According to reports, Liverpool has made an offer to Barcelona regarding the potential transfer of midfielder Thiago Alcantara. The 32-year-old, with an impressive track record of 68 appearances for Barcelona and a successful seven-year stint at Bayern Munich, where he secured seven Bundesliga titles and a Champions League trophy, joined Liverpool in 2020. Despite his achievements, Thiago has faced challenges with injuries, impacting his consistent presence in Liverpool’s starting lineup. He has yet to feature in any matches for Liverpool this season due to a recurring hip issue. Manager Jürgen Klopp provided an update on Thiago’s fitness ahead of the…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Real Madrid has officially confirmed that manager Carlo Ancelotti has inked a contract extension with the club, thereby putting an end to the swirling speculations connecting Ancelotti with the Brazil national team. The Italian tactician has committed to a deal that extends until June 2026 with the LaLiga powerhouse. According to ESPN, discussions regarding the contract gained momentum following a conversation between Ancelotti and club president Florentino Perez on Thursday. In a statement released on Friday, Real Madrid declared, “Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti have reached an agreement to extend our coach’s contract until June 30, 2026.” Currently leading the…
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has acknowledged an injury concern regarding midfielder Romeo Lavia following the Blues’ 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace. Lavia, a summer signing for £58 million, faced a series of fitness issues that kept him out of action for the initial four months of the season. He finally made his much-anticipated debut, featuring in the last 30 minutes of the triumph at Stamford Bridge. However, the jubilation of his debut turned to apprehension as Pochettino revealed that Lavia struggled to walk by the end of the game, prompting fresh medical assessments after encountering another problem. “He feels something,…
Reports suggest that Mason Greenwood has been offered Lionel Messi’s renowned number 10 jersey at Barcelona. The young forward has made significant contributions to Getafe’s rise to eighth place in the La Liga standings since his summer loan from Manchester United, scoring five goals and providing four assists. The Sun states that while Getafe is eager to secure Greenwood permanently, Barcelona is considering a £40 million bid for the 22-year-old. Scouts from the Catalan club reportedly observed him during victories over Sevilla (3-0) and Valencia (1-0) and a draw with Atletico Madrid (3-3). In a strategic move to entice Greenwood…
Analyzing the reasons why five Super Eagles players may not be suitable choices for the Nigerian squad at AFCON 2023. In the lead-up to major football tournaments such as the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the selection process for the national team squad becomes a focal point of intense discussion and examination. Here, we delve into the reasons why five Super Eagles players might not be optimal selections for the Nigerian squad at AFCON 2023. 1. Francis Uzoho: Uzoho, a longstanding member of the Nigerian national team, has faced criticism for inconsistency and errors in critical matches. If there are…
Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has emphasized his regular communication with the club’s owners and sporting directors on a daily basis in the lead-up to the January transfer window. Despite facing challenges in his initial half-season at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea currently occupying the tenth spot in the Premier League table ahead of their trip to Luton Town, Pochettino aims to make necessary adjustments. The Blues have already spent £1 billion under the ownership of BlueCo, prompting speculation about potential transfers to address on-field challenges. During a press conference before Chelsea’s final game of 2023, Pochettino was queried about his…
The Super Eagles of Nigeria, under the guidance of coach Jose Peseiro, have unveiled their 25-player squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire. As announced on the Super Eagles’ official Twitter handle, the squad is composed of three goalkeepers, eight defenders, six midfielders, and eight forwards. Super Eagles Squad: Goalkeepers: 1. Stanley Nwabili 2. Francis Uzoho 3. Leke Ojo Defenders: 1. William Troost-Ekong 2. Bright Osayi Samuel 3. Ola Aina 4. Zaidu Sanusi 5. Bruno Onyemaechi 6. Semi Ajayi 7. Calvin Bassey 8. Chidozie Awaziem 9. Kenneth Omeruo Midfielders: 1. Wilfred Ndidi 2. Joe Aribo 3.…
Andre Onana is seeking to postpone his departure from Manchester United in anticipation of Cameroon’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign. The goalkeeper, having resolved his exile from the national team, has been included in Cameroon’s squad for the upcoming tournament. Despite Cameroon being considered strong contenders for success at AFCON, their journey is set to commence on January 15 with a match against Guinea. According to ESPN, Onana is currently in discussions with the Cameroonian Football Association to potentially delay his call-up until after Manchester United’s FA Cup third-round clash on January 8 against Wigan Athletic, a match that involves…
Real Madrid has issued a warning to Kylian Mbappe, indicating that he must make a decision about his future by mid-January if he intends to join the Santiago Bernabeu. The French striker, a long-standing target for Madrid, is set to enter the final six months of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain next month, granting him the freedom to engage in negotiations with overseas clubs. Despite Madrid’s eagerness to secure Mbappe, The Athletic reports that club officials are cautious due to Mbappe’s surprising decision to reject them in the summer of 2022. At that time, it appeared certain that he would…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed his optimism that Erling Haaland might return to play before the conclusion of January. Following their 3-1 victory over Everton on Wednesday, Guardiola disclosed that Haaland, who has been sidelined due to a recent foot injury, is still not sufficiently recovered to train with his teammates. The 23-year-old forward has been absent from City’s last six games across various competitions. Guardiola explained, “[Haaland] is currently training on his own and not yet with the team. Kevin [De Bruyne] is back training with the team, but Erling is not there yet. It depends on when…
After securing a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening, Chelsea is set to face the following teams in their upcoming Premier League fixtures: 1. Luton Town vs Chelsea – Date: Saturday, 30th December – Venue: Kenilworth Road – Kickoff: 13:30 West African Time 2. Chelsea vs Fulham – Date: 13th January 2023 – Venue: Stamford Bridge – Kickoff: 13:30 West African Time 3. Liverpool vs Chelsea – Date: 31st January 2024 – Venue: Anfield – Kickoff: 21:15 West African Time 4. Chelsea vs Wolverton Wanderers – Date: 4th February 2023 – Venue: Stamford Bridge – Kickoff: 15:00 West…
Manchester United’s center-back Lisandro Martinez has provided an uplifting update on his recovery from a foot injury, leaving fans excited for his imminent return. The resilient defender, who has been sidelined since sustaining the injury, is on track for a comeback, as confirmed by manager Erik ten Hag, who anticipates having Martinez available around mid-January. In a recent interview with the club’s media, Martinez shared insights into his current condition, expressing his satisfaction with the rehabilitation process. He stated, “Well, I am really good, I am really good, honestly. My rehab is going amazingly, in the way that I want,…
Currently, there is a tense situation between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the national team’s head coach, Jose Peseiro, regarding the final squad selection for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Reports indicate that Peseiro has proposed a 25-man squad for the tournament, but the NFF is urging the 63-year-old coach to expand it to 27 players. Peseiro, however, argues that managing a squad of 25 players would be more feasible than handling 27. It’s worth noting that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) permits countries to nominate up to 27 players in their AFCON squads, but only 23…
Mauricio Pochettino, the manager of Chelsea, disclosed that Noni Madueke was not initially designated as the penalty taker during their 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday. Despite captain Conor Gallagher being intended to take the penalty, he deferred to Madueke, who calmly converted the decisive goal in the last two minutes of regulation time. Explaining the decision to allow Madueke to take the penalty, especially in the absence of suspended players Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer, Pochettino commented, “Originally, it was Conor [Gallagher], and I told him, ‘It’s you, but if you’re not confident enough, give it to Noni.’…
Manchester United might face a goalkeeper shortage, with Andre Onana set to miss four weeks due to his acceptance of a call-up to Cameroon’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations. Initially, there were indications that the Red Devils’ first-choice goalkeeper would stay in Manchester to enhance his performance, as his career at Old Trafford had a shaky start. Onana had notable mistakes in Champions League matches against Bayern Munich and Galatasaray, contributing to United’s early exit from the competition. Despite showing improvement in recent performances, he made a crucial error in the Boxing Day comeback against Aston Villa. United,…
Nike, the leading kit manufacturing company, has revealed the Super Eagles’ jerseys for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. The home jersey showcases Nigeria’s traditional green and white colors, while the away jersey features a white background with a touch of green. As the Super Eagles aim for their fourth title at the 2023 AFCON finals, Jose Peseiro’s team finds themselves in Group A alongside hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau. Their campaign kicks off on January 14 against Equatorial Guinea at the Alssanne Quattara Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan. Four days later, they face hosts Cote d’Ivoire at…
Super Falcons and Barcelona Ladies striker, Asisat Oshoala, has contradicted the recent prediction made by Manchester City legend Yaya Toure regarding Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast. Nigeria is placed in Group A at the 2023 AFCON in January alongside host nation Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea. Toure had expressed confidence in Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau advancing past the group stage to reach the knockout stage of the competition. In response to Toure’s prediction during an interview with Brila FM, Oshoala dismissed it, asserting that Nigeria possesses players like Victor Osimhen…
Mauricio Pochettino emphasizes the need for Christopher Nkunku to increase his involvement after making his first start for Chelsea, acknowledging the ongoing process of adaptation. Nkunku, who signed a six-year deal with Chelsea in the summer, had to patiently await his Premier League debut due to a serious knee injury suffered in pre-season. In his first Premier League appearance, the 26-year-old marked the occasion with a stoppage-time header goal in a 2-1 defeat against Wolves. Pochettino entrusted Nkunku with his first start in the subsequent 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace, where he played 70 minutes before being substituted for eventual…
Pervis Estupinan’s stunning long-range strike and two penalties converted by Joao Pedro proved crucial for injury-hit Brighton as they fended off a similarly depleted Tottenham side in a thrilling encounter at the AMEX Stadium on Thursday night. Brighton took an early lead when Jack Hinshelwood’s powerful shot found the net, followed by Joao Pedro converting a penalty after Dejan Kulusevski fouled Danny Welbeck in the box. Substitute Estupinan added a third goal with a remarkable long-range effort, securing a commanding lead for Brighton. Joao Pedro scored his second penalty after a foul on Evan Ferguson, but Tottenham managed to pull…
West Ham pulled off a surprising 2-0 victory in a London derby against Arsenal, marking their first Premier League win at the Emirates Stadium since 2015 and dealing a blow to Arsenal’s title aspirations. The opening goal came from a chaotic scramble in the Arsenal box, culminating in Tomas Soucek confidently slotting the ball home. West Ham extended their lead when Konstantinos Mavropanos flicked in James Ward-Prowse’s corner. Despite Arsenal’s efforts, including opportunities for Leandro Trossard, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Jesus, they failed to mount a comeback. This result allowed Liverpool to increase their lead at the top of the…