Nuno Espirito Santo asserted that Nottingham Forest effectively “managed” Manchester United in their 2-1 triumph in the Premier League on Saturday night. Second-half goals from Nicolas Dominguez and Morgan Gibbs-White overturned Marcus Rashford’s equalizer, securing Forest’s second win in three games under Santo and propelling them to 15th place, five points clear of the relegation zone. This victory followed Chris Wood’s hat-trick that led to a 3-2 success at Newcastle on Boxing Day, and Santo commended his players for their resilience, especially after Matt Turner’s mistake provided Manchester United with a lifeline. “I think we played well,” Santo stated. “In…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo is set to conclude 2023 as the top goal scorer worldwide. Ronaldo achieved this milestone by netting his 54th goal of the year during Al Nassr’s 4-1 victory over Al Taawoun in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday. Remarkably, Ronaldo’s 54 goals, amassed in 59 appearances for both club and country, surpass the goal tallies of other prominent players in 2023, including Harry Kane of Bayern Munich, Kylian Mbappé of Paris Saint-Germain (52 goals each), and Erling Haaland of Manchester City (50 goals). With none of the contenders scheduled to play again in 2023, this…
Sadio Mane, a key figure in Senegal’s triumph at the 2021 tournament in Cameroon, is poised to play a crucial role in their defense of the title in Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11. The 31-year-old winger from Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League will lead the charge, supported by six Premier League players, including Chelsea’s striker, Nicolas Jackson. Among the Premier League representatives in Senegal’s squad are Tottenham’s Teranga Pape Matar Sarr, Everton’s Idrissa Gueye, Fulham’s Fode Ballo-Toure, and Nottingham Forest’s Moussa Niakhate and Cheikhou Kouyate. Coach Aliou Cisse has also included Seny Dieng, the goalkeeper…
Tobi Amusan, the World Record holder, is set to make her return to the 60m Hurdles at the ORLEN Copernicus Cup as part of her preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Nigeria’s track sensation, Tobi Amusan, is gearing up for her first 60m hurdling competition in two years, scheduled to take place at the ORLEN Copernicus Cup on February 6th, 2024. Amusan faces tough competition, including Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska and Reetta Hurske, boasting Personal Best (PB) times of 7.78s and 7.79s, respectively. Hungarian National Record holder Luca Kozák adds to the formidable lineup. The world 100m Hurdles record holder…
Manchester United’s manager, Erik Ten Hag, has identified five players poised to make a comeback from injury in January. Providing a team news update ahead of their Premier League match against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Ten Hag revealed that the Red Devils, currently in seventh place, will be facing crucial fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa in their next five top-flight games. He stated, “It will be a similar squad [for the trip to Forest] as we had against Villa. Mid-January, we expect many players back, including Mason Mount, Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia. We also anticipate the return…
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has implemented a provision that will bar clubs affiliated with the European Super League from participating in the Italian Serie A starting from the 2024-2025 season. Italian Football Federation to Restrict European Super League Clubs The European Super League emerged as a highly contentious development in European football in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Introduced in April 2021, the league attracted interest from twelve top European clubs, with notable names such as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Juventus considered pioneering members. However, the league faced a rapid demise within 72 hours of its inception…
Recent reports suggest that Chelsea Football Club is contemplating raising ticket prices for the upcoming 2024/25 season. Since Todd Boehly, an American businessman, took over control at Stamford Bridge from Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich last year, Chelsea has become one of the prominent spenders in the Premier League. With investments exceeding £1 billion under Boehly’s ownership, the club has made significant acquisitions, including Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Marc Cucurella, and Raheem Sterling. Despite the substantial investment in new talent, Chelsea’s on-field performance has been lackluster. Previous seasons witnessed managerial changes, with Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, and Frank Lampard…
Atalanta’s manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, expresses discontent over the departure of winger Ademola Lookman for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Lookman secured a spot in Nigeria’s 25-man squad for the premier continental football competition, as announced by head coach Jose Peseiro on Friday. The former Leicester City star is set to make his debut appearance in the tournament, with a potential absence of around a month if Nigeria progresses to the final. Gasperini acknowledges the impact of Lookman’s absence on the team’s attacking dynamics but assures that there is a suitable replacement for the player. “Lookman leaving for the…
According to reports, Liverpool has made an offer to Barcelona regarding the potential transfer of midfielder Thiago Alcantara. The 32-year-old, with an impressive track record of 68 appearances for Barcelona and a successful seven-year stint at Bayern Munich, where he secured seven Bundesliga titles and a Champions League trophy, joined Liverpool in 2020. Despite his achievements, Thiago has faced challenges with injuries, impacting his consistent presence in Liverpool’s starting lineup. He has yet to feature in any matches for Liverpool this season due to a recurring hip issue. Manager Jürgen Klopp provided an update on Thiago’s fitness ahead of the…
Real Madrid has officially confirmed that manager Carlo Ancelotti has inked a contract extension with the club, thereby putting an end to the swirling speculations connecting Ancelotti with the Brazil national team. The Italian tactician has committed to a deal that extends until June 2026 with the LaLiga powerhouse. According to ESPN, discussions regarding the contract gained momentum following a conversation between Ancelotti and club president Florentino Perez on Thursday. In a statement released on Friday, Real Madrid declared, “Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti have reached an agreement to extend our coach’s contract until June 30, 2026.” Currently leading the…
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has acknowledged an injury concern regarding midfielder Romeo Lavia following the Blues’ 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace. Lavia, a summer signing for £58 million, faced a series of fitness issues that kept him out of action for the initial four months of the season. He finally made his much-anticipated debut, featuring in the last 30 minutes of the triumph at Stamford Bridge. However, the jubilation of his debut turned to apprehension as Pochettino revealed that Lavia struggled to walk by the end of the game, prompting fresh medical assessments after encountering another problem. “He feels something,…
Reports suggest that Mason Greenwood has been offered Lionel Messi’s renowned number 10 jersey at Barcelona. The young forward has made significant contributions to Getafe’s rise to eighth place in the La Liga standings since his summer loan from Manchester United, scoring five goals and providing four assists. The Sun states that while Getafe is eager to secure Greenwood permanently, Barcelona is considering a £40 million bid for the 22-year-old. Scouts from the Catalan club reportedly observed him during victories over Sevilla (3-0) and Valencia (1-0) and a draw with Atletico Madrid (3-3). In a strategic move to entice Greenwood…
Analyzing the reasons why five Super Eagles players may not be suitable choices for the Nigerian squad at AFCON 2023. In the lead-up to major football tournaments such as the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the selection process for the national team squad becomes a focal point of intense discussion and examination. Here, we delve into the reasons why five Super Eagles players might not be optimal selections for the Nigerian squad at AFCON 2023. 1. Francis Uzoho: Uzoho, a longstanding member of the Nigerian national team, has faced criticism for inconsistency and errors in critical matches. If there are…
Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has emphasized his regular communication with the club’s owners and sporting directors on a daily basis in the lead-up to the January transfer window. Despite facing challenges in his initial half-season at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea currently occupying the tenth spot in the Premier League table ahead of their trip to Luton Town, Pochettino aims to make necessary adjustments. The Blues have already spent £1 billion under the ownership of BlueCo, prompting speculation about potential transfers to address on-field challenges. During a press conference before Chelsea’s final game of 2023, Pochettino was queried about his…
The Super Eagles of Nigeria, under the guidance of coach Jose Peseiro, have unveiled their 25-player squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire. As announced on the Super Eagles’ official Twitter handle, the squad is composed of three goalkeepers, eight defenders, six midfielders, and eight forwards. Super Eagles Squad: Goalkeepers: 1. Stanley Nwabili 2. Francis Uzoho 3. Leke Ojo Defenders: 1. William Troost-Ekong 2. Bright Osayi Samuel 3. Ola Aina 4. Zaidu Sanusi 5. Bruno Onyemaechi 6. Semi Ajayi 7. Calvin Bassey 8. Chidozie Awaziem 9. Kenneth Omeruo Midfielders: 1. Wilfred Ndidi 2. Joe Aribo 3.…
Andre Onana is seeking to postpone his departure from Manchester United in anticipation of Cameroon’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign. The goalkeeper, having resolved his exile from the national team, has been included in Cameroon’s squad for the upcoming tournament. Despite Cameroon being considered strong contenders for success at AFCON, their journey is set to commence on January 15 with a match against Guinea. According to ESPN, Onana is currently in discussions with the Cameroonian Football Association to potentially delay his call-up until after Manchester United’s FA Cup third-round clash on January 8 against Wigan Athletic, a match that involves…
Real Madrid has issued a warning to Kylian Mbappe, indicating that he must make a decision about his future by mid-January if he intends to join the Santiago Bernabeu. The French striker, a long-standing target for Madrid, is set to enter the final six months of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain next month, granting him the freedom to engage in negotiations with overseas clubs. Despite Madrid’s eagerness to secure Mbappe, The Athletic reports that club officials are cautious due to Mbappe’s surprising decision to reject them in the summer of 2022. At that time, it appeared certain that he would…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed his optimism that Erling Haaland might return to play before the conclusion of January. Following their 3-1 victory over Everton on Wednesday, Guardiola disclosed that Haaland, who has been sidelined due to a recent foot injury, is still not sufficiently recovered to train with his teammates. The 23-year-old forward has been absent from City’s last six games across various competitions. Guardiola explained, “[Haaland] is currently training on his own and not yet with the team. Kevin [De Bruyne] is back training with the team, but Erling is not there yet. It depends on when…
After securing a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening, Chelsea is set to face the following teams in their upcoming Premier League fixtures: 1. Luton Town vs Chelsea – Date: Saturday, 30th December – Venue: Kenilworth Road – Kickoff: 13:30 West African Time 2. Chelsea vs Fulham – Date: 13th January 2023 – Venue: Stamford Bridge – Kickoff: 13:30 West African Time 3. Liverpool vs Chelsea – Date: 31st January 2024 – Venue: Anfield – Kickoff: 21:15 West African Time 4. Chelsea vs Wolverton Wanderers – Date: 4th February 2023 – Venue: Stamford Bridge – Kickoff: 15:00 West…
Manchester United’s center-back Lisandro Martinez has provided an uplifting update on his recovery from a foot injury, leaving fans excited for his imminent return. The resilient defender, who has been sidelined since sustaining the injury, is on track for a comeback, as confirmed by manager Erik ten Hag, who anticipates having Martinez available around mid-January. In a recent interview with the club’s media, Martinez shared insights into his current condition, expressing his satisfaction with the rehabilitation process. He stated, “Well, I am really good, I am really good, honestly. My rehab is going amazingly, in the way that I want,…