At the prestigious 2024 CAF Awards, Nigeria’s Super Falcons claimed the title of National Team of the Year, further cementing their dominance in African football. The Super Falcons earned this recognition following an outstanding year, marked by their remarkable performance at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where they showcased resilience and exceptional talent. This victory adds to the Super Falcons’ rich legacy, reinforcing their status as one of the most successful teams in the history of African football.
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has explained that Marc Cucurella was sent off after full-time in their 2-1 victory over Brentford due to bad behavior. Cucurella opened the scoring at Stamford Bridge before Nicolas Jackson doubled Chelsea’s lead. Bryan Mbeumo later pulled one back for Brentford, but the Blues held on for the win. However, Cucurella will miss Chelsea’s next game as he now faces a one-match suspension. The Spanish defender received his first yellow card during stoppage time for a foul on Fabio Carvalho. After the final whistle, he was shown a second yellow and subsequently sent off for shoving…
Barcelona have announced that Lamine Yamal could be out for three to four weeks after sustaining a fresh ankle injury during their 1-0 defeat to Leganes. The match marked the first time this season that Barcelona lost a La Liga game with Yamal in the starting lineup, underlining his significance to the team despite his young age. However, the 17-year-old was hampered by a knock to his right ankle early on and struggled to make his usual impact. Yamal appeared to signal for a substitution during the first half but stayed on the pitch after deciding he could continue. He…
Pep Lijnders, former assistant manager to Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, was dismissed by RB Salzburg less than a month before Klopp’s appointment as global head of football operations. Lijnders joined Liverpool’s first-team staff in 2015, after a promotion from the U18 side, and stayed on when Klopp took over later that year. He remained with Liverpool until his brief and challenging stint as manager of Dutch side NEC Nijmegen in 2018. His time at NEC, much like his brief tenure at Salzburg, was marked by disappointment. Salzburg finished second to Sturm Graz in the 2023/24 season, signaling a potential decline…
Ademola Lookman Shines as CAF African Player of the YearAtalanta and Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has been named the 2024 CAF African Player of the Year, capping off a remarkable year for the Nigerian star. Lookman Claims Prestigious Award After Stellar YearLookman emerged as the overwhelming favorite for the award and has now made it two consecutive wins for Nigeria in the prestigious category. Lookman Edges Out Top ContendersThe Super Eagles forward triumphed over strong competition, including Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea’s Sehrou Guirassy, Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, to clinch the coveted title. His outstanding…
Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that even he is not immune to being sacked as Manchester City’s struggles deepened following their defeat in the Manchester derby. The reigning Premier League champions seemed poised for a 1-0 victory over Manchester United, but two quick goals from Bruno Fernandes and Amad turned the match on its head, handing City another painful loss. Under Guardiola, City have now won just one of their last 11 matches. On Sunday, visiting fans mocked the manager with chants of “You’re getting fired in the morning.” Although Guardiola recently signed a two-year contract extension, he admitted before the…
Tottenham Hotspur ended their three-game winless run in emphatic fashion, thrashing bottom-placed Southampton 5-0 at St Mary’s. The visitors struck early, with James Maddison scoring inside the first minute after latching onto Djed Spence’s incisive through ball and calmly finishing past Alex McCarthy. Son Heung-min doubled Tottenham’s lead shortly after, finishing at the back post, and Dejan Kulusevski added a third within 15 minutes, pouncing on a loose ball in the penalty area. Southampton boss Russell Martin reshuffled his side, substituting Kamaldeen Sulemana in an attempt to stem the tide, but the defensive frailties continued. Pape Matar Sarr danced through…
Southampton have dismissed manager Russell Martin following their humiliating 5-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. The heavy loss, with all five goals conceded in the first half, marked Southampton’s 13th defeat in 16 Premier League matches this season, leaving them nine points adrift of safety. Earlier in the day, Wolves had sacked Gary O’Neil after a fourth consecutive league defeat, and Southampton have now followed suit, ending Martin’s 18-month tenure at the club. In a statement, the club said:”We can confirm that we have taken the difficult decision to part ways with our Men’s First Team Manager, Russell Martin.…
Tottenham Hotspur ended their three-game winless run in emphatic fashion, thrashing bottom-placed Southampton 5-0 at St Mary’s. The visitors struck early, with James Maddison scoring inside the first minute after latching onto Djed Spence’s incisive through ball and calmly finishing past Alex McCarthy. Son Heung-min doubled Tottenham’s lead shortly after, finishing at the back post, and Dejan Kulusevski added a third within 15 minutes, pouncing on a loose ball in the penalty area. Southampton boss Russell Martin reshuffled his side, substituting Kamaldeen Sulemana in an attempt to stem the tide, but the defensive frailties continued. Pape Matar Sarr danced through…
Manchester United staged a sensational late comeback to defeat rivals Manchester City 2-1 in a dramatic Manchester derby on Sunday. Trailing to Josko Gvardiol’s first-half header, United appeared destined for defeat before City unraveled in spectacular fashion. Bruno Fernandes equalized from the penalty spot in the 85th minute, and moments later, Amad Diallo scored the winner, condemning Pep Guardiola’s side to their eighth loss in 11 games. How the Match Unfolded City dominated possession early, but United’s aggressive pressing frustrated the hosts. United’s game plan suffered a setback just 14 minutes in when Mason Mount was forced off with an…
Nicolas Jackson has revealed that he came close to signing for Aston Villa before his eventual move to Chelsea in the summer of 2023. The Senegalese striker joined Chelsea from Villarreal in a £32m deal and, after a challenging debut season, has found his stride in the 2024/25 campaign. Jackson has netted eight goals and provided three assists in 14 Premier League games this season, evolving into a clinical finisher after struggling with inconsistency in his first year at Stamford Bridge. However, the 23-year-old’s career path could have been very different. Jackson first rose to prominence at Villarreal during the…
Former Watford striker Troy Deeney has warned Marcus Rashford that he risks ending his career early if he doesn’t get his focus and enjoyment back in the game. Rashford, 27, has struggled to meet expectations in recent seasons, failing to find consistent form under various managers. This season, the England forward has scored seven goals and provided three assists in 24 appearances across all competitions for Manchester United. The arrival of new manager Ruben Amorim has sparked further questions about Rashford’s future at Old Trafford, with the forward’s role in the team now under increased scrutiny. Deeney, speaking on talkSPORT,…
Chelsea’s first signing of the summer wasn’t a player but a key tactical figure—set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva, who joined from Brentford. In March, it was reported that Chelsea agreed to pay Brentford a compensation fee between £750,000 and £1 million for Cueva’s services. He officially moved to Stamford Bridge a few months later, becoming Chelsea’s first set-piece coach since Antony Barry followed Thomas Tuchel to Bayern Munich in April 2023. Cueva, who joined Brentford in July 2020, quickly built a reputation for his expertise. During the 2022/23 season, Brentford scored 16 goals from set-pieces—second only to Liverpool. His success didn’t…
Chelsea overcame a nervy finish to edge Brentford 2-1 on Sunday evening, tightening the gap to league leaders Liverpool to just two points, though the Reds still have a game in hand. The Blues established a 2-0 lead despite missing several chances before Bryan Mbeumo’s 90th-minute goal set up a tense finale. The drama didn’t end there, as Marc Cucurella picked up a second yellow card after the final whistle for his reaction during a heated post-match exchange. Match Highlights The west London derby began sluggishly, with both sides struggling for rhythm. A comedic mix-up typified the early stages as…
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has praised his team’s resilience following a thrilling 2-1 comeback win over Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday. The Red Devils were behind for much of the match after Josko Gvardiol’s header, but they turned the game around with two quick goals. Amad Diallo won a penalty, which Bruno Fernandes converted, before Diallo scored the winner in stoppage time. Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Amorim said: “It was incredible. I think we deserved it. It was a very tough match, but we believed until the end. We managed to score when…
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has praised Rodrygo for his standout performance in Saturday’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga. Rodrygo was instrumental for Los Blancos, contributing a goal and an assist. Fede Valverde and Jude Bellingham also found the net for Real Madrid in a tightly contested match. The Brazilian forward, who recently returned from injury, showcased his brilliance, prompting Ancelotti to highlight his return to form during the post-match interview. “I’m delighted with how Rodrygo played; he’s back to his best,” Ancelotti said. “I see a bright future ahead, and now we have to finish…
Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has raised eyebrows by including former two-time champion Anthony Joshua in his top five boxers worldwide, despite defeating him twice in the ring. In an interview with DAZN, Usyk revealed his picks while preparing for his heavyweight title rematch against Tyson Fury on December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Usyk ranked pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford and super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez as his top two boxers, followed by Joshua. This inclusion is notable given Joshua’s recent knockout loss to Daniel Dubois at Wembley in September, marking the fourth defeat of his professional career. The Ukrainian also…
Manchester City are reportedly exploring the possibility of signing Paul Pogba, who is currently a free agent following the termination of his contract with Juventus. According to The Independent, City see the French midfielder as a potential short-term replacement for Rodri, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Despite the interest, Pogba is said to be hesitant about joining the Premier League champions due to his past association with Manchester United, their city rivals. The 30-year-old midfielder is keen to continue playing at the highest level but reportedly favors a move to La Liga, Serie A,…
Arsenal’s Premier League title ambitions took a hit after a frustrating 0-0 draw with Everton at the Emirates on Saturday. The Gunners controlled possession and created several opportunities, particularly through Martin Odegaard, but failed to capitalize in what was a lackluster performance. Mikel Arteta’s side remains third in the table with 30 points, trailing league leaders Liverpool by six. Liverpool also dropped points, playing out a 2-2 draw against Fulham at Anfield. Andreas Pereira put the visitors ahead, but Cody Gakpo equalized for the Reds. Fulham regained the lead through Rodrigo Muniz, only for Diogo Jota to salvage a draw…
Liverpool were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw against Fulham in a dramatic Anfield encounter, which was heavily influenced by an early red card for Andy Robertson. The Reds fell behind in the 11th minute after Andreas Pereira’s stunning volley put Fulham ahead, and their woes were compounded shortly after when Robertson was sent off for a last-man challenge. Fulham looked to capitalize on their numerical advantage, but Liverpool mounted a spirited second-half comeback. Cody Gakpo equalized early in the second half, sparking hope among the home crowd. However, a late strike from Rodrigo Muniz seemed to seal the…