In the final leg of their Olympic qualification quest, Nigeria’s Super Falcons are set to clash with South Africa’s Bayana Bayana. Both teams are vying for a coveted spot in the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games. NIG vs SOU: Previewing the Match, Kickoff Time, and Date for the 2024 Olympic Qualifiers Fresh from a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses, Randy Waldrum’s coached Super Falcons are determined to keep their Olympic aspirations alive. The upcoming showdown against their South African counterparts poses another thrilling challenge as Nigeria aims to break a 16-year Olympic qualification drought. The Super Falcons’ bid for…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Erik ten Hag has dismissed the notion that his team would be apprehensive about facing Manchester City in the upcoming weekend, despite City’s 3-0 victory at Old Trafford in November and their impressive run of 14 wins in their last 15 games across various competitions since mid-December. While Manchester United has experienced a decent run of results, they are dealing with a squad hampered by injuries. Ten Hag, however, disagreed with the idea that United would have any grounds to “fear” City when questioned during his pre-match press conference. “They have a good team, but there are more good teams,”…
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino, in the aftermath of Wednesday’s thrilling triumph over Leeds United, asserted that branding the Blues as “bottlejobs” was unjustified. The term gained traction on social media after Gary Neville labeled Chelsea as “blue billion-pound bottlejobs” following their inability to defeat a youthful Liverpool side in the Carabao Cup final. Pochettino, disappointed with the critique, responded by securing a 3-2 victory with a 90th-minute winner in the FA Cup fifth-round clash against Leeds United. Facing renewed pressure, Pochettino emphasized that the team’s brave performance contradicted Neville’s criticism. He defended the squad’s resilience, stating, “It is not fair…
Erik ten Hag has called for an apology from Fulham regarding a TikTok video that appeared to mock Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes following last weekend’s Premier League clash between the two clubs at Old Trafford. Fulham’s official account posted the content on TikTok, focusing on Fernandes after a challenge from Sasa Lukic. The video, set to comedic music, implied that the Portuguese midfielder was playacting, even though he quickly got up after showing discomfort. The accompanying caption read, “So glad he’s ok…,” accompanied by an eye-rolling emoji. Ten Hag commented on the situation, stating, “I didn’t know this, but…
Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been handed a four-year football ban for a doping violation. The 30-year-old French international underwent a random drug test after Juventus’ inaugural match of the season on August 20. Sources indicate that Pogba intends to appeal the decision made by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal (Nado). The doping offense was confirmed by Nado in a subsequent sample analysis in October. The anti-doping prosecutor’s office had requested the four-year suspension. This ruling implies that Pogba will be ineligible to play until 2027, at the age of 33, and the ban has been retroactively applied to the date…
7 Football Records That Could Stand the Test of Time From the highest number of own goals in a match to the most clubs played for, football boasts records that may remain unbroken for years to come. Football is a game rich in statistics, and certain numerical milestones have endured for decades, standing as potential monuments in the sport’s history. Take, for example, Lionel Messi’s remarkable feat of scoring 91 goals in 69 games in 2012, setting the record for the most goals in a calendar year. However, before Messi’s extraordinary accomplishment, Gerd Muller held the record with 85 goals…
Sergio Aguero has refuted rumors suggesting his return from retirement to train with Independiente in Argentina. Forced to retire in 2021 due to a diagnosed heart problem shortly after joining Barcelona, Aguero participated in charity friendlies but faced speculation after sharing a conversation with his cardiologist discussing the possibility of a competitive football comeback. Addressing the rumors on Twitch, Aguero dismissed the “lies” surrounding his future, stating, “The news [of a return] will be reaching many. It’s totally a lie. I’m not going to train with Independiente.” Aguero emphasized that although he consulted with a cardiologist who affirmed his good…
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has suspended Cristiano Ronaldo for one game and imposed a fine of 30,000 riyals ($8,000) for a gesture deemed as “provocative” during a match. Ronaldo, the captain of Al-Nassr and former Sporting Lisbon star, violated regulations against provoking the public. The decision, which cannot be appealed, comes in response to an incident that occurred last weekend after Al-Nassr’s 3-2 victory against Al-Shabab. In a video that surfaced post-match, Ronaldo can be seen making a repeated thrusting gesture towards his groin in response to taunts from the crowd chanting the name of his longtime rival, Lionel…
Zulay Pogba is firmly standing by her husband amidst the recent doping ban controversy. Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been handed a four-year ban for testing positive for DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone), a prohibited substance, in August. The decision, issued by Italy’s National Anti-Doping Tribunal (TNA), adheres to the standard suspension duration outlined by the World Anti-Doping Code (WADA). In response to the verdict, Pogba expressed his shock and disappointment, emphasizing his belief in the decision’s inaccuracy. He stated: “I have today been informed of the Tribunale Nazionale Antidoping’s decision and believe that the verdict is incorrect. I am sad, shocked, and…
Premier League outfits Everton, Nottingham Forest, and Crystal Palace are closely monitoring the situation of Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika as the summer transfer window approaches. As reported by HITC, Onyedika could potentially become the latest high-profile departure from Club Brugge, a club that has seen significant sales in recent transfer windows, including players like Charles de Ketelaere, Lois Openda, Sofyan Amrabat, and Arnaut Danjuma. Forward Igor Thiago is also set to make a £30 million move to Brentford in the upcoming summer. Should Club Brugge decide to part ways with the Nigerian international at the end of the season,…
Spanish football legend Pep Guardiola’s squad has recently outperformed the Red Devils in their encounters. However, the upcoming Manchester derby on Sunday is set to kick off at an unconventional time, sparking curiosity about the reasons behind this scheduling decision. Manchester Derby: Why Man City vs Man Utd Is Kicking Off Early The spotlight will be on Manchester as City prepares to host United in a crucial derby. Guardiola’s team currently holds a commanding 15-point lead over United in the table, making them favorites to extend their recent dominance. With three victories in the last four derbies, including an all-Manchester…
Akwa United has received approval from the Nigeria Premier Football League board to relocate their home games to the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. The team, known as the Promise Keepers, will utilize this venue for their upcoming match against Enyimba in the 23rd round next Monday. Previously, Akwa United had chosen the Eket Township Stadium as their home ground for the current season, with the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium reserved for international fixtures. The latter stadium has hosted various significant events, including Super Eagles’ 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, as well…
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is currently in negotiations with Jose Peseiro for a renewed contract. Reports suggest that the NFF has proposed maintaining the same €50,000 monthly salary that the Portuguese coach was earning before guiding the Super Eagles to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Previously, Peseiro had a monthly salary of $70,000 but willingly accepted a reduction to $50,000 to lead the Super Eagles in the aforementioned tournament. The 63-year-old’s prior contract concluded at the end of the AFCON 2023 finals. Following the tournament, Peseiro has been the subject of various coaching opportunities, with…
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has revealed that his family declined a lucrative offer from a top European club, emphasizing his unwavering commitment to staying at Old Trafford. In response to criticism questioning his dedication to the club, the English international addressed the matter in an interview with The Players’ Tribune. Rashford affirmed his loyalty to Manchester United, highlighting the significant sacrifice his family made when he was younger by rejecting a life-changing financial opportunity. Currently earning over £320,000 per week with the club, he expressed a deep connection to the team, having played for them since his youth. In…
Wayne Rooney has openly shared his desire to secure the managerial position at Manchester United, considering it his “dream job,” despite facing a setback in his early coaching career with a swift dismissal from Birmingham City. Having amassed a record 253 goals in a 13-year playing tenure at Old Trafford, Rooney transitioned into coaching, initially as a player-coach at Derby County. Subsequently, he returned to former club D.C. United and briefly managed Birmingham City for 83 days before his departure. Despite the recent challenges, Rooney, who recently turned 38, remains optimistic about his coaching and managerial prospects, envisioning a potential…
Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, has emphasized that the LaLiga club is in no rush to identify a successor for Xavi Hernandez. Xavi had earlier confirmed his departure from the role at the end of the season, leaving the managerial position vacant come June. Despite various names being linked to the coaching position, Deco, in an interview with Catalunya Radio, clarified that they have not compiled a list of potential candidates. “We don’t discuss that because we’re not actively seeking a coach; it’s not the appropriate time,” he stated. “The season has not concluded, and there’s much ahead of us.”
In the upcoming FA Cup quarter-finals, Manchester United and Liverpool are set to face each other at Old Trafford after both teams successfully advanced from their respective fifth-round ties. Manchester United secured a narrow 1-0 victory against Nottingham Forest, thanks to a late goal from Casemiro, while Liverpool, led by ‘Klopp’s kids,’ delivered a strong performance against Southampton. Chelsea, following their fifth-round match against Leeds United, will have a home draw against Championship leaders Leicester City. The holders, Manchester City, are set to face Newcastle United in an all-Premier League clash at home. Coventry City, the lowest-ranked team remaining in…
Liverpool faced a challenging encounter against Southampton in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday night and emerged victorious with a 3-0 win. Due to the absence of 14 first-team players, Jurgen Klopp once again turned to youth in his starting lineup, where two academy graduates, Lewis Koumas and Jayden Danns, found the back of the net. Koumas opened the scoring for Liverpool, and Danns, coming off the bench, scored twice. Liverpool’s next challenge in the quarter-finals will be against Manchester United, who secured their spot by overcoming Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. In the early stages, Southampton displayed…
Barcelona is actively pursuing a potentially groundbreaking new kit deal that could nearly double the worth of their current contract with Nike, their longstanding partners, according to reports. Nike has been the manufacturer of Barcelona kits since 1998, establishing a significant partnership in the sports world. However, the existing contract, inked in 2016, is set to conclude in 2028, and there are emerging indications that a renewal might not transpire. This situation has prompted Barcelona to explore alternative options to optimize their revenue stream, particularly in light of apparent cost-cutting measures by Nike. Amid job losses within the company and…
Chelsea secured a late victory against Championship side Leeds United, booking their spot in the FA Cup last eight. Despite a lackluster performance on home turf, the Blues kept their hopes for silverware alive by scoring in the 90th minute, setting up a sixth-round clash at home against Leicester City. In the early minutes, Leeds took the lead as Archie Gray capitalized on a poor pass from Axel Disasi, finding Mateo Joseph, who calmly slotted past Robert Sanchez. Chelsea responded 15 minutes later, with Moises Caicedo’s clever pass setting up Nicolas Jackson for an equalizing goal from close range. Before…