Former Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson has asserted that Tottenham Hotspur is unlikely to ever secure a Premier League title. Ferguson made these remarks during his appearance at Newbury Racecourse over the weekend, just before Tottenham’s thrilling comeback victory against Brighton on Saturday. In that match, Brennan Johnson’s late goal secured a 2-1 win for Ange Postecoglou’s team, propelling them to fourth place in the league standings. When questioned about the possibility of Tottenham winning the Premier League, Ferguson laughed and candidly responded to Sky Sports’ Matt Chapman, “No! ’61 was the last time they won it, well that…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Bayer Leverkusen extended their unbeaten run impressively with a commanding 3-0 victory over Bayern Munich on Saturday. Facing the prospect of losing their top spot with a defeat, Leverkusen delivered a stellar performance at home, thoroughly dominating their esteemed opponents. Josip Stanisic, borrowed from Bayern, initiated the scoring early in the game. Alejandro Grimaldo added a second after the break, and Jeremie Frimpong sealed the win with a stoppage-time goal. The outcome now positions Leverkusen five points ahead at the summit of the table, firmly holding control of the title race. Game Highlights: Both teams started cautiously, aware of the…
Liverpool regained their position at the summit of the Premier League with a 3-1 triumph over Burnley on Saturday. Despite Burnley’s promising early efforts, Liverpool took the lead as Diogo Jota nodded in a corner from the right. The Clarets responded just before halftime, with Dara O’Shea executing a superb header from a corner to equalize. After the break, Liverpool regained the lead through Diaz’s goal seven minutes in. Despite some anxious moments, the Reds secured victory with Darwin Nunez’s header late in the game. In the early kickoff, Manchester City’s win over Everton increased the pressure on Liverpool to…
Spurs topped the Premier League in conceding goals beyond the 90th minute, prompting questions about Ange Postecoglou’s tactics and the need for adaptation. Addressing the issue in a press conference before the Brighton & Hove Albion match, Postecoglou expressed disappointment over late goals but emphasized the team’s commitment to being an attacking force. He defended his approach, stating a preference for scoring more goals to close out games. Despite criticism, Postecoglou stressed the ongoing process of building a team and a distinct playing style. The 2-1 victory against Brighton in the 96th minute became a testament to the coach’s vision.…
A report indicates that the retrial for Harry Maguire’s assault and bribery charges in Greece has been postponed and may face cancellation. The Manchester United defender was arrested in August 2020 on the island of Mykonos during a holiday, spending two nights in police custody after an altercation. Maguire was initially found guilty of bodily harm, attempted bribery, and violence in a court proceeding following the incident. However, the conviction was swiftly overturned due to withheld key evidence. The latest delay in the retrial is attributed to a legal strike, pushing the proceedings to March 2025 at the earliest. There…
Cote d’Ivoire striker, Sebastien Haller, has asserted that the Super Eagles will encounter a transformed Elephants side on Sunday. The two teams are set to compete in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at the Alassanne Quattara Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan. In an earlier encounter in the competition, Nigeria secured a 1-0 victory against the hosts, with center-back William Troost-Ekong netting the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the second half. Despite this, Haller expresses confidence that Cote d’Ivoire can emerge victorious against the Super Eagles in the upcoming clash. “It’s an advantage to both…
Kylian Mbappe may reject a move to Real Madrid once again to extend his contract with PSG, as the French champions are reportedly prepared to offer him €160m for a new two-year deal. (AS – Spain) Liverpool is set to compete with Arsenal for the highly sought-after Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who has a £51m release clause in his contract. (Football Transfers) Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel is determined to secure the signing of Ronald Araujo from Barcelona in the upcoming summer, expressing dissatisfaction with his current center-back options. (Sky Sports Germany) Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United…
As the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) concludes in Ivory Coast, featuring the Super Eagles of Nigeria against the Elephants, the airfare from Nigeria to Abidjan has skyrocketed, disappointing many Nigerians hoping to fly in for the final match, according to a report by Newsmen on Sunday. Torizone reported an outcry over the exorbitant airfare for the less-than-one-and-a-half-hour journey from Lagos to Abidjan. Airlines such as Air Peace, Asky, and Air Côte d’Ivoire are among the few operating flights to Abidjan. Checks by the correspondent revealed that one-way tickets from Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) range between N890,000 to…
The highly anticipated AFCON2023 final between the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire and the Super Eagles of Nigeria is scheduled to take place at the magnificent Stade Alassane Ouattara, Ebimpe, with the kickoff set for 9 p.m. Nigerian time (8 p.m. local time). The football spectacle that commenced just a month ago in Cote d’Ivoire reaches its thrilling climax as the two teams battle for supremacy in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. The upcoming clash holds the promise of an explosive encounter, considering the familiarity between the nations and their recent meeting in the group stage. Nigeria secured a 1-0…
President Bola Tinubu has instructed Vice-President Kashim Shettima to lead a presidential delegation to the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Côte d’Ivoire. Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications, Office of the Vice-President, made this announcement in a statement on Saturday in Abuja. Shettima will lead the delegation to Abidjan ahead of the AFCON final, where the Super Eagles will face hosts Côte d’Ivoire in a rematch at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Sunday, February 11. Nkwocha mentioned that the match would evoke memories of Nigeria’s 1-0 victory against the hosts in the…
Gareth Southgate has expressed his eagerness to closely monitor the progress of Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo. Despite facing an initial setback due to injury after an impressive pre-season, the 18-year-old has now accumulated 16 appearances for United and recently scored his first Premier League goal in a thrilling 4-3 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Mainoo’s remarkable performances have led fans to advocate for his inclusion in Southgate’s upcoming England squad, especially amid reports suggesting that Ghana is attempting to persuade the young talent to switch his international allegiance. Addressing Mainoo’s emergence, Southgate remarked, “I think he’s doing brilliantly for a…
Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin has openly expressed his preference for playing against Manchester City’s Erling Haaland as a center forward rather than Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe. While both Haaland and Mbappe have been consistently linked with potential moves to Real Madrid, Lunin’s candid response during a quick-fire Q&A with El Chiringuito has added intrigue to the ongoing transfer speculations. Asked to choose between Haaland and Mbappe, Lunin stated, “As a number nine, Erling Haaland.” Haaland has predominantly played as a number nine throughout his career, whereas Mbappe has showcased versatility by occupying various positions across the frontline, often featuring…
Barcelona has been fined €23 million by a court for falsifying agent payments between 2012 and 2015. The investigation covered the tenure of Sandro Rosell as president, who was succeeded by Josep Maria Bartomeu in January 2014, with the inquiry concluding in June 2015 after an 18-month span. The Catalan giants were found guilty of not accurately reporting payments to agents to evade taxes, redirecting the funds to players represented by those agents. The court stated that Barcelona was compensating agents for non-existent services. While the club owes €8,764,118 in taxes, penalties for the breaches in each year have led…
According to reports, Arsenal has been closely monitoring the development of Athletic Club winger Nico Williams, who has emerged as one of La Liga’s standout wide players in recent seasons. The 21-year-old, younger brother of Athletic mainstay Inaki, has attracted attention from various clubs. Despite Aston Villa’s interest last summer, a deal couldn’t be reached, and Arsenal ultimately secured the services of Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen. Williams began the current season with only a year left on his contract, and while he has since signed a new deal, it includes a reasonable release clause of €50m (£43m). The Mirror…
Mauricio Pochettino has acknowledged that Chelsea recognized the need to “compete in a different way” as they rebounded from a challenging run of form with a resounding 3-1 victory over Aston Villa. After facing significant pressure following defeats to Liverpool and Wolves, Chelsea delivered a remarkable performance to comfortably progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup. Pochettino reflected on the improved performance, stating, “The difference, I think the performance was really good. We really feel good because we realize that we need to compete in a different way.” He emphasized the importance of approaching games with the same…
Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that Chelsea’s summer signing, Romeo Lavia, is still far from making a return to first-team action due to an ongoing injury. Despite impressing in his debut Premier League season with Southampton last year, the 20-year-old defensive midfielder opted to join Stamford Bridge over Liverpool. However, persistent fitness issues have limited Lavia to a single league appearance in the 2023/24 season, which occurred in a 2-1 home victory against Crystal Palace in late December. Unfortunately, Lavia sustained an injury in that match and has not been in action since. When asked about Lavia’s availability for the upcoming…
Dr. Thomas-Wilson Ikubese, a former Presidential aspirant and medical doctor, has advised Nigerians with specific health conditions to refrain from watching the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final match on Sunday. As the Medical Director of Sckyé Hospitals, Akure, Dr. Ikubese expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones during the semi-final match between Nigeria and South Africa. Notably, among the deceased were former House of Representatives member and ex-Executive Director of NDDC, Cairo Ojougboh, and Anambra-born billionaire High Chief Osondu Nwoye. Dr. Ikubese explained that the emotional intensity of the match, particularly the controversial decisions…
Shehu Dikko, the former Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, has shed light on why Stanley Nwabali, the new Super Eagles first-choice goalkeeper, did not feature under former coach Gernot Rohr, according to PUNCH Sports Extra. Nwabali has emerged as the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper for Nigeria during the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, impressing fans with his performances. Dikko explained that Nwabali had always been on the radar of the national team. He recalled an incident in June 2019 during the NPFL Super Six in Lagos when Nwabali, playing for Enyimba FC at the time, was…
Kai Havertz has disclosed that he focused on improving the defensive aspect of his game after making the move from Chelsea to Arsenal. Despite initial criticism for struggling in a new midfield role, the £60 million summer signing has played a significant role in some of Arsenal’s notable victories, showcasing his movement in the recent 3-1 win against Liverpool. Predominantly occupying a deeper position alongside Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice, Havertz acknowledged the time it took to adapt to the responsibilities of his new role. He explained, “Before, I used to focus a lot just on the offense, but defense…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has disclosed that the club has not yet determined the future of center-back duo Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans beyond the current season. Both players are in the final six months of their contracts, and while United holds the option to trigger a 12-month extension for Varane, the decision is yet to be made. When questioned about the desire to retain Varane and Evans for the upcoming seasons, Ten Hag straightforwardly replied, “We haven’t made that decision yet.” Despite having Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, and the injured Lisandro Martinez as center-back options, United is…