshua is set to face former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia. The outcome of this match could potentially determine the next challenger for the winner of the Fury vs. Usyk showdown on February 17. Joshua commented, “It’s going to be a good fight. I think Usyk edges it. I’m…
AS Roma has officially announced the immediate departure of José Mourinho and his coaching staff from the club. Mourinho, unveiled as the Giallorossi’s 60th coach in May 2021, achieved success by guiding the team to victory in the Conference League in Tirana on May 25th, 2022, and to the Europa League final in Budapest last season. Dan and Ryan Friedkin expressed their gratitude, stating, “We would like to thank José on behalf of all of us at AS Roma for his passion and efforts since his arrival at the club. We will always have great memories of his tenure at…
Kelechi Iheanacho and Terem Moffi, despite arriving late, delivered an impressive performance during the Super Eagles’ training on Monday night at the Ecole Nationale de la Police in Abidjan. Iheanacho, initially a doubt for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations due to a muscle injury while playing for Leicester City in the Sky Bet Championship, appeared fit and prepared for upcoming action. In a notable moment, the 27-year-old, alongside vice-captain William Troost-Ekong and winger Moses Simon, addressed the players before the commencement of the training session. Terem Moffi, who joined the team’s Pullman Hotel base on Sunday, showcased his readiness…
Newcastle United is reportedly contemplating activating the release clause in the contract of AS Roma standout Paulo Dybala. Dybala, previously linked with clubs like Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, is now a potential addition to the Magpies during the current January transfer window. As per Corriere Della Sera, the prospect of the Argentina World Cup winner making a move to Newcastle is gaining traction once again. The player’s £11 million release clause might be a key factor in the potential transfer. However, the current weekly wages of £183,000 for Dybala could pose a challenge for Eddie Howe’s team, given their…
Lionel Messi secured The Best FIFA Men’s Player award on Monday, prevailing over Erling Haaland, despite both players receiving an equal number of votes. The winner of the accolade was determined by votes from media representatives, national team coaches, national team captains, and fans. Messi and Haaland amassed 48 points each, but the Inter Miami superstar was declared the winner because he garnered more votes from national team captains compared to the Manchester City striker. While Haaland received more votes from national team coaches and the media, Messi’s higher support from captains and fans contributed to his victory. FIFA’s rules…