Defending champions Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea have secured their spots in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations without playing a match, as the penultimate round of qualifying kicked off on Wednesday. Ivory Coast guaranteed a top-two finish in Group G after Sierra Leone’s 1-1 draw with Chad. The Elephants now have nine points from four games, while Zambia sit second with seven points from four matches. Sierra Leone, with five points and one game remaining, and Chad, who are eliminated, complete the group. In Group E, Liberia’s 1-0 victory over Togo in Monrovia ended both teams’ hopes of qualification.…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Cheetahs of Benin Republic head coach, Gernot Rohr, has acknowledged that it will be challenging for his team to defeat the Super Eagles again. Rohr’s side pulled off a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in June. However, the Cheetahs will need another win when they face the Super Eagles at the Felix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan to enhance their chances of securing a spot in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The German coach, who previously managed the Super Eagles, admitted that repeating their June success would be no easy task. “Repeating the feat…
Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has dismissed any possibility of Victor Osimhen making a permanent move to Galatasaray. Manna stated that the Turkish champions are unable to meet the €75 million buyout clause in the striker’s contract. “Our door is closed to negotiations,” Manna said, as reported by Webaslan. “Galatasaray doesn’t have the financial capacity to pay that amount right now. The fee is €75 million, and there are other clubs willing to pay that sum.” Osimhen, 25, joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan in September. Since then, he has scored eight goals and provided four assists in nine appearances…
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has once again put his future on the line, announcing he will step down if South Africa fails to qualify for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Broos expressed that it would be “a shame” for the team to miss out, especially considering they are the reigning AFCON bronze medalists and are not in one of the toughest qualification groups. “It would be a shame if we don’t qualify for AFCON,” Broos said at a press conference in Dobsonville Stadium on Monday. “Honestly, we have the quality to win both of our remaining…
New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is reportedly prepared to approve the loan of striker Joshua Zirkzee in January. The Red Devils are looking to send the Dutch forward out on loan, just six months after he joined the club in a £36.5 million deal. Zirkzee, who was United’s first signing of the summer, signed a five-year contract but has struggled for minutes, making only four Premier League starts this season. His only goal came on the opening day against Fulham. Now, with limited playing time, United is open to loan offers for Zirkzee in January, and Italian outlet Tuttosport…
New Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim, is excited to work with Leny Yoro, who joined the club from Rennes during the summer. Although the defender was sidelined by injury during pre-season, he is now in the final stages of his recovery. Amorim views Yoro as one of the most promising talents at United. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on X: “Ruben Amorim and his staff consider Leny Yoro one of the most interesting players to develop as part of Manchester United’s long-term project. He’s regarded as a generational talent by the club, and Amorim and his team fully agree…
New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has singled out Mason Mount as a player who will play a key role in his team moving forward. Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag this week, takes over a United side currently sitting in 13th place in the Premier League. The 39-year-old arrives at Old Trafford after a successful spell at Sporting, where he won two Portuguese league titles and two cups, earning a reputation as one of Europe’s most promising young coaches. Amorim is expected to implement the 3-4-3 formation that brought him success in Portugal, a system that could see Mount…
2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has revealed that he told former Real Madrid striker Álvaro Morata he won the prestigious award without using social media. Rodri recently triumphed in this year’s Ballon d’Or race, edging out strong contender Vinícius Júnior to claim the top spot. The Spain international received more votes than the Brazilian, but he has now shared what he told Morata after securing the win. “Álvaro Morata always told me, ‘You’re crazy. If you had social media, you’d have a Ballon d’Or,'” Rodri said, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano. “And as soon as I won it, I messaged…
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has hailed his teammate, Erling Haaland, as the most decisive player in the world when it comes to goal-scoring. Rodri, who recently won the 2024 Ballon d’Or ahead of Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham, stated that the Norwegian striker is the only player who can rival Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of impact. The Spain international also noted Haaland’s youth and longevity in the game, suggesting he will continue to dominate for years to come. “The most decisive player in the world in terms of numbers is Erling Haaland,” Rodri said. “He’s the only…
Real Madrid held their first training session of the November international break on Tuesday, with eight players missing: seven due to injury and Kylian Mbappé joining the academy players to help complete the session. In total, 15 players were unavailable for Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, including Fran García, who trained in the gym as a precaution, without pushing himself too hard, given that Real Madrid’s next La Liga match is on November 24 against Leganés. Of the absentees, eight were on international duty: Jude Bellingham (England), Antonio Rüdiger (Germany), Eduardo Camavinga (France), Luka Modrić (Croatia), Arda Güler (Turkey), Vinícius Jr.…
Manchester United is reportedly targeting former Manchester City defender Danilo, who will become a free agent next summer. According to Sportskeeda, new manager Ruben Amorim has identified the experienced Brazilian as a key target to strengthen United’s defense. Currently the captain of Juventus, Danilo has impressed with his versatility, playing across multiple positions including right-back, center-back, left-back, and even in midfield. His adaptability makes him a perfect fit for Amorim’s preferred 3-4-3 formation. The 33-year-old’s contract with Juventus expires at the end of the season, meaning United could sign him without a transfer fee. This move would not only bolster…
Nigeria’s Super Eagles are aiming to maintain their strong momentum in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers as they prepare to face Benin Republic in their upcoming match. Scheduled for Matchday 5 of the qualifiers, Nigeria currently leads Group D with 10 points. This position was bolstered by a CAF decision to award them three points and three goals from an unplayed match against Libya, which was disrupted by extended delays at the Libyan airport. A strong performance against Benin could see Nigeria secure their qualification for the tournament. Interim coach Augustine Eguavoen has named a 23-player squad, blending experienced stars with…
Liverpool are reportedly ‘determined’ to sign Real Sociedad star Takefusa Kubo, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes. Kubo, who joined Real Madrid in 2019, struggled to establish himself at the Santiago Bernabéu and was loaned out several times before making a permanent move to Real Sociedad a couple of years ago. Since arriving at the Reale Arena, the 23-year-old has impressed in La Liga, becoming a key player in Imanol Alguacil’s starting lineup. With Mohamed Salah’s contract set to expire at the end of this season, Liverpool are reportedly looking for a right-sided attacker to potentially replace the Egyptian star. Having…
Arsenal face a challenging task in their pursuit of the Premier League title, sitting nine points behind leaders Liverpool after 11 games. While their position may seem daunting, the team still has plenty of opportunities to build momentum, particularly with a series of tough matches followed by a more favorable run through the festive period. The January transfer window is fast approaching, and many believe that Arsenal must strengthen their squad if they are to keep their title hopes alive. The two positions most urgently in need of reinforcements are a central forward and a versatile attacker who can cover…
Newcastle United could be offered the opportunity to sign top Chelsea target Victor Osimhen next summer, according to a surprising report. Osimhen had been expected to leave Napoli permanently last summer, with links to Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and several Saudi clubs. However, no deal came to fruition before the European transfer deadline, leaving the striker in a state of uncertainty. After Napoli brought in Romelu Lukaku, Osimhen faced the prospect of a frustrating season on the bench. However, Galatasaray stepped in, securing him on a season-long loan. While the Turkish club will attempt to make the deal permanent, persuading Osimhen…
Paraguay has banned Lionel Messi jerseys for the upcoming World Cup qualifier between Paraguay and Argentina on Friday, November 15. The Paraguayan Football Federation (APF) has taken a firm stance on the issue, with no exceptions allowed. Fernando Villasboa, APF’s licensing director, confirmed on Radio La Red that fans will not be permitted to enter the stadium wearing jerseys with Messi’s name, whether from Argentina, Barcelona, or Inter Miami, nor any other clothing associated with visiting players. “Anyone entering (outside the visitors’ section) will not be allowed to wear jerseys of the Argentine national team, Argentine clubs, or any clubs…
England’s interim manager, Lee Carsley, has seen eight players withdraw from his squad ahead of the upcoming internationals against Greece and the Republic of Ireland. With the Three Lions aiming to secure promotion back to the UEFA Nations League top flight in the final two fixtures of this phase of the 2024/25 competition, Carsley is also overseeing his final two matches before Thomas Tuchel takes over as permanent manager in the New Year. Of the original 26-player squad named last week, only 18 remain available. High-profile absentees include Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Cole Palmer, all of whom…
Ruud van Nistelrooy will not be part of Ruben Amorim’s coaching staff and is leaving Manchester United after a brief spell as interim manager, overseeing four matches. The legendary Dutch striker stepped in as caretaker manager following the dismissal of Erik ten Hag, helping stabilize the team with three wins and a draw. However, with Amorim named as Ten Hag’s permanent successor earlier this month, the 39-year-old will begin his tenure during the November international break. Van Nistelrooy has not been included in Amorim’s coaching setup, and United confirmed his departure in a statement: “Manchester United can confirm that Ruud…
Bruno Fernandes has explained why Alejandro Garnacho hesitated to celebrate his stunning goal against Leicester City, revealing that the young forward was reluctant to do so after feeling criticism from Manchester United fans. Ruud van Nistelrooy ended his interim tenure as United manager with a 3-0 victory over the Foxes on Sunday. Bruno Fernandes scored the opening goal and played a key role in Victor Kristiansen’s own goal, while Garnacho sealed the win with a brilliant strike in the 82nd minute after coming on as a substitute. Despite the goal, Garnacho initially refrained from celebrating, believing he had lost the…
Premier League Referee David Coote Suspended After Video Allegedly Shows Derogatory Remarks About Klopp Premier League referee David Coote was suspended on Monday following the emergence of a video on social media in which he allegedly made derogatory comments about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. The video, which has not yet been dated or explained in terms of how it surfaced, appears to show Coote calling Klopp “arrogant” and using offensive language. Coote, 42, officiated Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday. In response, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) issued a statement confirming Coote’s suspension, saying: “David…