Tottenham are concerned about Yves Bissouma’s fitness after he sustained an injury during international duty, ahead of Sunday’s crucial North London Derby against Arsenal. Bissouma scored the winning goal for Mali in their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Eswatini on Tuesday but was forced off in the 65th minute following a tough challenge. His availability for the derby is now uncertain. Arsenal, meanwhile, are dealing with their own midfield issues. Captain Martin Odegaard and new signing Mikel Merino are sidelined due to injuries, while Declan Rice is suspended following a controversial red card against Brighton. For Spurs, Richarlison is confirmed…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
At least seven teams have secured a perfect six points after the Matchday 2 fixtures of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. The second round of games concluded on Tuesday night, with DR Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Angola, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia all winning their first two matches, maintaining a maximum six points. Meanwhile, teams like Nigeria, Tanzania, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, and Burkina Faso currently have four points each. The Matchday 3 fixtures are scheduled to take place next month.
Manchester United have identified a potential successor for Erik ten Hag as pressure mounts on the Dutchman. The Mirror reports that co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is considering parting ways with Ten Hag and has named former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane as a possible replacement. Ten Hag, who has faced criticism following a disappointing start to the season, led Manchester United to an eighth-place finish in the Premier League last season and was also eliminated from their Champions League group. Although he managed to secure the FA Cup with a win over Manchester City, the current season’s poor performance has…
John Mikel Obi has chosen not to blame Victor Osimhen for his social media outburst directed at former Super Eagles head coach, Finidi George. Osimhen faced criticism for his public criticism of Finidi, who allegedly questioned his commitment to the national team. The striker voiced his disappointment and loss of respect for the former Ajax winger. Mikel stated that while Osimhen’s reaction might not have been ideal, it was understandable given the Super Eagles’ disappointing results against South Africa and Benin Republic. He praised Osimhen’s humility and emphasized that respect should be mutual. “Whenever I speak to him, he’s very…
Fenerbahce manager, Jose Mourinho, has claimed that Victor Osimhen “dives too much.” Osimhen, who recently joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan from Napoli, will now compete directly with Fenerbahce for the Turkish League title. Mourinho, who took charge of Fenerbahce in June after being sacked by AS Roma, had faced Osimhen several times during his Roma vs. Napoli encounters. Speaking to HT Spor, Mourinho said, “The last time we played against him in a Roma vs Napoli match, I had a conversation with him. I told Osimhen, ‘You are one of the best players in Africa, along with Salah. Before,…
Thiago Silva visited Chelsea’s training ground in Cobham recently. The Brazilian defender, who left Chelsea as a free agent in June and signed with Palmeiras, shared a photo of his return to the English club. “It’s always a pleasure to return to this special place. Thanks for the affection. The feeling is mutual,” Silva captioned the image. Silva, who joined Chelsea in 2020 from Paris Saint-Germain, made 112 Premier League appearances and helped secure 32 clean sheets during his time at the club.
The Premier League’s Match Incidents panel has confirmed that referee Chris Kavanagh had “no choice” but to send off Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice during the match against Brighton. As a result of the red card, Rice will miss Arsenal’s upcoming clash with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Rice, who was already on a yellow card at the start of the second half, received a second booking for delaying a quick free kick by Joel Veltman. Though Rice made only slight contact with the ball, Kavanagh deemed it enough to warrant a second yellow for impeding his opponent. The panel unanimously supported…
The Super Eagles have responded to their goalless draw with Rwanda in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on Tuesday. Nigeria and Rwanda ended their Matchday 2 encounter in Kigali with a 0-0 scoreline. The Amavubi were the more dominant side in the early minutes, but the Super Eagles gained control, with Ademola Lookman posing a significant threat to the Rwandan defense. In the 20th minute, Lookman received a pass from midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, but his shot was saved by Rwandan goalkeeper Ntwari Fiacre. Lookman later scored, but the goal was controversially disallowed by the referee. Victor Boniface…
Augustine Eguavoen has stepped down as the interim coach of the Super Eagles, according to OwnGoalNigeria. Eguavoen stated that his “mandate was for two games.” The technical director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was appointed after efforts to hire a permanent head coach for the national team fell through. During his brief tenure, Eguavoen led the Super Eagles in two 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, securing a 3-0 win against Benin Republic and a 0-0 draw with Rwanda. Speaking at Kigali Airport after the Rwanda match, Eguavoen declined to discuss preparations for Nigeria’s next game against Libya, saying:…
Former Super Eagles media officer, Toyin Ibitoye, has called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to retain Austin Eguavoen as head coach of the national team. Ibitoye’s appeal came after Nigeria’s goalless draw against Rwanda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on Tuesday. He urged the NFF to halt their search for a foreign coach and give Eguavoen more time to manage the Super Eagles. It’s worth recalling that Eguavoen was appointed caretaker coach after German coach Bruno Labbadia stepped down from the role. “Dear @thenff, Please put your search for a foreign coach for the @NGSuperEagles…
Al Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo has predicted four emerging stars as future Ballon d’Or winners. Despite being left off the 30-man shortlist for the second year in a row, the 39-year-old forward shared his thoughts on his YouTube channel, UR Cristiano. Ronaldo named Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and Barcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal as potential Ballon d’Or contenders. “Mbappe could win the Ballon d’Or in the next few years, and likely Haaland and Bellingham too,” Ronaldo said, before adding Yamal to his list of future winners. Ronaldo’s former Manchester United teammate, Rio Ferdinand, also joined the conversation, highlighting…
Manchester United’s chances of signing former France international Adrien Rabiot have received a significant boost over the international break. Rabiot, who nearly joined United in 2022, is now a free agent after leaving Juventus and is actively seeking a new club. He has turned down offers from Galatasaray and the Saudi Pro League, which enhances United’s prospects of securing the French midfielder. It is reported that United will soon initiate talks with the 29-year-old as Erik ten Hag aims to bolster his midfield options for the upcoming season. In other news, United has taken a step towards developing a new…
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about INEOS’s involvement at Manchester United so far, it’s that they aren’t afraid to spend big in the transfer market. Sir Jim Ratcliffe strongly backed Erik ten Hag in the recently concluded window, with five new signings. United remain vigilant in the market for players who can enhance the squad, and their latest target appears to be Juanlu Sánchez. The 21-year-old Spaniard recently impressed while on international duty at the Olympic Games. According to ABC Sevilla, Manchester United have held talks to sign the versatile player, who has a £21.2 million release clause. His…
Former Nigeria captain John Mikel Obi has hinted that Chelsea could make another attempt to sign Victor Osimhen next year. Speaking on his podcast, Mikel revealed that both parties were close to an agreement this summer, but the move fell through, leading Osimhen to join Galatasaray on a season-long loan. However, Mikel believes a transfer to Chelsea could still happen in January or next summer. “Victor has that strong character, similar to Didier Drogba and Diego Costa, which is something Chelsea is missing—strikers with that edge who can intimidate defenders, and Victor definitely has that,” Mikel said. On Chelsea reigniting…
Harry Kane has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent achievement of scoring 900 career goals has inspired him to “play for as long as possible.” The England captain is set to earn his 100th cap on Tuesday during England’s Nations League match against Finland at Wembley. Since making his senior debut in 2015, Kane has played in a World Cup semi-final and two European Championship finals. Despite his prolific goal-scoring record and being England’s all-time top scorer, Kane has yet to win a major trophy with either his club or country. However, the Bayern Munich striker is determined to end his…
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is set to reassess his future at the club following the latest development in his ongoing dispute with president Joan Laporta, according to reports. De Jong, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury since April, has resisted Barcelona’s pressure to undergo surgery to hasten his return. The club has warned him that he must be available to manager Hansi Flick if he chooses not to have the procedure. This situation is the latest in a series of conflicts between De Jong and Barcelona’s leadership. He has consistently rejected the club’s attempts to sell him…
Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick has stated that Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has surpassed Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé as the best striker in the world. Haaland has started the 2024-25 season in exceptional form, netting seven goals in just three Premier League matches. Last season, he scored 38 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions. Meanwhile, Mbappé has faced criticism for his underwhelming performance at Euro 2024 with France and a slow start in La Liga. “Until a few months ago, I would have said Haaland and Mbappé were the best strikers in the world. At the moment, I…
Bruno Fernandes has alleviated concerns about an ankle injury after completing 90 minutes in Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Scotland on Sunday. The Manchester United midfielder, who scored Portugal’s equalizer, was seen limping after taking a hard blow to his ankle. Despite finishing the match, many fans were worried about his fitness. After the game, Fernandes reassured supporters, saying, “It’s okay. It’s just a little bump.” While Cristiano Ronaldo’s late goal—his 901st career strike—dominated the headlines, Fernandes also reached a personal milestone, making his 600th appearance for club and country. “I had no idea,” Fernandes admitted. “It’s a nice number, and…
Leny Yoro opted for Manchester United over Real Madrid this summer after being dissatisfied with the contract offer from the Spanish club, according to reports. Yoro, who was in the final year of his contract with Lille, was initially expected to join Real Madrid, with many suggesting he had his sights set on a move to the Santiago Bernabéu, either this summer or as a free agent. However, Real Madrid was hesitant to meet Lille’s demands and hoped Yoro would pressure Lille to lower the asking price. In contrast, Manchester United acted swiftly, securing a £52 million deal for the…
England interim manager Lee Carsley has expressed confidence in his ability to take on the role permanently following the Three Lions’ 2-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland. Carsley, who was previously the England Under-21 manager, stepped up to lead the senior team after Gareth Southgate’s departure post-Euro 2024, while the Football Association searches for a permanent replacement. The win, secured by goals from Declan Rice and Jack Grealish, was a promising start for Carsley, who admitted the result provided a much-needed confidence boost. “In the back of my mind, I always thought it would be easier to be the…