Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin has openly expressed his preference for playing against Manchester City’s Erling Haaland as a center forward rather than Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe. While both Haaland and Mbappe have been consistently linked with potential moves to Real Madrid, Lunin’s candid response during a quick-fire Q&A with El Chiringuito has added intrigue to the ongoing transfer speculations. Asked to choose between Haaland and Mbappe, Lunin stated, “As a number nine, Erling Haaland.” Haaland has predominantly played as a number nine throughout his career, whereas Mbappe has showcased versatility by occupying various positions across the frontline, often featuring…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Barcelona has been fined €23 million by a court for falsifying agent payments between 2012 and 2015. The investigation covered the tenure of Sandro Rosell as president, who was succeeded by Josep Maria Bartomeu in January 2014, with the inquiry concluding in June 2015 after an 18-month span. The Catalan giants were found guilty of not accurately reporting payments to agents to evade taxes, redirecting the funds to players represented by those agents. The court stated that Barcelona was compensating agents for non-existent services. While the club owes €8,764,118 in taxes, penalties for the breaches in each year have led…
According to reports, Arsenal has been closely monitoring the development of Athletic Club winger Nico Williams, who has emerged as one of La Liga’s standout wide players in recent seasons. The 21-year-old, younger brother of Athletic mainstay Inaki, has attracted attention from various clubs. Despite Aston Villa’s interest last summer, a deal couldn’t be reached, and Arsenal ultimately secured the services of Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen. Williams began the current season with only a year left on his contract, and while he has since signed a new deal, it includes a reasonable release clause of €50m (£43m). The Mirror…
Mauricio Pochettino has acknowledged that Chelsea recognized the need to “compete in a different way” as they rebounded from a challenging run of form with a resounding 3-1 victory over Aston Villa. After facing significant pressure following defeats to Liverpool and Wolves, Chelsea delivered a remarkable performance to comfortably progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup. Pochettino reflected on the improved performance, stating, “The difference, I think the performance was really good. We really feel good because we realize that we need to compete in a different way.” He emphasized the importance of approaching games with the same…
Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that Chelsea’s summer signing, Romeo Lavia, is still far from making a return to first-team action due to an ongoing injury. Despite impressing in his debut Premier League season with Southampton last year, the 20-year-old defensive midfielder opted to join Stamford Bridge over Liverpool. However, persistent fitness issues have limited Lavia to a single league appearance in the 2023/24 season, which occurred in a 2-1 home victory against Crystal Palace in late December. Unfortunately, Lavia sustained an injury in that match and has not been in action since. When asked about Lavia’s availability for the upcoming…
Dr. Thomas-Wilson Ikubese, a former Presidential aspirant and medical doctor, has advised Nigerians with specific health conditions to refrain from watching the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final match on Sunday. As the Medical Director of Sckyé Hospitals, Akure, Dr. Ikubese expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones during the semi-final match between Nigeria and South Africa. Notably, among the deceased were former House of Representatives member and ex-Executive Director of NDDC, Cairo Ojougboh, and Anambra-born billionaire High Chief Osondu Nwoye. Dr. Ikubese explained that the emotional intensity of the match, particularly the controversial decisions…
Shehu Dikko, the former Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, has shed light on why Stanley Nwabali, the new Super Eagles first-choice goalkeeper, did not feature under former coach Gernot Rohr, according to PUNCH Sports Extra. Nwabali has emerged as the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper for Nigeria during the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, impressing fans with his performances. Dikko explained that Nwabali had always been on the radar of the national team. He recalled an incident in June 2019 during the NPFL Super Six in Lagos when Nwabali, playing for Enyimba FC at the time, was…
Kai Havertz has disclosed that he focused on improving the defensive aspect of his game after making the move from Chelsea to Arsenal. Despite initial criticism for struggling in a new midfield role, the £60 million summer signing has played a significant role in some of Arsenal’s notable victories, showcasing his movement in the recent 3-1 win against Liverpool. Predominantly occupying a deeper position alongside Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice, Havertz acknowledged the time it took to adapt to the responsibilities of his new role. He explained, “Before, I used to focus a lot just on the offense, but defense…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has disclosed that the club has not yet determined the future of center-back duo Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans beyond the current season. Both players are in the final six months of their contracts, and while United holds the option to trigger a 12-month extension for Varane, the decision is yet to be made. When questioned about the desire to retain Varane and Evans for the upcoming seasons, Ten Hag straightforwardly replied, “We haven’t made that decision yet.” Despite having Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, and the injured Lisandro Martinez as center-back options, United is…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to attend the AFCON final between the Super Eagles and Ivory Coast at the Stade Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan on Sunday, February 11. Dr. Patrice Motsepe, the President of the Confederation of African Football, revealed this during a press conference on Friday, February 9, following a meeting with CAF Member Associations’ Presidents in preparation for the AFCON final. Motsepe, responding to a journalist’s inquiry about the possibility of Africa hosting the FIFA World Cup again, mentioned that Nigeria should submit a bid. He added that President Tinubu will be present in Abidjan for the…
Gareth Southgate has issued a warning to Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford concerning his off-field behavior, especially in the lead-up to England’s squad announcement for Euro 2024. Rashford faced consequences at United, being excluded from their FA Cup fourth-round victory over Newport County after missing training following a night out in a Belfast nightclub. Despite initially claiming illness, the 26-year-old later admitted responsibility for the incident and was reintegrated into the first-team by United manager Erik ten Hag. However, Southgate has raised doubts about Rashford’s place in the England squad, cautioning the forward about his conduct. Southgate remarked, “We’re five…
Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has garnered attention from Saudi clubs following his outstanding performances for Nigeria in the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast. Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano shared this information on his X account in a tweet on Friday. Currently representing PAOK in the Greek Super League, Troost-Ekong’s leadership on the field has not gone unnoticed. Romano stated, “Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong caught the attention of clubs in Saudi due to his impressive performances in the AFCON.” Despite his success with PAOK in both the Greek Super League and Europe Conference League, the…
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has strongly cautioned passionate South African football enthusiasts against issuing threats to Stanley Nwabali, the Super Eagles goalkeeper. The student association asserted its unwillingness to passively witness any hostile actions directed at the goalkeeper, emphasizing that it will not tolerate fanatic fans targeting Nwabali. Nwabali earned national acclaim for his outstanding performance against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023, where his penalty-saving skills secured Nigeria a spot in the final. Despite his heroic efforts, some South African fans reportedly expressed extreme dissatisfaction, going so far as to…
Super Eagles defender Semi Ajayi clarified that he did not attend the post-match squad meeting with head coach Jose Peseiro after Nigeria’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations semifinal victory over South Africa. Ajayi explained that Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials were conducting a drug test on him following the intense game, which ended in a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes, leading to Nigeria’s advancement to the final through a penalty shootout. Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone after the match, Ajayi stated, “I was not there for Peseiro’s team talk; I was getting tested, so I missed everything.”…
As Nigeria prepares to confront Ivory Coast in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final, all eyes are on the Super Eagles’ attacking trio—a pivotal component in penetrating the Elephants’ defense. Jose Peseiro confronts the critical task of selecting the optimal combination for Sunday’s decisive encounter. The Established Trio: Victor Osimhen: A charismatic figure, the Napoli striker contributes physical strength and goal-scoring instincts, essential for challenging Ivory Coast’s defensive setup. NGA vs CIV: Analyzing Nigeria’s Potential Front-Three for the Sunday Showdown at AFCON Moses Simon: The Villarreal winger injects speed, skill, and a direct approach into the attack. His ability…
South African fans have delivered a strong message to Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, urging him not to come back to his club, Chippa United, in South Africa. This reaction follows Nwabali’s remarkable performance in saving two penalties against the Bafana Bafana during the Super Eagles’ victory over South Africa last Wednesday. In a video shared on Channels Television by Peterside Idah, a member of the South African coaching staff, it was revealed that numerous South African fans have cautioned the goalkeeper against returning to their country. The video, posted on Instagram on Thursday, February 8, 2024, quickly gained viral…
In the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying event in Antwerp, Belgium, Nigeria’s Women’s Basketball team, D’Tigress, secured their first Group A victory by defeating Senegal 72-65 on Thursday. Despite taking an initial lead of 20-18 in the first quarter, the Afrobasket champions found themselves trailing 37-46 to Senegal in the second quarter. Senegal maintained their lead at 57-49 by the end of the third quarter, leaving Nigeria with an uphill battle in the final 10 minutes. However, showing resilience, Nigeria initiated an impressive 11-0 run at the start of the last quarter, turning the tide firmly in their favor. Amy Okonkwo…
Fatal Consequence as Super Eagles Victory Leads to Tragic Accident in Kogi In the aftermath of the Super Eagles’ 4-2 triumph over South Africa in the African Cup of Nations on Wednesday, a young man lost his life in a road accident. As reported by Newsmen, the victim, identified as Lukman, was riding a motorcycle with his friend on Murtala Mohamed Way in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State, when they collided with a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction. Eyewitnesses revealed that the duo, part of the celebratory crowd marking the victory of the Nigerian national team, had driven…
Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, accomplished a remarkable feat on Wednesday by establishing a new national record for the longest duration without conceding a goal at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Nwabali surpassed the previous record held by Super Eagles legend Ike Shorunmu, who went 450 minutes without conceding a goal in six AFCON matches over two tournaments. By the 47th-minute mark against South Africa, Nwabali broke the 22-year-old record, remaining unbeaten for an impressive 493 minutes across six games until he was eventually scored against from the penalty spot by Teboho Mokoena. The Chippa United goalkeeper’s exceptional performance…
Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel has issued a warning to Ivory Coast in anticipation of their upcoming clash in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final on Sunday. Osayi-Samuel, who is vying for a spot in his first major final with the Super Eagles, emphasized the formidable defense of Jose Peseiro’s team. Reflecting on Nigeria’s victory over South Africa on Wednesday and their readiness for the AFCON final, Osayi-Samuel stated to reporters, “Of course, we are ready; this is what we have been waiting for. In every game we’ve played, we are growing stronger, and it is exceptionally challenging…