Nigerian football star Victor Osimhen has revisited his childhood neighborhood in Lagos, Nigeria, bringing along his African Footballer of the Year award. Currently enjoying a holiday in his homeland, the Napoli forward seized the opportunity to visit his former primary school, where he was warmly welcomed by a crowd of enthusiastic fans. Osimhen’s return home follows a stellar season with Napoli, contributing significantly to their Serie A title triumph. His outstanding performances earned him the prestigious African Footballer of the Year accolade, reaffirming his stature as one of Africa’s premier players. At 23 years old, Osimhen’s achievement underscores his perseverance…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Former Chelsea and Real Madrid attacking midfielder Eden Hazard has identified Kevin De Bruyne as the best midfielder in the world. Hazard also expressed confidence that Belgium has a strong chance of winning the 2024 European Championship with De Bruyne in their lineup. Having played 81 matches together and contributing to seven goals jointly, Hazard acknowledged their partnership. De Bruyne, currently representing Belgium at Euro 2024, was unable to prevent them from a surprising 1-0 loss to Slovakia in their first match. Despite this setback, Hazard remains optimistic about Belgium’s prospects in the tournament. He remarked (via Man City News):…
Turkish defender Merih Demiral has cautioned his teammates about veteran Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of their Euro 2024 clash on Saturday. Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Thursday, Demiral emphasized Ronaldo’s current excellent form and the need for the defense to be vigilant against the 39-year-old, who has previously played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. Turkey secured a 3-1 victory over Georgia in their first match, while Portugal triumphed 2-1 against Czechia in theirs. Demiral stated (via @TimelineCR7 on X): “Ronaldo is performing at a very high level right now. He was in top form when…
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni expressed frustration with the pitch conditions for their 2024 Copa America opener against Canada on Thursday. Argentina faced Canada at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, US, where they secured a 2-0 victory. Julian Alvarez (49′) and Lautaro Martinez (88′) scored for Argentina. Scaloni criticized the pitch, stating (via Gaston Edul): “We’ve known for 7 months that we would be playing here, and they changed the grass two days ago. We didn’t play on a decent pitch. It was similar to Arabia, but the difference is that we played there on a suitable field. This shouldn’t…
Arsenal retains interest in signing Victor Osimhen but is hesitant to meet Napoli’s €120 million release clause. Headline: Arsenal Sticks to €75 Million Limit for Osimhen Despite Napoli’s €120 Million Clause Arsenal remains keen on acquiring Victor Osimhen but is firm on not meeting Napoli’s €120 million release clause. Osimhen, highly rated as one of Europe’s top strikers, has Napoli’s protection through this clause, anticipating high summer demand. The striker has mutual understanding with Napoli for a potential departure, awaiting offers from interested clubs. Following their unsuccessful bid for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Arsenal seeks another striker, with Osimhen a…
Spain midfielder Rodri will sit out their final group match at Euro 2024 against Albania due to suspension. This follows his second yellow card in as many games, received during La Roja’s 1-0 win over Italy for dissent toward the referee. The 27-year-old was cautioned for breaching the rule that permits only the team captain to communicate with the referee. Rodri had previously been booked in Spain’s 3-0 victory against Croatia. This measure has been implemented at Euro 2024 to discourage players from surrounding referees after decisions are made.
England captain Harry Kane has offered insights into why the Three Lions are encountering difficulties following their 1-1 draw against Denmark in Euro 2024. Kane played a key role as England secured a draw against Denmark on Thursday. Speaking to BBC, the Bayern Munich striker highlighted issues both on and off the ball for England. “We’re struggling both defensively and offensively,” Kane remarked. “In my opinion, Gareth Southgate’s squad has not performed up to their potential. “I believe that we have not been able to get the ball out of the way.
Argentina’s captain, Lionel Messi, responded to his team’s 2-0 Copa America win against Canada on Thursday. Messi played a crucial role as La Albiceleste triumphed in their tournament opener. The Inter Miami forward was pivotal in the match, with goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez securing the victory for the World Cup champions. Following the game, Messi took to his Instagram story to express his happiness about the win. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star wrote: “First step,” alongside a photo of himself with his teammates. Messi’s next objective is to guide Argentina to success in their upcoming…
Chelsea have reportedly agreed to sell left-back Ian Maatsen to Aston Villa, following his loan stint at Borussia Dortmund where he featured prominently, including in the Champions League final last month. Despite impressing at Dortmund and Chelsea’s need for a reliable left-back, Maatsen is poised for a permanent transfer to a Premier League competitor. The move will see Chelsea earn a substantial fee for the academy-developed player. During his loan at Dortmund, there was an unused £35 million release clause option. According to The Athletic, Aston Villa has now agreed to acquire Maatsen for a fee slightly above that amount…
Liverpool has announced the first three coaches to join Arne Slot’s new backroom staff following his arrival from Feyenoord. Among those departing alongside former manager Jurgen Klopp last month were long-time assistant manager Pep Lijnders and elite development coach Vitor Matos, both now with Red Bull Salzburg. Goalkeeping coach John Achterberg has also moved on. Slot’s new coaching team includes Sipke Hulshoff, who has worked closely with him at Feyenoord since 2022 and previously assisted Ronald Koeman with the Netherlands national team. Joining from Feyenoord as well is Ruben Peeters, appointed as lead physical performance coach. Fabian Otte, previously with…
Leicester City has announced the appointment of Steve Cooper as their new manager ahead of their Premier League return. Cooper takes over following Enzo Maresca’s departure to Chelsea after guiding the Foxes to the Championship title last season. After discussions with Graham Potter and Carlos Corberan, Leicester has reached an agreement with Cooper, marking his return to the Premier League since leaving Nottingham Forest in December 2023. “I am thrilled and honored to be appointed as Leicester City’s First Team Manager,” said Cooper upon signing a three-year contract. “This is a remarkable club with a rich history and passionate supporters.…
Arsenal is prepared to offer €100 million for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, though this falls €30 million short of Napoli’s recent contract release clause, according to Italian journalist Ciro Venerato. Venerato suggests that Osimhen could likely end up at Arsenal, given Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis’s stance on not considering offers below the release clause, citing Arsenal’s recent record-breaking £105 million transfer of Declan Rice. Venerato further explains, “[Arsenal] will now try with the Nigerian [who dreams of the Premier League], but not by paying the onerous amount of the clause, but a lower sum. Napoli will have to evaluate…
Chelsea’s summer transfer dealings are in the spotlight as they prepare an improved offer following the rejection of their initial €40 million bid for a striker, while another potential deal teeters on the brink of collapse. The club’s pursuit of the promising striker hit a snag when their first bid was turned down, prompting Chelsea’s management to regroup and devise a new strategy. Sources close to the negotiations indicate that Chelsea remains steadfast in their pursuit, with plans underway to submit a higher offer that aligns with the selling club’s valuation. Simultaneously, another transfer negotiation that initially showed promise is…
Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero has endorsed Real Madrid’s Vinicius as his choice for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award. Aguero highlighted Vinicius’s stellar 2023/24 season, where the Brazilian international clinched both the La Liga and UEFA Champions League titles. “I believe the award should go to Vinicius. He had an outstanding season, securing the La Liga title and contributing crucially to the Champions League victory,” Aguero stated in an interview with Stake. “Bellingham started strong but his form tapered off towards the end, especially after his injury,” Aguero added. Vinicius notably scored 23 goals and provided 11 assists across various…
The Nigeria Football Federation has refuted reports alleging that Napoli forward Victor Osimhen has been banned from playing for the Super Eagles. The supposed ban circulated in several online publications on Wednesday. NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi clarified that the organization has not taken any steps to impose a ban on the talented forward. “We urge the media to collaborate with us in resolving issues constructively and maintaining focus on the bigger picture, rather than unnecessarily escalating matters. There has been no official communication from the NFF, yet some have already started discussing Osimhen’s supposed ban from the national team.…
Earlier this month, Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Brentford, Brighton, Aston Villa, and 11 others, voted to retain VAR for the upcoming season, despite acknowledged flaws. Wolverhampton Wanderers was the sole club to vote against its continuation. The Premier League will maintain the Video Assistant Referee system while implementing six significant changes to enhance its effectiveness. The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has outlined six VAR amendments for the 2024/25 season: 1. Maintaining a high intervention threshold to minimize interruptions. 2. Streamlining semi-automatic offside technology to reduce delays. 3. Introducing stadium announcements following…
Germany has secured the first qualification for the Round of 16 at Euro 2024. They achieved this after a 2-0 victory over Hungary in Wednesday’s second match. Jamal Musiala scored in the first half, with captain Ilkay Gundogan adding another goal in the second half. The hosts have now won consecutive matches in the tournament, following their earlier 5-1 triumph over Scotland. Hungary, on the other hand, faces imminent elimination after losing 3-1 to Switzerland in their opening match. Switzerland has the opportunity to advance to the next round if they defeat Scotland later tonight.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have dropped eight places in the latest monthly FIFA ranking released by the Federation of International Football Federation (FIFA) on Thursday. The three-time African champions fell from 30th to 38th position. This decline follows their slip of two places in the previous FIFA ranking. The drop in ranking coincides with the team’s disappointing results in the recent 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The West Africans managed a 1-1 draw at home against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana and suffered a 2-1 defeat away to Benin Republic’s Cheetahs. Despite this setback, the Super Eagles remain among the top five…
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has officially confirmed that the 2024 Nigerian FA Cup final will be held at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja. Scheduled for Saturday, June 29th at 4:00 PM Nigerian Time, this highly anticipated match highlights the stadium’s status as a premier football venue in Nigeria. Located in the nation’s capital, Abuja, the stadium boasts modern facilities and ample seating for thousands of enthusiastic fans. Teams from across Nigeria have fiercely competed throughout the tournament to earn their spot in the final showdown. Football enthusiasts and supporters can expect an electrifying atmosphere as the top teams…
Currently, Reece James continues to serve a suspension stemming from a red card received in a match against Brighton late last season, causing him to miss the opening match against Manchester City. With Chelsea preparing to host the reigning champions at Stamford Bridge on August 18, James’ absence due to suspension will be a significant setback for newly appointed head coach Enzo Maresca. The 24-year-old defender was handed a four-match ban for his red card incident against Brighton, where he was sent off for kicking out at Joao Pedro in an off-the-ball altercation shortly before full time. As a result,…