Bayer Leverkusen’s manager, Xabi Alonso, has expressed confidence in Patrik Schick’s ability to step in for Victor Boniface should he be called up for the Africa Cup of Nations in January. Boniface is anticipated to receive a call-up for the tournament as part of the Super Eagles squad, particularly with Taiwo Awoniyi from Nottingham Forest set to undergo surgery, increasing Boniface’s likelihood of making the final squad. While Leverkusen will miss Boniface’s impressive contributions since his summer transfer, Alonso remains composed about the situation. Regarding Boniface’s potential absence, Alonso stated, “The tournament runs from January 13th to February 11th. We…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Kai Havertz revealed that he had to set aside his ego after scoring the decisive late goal for Arsenal against Brentford. The German midfielder, adapting to a different role than his Chelsea stint last season, came off the bench to secure a crucial 89th-minute victory at the GTech Community Stadium. This goal propelled Arsenal to the top of the Premier League, surpassing both Manchester City and Liverpool. Havertz’s goal, only his second in Arsenal colors since his £65 million summer transfer, marked his first from open play, with the previous one being a penalty in the away win against Bournemouth.…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has voiced his desire for defender Takehiro Tomiyasu to stay with the Gunners amid swirling reports of a potential January transfer. Sky Sports suggests that Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are actively pursuing a deal for Tomiyasu, impressed by the player’s versatility, which includes proficiency in both left-back and right-back positions. Thomas Tuchel, the coach of Bayern Munich, is reportedly keen on securing Tomiyasu due to his ability to cover multiple roles on the field. Ahead of Arsenal’s upcoming match against Brentford, Arteta, in his pre-match press conference, acknowledged the widespread admiration for the Japanese international within…
In a showdown at the Etihad Stadium, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s late equalizer secured a 1-1 draw for Liverpool against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City. Erling Haaland marked his 50th Premier League goal in just 48 appearances, providing City with a deserved lead midway through the first half. Despite their dominance, City couldn’t put the game out of reach against a resilient Liverpool side. City controlled possession from the start, with Jeremy Doku’s pace creating opportunities. Alisson’s error allowed Phil Foden a shot on goal, while Liverpool’s strategy involved sitting back and seeking counter-attacks. A quarter-hour in, Mohamed Salah’s well-placed cross…
Following a series of positive results leading up to the international break, Chelsea experienced a humbling 4-1 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United on Saturday. The early goal by Alexander Isak was countered by Raheem Sterling’s impressive free-kick in a lively first half, leaving the outcome uncertain. However, two critical moments in the 60th minute shifted the momentum decisively in favor of Newcastle. Jamaal Lascelles’ header regained the lead for the Magpies, followed by an unfortunate error from Thiago Silva, gifting Joelinton another goal. Chelsea’s challenges were compounded by Reece James’ red card, leaving them with an uphill battle.…
Pep Guardiola has emphasized his commitment to Manchester City, asserting that he would be more likely to stay with the club in League One than even if they were to win the Champions League. Addressing the ongoing Premier League investigation into alleged financial breaches, Guardiola refused to draw parallels with Everton’s situation, where they received a 10-point deduction for violating profit and sustainability rules. Despite the possibility of serious consequences for City, who vehemently deny the charges, Guardiola remained resolute in his commitment to the club. He refrained from engaging in comparisons with Everton’s case, emphasizing the presumption of innocence…
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has commended Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham for his impressive start to the season but issued a warning that he is determined to increase his goal tally in the race for the Pichichi Trophy. Bellingham has garnered global acclaim since his summer move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid, netting 13 goals and providing three assists in his 14 appearances for Los Blancos. Several of the 20-year-old’s goals have come in crucial moments, securing victories for Real Madrid, including a pivotal strike in their 2-1 win over Barcelona in El Clasico last month. Of Bellingham’s 10…
Mauricio Pochettino has affirmed that Christopher Nkunku won’t be participating in Chelsea’s encounter with Newcastle United on Saturday. Pochettino urged fans to manage their immediate expectations for the Frenchman. Nkunku, recovering from a knee injury that necessitated surgery during pre-season, resumed training on the pitch during the international break. Despite growing excitement among Chelsea supporters about Nkunku’s impending debut, Pochettino unfortunately confirmed that the wait for the French international’s return will extend a bit longer. “Still out,” Pochettino stated when questioned about Nkunku’s status. “In the past week’s training sessions, he hasn’t fully recovered to join the tactical sessions. It’s…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has verified that midfielder Mason Mount has encountered another injury, potentially leading to a period of absence. Mount, who previously missed five games this season due to injury, has faced challenges in regaining a spot in Ten Hag’s starting lineup. In the last six Premier League matches, he has come off the bench in four. Since his transfer from Chelsea in the summer, Mount has grappled with consistency, and he finds himself sidelined once again due to a recent injury. Ten Hag commented, “Mason picked up an issue, so we have to assess if…
Reportedly, discussions are underway for Manchester United star Casemiro to potentially make a move to Al-Nassr alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in the upcoming January transfer window, as per information from TheNassrZone. Following a fallout with Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag in January 2023, Ronaldo officially joined the Saudi Pro League (SPL) side. Casemiro, who previously played alongside Ronaldo at Real Madrid, is now considering a reunion with the Portuguese star. Casemiro made the switch to Manchester United from Real Madrid in the summer of 2022, for a transfer fee of £60 million. Since then, he has made 63 appearances across…
UEFA has imposed a one-match suspension on Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford in the Champions League. As a result, Rashford will be unavailable for the Red Devils’ upcoming fixture against Galatasaray next week. The England international received a red card during United’s 4-3 loss to FC Copenhagen earlier this month. Referee Donatas Rumsas, prompted by VAR, reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor and subsequently dismissed Rashford for a foul on Elia Jelert. The defeat has left Erik ten Hag’s team on the brink of elimination from the Champions League group stages. Reflecting on the game, Ten Hag expressed his…
Nigeria’s canoeing pair, Bello Ayomide and Otuedo Beauty, secured an automatic qualification for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris in the C2 W 500 category. Competing in lane three during the all-African qualifiers, they finished first, outpacing their counterparts from Mozambique, Egypt, and Senegal. The week-long African Olympic qualifying tournament will conclude on Saturday, with 16 countries vying for six available spots. President of the Nigerian Canoeing, Rowing, and Sailing Federation, Admiral Festus Pobeni, expressed confidence in Nigeria’s podium potential in Paris and emphasized the need for focused athlete training. Pobeni highlighted the importance of effective management in optimizing resources…
When news broke that Wesley Fofana had sustained a serious injury even before the preseason tour this summer, pessimistic thoughts naturally crossed our minds. His entire previous season with Chelsea was marred by a broken leg, and his first year with the team was plagued by a severe knee injury and subsequent complications, hindering his consistent presence on the field. Upon learning about his ACL injury this summer, we began planning without Fofana, ceasing to rely on him altogether. However, football’s fast-paced nature unfolded, and astonishingly, recent footage released by the club showcased the defender back on the grass at…
Chelsea is on the brink of a substantial boost as Romeo Lavia’s imminent return is anticipated, as reported by Metro Sport. The talented midfielder, sidelined due to injury since his arrival from Southampton last summer, is poised for a comeback that holds significance for Chelsea’s squad depth and tactical adaptability. Lavia’s absence throughout the season has left Chelsea supporters eager to witness the highly-rated midfielder in action. Encouragingly, he has resumed training with the team, inching closer to a long-awaited return to competitive play. As excitement builds, there is a growing sense that Lavia’s return could introduce a new dimension…
Real Madrid is prepared to offer Carlo Ancelotti a new contract, extending his tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu, despite the existence of a preliminary agreement for him to assume the managerial role with Brazil at the end of the season, as reported by 90min. Ancelotti currently has less than a year remaining on his existing contract, and sources have confirmed the existence of a tentative arrangement for him to lead the Selecao after his departure from the Spanish capital. While a deal with Brazil appears imminent, Real Madrid has not ruled out the prospect of Ancelotti staying on and committing…
Everton is gearing up to challenge the recent ten-point penalty imposed by the Premier League, expressing confidence that the sanction will be significantly reduced or entirely overturned, as per information obtained by 90min. The Toffees were previously found in breach of Financial Fair Play regulations for the 2021/22 season, exceeding the maximum spending limit by nearly £20 million. The Premier League’s independent commission delivered their verdict last week, resulting in the largest points deduction ever imposed in Premier League history. Everton, currently engaged in takeover talks with American investment firm 777 Partners, views the punishment as excessive given the circumstances.…
Nigerian standout Samuel Chukwueze is on the verge of securing his first consecutive start for AC Milan, according to reports from Soccernet.ng. Despite joining Milan after the arrival of American international Christian Pulisic, Chukwueze has faced tough competition, often finding Pulisic preferred over him. However, a chance has opened up for Chukwueze due to an injury to Rafael Leao during a 2-2 draw against Lecce. This injury has created an opportunity for the Nigerian winger to potentially earn back-to-back starts for the first time since joining Milan. Leao sustained a first-degree lesion on his right femoral bicep in the match…
Former Barcelona and Brazil legend Dani Alves could potentially face a nine-year prison sentence if convicted of sexually assaulting a woman in a nightclub in Spain, according to Sports Mail. Prosecutors are reportedly seeking this sentence along with £130,000 in damages and 10 years of probation as the case advances to the trial stage in Spain. Alves, 40, who was arrested on January 20 and has been held in a prison outside Barcelona, denies any wrongdoing and insists that the encounter was consensual. The former Sevilla, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain defender changed his testimony on four occasions, leading to his…
The head coach of the Super Eagles, Jose Peseiro, is anticipated to present a provisional list of 55 players for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations no later than December 14. As outlined by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), all 24 participating nations, including Nigeria, are required to submit their provisional lists on this specified date. In a departure from the usual practice of selecting 23 players, CAF has granted permission for all participating countries to name a maximum of 27 players in their squads for the 2023 AFCON finals. The final roster for the tournament is slated to…
Liverpool has received a significant boost on the injury front ahead of their Premier League clash with Manchester City on Saturday. Key players, such as Joe Gomez, Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones, and Ibrahima Konate, have returned to training in preparation for the upcoming match at the Etihad Stadium. This quartet was unavailable for Liverpool’s recent triumph over Brentford before the international break. Gomez dealt with an unspecified issue, Gravenberch was sidelined due to a knee problem, Jones suffered from a thigh injury, and Konate withdrew from the France squad due to a hamstring issue. However, all four players took part…