Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze made a significant impact as a substitute, scoring to aid AC Milan in securing a UEFA Europa League spot with a 2-1 triumph over Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Wednesday. Chukwueze, recently acquired from Villarreal, has faced challenges in earning regular playing time with the Italian Serie A club. Despite his crucial goal, it wasn’t sufficient to propel AC Milan into the knockout stage. Group F witnessed intense drama as three teams vied for the second group ticket, following Dortmund’s earlier qualification. Newcastle seemed poised for the round of 16 at one point…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Africa’s standout player, Victor Osimhen, has tentatively agreed to extend his contract with Napoli. Despite strong interest from prominent European clubs, the Super Eagles star is set to sign a one-year extension, binding him to Napoli until 2026. This development deals a blow to teams like Chelsea, who were actively pursuing Osimhen, with reports suggesting concrete interest in a potential January transfer. Osimhen’s initial five-year deal with Napoli was scheduled to conclude in the summer of 2025, attracting attention from clubs hoping to capitalize on the situation. The contract extension, while not necessarily preventing Osimhen from leaving Napoli, provides the…
Chidera Ejuke, the nimble Super Eagles winger, made 21 appearances for Hertha Berlin last season but failed to find the back of the net. In a recent report by Torizone, the 25-year-old expressed his disappointment over a past failed move to Liverpool. Currently on loan with Belgian side Royal Antwerp from his parent club CSKA Moscow, Ejuke has netted three goals in thirteen outings this season. Ejuke first ventured into Europe at the age of 17, attracting interest from Manchester City, Liverpool, and Norwegian side Vålerenga. He initially arrived in Europe when Vålerenga Fotball signed him in 2017. According to…
Newcastle United’s hopes in the Champions League and European competition were shattered on Wednesday night as they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat against Milan at home. Joelinton’s powerful strike from inside the box gave Newcastle a well-deserved lead at halftime, with Milan struggling to create significant opportunities. However, Christian Pulisic equalized after the break, and Samuel Chukwueze completed a stunning comeback late in the game. Despite Paris Saint-Germain managing only a 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund in the other group match, a victory for Newcastle would have secured their spot in the knockout stages. Unfortunately, they also missed out on…
Liverpool has officially announced the opening of the upper tier of the recently revamped Anfield Road stand for the much-anticipated match against Manchester United, expanding the stadium’s capacity to over 57,000. The construction project, initiated in 2021 with an initial target for completion at the beginning of the 2023/24 Premier League season, encountered setbacks, including delays caused by the appointed construction company filing for administration. Consequently, the Anfield Road stand had only been partially accessible for the majority of the ongoing campaign. Following a successful trial event on Monday, Liverpool confirmed the extensive opening of the Anfield Road side for…
Barcelona, despite finishing at the top of their Champions League group, suffered a surprising defeat on matchday six against Antwerp in Belgium. The unexpected turn of events unfolded in a chaotic few minutes of stoppage time. In a thrilling encounter, 17-year-old Barcelona substitute Marc Guiu secured a late equalizer for Xavi’s team, leveling the score after being twice behind against the team they previously defeated 5-0 on matchday one. However, it was 17-year-old Antwerp forward George Ilenikhena who emerged as the hero, clinching a historic victory with an even later goal. The opening moments saw Antwerp’s 18-year-old Arthur Vermeeren giving…
Antonio Rudiger has disclosed that he consistently urges his Real Madrid teammate Toni Kroos to reconsider his decision to retire from international football. Kroos, who amassed 106 appearances for Germany from 2010 to 2021 and secured a World Cup victory in 2014 before joining Real Madrid, announced his retirement from the national team after a disappointing Euro 2020. At the age of 31, he explained that the decision was aimed at prioritizing his club career and spending more time with his wife and three children. Despite Kroos’ rationale, his absence is keenly felt by his international peers. “I ask him…
On Wednesday evening, Manchester City achieved a significant milestone by becoming only the second English team in Champions League history to secure victory in all six of their group stage games. The Cityzens clinched this feat with a 3-2 win against Red Star in Serbia. Pep Guardiola, having already secured the top spot in Group G, fielded a youthful lineup that showcased their prowess in Belgrade. Micah Hamilton, making his Champions League debut, opened the scoring with a superb finish in the first half. Oscar Bobb extended the visitors’ lead with an equally impressive effort after an hour at the…
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has showered praise on Samuel Chukwueze’s goal in AC Milan’s 2-1 triumph over Newcastle United. Chukwueze, entering the game as a substitute, secured the winning goal for the Rossoneri, marking his second goal in the competition this season. Despite falling behind with Joellinton’s goal in the 60th minute, Stefano Pioli’s side managed to level the score through Christian Public. Chukwueze then clinched the victory with a goal six minutes from the final whistle, elegantly curling the ball into the net after receiving a pass from Noah Okafor. Ferdinand, providing punditry for TNT Sports, remarked,…
Former Super Eagles winger, Emmanuel Amuneke, has responded to reports suggesting that he voted for Egypt’s Mohamed Salah over Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen in the 2023 CAF Player of the Year Award. Amuneke clarified that he was not selected to participate in the voting for the CAF Awards. He explained that a viral video causing the uproar actually captured a Moroccan journalist posing a question to him about choosing between Salah and Achraf Hakimi. “I was never selected to vote in the CAF Awards. A Moroccan journalist came to me and asked ‘Hakimi or Salah.’ I said Salah because I played…
Mikel Arteta has provided insight into his decision not to field Ethan Nwaneri, Lino Sousa, and Reuell Walters in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with PSV Eindhoven, explaining that he felt it wasn’t the “right context” for the trio to make their Champions League debuts. Nwaneri, Sousa, and Walters were included in the squad for Arsenal’s final UEFA Champions League group stage game against PSV, which was essentially a dead-rubber match. Despite fans’ anticipation to see the teenagers in action in the Netherlands, Arteta chose not to play any of the three youngsters. Instead, he opted for substitutions that included Declan Rice,…
Manchester United’s Champions League campaign came to a lackluster end on Tuesday night with a disappointing 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich at Old Trafford. The first half was characterized by a lack of goals and excitement, with neither team managing to break the deadlock. The decisive moment came in the second half when Kingsley Coman’s goal proved to be the lone highlight in an otherwise dull contest. Erik ten Hag’s team needed a victory to maintain any hope of advancing but also relied on Copenhagen and Galatasaray drawing in their match. However, Copenhagen’s win meant that Manchester United’s fate was…
Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala have secured spots on the final shortlists for the 2023 Globe Soccer Awards in the men’s and women’s categories. Osimhen, recently named the best player in Africa, is among the 11 contenders for the Men’s award. The other players vying for the honor include Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Vinícius Jr (Real Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Bernardo Silva (Man City), Kevin De Bruyne (Man City), Erling Haaland (Man City), and Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr). Osimhen aims to become the first African player to clinch the Best…
Following a challenging season marked by a recent league defeat to Bournemouth, Manchester United is reportedly contemplating changes and evaluating the potential departure of several players in the upcoming January transfer window. The defeat against Bournemouth, orchestrated by Dominic Solanke, Philip Billing, and Marco Senesi at Old Trafford, has added to the team’s troubles. Furthermore, Manchester United is now set to face Liverpool without captain Bruno Fernandes, who is sidelined due to injury. Against the backdrop of unresolved ownership concerns and Financial Fair Play considerations, reports from the Manchester Evening News suggest that United has identified five players for potential…
A total of fourteen teams have already secured their positions in the Round of 16 for the 2023/2024 UEFA Champions League, with the latest developments following Tuesday night’s matches. Notably, Bayern Munich claimed victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, securing their place in the next stage with a 1-0 win. In Group A, FC Copenhagen secured a 1-0 win over Galatasaray, finishing second behind Bayern Munich. Napoli also advanced to the knockout stages with a 2-0 victory over Braga. As the stage is now set for thrilling matchups, some of Europe’s premier clubs are gearing up to compete for…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has indicated reasons behind his team’s 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League match at Old Trafford. Bayern Munich secured the victory with a second-half goal from Kingsley Coman, resulting in Manchester United’s elimination from the Champions League. In his post-match interview, Ten Hag attributed the defeat to Manchester United’s depleted squad, emphasizing the significant impact of individual mistakes made by his players against Thomas Tuchel’s formidable side. Ten Hag expressed, “The players gave everything, showcasing spirit, and I must credit the team for their commendable teamwork against this formidable Bayern…
Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen stated that he has moved on from the TikTok controversy with Napoli. The 24-year-old faced mockery in a video posted by the club’s official TikTok account after missing a penalty in the 0-0 draw against Bologna in September, leading his agent Roberto Calenda to consider legal action against Napoli. Osimhen described the TikTok incident as a ‘stupid error’ and clarified that neither the club nor President Aurelio De Laurentiis treated him poorly. Speaking after being named African Player of the Year, he said, “I must clarify something. I was not treated badly by Napoli or De…
Napoli forward Victor Osimhen has shared a heartfelt message with his family and supporters after securing the Men’s Player of the Year accolade at the CAF Awards 2023. Osimhen clinched this prestigious award during an elaborate ceremony held in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday night. The 24-year-old emerged victorious in a tough competition against Achraf Hakimi and Mohamed Salah, marking a significant achievement as the first Nigerian to claim the honor since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999. This remarkable night for Nigeria continued with Barcelona Femeni’s Asisat Oshoala receiving the Women’s Player of the Year award, and Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie…
Real Madrid concluded the Champions League group stage with an impeccable record, securing a 3-2 victory over Union Berlin on Tuesday. The hosts took the lead in the first half through a goal from Kevin Volland. However, two goals from Joselu after the break initially seemed to dictate the flow of the game. The final five minutes proved to be frantic, leaving the outcome uncertain. Within the opening minute, Kepa Arrizabalaga, making a justified return to the team, made an excellent save to deny Kevin Behrens from close range. Nacho Fernandez had to clear off the line moments later, although…
Arsenal concluded their successful Champions League group-stage campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against PSV Eindhoven. While top spot in their group had already been secured, Arsenal remained determined to secure three more points in Eindhoven. Mikel Arteta selected a mixed starting lineup but reinforced the team with strong substitutions. However, the final touch was lacking from Arsenal’s play for most of the match. PSV had an early opportunity to take the lead as Patrick van Aanholt was denied a close-range tap-in, and Ricardo Pepi’s follow-up was miraculously cleared by Gabriel. Vertessen hit the post with a header ten minutes…