Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes admitted to making “a lot of mistakes” during his team’s 2-1 victory over Czech Republic at Euro 2024. Fernandes played a key role as Portugal secured the win on Tuesday night, with Francisco Conceicao scoring the decisive goal in Leipzig. In his post-match interview, Fernandes acknowledged, “We made a lot of mistakes in the first half, especially me. Taking risks has its pros and cons. Midfielders take more risks.” He added, “But when I find the opportunity to pass, I have plenty of quality ahead of me to score goals. So, I’m not concerned about making…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Three contenders are currently in the running to take over from Finidi George as the head coach of the Super Eagles. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is urgently seeking a replacement for George, who resigned recently. Time is of the essence as the Super Eagles have upcoming fixtures scheduled for September. According to Soccernet, the NFF is evaluating three potential coaches for the position. First on the list is Antonio Conceicao, known for his tactical acumen and player development skills honed during his tenure with CFR Cluj in Romania, as well as coaching stints in Cyprus and Saudi Arabia. He…
France manager Didier Deschamps has disclosed that Kylian Mbappe suffered a suspected broken nose during their 1-0 victory over Austria at Euro 2024 on Monday night. Mbappe, who played a pivotal role in setting up the only goal of the game, collided with Kevin Danso later in the match and remained on the turf at Dusseldorf Arena for treatment. Blood was visible on the face of the new Real Madrid forward, and he was cautioned for re-entering the field without the referee’s permission before eventually being substituted. Speaking to TF1 post-match, Deschamps acknowledged the likelihood of Mbappe having a broken…
Aston Villa is considering Kelechi Iheanacho as a potential replacement for Jhon Duran, who is being pursued by Chelsea. Iheanacho, who recently departed Leicester City and is available on a free transfer, is reportedly a target for Villa, according to Football Insider. The club intends to pursue his signing once Duran completes his move to Chelsea, with negotiations between the Blues and Duran said to be at an advanced stage. Despite interest from clubs in Turkey and Saudi Arabia, Iheanacho has not yet made a decision about his future. There are indications that he prefers to continue playing in the…
Sevilla announced on Monday that Sergio Ramos is departing the club after his contract expired. Last season, Ramos featured in 37 matches across all competitions, scoring seven goals as Sevilla finished 14th in La Liga. According to ESPN, Sevilla expressed interest in retaining the 38-year-old, but Ramos chose to depart due to concerns over the team’s sporting and institutional situation. Ramos is now receiving interest from Saudi Arabia and Major League Soccer (MLS). However, he has yet to make a decision about his future and is open to various possibilities. On Tuesday, Ramos will hold a press conference at the…
Lazio are nearing a deal to sign Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, the Super Eagles midfielder from Hatayspor, according to renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. Romano reported that the agreement involves a €7 million fee, with only the medical and final formalities remaining. Hatayspor has given their approval for Dele-Bashiru to join the Rome-based club. Last season, Dele-Bashiru played a pivotal role as Hatayspor avoided relegation from the Turkish Super Lig. The 23-year-old contributed significantly with eight goals and five assists in 36 league appearances, along with one goal and one assist in three Turkish Cup matches. Dele-Bashiru also scored his maiden goal…
Tobi Amusan, the world record holder, clinched first place in the women’s 100m hurdles at the national trials held in Benin City on Monday. This marked her fourth victory in this event. Known affectionately as “Tobi Express,” she completed the race in 12.78 seconds, leading ahead of Adaobi Tabugbo, who secured second place with a time of 13.33 seconds. Faith Osamuyi finished third in 13.36 seconds. At 27 years old, Amusan aims for a podium finish at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, having placed fourth in the final of the women’s 100m hurdles in Tokyo four years ago. Additionally,…
Portugal’s head coach, Roberto Martinez, has justified his selection of Cristiano Ronaldo for the Euro 2024 squad. Martinez emphasized that the 39-year-old deserves his place in the tournament based on merit, citing Ronaldo’s impressive goal-scoring record. He asserted that all players were chosen strictly based on their performances. “Cristiano is in the national team on merit. Nobody gets selected on reputation alone. He scored 50 goals in 51 games for his club last season and netted 10 goals in our Euro 2024 qualifiers,” Martinez stated. “He’s a natural goalscorer who can make crucial plays. His ability to stretch defenses and…
The Premier League announced on Tuesday morning the opening-day fixtures for the 2024/2025 season. The new season is scheduled to run from Saturday, August 17, 2024, to Sunday, May 25, 2025. Manchester City, the champions, will kick off their campaign with an away match against Chelsea. Meanwhile, Arsenal will host Wolves at home, Manchester United will face Fulham at Old Trafford, and Liverpool will travel to Ipswich Town. Here are the fixtures for the opening day of the 2024/2025 season: – Arsenal vs Wolves – Manchester United vs Fulham – Everton vs Brighton – Ipswich Town vs Liverpool – Newcastle…
Former Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has disclosed that he is nearing a return to football, but this time as a club owner. Aguero, however, did not disclose the identity of the club he is involved with. The 36-year-old made these remarks during a recent conversation with Argentine streamer Martin Perez Disalvo, known as Coscu. When asked if he intended to return to football as a manager, the former Barcelona star replied: “To be honest, I’m considering getting into a football club as an owner. I won’t say which club it is, but I believe we’re heading in the right…
Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola suggested that the team’s struggles last season were directly linked to the departures of three key players. According to Zola, these players “were the heart and soul of the team.” The Italian pointed out that Chelsea were significantly impacted by the departures of Kai Havertz and Mateo Kovacic, who moved to Arsenal and Manchester City respectively. Zola also highlighted the loss of Jorginho to Arsenal in January 2023 as a major blow, depriving the team of an influential leader. Speaking to Ladbrokes, Zola commented: “Chelsea faced a tough season, especially early on, due to significant changes.…
According to Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has approached Marc Brys as a potential replacement for Finidi George. Brys, aged 62, who recently had disagreements with Fecafoot president Samuel Eto’o, has not denied the speculation linking him to the Nigeria job. The NFF is actively seeking a foreign technical adviser to lead the three-time African champions after a disappointing start to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Following the NFF’s decision to appoint an expatriate Technical Adviser, Finidi George resigned from his position as head coach. Currently, the Super Eagles are in fifth place in Group C…
France forward Marcus Thuram has remarked that teammate N’Golo Kante has been formidable to face in training sessions. Thuram shared his thoughts ahead of France’s Euro 2024 opener against Austria on Monday. Kante played a pivotal role in France’s World Cup triumph in 2018. Having been absent from the national team for two years, the former Chelsea midfielder was recalled by head coach Didier Deschamps for Les Bleus’ Euro 2024 campaign this summer. Currently with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad at 33 years old, Thuram humorously commented during a press conference on Saturday, “I feel like there were three of…
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has made his choice between Zinedine Zidane and Luka Modric. Under pressure to select between these Real Madrid icons, the England international opted for the Croatian, with whom he shared the pitch during the 2023/24 season. Bellingham and Modric have played together in 35 matches across various competitions. Asked to decide between Modric and Zidane, Bellingham stated (via @theMadridZone): “Zidane or Modric? Modric.”
According to Fabrizio Romano, Pedro Lima is expected to feature for Sport Recife today as Chelsea finalizes their deal with Strasbourg. All documentation is under review for the right-back to join Chelsea in a €7 million deal, plus €3.5 million in add-ons. Chelsea is also anticipated to make a decision soon regarding Jhon Duran after talks with Aston Villa about a potential swap deal. While Chelsea explores other striker options, discussions have commenced with Duran’s representatives, and the player is keen on the move, pending the club’s final decision. Meanwhile, Manchester United and Arsenal are reportedly preparing to compete with…
Former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell has passed away at the age of 54 following a brief illness. Campbell, who scored 148 goals in 542 appearances across various clubs during his career, fell ill in May and was hospitalized in serious condition, according to Everton earlier this month. Arsenal expressed their sorrow over his death, stating, “We are devastated to learn of the passing of our former striker Kevin Campbell after a short illness. Kevin was beloved by everyone at the club. Our thoughts are with his friends and family during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Kevin.” Everton…
Manchester United are actively exploring alternative options to bolster their defense, with Jarrad Branthwaite identified as their primary target. Should negotiations with Everton falter due to the club’s reluctance to meet the £70m valuation, United have identified several other players to reinforce their backline. According to 90min, Marc Guehi, Jean-Clair Todibo, Leny Yoro, and Matthijs de Ligt are all under consideration by United. Guehi has impressed at Crystal Palace and earned a place in England’s Euro 2024 squad, while Todibo and Yoro have been long-standing targets for the Red Devils. De Ligt is also on their radar, although any potential…
Finidi George provided insight into his decision to resign as head coach of the Super Eagles. The 53-year-old submitted his resignation to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Saturday, following the NFF’s announcement of plans to bring in a foreign technical adviser to work alongside him. According to Colin Udoh, a former media officer of the Eagles, Finidi confirmed his resignation was prompted by a lack of communication from the NFF after their meeting on Thursday, where they discussed future plans without indicating they would appoint a foreign technical adviser. Feeling unwanted, Finidi chose to step down after waiting two…
Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho stands to secure a substantial salary with a potential move to Saudi Arabia. Recently departing Leicester City after his contract expired, the 27-year-old is currently engaged in negotiations with undisclosed Saudi clubs. Despite interest from teams in England and Turkey, a move to Saudi Arabia promises a significant financial package for Iheanacho, who scored six goals for Leicester City last season.
Olise’s outstanding performance during the 2023-2024 season, where he scored 10 goals and provided six assists in just 19 Premier League games, has positioned him as a key target for Chelsea’s offensive overhaul. Although Chelsea has already agreed on personal terms with Olise, the £60 million release clause in his contract poses a significant hurdle. To facilitate the deal, Chelsea is contemplating offering Trevoh Chalobah and Noni Madueke to Crystal Palace. Both players have faced uncertain futures at Stamford Bridge, with Chalobah reportedly open to offers. Madueke, specifically, is viewed as a direct replacement for Olise due to his left-footed…