Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued an apology to Kalvin Phillips for his earlier comments regarding the midfielder’s weight. Guardiola had made the remarks publicly following Phillips’ return from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, providing an explanation for Phillips’ absence from the squad in a Carabao Cup fourth-round match against Liverpool. Phillips, expressing the impact on his confidence, described the comments as a significant blow. Ahead of the upcoming Premier League clash with Brentford, Guardiola acknowledged his regret, stating, “I’m sorry. I do apologise to him. I’m so sorry.” Additionally, Guardiola mentioned that he had discussed the matter…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
The upcoming friendly between the Super Eagles and Argentina, originally planned for China, has been relocated to the United States of America in March. Details regarding the new venue and date will be disclosed shortly. Additionally, the world champions are set to face El Salvador in another friendly during the same month. In their previous encounters, Nigeria and Argentina have crossed paths eight times, with Argentina emerging victorious in seven instances. The Super Eagles have secured a single win against La Albiceleste. This friendly match serves as crucial preparation for the three-time African champions as they gear up for the…
Moses Simon, the winger for both the Super Eagles and Nantes, has secured the fourth position as the best dribbler in Europe. Opta, a British sports analytics company, reveals that Moses Simon is the fourth-best dribbler in the top five European leagues, following Barcelona’s Yamine Lamal, Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku, and Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane. Based on Opta’s statistics in Ligue 1, Simon boasts a 55.1% dribble completion rate, placing him just behind Lamal (59.7%), Doku (58.6%), and Sané (55.5%). In the current season, the Super Eagles star has contributed three goals and five assists in 18 Ligue 1 appearances…
On Saturday, Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed Lionel Messi in non-penalty goals for club and country, securing his unique milestone in Al-Nassr’s 2-1 victory against Al-Fateh in the Saudi Pro League. The Portugal captain, who recently netted the decisive goal in the AFC Champions League Round of 16 against Al-Feiha, opened the scoring within 17 minutes against Al-Fateh. Salem Al Najdi equalized for Al-Fateh 12 minutes later, but Otavio’s 72nd-minute winner secured all three points for the hosts. With this accomplishment, Al-Nassr is now four points behind league leaders Al-Hilal, who have a game in hand. Ronaldo’s latest goal marked his 715th…
Kenneth Omeruo, the central defender for Nigeria, has highlighted the severity of cyberbullying faced by Super Eagles players when they underperform and fall short of expectations. After the Super Eagles lost to Ivory Coast in the 2023 AFCON final, players faced abusive messages from fans. Alex Iwobi, a midfielder for Fulham and the Super Eagles, was a target of cyberbullying and deleted all his Instagram photos following blame for the team’s performance in the tournament. Omeruo revealed that Ola Aina received a death threat from a supporter after Ivory Coast winger Simon Adingra outplayed the wing-back in the AFCON final.…
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) cleared Nigeria and the Super Eagles players of any misconduct during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where they reached the final but lost 2-1 to Ivory Coast. CAF’s investigations found no infractions on Nigeria’s part. In contrast, AFCON winners Ivory Coast, along with Senegal and Mali, faced sanctions from the CAF Disciplinary Board. The board addressed various matters and imposed penalties on Ivory Coast and Mali, specifically related to their knockout clash on February 3rd. Mali was charged with misconduct due to the unsporting behavior of their players toward match officials. Hamari Traore,…
Petr Cech, the former goalkeeper for Chelsea and Arsenal, has identified the three greatest goalkeepers to have ever played the game. Cech, widely recognized as one of the Premier League’s finest, amassed over 633 appearances in England’s top flight. Throughout his illustrious career, the former Czech international secured two Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy, while also holding the record for the most clean sheets in a single Premier League season. In an interview with Sky Sports, when asked to name the top three goalkeepers of all time, Cech responded, “A first question, a tough question, but definitely…
Former South Africa international, Doctor Khumalo, has expressed optimism about Bafana Bafana’s prospects in the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers scheduled for June, particularly their ability to overcome the Super Eagles. In an interview with SABC News, Khumalo drew confidence from South Africa’s performance in the recently concluded 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Despite a loss to Nigeria in the AFCON semifinal, Khumalo believes that the third-place playoff winners deserve support as they focus on the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. “Their qualification hopes are still alive; let’s not dismantle it, it’s not yet broken. So, let’s give Hugo [South Africa…
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has declared Rodri as the current best midfielder globally. Guardiola praised Rodri’s versatility, emphasizing the vital role the 27-year-old plays in the team’s success, expressing difficulty in comprehending how Manchester City could have achieved their recent accomplishments without him. This recognition follows Rodri’s goal in Manchester City’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea in the Premier League over the weekend. Guardiola, in his remarks quoted by Man City’s website, highlighted Rodri’s ability to score crucial goals, labeling him as an extraordinary player. “He is the best midfield player in the world currently by far because he is…
Victor Osimhen’s participation in Napoli’s upcoming UEFA Champions League clash against LaLiga powerhouse Barcelona is in doubt. Osimhen was absent from the Serie A champions’ 1-1 home draw against Genoa on Saturday. The 25-year-old striker returned late from international duty and only resumed training on Friday. Due to not being fully fit for action, he may also miss the crucial fixture against Barcelona, as stated by manager Walter Mazzarri. Mazzarri mentioned after the Genoa game, “According to him and to the medics, he was down to his last legs. He had a series of muscular issues, and it would’ve been…
Despite Bayern Munich’s 3-2 defeat to Bochum on Sunday, the club has opted not to terminate the contract of Thomas Tuchel. The loss, which marked their third consecutive defeat across all competitions, has left the Bundesliga champions trailing eight points behind current leaders Bayer Leverkusen and raised the possibility of Bayern going without a trophy for the first time in 12 years. Speculation arose when Bayern canceled Tuchel’s post-match press conference, fueling rumors of his potential dismissal. However, according to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Tuchel is set to stay in his position, as he is unwilling to resign and…
After Manchester United’s 2-1 victory at Luton Town on Sunday, manager Erik ten Hag expressed disappointment with three players for turning what should have been an “easy game” into a more challenging one due to missed opportunities. Despite Rasmus Hojlund securing an early two-goal lead for United within the first seven minutes, the team allowed Luton to narrow the margin with a Carlton Morris goal in the 14th minute. Throughout the game, United continued to create scoring opportunities but struggled to convert them, causing some tension among the home support. Ten Hag specifically called out Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and…
Speculation is mounting regarding the future of Napoli’s manager, Walter Mazzarri, with reports indicating the possibility of his dismissal before the Champions League match against Barcelona. Transfer expert Matteo Moretto has hinted at ongoing discussions between Napoli and Slovakia’s national team coach, Francesco Calzona, suggesting the potential for a managerial change. The uncertainty surrounding Mazzarri’s position has increased following Napoli’s recent 1-1 draw against Genoa. While some reports suggest Mazzarri might be granted a final opportunity against Barcelona, Moretto believes there is a chance he could be relieved of his duties even before the crucial European fixture. Francesco Calzona, the…
Inter Miami striker Luis Suarez has shared insights into what triggers frustration for his teammate Lionel Messi when they are on the pitch together in the MLS. Suarez and Messi, who previously played together at Barcelona, have been reunited at Inter Miami. In an interview on the La Mesa podcast, Suarez discussed Messi’s competitive nature, stating, “It’s tough for him [Messi] to lose even in small games, be it in football or during training. Whether it’s a game of soccer, tennis, if he’s losing, he gets heated. If you provoke him, he gets upset.” However, Suarez also emphasized that Messi’s…
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has explained how his team’s adaptability is playing a crucial role in their pursuit of the Premier League title. Currently leading the table with a two-point advantage over Arsenal after 25 rounds, Liverpool demonstrated their resilience with a 4-1 win at Brentford, overcoming new injury concerns. Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota were both substituted before halftime, and Darwin Nunez was withdrawn as a precaution at halftime. Additionally, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson were ruled out due to injuries. Speaking to the press after the match, Van Dijk acknowledged the team’s injury challenges but emphasized the importance…
The Algeria Football Federation has proposed an impressive monthly salary of $90,000 to Jose Peseiro for the role of coaching the Desert Foxes. Peseiro, along with Carlos Querioz and Vladimir Petkovic, is being considered as a potential successor to Djamel Belmadi as the head coach of the Algerian national team. As reported by Algerian news outlet DZ Football, the Algeria Federation is eager to secure Peseiro as the new head coach for the country. Currently, the Portuguese coach is contemplating his options following the expiration of his contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after the conclusion of the 2023…
Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag, has responded to suggestions that Casemiro should have been dismissed in their 2-1 victory against Luton Town. Casemiro received his eighth yellow card in the last 10 matches for a foul on Carlton Morris during Sunday’s game. Despite a late challenge on Ross Barkley, the Brazilian midfielder avoided a second booking. Ten Hag, in a post-match press conference, asserted that Casemiro is frequently unfairly penalized by referees. “Even when he isn’t making contact with opponents, he gets booked. Often, it happens in the first moments of the game,” stated Ten Hag. “I find it…
Stanley Nwabali, the goalkeeper for the Super Eagles who showcased remarkable saves leading Nigeria to the 2024 AFCON finals, has now been bestowed with a prestigious chieftaincy title in his community. Receiving the title of Ugo Egbema, “The Pride of Egbema Kingdom,” from His Royal Majesty, Nzeobi Evaristus Amida, the traditional ruler of Mgbede community in Egbema Kingdom, Nwabali’s achievements were celebrated. The traditional ruler emphasized that the Super Eagles’ goalie was honored with the title in recognition of the honor he brought to his people. Additionally, it’s worth noting that Stanley Nwabali was further acknowledged with a state honor…
Diogo Jota’s departure from the pitch at Brentford presented a concerning moment for Liverpool in their Premier League journey, adding to their growing list of injury woes. The 27-year-old forward’s clash with teammate Alexis Mac Allister resulted in an unfortunate injury, emphasizing the unpredictable and intense nature of football. Jota’s exit, especially during a crucial phase of the season, compounds the challenges faced by Jurgen Klopp with key fixtures on the horizon. The incident occurred amidst a heated challenge, where Mac Allister’s attempt to intercept Brentford’s Christian Norgaard inadvertently led to a mishap. Jota, caught in the crossfire, bore the…
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has absolved Erling Haaland of responsibility for their 1-1 draw with Chelsea. Haaland had nine shots in the Premier League fixture on Saturday, marking the highest number of attempts without scoring for the Norway striker in any game with the Premier League champions. Guardiola commented, “It’s good to have nine shots, and next time he’s going to score. I was a football player for 11 years and scored 11 goals. I’m not a proper man to give advice to strikers. We create the chances, he had the chances and next time he’s going to score.…