In the latest episode of his ObiOne podcast titled “Taking the Mikel: Sunday Oliseh, look away now!” former Super Eagles and Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi openly criticized Sunday Oliseh, labeling him as “the worst manager ever.” Mikel didn’t hold back as he shared his disappointing experiences during Oliseh’s coaching tenure. The AFCON 2013 winner disclosed that the issues with Oliseh began on the first day of the camp when the coach confronted team leaders. Mikel recounted the incident, stating, “He came straight at me and Vincent Enyeama, the goalkeeper, who also held significant influence back then. He accused us…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
In Saturday night’s 3-2 victory against Newcastle United, Kevin De Bruyne not only equalized with Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney but also surpassed Chelsea great Frank Lampard in the all-time Premier League assists charts. The Belgium midfielder, playing his second game since returning from a four-month lay-off due to a hamstring injury, contributed significantly to Manchester City’s win, scoring the equalizer in the 74th minute and providing the game-winning assist to young talent Oscar Bobb. De Bruyne’s 103rd Premier League assist, setting up Bobb’s stylish finish, was his 101st for Manchester City, surpassing Lampard in the process. The 32-year-old midfielder…
Jose Peseiro, the coach of the Super Eagles, acknowledged the pressure he faces to secure victory in the upcoming African Cup of Nations. Peseiro will lead the team to the 34th edition of AFCON in Ivory Coast under the theme “Let’s do it again.” As Nigeria embarks on its AFCON campaign this Sunday against Equatorial Guinea at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé, Peseiro spoke about the challenges during a press conference. Admitting the pressure, Peseiro stated, “I agree with you; I am under pressure. The recent results of the team have intensified the pressure; despite creating numerous opportunities in matches,…
Jadon Sancho secured an assist for Borussia Dortmund only 20 minutes into his second debut with the Bundesliga team. The winger, who recently joined Dortmund on loan from Manchester United, marked a swift return to form after his last assist for United in May. Following a public dispute with United’s manager Erik ten Hag that led to his exclusion from the first team, Sancho returned to his former club to reignite his career. In the Saturday victory over Darmstadt, he entered the game in the second half and, within 20 minutes, made a significant impact. Driving down the right flank,…
Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk has identified four of the most formidable strikers he has encountered throughout his career. Having faced some of the world’s top strikers in both the Premier League and the Champions League, the Dutchman highlighted AC Milan’s Olivier Giroud, retired Sergio Aguero, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, and Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus as particularly challenging opponents. When asked about the toughest forward he has played against, Van Dijk remarked, “Olivier Giroud. He always finds a way to score in one manner or another. I can’t overlook Agüero, who was very formidable, along with Haaland, and Gabriel Jesus too.”
Jadon Sancho secured an assist for Borussia Dortmund only 20 minutes into his second debut with the Bundesliga team. The winger, who recently joined Dortmund on loan from Manchester United, marked a swift return to form after his last assist for United in May. Following a public dispute with United’s manager Erik ten Hag that led to his exclusion from the first team, Sancho returned to his former club to reignite his career. In the Saturday victory over Darmstadt, he entered the game in the second half and, within 20 minutes, made a significant impact. Driving down the right flank,…
Liverpool and Egypt sensation, Mohamed Salah, has reportedly made a firm decision regarding his future at Anfield. The three-time Premier League Golden Boot winner is said to be turning down a potential move to the Saudi Pro League, opting to remain with Liverpool for the upcoming season. Despite persistent speculation surrounding his departure since the previous summer, Salah is resolute about staying with the club, especially as he enters the final year of his contract. In the summer transfer window, reigning Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad expressed a strong interest in securing Salah’s services and submitted a bid of £150…
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is anticipated to be present in the Old Trafford crowd this Sunday, observing the matchup between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Ratcliffe has secured a deal to acquire a 25% stake in the Red Devils, pending final approval from the Premier League, a process likely to extend over several weeks. During the interim period, as the approval process unfolds, Ratcliffe has maintained a close connection with United through INEOS associate Sir Dave Brailsford, who has been a spectator at games. Upon the completion of the transaction, Brailsford is slated to join the new board of directors. As…
Manchester City owed their 3-2 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday to the immediate impact of Kevin De Bruyne, who came off the bench. The match started with City losing goalkeeper Ederson to injury within the opening minutes, but they rebounded, taking the lead with a goal from Bernardo Silva. However, Newcastle quickly surged ahead with two goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon towards the end of the first half. Facing difficulties in their pursuit of an equalizer, Pep Guardiola turned to De Bruyne. The Belgian needed just five touches to score, and in the dying moments of the…
Chelsea narrowly secured victory in a tense west London derby against Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The decisive moment came in the first half when Cole Palmer converted a penalty, proving to be the sole difference between the two teams in a match where both struggled to find their attacking rhythm. Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea has now climbed to eighth in the Premier League table, surpassing Manchester United and Newcastle United, who are yet to play this weekend. Meanwhile, Marco Silva’s Fulham remains in the 13th position. The opening 15 minutes saw Conor Gallagher’s attempt over the Fulham defense, providing…
Super Eagles’ head coach, Jose Peseiro, has emphasized the importance of achieving positive outcomes in the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Peseiro made these remarks in response to questions about the settlement of his outstanding salaries and the players’ dues by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). During his pre-match press conference ahead of the AFCON encounter with Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, the Portuguese coach stated that financial matters are not the team’s current priority. “Money and bonuses should be the last discussion; we need good results first. We all need money, but money is the last discussion,” Peseiro…
The Nigerian Super Eagles aim to bring an end to Equatorial Guinea’s impressive 10-game unbeaten streak as both teams face off at the Alassane Quattara Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan, today. Equatorial Guinea’s Nzalang Nacional last experienced defeat on September 3, 2022, in a 2-0 loss to the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. Since then, Juan Micha’s squad has maintained an undefeated record, securing five victories and five draws. The upcoming match marks the first encounter between both teams at the AFCON finals. However, in previous meetings, the Super Eagles emerged victorious on both occasions. In the previous AFCON, the Super Eagles…
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, lauded playmaker Kevin de Bruyne as an ‘innate talent’ following the Belgian’s influential performance in their 3-2 victory against Newcastle United on Saturday in the Premier League. De Bruyne, who came off the bench, not only scored but also provided an assist at St. James’ Park. Bernardo Silva and Oscar Bobb also contributed to the goals for Guardiola’s team against the hosts. During the post-match press conference, Guardiola expressed, “Kevin de Bruyne is a pure talent. It’s not about tactics; it’s about talent.” With this win, Manchester City climbed to the second position…
AFCON 2023, set to kick off in Ivory Coast later tonight on January 13, will showcase some of the most high-priced players ever seen on the continent. African football has matured, with players from the continent now commanding significant transfer fees worldwide, particularly in Europe. This trend has heightened anticipation for AFCON 2023, the premier football tournament in Africa. 1. Victor Osimhen – €110 million (Nigeria) At 25, Victor Osimhen currently stands as the best and most expensive player on the continent. The Napoli striker, instrumental in his club’s Scudetto triumph last season, is poised to contribute to Nigeria’s quest…
Cole Palmer’s penalty secured Chelsea’s fourth consecutive Premier League victory against West London rivals Fulham on Saturday. This narrow win followed a lackluster performance by Chelsea against Middlesbrough earlier in the week, resulting in a 1-0 defeat due to missed opportunities, notably by Palmer. However, the young English forward proved pivotal in the early kickoff clash against Fulham. His excellent pass to Raheem Sterling led to a penalty in first-half stoppage time, which Palmer confidently converted after tempting Fulham’s Issa Diop into a foul. Palmer’s contribution served as redemption for his earlier Carabao Cup error, and it marked Chelsea’s fourth…
Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that Chelsea will see the return of left-back Ben Chilwell from injury in Saturday’s match against Fulham. Chilwell, who serves as Chelsea’s vice-captain, has been sidelined since sustaining a hamstring injury in September. Notably, he has yet to feature in a game adorned with the Infinite Athlete sponsorship on the front of the club’s shirts. After a prolonged recovery process, Pochettino announced on Friday that Chilwell is back in contention, along with center-back Benoit Badiashile, who had been sidelined for three games due to a muscle problem. Providing an update in his press conference, Pochettino said,…
Tottenham is set to face Manchester United at Old Trafford this Sunday, and the team is poised to receive a boost with the return of key players and the inclusion of two new signings. Micky van de Ven, who has been sidelined by injuries this season, is expected to start alongside new acquisition Radu Dragusin, forming the defensive partnership. Additionally, Timo Werner, another recent signing, is anticipated to make his debut to compensate for the absence of Son Heung-min, who is participating in the Asian Cup, and the midfield duo of Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma, who are away at…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag suggests that Antony’s struggles at the club this season can be attributed to off-field issues. Antony, who arrived from Ajax for £82 million in 2022, featured in the first four Premier League games this year before facing allegations of domestic violence. Investigations were initiated in both Brazil and England. United granted Antony leave to address the situation, and upon his return three games later, he has faced a challenging run of form, still awaiting his first goal or assist this season after 21 appearances across all competitions. Facing criticism from fans and rivals, Antony…
Aston Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has been announced as the Premier League’s Manager of the Month for December 2023. During Villa’s seven matches in December, Emery guided the team to four victories, notably securing significant wins against both Manchester City and Arsenal. These triumphs played a crucial role in quietly positioning Villa as contenders in the Premier League title race. As of the 20-game mark, Villa currently holds the second position in the standings, trailing leaders Liverpool by just three points. Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool, Andoni Iraola of Bournemouth, and David Moyes of West Ham United were also contenders for…
Manchester United is set to face Tottenham at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday, and the Red Devils could see the return of key players from injury, providing a much-needed boost to their squad. The likes of Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw are expected to be in contention to start against Spurs, potentially reinforcing the defensive line. Additionally, South American duo Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez, who have returned to training, may feature on Sunday, although the decision to rush them back after extended spells out remains uncertain. Taking various factors into consideration, here’s the potential starting lineup that…