The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has disclosed the commencement date for the qualifiers of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The preliminary round is set to unfold from March 18 to 26, 2024. Following this, the first and second round matches are slated for September 2 to 10, 2024. Subsequently, the third and fourth round games are scheduled from September 7 to 15, 2024. The concluding rounds of the qualifiers are marked for November 11 to 19, 2024. It is noteworthy that Morocco will serve as the host for the 2025 AFCON, taking over hosting responsibilities after Guinea was…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Christopher Nkunku’s inaugural goal for Chelsea failed to salvage his team from defeat as Wolves clinched a well-deserved victory at Molineux on Christmas Eve. Following a closely contested first half, Mario Lemina found the net with a header in the 51st minute to break the deadlock. Despite sustained pressure from Chelsea, Wolves held their ground, and substitute Matt Doherty crucially doubled their lead in second-half stoppage time. Nkunku managed to narrow the deficit by nodding in a cross from Raheem Sterling, but the Blues couldn’t secure an equalizer. Wolves, now level on points with Chelsea, moved up to the 11th…
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka has expressed regret and offered an apology to Kostas Tsimikas for inadvertently causing the Liverpool player’s collarbone injury at Anfield last Saturday. During Arsenal’s Premier League match against Liverpool, Tsimikas had to exit the game due to an injury sustained after colliding with his own coach, Jurgen Klopp, following a tussle with Saka for the ball. The Greek left-back was subsequently taken to the hospital for treatment. Reflecting on the incident in an interview with Sky Sports, Saka stated: “I have heard he’s gone to the hospital, so I want to apologize to him. “I didn’t mean…
Manchester United has officially announced the completion of the purchase of a 25% stake in the club by Sir Jim Ratcliffe. This marks the resolution of a year-long saga initiated by the Glazer family, the current owners of Manchester United, who were seeking external investment. Throughout the process, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, alongside Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, emerged as one of the leading bidders to secure investment. However, Sheikh Jassim’s attempt to acquire a full 100% stake in United for £5bn, along with an additional £1bn to alleviate the club’s debts, fell short of the Glazers’ higher…
Lukaku has experienced a remarkable resurgence since joining AS Roma on loan, following a challenging stint at Chelsea. The Chelsea striker, Romelu Lukaku, has been eagerly awaiting clarity on his future with the club after rediscovering his form during his loan spell at AS Roma. Originally heralded with much anticipation upon his return to Chelsea, Lukaku’s situation took a downturn swiftly, marked by conflicts with former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel. Consequently, Chelsea opted to loan Lukaku to address his struggles. Under the new management of former PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea has been grappling with efficiency issues in striker conversion…
Football, a sport demanding skill, adaptability, and versatility, has witnessed numerous players transform their careers by embracing new positions on the field. This article explores the success stories of 10 players who excelled after strategically changing their positions. 1. Gareth Bale: From Left-Back to Explosive Forward – Initially known as a left-back, Gareth Bale made a remarkable transition to an explosive winger and forward, showcasing goal-scoring prowess and dynamic playstyle in attacking positions. 2. Cesc Fàbregas: Forward to Central Midfield Maestro – Beginning as a forward, Cesc Fàbregas found his true calling as a central midfielder, displaying vision, passing accuracy,…
Lasse Lempainen, the surgeon overseeing Reece James’ recovery, has assured that the full-back will be in peak condition for Euro 2024. James underwent surgery to address a persistent hamstring injury that has caused him to miss 37 games at Chelsea over the past few years. According to 90min, James sought multiple opinions before ultimately agreeing with the club and manager Mauricio Pochettino to undergo the surgical procedure. In an interview with the Telegraph, surgeon Lasse Lempainen provided an update on the successful procedure conducted in Turku, Finland, expressing confidence in James’s full recovery. “We did the operation on his right…
In the recent high-stakes clash against Arsenal, Mo Salah once again emerged as Liverpool’s savior. His remarkable equalizing goal, sparked by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s impressive long-range pass, highlighted Salah’s trademark finishing skills. The intense and captivating nature of the match, described by Mikel Arteta as one of the most intense games in his last two decades of involvement, left fans on the edge of their seats. Despite the balanced play, the result was a draw, with both teams feeling like they had dropped crucial points. In a tweet following the match, Salah issued a warning to his teammates. Accompanied by a…
As reported by DAILY POST, Chelsea’s manager, Mauricio Pochettino, openly acknowledged that his team bears responsibility for the disappointing 2-1 loss against Wolves on Sunday. Despite Christopher Nkunku’s debut goal narrowing the gap for Chelsea at Molineux, the hosts secured a two-goal lead through Mario Lemina and Matt Doherty, leaving Pochettino frustrated with his team’s overall performance. In a post-match analysis, Pochettino candidly admitted to the mistakes made by his side, underscoring the missed opportunities to score that ultimately contributed to their defeat. “We made mistakes. We need to blame ourselves. That is why we didn’t win. We had the…
Mikel Arteta outlines Arsenal’s areas for improvement in 2024, emphasizing the need to enhance their ability to “kill games” they dominate. Following a hard-fought draw against Liverpool, Arsenal is set to top the Premier League table on Christmas Day for the second consecutive season, holding a one-point lead over both Liverpool and Aston Villa. With last season’s disappointment of surrendering their lead to Manchester City in mind, Arteta and his team aim to surpass their second-place finish and maintain their current position at the league’s summit until the end of the campaign. Addressing the press on Arsenal’s improvement strategy, Arteta…
Reportedly, Mauricio Pochettino, the manager of Chelsea, has cautioned his players about the competitive nature of Premier League football, emphasizing that it is “not a charity.” He made it clear that players recovering from injuries cannot expect an automatic return to the team and stressed the necessity for them to showcase their capabilities through intense training and impactful performances. While acknowledging the eagerness of players like Romeo Lavia and Christopher Nkunku, who have been sidelined for an extended period, to get back into action, Pochettino emphasized the rigorous competition in the Premier League. He stated that players must put in…
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Kostas Tsimikas sustained a broken collarbone during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal after an accidental collision with the manager on the touchline. Tsimikas, filling in for the injured Andy Robertson, had to exit the match in the 35th minute following a tussle with Bukayo Saka that sent him tumbling off the pitch, colliding with Klopp in the process. Addressing the media post-game, Klopp revealed the severity of Tsimikas’s injury, stating, “He [Tsimikas] broke his collarbone at least. That’s really bad for us.” Consequently, Joe Gomez had to step in at left-back for the remainder of…
Examining the performance records of players in the prominent European leagues this season reveals a unique accomplishment: only one player has managed to score five goals since the onset of December. Remarkably, this player is Dominic Solanke, a striker hailing from Nigeria. How did he attain this impressive feat? The Nigerian-born striker, showcasing his skills for Bournemouth, initiated this goal-scoring spree with a crucial strike against Aston Villa on December 3. His 52nd-minute goal provided the Cherries with a lead, although the match ultimately concluded in a 2-2 draw after Watkins equalized for the Villans. Nine days later, the 26-year-old…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag conceded that his team “switched off” in a disheartening 2-0 loss to West Ham United on Saturday. Late goals from Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus injected life into an otherwise lackluster game, causing West Ham to surpass United in the Premier League standings. Despite the defeat, Ten Hag expressed general satisfaction with his team’s overall performance but attributed the loss to a momentary lapse in concentration. “I believe we had a solid performance,” he stated to TNT Sports. “We controlled the game, maintained solidity, and held possession. We avoided giving away chances in transition.…
West Ham United secured a 2-0 victory over Manchester United with second-half goals from Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus on Saturday afternoon. The win propelled the hosts above their visitors in the Premier League standings. Before the match, David Moyes downplayed any sentiment towards facing Manchester United, stating, “I’ve always enjoyed playing Manchester United.” Despite the uninspiring nature of the game, Moyes would have found satisfaction in the result before the Christmas break. Bowen opened the scoring in the 72nd minute with a stylish finish, capitalizing on a well-crafted play by Lucas Paqueta. Both goals were separated by six minutes…
Arsenal will find themselves at the pinnacle of the Premier League this Christmas, having battled to a 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday evening. With the simple requirement of avoiding defeat to solidify their position, Arsenal took an early lead as Gabriel headed in a free-kick from Martin Odegaard just three minutes into the game. However, Mohamed Salah’s equalizer in the first half brought the match back to equilibrium. Although Trent Alexander-Arnold struck the crossbar in the energetic second half, both teams ultimately had to settle for a share of the points. The unfolding of the game saw…
Luke Shaw expressed frustration over Manchester United’s lack of scoring prowess following their eighth Premier League defeat of the season. The team suffered a 2-0 loss to West Ham United, managing only three shots on target despite holding 66% possession at London Stadium. This defeat marked the fourth consecutive game in which Manchester United failed to score, with Rasmus Hojlund, Marcus Rashford, and Antony struggling to find the net, collectively securing only two goals in the Premier League season, both scored by Rashford. Shaw, reflecting on the team’s challenges, acknowledged his difficulty understanding why Manchester United has been ineffective in…
In preparation for the 2024 AFCON, Victor Osimhen has inked a groundbreaking contract with Napoli, securing his commitment until 2026 and warding off any potential interest from Chelsea. Osimhen’s contract extension, now officially finalized after weeks of speculation, boasts a €130 million release clause. This comprehensive agreement not only elevates his annual after-tax salary to €10 million but crucially incorporates the substantial release clause, applicable exclusively to non-Italian clubs. While the extension solidifies Osimhen’s ties with Napoli, there are circulating rumors suggesting the club’s intention to offload him in the summer of 2024 as part of financial restructuring, aiming to…
Former Manchester United head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has received an invitation to make a return to management with Turkish club Besiktas. As reported by NTV Spor, Solskjaer has been extended an 18-month contract for the role. The Norwegian has been without a managerial position since departing from Manchester United in 2021. Solskjaer, who has previously managed Molde and Cardiff City, is now contemplating the prospect of taking on the managerial responsibilities at Besiktas. In response to the offer, the 50-year-old was quoted by the Turkish newspaper, stating, “I thank Beşiktaş for their impressive offer. I have not made my…
Real Madrid has terminated Hazard’s contract a year ahead of schedule, underscoring the unpredictable nature of expensive transfers in football. While clubs invest heavily in pursuit of success, the outcomes are not always favorable, as evidenced by these costly mistakes in the sport’s history. 7. Alvaro Morata: Real Madrid – Chelsea (2017) Despite being represented by a highly regarded agent, Alvaro Morata struggled to consistently score goals. His move from Real Madrid to Chelsea for £60m ($75m) was based on a promising 15-goal performance in the Primera Division. However, his 18-month stint at Stamford Bridge saw him manage just 16…