Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has revealed the ‘severe punishment’ he faced after arriving late for a Champions League clash against Barcelona early in his career at Stamford Bridge. During a recent visit to Cobham Arena, Chelsea’s training ground, Mikel shared the story on The Obi One Podcast. The former Super Eagles captain explained that his lateness led to a significant consequence: he didn’t play a single game for Chelsea for three months. “I was late when I first joined the club,” Mikel recounted. “It happened before a Champions League match against Barcelona. The night before, we were training…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has included Harry Maguire in his 21-man squad for the Community Shield clash against Manchester City. Maguire, who has been recovering from an injury and missed the recent pre-season loss to Liverpool, is a key boost for Ten Hag as the team faces a shortage of crucial defensive players. Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez, and Jonny Evans are all unavailable for the match. Manchester United is aiming to win the Community Shield for the first time since 2016. The squad for the match includes: Goalkeepers: Onana, Bayindir, HeatonDefenders: Dalot, Maguire, Evans, Martinez, AmassMidfielders: Casemiro, Mount,…
Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has stressed a cautious approach ahead of the Community Shield clash with Manchester City, stating that he won’t take unnecessary risks with his players, as reported by the Daily Post. With several key players still recovering from injuries, Ten Hag is focused on ensuring their availability for the upcoming season. Bruno Fernandes, Lisandro Martinez, and Alejandro Garnacho have yet to feature in pre-season friendlies, while Leny Yoro and Rasmus Højlund are already sidelined due to injuries. When asked about his team selection for the match against City, Ten Hag told reporters, “The FA Cup…
Samuel Chukwueze has opened up about his decision to turn down a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia. The Nigerian winger, who recently joined AC Milan from Villarreal, revealed that despite the financial appeal, he chose to prioritize his football career and development in Europe. Chukwueze explained that the move to AC Milan aligns more closely with his ambitions and desire to compete at the highest level. “I want to continue challenging myself in top European competitions, and Milan offers the perfect environment for that,” he said. The 24-year-old emphasized the importance of playing in a competitive league and how it…
Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory, has praised Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, for their performance in the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Despite a 74-88 quarter-final loss to the USA, Kingibe highlighted D’Tigress’ remarkable resilience and determination. She noted, “Your fearless and gallant performance, especially your comeback in the 4th quarter against one of the most heavily invested teams, exemplifies our collective unyielding spirit.” In addition to celebrating D’Tigress, Kingibe underscored the significance of cultural heritage, referring to the National Arts Theatre in Lagos as a symbol of Nigeria’s rich history and creativity. She remarked, “The…
Arsenal’s Impressive Win Over Leverkusen Signals Strong Start to New Season In their latest pre-season friendly, Arsenal delivered a commanding performance against Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates Stadium, securing a 4-0 victory. The match highlighted the team’s readiness for the upcoming season. Arsenal’s starting lineup, featuring a blend of seasoned players and new signings, included Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, and Zinchenko in defense, Jorginho in midfield, and Odegaard, Havertz, Trossard, Gabby Jesus, and Vieira in attack. This lineup demonstrated the depth and quality of Arsenal’s squad and would be competitive in any league match. Leverkusen, despite being a strong opponent,…
In a stunning turn of events, Tobi Amusan, Nigeria’s top medal hopeful at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has been eliminated from the competition. The 27-year-old, who holds the world record in the 100m hurdles and is the reigning world champion, failed to reach the final, finishing third in her semi-final heat with a time of 12.55 seconds. This disappointing result left Amusan in ninth place overall, extinguishing Nigeria’s hopes for a gold medal in the event. Despite being the world record holder with a time of 12.12 seconds set at last year’s World Championships, Amusan couldn’t replicate her best form…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Julian Alvarez is set to leave the club. The Premier League champions have reached an agreement with Atletico Madrid for Alvarez, with the transfer fee set at £81 million. Guardiola, speaking to the press before the Community Shield, acknowledged the player’s desire to depart this summer. “He wants to leave, and Atlético is a top club, so it’s okay. “Good luck to Juli; we loved him, and we won everything together. I really wish him all the best,” Guardiola stated. Alvarez’s departure leaves Manchester City with only Erling Haaland as their sole…
Napoli initially set a €130 million price tag on Victor Osimhen, but the high release clause has deterred interested clubs. In recent weeks, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain were rumored to have approached the Serie A club for the Nigerian striker. However, neither club was willing to meet the steep asking price, and Chelsea has since shifted its focus to Atletico Madrid’s Samu Omorodion. The 20-year-old, who was on loan at Alaves last season, is currently representing Spain’s U23 team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. According to Sky Sports’ Marco Demichelis, with the transfer window closing in, Napoli may be…
Kylian Mbappé, who made headlines by joining Real Madrid as a free agent this summer, has officially embarked on his new journey with the club. The 25-year-old striker, formerly of Paris Saint-Germain, had an outstanding season last year, netting 27 goals in 29 Ligue 1 matches. On Wednesday, Mbappé took part in his first training session with Real Madrid. According to a report by L’Équipe, he arrived in excellent physical condition. The club’s fitness coach, Antonio Pintus, praised Mbappé’s fitness, noting his commitment to a personalized off-season program. Pintus described Mbappé as “very sharp,” underscoring the player’s dedication and readiness…
Manchester United are preparing for the Community Shield as they face Manchester City this Saturday at Wembley Stadium. However, the Red Devils are grappling with a defensive injury crisis, with three key players missing from training. Manager Erik ten Hag faces uncertainty with defenders Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka all absent. Maguire missed the final pre-season match against Liverpool, raising doubts about his availability for the season opener. Ten Hag noted, “Harry Maguire sat out as a precaution and remains uncertain for Saturday. We have more training sessions to assess his fitness. Victor and Azza [Wan-Bissaka] are also…
Tobi Amusan remains Nigeria’s best chance for a medal at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris, France. So far, the West African nation has yet to secure a podium finish, with the competition concluding on Sunday, August 11. Amusan, the world record holder in the 100m hurdles, is set to compete in the semi-finals on Friday. She advanced from the heats on Wednesday, clocking a time of 12.49 seconds, ahead of the USA’s Alaysha Johnson, who finished second in 12.61 seconds, and Janeek Brown, who took third with 12.84 seconds. In the semi-finals, Amusan will face tough competition from reigning…
In a remarkable show of sportsmanship, Nigerian cyclist Ese Lovina Ukpeseraye received vital support from the German cycling team during the Paris Olympics. Ukpeseraye, representing Team Nigeria, faced a challenging situation when she had no bicycle for the keirin and sprint events due to the short notice of her participation. “Due to the short notice of me competing in the keirin & sprint, #teamNigeria I had no bicycle to race with on the tracks,” Ukpeseraye shared on her X handle on Thursday. In a generous gesture, the German team, Bund Deutscher Radfahrer, stepped in to assist the Nigerian athlete. “In…
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has paid a heartfelt tribute to his longtime teammate Pepe, who announced his retirement from football on Thursday. Pepe, who is retiring at the age of 41, played his final match at Euro 2024, where Portugal was eliminated by France in the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout. His appearance at the tournament made him the oldest player to compete in a European Championship. Over his illustrious career, Pepe earned 141 caps for Portugal, ranking behind only Ronaldo (211) and João Moutinho (146) in appearances. “There are not enough words to express how much you mean to…
FIFA has lifted its ban on Nigeria Premier Football League team Katsina United. The ban, which prevented the club from registering new players, was imposed due to a payment dispute with former player Mohamadou Souley Salamoun. The ban was lifted after Salamoun confirmed receipt of his outstanding wages from the club. Katsina United has since strengthened their squad by signing four new players and is expected to add more before the season begins. The Chanji Boys will face Plateau United in their opening match of the new season.
Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Chelsea are set to complete the signing of Samuel Omorodion for a fee of approximately £35 million. Romano announced on his verified X account on Wednesday: “Samuel Omorodion to Chelsea, here we go! Deal in place for £35m as a fixed fee from Atlético Madrid. A seven-year contract for Omorodion has been agreed, and he is set for medical tests.” Despite interest from Bayer Leverkusen and other clubs, Omorodion has chosen to join Chelsea. The promising forward, eligible to play for the Super Eagles, will sign a seven-year contract with Chelsea, keeping…
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has reviewed his team’s 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid on Tuesday night, marking the Blues’ third pre-season loss under his leadership. Real Madrid’s Lucas Vazquez and Brahim Diaz scored to give their side a two-goal lead before Noni Madueke reduced the deficit for Chelsea. After the match, Maresca highlighted the need for improvement in Chelsea’s defensive structure. “Offensively, we played well and created 6 or 7 clear chances,” Maresca said. “However, we need to address and adjust our defensive issues. Our defensive line, in particular, needs improvement.” Chelsea will have one more friendly against Inter Milan…
The Football Association (FA) has been compelled to change the referee for the Community Shield match between Manchester United and Manchester City. John Brooks was originally set to officiate the game at Wembley, but due to a minor injury, he will be replaced by Jarred Gillett. Gillett, who was initially appointed as the fourth official, will now take charge of the match. Sam Barrott will step in as the new fourth official, while Adrian Holmes and Nick Greenhalgh will serve as Gillett’s assistants. Peter Bankes will oversee VAR duties at Stockley Park, with Sian Massey-Ellis and Tim Robinson supporting him.…
Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso believes Arsenal and Liverpool will challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title this season. Alonso made these remarks after his team suffered a 4-0 defeat to Arsenal in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday evening. Last season, Arsenal narrowly missed out on the title, finishing just two points behind City. Since then, Mikel Arteta has only added Riccardo Calafiori to the squad, although Calafiori did not play in the friendly. The match was decided by goals from Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, and Kai Havertz. When asked if Arsenal could compete for the title…
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong will join a Saudi Arabian club for the upcoming season. Troost-Ekong is set to leave PAOK for Al Khalood following an agreement on the transfer fee between the two clubs. The 30-year-old has also finalized personal terms with his new team. Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano shared on X: “William Troost-Ekong has agreed to join Al Khalood in Saudi Arabia. PAOK and Al Khalood have settled on the fee, and personal terms are also finalized. The 30-year-old Nigerian defender is moving to the Saudi Pro League.”