The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is poised to commence in Ivory Coast on January 13, bringing together some of the continent’s premier football talent in a quest for the championship. Almost all 24 participating teams have unveiled their final squads for the tournament, slated to conclude on February 11, 2024. As anticipation builds for the 34th edition of the competition, Naija News has highlighted several standout players to keep an eye on: 1. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria): The 25-year-old Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, stands out as a must-watch player at the tournament. Absent from the 2021 edition due to…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, has suggested that his transition to the Saudi Pro League will open the door for other renowned players to join the league. Upon his initial move to the Middle East, the Portuguese superstar boldly declared that the league would ascend to become one of the top five globally. Reiterating this prediction after significant transfers, including Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, N’golo Kante, and Neymar, Ronaldo expresses anticipation for even more high-profile names in the upcoming transfer windows. Reflecting on his decision to join the league, Ronaldo stated, “I’m happy because when I made the…
Jose Peseiro is aiming to clinch victory in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as he readies the Super Eagles for the continent’s premier football prize against 23 other teams. The last time Nigeria reached the final was in 2013 under the guidance of the late Steven Keshi, securing the title with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Burkina Faso. As reported by All Nigeria Soccer, Peseiro is determined to make history by ending the Super Eagles’ AFCON drought, expressing his goal to win the competition set to commence in Ivory Coast on January 13. He emphasized his commitment, stating, “I…
The contract of former Manchester United defender Eric Bailly with Besiktas has been terminated. This decision comes just three months after his initial move to the Turkish club in September. Despite joining Besiktas after leaving Manchester United, Bailly’s stint in Turkey has concluded prematurely. The Ivory Coast international featured in only eight matches for Besiktas following his departure from Manchester United. The club has officially confirmed the termination of Eric Bailly’s contract through a statement, expressing mutual agreement in parting ways with the former Villarreal center-back. The statement from Besiktas reads, “Eric Bailly’s contract has been terminated by mutual agreement.…
Manchester United plunged back into turmoil on Saturday evening, suffering a dismal 2-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest. Despite cautious optimism following the comeback win over Aston Villa, United’s offensive struggles were evident as they failed to generate meaningful shots on goal, conceding a deserved goal from Nicolas Dominguez after the break. Forest goalkeeper Matt Turner’s error provided Marcus Rashford with an equalizer, but the parity was short-lived. Morgan Gibbs-White capitalized on poor defending to secure three well-earned points for Nuno Espirito Santo’s team. The game’s unfolding saw Dominguez’s early attempt blocked, signaling Forest’s bright start. Raphael Varane’s uneasy clearance gave…
Mauricio Pochettino, the Chelsea manager, emphasized that defender Thiago Silva consistently expresses discontent and rarely finds satisfaction. Pochettino made these remarks while understanding Silva’s post-match reaction after Chelsea secured a 3-2 victory over Luton Town on Saturday. Silva, who was observed pushing away cameras before engaging in a heated discussion with Enzo Fernandez during the match, prompted questions about his frustrations. In response, Pochettino commented to TNT Sport, saying, “Thiago is like that. He’s always complaining and rarely content – but that’s a positive trait.” Acknowledging Silva’s age of 39 and his continued active participation in the game, Pochettino highlighted…
Real Madrid declined the opportunity to bring back former goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who offered his services after Thibaut Courtois suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Despite Courtois’ absence, Madrid opted to secure the services of Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan from Chelsea. Navas, a club legend, had expressed interest in returning to the Santiago Bernabeu. Navas, who played a pivotal role in Madrid’s three consecutive Champions League victories under Zinedine Zidane, joined the club in 2014 from Levante and made a total of 162 appearances. After winning La Liga in 2016/17, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 2019. The…
Transfer News Summary: – Manchester United is open to selling Raphael Varane in the January transfer window, with Bayern Munich leading the race for his signature. Interest from the Saudi Pro League is also noted. (Football Insider) – Victor Lindelof, the Manchester United defender, will remain at the club as they have triggered a one-year extension clause in his contract, which was set to expire in the summer of 2024. (The Athletic) – Erik ten Hag’s recommendation may secure a new one-year deal for veteran center-back Jonny Evans, extending his stay at Manchester United. (Daily Star) – Bayer Leverkusen’s manager,…
Los Angeles FC has officially announced the successful completion of an agreement to acquire goalkeeper Hugo Lloris from Tottenham Hotspur. The French goalkeeper had expressed his intention to part ways with Spurs during the summer, subsequently not featuring under new manager Ange Postecoglou, who placed his trust in Guglielmo Vicario. While a summer transfer did not materialize, Lloris has now secured a permanent departure, with Spurs confirming the impending transfer in the coming days. John Thorrington, LAFC co-president & general manager, expressed enthusiasm about Lloris joining the team, citing his status as one of the most successful goalkeepers of his…
Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that Manchester City faces a challenge in the Premier League title race as he admits that “Liverpool are better” than his team. Despite a recent improvement in domestic form with consecutive late December victories, the defending champions find themselves in third place in the standings. They trail Liverpool and Aston Villa by two points, with a game in hand over Unai Emery’s side. However, a potential drop to fourth place looms if Arsenal avoids defeat at Fulham on New Year’s Eve. Guardiola, aiming for a historic fourth-successive Premier League title, conceded that Liverpool is currently better…
Mauricio Pochettino, the head coach of Chelsea, emphasized that numerous top teams have encountered difficulties playing away at Luton Town after his side narrowly secured a 3-2 victory at Kenilworth Road. Despite initially holding a three-goal lead with a splendid brace from Cole Palmer and one from Noni Madueke, Chelsea found themselves under pressure in the final ten minutes as Ross Barkley and Elijah Adebayo netted for Luton, setting the stage for a gripping conclusion. Despite the Hatters’ fervent efforts, they were unable to find the equalizing goal. In the post-match press conference, Pochettino acknowledged that Chelsea deserved the win…
Manchester City narrowed the gap between them and league leaders Liverpool with a 2-0 triumph over Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon. Rodri broke the deadlock for the hosts just 14 minutes into the game, but City couldn’t extend their lead in the first half. Nevertheless, Sheffield United’s resistance lasted only until the hour mark when Julian Alvarez secured the second goal, sealing all three points for City. The outcome levels Man City with Arsenal in points before the Gunners’ upcoming clash with Fulham on New Year’s Eve, positioning them just two points behind Liverpool. In the early stages, it was…
Nuno Espirito Santo asserted that Nottingham Forest effectively “managed” Manchester United in their 2-1 triumph in the Premier League on Saturday night. Second-half goals from Nicolas Dominguez and Morgan Gibbs-White overturned Marcus Rashford’s equalizer, securing Forest’s second win in three games under Santo and propelling them to 15th place, five points clear of the relegation zone. This victory followed Chris Wood’s hat-trick that led to a 3-2 success at Newcastle on Boxing Day, and Santo commended his players for their resilience, especially after Matt Turner’s mistake provided Manchester United with a lifeline. “I think we played well,” Santo stated. “In…
Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo is set to conclude 2023 as the top goal scorer worldwide. Ronaldo achieved this milestone by netting his 54th goal of the year during Al Nassr’s 4-1 victory over Al Taawoun in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday. Remarkably, Ronaldo’s 54 goals, amassed in 59 appearances for both club and country, surpass the goal tallies of other prominent players in 2023, including Harry Kane of Bayern Munich, Kylian Mbappé of Paris Saint-Germain (52 goals each), and Erling Haaland of Manchester City (50 goals). With none of the contenders scheduled to play again in 2023, this…
Sadio Mane, a key figure in Senegal’s triumph at the 2021 tournament in Cameroon, is poised to play a crucial role in their defense of the title in Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11. The 31-year-old winger from Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League will lead the charge, supported by six Premier League players, including Chelsea’s striker, Nicolas Jackson. Among the Premier League representatives in Senegal’s squad are Tottenham’s Teranga Pape Matar Sarr, Everton’s Idrissa Gueye, Fulham’s Fode Ballo-Toure, and Nottingham Forest’s Moussa Niakhate and Cheikhou Kouyate. Coach Aliou Cisse has also included Seny Dieng, the goalkeeper…
Tobi Amusan, the World Record holder, is set to make her return to the 60m Hurdles at the ORLEN Copernicus Cup as part of her preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Nigeria’s track sensation, Tobi Amusan, is gearing up for her first 60m hurdling competition in two years, scheduled to take place at the ORLEN Copernicus Cup on February 6th, 2024. Amusan faces tough competition, including Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska and Reetta Hurske, boasting Personal Best (PB) times of 7.78s and 7.79s, respectively. Hungarian National Record holder Luca Kozák adds to the formidable lineup. The world 100m Hurdles record holder…
Manchester United’s manager, Erik Ten Hag, has identified five players poised to make a comeback from injury in January. Providing a team news update ahead of their Premier League match against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Ten Hag revealed that the Red Devils, currently in seventh place, will be facing crucial fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa in their next five top-flight games. He stated, “It will be a similar squad [for the trip to Forest] as we had against Villa. Mid-January, we expect many players back, including Mason Mount, Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia. We also anticipate the return…
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has implemented a provision that will bar clubs affiliated with the European Super League from participating in the Italian Serie A starting from the 2024-2025 season. Italian Football Federation to Restrict European Super League Clubs The European Super League emerged as a highly contentious development in European football in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Introduced in April 2021, the league attracted interest from twelve top European clubs, with notable names such as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Juventus considered pioneering members. However, the league faced a rapid demise within 72 hours of its inception…
Recent reports suggest that Chelsea Football Club is contemplating raising ticket prices for the upcoming 2024/25 season. Since Todd Boehly, an American businessman, took over control at Stamford Bridge from Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich last year, Chelsea has become one of the prominent spenders in the Premier League. With investments exceeding £1 billion under Boehly’s ownership, the club has made significant acquisitions, including Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Marc Cucurella, and Raheem Sterling. Despite the substantial investment in new talent, Chelsea’s on-field performance has been lackluster. Previous seasons witnessed managerial changes, with Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, and Frank Lampard…
Atalanta’s manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, expresses discontent over the departure of winger Ademola Lookman for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Lookman secured a spot in Nigeria’s 25-man squad for the premier continental football competition, as announced by head coach Jose Peseiro on Friday. The former Leicester City star is set to make his debut appearance in the tournament, with a potential absence of around a month if Nigeria progresses to the final. Gasperini acknowledges the impact of Lookman’s absence on the team’s attacking dynamics but assures that there is a suitable replacement for the player. “Lookman leaving for the…