Rio Ferdinand, the renowned Manchester United icon, expressed his disagreement with VAR’s decisions that denied Chelsea two penalties in their 4-1 loss to Liverpool on Wednesday. Ferdinand argued that these rulings had the potential to alter the course of the match significantly. In the first instance, Liverpool’s captain, Virgil van Dijk, appeared to lean into Conor Gallagher early on, resulting in the Chelsea midfielder hitting the ground inside the penalty area. Referee Paul Tierney allowed play to continue, a decision upheld by VAR. The second incident involved Van Dijk once again, as he clipped Christopher Nkunku within the penalty area.…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Super Eagles stand to gain a $2.5 million windfall if they emerge victorious against Angola in the upcoming quarterfinal clash. The 34th Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire has set a staggering $2.5 million (approximately N2.24 billion) prize for any team advancing to the semifinals, a reward awaiting the triumphant team in the Super Eagles’ showdown with Palancas Negras this Friday. Having already secured $800,000 by progressing beyond the group stage and an additional $1.3 million for defeating Cameroon to secure their quarterfinal spot, a win against Angola would guarantee a minimum payday of $2.5 million. Both teams, failing…
Chelsea is reportedly in discussions to secure the signing of Canadian striker Jonathan David from LOSC Lille in Ligue 1. Fichajes reports that Chelsea has initiated talks for the 24-year-old, and the potential transfer is estimated to be around €40 million. In another development, both Chelsea and Manchester United have expressed interest in signing Al Ittihad striker Karim Benzema, according to L’Equipe. The 36-year-old, discontent with his brief tenure in Saudi Arabia, is exploring options to return to Europe. Despite his desire to leave, the Saudi Pro League is inclined to retain him in the country, possibly loaning him to…
Manchester United players are reportedly astonished and “upset” with Marcus Rashford for his absence in the FA Cup tie against Newport County after a night of clubbing in Belfast. The English forward was excluded from the squad for the FA Cup fourth-round match due to a 12-hour night out in Northern Ireland, fueled by tequila. According to The Daily Mail, Rashford faced criticism from his teammates, especially senior players who remain displeased with the nightclub incident, despite Manchester United’s late victory at Rodney Parade. Rashford, who has been facing challenges in the current season, had already faced questions about his…
Ademola Lookman, the Atalanta winger, asserts that the Super Eagles are determined to secure a victory in their upcoming quarter-final clash against Angola. Having played a stellar role in Nigeria’s Round of 16 triumph over the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, Lookman netted both goals for the three-time champions. The 26-year-old emphasizes that the team is unwaveringly focused on the upcoming challenge. “It’s poised to be a challenging match, but we eagerly anticipate it,” he conveyed to reporters. “After our hard-fought victory against Cameroon, we won’t ease up in the next game. The Angolan team is formidable, adding an extra layer…
Stanley Nwabali remains a potential candidate for the upcoming quarter-final clash against Angola if he successfully undergoes a last-minute fitness assessment scheduled for Wednesday. After sustaining a mild ligament injury in the Round of 16 match against the Indomitable Lions on Saturday, the 27-year-old goalkeeper has been under the care of the medical team. They are diligently evaluating his condition, with the final fitness test set to take place 48 hours before the crucial encounter with the Palancas Negras. Expressing optimism, team officials stated, “Fingers crossed. If all goes well, he might be available for selection.” Known for his confident…
Reports indicate that the Premier League is poised for a significant VAR overhaul starting next season, prompted by a series of controversies during the current season. VAR faced scrutiny, particularly after a mistaken decision disallowing a Liverpool goal for offside against Tottenham in September. Arsenal also found themselves in two separate incidents where goals stood despite concerns about the ball going out of play against Newcastle and West Ham. Additionally, questions arose over the failure to award Liverpool a penalty against Arsenal for a perceived handball, acknowledged as an error by PGMOL chief Howard Webb on the ‘Match Officials Mic’d…
Arsenal secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory away against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday evening, narrowing the gap at the Premier League summit. For 64 resolute, albeit challenging, minutes, Forest held a steadfast defense. Arsenal’s effectiveness from dead balls proved crucial once more, as a clever throw-in (aided by Matt Turner’s positioning) resulted in Gabriel Jesus opening the scoring. Bukayo Saka extended the visitors’ lead just seven minutes later. Taiwo Awoniyi reduced the deficit late in the game, setting up a tense stoppage time. However, Arsenal held on to their slim advantage, now trailing league leaders Liverpool by only two points. Game…
Mauricio Pochettino has disclosed that Chelsea is actively working to bring Nicolas Jackson back from the Africa Cup of Nations in time for Wednesday’s showdown against Liverpool. Senegal, led by Jackson, was eliminated from the AFCON on Monday night, suffering a defeat to hosts Cote d’Ivoire in a thrilling penalty shootout during the round of 16. With Senegal’s exit, Chelsea is eager to expedite Jackson’s return to the club and reintegrate him into the first-team setup swiftly. Addressing Jackson’s situation in the pre-match press conference, Pochettino acknowledged the club’s efforts to have him available for the crucial clash with Liverpool…
Before the quarterfinal fixtures of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), let’s take a look at the leading goal scorers in the competition: Leading the goal-scoring charts is Emilio Nsue from Equatorial Guinea, who has netted five goals. Following closely are Mostafa Mohamed from Egypt and Gelson Dala from Angola, both with four goals each. After the conclusion of the Round of 16 matches on Tuesday night, teams such as Angola, Nigeria, Guinea, Congo DR, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, and South Africa have secured their spots in the quarterfinals. Current top scorers in the 2023 AFCON: – Emilio…
Just four days before the crucial quarter-final match against Nigeria, concerns have arisen within the camp of Angola’s Palancas Negras. Having reached the quarter-finals for the first time in their history with a 3-0 victory over Namibia on Saturday, the team faces a setback. In an update from the camp in Abidjan, it was reported that star player Ben Mukendi opted to leave the team on Monday and head back to his club in Portugal. Despite being one of the standout performers for the country during the qualifiers, Mukendi has struggled to secure regular playing time in the ongoing competition.…
The quarter-final matchups for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations have been officially confirmed after the conclusion of the Round of 16 stage on Tuesday night. Mali secured their place with a 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso. Edmond Tapsoba’s early own goal and Lassie Sinayoko’s composed finish gave Mali a 2-0 lead before Bertrand Traore pulled one back from the penalty spot. South Africa caused an upset by defeating tournament favorites Morocco 2-0. Evidence Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena were the scorers for Bafana Bafana in this historic win. The quarter-final pairings are as follows: 1. Mali vs Ivory Coast 2.…
Chelsea’s manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has confirmed the inclusion of Malo Gusto and Christopher Nkunku in his squad for the upcoming Premier League match against Liverpool on Wednesday. Additionally, Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson, whose national team has been eliminated from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, may also feature at Anfield. Pochettino stated, “It is positive news that Malo Gusto and Christoph [Nkunku] could be in the squad for tomorrow. They will travel with us, which is good news. We will wait until the last moment, but for now, it’s positive to have two players recovered. We will also see if…
Despite Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi’s crucial penalty miss leading to Morocco’s exit from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the country’s football fans displayed steadfast support for the former Real Madrid right-back, as reported by Sport Brief. Hakimi had an opportunity to level the score in the final minutes of the match against South Africa but missed, contributing to Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 victory. In a video circulating on social media, Moroccan supporters were seen chanting Hakimi’s name, demonstrating solidarity with the visibly distressed player. Despite the disappointment, the fans expressed empathy for Hakimi’s challenging moment on the field. South Africa…
Moses Simon has cautioned his fellow Super Eagles teammates to maintain their grounded approach ahead of the upcoming match against Angola. The three-time champions are set to face the Palancas Negras in a quarter-final clash at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Friday. The Super Eagles have showcased resilience and skill throughout the tournament, particularly in notable victories against strong opponents such as Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon. Despite their commendable performances, Simon emphasized the importance of continuous hard work. As quoted by thenff.com, Simon remarked, “It is going to be a challenging game, similar to those against Cote…
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have emerged as the top-ranked team in the remaining lineup of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, following South Africa’s surprising 2-0 victory over Morocco on Tuesday night. Before the match, four of the top five African teams had already been eliminated, with Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia exiting the competition. Despite Morocco being the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals and being heavily favored against Bafana Bafana, who struggled in the group stage, South Africa secured a remarkable win with second-half goals from Evidence Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena. With Morocco’s departure,…
The Super Eagles’ impact transcends the confines of the stadium, particularly spearheaded by Victor Osimhen’s prominent role in the digital realm. Throughout the AFCON 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast, Nigeria’s Super Eagles have not only surprised with their on-field resilience but have also asserted their dominance in the virtual space. With a commanding presence across various social media platforms, the Super Eagles stand out as the team exerting the most significant influence online, captivating football enthusiasts globally. A recent study conducted by Pulse Sports has illuminated the extent of the Super Eagles’ digital sway. The findings indicate that the team…
Ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarterfinal against Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Angola’s players and officials have received substantial financial support and valuable gifts. The Palancas Negras secured a spot in the quarterfinals by defeating Namibia 3-0 in the Round of 16. Banco Angolano de Investimento, an Angolan bank, has pledged to reward each Angola player and coaching staff with five million Kwanzas (approximately N5.41 million) if they reach the semifinals. In addition, Aguinaldo Jaime, President of the Board of Directors of UNITEL, a private Angolan mobile phone firm, gifted each member of the Angolan delegation in Cote d’Ivoire…
Chippa United, the South African club, is demanding €2 million for the transfer of their Nigerian goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali. Nwabali has garnered attention as one of Nigeria’s standout performers in the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire. The 27-year-old goalkeeper has impressively secured three clean sheets in four appearances for the Super Eagles in the tournament. His noteworthy displays for Chippa United throughout the season have attracted interest, with reports suggesting that Union St Gilloise from the Belgian Pro League is leading the pursuit for Nwabali. However, the former Katsina United goalkeeper is uncertain for Nigeria’s AFCON…
Manchester United released a statement on Monday night regarding forward Marcus Rashford, following crucial discussions with manager Erik ten Hag. Rashford, who missed their FA Cup victory over Newport County, was present at the club’s training ground for talks with Ten Hag. Despite the initial explanation from the Red Devils citing illness as the reason for his absence, Rashford stirred controversy after being sighted in a Belfast nightclub and skipping training. Providing a further update on the situation, United’s statement conveyed: “Marcus has taken responsibility for his actions. This has been addressed as an internal disciplinary matter, which is now…