Reports indicate that the Premier League is poised for a significant VAR overhaul starting next season, prompted by a series of controversies during the current season. VAR faced scrutiny, particularly after a mistaken decision disallowing a Liverpool goal for offside against Tottenham in September. Arsenal also found themselves in two separate incidents where goals stood despite concerns about the ball going out of play against Newcastle and West Ham. Additionally, questions arose over the failure to award Liverpool a penalty against Arsenal for a perceived handball, acknowledged as an error by PGMOL chief Howard Webb on the ‘Match Officials Mic’d…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Arsenal secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory away against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday evening, narrowing the gap at the Premier League summit. For 64 resolute, albeit challenging, minutes, Forest held a steadfast defense. Arsenal’s effectiveness from dead balls proved crucial once more, as a clever throw-in (aided by Matt Turner’s positioning) resulted in Gabriel Jesus opening the scoring. Bukayo Saka extended the visitors’ lead just seven minutes later. Taiwo Awoniyi reduced the deficit late in the game, setting up a tense stoppage time. However, Arsenal held on to their slim advantage, now trailing league leaders Liverpool by only two points. Game…
Mauricio Pochettino has disclosed that Chelsea is actively working to bring Nicolas Jackson back from the Africa Cup of Nations in time for Wednesday’s showdown against Liverpool. Senegal, led by Jackson, was eliminated from the AFCON on Monday night, suffering a defeat to hosts Cote d’Ivoire in a thrilling penalty shootout during the round of 16. With Senegal’s exit, Chelsea is eager to expedite Jackson’s return to the club and reintegrate him into the first-team setup swiftly. Addressing Jackson’s situation in the pre-match press conference, Pochettino acknowledged the club’s efforts to have him available for the crucial clash with Liverpool…
Before the quarterfinal fixtures of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), let’s take a look at the leading goal scorers in the competition: Leading the goal-scoring charts is Emilio Nsue from Equatorial Guinea, who has netted five goals. Following closely are Mostafa Mohamed from Egypt and Gelson Dala from Angola, both with four goals each. After the conclusion of the Round of 16 matches on Tuesday night, teams such as Angola, Nigeria, Guinea, Congo DR, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, and South Africa have secured their spots in the quarterfinals. Current top scorers in the 2023 AFCON: – Emilio…
Just four days before the crucial quarter-final match against Nigeria, concerns have arisen within the camp of Angola’s Palancas Negras. Having reached the quarter-finals for the first time in their history with a 3-0 victory over Namibia on Saturday, the team faces a setback. In an update from the camp in Abidjan, it was reported that star player Ben Mukendi opted to leave the team on Monday and head back to his club in Portugal. Despite being one of the standout performers for the country during the qualifiers, Mukendi has struggled to secure regular playing time in the ongoing competition.…
The quarter-final matchups for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations have been officially confirmed after the conclusion of the Round of 16 stage on Tuesday night. Mali secured their place with a 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso. Edmond Tapsoba’s early own goal and Lassie Sinayoko’s composed finish gave Mali a 2-0 lead before Bertrand Traore pulled one back from the penalty spot. South Africa caused an upset by defeating tournament favorites Morocco 2-0. Evidence Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena were the scorers for Bafana Bafana in this historic win. The quarter-final pairings are as follows: 1. Mali vs Ivory Coast 2.…
Chelsea’s manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has confirmed the inclusion of Malo Gusto and Christopher Nkunku in his squad for the upcoming Premier League match against Liverpool on Wednesday. Additionally, Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson, whose national team has been eliminated from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, may also feature at Anfield. Pochettino stated, “It is positive news that Malo Gusto and Christoph [Nkunku] could be in the squad for tomorrow. They will travel with us, which is good news. We will wait until the last moment, but for now, it’s positive to have two players recovered. We will also see if…
Despite Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi’s crucial penalty miss leading to Morocco’s exit from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the country’s football fans displayed steadfast support for the former Real Madrid right-back, as reported by Sport Brief. Hakimi had an opportunity to level the score in the final minutes of the match against South Africa but missed, contributing to Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 victory. In a video circulating on social media, Moroccan supporters were seen chanting Hakimi’s name, demonstrating solidarity with the visibly distressed player. Despite the disappointment, the fans expressed empathy for Hakimi’s challenging moment on the field. South Africa…
Moses Simon has cautioned his fellow Super Eagles teammates to maintain their grounded approach ahead of the upcoming match against Angola. The three-time champions are set to face the Palancas Negras in a quarter-final clash at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Friday. The Super Eagles have showcased resilience and skill throughout the tournament, particularly in notable victories against strong opponents such as Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon. Despite their commendable performances, Simon emphasized the importance of continuous hard work. As quoted by thenff.com, Simon remarked, “It is going to be a challenging game, similar to those against Cote…
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have emerged as the top-ranked team in the remaining lineup of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, following South Africa’s surprising 2-0 victory over Morocco on Tuesday night. Before the match, four of the top five African teams had already been eliminated, with Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia exiting the competition. Despite Morocco being the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals and being heavily favored against Bafana Bafana, who struggled in the group stage, South Africa secured a remarkable win with second-half goals from Evidence Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena. With Morocco’s departure,…
The Super Eagles’ impact transcends the confines of the stadium, particularly spearheaded by Victor Osimhen’s prominent role in the digital realm. Throughout the AFCON 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast, Nigeria’s Super Eagles have not only surprised with their on-field resilience but have also asserted their dominance in the virtual space. With a commanding presence across various social media platforms, the Super Eagles stand out as the team exerting the most significant influence online, captivating football enthusiasts globally. A recent study conducted by Pulse Sports has illuminated the extent of the Super Eagles’ digital sway. The findings indicate that the team…
Ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarterfinal against Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Angola’s players and officials have received substantial financial support and valuable gifts. The Palancas Negras secured a spot in the quarterfinals by defeating Namibia 3-0 in the Round of 16. Banco Angolano de Investimento, an Angolan bank, has pledged to reward each Angola player and coaching staff with five million Kwanzas (approximately N5.41 million) if they reach the semifinals. In addition, Aguinaldo Jaime, President of the Board of Directors of UNITEL, a private Angolan mobile phone firm, gifted each member of the Angolan delegation in Cote d’Ivoire…
Chippa United, the South African club, is demanding €2 million for the transfer of their Nigerian goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali. Nwabali has garnered attention as one of Nigeria’s standout performers in the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire. The 27-year-old goalkeeper has impressively secured three clean sheets in four appearances for the Super Eagles in the tournament. His noteworthy displays for Chippa United throughout the season have attracted interest, with reports suggesting that Union St Gilloise from the Belgian Pro League is leading the pursuit for Nwabali. However, the former Katsina United goalkeeper is uncertain for Nigeria’s AFCON…
Manchester United released a statement on Monday night regarding forward Marcus Rashford, following crucial discussions with manager Erik ten Hag. Rashford, who missed their FA Cup victory over Newport County, was present at the club’s training ground for talks with Ten Hag. Despite the initial explanation from the Red Devils citing illness as the reason for his absence, Rashford stirred controversy after being sighted in a Belfast nightclub and skipping training. Providing a further update on the situation, United’s statement conveyed: “Marcus has taken responsibility for his actions. This has been addressed as an internal disciplinary matter, which is now…
Senegal’s winger, Krepin Diatta, may potentially face disciplinary measures for accusing the Confederation of African Football (CAF) of corruption following their elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations. The reigning champions were defeated by Ivory Coast in a penalty shootout on Monday. Expressing his frustration as he left the stadium in the Ivorian capital Yamoussoukro, Diatta declared, “You have killed us. You are corrupt. Keep your African Cup,” in an outburst overheard by reporters. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, and Ivory Coast secured a 5-4 victory on penalties. Diatta’s anger stemmed from the referee’s decision not to award…
Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, is among the top candidates on a three-man shortlist to potentially replace Xavi at Barcelona, alongside Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool and Germany’s national team coach, Julian Nagelsmann. Arteta is contemplating stepping down from his role at Arsenal at the end of the season, although there has been no formal approach from Barcelona as of now. Hansi Flick, the former coach of Germany and Bayern Munich, is also under consideration by Barcelona. Paris St-Germain is optimistic about securing a summer deal for Newcastle United’s 26-year-old Brazilian midfielder, Bruno Guimaraes. Both PSG and Newcastle are expressing interest in…
LaLiga president Javier Tebas expresses confidence in Kylian Mbappe making a switch from Paris to Madrid during the upcoming summer transfer window. Javier Tebas is convinced that Kylian Mbappe is inclined to join Real Madrid at the conclusion of the current season. With Mbappe’s contract with PSG set to expire in June, he is free to engage in discussions with foreign teams. Tebas is optimistic that Mbappe will opt for Real Madrid over other contenders, including Liverpool, Chelsea, and even Barcelona. Regarding the potential move, Tebas stated, “I think the percentage is very high, but it’s my personal opinion,” during…
The eagerly awaited showdown between Liverpool and Chelsea is poised to unfold in the English Premier League tomorrow at Anfield Stadium. League leaders Liverpool seek to strengthen their position atop the league table by securing three crucial points in this encounter. Meanwhile, an in-form Chelsea is determined to overcome Liverpool, aiming to enhance their standing in the league this season. LIV VS CHE: Chelsea’s Optimal Lineup for Their Upcoming Pivotal EPL Match In this piece, we will explore Chelsea’s most formidable lineup for their crucial Premier League clash against Liverpool tomorrow, adopting a 4-2-3-1 formation. LIV VS CHE: Chelsea’s Optimal…
Chelsea is open to considering offers for Armando Broja for the remainder of the transfer window, with plans to secure a high-profile striker during the upcoming summer, according to information obtained by 90min. Despite Broja’s resilience in overcoming a significant injury to make 19 appearances this season, contributing two goals and two assists, the club’s leadership, as confirmed by sources, is willing to entertain offers for the 22-year-old either in the current window or in the summer. Although head coach Mauricio Pochettino has openly expressed his admiration for the young talent, likening him to former Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane,…
Virgil van Dijk has disclosed his uncertainty regarding his future with Liverpool in the aftermath of Jurgen Klopp’s departure. Klopp announced on Friday that he would be stepping down as Liverpool manager at the conclusion of the 2023/24 season, having informed the club of his decision back in November. In their first match since the announcement, Liverpool secured a convincing 5-2 victory over Norwich City in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday. Van Dijk, who scored during the emotional Anfield encounter, faced questions from the press post-match about his potential continuation with the club after Klopp’s departure. Responding to…