Chelsea is poised to break the Premier League transfer record with an offer for Alexander Isak from Newcastle United. Discussions have already occurred between the clubs, and Chelsea is prepared to exceed the £115 million they spent on Moises Caicedo last summer. Having overcome injury setbacks that hindered his progress in recent years, Isak enjoyed a standout season with Newcastle last year. The 24-year-old striker concluded the campaign with an impressive tally of 25 goals, solidifying his status as one of Europe’s most sought-after forwards. While Newcastle is reluctant to part with one of their key assets, they are currently…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
England’s Phil Foden has left the Euro 2024 camp in Germany to attend the birth of his third child, confirmed the English Football Association on Wednesday. In April, Foden and his partner Rebecca Cooke announced on Instagram that they were expecting their third child. The couple already has two children: five-year-old son Ronnie and two-year-old daughter True. The Football Association stated that the Manchester City star needed to address a “pressing family matter.” They expressed hope that Foden would rejoin the squad by Sunday, ahead of England’s last-16 match scheduled for 17:00 BST. Foden played a crucial role in Manchester…
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is currently seeking a new head coach for the Super Eagles following Finidi George’s resignation. While there is debate over whether a local coach should be given the opportunity, Afrik-Foot outlines compelling reasons why an expatriate coach could be the team’s best choice: 1. Trust and Support: Historically, the NFF has demonstrated a higher level of trust and support for expatriate coaches, citing their proven track record of success. Coaches like Gernot Rohr have delivered notable achievements with the team, benefiting from substantial financial backing. This backing enables them to build strong squads and implement…
Al Hilal forward Neymar has cited his compatriot Thiago Silva as the most formidable opponent he has encountered in his career. Neymar and Silva were teammates both at Paris Saint-Germain and with the Brazil national team, and also faced off in memorable UEFA Champions League clashes when Neymar represented Barcelona and Silva played for PSG. During a recent interview with VIVA Sport, Neymar was asked about the toughest player he has faced, to which the 32-year-old promptly responded, “Thiago Silva.” Silva, known for his stints at AC Milan, PSG, and Chelsea, recently departed Chelsea for Brazilian club Palmeiras as a…
Ademola Lookman has excelled at Atalanta since joining two seasons ago. The Nigerian international has scored 32 goals and provided 18 assists in 78 appearances for La Dea. However, he grabbed headlines with a stunning end to last season, scoring a hat-trick to lead Atalanta to a resounding 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Europa League final. Recently, there have been rumors linking Lookman with a return to the English Premier League, two years after leaving Leicester City. According to reports from Got Offside, both Manchester United and Liverpool are interested in signing Lookman this summer. Liverpool aims…
Lionel Messi has expressed his discomfort with Pep Guardiola’s training methods during their time together at Barcelona, describing them as confusing. The Argentina captain criticized the way Guardiola’s tactics were imposed on young players at La Masia, feeling it restricted their natural abilities. Messi, speaking in an interview with JP Varsky on Clank Media, highlighted that children as young as six were taught to play with two touches and at a faster pace, which he believes hindered their spontaneity on the field. He suggested that instead of such structured training, kids should learn to comprehend the game, develop their movements,…
Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos has honored Nacho Fernandez following his departure from Los Blancos on Tuesday. Ramos, who played alongside Nacho, expressed joy for his compatriot. Earlier that day, Real Madrid announced Nacho’s departure after 23 years with the club. The 34-year-old is expected to join a team in Saudi Arabia. In response, Ramos shared a photo of himself with Nacho on his Instagram story, writing: “Dear Nacho, although you’re leaving, you’ll always be part of @realmadrid’s history. Congratulations on an outstanding journey. It was a pleasure sharing the dressing room and experiencing countless successes and unforgettable moments together.…
Spain’s Supreme Court has ruled that a kiss without “tacit consent” can constitute sexual assault, a decision upheld following a case in Andalusia where a police officer was convicted for kissing a woman in custody. The court emphasized that any non-consensual kiss, even fleeting, represents an invasion of bodily autonomy, stating that consent is paramount and a “no” from the victim is not required to establish a lack of consent. This ruling comes just ahead of the trial of former football federation chief Luis Rubiales, accused of kissing player Jenni Hermoso without her consent during a World Cup medal ceremony.…
The president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, has been provisionally suspended by FIFA from all football-related activities at national and international levels for a period of 90 days. This follows disciplinary proceedings initiated against him on August 24. Additionally, he has been directed by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee not to contact or attempt to contact Spanish national team player Jenni Hermoso or her close associates. FIFA has communicated these directives to Rubiales, the RFEF, and UEFA to ensure compliance, emphasizing its commitment to upholding the integrity and rights of all individuals involved.
The Three Lions’ uninspiring performance against Slovenia literally sent a fan to sleep during their match at Euro 2024. England’s style of play in the European Championship has been criticized as dull, but it was particularly evident against Slovenia, where their uneventful display saw a fan nod off. In their final Group C fixture, England struggled to break down Slovenia, resulting in a lackluster 0-0 draw. This followed another tepid performance in a 1-1 draw against Denmark earlier. Despite these results, England managed to top the group with five points, thanks to an early Jude Bellingham goal securing a 1-0…
Nigerian striker Rinsola Babajide has voiced her opinion that the 2023 AFCON tournament was superior to the 2024 Euros after England’s lackluster draw against Slovenia. The Super Falcons star, currently with Tenerife, boldly asserted her preference for the Africa Cup of Nations over the European Championship following England’s goalless stalemate in their final Group C match. Although the draw secured England’s top spot in the group and progression to the next round, the match epitomized the underwhelming trend of this year’s Euros, disappointing many fans, including Babajide. “After witnessing England’s disappointing performance,” Babajide remarked, “it’s clear to me that the…
Fans have voiced their discontent regarding two England players following the Three Lions’ disappointing draw against Slovenia. On Tuesday night, England entered the RheinEnergieSTADION knowing a win would secure their spot in the round of 16 as Group C winners. However, Gareth Southgate’s squad delivered yet another subpar performance, failing to break down Slovenia’s resilient defense. Early in the second half, Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo was substituted in as England searched for a breakthrough. Ultimately, the match concluded in a lackluster 0-0 draw, and England secured the group’s top spot thanks to Denmark and Serbia also drawing. Throughout the…
Oleksandr Usyk, the Pound for Pound King, has relinquished the IBF heavyweight title to two British opponents he previously defeated convincingly. Usyk opted to surrender the championship despite requesting an exception to retain it for a rematch with Tyson Fury. Consequently, their upcoming December 21 bout will no longer be for undisputed status. The accomplished Ukrainian held all four belts for just 38 days, following Lennox Lewis’ achievement 25 years ago. While fans had waited a quarter-century for another undisputed champion, they acknowledge Usyk’s standing even after his decision to relinquish the belt. Anthony Joshua, whom Usyk defeated twice convincingly,…
Euro 2024 has entered its advanced stages with ten national teams securing spots in the knockout stage. Six more teams are expected to join them before the week concludes. Germany became the first team to qualify, topping Group A with 7 points, followed by Switzerland. In Group D, Spain clinched first place with 9 points, followed by Italy. England managed to top Group C despite a single win, with Denmark in second and Slovenia hoping to advance as one of the best third-placed teams. Austria surprisingly topped Group D ahead of France and the Netherlands, with France securing second place…
According to PUNCH Sports Extra, Nigerian football fans are urging the Nigeria Football Federation to appoint Hervé Renard as the next coach of the Super Eagles. Renard, currently coaching the French women’s team, has announced his intention to step down after the Paris 2024 Olympics, leading to speculation about his next career move. Renard’s impressive track record in African football, having guided Zambia and Ivory Coast to Africa Cup of Nations triumphs, has garnered strong support among Nigerian fans. While NFF Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, stated on Monday that he was not aware of any developments regarding Renard, fans…
Following Finidi George’s abrupt departure after just 47 days, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is actively seeking a new manager for the Super Eagles. Jose Peseiro, who had been considered a potential successor, has reportedly withdrawn from contention. Peseiro previously coached the Super Eagles to a silver medal at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations but has decided against returning due to strained relations with NFF leadership during his previous stint. According to Sport Brief, Peseiro’s decision stems from unresolved issues and failed contract negotiations with the NFF. His departure appears to be final, leaving the NFF to explore other…
Napoli are reportedly prepared to reduce Victor Osimhen’s asking price, according to DAILY POST. There is uncertainty surrounding the future of the Nigerian international, who currently has a €150 million release clause in his contract. This high valuation has deterred potential suitors. Calciomercato suggests that Napoli may now be willing to lower their initial asking price to €100 million. This adjustment aims to free up essential transfer funds for new manager Antonio Conte, who is reportedly eager to secure the signing of Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku this summer. Despite interest from clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, and Paris Saint-Germain appearing lukewarm…
Chelsea will aim to secure a victory against Scottish side Celtic in a friendly match set to take place in the United States. CHE vs CEL: Preview, Date, and Kickoff Time for Club Friendly Fixture Stamford Bridge’s team enters the match on the back of an impressive finish to the previous season’s second phase, clinching 5 wins and 2 clean sheets in their final 6 matches. Celtic also enjoyed a strong finish to their season, claiming victory in all 5 of their last Scottish Premier League games. They capped off their campaign with a 1-0 win over rivals Rangers in…
Brazil forward Neymar Jr. expressed visible disappointment when Vinicius Junior was substituted during their 0-0 draw with Costa Rica in the 2024 Copa America opener on Monday night. Despite being one of the tournament favorites, Brazil failed to score despite dominating the game with 19 attempts on goal. Manager Dorival Junior attempted to change the game in the final 20 minutes by replacing Vinicius with the promising young talent Endrick. Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, appeared perplexed and raised his arms in disbelief at this decision. The 32-year-old Neymar, who had suffered an unfortunate ACL injury during World Cup qualifying…
Arsenal has officially announced that goalkeeper Karl Hein has signed a new contract with the club. The Gunners shared the news via their website on Monday evening, stating, “We’re delighted to confirm Karl Hein has signed a new contract with the club.” Hein, who originally joined Arsenal in 2018 from Nõmme United and began as a scholar, turned professional the following year. The Estonia international made his first-team squad debut in a Europa League match and later spent the second half of the 2021/22 season on loan at Championship side Reading. “I’m delighted to extend my contract and continue my…