Napoli’s manager, Walter Mazzarri, acknowledged that Victor Osimhen might be included among the substitutes for tonight’s UEFA Champions League clash against Braga. Osimhen skipped Monday’s training session to attend the CAF Awards 2023, where he secured the Men’s Player of the Year award in Marrakech, Morocco. The 24-year-old promptly returned to Naples after the ceremony. In their match against Braga, Napoli requires at least a point to secure a spot in the Round of 16. Mazzarri stated, “Osimhen did what he had to. I will talk to him tomorrow and understand if he can start.” The Nigerian forward is anticipated…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
President Bola Tinubu has extended his congratulations to Victor Osimhen, the forward for Nigeria’s Super Eagles, for securing the CAF 2023 Men’s Player of the Year award. The statement, issued by Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity in Abuja on Tuesday, also lauded the notable achievements of Asisat Oshoala from Nigeria’s Super Falcons, who clinched the 2023 CAF Women’s Player of the Year for the sixth time. President Tinubu also celebrated Chiamaka Nnadozie, honored as the Woman Goalkeeper of the Year, along with the Super Falcons, recognized as the Women’s National Team of the…
Chelsea’s manager, Mauricio Pochettino, expressed the necessity of acquiring new players in the upcoming January transfer window. The statement came in the aftermath of Sunday’s 2-0 defeat against Everton, a setback that has left Chelsea in the 12th position on the league table. Despite Chelsea having spent over £1 billion in the past three transfer windows, with many acquisitions predating Pochettino’s summer appointment, the team’s performance has not met expectations. Pochettino, looking to implement his own vision for Stamford Bridge, believes new additions are essential to spark a revival. In an interview with MOTD, Pochettino lamented the lack of clinical…
Manchester United’s midfielder, Casemiro, has returned to training ahead of the crucial Champions League clash against Bayern Munich this week. Casemiro had suffered an ankle injury while on international duty with Brazil back in October. However, Manchester United has officially confirmed that the midfielder is back in training. Despite working alone as his teammates underwent a recovery session following a 3-0 Premier League defeat to Bournemouth on Sunday, Casemiro’s return raises hopes for his availability in the upcoming match against Bayern on Tuesday. The 31-year-old midfielder notably scored twice against the Bundesliga champions on matchday one in the Champions League,…
Nigerian nominees for the various categories of the 2023 Confederation of African Football Awards are anticipated to commence their arrivals in Marrakech, Morocco, today, December 10. Among the nominees is Victor Osimhen, the Super Eagles of Nigeria striker, who is in contention for the CAF Player of the Year alongside Egyptian captain Mohamed Salah and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi. Osimhen, aged 24, has showcased outstanding performances for Napoli over the past year, contributing significantly to the team’s first league title in 33 years. During the last Serie A season, he played 32 games, scoring an impressive 31 goals, with 26 of…
According to beIN Sports pundit Richard Keys, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes deliberately received a yellow card during their 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth, ensuring his absence in the upcoming Premier League clash against Liverpool. Fernandes earned his fifth yellow card of the season for disputing a decision with referee Peter Bankes late in the game, resulting in a one-match suspension. Keys suggested that Fernandes strategically acquired the booking because he “knows that next week could be a bad day out.” In a conversation with Andy Gray on beIN Sports, Keys inquired, “Do you think Fernandes knew that if he got…
Michael Owen, the former Liverpool striker, has declared Alisson Becker as the current best goalkeeper in the world. Owen made this statement following Becker’s impressive performance in Liverpool’s comeback 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. After goals from Mohamed Salah and Harvey Elliott secured the win for Liverpool, Owen praised Alisson’s standout display, stating, “This is why Alisson is, in my opinion, the best in the world.” He acknowledged Alisson’s excellence, emphasizing a crucial save that showcased pure world-class goalkeeping. Owen concluded, “Yes, he gets some help from the post. But it is a world-class save – pure…
Girona reclaimed the top spot in La Liga with a memorable 4-2 victory over Barcelona at Estadi Lluis Companys. The City Group-owned team surged two points ahead of Real Madrid and a substantial seven points ahead of Barcelona, who slipped to fourth place after the defeat. Goals from Artem Dovbyk, Miguel Gutierrez, Valery Fernandez, and Cristhian Stuani secured the triumph. The dynamic match kicked off with both teams displaying an ability to threaten, but it was surprisingly Girona that struck first. Viktor Tsygankov and Artem Dovbyk, the star Ukrainian duo, combined for the opening goal, with Tsygankov breaking through Barca’s…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has indicated reasons behind his team’s 3-0 loss to Bournemouth in Saturday’s Premier League match. Ten Hag observed as Dominic Solanke, Philip Billing, and Marcos Senesi secured all three points for the visitors at Old Trafford. In his post-match interview, Ten Hag suggested that his team’s subpar performance against Bournemouth was a key factor in the defeat. “To succeed, you must bring your best in every game, starting with focus. When you commence as we did, you face serious consequences,” remarked Ten Hag. While acknowledging Bournemouth as formidable opponents, the Dutch manager emphasized the…
Tottenham halted a five-game winless streak with an impressive 4-1 triumph at home against Newcastle United. Spurs put an end to their goal drought, securing fifth place in the Premier League standings, while Newcastle suffered their second three-goal defeat in a week. Game Highlights: Newcastle came close to taking the lead in the ninth minute when Joelinton’s well-placed ball found Anthony Gordon, whose low cross to Alexander Isak was deflected by Ben Davies, denying the Swede a close-range conversion. Cristian Romero, reminiscent of his Thursday goal against West Ham, saw his header from a Pedro Porro corner cleared off the…
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has officially stated the club’s intention to secure permanent transfers for both Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix at the conclusion of their respective loan periods. The initial loan agreements did not include an option for permanency, necessitating negotiations with Manchester City and Atletico Madrid. Laporta emphasized the impressive performance of Cancelo and Felix since their arrival, expressing the club’s desire to retain them for the upcoming seasons. He confirmed plans to initiate negotiations soon, highlighting positive relations with both Man City and Atleti. Barcelona’s pursuit of Cancelo, who fell out of favor at Manchester City last…
Abdoulaye Doucoure’s goal and a late strike from young talent Lewis Dobbin sealed a 2-0 triumph for Everton against Chelsea at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon, propelling the Toffees four points clear of the relegation zone. Former Watford midfielder Doucoure capitalized on a rebound in the 54th minute, slotting home after Robert Sanchez saved Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s attempt. Chelsea, unable to mount a comeback, suffered their second consecutive defeat and seventh in the Premier League this season, leaving them in 12th place. Game Overview: Everton made just one change from their previous victory over Newcastle, introducing James Garner for Seamus Coleman.…
Manchester City had to overturn a deficit to secure a 2-1 victory against Luton Town away from home on Sunday afternoon, breaking their four-game winless streak in the Premier League. Despite Pep Guardiola’s warning about the challenges posed by Luton, especially at their home ground in Hertfordshire, Elijah Adebayo’s header just before half-time had the hosts leading. However, Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish stepped up to give City the lead, ending Guardiola’s team’s winless run and keeping them within four points of league leaders Liverpool. Game Overview: Manchester City entered the match reeling from a significant defeat to Aston Villa,…
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti affirmed his contentment with the point earned from a 1-1 draw against Real Betis in La Liga on Saturday. The match saw Jude Bellingham opening the scoring early in the second half, with Aitor Ruibal securing the equalizer for Betis shortly after. Despite Madrid having more possession but fewer shots and shots on target, Ancelotti expressed satisfaction. With Real Madrid currently holding the top spot by a point, the draw exposes them to the risk of being overtaken by Girona, provided they maintain their impressive form and secure a victory against regional rivals Barcelona on…
Jurgen Klopp conceded that Liverpool’s victory over Crystal Palace was down to a stroke of luck, especially after what he described as a “really bad” first 76 minutes at Selhurst Park. Speaking to TNT Sports, Klopp acknowledged that Crystal Palace initially displayed low confidence levels, providing Liverpool with opportunities they failed to capitalize on. He noted the team’s struggle to control the game, attributing it to the challenges of intense weeks and a tricky first half. In his post-match press conference, Klopp emphasized the element of luck in their win, stating, “I am a very happy manager in this moment,…
Manchester City currently finds themselves in an unusual position, occupying the fourth spot in the table and enduring a four-match winless streak in the Premier League after draws with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur, followed by a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa. This is a rare scenario for Pep Guardiola’s team, marking their longest winless stretch since 2017. As they gear up to face Luton Town, let’s examine three key factors that Manchester City must address to break their recent winless run. 1. Beware of Set Pieces: Despite being the favorites, Manchester City should be cautious of Luton Town’s set-piece…
Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, expressed deep concern over his team’s inconsistent performance, particularly following their demoralizing defeat to Bournemouth over the weekend. Despite a recent victory against Chelsea, the Red Devils faced another setback as Bournemouth dominated the entire match, securing their first-ever win at Old Trafford. In his post-match press conference, Ten Hag conveyed disappointment in both the team’s overall performance and their ongoing struggle with consistency. Reflecting on the match, he criticized the poor start and defensive lapses that led to Bournemouth’s early goals. Despite efforts to mount a comeback, Ten Hag emphasized the team’s lack…
Aston Villa secured a historic 15th consecutive home league victory with a 1-0 win against Arsenal on Saturday evening. The hosts took an early lead, propelling Unai Emery’s side within one point of Arsenal and just trailing behind Premier League leaders Liverpool. Mikel Arteta observed from the stands as Villa thwarted his team for almost 100 minutes, and Arsenal missed the opportunity to reclaim the top spot following Liverpool’s triumph over Crystal Palace earlier in the day. The game unfolded with Villa starting brightly, facing a scare when Arsenal tested them with successive switches of play. Despite a scuffed effort…
Manchester United suffered a resounding 3-0 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday, marking the Cherries’ first-ever victory at Old Trafford. The visitors dominated the match, outplaying their hosts with style, and questions arose regarding Erik ten Hag’s tactics as Manchester United consistently played into Bournemouth’s strengths. The scarce home supporters who endured until the final whistle expressed their dissatisfaction by booing off the Red Devils. In the early stages, Bournemouth took an unexpected lead within five minutes. Bruno Fernandes’ errant pass from the back was intercepted by Lewis Cook, who made a dart to…
Real Madrid dropped valuable points in the La Liga title race on Saturday, settling for a 1-1 draw against Real Betis in Seville. The first half of the match between Betis and Madrid was relatively subdued, with both teams struggling to create significant goal-scoring opportunities. Jude Bellingham, making his 18th appearance of the season, broke the deadlock with his 16th goal. However, Betis responded in the second half as Aitor Ruibal unleashed a powerful strike, leveling the score and causing Madrid to lose ground at the top of the table. In the quest to maintain their La Liga lead with…