Manchester United has officially announced the appointment of Omar Berrada as their new CEO, confirming his transition from his previous role as chief football operations officer at City Football Group, where he notably served Manchester City. This move comes following the departure of former Man Utd CEO Richard Arnold in November, coinciding with INEOS Group’s negotiations for a 25% stake in the club. Omar Berrada, recognized for his extensive experience in top-tier European football, previously held significant positions at Barcelona. The club emphasized its commitment to refocusing on football and on-field performance, with Berrada’s appointment as the initial step in…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Manchester United has renewed their interest in Bayern Munich’s former player Matthijs de Ligt, who previously played under manager Erik ten Hag at Ajax. De Ligt is reportedly open to leaving, and Arsenal has also been linked to the player (Mirror). Red Devils’ manager Ten Hag is keen on reuniting with Ajax forward Brian Brobbey at Old Trafford (Sky Sport Germany). Bayern Munich had their sights on Ronald Araujo, offering €75m (£64m) for the center-back. However, Barcelona rejected the approach and intends to extend a new contract to Araujo (SportBild). Manchester City is poised to secure the signing of Troyes…
Didier Drogba is confident that the Super Eagles of Nigeria possess the potential to emerge victorious and secure the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). The Ivory Coast football legend expressed his optimism amid Nigeria’s noteworthy 1-0 triumph over the hosts in the ongoing AFCON 2023, a result that surprised many due to the perceived strength of the opposition led by Jose Peseiro. In an interview with Official54fx, Drogba acknowledged Nigeria’s capabilities, suggesting that they could advance far in the tournament, even though they may not be considered among the favorites. He commented, “They can go far. But we [Ivory Coast]…
Egypt’s hopes at the Africa Cup of Nations suffered a significant setback on Friday as captain Mohamed Salah was ruled out of two games due to a hamstring injury. The Egyptian Football Association confirmed in a statement that Liverpool star Salah won’t be available for selection unless Egypt advances to the quarter-finals of the tournament. Salah, who came off late in the first half during Egypt’s 2-2 draw with Ghana on Thursday, will miss the final group game against Cape Verde on Monday and any subsequent last-16 match. With two draws in their opening games, Egypt must secure a victory…
Cape Verde has become the first nation to secure a spot in the knockout stages of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations by defeating Mozambique 3-0. This victory positions them as likely Group B winners, a group that includes traditional football powerhouses like Egypt and Ghana. Cape Verde’s earlier warning sign, a 2-1 triumph over Ghana in the tournament’s opening fixture, was seemingly overlooked. Wale Agbede, the Head of Sports at Plus TV, emphasized Cape Verde’s historical competence in such tournaments, recalling their noteworthy performance three tournaments ago, where they reached the quarter-finals but faced unfortunate officiating. Despite the general…
Guinea-Bissau’s head coach, Baciro Cande, vows that his team will give their utmost effort against Nigeria, as reported by DAILY POST. Having suffered defeats to hosts Cote d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea in their initial two matches at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, the Djurtus find themselves without a win and must now defeat the Super Eagles to have a shot at progressing to the Round of 16. “We have one game left to close the group stage, and we hope to win,” stated Cande following his team’s loss to Equatorial Guinea on Thursday. Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau clashed in the…
Players from the Nigeria Premier Football League have lauded the exceptional performance of Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali in the triumphant match against Cote d’Ivoire. Nwabali played a pivotal role in securing Nigeria’s 1-0 victory over the hosts last Thursday, achieving his first clean sheet for the Super Eagles. The NPFL players commended Nwabali’s confidence, precise ball distribution, and crucial saves during the match against the host nation. Kingdom Osayi, goalkeeper for Doma United, remarked, “Nwabali’s command of the box was exceptional, and he truly stood tall for the national team when he was needed the most.” Endurance Ebedebiri, Rivers…
Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, has provided insight into his decision to let captain William Troost-Ekong take a penalty during Nigeria’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) victory over Ivory Coast on Thursday. Osimhen earned a penalty after being fouled in the box during the match. Despite being the designated number one penalty taker for the Super Eagles, many anticipated Napoli’s attacker to take the spot-kick against the host nation. Surprisingly, Troost-Ekong stepped forward and successfully converted the penalty, securing a 1-0 win for the Super Eagles. In response to questions about the decision, whether it was his choice or…
Nigerian standout striker Victor Osimhen has emphasized the importance of not underestimating Guinea-Bissau in the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations fixture. Scheduled to face the Djurtus at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan next Monday, Jose Peseiro’s men are coming off a 1-0 victory against hosts Cote d’Ivoire in their second competition match at the Alassane Quattara Stadium on Thursday. With Guinea-Bissau facing potential elimination after losses in their initial two games against Cote d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea, Osimhen acknowledges the need for the Super Eagles to approach the match with determination. Guinea-Bissau would have to defeat Nigeria…
Former Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu, has asserted that every participating country in the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) fears Nigeria. Kanu made this statement following the Super Eagles’ 1-0 victory against Ivory Coast in a Group A match on Thursday. Captain William Troost-Ekong secured the three points for Nigeria with a penalty goal at the Stade Olympique Ouattara. With this result, Nigeria currently holds the second position in Group A, accumulating four points from two games, while Ivory Coast sits in third place with three points from two matches. The Super Eagles will face Guinea-Bissau in their…
Jose Mourinho has reportedly secured a verbal agreement to assume the role of the new manager at Al-Shabab, as per Asharq Al-Awsat. The 64-year-old recently parted ways with Roma after being sacked earlier in the week, with the Serie A team positioned in ninth place. While at Roma, Mourinho had expressed interest in the possibility of coaching in the Saudi Pro League. He revealed having turned down what he described as the “biggest and craziest offer a coach has ever received” to stay in Italy. The offer, a reported £500,000-a-week deal to lead Al-Hilal, eventually went to Jorge Jesus. Now,…
Cape Verde asserted their authority in the AFCON group stage with a convincing 3-0 triumph over Mozambique. The Tubarões Azuis demonstrated their determination early in the match, as Deroy Duarte’s well-executed attempt tested Mozambique’s goalkeeper, Ernani. Bebé increased the pressure, rattling the crossbar with a free-kick before astonishing everyone with a 30-yard strike that caught Ernani off guard, giving Cape Verde a 1-0 lead. Despite Mozambique’s limited attacking threat, they believed they had an opportunity to equalize just before halftime when Geny Catamo fell in the area. However, VAR intervened, overturning the decision. Cape Verde maintained their dominance in the…
Two Teams Secure Round of 16 Spots in 2023 AFCON After the Friday fixtures, two teams have successfully qualified for the Round of 16 in the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Senegal clinched their spot as the second country to advance with a 3-1 victory over Cameroon. Ismaila Sarr and Habib Diallo scored to give the Teranga Lions a two-goal lead. Although Jean-Charles Castelletto pulled one back in the 83rd minute, Sadio Mane sealed the win with a low shot past Andre Onana. This victory makes Senegal the second team to win their first two matches in the tournament.…
Senegal Secures Knockout Stage Berth with a 3-1 Triumph Over Cameroon In a captivating clash between African powerhouses, Senegal booked their place in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) knockout stages with a convincing 3-1 win against Cameroon. Match Recap: SEN 3-1 CMR and Updated AFCON Group C Table Ismaïla Sarr emerged as a key contributor, breaking the deadlock in the 16th minute as he capitalized on André Onana’s weak clearance. Senegal dominated the first half, with Sadio Mané denied an extension of the lead by Enzo Tchato’s impressive block. The Lions of Teranga continued their attacking prowess in the…
Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres seems to have dismissed the possibility of a January transfer to Chelsea. Earlier reports this week suggested that Chelsea had made a £73m offer for Gyokeres. The 25-year-old forward, who joined Sporting Lisbon from Coventry City last summer after a successful stint with 21 goals in the Championship, has been in excellent form for the Portuguese club this season, registering 22 goals and 10 assists in 25 appearances. Despite the reported interest from Chelsea, Gyokeres remains concentrated on Sporting and downplayed any thoughts about a potential move. “I don’t think anything about it,” said the Swedish…
At the Globe Soccer Awards on Friday, Cristiano Ronaldo, the 38-year-old Al Nassr striker, expressed his support for either Manchester City, Bayern Munich, or Real Madrid to emerge victorious in the current season’s Champions League. During the event, Ronaldo secured accolades for Fans’ Favourite Player of the Year, Best Goalscorer, and Best Middle East Player. Responding to questions during the awards ceremony, Ronaldo shared his views on the Champions League contenders, stating, “Manchester City finally won the Champions League; they probably deserved it two years ago. I like watching how they play. They have a good chance to win the…
Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa responds to Ghana’s Andre Ayew, emphasizing that AFCON is not centered on beauty or technique. In reaction to comments made by Ghana’s Andre Ayew regarding the difficulty of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) compared to the FIFA World Cup, Ahmed Musa, the captain of the Super Eagles, supports Ayew’s viewpoint. Ayew, who plays for Ghana’s Black Stars, expressed his belief that AFCON is a tougher tournament, citing its challenges in terms of fighting spirit, determination, and energy. Following Ayew’s remarks, Musa, in an interview with Sienu TV, echoes his agreement with the Ghanaian player’s…
Sadiq Umar Resolves Controversy Surrounding Injury Exit from Super Eagles Camp for AFCON 2023 Sadiq Umar, the Nigerian forward from Real Sociedad, has addressed the confusion surrounding his departure from the Super Eagles camp due to an alleged injury after initially making the 25-man squad for the tournament. Despite missing Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign due to a reported thigh injury, Umar quickly returned to club action and participated in Real Sociedad’s Copa del Rey match just days later. The anticipated three-week absence led to Umar’s exclusion from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations squad, with Paul Onuachu taking…
Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyon has officially confirmed the acquisition of Gift Orban for €12 million. The Nigerian forward made the move from the Belgian Pro League side, KAA Gent, and has committed to a contract until June 30, 2028. Having spent one-and-a-half seasons with Gent, the 21-year-old striker previously joined the Buffalos from the Norwegian second division club, Stabaek, in January 2023. Orban showcased his prowess by scoring an impressive 20 goals in 22 appearances across all competitions for Gent in the second half of the last season. Notably, Gift Orban has become the first Nigerian player to sign…
Emilio Nsue’s outstanding hat-trick against Guinea Bissau elevates him to the ranks of some of the continent’s greatest players. Equatorial Guinea’s captain, Emilio Nsue, made history at the AFCON tournament by netting a milestone hat-trick in the Nzalang Nacional’s 4-2 victory over Guinea Bissau. Nsue initiated his scoring spree in the first half, establishing Equatorial Guinea’s dominance with a goal in the 21st minute. Despite playing for Intercity in the Spanish third tier, Nsue displayed exceptional quality, securing two more goals within the first 15 minutes of the second half, completing a remarkable hat-trick. With his three strikes against Guinea…