Author: Oluwaseun samuel

After José Peseiro’s resignation over two months ago, the Super Eagles are still without a permanent coach. With only six weeks until the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic, the Nigeria Football Federation is racing against time to appoint a new head coach. The NFF has vetted over 60 coaches who applied for the vacant position, resulting in a final shortlist that includes Michael Nsien from the USA U20 team, Emmanuel Amunike, and several European coaches. Among the European coaches on the final shortlist are Danny Buijs from the Netherlands, Toni Conceição from Portugal,…

Manchester United is reportedly considering selling Marcus Rashford this summer, as new co-owners INEOS are reportedly unhappy with the size of his contract. Chelsea is gearing up to compete with Napoli for the signing of Lille striker Jonathan David, who has been earmarked as a replacement for Victor Osimhen, a target for the Blues. Arsenal’s summer transfer plans include acquiring a striker and a winger, with Newcastle’s Alexander Isak and Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise among their targets. They also have their sights set on Fenerbahce left-back Ferdi Kadioglu, with a bid expected at the end of the season. Tottenham Hotspur…

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta criticized Bayern Munich’s uncharacteristic approach in their Champions League victory that saw the Gunners eliminated on Wednesday night. With the tie finely balanced at 2-2 on aggregate following the first leg at the Emirates Stadium, Bayern held a slight advantage heading into the return fixture at home. Despite boasting some of Europe’s best attacking talents, the German giants seemed inhibited, making it difficult for Arsenal to create chances. Ultimately, Joshua Kimmich’s 63rd-minute goal sealed the victory for Bayern. Arteta expressed frustration at Bayern’s defensive tactics, stating, “Credit to the opponent, it’s very difficult to break opponents…

Real Madrid isn’t overly concerned about Vinicius Junior’s condition ahead of the potentially decisive El Clasico clash against Barcelona on Sunday, despite the Brazilian’s early withdrawal from Wednesday’s intense Champions League battle with Manchester City. Vinicius played for 102 minutes in the contest, which eventually saw Real Madrid emerge victorious on penalties in pursuit of their record-extending 15th European Cup. However, he was substituted by Lucas Vazquez during the first half of extra time due to injury, with the match’s outcome still hanging in the balance. With the El Clasico just around the corner, Vinicius’s substitution understandably raised concerns among…

Liverpool secured a 1-0 victory over Atalanta in the Europa League on Thursday night. However, despite their efforts, it wasn’t sufficient to overturn the 3-0 deficit from the first leg, resulting in their elimination from the competition. Although Liverpool staged a remarkable comeback against Barcelona en route to winning the Champions League in 2019, they couldn’t replicate that feat this time. With their hopes in the Europa League dashed, Jurgen Klopp’s final farewell as manager will now center solely on the ongoing Premier League title race. The damage for Liverpool was inflicted in the first leg at Anfield, where an…

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has called on his team to channel all their energy into winning the Premier League following their unexpected exit from the Europa League. Despite defeating Atalanta 1-0 on Thursday, Liverpool’s efforts fell short of overturning the 3-0 deficit from the first leg, resulting in their elimination from the quarter-finals of the competition. With their FA Cup journey also cut short by Manchester United, Klopp emphasized that the Premier League remains the sole opportunity for silverware after clinching the Carabao Cup. He urged his players to give their all in pursuit of the league title. “We won…

Julian Nagelsmann has put an end to speculation surrounding his future by signing a contract extension to continue as Germany’s national team coach until the 2026 World Cup. Nagelsmann’s previous deal with Germany was set to expire after Euro 2024, prompting interest from several clubs, including Liverpool and Bayern Munich. Liverpool, who are parting ways with Jurgen Klopp this summer, explored the option of bringing in Nagelsmann, while Bayern Munich, his former club, also expressed interest in a potential reunion. Despite his agent confirming talks with various interested parties, Nagelsmann has opted to commit to a new two-year contract, fulfilling…

After securing their place in the semi-final stage of the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid is shifting their focus to the Spanish La Liga title race as they prepare to face off against Barcelona this weekend. Real Madrid, coming off a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Marloca in their last La Liga fixture, aims to continue their success against Barcelona to widen their lead at the top of the league standings. Currently topping the table with 78 points, Real Madrid holds an 8-point advantage over second-placed Barcelona, who have amassed 70 points heading into this weekend’s matches. On the flip side,…

Al-Nassr has opted to substitute Cristiano Ronaldo with 20-year-old striker Meshari Al-Nemer for their upcoming two matches. This decision stems from Ronaldo’s red card in the Saudi Super Cup match against Al-Hilal. Despite Al-Nassr’s appeal being turned down, thereby ruling out the 39-year-old Portuguese superstar for the next two league fixtures, Manager Luis Castro has chosen to field Al-Nemer as Ronaldo’s replacement, as reported by Essentially Sports. Ronaldo’s dismissal occurred during Al-Nassr’s 1-2 defeat to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup semifinal. The incident involved an altercation with defender Ali Al-Bulayhi, resulting in Ronaldo striking him with his elbow during…

Several factors may contribute to Chelsea’s victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup semifinal and their advancement to the final: 1. Tactical Mastery: Mauricio Pochettino’s expertise and strategic acumen could grant Chelsea an advantage. His adeptness in devising a game plan to neutralize City’s attacking prowess while capitalizing on their vulnerabilities might prove pivotal in securing a win. 2. Recent Performance Surge: Chelsea has exhibited signs of improvement under Pochettino, garnering momentum with notable victories. Should they sustain this form into the semifinal, they could potentially upset Manchester City. 3. Defensive Resilience: Chelsea’s defense has showcased solidity under Pochettino’s…

Erik ten Hag is advocating for Manchester United to secure the signing of Brazilian winger Willian, who has been recently linked with a move away from Palmeiras. While Palmeiras is reluctant to part ways with their prized prospect immediately, they acknowledge his eventual departure to a bigger club. According to a report from Fichajes, Manchester United is aiming to secure Willian’s services, with manager Erik ten Hag pushing the Premier League club to accelerate negotiations for the promising young winger. Chelsea is poised to enter the fray to compete with Arsenal for the acquisition of Victor Osimhen, as reported by…

Despite Real Madrid’s victory over Manchester City in the quarter-final second-leg clash on Wednesday, no Real Madrid player made it into UEFA’s Champions League Fantasy Football Team of the Week. UEFA announced their Champions League Team of the Week on Thursday, following the conclusion of the quarter-final fixtures. Among the notable inclusions was Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne, who scored their goal against Madrid in the 1-1 draw after 120 minutes. However, despite the absence of Real Madrid players, the Spanish La Liga leaders advanced to the semi-final stage with a 4-3 penalty shootout victory. The team also featured Bayern…

Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo has issued a firm declaration directed at Real Madrid ahead of their upcoming La Liga El Clasico clash on Sunday. The Uruguayan defender emphasized that Xavi’s squad is eager for redemption against Real Madrid, particularly after their 4-1 loss earlier this year. The stage is set for a fiery encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium as both teams prepare to battle it out in the league. Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid currently leads the La Liga standings with 78 points from 31 matches, while Barcelona trails by eight points in second place. Araujo believes that securing a victory…

Confusion arose during the Europa Conference League quarter-final second leg between Aston Villa and Lille as goalkeeper Emi Martinez escaped a sending off despite receiving a second yellow card. Martinez initially received a yellow card for time-wasting during regular time and was booked again during the penalty shootout, which ended with the tie leveled at 3-3 on aggregate after 120 minutes. Despite this, Martinez remained on the pitch and made two crucial saves as Villa advanced to the semi-finals. Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano clarified the rule that allowed Martinez to stay on. In a tweet, Romano highlighted Martinez’s stellar…

Thomas Tuchel praised Arsenal’s performance in Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg but attributed Bayern Munich’s victory to their wealth of experience in high-stakes matches. Despite Arsenal being considered favorites due to Bayern’s challenging domestic season, a 2-2 draw in the first leg was followed by a 1-0 defeat in the return fixture, securing Bayern’s spot in the semi-finals. Tuchel commended Arsenal’s recent improvement but emphasized Bayern’s history of success in significant matches. “I consider them an elite team,” Tuchel stated. “I understand that Mikel [Arteta] may not want to hear this. Watching Arsenal’s games is consistently enjoyable, and there’s…

Carlo Ancelotti has staunchly defended Real Madrid’s defensive approach in their victory over Manchester City on Wednesday, asserting that it was the only viable strategy to overcome the formidable opponent. Despite conceding 67% possession and facing 33 shots on goal during the 120 minutes of play, Madrid emerged victorious, relying on penalties to eliminate Pep Guardiola’s side from the Champions League. Ancelotti addressed criticisms of his team’s tactics, emphasizing that defensive resilience was crucial in neutralizing City’s attacking prowess. “We started the match positively, securing an early lead, but then shifted to a defensive stance to secure qualification,” Ancelotti explained.…

The FA has officially announced the removal of replays from the first round of the FA Cup onwards. The expansion of UEFA competitions such as the Champions League has prompted the FA to reassess its calendar, aiming to safeguard player welfare and maintain the quality of domestic cup competitions. Beginning from next season and continuing for at least six years, the revamped format will feature several notable changes. Fixtures will exclusively take place on weekends rather than midweek, and both the fourth and fifth rounds will be scheduled separately from Premier League fixtures to prevent fixture congestion or the accumulation…

Arsenal’s dreams of competing in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup were dashed following their elimination from the Champions League, courtesy of a 1-0 defeat against Bayern Munich. Mikel Arteta’s squad experienced disappointment in Germany, losing 3-2 on aggregate to the Bundesliga side, thus ending their aspirations for European glory. Their departure from the tournament also signifies their inability to secure a spot in the Club World Cup in the United States. Qualification for the Club World Cup can be achieved through two avenues: either by winning the Champions League since 2021 or based on a ranking system derived from…

Juventus has announced its review of a recent court ruling that mandated the payment of nearly €10 million in unpaid wages to former striker Cristiano Ronaldo. Upon Ronaldo’s departure from Juventus to Manchester United in the summer of 2021, he asserted a claim of €19.6 million in owed wages related to a deferral agreement forged during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following a legal dispute, the court determined that both parties shared responsibility for the matter, resulting in a decision to award Ronaldo half of the total owed amount, €19.6 million. Juventus acknowledged their failure to fulfill Ronaldo’s payment…

Former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic has advised Portuguese talent Joao Neves against a summer transfer to Old Trafford, urging him instead to continue his career development at Benfica. Neves, a 19-year-old sensation, has attracted interest from several top clubs this season, having impressed in 50 appearances across various competitions, notably in the Champions League and Liga Portugal. Manchester United is among the clubs vying for Neves’ signature, anticipating a hefty transfer fee for the talented youngster upon his eventual departure from Benfica. However, Matic believes Neves is currently at the right club and should not hastily move to the…