Mikel Arteta bemoaned Arsenal’s difficulties in converting opportunities following their 2-0 loss to Liverpool in the FA Cup’s third round. Despite falling to their third successive defeat on Sunday, Arsenal had ample chances to secure a victory at the Emirates Stadium. Arteta’s team wasted opportunities amounting to 1.61 expected goals (xG), including Martin Odegaard hitting the crossbar and Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka missing from close range. Addressing the media in his post-match press conference, Arteta expressed disappointment with his team’s failure to capitalize on the numerous chances: “It was a really disappointing result with a big performance against probably…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Erik ten Hag has praised the potential impact that Amad Diallo could bring to Manchester United’s struggling attack after making a successful recovery from injury. Amad returned to Manchester United during the summer after an impressive loan stint with Sunderland in the Championship, where he scored 14 goals from a wide position. Great expectations surrounded the 21-year-old ahead of the 2023/24 season. However, a serious injury kept Amad sidelined for the first half of the campaign, and he made his much-anticipated comeback as a substitute on December 30 in Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.…
Phil Foden netted twice as Manchester City dominated Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup third round at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Despite the Terriers holding firm for the first half-hour, Foden broke the deadlock with a well-taken finish from a tight angle. Shortly after, Julian Alvarez smartly doubled City’s lead. An own goal from Ben Jackson extended the lead to 3-0, with Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku returning from injury. Foden added a fourth with a precise strike from the edge of the box, and Doku sealed the comprehensive victory by slamming home De Bruyne’s cross. In the…
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was absent from Sunday’s FA Cup third-round clash with Arsenal due to illness. The decision to leave out the Dutch defender was unexpected, with Ibrahima Konate and 20-year-old Jarell Quansah forming the central defensive partnership instead. Speaking to BBC Sport about Van Dijk’s absence, Klopp explained that the defender had fallen ill: “Virg [van Dijk] is ill. We were actually kind of lucky in the last two, three weeks because a lot of staff had it but not the players. “And now Virg got the virus and we have to…
England midfielder Jordan Henderson, 33, expresses a desire to return to the Premier League from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq and is open to considering any offers the club receives this month. There is potential interest from Chelsea in acquiring Henderson, a move that could raise the likelihood of Conor Gallagher departing. However, despite Tottenham’s interest in the 23-year-old England midfielder, Gallagher is anticipated to remain at Chelsea this month. Manchester United is exploring the possibility of signing Crystal Palace’s French midfielder Michael Olise, 22, and is contemplating an exchange deal that involves English defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 26. Wolves are actively…
Former striker for Barcelona and Cameroon, Samuel Eto’o, recently shared his insights on the state of African football. Renowned for his contributions to major clubs such as Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Chelsea, Eto’o played a pivotal role in Cameroon’s two Africa Cup of Nations triumphs, retiring as the highest goal-scorer in AFCON history. In a discussion with the Athletic via ESPN, Eto’o addressed the potential for growth and success in African football. The four-time African Footballer of the Year winner expressed his belief that African footballers possess greater talent than their European counterparts. Eto’o confidently stated that he sees no…
President Bola Tinubu has resolved the outstanding payments owed by the Federal Government to the Super Eagles and various other national sports teams. According to a statement from Tinubu’s Media Centre, the N12 billion payment covers 15 months of salaries for senior national team coaches, allowances, and commitments owed to the senior national teams, female teams, and the Under-20 national team. The statement reads, “President @officialABAT has approved the payment of N12 billion outstanding backlog for Nigeria’s National teams of various sports, which includes Super Eagles and others. The payment entails the clearing of the senior national team coach salaries…
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is concerned about the fitness of Christopher Nkunku ahead of Tuesday’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium. Nkunku, who recently recovered from a severe knee injury, suffered a hip problem in training and missed Saturday’s 4-0 FA Cup third-round win over Preston North End, leaving fans eager for updates on his condition. Ben Chilwell (hamstring), Carney Chukwuemeka (knee), and Benoit Badiashile (unspecified) are also uncertain for the match as they near the end of their recoveries. On the flip side, Reece James (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (knee), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Robert Sanchez…
Robert Mizo, the Nigerian forward, has officially completed his move to the Libyan Professional League powerhouse, Al Hilal, bidding farewell to his former club, Bayelsa United. The prolific striker has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Al Hilal following successful negotiations between his representatives and the club. Mizo’s impressive goal-scoring abilities on the field have made him one of the most sought-after players in the Nigeria Premier Football League. During the current NPFL season, he scored an outstanding 10 goals in 15 games for Bayelsa United, adding to his total of 19 goals in the year 2023. Despite narrowly missing out…
Amid varying opinions from some European circles, the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) stands as the most coveted trophy for an African footballer on the continent. Unlike Europe, where the debate revolves around the supremacy of the UEFA Champions League over the Euro Championship, AFCON holds unparalleled significance in the vibrant realm of African football. Nevertheless, there exist African football legends whose illustrious careers, though adorned with numerous honors, lack the gleam of the golden AFCON trophy. The Guardian delves into the stories of ten such greats who, despite their remarkable contributions, never clinched the prestigious AFCON title before bidding…
Carlo Ancelotti expressed confidence in Arda Guler’s potential for success at Real Madrid, commending the young player’s character following his long-awaited club debut on Saturday night. In the Copa del Rey clash against Arandina, Los Blancos secured a 3-1 away victory with goals from Joselu, Brahim Diaz, and Rodrygo. Guler, the Turkish international, had previously been on the Madrid bench without making an appearance but showcased his dynamism during his hour-long debut. He struck the post from a free-kick and created three chances for his teammates. Ancelotti acknowledged Guler’s performance, stating, “He played for an hour at a good level.…
Who stand as the preeminent players to have donned the number 9 jersey in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)? The AFCON has witnessed a myriad of exceptional strikers, each leaving an indelible mark while representing their nations adorned in the revered number 9 jersey. Roger Milla (Cameroon) Renowned globally for his performances in both the World Cup and AFCON, Roger Milla played a pivotal role in Cameroon’s triumphs in the 1984 and 1988 AFCON tournaments. His goal celebrations at the 1990 FIFA World Cup further solidified his iconic status, and Milla’s remarkable longevity saw him play…
According to a report, Tottenham Hotspur has successfully secured an agreement to bring in Timo Werner on loan from RB Leipzig, accompanied by an option to make the deal permanent. In their quest to reinforce the squad, particularly in the forward position and at center-back, Spurs have been engaged in discussions with Genoa regarding defender Radu Dragusin. The club’s interest in Werner surfaced on Saturday morning, and as per David Ornstein of The Athletic, a comprehensive agreement is now in place for Tottenham to acquire the services of the German international on an initial loan for the remainder of the…
*(All times in GMT)* Group A: – Ivory Coast vs. Guinea-Bissau at 20:00 (Abidjan, Alassane Ouattara Stadium) Jan 14, Sunday: Group A: – Nigeria vs. Equatorial Guinea at 14:00 (Abidjan, Alassane Ouattara) Group B: – Egypt vs. Mozambique at 17:00 (Abidjan, Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium) – Ghana vs. Cape Verde at 20:00 (Abidjan, Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium) Jan 15, Monday: Group C: – Senegal (holders) vs. Gambia at 14:00 (Yamoussoukro) – Cameroon vs. Guinea at 17:00 (Yamoussoukro) Group D: – Algeria vs. Angola at 20:00 (Bouake) Jan 16, Tuesday: Group D: – Burkina Faso vs. Mauritania at 14:00 (Bouake) Group E: -…
Arsenal has been hit with a major setback as Gabriel Jesus faces another knee injury just before their FA Cup third-round match against Liverpool on Sunday. The Brazilian forward, who joined Arsenal from Manchester City in 2022, has been a crucial contributor, registering 11 goals and six assists in the previous Premier League season. Despite his impact, Jesus has struggled with fitness issues over the last two years, missing a substantial part of the 2022/23 campaign due to an injury sustained at the 2022 World Cup. The Daily Mail reports that Jesus has encountered another knee problem, adding to his…
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has provided insight into the decision to recall midfielder Andrey Santos from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest. Addressing the matter in his pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea’s FA Cup third-round encounter with Preston on Saturday, Pochettino emphasized that the decision stemmed from Santos’ lack of consistent involvement in Nottingham Forest’s squads. “We opted to bring back André Santos because he wasn’t regularly featured in the squads at Nottingham Forest. His participation was not consistent every week,” Pochettino explained. “Bringing him back allows us to assess his situation and make the best decision for both…
Chelsea comfortably advanced to the FA Cup fourth round with a resounding 4-0 victory over Preston North End at home on Saturday evening. Although the Blues had to work for their goals, they demonstrated the clinical edge needed to overcome the Lilywhites, particularly shining in the second half. Preston struggled to land significant blows and paid the price for not capitalizing on their limited opportunities. The game unfolded with Chelsea’s initial chance coming from Alfie Gilchrist’s run into Preston’s box, setting up Raheem Sterling whose close-range effort was deflected and saved by goalkeeper Freddie Woodman. Sterling later tested Woodman with…
The squad numbers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations have been revealed for the Super Eagles. Victor Osimhen, the prolific striker from Napoli, will retain his number 9 shirt, solidifying his role as the team’s primary forward. Joe Aribo will sport the iconic number 10 jersey, while captain Ahmed Musa has chosen to stick with his renowned number seven. Newcomer Alhassan Yusuf will be wearing jersey number 4, a position previously held by Wilfred Ndidi, whom he replaced in the squad. Alex Iwobi has made a switch from number 18 to 17, and Samuel Chukwueze will continue to wear…
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, expresses confidence in Alhassan Yusuf as a capable replacement for the injured Leicester City star, Wilfred Ndidi, at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Ndidi’s absence from the tournament due to injury prompted head coach Jose Peseiro to summon Yusuf as his substitute. This marks Yusuf’s first involvement with the Super Eagles, despite his limited international experience. Acknowledging the 23-year-old’s lack of international exposure, Gusau supports Yusuf, citing the team’s past success in matches without Ndidi. The NFF president highlights Yusuf’s commendable performance, particularly noting his contribution in a Champions League…
Napoli forward Victor Osimhen appears poised to favor Arsenal over Chelsea, according to reports from The Athletic. The potential inclusion in the Champions League is considered a crucial factor for the Nigerian international, as he desires to compete in Europe’s premier club competition. Chelsea’s absence from the Champions League until at least the 2025/2026 season, unless an unforeseen turnaround occurs, sets them apart from Arsenal, who are currently participating in the prestigious tournament. Osimhen, expected to depart the Serie A champions this summer, recently committed to a contract extension with Napoli, featuring a release clause valued at approximately £112m. Notably,…