Currently, there is a tense situation between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the national team’s head coach, Jose Peseiro, regarding the final squad selection for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Reports indicate that Peseiro has proposed a 25-man squad for the tournament, but the NFF is urging the 63-year-old coach to expand it to 27 players. Peseiro, however, argues that managing a squad of 25 players would be more feasible than handling 27. It’s worth noting that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) permits countries to nominate up to 27 players in their AFCON squads, but only 23…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Mauricio Pochettino, the manager of Chelsea, disclosed that Noni Madueke was not initially designated as the penalty taker during their 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday. Despite captain Conor Gallagher being intended to take the penalty, he deferred to Madueke, who calmly converted the decisive goal in the last two minutes of regulation time. Explaining the decision to allow Madueke to take the penalty, especially in the absence of suspended players Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer, Pochettino commented, “Originally, it was Conor [Gallagher], and I told him, ‘It’s you, but if you’re not confident enough, give it to Noni.’…
Manchester United might face a goalkeeper shortage, with Andre Onana set to miss four weeks due to his acceptance of a call-up to Cameroon’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations. Initially, there were indications that the Red Devils’ first-choice goalkeeper would stay in Manchester to enhance his performance, as his career at Old Trafford had a shaky start. Onana had notable mistakes in Champions League matches against Bayern Munich and Galatasaray, contributing to United’s early exit from the competition. Despite showing improvement in recent performances, he made a crucial error in the Boxing Day comeback against Aston Villa. United,…
Nike, the leading kit manufacturing company, has revealed the Super Eagles’ jerseys for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. The home jersey showcases Nigeria’s traditional green and white colors, while the away jersey features a white background with a touch of green. As the Super Eagles aim for their fourth title at the 2023 AFCON finals, Jose Peseiro’s team finds themselves in Group A alongside hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau. Their campaign kicks off on January 14 against Equatorial Guinea at the Alssanne Quattara Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan. Four days later, they face hosts Cote d’Ivoire at…
Super Falcons and Barcelona Ladies striker, Asisat Oshoala, has contradicted the recent prediction made by Manchester City legend Yaya Toure regarding Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast. Nigeria is placed in Group A at the 2023 AFCON in January alongside host nation Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea. Toure had expressed confidence in Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau advancing past the group stage to reach the knockout stage of the competition. In response to Toure’s prediction during an interview with Brila FM, Oshoala dismissed it, asserting that Nigeria possesses players like Victor Osimhen…
Mauricio Pochettino emphasizes the need for Christopher Nkunku to increase his involvement after making his first start for Chelsea, acknowledging the ongoing process of adaptation. Nkunku, who signed a six-year deal with Chelsea in the summer, had to patiently await his Premier League debut due to a serious knee injury suffered in pre-season. In his first Premier League appearance, the 26-year-old marked the occasion with a stoppage-time header goal in a 2-1 defeat against Wolves. Pochettino entrusted Nkunku with his first start in the subsequent 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace, where he played 70 minutes before being substituted for eventual…
Pervis Estupinan’s stunning long-range strike and two penalties converted by Joao Pedro proved crucial for injury-hit Brighton as they fended off a similarly depleted Tottenham side in a thrilling encounter at the AMEX Stadium on Thursday night. Brighton took an early lead when Jack Hinshelwood’s powerful shot found the net, followed by Joao Pedro converting a penalty after Dejan Kulusevski fouled Danny Welbeck in the box. Substitute Estupinan added a third goal with a remarkable long-range effort, securing a commanding lead for Brighton. Joao Pedro scored his second penalty after a foul on Evan Ferguson, but Tottenham managed to pull…
West Ham pulled off a surprising 2-0 victory in a London derby against Arsenal, marking their first Premier League win at the Emirates Stadium since 2015 and dealing a blow to Arsenal’s title aspirations. The opening goal came from a chaotic scramble in the Arsenal box, culminating in Tomas Soucek confidently slotting the ball home. West Ham extended their lead when Konstantinos Mavropanos flicked in James Ward-Prowse’s corner. Despite Arsenal’s efforts, including opportunities for Leandro Trossard, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Jesus, they failed to mount a comeback. This result allowed Liverpool to increase their lead at the top of the…
Former Liverpool striker Dean Saunders has advised Sir Jim Ratcliffe to commence his tenure in Manchester United’s football department by decisively offloading 10 players. The listed players include Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw, Antony, Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, Jonny Evans, Scott McTominay, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Jadon Sancho. Saunders contends that some of these individuals do not meet the standards required to play for the Red Devils. Recalling that the chairman of the petrochemical conglomerate INEOS recently sealed a £1.3 billion deal with the Glazer family, granting him a 25 percent stake in Manchester United, Torizone highlights that this agreement…
A plethora of enticing transfer opportunities has prompted clubs across Europe to initiate negotiations with potential targets this January. Toni Kroos of Real Madrid The prospect of securing players on free transfers generates excitement and anticipation among both clubs and fans. The appeal of acquiring transfer targets without financial constraints is not exclusive to clubs facing economic challenges; even the wealthiest clubs diligently monitor the market for potential free deals. According to FIFA regulations, players can engage in direct negotiations with other clubs in the final six months of their contracts. As the January transfer window approaches, let’s delve into…
Manchester City narrowed the gap on their Premier League title competitors with a hard-fought 3-1 triumph over Everton on Wednesday night. The Cityzens had to mount a comeback at Goodison Park after Jack Harrison had initially given the lead to the Toffees. Everton, undefeated under Sean Dyche when scoring first this season, faced a formidable challenge against the newly-crowned world champions. Despite an early lead for Everton, Manchester City showcased a vintage second-half performance on Merseyside, securing all three points with goals from Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez, and Bernardo Silva. In the initial stages, Manchester City displayed no signs of…
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has affirmed the strength of his relationship with teammate Aaron Ramsdale, despite displacing him from the starting lineup this season. Raya, initially signed on loan from Brentford in August, has become a regular starter for Arsenal in both Premier League and Champions League matches since the first international break, signaling a potential permanent deal. Ramsdale, previously voted into the 2022/23 PFA Team of the Year, has seen reduced playing time and has been linked with a move away in search of more consistent minutes. In an interview with Arsenal’s website, Raya acknowledged the significance of another…
Following Everton’s 3-1 loss to Manchester City on Wednesday night, manager Sean Dyche reflected on the match. Although the Toffees initially took the lead with Jack Harrison’s goal in the first half, the Premier League champions staged a comeback, securing all three points with goals from Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez, and Bernardo Silva. Speaking to Amazon Prime post-match, Dyche commented, “Manchester City came out in the second half and played much longer, which we didn’t deal with. In the first half, we were very good tactically. We had a great chance to get back in it. The penalty changes the…
The imminent kickoff of the 2023 AFCON tournament is just seventeen days away, with Ivory Coast set to host the event from January 13th to February 11th. Soccernet.ng delves into the profiles of five accomplished goal-scorers poised to spearhead their nations’ attacks in pursuit of victory in the prestigious African football competition. 1. Vincent Aboubakar – Cameroon, Beşiktaş J.K. The 31-year-old, who netted eight goals in the 2021 AFCON tournament, has been a prolific force for Beşiktaş since joining in January. With 24 goals in 38 games, Aboubakar is set to lead the line for Cameroon in Ivory Coast, undeterred…
Despite recently signing a new deal with Napoli, Victor Osimhen may be departing the club in the coming summer, according to football agent Dario Canovi, as reported by Soccernet.ng. Osimhen, who played a pivotal role in Napoli’s Scudetto victory last season with 31 goals, became the first African to win the Capocannoniere. His outstanding performance has attracted interest from top European teams such as Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal. Despite the speculation, Osimhen chose to stay with Napoli last summer, leading to contract extension talks initiated by Napoli chief Aurelio De Laurentiis. The negotiations culminated in…
As placards began to appear at Chelsea, a familiar thought crossed every manager’s mind: ‘My luck could be running out.’ Despite securing a crucial 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino found himself in the midst of a social media storm as the #PochOut hashtag briefly gained traction among discontented Chelsea fans. The tense encounter saw Mykhailo Mudryk opening the scoring for the hosts, swiftly countered by Michael Olise’s equalizer before halftime. A late-minute penalty expertly converted by Noni Madueke secured the win for Chelsea, propelling them into the top half of the…
Chelsea responded to their Christmas Eve setback by securing a 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night. In a noteworthy move, Mauricio Pochettino fielded the youngest-ever starting lineup for the Blues in the Premier League era, and the team displayed increased confidence back on their home turf. Despite a spirited effort from the visiting Eagles, they fell short in the end, extending their challenging run against Chelsea. The match unfolded with early drama, as the away fans celebrated what they thought was a fifth-minute lead from Ebere Eze’s low free-kick, only to realize moments later that…
AC Milan is in discussions with the NFF to extend Samuel Chukwueze’s stay with the club, aiming to postpone his return to the national team’s training camp for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, as reported by Soccernet.ng. With a packed schedule, AC Milan, led by coach Stefano Pioli, hopes to retain their key players until January 3, given the three games scheduled between December 30 and January 7. While Chukwueze is a certain inclusion in the AFCON squad, NFF, according to FIFA regulations, retains the authority to make the final decision on players’ participation two weeks before the tournament.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has reviewed their 3-2 loss to Manchester United on Tuesday night. Despite initially taking a two-goal lead at Old Trafford through John McGinn and Leandra Dendoncker, Manchester United staged a formidable second-half performance, completing a thrilling comeback with Alejandro Garnacho netting twice. Following the match, Emery expressed his disappointment, stating, “After the first half, around 60 minutes, we were in control of the game. The manner in which we conceded, with a mistake in the middle, shifted the momentum. The crowd changed, and the atmosphere became much more favorable for them, pushing them forward. Even…
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, asserts that there is an increased desire for the team to experience failure “more than ever.” The Premier League champions secured their fifth trophy of 2023 by winning the Club World Cup last weekend, defeating Fluminense 4-0 and adding to their collection of the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, and European Super Cup titles. This accomplishment is unprecedented in English football history. However, Guardiola previously achieved winning six trophies with Barcelona in 2009, when the team claimed La Liga, Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup, Champions League, and Club…