The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has expressed serious concern over the troubling experience faced by Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, at a Libyan airport. CAF emphasized that it has taken immediate steps to engage with both Libyan and Nigerian authorities following reports that the team and their staff were left stranded for several hours under distressing conditions. The incident is now under investigation by CAF’s Disciplinary Board. This was stated in a press release obtained from the CAF website on Monday afternoon, titled “CAF Views the Disturbing and Unacceptable Experiences of the Nigerian National Football Team (‘Super…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Victor Ikpeba has called for Libya to be banned from international football following the inhumane treatment inflicted on the Super Eagles. The Nigerian team has been stranded at Al Abaq Airport since their arrival in Libya on Sunday for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Mediterranean Knights. Captain William Troost-Ekong and the players have expressed their intention to boycott the match due to the situation. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has already lodged a formal protest with the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Ikpeba condemned Libya’s actions as barbaric, stating: “If CAF knows their responsibility, Libya…
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has explained his decision to substitute Cristiano Ronaldo in the 63rd minute of their 3-1 Nations League win over Poland, despite Ronaldo scoring his 133rd goal for the national team, as reported by Sportskeeda. Martinez brought on Diogo Jota in Ronaldo’s place, which raised questions from fans and pundits. Martinez cited the need to manage players due to a tight schedule. “It’s part of managing players when you have two games in 72 hours,” he said. “Diogo Jota came on very well. Cristiano is perfect.” Ronaldo had an impressive start to the match, hitting the crossbar…
Manchester United had their approach for Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeness turned down during the summer as they considered alternatives to Erik ten Hag, according to reports. Following a disappointing 2023/24 season, Ten Hag faced significant pressure as new controlling owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS conducted a post-season review of his performance. United officials reached out to several managers, including Thomas Tuchel, to assess whether Ten Hag was the best option available. BILD reports that United also contacted Hoeness, whose stock rose significantly last season when Stuttgart finished second in the Bundesliga, ahead of Bayern Munich and only behind Bayer…
Burkina Faso have secured their spot in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after a 2-0 victory over Burundi in a qualifying match on Sunday. Goals from Bertrand Traore and Mohamed Konate in Abidjan sealed the win for the Stallions. Their qualification follows a draw with Senegal, a victory over Malawi, and two wins against Burundi. This will mark Burkina Faso’s 14th AFCON appearance, with their best result being runners-up to Nigeria in 2013. Senegal could join Burkina Faso in Morocco next year if they win their match against Malawi on Tuesday. Currently, Burkina Faso lead with 10 points, followed…
Liverpool is reportedly leading the race for Carreras’ signature, with the club taking the first steps to secure the Spain Under-21 international as a potential successor to Andy Robertson. Importantly, Manchester United has a buy-back clause for Carreras, which they negotiated as part of the agreement when they sold the young defender at a reduced fee. There are indications that United may consider activating this clause to bring Carreras back to Old Trafford permanently, particularly due to concerns about the long-term fitness of both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia. While the exact value of the buy-back clause remains unclear, it…
France manager Didier Deschamps has downplayed concerns regarding Kylian Mbappe’s recent visit to a Swedish nightclub. After Mbappe missed Real Madrid’s match against city rivals Atletico due to injury, Deschamps cited fitness issues when excluding the forward from the France squad for the October international break. However, Mbappe quickly returned to the spotlight by starting in Real Madrid’s victory over Villarreal shortly after. The controversy intensified when Mbappe was seen at a Swedish nightclub on Thursday, the same night France played Israel, leading some to accuse the 25-year-old of neglecting his international responsibilities. When asked about the situation, Deschamps told…
England interim manager Lee Carsley has confirmed that the injury suffered by Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka does not seem to be serious. Saka limped off during the defeat to Greece earlier this week with what appeared to be a hamstring issue and subsequently withdrew from the squad, making him unavailable for the match against Finland on Sunday evening. Carsley noted that Saka might have been fit enough to play in England’s second game of the October international break, but the decision was made to prioritize his long-term health. “Bukayo would have been close, but it would have been unfair to…
Former Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas has urged Chelsea and Arsenal fans to stop the ongoing comparisons between Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka. Fans frequently compare the two players on social media due to their similar age, left-footedness, and goal-scoring abilities. Earlier this week, Palmer was named England’s Player of the Year, a title Saka had held for the past two years. Fabregas, who played for both London clubs, addressed the issue on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, dismissing fake quotes attributed to him. He wrote: “The danger of social media is people really believe anything they read. No need to…
Libyan authorities reportedly detained the Super Eagles at Al-Abaq Airport on Sunday night, according to DAILY POST. Super Eagles media officer Promise Efoghe stated that the team’s chartered flight, initially bound for Benghazi, was diverted to a different city, located over two hours away from their intended destination. The team had departed Nigeria on Sunday morning for their AFCON 2025 qualifying campaign. The incident follows complaints from Libyan players about their treatment upon arrival in Nigeria the previous week for the AFCON qualifying matchday three encounter, which they lost 1-0 after Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s late goal.
Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal are reportedly eager to replace injured superstar Neymar with Real Madrid’s star forward, Vinicius Jr., in 2025. Neymar, currently sidelined due to a cruciate ligament tear, is expected to return early next year. However, with his contract set to expire in 2025, Al-Hilal is already exploring potential replacements. Vinicius Jr., a leading contender for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, has emerged as their top target. Despite his impressive form and a €200 million price tag, the Saudi club, known for its big spending on European talent, remains undeterred. According to MARCA, Al-Hilal views Vinicius as a…
Super Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen has identified striker Victor Boniface’s key issue amid his ongoing goal drought for the national team. According to Eguavoen, Boniface tends to “overprepare” before taking a shot, which delays his decision-making in front of goal. Boniface failed to score again during Nigeria’s 1-0 victory over Libya in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on Friday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. The Bayer Leverkusen forward also couldn’t find the net in last month’s matches against Rwanda and Benin Republic. “Boniface is a very good striker, a clinical finisher, but he has…
Super Eagles caretaker coach Austin Eguavoen has remained tight-lipped on whether Fisayo Dele-Bashiru will start in the second leg of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya on Tuesday. Dele-Bashiru was the hero on Friday, coming off the bench to score the match-winning goal in Nigeria’s 1-0 victory over Libya at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. The Lazio attacking midfielder replaced Alex Iwobi and netted four minutes before stoppage time, converting a pass from Moses Simon. When asked if Dele-Bashiru would start the second leg, Eguavoen emphasized that all players in the squad are capable of…
Morocco manager Walid Regragui has dismissed rumors that Manchester United right-back Noussair Mazraoui is dealing with a serious heart condition. Earlier this week, United confirmed that Mazraoui had undergone “precautionary” heart surgery, with the expectation of a recovery within a few weeks. However, some reports suggested a more serious illness could keep the Morocco international out for an extended period. Regragui, addressing the speculation, provided a reassuring update on Mazraoui’s health. “Noussair does not have any serious issues as reported, and he is aware of that,” Regragui said during a press conference. “God willing, he will be with us for…
Manchester City are seeking a decision on Pep Guardiola’s future with the club by the end of the year, according to a report. Guardiola, who is in the final 12 months of his current contract, has openly acknowledged that his time at City is nearing its conclusion. With the departure of long-standing director of football Txiki Begiristain at the end of the season, many speculate Guardiola may follow suit, marking the start of a new era when Hugo Viana arrives to replace Begiristain. City have consistently expressed their desire to keep Guardiola at the helm, though earlier reports suggested he…
England have shortlisted four potential managers to take over after Lee Carsley opted not to pursue the role on a permanent basis. Carsley, currently serving as interim coach, has decided against becoming the next full-time England manager, according to The Telegraph. This decision follows England’s disappointing Nations League defeat to Greece on Thursday, after which Carsley hinted he wasn’t interested in taking the role long-term. With Carsley stepping aside, the Football Association (FA) is now seeking alternatives. Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, whose contract expires at the end of the season, remains the FA’s “dream choice” to succeed Gareth Southgate. Also…
Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has opened up about the contrast between his experiences at the club and with the Portugal national team. In an interview with ESPN, the 30-year-old acknowledged United’s difficult season, highlighting his frustration with the team’s recent struggles. “It’s not a positive moment [at United]. We’re not winning games,” he admitted. However, Fernandes expressed a sense of relief and joy when playing for Portugal. “The dynamics are very good. I’m in my country, speaking my language, with better food. I feel at ease and enjoy my football at a high level.” Despite the challenges at Old…
Victor Osimhen returned to training with Galatasaray on Saturday after being sidelined due to a muscle injury sustained in last month’s 3-3 home draw against Kasimpasa. The 25-year-old forward has missed Galatasaray’s last two matches as well as Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Libya. On Tuesday, Galatasaray shared a photo of Osimhen back in training on their X account. He is expected to be available for their upcoming league match against Antalyaspor next Sunday.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has been advised to strip Bruno Fernandes of the captaincy. Former manager and professional footballer Alan Pardew urged the Red Devils boss to take the armband away from the Portuguese international, citing concerns over his ability to manage his emotions on the pitch. Speaking on talkSPORT, Pardew stated, “When you have a technical player as your skipper, it’s always dangerous because they can have off games. Even (Christian) Eriksen and (Michel) Platini had their off days in their primes.” He continued, “In the match against Liverpool, Fernandes didn’t have much of an impact because…
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has praised Ruben Amorim, who is widely regarded as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Fernandes commended the Sporting CP manager for transforming the club, noting Amorim’s consistency and his smart recruitment of players. Speaking to Tribal Football, Fernandes said, “Since Amorim arrived, Sporting has been the best team with the best football—very consistent and making the right signings. They’ve already won championships, which isn’t easy at Sporting, as they hadn’t won in 20 years, and now they’ve won two.” He added, “Whether he can replicate that success in England or elsewhere…