Hakim Ziyech has completed a noteworthy transfer to Galatasaray from Chelsea on a permanent basis. The Moroccan midfielder, who initially joined Chelsea from Ajax in 2020, has been a subject of intense speculation this transfer window, leading to a finalized deal with the Turkish club. The transfer includes a buy obligation clause that was activated as planned, following an initial structure involving performance-related add-ons for Chelsea, as reported by Fabrizio Romano on his official Facebook page. Galatasaray confirmed the completion of the transfer, noting that as part of the agreement, Ziyech’s annual salary will decrease from €3,587,500 to €2,850,000. This…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Italian coach Roberto Landi has expressed keen interest in managing the Nigerian national team once more, citing it as an honor to be considered amidst the ongoing search for a new Super Eagles coach. Landi took to social media to highlight his credentials and explain why he would be a strong candidate for the role. In an interview with Punch Sports, Landi emphasized the allure of representing Nigeria, a country with a population exceeding 200 million and a rich footballing heritage. He described coaching the Super Eagles as a dream opportunity, given Nigeria’s stature as one of the world’s top…
Maduka Okoye, the goalkeeper for both the Super Eagles and Udinese, has renewed his determination to claim Nigeria’s top goalkeeping spot and lead the team to the World Cup. Despite a disappointing exit from the AFCON 2021 tournament, Okoye is resolute in redeeming himself and leaving a lasting mark on Nigerian football. In an interview with Oma Akatugba, Okoye expressed his commitment to giving his all for his country, stating, “I aspire to be the one who carries Nigeria to the World Cup and brings trophies home.” Acknowledging past errors, including a critical mistake at AFCON 2021, Okoye is motivated…
The Super Falcons of Nigeria aim to keep their gold medal hopes alive at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games as they prepare to face Spain in their second group stage match. Preview of ESP vs NGA: Date and Kickoff Time for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Showdown Nigeria’s nine-time African Women’s Cup of Nations champions will approach this high-profile match following their opener against Brazil, seeking a victory to enhance their prospects in the competition. Spain’s women’s team will be eager to secure their first-ever win against the West African giants in their inaugural encounter. Prior to meeting Nigeria, Spain…
Real Madrid have reportedly shown interest in Bologna center-back Riccardo Calafiori, who has been impressing at Euro 2024. Calafiori, aged 22, entered the summer after a standout Serie A season that piqued Juventus’ interest, but his stellar performances for Italy have now attracted attention from scouts across Europe. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus are increasingly worried about their chances of reuniting Calafiori with former manager Thiago Motta in Turin, due to the escalating cost of the transfer and heightened competition for his signature. Real Madrid have been monitoring Calafiori this summer as part of their strategy to acquire…
Former Super Eagles forward Osaze Odemwingie has shared that transitioning into golf was a challenging endeavor for him. Following his graduation from the Professional Golfers Association school on Tuesday, Osaze, now a professional golfer, highlighted in an interview with Channels Television’s Sports Tonight that golf allows him more time with his young family. “I am someone with clear goals. I took a serious approach. It was tough. Many people drop out in the second year of this degree; many boys can’t cope with the workload,” he expressed. “But my Nigerian spirit helped me push through, especially in the demanding second…
Assessing Reece James’ Potential Captaincy Role at Chelsea Reece James has emerged as a standout player for Chelsea, sparking discussions about his potential as a future captain. Here are key considerations regarding his maturity and readiness for such a pivotal role: 1. Leadership Experience: James has been associated with Chelsea since the age of six and captained the youth team to victory in the FA Youth Cup. While early leadership exposure is advantageous, leading a senior Premier League team represents a significant leap. Some suggest he may benefit from additional senior leadership experience before assuming the captaincy. 2. Decision Making:…
Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario has announced his decision to quit watching football, citing the game as boring and not worth his time. The former Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and AC Milan star made this declaration following Brazil’s lackluster 0-0 draw against Costa Rica in their Copa America opener. Despite Dorival Junior’s team registering 19 shots during the match, only four were on target, and they struggled to find a rhythm. Brazil currently occupies second place in their group, with Colombia leading after defeating Paraguay 2-1. Brazil’s next match is against Paraguay on Saturday, but Ronaldo appears disinterested, having stated…
Amid mounting excitement across Europe, UEFA Euro 2024 has revealed the thrilling Round of 16 matchups, promising intense drama as top footballing nations vie for glory: 1. France vs. Belgium: A clash of titans featuring two football powerhouses, expected to deliver a spectacle of skill and strategy. 2. Spain vs. Georgia: Spain’s possession-oriented play meets Georgia’s determined challenge, setting the stage for tactical intrigue. 3. Portugal vs. Slovenia: Defending champions Portugal face resilient Slovenia, with Cristiano Ronaldo leading the charge for another title. 4. Germany vs. Denmark: Hosts Germany confront Denmark in a historic rivalry filled with intense competition and…
Eden Hazard surprised fans by returning to football just eight months after announcing his retirement. The Chelsea legend made his comeback with Royale Union Tubize-Braine, a third-tier Belgian team, in a friendly match against top-tier giants Anderlecht. Wearing the captain’s armband for Tubize, Hazard showcased his enduring skills on the field. Despite Tubize suffering a 4-1 defeat, Hazard’s performance stood out, particularly when he scored in the 94th minute. His goal, reminiscent of his glory days at Chelsea, demonstrated his ability to navigate through Anderlecht’s defense and calmly place the ball into the far corner of the net. At 33…
UEFA has removed referee Gil Manzano from Euro 2024 following reports from Spanish outlet Carrusel Deportivo. Manzano, who officiated the group stage match between France and Austria, where he issued a caution to Kylian Mbappe for reentering the pitch without instruction, will no longer be involved in the tournament after just one game. Initial reports suggested Manzano’s departure was due to an urgent need in Spain’s arbitration commission. However, Relevo reported that UEFA dismissed him based on his performance at Euro 2024. Manzano, known for his experience in high-profile matches such as El Clasico, has been involved in controversies before.…
The future club of Victor Osimhen remains a prominent topic in European football circles. The Nigerian striker, celebrated for guiding Napoli to their first Serie A title in 30 years in 2023, is poised to depart the Partenopei during the upcoming summer transfer window. Despite signing a contract extension in December 2023, Osimhen reportedly holds a gentleman’s agreement allowing him to leave Napoli for an appropriate fee this summer, as noted by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. The 25-year-old has garnered interest from several clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain and English Premier League sides like Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal. However, while…
Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal, clarifies his choice of Spain over Morocco. Lamine Yamal, a rising star at Barcelona, recently explained his decision to represent Spain over Morocco, despite being eligible for both national teams due to his heritage. The 16-year-old, currently showcasing his talent at the European Championships with Spain, emphasized in a recent interview before the Round of 16 match against Georgia that his lifelong aspiration had always been to play for Spain. Yamal, whose father is Moroccan and mother is from Equatorial Guinea, had the option to choose between Morocco and Spain. While the Royal Moroccan Football Federation…
Darwin Núñez and his Uruguayan teammates cruised past Bolivia’s defense to secure a commanding 5-0 victory on Thursday night, edging closer to securing a spot in the Copa America quarterfinals. Facundo Pellistri opened the scoring in the eighth minute, followed by Núñez doubling the lead in the 21st minute with his 10th goal in his last seven national team appearances and his 13th overall in 25 matches. Maximiliano Araújo added Uruguay’s third goal in the 77th minute, while Federico Valverde and Rodrigo Bentancur sealed the win with goals in the 81st and 89th minutes, respectively. This marked Uruguay’s first five-goal…
Al-Hilal forward Neymar Junior has singled out the United States as the “surprise team” of the 2024 Copa America. Neymar also praised United States captain Christian Pulisic, describing him as a great player. “I know Pulisic, I watched the Brazil vs United States game and the U.S. team surprised me a lot because they ran a lot, they played great defense against Brazil,” Neymar said (via GOAL). “[Pulisic] is a great player, he spent a long time at Chelsea. The U.S. will surprise during the Copa America. From what I saw in the game against Brazil, they have everything to…
Napoli’s new coach, Antonio Conte, has affirmed that Victor Osimhen, the Super Eagles striker, intends to depart from the club this summer. Speaking at a summit alongside Napoli’s president Aurelio De Laurentiis this week, Conte confirmed an agreement between the club and Osimhen allowing his departure. “I’m aware of his situation. I know there’s an agreement with the club, so it’s a different case compared to others,” Conte stated. “There’s a pact between Victor and Napoli regarding his future, and I have accepted that.” Reports have circulated for months linking Osimhen away from the Italian club, and it is now…
Waldemar Anton has opted to join Borussia Dortmund as his next club, despite interest from Liverpool under new head coach Arne Slot. Anton gained prominence in the 2023/24 season by captaining Stuttgart to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga and their first Champions League qualification since 2009. He also made his debut for the German national team in March at the age of 27 and is currently part of their squad for Euro 2024. Reports earlier this month suggested Liverpool had inquired about Anton’s availability, with a €22.5 million (£19 million) release clause in his Stuttgart contract, agreed upon in…
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez defended Cristiano Ronaldo after the forward displayed frustration by kicking a water bottle following his substitution during their surprising 2-0 loss to Georgia. Ronaldo, playing for Al Nassr, was substituted just over an hour into the match as Martinez sought solutions to goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze, replacing Ronaldo with Goncalo Ramos. Despite this change, Portugal was unable to recover, suffering what statistically stands as the biggest upset in European Championships history against a Georgia side ranked 66 places below them in FIFA’s global rankings. Before taking his place on the bench, Ronaldo’s frustration…
England manager Gareth Southgate has indicated his intention to have a conversation with midfielder Jude Bellingham to address his challenges during the group stage of Euro 2024. Bellingham, who arrived at the tournament with high expectations following a stellar debut season with Real Madrid, impressed in England’s opening win against Serbia but struggled in subsequent matches against Denmark and Slovenia. Amid calls for Bellingham to potentially be benched for the last-16 clash with Slovakia, Southgate emphasized his focus on finding solutions to improve England’s offensive performance. “I will discuss those matters with [Bellingham] privately rather than discuss them publicly,” Southgate…
Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua is poised to seize the opportunity to reclaim the heavyweight championship for the third time, following Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to vacate his IBF title. Usyk received an exemption from defending his belt to face Tyson Fury last month, ultimately becoming the undisputed champion with a split decision victory over Fury in Saudi Arabia. Usyk has now agreed to a rematch with Fury on December 21 but will not defend the IBF title in that bout. He confirmed his decision to vacate the IBF belt via social media on Tuesday night, paving the way for Joshua…