Barcelona is concerned that their left-back, Alejandro Balde, may need season-ending surgery after sustaining a hamstring injury during their 4-2 defeat to Athletic Club on Wednesday. The 20-year-old could only manage 23 minutes on the field before leaving with apparent distress, raising immediate concerns about the severity of his injury. Upon further examination of the suspected hamstring tear, Catalunya Radio reports that Balde has also been diagnosed with a tendon tear in his right thigh. Club officials are recommending surgery in Finland, with the recovery period estimated at four months, potentially ending Balde’s season prematurely. Barcelona is currently awaiting final…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Jurgen Klopp has revealed that he will be departing from Liverpool at the conclusion of the 2023/24 season, concluding his impactful nine-year tenure with the club. This surprising announcement has sent shockwaves through the footballing world, especially considering Klopp’s contract was initially set to run until 2026. However, the German manager confirmed his decision, citing a depletion of energy as the primary reason for stepping away from his role. In a statement to Liverpool’s website, Klopp expressed his deep love for the club, the city, the supporters, the team, and the staff. Despite his affection, he emphasized that he is…
Matchday 5 of the UEFA Women’s Champions League resumed on Wednesday with games held at various venues. The unpredictability of Group D games was evident, considering the form of key players in the teams involved. In a clash that unfolded at a tumultuous pace, Chelsea Women intensified the chaos for Real Madrid Women, securing a 2-1 victory. The first half remained goalless, suggesting Real Madrid Women might salvage a point. However, Guro Reiten’s 62nd-minute penalty tilted the balance in favor of Chelsea. Real Madrid Women responded with del Castillo equalizing in the 69th minute. A twist of fate occurred as…
Sergio Agüero, the Manchester City legend, has expressed his support for Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski under Xavi’s management. Lewandowski, who has netted 13 goals in 28 games this season for Barcelona, has recently faced criticism for a downturn in form. The Polish international managed only one assist and one goal in his last seven La Liga matches for the club. Responding to inquiries about Lewandowski’s performance, Agüero told Stakes, “You can’t consider him off-pace when he scored against Madrid, can you? Strikers are often judged by their goal-scoring output, and when that dips, people perceive them as ‘off-pace’.”
The Afcon tournament is undoubtedly one of the most significant football events in Africa. In the recently concluded group stage games in Group A, Nigeria secured qualification as runners-up with 7 points, alongside Equatorial Guinea, also with 7 points but securing a higher goal difference than Nigeria. The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon also advanced as runners-up, with Senegal topping the group and Guinea claiming the third spot. The clash between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon is scheduled to kick off at around 9:00 pm Nigerian time on Saturday. Reasons why Nigeria might triumph over…
Cameroon’s captain, Vincent Aboubacar, and winger Clinton N’Jie have returned to full team training in preparation for the upcoming clash with Nigeria in the ongoing AFCON 2023. Both Aboubacar and N’Jie have been sidelined due to injuries and have yet to feature for the former champions in the tournament. However, they participated in a training session with their teammates in Bouake on Wednesday night without encountering any difficulties. Rigobert Song’s team is set to travel to Abidjan on Thursday (today) in anticipation of the highly anticipated Round of 16 encounter against perennial rivals Nigeria. The match is scheduled to take…
Thiago Silva acknowledges that his career is reaching its conclusion and has revealed that discussions about a new contract with Chelsea are yet to take place. The 39-year-old defender, who joined Chelsea in 2020 from Paris Saint-Germain, has played a crucial role in the team, featuring in 141 games and contributing to three trophy victories, including the 2021 Champions League. Despite his significance, with his contract set to expire in June, Silva remains focused on the present. “I don’t have anything scheduled for later; I’m just looking to have fun,” Silva commented after helping Chelsea secure a place in the…
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has criticized UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin for supporting the European governing body’s decision to ban the English club from European competition in 2020. City faced suspension in February 2020 for what UEFA labeled as “serious breaches” of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) eventually overturned the ban in June 2020. Ceferin, a former lawyer, asserted that UEFA “know we are right.” This statement comes as City is also confronting allegations from the Premier League regarding the club’s potential breach of their own financial rules. However, addressing the media, Guardiola…
Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov expressed frustration while watching Antony and advised the winger to consider leaving Old Trafford if he cannot show improvement. Antony, who joined United for £85 million from Ajax in September 2022, had a promising first season, scoring eight goals and providing three assists in all competitions. However, in the current season, he has yet to register a goal or an assist. Berbatov sympathized with Antony’s talent but noted the player’s apparent frustration on the field, leading to overcomplicated plays and mistakes. Berbatov suggested that Antony needs guidance on his positioning, decision-making, and when to…
In a surprising revelation, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has disclosed its official Best XI players from the group stages of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), and notably, no player from Nigeria’s Super Eagles has been included. AFCON 2023: No Super Eagles Player in CAF’s Group Stage Best XI As reported by cafonline, the distinguished selection comprises exceptional talents who have demonstrated remarkable skills and significantly contributed to their respective teams’ performances in the tournament. The absence of any player from the three-time AFCON champions, Nigeria, is particularly unexpected. Equatorial Guinea’s goalkeeper, Jesus Owono, secured his place…
Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, extended congratulations to Manchester United for appointing Omar Berrada as their new CEO. Guardiola addressed concerns about the possibility of Berrada sharing Manchester City’s secrets with their Premier League rivals. Berrada’s unexpected move from Manchester City to become the CEO of Manchester United occurred last week. When questioned about the potential transfer of City’s insights to United, Guardiola responded during his pre-match press conference ahead of the FA Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur on Friday night: “Well, Kevin De Bruyne is still with Manchester City, and Erling Haaland will also play here. I’m not convinced…
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are gearing up for a significant match in the African Cup of Nations, facing Cameroon at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in what promises to be a highly contested encounter. The Nigerian National Team is determined to showcase their prowess and secure victory against Cameroon, aiming to progress to the quarter-final stage of the tournament. In this crucial AFCON clash, three players need to elevate their performance to enhance the Super Eagles’ chances of defeating Cameroon. 1. Victor Osimhen: Victor Osimhen’s performance in the tournament so far has not lived up to expectations. Despite being a…
Ivory Coast, the host nation for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2023, has relieved coach Jean-Louis Gasset of his duties midway through the tournament, as announced by the country’s football federation (FIF) on Wednesday. According to the FIF statement, the contracts of both coach Jean-Louis Gasset and his assistant Ghislain Printant have been terminated due to unsatisfactory results. The team suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat against Equatorial Guinea in their recent Group A match on Monday. The two-time champions now face the challenge of relying on favorable outcomes in the final group matches on Wednesday to secure a spot…
Former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has addressed speculations surrounding his future, particularly the links with Premier League clubs Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal. The Frenchman, who joined Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League six months ago from Real Madrid, is reportedly considering a move away. Despite the transfer rumors, the 36-year-old Ballon d’Or winner has refuted the claims about his potential departure, expressing that the reports are untrue. Benzema also criticized the French media for creating unfounded stories. In his statement to L’Equipe, quoted by The Mirror, Benzema said, “It is completely false! The French media don’t know what…
South Africa secured their place in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group E with a goalless draw against Tunisia. Despite a slow start in the tournament, Bafana Bafana advanced to the knockout stage, narrowly surpassing Namibia, who finished third with the same number of points. Conversely, Tunisia had a challenging time in the group, failing to secure a win and accumulating only two points in three games. They drew against Mali in their second group stage match after losing the first to Namibia. South Africa has now joined group leaders Mali, who also played to a goalless draw against…
Ghana’s national football team, the Black Stars, recently opted to dismiss head coach Chris Hughton following a disappointing performance in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The decision was made after Ghana’s early exit from the tournament, culminating in just two points in Group B, drawing 2-2 with both Egypt and Mozambique, and succumbing to an initial 2-1 defeat by Cape Verde. Several factors contributed to Hughton’s dismissal: 1. Poor Group Stage Performance: Ghana’s showing in the AFCON 2023 group stage was lackluster, failing to secure a victory and resulting in an early departure from the tournament. 2. Inconsistent…
As the knockout stage of AFCON 2023 gradually takes form, the spotlight shifts to the Golden Boot race, with the unexpected twists in the tournament capturing everyone’s attention. Initial discussions and predictions about potential top goal-scorers in AFCON 2023 have been rendered obsolete as key players representing their countries defy expectations, stepping up to make a significant impact on the tournament. They have not only put their nations on the map but have also provided their teams with a competitive edge in the pursuit of the coveted title on the continent. Leading the charge as the highest goal-scorer at AFCON…
Reviewing the group phase of the Africa Cup of Nations that challenged preconceptions about the continental showcase. The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations group stage has been filled with drama, reaching new heights in Cote d’Ivoire. Predictions that the host nation would depend on other group results and that defending champions Algeria might exit early were scoffed at initially. Despite Algeria’s undefeated streak since November 2022, they failed to secure a win in the group stage, continuing their winless run since the 2019 final. The tournament opener between Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau set the stage for a compelling group phase.…
Continuing their pursuit of a domestic double, the North London Blues aim for a spot in the FA Cup fifth round as they face Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge. CHE vs AVL: Match Preview, Kick-Off Time, Team News, and Potential Starting Lineup After a convincing 6-1 victory over Middlesbrough on Tuesday, Chelsea secured a place in the EFL Cup final. Match Preview Mauricio Pochettino, now at the helm of Chelsea, is on the verge of leading his new team to domestic success after facing challenges during his five-year tenure at Tottenham Hotspur. Chelsea’s triumphant journey to Wembley, propelled by goals…
Jose Peseiro, aiming to guide the Nigeria Super Eagles to a fourth AFCON title in Cote d’Ivoire, has disclosed rejecting a contract extension despite leading Nigeria to the round of 16 at AFCON 2023. In an interview with SportTV+ via record pt, coach Peseiro shed light on his decision. Despite a challenging start in the 34th AFCON, the Portuguese manager successfully steered Nigeria to the round of 16. Reflecting on the journey so far, Peseiro, the former Porto manager, emphasized Nigeria’s commendable performance in a tough competition. He acknowledged the pre-tournament favorites but highlighted the unpredictability, atmospheric conditions, and the…