Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku is facing a recent hip injury, ruling him out of Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Middlesbrough. Despite making four appearances since returning from knee surgery that sidelined him for the first half of his debut season at Stamford Bridge, Nkunku was deemed unfit to start the FA Cup clash with Preston on Saturday. Rumors circulated about a potential recurrence of his previous injury when the 26-year-old was ultimately left out of the squad. Pochettino sought to allay concerns ahead of the Boro game but acknowledged uncertainty about Nkunku’s return…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has expressed optimism about reaching an agreement for the return of Jadon Sancho on loan from Manchester United. Discussions between the two clubs focus on a loan deal for the 23-year-old winger, who has struggled to showcase his best form since his £73m transfer from Dortmund to United in 2021. While reports last week hinted at nearing a completion of the deal, negotiations have extended into the weekend. Updates suggest that there is still no consensus on a loan fee and other financial aspects. When questioned about the status during Dortmund’s training camp, Watzke confirmed…
Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro revealed that he experimented with new formations during his team’s friendly loss to Guinea on Monday. In the match held at Banis Yas Stadium, Abu Dhabi, Peseiro’s side suffered a 2-0 defeat, with Aguibou Camara and Facinet Conte scoring in each half for the Syli Stars. Peseiro attributed the team’s performance to the change in formation, stating, “We tested a new system today, 3-4-3. We did a very good first half, we were losing 1-0 then, but we deserved more.” He further commented on the missed opportunities, saying, “We lost a penalty and missed…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has disclosed that there is hope for the availability of Christian Eriksen, Luke Shaw, and Harry Maguire in the upcoming clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. The Red Devils are set to face Spurs in a pivotal match for both teams in their pursuit of European qualification. Since their reverse fixture in August, where Tottenham secured a win, United has faced a series of injury setbacks, with key players spending time on the sidelines this season. Following United’s 2-0 victory away at Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup’s third round, Ten Hag acknowledged the…
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed engaging in discussions with homegrown midfielder Conor Gallagher regarding his future at Stamford Bridge amidst potential departure speculations. Last week, 90min reported that Chelsea is willing to entertain offers for Gallagher due to a club policy regarding players in the final 18 months of their contracts, drawing parallels to the situation that led to the sale of Mason Mount to Manchester United in the summer. Gallagher, who has featured in 19 of Chelsea’s 20 Premier League games this season, often captaining the side in the absence of Reece James, is admired by Pochettino, who…
Terem Moffi has been called up to replace the injured Victor Boniface in Nigeria’s squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Boniface is ruled out of the competition due to a groin injury sustained during training. The Bayer Leverkusen player is expected to be sidelined for six weeks and will return to Germany for treatment. Moffi’s inclusion is contingent upon approval from both the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and his Ligue 1 club, OGC Nice. Despite displaying consistency and goal-scoring prowess in Ligue 1 since 2020, Moffi was initially a surprising omission from the final squad.
Barcelona faced an unexpectedly tough challenge to secure their spot in the Copa del Rey round of 16 against fourth-tier side Barbastro on Sunday evening. Barca initially took a comfortable 2-0 lead with goals from Fermin Lopez and Raphinha. However, Barbastro’s Adria de Mesa narrowed the gap to 2-1, and Isreal Garcia came close to equalizing for the home side. Late penalties, converted by Robert Lewandowski and Marc Prat, sealed a narrow 3-2 victory for Xavi Hernandez’s side, allowing them to progress to the next round with a bit of embarrassment. In the first half, Fermin Lopez opened the scoring…
The countdown to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast is underway, with 24 teams set to compete in 52 matches across six stadiums from January 13 to February 11, 2024. A notable highlight of this edition is the impressive lineup of football stars gracing the tournament. BusinessDay presents a preview of five standout players to watch in Ivory Coast. 1. Victor Osimhen Leading the Super Eagles’ attack for Nigeria is Victor Osimhen, recently crowned Africa Men’s Player of the Year. The 25-year-old Napoli striker, instrumental in securing the Serie A title last season, aims to continue…
Mikel Arteta bemoaned Arsenal’s difficulties in converting opportunities following their 2-0 loss to Liverpool in the FA Cup’s third round. Despite falling to their third successive defeat on Sunday, Arsenal had ample chances to secure a victory at the Emirates Stadium. Arteta’s team wasted opportunities amounting to 1.61 expected goals (xG), including Martin Odegaard hitting the crossbar and Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka missing from close range. Addressing the media in his post-match press conference, Arteta expressed disappointment with his team’s failure to capitalize on the numerous chances: “It was a really disappointing result with a big performance against probably…
Erik ten Hag has praised the potential impact that Amad Diallo could bring to Manchester United’s struggling attack after making a successful recovery from injury. Amad returned to Manchester United during the summer after an impressive loan stint with Sunderland in the Championship, where he scored 14 goals from a wide position. Great expectations surrounded the 21-year-old ahead of the 2023/24 season. However, a serious injury kept Amad sidelined for the first half of the campaign, and he made his much-anticipated comeback as a substitute on December 30 in Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.…
Phil Foden netted twice as Manchester City dominated Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup third round at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Despite the Terriers holding firm for the first half-hour, Foden broke the deadlock with a well-taken finish from a tight angle. Shortly after, Julian Alvarez smartly doubled City’s lead. An own goal from Ben Jackson extended the lead to 3-0, with Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku returning from injury. Foden added a fourth with a precise strike from the edge of the box, and Doku sealed the comprehensive victory by slamming home De Bruyne’s cross. In the…
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was absent from Sunday’s FA Cup third-round clash with Arsenal due to illness. The decision to leave out the Dutch defender was unexpected, with Ibrahima Konate and 20-year-old Jarell Quansah forming the central defensive partnership instead. Speaking to BBC Sport about Van Dijk’s absence, Klopp explained that the defender had fallen ill: “Virg [van Dijk] is ill. We were actually kind of lucky in the last two, three weeks because a lot of staff had it but not the players. “And now Virg got the virus and we have to…
England midfielder Jordan Henderson, 33, expresses a desire to return to the Premier League from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq and is open to considering any offers the club receives this month. There is potential interest from Chelsea in acquiring Henderson, a move that could raise the likelihood of Conor Gallagher departing. However, despite Tottenham’s interest in the 23-year-old England midfielder, Gallagher is anticipated to remain at Chelsea this month. Manchester United is exploring the possibility of signing Crystal Palace’s French midfielder Michael Olise, 22, and is contemplating an exchange deal that involves English defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 26. Wolves are actively…
Former striker for Barcelona and Cameroon, Samuel Eto’o, recently shared his insights on the state of African football. Renowned for his contributions to major clubs such as Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Chelsea, Eto’o played a pivotal role in Cameroon’s two Africa Cup of Nations triumphs, retiring as the highest goal-scorer in AFCON history. In a discussion with the Athletic via ESPN, Eto’o addressed the potential for growth and success in African football. The four-time African Footballer of the Year winner expressed his belief that African footballers possess greater talent than their European counterparts. Eto’o confidently stated that he sees no…
President Bola Tinubu has resolved the outstanding payments owed by the Federal Government to the Super Eagles and various other national sports teams. According to a statement from Tinubu’s Media Centre, the N12 billion payment covers 15 months of salaries for senior national team coaches, allowances, and commitments owed to the senior national teams, female teams, and the Under-20 national team. The statement reads, “President @officialABAT has approved the payment of N12 billion outstanding backlog for Nigeria’s National teams of various sports, which includes Super Eagles and others. The payment entails the clearing of the senior national team coach salaries…
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is concerned about the fitness of Christopher Nkunku ahead of Tuesday’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium. Nkunku, who recently recovered from a severe knee injury, suffered a hip problem in training and missed Saturday’s 4-0 FA Cup third-round win over Preston North End, leaving fans eager for updates on his condition. Ben Chilwell (hamstring), Carney Chukwuemeka (knee), and Benoit Badiashile (unspecified) are also uncertain for the match as they near the end of their recoveries. On the flip side, Reece James (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (knee), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Robert Sanchez…
Robert Mizo, the Nigerian forward, has officially completed his move to the Libyan Professional League powerhouse, Al Hilal, bidding farewell to his former club, Bayelsa United. The prolific striker has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Al Hilal following successful negotiations between his representatives and the club. Mizo’s impressive goal-scoring abilities on the field have made him one of the most sought-after players in the Nigeria Premier Football League. During the current NPFL season, he scored an outstanding 10 goals in 15 games for Bayelsa United, adding to his total of 19 goals in the year 2023. Despite narrowly missing out…
Amid varying opinions from some European circles, the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) stands as the most coveted trophy for an African footballer on the continent. Unlike Europe, where the debate revolves around the supremacy of the UEFA Champions League over the Euro Championship, AFCON holds unparalleled significance in the vibrant realm of African football. Nevertheless, there exist African football legends whose illustrious careers, though adorned with numerous honors, lack the gleam of the golden AFCON trophy. The Guardian delves into the stories of ten such greats who, despite their remarkable contributions, never clinched the prestigious AFCON title before bidding…
Carlo Ancelotti expressed confidence in Arda Guler’s potential for success at Real Madrid, commending the young player’s character following his long-awaited club debut on Saturday night. In the Copa del Rey clash against Arandina, Los Blancos secured a 3-1 away victory with goals from Joselu, Brahim Diaz, and Rodrygo. Guler, the Turkish international, had previously been on the Madrid bench without making an appearance but showcased his dynamism during his hour-long debut. He struck the post from a free-kick and created three chances for his teammates. Ancelotti acknowledged Guler’s performance, stating, “He played for an hour at a good level.…
Who stand as the preeminent players to have donned the number 9 jersey in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)? The AFCON has witnessed a myriad of exceptional strikers, each leaving an indelible mark while representing their nations adorned in the revered number 9 jersey. Roger Milla (Cameroon) Renowned globally for his performances in both the World Cup and AFCON, Roger Milla played a pivotal role in Cameroon’s triumphs in the 1984 and 1988 AFCON tournaments. His goal celebrations at the 1990 FIFA World Cup further solidified his iconic status, and Milla’s remarkable longevity saw him play…