Senegal Secures Knockout Stage Berth with a 3-1 Triumph Over Cameroon In a captivating clash between African powerhouses, Senegal booked their place in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) knockout stages with a convincing 3-1 win against Cameroon. Match Recap: SEN 3-1 CMR and Updated AFCON Group C Table Ismaïla Sarr emerged as a key contributor, breaking the deadlock in the 16th minute as he capitalized on André Onana’s weak clearance. Senegal dominated the first half, with Sadio Mané denied an extension of the lead by Enzo Tchato’s impressive block. The Lions of Teranga continued their attacking prowess in the…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres seems to have dismissed the possibility of a January transfer to Chelsea. Earlier reports this week suggested that Chelsea had made a £73m offer for Gyokeres. The 25-year-old forward, who joined Sporting Lisbon from Coventry City last summer after a successful stint with 21 goals in the Championship, has been in excellent form for the Portuguese club this season, registering 22 goals and 10 assists in 25 appearances. Despite the reported interest from Chelsea, Gyokeres remains concentrated on Sporting and downplayed any thoughts about a potential move. “I don’t think anything about it,” said the Swedish…
At the Globe Soccer Awards on Friday, Cristiano Ronaldo, the 38-year-old Al Nassr striker, expressed his support for either Manchester City, Bayern Munich, or Real Madrid to emerge victorious in the current season’s Champions League. During the event, Ronaldo secured accolades for Fans’ Favourite Player of the Year, Best Goalscorer, and Best Middle East Player. Responding to questions during the awards ceremony, Ronaldo shared his views on the Champions League contenders, stating, “Manchester City finally won the Champions League; they probably deserved it two years ago. I like watching how they play. They have a good chance to win the…
Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa responds to Ghana’s Andre Ayew, emphasizing that AFCON is not centered on beauty or technique. In reaction to comments made by Ghana’s Andre Ayew regarding the difficulty of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) compared to the FIFA World Cup, Ahmed Musa, the captain of the Super Eagles, supports Ayew’s viewpoint. Ayew, who plays for Ghana’s Black Stars, expressed his belief that AFCON is a tougher tournament, citing its challenges in terms of fighting spirit, determination, and energy. Following Ayew’s remarks, Musa, in an interview with Sienu TV, echoes his agreement with the Ghanaian player’s…
Sadiq Umar Resolves Controversy Surrounding Injury Exit from Super Eagles Camp for AFCON 2023 Sadiq Umar, the Nigerian forward from Real Sociedad, has addressed the confusion surrounding his departure from the Super Eagles camp due to an alleged injury after initially making the 25-man squad for the tournament. Despite missing Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign due to a reported thigh injury, Umar quickly returned to club action and participated in Real Sociedad’s Copa del Rey match just days later. The anticipated three-week absence led to Umar’s exclusion from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations squad, with Paul Onuachu taking…
Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyon has officially confirmed the acquisition of Gift Orban for €12 million. The Nigerian forward made the move from the Belgian Pro League side, KAA Gent, and has committed to a contract until June 30, 2028. Having spent one-and-a-half seasons with Gent, the 21-year-old striker previously joined the Buffalos from the Norwegian second division club, Stabaek, in January 2023. Orban showcased his prowess by scoring an impressive 20 goals in 22 appearances across all competitions for Gent in the second half of the last season. Notably, Gift Orban has become the first Nigerian player to sign…
Emilio Nsue’s outstanding hat-trick against Guinea Bissau elevates him to the ranks of some of the continent’s greatest players. Equatorial Guinea’s captain, Emilio Nsue, made history at the AFCON tournament by netting a milestone hat-trick in the Nzalang Nacional’s 4-2 victory over Guinea Bissau. Nsue initiated his scoring spree in the first half, establishing Equatorial Guinea’s dominance with a goal in the 21st minute. Despite playing for Intercity in the Spanish third tier, Nsue displayed exceptional quality, securing two more goals within the first 15 minutes of the second half, completing a remarkable hat-trick. With his three strikes against Guinea…
Real Madrid has exited this season’s Copa del Rey competition after suffering a 4-2 defeat to city rivals Atletico Madrid on Thursday night. Samuel Lino opened the scoring for Diego Simeone’s team, followed by Jan Oblak’s own goal, leveling the score at 1-1. Alvaro Morata then secured the lead for the hosts with an opportunistic finish, but Madrid responded once again with Joselu’s header. The match extended into extra time, where Antoine Griezmann and Rodrigo Riquelme both found the net, sealing the victory for Atletico. Following the end of their impressive 21-game unbeaten run, Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti commented, “No…
Former financial advisor of Manchester City, Stefan Borson, has acknowledged that the club could face relegation from the Premier League if found guilty of the 115 charges against them. The accusations pertain to the club’s financial dealings between 2009 and 2018, with additional claims that Manchester City did not cooperate with the ensuing investigations. City has vehemently denied these allegations, and a hearing date has been set, as confirmed by the Premier League’s chief executive, Richard Masters. Speaking on talkSPORT, Borson emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating: “The scale is on a completely different level [to Everton and Forest].…
Manchester United remains open to potential opportunities and has not ruled out a permanent deal if the right long-term target emerges at an acceptable price. However, the club is inclining towards exploring the loan market if any moves are to be made during this transfer window, as reported by SkySports. As part of a strategic maneuver, United has allowed certain players to depart, with notable transfers including Jadon Sancho, who has joined Borussia Dortmund on loan. Additionally, players with ties to United’s Academy, such as Facundo Pellestri, Hannibal Mejbri, and Alvaro Fernandez, are expected to leave the club. While some…
Xavi’s current role as the manager of Barcelona is hindering the potential return of one of the club’s former stars. Sergino Dest has acknowledged that his future at Barcelona may only materialize if head coach Xavi were no longer at the helm of the club. While Dest was a regular starter under the previous Barcelona coach, Ronald Koeman, he faced challenges with injuries after Xavi assumed the managerial position. Additionally, his loan spell at AC Milan during the previous season did not yield the desired success. In the 2023/24 season, Dest opted for another loan and played a significant role…
Former Chelsea defender William Gallas has asserted that Conor Gallagher is a hindrance to the Blues, citing a lack of technical ability in the England midfielder. Gallas expressed his views on Gallagher’s playing style, comparing him unfavorably to Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in terms of quality. “While Conor Gallagher is an excellent runner and contributes to high pressing, his technical skills do not match up to the level of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. When he has possession, there is a delay in executing passes, taking an extra touch, and sometimes, he could benefit from attempting one-touch plays,” Gallas…
Liverpool is on edge as they await news on the potential severity of Mohamed Salah’s apparent hamstring injury suffered at AFCON. Salah had to pull out just before halftime during Egypt’s match against Ghana at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium and couldn’t continue after receiving treatment. Egypt coach Rui Vitoria expressed uncertainty about the injury, saying, “I hope it’s not a big problem, but now, I don’t know because it’s too early to see something. I think it’s not dangerous, but let’s see if Salah recovers.” Salah, who has been in outstanding form for Liverpool in the 2023/24 season, is…
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah continues to be a prime target for the Saudi Pro League, and sources indicate that he will be presented with another opportunity to make a move to the Middle East this summer, as reported by 90min. In the previous summer transfer window, Saudi club Al Ittihad expressed serious interest in Salah. However, Liverpool stood firm and opted not to part ways with their star player, whose contract extends until 2025. As Salah approaches the final year of his current contract, it is anticipated that Saudi officials will make a renewed approach this summer if he hasn’t…
Nigeria’s forward, Victor Osimhen, expressed his satisfaction at being the standout player in the exciting match against hosts Cote d’Ivoire, securing a 1-0 victory for the Super Eagles. Designated as the Man of the Match, Osimhen shared his joy during a post-match press conference, highlighting the importance of overcoming the formidable host nation. Following a lackluster 1-1 draw in their opening match against Equatorial Guinea in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria showed resilience and determination, securing a crucial win against the tournament hosts, Cote d’Ivoire. The turning point occurred in the 55th minute when Osimhen, clad in green…
A Barcelona side nearly at full strength encountered a tough challenge in their Copa del Rey victory over third-tier Unionistas de Salamanca on Thursday night, overcoming a goal deficit. Under increasing scrutiny following the comprehensive Supercopa de Espana defeat to Real Madrid last weekend, Xavi chose to exclude Robert Lewandowski and Ilkay Gundogan from the starting lineup, instead providing opportunities to Marc Guiu and Fermin Lopez. While the remainder of the team was arguably as formidable as possible, Unionistas took the lead around the half-hour mark through Alvaro Gomez. The winger scored high past Inak Pena, who continued to stand…
AS Roma defender Chris Smalling has responded to former manager Jose Mourinho’s claims, refuting suggestions that he is unwilling to play through injuries. This comes in the wake of Mourinho’s recent dismissal from the Giallorossi. Following his sacking earlier this week, Mourinho had insinuated that Smalling “holds something back” and implied that certain individuals outside the realm of high-performance athletes possess a higher pain threshold. However, with Mourinho out of the picture, Smalling took to Instagram to set the record straight, emphasizing his commitment to Roma, the club that played a pivotal role in rejuvenating his career after a challenging…
Despite tentative interest from Manchester United, Ronald Araujo has no immediate plans to depart Barcelona in the upcoming months, according to information obtained by 90min. The 24-year-old has garnered recognition as one of Europe’s top center-backs, drawing attention from scouts representing various elite clubs. While reports from Germany linked Bayern Munich to Araujo during the winter transfer window, Manchester United has also surfaced as a potential suitor. Sources confirm to 90min that, for several reasons, a transfer for Araujo is currently unlikely. A significant factor is Araujo’s current contentment at Barcelona. He expresses a desire to remain with the team…
Jorge Mendes, the agent of Jose Mourinho, has proposed the Portuguese manager as a potential replacement for Xavi at Barcelona. The iconic manager was dismissed by Roma on Tuesday, January 16, following his tenure that included consecutive European finals. Despite the impressive European campaign, Mourinho was let go as Roma slumped to ninth place in Serie A. This marks the sixth time in Mourinho’s career that he has been relieved of his managerial duties, having previously parted ways with teams such as Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Real Madrid. Mourinho’s agent is reportedly exploring the possibility of a surprising move…
In a groundbreaking moment for African football history, the Super Eagles of Nigeria achieved their first-ever victory on Ivory Coast’s home turf during the 2023 AFCON. The pressure was palpable for Nigeria, positioned in third place in Group A, requiring a win to secure advancement. Coach Jose Peseiro’s squad, having drawn 1-1 against Equatorial Guinea in their opening match, faced a significant challenge against Ivory Coast, the host nation that had previously triumphed over Guinea-Bissau. The urgency heightened when Equatorial Guinea secured a 4-2 victory over Guinea-Bissau, claiming the top spot in Group A with four points. With the imperative…