Nigerian striker Ademola Lookman and South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams are among five players shortlisted for the prestigious CAF African Player of the Year award, as announced on Monday. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) also named Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi, Ivorian winger Simon Adingra, and Guinean striker Serhou Guirassy as the other finalists. Lookman’s remarkable performance for Atalanta, including a hat-trick in their 3-0 UEFA Europa League final triumph over Bayer Leverkusen, has positioned him as a strong favorite to claim the award. Last year’s winner, Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen, secured the 2023 Player of the Year honor after…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
INEOS have made an opening offer of £83.5 million to sign “dynamic” attacker Ademola Lookman from Atalanta, according to recent reports. Ruben Amorim, who is set to take charge of his first Manchester United training session this week, is reportedly keen to strengthen his squad with the versatile winger. The 27-year-old Lookman has been a standout performer for Atalanta since his move from RB Leipzig in August 2022. His impressive contributions helped the club secure a Europa League title last season, scoring five goals in 11 appearances, including a key role in their victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the final.…
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is reportedly considering a swap deal that would send Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee to Napoli in exchange for Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen. Zirkzee, who joined United from Bologna just six months ago, has struggled to impress at Old Trafford, managing only one goal in 17 appearances. With the January transfer window approaching, the 22-year-old could be offloaded as part of the club’s plans to strengthen their attack. According to Il Mattino (via CN24), United are keen on signing Osimhen but aim to secure him for a reduced fee well below his €75 million (£63m/$79m) release…
Oliver Kahn Names Ronaldo Nazário as the Greatest Player of All Time, Above Messi and Ronaldo Legendary German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has declared Brazil’s Ronaldo Nazário as the greatest football player of all time, surpassing both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in his opinion. Kahn firmly believes that Ronaldo was a far superior player to both Messi and Cristiano, stating, “For me, he was much better than Messi and Cristiano,” when asked to pick the best of all time in a recent interview with TNT Sports. While the debate over the greatest footballer continues to divide fans, Kahn’s choice highlights…
Neymar’s agent, Pini Zahavi, has dismissed speculation about the player terminating his contract with Al-Hilal to rejoin his former club, Santos. Over the weekend, rumors circulated about a potential return to Neymar’s hometown club, 10 years after his departure. The 32-year-old has struggled with injuries since signing for the Saudi Arabian side, fueling talk of an early exit. However, Zahavi clarified the situation in a statement to Fabrizio Romano: “There are no talks ongoing for Neymar to leave Al-Hilal. He’s under contract and very happy there. Neymar’s father and I are the only people who can discuss Ney’s future. I…
Trossard’s limp exit marks the latest in a concerning series of injury problems for Mikel Arteta during this month’s international break. Leandro Trossard was forced off the pitch against Israel, adding to Arsenal’s growing list of injury woes. Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were among the nine England players to withdraw from Lee Carsley’s squad after both were injured in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea a week earlier. “It doesn’t look good,” Arteta had grimly remarked when reflecting on the duo’s fitness. Martin Ødegaard, who started and finished the disappointing trip to Stamford Bridge, also pulled out of Norway’s squad…
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is on the verge of signing a new contract with the Premier League champions, reports The Mirror. The proposed deal would make Haaland the highest-paid player in the English top flight. City have reportedly offered the Norwegian a staggering £500,000 per week, surpassing the current highest earner, his teammate Kevin De Bruyne, who earns £400,000 per week. Negotiations have progressed positively, with club officials recently meeting Haaland’s family and his agent, Rafaela Pimenta, to discuss the terms. If finalized, the deal will secure Haaland’s services until the end of the 2028-2029 season. However, discussions are…
YouTuber Jake Paul and boxing icon Mike Tyson earned a staggering $60 million from their exhibition match at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Paul pocketed $40 million, while Tyson earned $20 million after Paul won by unanimous decision against the 58-year-old former heavyweight champion. Paul, 27, controlled the eight-round bout, with all three judges scoring it in his favor at 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73. Tyson struggled to land effective punches throughout the fight. In addition to his boxing performance, Paul played a crucial role in promoting the event through his Most Valuable Promotions company in partnership with Netflix. The event…
Inter Miami has emerged as a potential destination for Paul Pogba following his departure from Juventus, as reported by The Independent. The 31-year-old French midfielder, who recently agreed to terminate his contract with Juventus—which was set to run until 2026—has not yet revealed his next move. However, rumors suggest he could join Major League Soccer (MLS), where he would reunite with football legends Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at Inter Miami. Pogba’s career faced a setback earlier this year when he received a four-year doping ban, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) recently reduced his suspension to 18…
Viktor Gyökeres has reaffirmed his commitment to finishing the season with Sporting CP, despite growing speculation about a potential move during the January transfer window. The Swedish forward, who has been a standout performer for the Portuguese club, expressed his deep connection to the team, saying, “I want to finish this season at Sporting. I love it here.” Gyökeres acknowledged his happiness in Lisbon and the importance of regular playing time but hinted at being open to future opportunities. “A new club? We’ll see when the time comes,” he said, emphasizing that any decision about his future would be made…
Manchester United, known as the Red Devils, have been monitoring Victor Osimhen for the past two years, and the arrival of Ruben Amorim as head coach could accelerate their pursuit of the Nigerian striker. According to Torizone, the former Premier League champions are reportedly preparing an offer for Osimhen that includes a cash sum along with Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee to entice Napoli into a deal. United have faced a difficult couple of seasons, leading to the dismissal of Erik ten Hag shortly before the recent international break. Ruben Amorim, the Portuguese tactician, was brought in as his replacement and…
The highly anticipated rematch between Anthony Joshua and IBF world champion Daniel Dubois has been postponed until 2026. Dubois’ promoter, Frank Warren, confirmed the delay during an appearance on talkSPORT, explaining that Joshua would be “out of the picture” for a while due to mandatory challenger obligations. “Daniel’s fight against AJ was his mandatory, so he’s allowed a period of time before making a voluntary defense. He can fight in February and has until April or May to do so,” Warren stated. “The next fight after that will involve whoever the mandatory challenger is, but it won’t be AJ, as…
Jose Fonte believes Jadon Sancho could be given a fresh opportunity at Manchester United next summer, particularly as the club prepares to enter a new era under Ruben Amorim, according to Football.London. Erik ten Hag was dismissed last month following a poor start to the 2024/25 season, paving the way for Amorim, who is expected to take charge after the international break. His first match as United manager will be against Ipswich Town. Sancho, currently on loan at Chelsea, has found form at Stamford Bridge. His loan agreement includes a clause requiring Chelsea to make the move permanent if they…
Palmeiras President Rejects Neymar Signing Due to Fitness Concerns Palmeiras president Leila Pereira has firmly dismissed any possibility of signing Neymar, citing concerns over the player’s fitness. Addressing the recent rumors, Pereira said, “Neymar will not be joining Palmeiras; this club isn’t a medical department. I want a player who can contribute right away, someone who can play tomorrow if the manager calls for it. I won’t accept signing a player who’s not fit to play.” These remarks come after Neymar’s recent injury struggles. The 32-year-old Brazilian, currently playing for Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, has faced ongoing fitness…
A total of 19 countries have secured their spots for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, ahead of the sixth matchday of the qualifiers, set for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Zambia, Mali, Zimbabwe, and Comoros were the latest teams to confirm their qualification following the recent matchday results. However, the final five teams that will join them in Morocco will be determined during the upcoming matchday fixtures. Here are the 19 countries that have qualified for the 2025 AFCON:
Victor Boniface has expressed his disappointment at being overlooked for the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award. Last month, CAF revealed its list of 10 nominees, which included Boniface’s international teammates, Ademola Lookman and William Troost-Ekong. However, the 23-year-old striker was notably absent, despite his standout performances for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen. Boniface played a key role in helping Leverkusen secure their first-ever Bundesliga title and win the DFB Pokal. “Of course, I’m disappointed not being shortlisted. Given what I did last season, I should be disappointed, but I don’t stress about it,” he said in an interview…
Cristiano Ronaldo and three Premier League players have left the Portugal camp ahead of their clash against Croatia. Portugal, the 2016 Euro champions, secured the top spot in their UEFA Nations League group with an emphatic 5-1 win over Poland on Friday. Ronaldo scored twice, with Bruno Fernandes also adding his name to the scoresheet. With Monday’s match now a dead rubber, manager Roberto Martinez has opted to release four key players: Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Pedro Neto. Martinez explained the decision as an opportunity to test new players and provide valuable exposure to younger talents. This news…
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has stated that he will retire from football when he no longer feels motivated to play. The 39-year-old made the comments after scoring twice in Portugal’s 5-1 victory over Poland in a UEFA Nations League match. The goals brought Ronaldo’s career tally to an astonishing 910 goals. The match also marked Ronaldo’s 215th appearance for Portugal, during which he netted his 134th and 135th international goals. Speaking about his future, Ronaldo said:”I just want to enjoy. Retirement? If it has to happen in one or two years… I don’t know. I’m turning 40 soon, and I…
Pep Guardiola has reportedly agreed to extend his tenure as Manchester City manager, ending speculation surrounding his future as he entered the final year of his current contract. The Catalan coach had been linked with a potential move to international management, with Brazil among the nations reportedly interested in his services. However, it now appears that Guardiola is set to stay at the Etihad Stadium. Guardiola to Extend Stay Until 2026 According to Football Insider, Guardiola is close to signing a one-year contract extension, which will keep him at Manchester City until the summer of 2026. The deal is reportedly…
Rumors are swirling about another high-profile move for Inter Miami, with reports linking the Florida side to Brazilian superstar Neymar. After a dominant regular season, where Lionel Messi’s team claimed the Supporters’ Shield, finishing eight points ahead of Columbus Crew for the league’s best record, Inter Miami fell short in the playoffs. They were unexpectedly knocked out in the first round by Atlanta United, a team that finished 34 points behind them. Now, the focus has shifted to how David Beckham’s franchise plans to bounce back. The latest speculation suggests a potential reunion for Neymar with his former Barcelona teammates…