Anthony Elanga has openly acknowledged his determination to showcase his abilities against his former club, Manchester United, during the weekend clash in which Nottingham Forest secured a surprising Premier League victory. Having joined United at the age of 12 when his family relocated from Sweden to England, Elanga played a crucial role in Nottingham Forest’s triumph, providing the assist for Morgan Gibbs-White’s winning goal. The victory marked Forest’s first over the inconsistent Red Devils since December 1994. Despite making 55 first-team appearances for United, Elanga struggled to establish himself as a key player and was eventually sold to Forest in…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Tottenham secured a 3-1 victory against Bournemouth at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on New Year’s Eve, bringing them within three points of the Premier League summit. Despite the challenging weather conditions, the visiting Cherries posed a significant challenge for Spurs, but the hosts ultimately clinched the three points. The defeat meant Bournemouth missed the opportunity to level points with Chelsea, but they can return to the south coast with pride in their efforts. In the early minutes, Tottenham had a close chance to score when Brennan Johnson’s cross found Son Heung-min, but a late offside flag was raised as the…
Arsenal’s winless streak extended to three games as Fulham clinched a well-deserved victory in an entertaining London derby at Craven Cottage on Sunday afternoon. Bukayo Saka swiftly opened the scoring for the Gunners in the fifth minute, capitalizing on a counter-attack initiated by Gabriel Martinelli. However, Fulham responded strongly, with Raul Jimenez leveling the score. The match took a turn in Fulham’s favor in the 59th minute when some disorganized defending from Arsenal allowed Bobby De Cordova-Reid to net the decisive goal. In the early stages, Arsenal displayed attacking intent, and Saka’s goal reflected their prowess on the counter. Nevertheless,…
Frank Onyeka expresses confidence that his Premier League team, Brentford, will manage well in his absence as he prepares to participate in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire. Onyeka, included in head coach Jose Peseiro’s final 25-man squad for the tournament, acknowledges that his absence will leave a gap in Brentford’s lineup. Despite Brentford’s recent struggles with five consecutive losses, the 25-year-old midfielder believes in the squad’s strength and depth to continue performing without him. Onyeka emphasizes the resilience of the team, stating, “It’s not going to be easy. But I know the team – they…
Mikel Arteta conceded that Arsenal did not merit a victory against Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday, marking it as their “poorest performance of the season.” Despite Bukayo Saka putting Arsenal in the lead early on, the team faltered, ultimately succumbing to goals from Raul Jimenez and Bobby De Cordova-Reid, leading to a well-deserved win for Fulham. Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Arteta expressed his dissatisfaction, stating, “We weren’t good enough. Simple as that.” He highlighted the similarity of the conceded goals, pointing out lapses in ball possession and defensive organization during set-plays. Arteta noted the team’s…
Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen remains optimistic about the team’s fortunes, acknowledging the current season has been characterized by a pattern of “one step forward and two steps back.” Despite a nearly even record in the Premier League with as many losses as victories, and setbacks in other competitions, Eriksen believes in improvement. The team, under manager Erik ten Hag, has faced inconsistency, currently sitting seventh in the Premier League and having exited both the Champions League and Carabao Cup. Notably, positive results against strong opponents like Chelsea and Liverpool have been followed by disappointing performances in subsequent matches. Reflecting…
Samuel Chukwueze is set to join the Nigeria Super Eagles in Cote d’Ivoire for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), but there is a possibility of a delayed arrival if AC Milan has its way. AC Milan, the prominent Italian football club, has officially confirmed ongoing discussions regarding the potential postponement of Samuel Chukwueze’s participation in the AFCON tournament. Despite being selected by Super Eagles manager Jose Peseiro for the AFCON squad as Nigeria aims to clinch the title after a decade-long wait, AC Milan is exploring the option of delaying Chukwueze’s arrival due to their busy schedule in…
Former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane, ex-Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, Roberto De Zerbi, and Julen Lopetegui are among the top contenders to replace the under-fire Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, should the club’s new investors decide to part ways with the Dutchman. Manchester United has faced a challenging 2022/23 campaign under Ten Hag, and mounting pressure suggests that new investors are contemplating a swift change in management. The recent 2-1 upset to Nottingham Forest marked the team’s 14th defeat in all competitions, concluding the year on a disappointing note and placing them in seventh position in the Premier League…
Reports indicate that Manchester United is considering the dismissal of Erik ten Hag if he fails to reverse the team’s current poor form. According to former Arsenal legend Paul Merson, the Manchester United board is likely to part ways with manager Erik ten Hag if the team experiences defeats in their upcoming three fixtures. The Red Devils are set to face Chelsea at Old Trafford in a crucial Premier League match on Wednesday, aiming to bounce back after a recent 1-0 loss to Newcastle. Currently, Ten Hag’s squad is trailing by 9 points in the league and occupies the bottom…
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is poised to commence in Ivory Coast on January 13, bringing together some of the continent’s premier football talent in a quest for the championship. Almost all 24 participating teams have unveiled their final squads for the tournament, slated to conclude on February 11, 2024. As anticipation builds for the 34th edition of the competition, Naija News has highlighted several standout players to keep an eye on: 1. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria): The 25-year-old Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, stands out as a must-watch player at the tournament. Absent from the 2021 edition due to…
Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, has suggested that his transition to the Saudi Pro League will open the door for other renowned players to join the league. Upon his initial move to the Middle East, the Portuguese superstar boldly declared that the league would ascend to become one of the top five globally. Reiterating this prediction after significant transfers, including Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, N’golo Kante, and Neymar, Ronaldo expresses anticipation for even more high-profile names in the upcoming transfer windows. Reflecting on his decision to join the league, Ronaldo stated, “I’m happy because when I made the…
Jose Peseiro is aiming to clinch victory in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as he readies the Super Eagles for the continent’s premier football prize against 23 other teams. The last time Nigeria reached the final was in 2013 under the guidance of the late Steven Keshi, securing the title with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Burkina Faso. As reported by All Nigeria Soccer, Peseiro is determined to make history by ending the Super Eagles’ AFCON drought, expressing his goal to win the competition set to commence in Ivory Coast on January 13. He emphasized his commitment, stating, “I…
The contract of former Manchester United defender Eric Bailly with Besiktas has been terminated. This decision comes just three months after his initial move to the Turkish club in September. Despite joining Besiktas after leaving Manchester United, Bailly’s stint in Turkey has concluded prematurely. The Ivory Coast international featured in only eight matches for Besiktas following his departure from Manchester United. The club has officially confirmed the termination of Eric Bailly’s contract through a statement, expressing mutual agreement in parting ways with the former Villarreal center-back. The statement from Besiktas reads, “Eric Bailly’s contract has been terminated by mutual agreement.…
Manchester United plunged back into turmoil on Saturday evening, suffering a dismal 2-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest. Despite cautious optimism following the comeback win over Aston Villa, United’s offensive struggles were evident as they failed to generate meaningful shots on goal, conceding a deserved goal from Nicolas Dominguez after the break. Forest goalkeeper Matt Turner’s error provided Marcus Rashford with an equalizer, but the parity was short-lived. Morgan Gibbs-White capitalized on poor defending to secure three well-earned points for Nuno Espirito Santo’s team. The game’s unfolding saw Dominguez’s early attempt blocked, signaling Forest’s bright start. Raphael Varane’s uneasy clearance gave…
Mauricio Pochettino, the Chelsea manager, emphasized that defender Thiago Silva consistently expresses discontent and rarely finds satisfaction. Pochettino made these remarks while understanding Silva’s post-match reaction after Chelsea secured a 3-2 victory over Luton Town on Saturday. Silva, who was observed pushing away cameras before engaging in a heated discussion with Enzo Fernandez during the match, prompted questions about his frustrations. In response, Pochettino commented to TNT Sport, saying, “Thiago is like that. He’s always complaining and rarely content – but that’s a positive trait.” Acknowledging Silva’s age of 39 and his continued active participation in the game, Pochettino highlighted…
Real Madrid declined the opportunity to bring back former goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who offered his services after Thibaut Courtois suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Despite Courtois’ absence, Madrid opted to secure the services of Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan from Chelsea. Navas, a club legend, had expressed interest in returning to the Santiago Bernabeu. Navas, who played a pivotal role in Madrid’s three consecutive Champions League victories under Zinedine Zidane, joined the club in 2014 from Levante and made a total of 162 appearances. After winning La Liga in 2016/17, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 2019. The…
Transfer News Summary: – Manchester United is open to selling Raphael Varane in the January transfer window, with Bayern Munich leading the race for his signature. Interest from the Saudi Pro League is also noted. (Football Insider) – Victor Lindelof, the Manchester United defender, will remain at the club as they have triggered a one-year extension clause in his contract, which was set to expire in the summer of 2024. (The Athletic) – Erik ten Hag’s recommendation may secure a new one-year deal for veteran center-back Jonny Evans, extending his stay at Manchester United. (Daily Star) – Bayer Leverkusen’s manager,…
Los Angeles FC has officially announced the successful completion of an agreement to acquire goalkeeper Hugo Lloris from Tottenham Hotspur. The French goalkeeper had expressed his intention to part ways with Spurs during the summer, subsequently not featuring under new manager Ange Postecoglou, who placed his trust in Guglielmo Vicario. While a summer transfer did not materialize, Lloris has now secured a permanent departure, with Spurs confirming the impending transfer in the coming days. John Thorrington, LAFC co-president & general manager, expressed enthusiasm about Lloris joining the team, citing his status as one of the most successful goalkeepers of his…
Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that Manchester City faces a challenge in the Premier League title race as he admits that “Liverpool are better” than his team. Despite a recent improvement in domestic form with consecutive late December victories, the defending champions find themselves in third place in the standings. They trail Liverpool and Aston Villa by two points, with a game in hand over Unai Emery’s side. However, a potential drop to fourth place looms if Arsenal avoids defeat at Fulham on New Year’s Eve. Guardiola, aiming for a historic fourth-successive Premier League title, conceded that Liverpool is currently better…
Mauricio Pochettino, the head coach of Chelsea, emphasized that numerous top teams have encountered difficulties playing away at Luton Town after his side narrowly secured a 3-2 victory at Kenilworth Road. Despite initially holding a three-goal lead with a splendid brace from Cole Palmer and one from Noni Madueke, Chelsea found themselves under pressure in the final ten minutes as Ross Barkley and Elijah Adebayo netted for Luton, setting the stage for a gripping conclusion. Despite the Hatters’ fervent efforts, they were unable to find the equalizing goal. In the post-match press conference, Pochettino acknowledged that Chelsea deserved the win…