Manchester City faces another injury concern ahead of their Sunday clash with Arsenal in the Premier League. Man City’s Manuel Akanji is uncertain for Sunday’s match against Arsenal due to an injury. Reports indicate that Akanji has withdrawn from international duty with Switzerland, just five days before the crucial fixture against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. The defender, who has been a key figure in Pep Guardiola’s lineup this season with 34 appearances across all competitions, now faces a race to regain fitness. Switzerland manager Murat Yakin disclosed on Monday that the 28-year-old sustained a knock and will not participate…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Victor Osimhen’s tenure at Napoli seems to be reaching its conclusion, with the club willing to part ways with the Nigerian striker this summer. Italian publication Il Mattino reports that Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis is prepared to entertain offers for Osimhen, who appears eager to move on from the Serie A outfit. Following their long-awaited Scudetto triumph, De Laurentiis aimed to retain the core of his title-winning squad last summer. However, the departure of coach Luciano Spaletti, coupled with Bayern Munich’s activation of Kim Min-jae’s release clause, has left defensive voids. Despite interest from Paris Saint-Germain and a substantial…
Former Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri reportedly declined an offer from Premier League club Nottingham Forest to replace Nuno Espirito Santo. According to Alfredo Pedulla, Forest proposed a three-year contract for Sarri to take over immediately. However, Sarri intends to return to football in the summer and has rejected the offer. The 65-year-old, who parted ways with Lazio earlier this year, notably guided them to a second-place finish in Serie A last season. Currently, Forest is appealing their four-point deduction from the Premier League due to breaching profitability and sustainability rules. This penalty arose following their decision to delay the sale…
Barcelona has received a significant injury boost ahead of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match against Paris Saint-Germain on April 10. According to reports from MARCA (via Barca Universal), Torres, who has been sidelined due to injury, has participated in team drills and is expected to feature in Barcelona’s La Liga fixture against Las Palmas on Saturday. Moreover, there are reports suggesting he could be available for the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal clash with PSG next month. The 24-year-old forward resumed training during the ongoing international break. Torres, who has contributed with 11 goals and four assists in…
Jose Mourinho, the former Chelsea manager, has expressed his readiness to take on the role of coaching a national team, whether in Africa, Europe, or South America. In a conversation with football expert Fabrizio Romano, Mourinho, who has previously managed Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and Manchester United, shared his aspirations. The 64-year-old Portuguese has been without a job since his departure from Roma in January. Despite this, the ‘Special One,’ who has also helmed Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, is eager to return to football management. Mourinho stated, “To coach a national team is an objective for me.” He…
In an international friendly match held in Marrakech, Morocco on Tuesday night, the Super Eagles of Nigeria suffered a 2-0 defeat to the Eagles of Mali. Under the guidance of George Finidi, Nigeria found themselves trailing in the first half and struggled throughout the game to find an equalizer, only to concede another goal late in the match. This defeat marks the first time Mali has overcome the Super Eagles since their previous encounter on 5th September 1975, also in a friendly match that ended with a score of 4-1. Before Tuesday’s fixture, Nigeria had enjoyed an unbeaten streak of…
Bundesliga title contenders Bayer Leverkusen have set an eye-catching €55 million transfer fee for Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window. Reports suggest that an undisclosed Premier League club has approached Bayer Leverkusen regarding the availability of the Super Eagles striker, who missed the last Africa Cup of Nations due to an injury sustained on the eve of the tournament. Despite Leverkusen expressing their reluctance to sell Boniface and aiming to retain him for another season, they have established a minimum fee of €55 million for initial negotiations. Boniface, who recently joined Leverkusen from Union-Saint…
Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has provided further updates on Nigerian striker Ibrahim Hafiz Umar’s potential move to Chelsea. Earlier this week, we reported that Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling had a pivotal role in arranging a video call with Ibrahim, which facilitated his trial opportunity at the club. The 18-year-old, who stands at 6ft 2in, has garnered attention from various top European clubs, notably following his impressive performance of scoring 10 goals in six games at the Viareggio Cup. Currently playing for Ojodu City in Lagos state, Ibrahim had previously undergone a trial at Bodo/Glimt in Norway. However, Romano confirmed…
Alan Smith, a former Manchester United player, expresses confidence in the return of Lisandro Martinez, foreseeing a boost for Erik ten Hag’s team and a potential qualification for the Champions League. Martinez, who showcased stellar performances in his debut season at Manchester United after his transfer from Ajax in 2022, faced limited appearances this season due to recurrent injuries. His absence was notably felt after undergoing foot surgery last September and sustaining a knee injury in February during the match against West Ham United. With his sights set on returning against Brentford on Saturday, Martinez’s comeback is anticipated to be…
Alan Smith, a former Manchester United player, expresses confidence in Lisandro Martinez’s return to Erik ten Hag’s side, foreseeing it as a catalyst for their Champions League qualification. Martinez showcased impressive form during his debut season at Manchester United after his transfer from Ajax in 2022. However, his appearances this season have been limited due to recurring injuries. The Argentine underwent surgery for a foot injury in September last year and subsequently faced another setback in February this year with a knee injury during the match against West Ham United. Now eyeing a comeback against Brentford on Saturday, Martinez’s return…
Angel di Maria, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid winger, has been targeted with death threats in his hometown of Rosario following recent comments he made. The 36-year-old has not addressed the issue publicly. Di Maria expressed his desire to return to Rosario Central, the club where he began his career before moving to Europe with Benfica, to finish his football journey. However, similar to Lionel Messi’s past experiences, his family has received threatening messages. Although residing in a secure estate, di Maria’s parents received a letter containing menacing content. As reported by Infobae and cited by Marca, the…
In yesterday’s friendly encounter between Nigeria and Mali, the Super Eagles suffered a 2-0 loss, failing to score while conceding two goals. Despite the disappointment of defeat, certain players’ performances fell short of expectations during the match. MAL 2-0 NGA: 3 Players Who Struggled for Nigeria Against Mali 1. Cyriel Dessers: Cyriel Dessers had a prime opportunity to equalize for Nigeria in the second half but failed to capitalize. With only the goalkeeper to beat, he missed the chance, sending his shot off target. Dessers’ inability to convert such a clear opportunity proved costly for his team and potentially altered…
According to reports circulating from Spain, Premier League powerhouse Chelsea has made a surprising move by offering Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid ahead of the summer transfer window. Amidst another season of mixed results in the Premier League, Chelsea is reportedly seeking reinforcements and planning a strategic return to the transfer market. Since the Todd Boehly-led consortium took over in 2022, Chelsea has been on a significant spending spree, investing over £1 billion in acquiring new players and securing long-term contracts. However, these actions have raised concerns about potential breaches of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. In…
The Premier League has confirmed that Anthony Taylor will officiate the Premier League encounter between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. In an announcement made on Tuesday via its website, the English top-flight league revealed that Taylor will be supported by assistant referees Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn. Jarred Gillett has been appointed as the lead VAR for the match, with Darren Cann serving as his assistant. Arsenal currently lead the Premier League table on goal difference ahead of Liverpool, while Manchester City occupies the third position, trailing the leaders by one point. The match is scheduled…
Chad and Eswatini have successfully secured berths in the group phase of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, set for Morocco 2025. Their advancement came after both teams triumphed over their adversaries in the second-leg matches of the preliminary stage, held on Tuesday. Joining them in the next round are Liberia and South Sudan, who also clinched progression despite stalemates in their second-leg encounters, also contested on Tuesday. Eswatini held Somalia to a 2-2 draw at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa, sealing their passage with a commanding 5-2 aggregate scoreline, courtesy of their resounding 3-0 win…
Bayern Munich has disclosed that Harry Kane has resumed individual training as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury. Kane sustained the injury during Bayern’s 5-2 triumph over Darmstadt just before the international break, following a collision with the post. Although he joined the England squad for friendlies against Brazil and Belgium, he was unable to participate in team training and was subsequently released back to Bayern. Continuing his rehabilitation in Germany, Kane has now progressed to individual sessions, as confirmed by Bayern. “Harry Kane completed an individual training session at FC Bayern’s training ground on Monday morning,” a…
Manchester United have emerged as contenders for Barcelona defender Mikayil Faye, with reports suggesting a potential big-money move for the 19-year-old. Faye, who joined Barcelona’s ranks last summer, has predominantly featured in the academy setup. However, he did secure a place on the bench during Barcelona’s 1-0 victory over Mallorca earlier in March. Despite not yet making his debut for the first team, Faye has already earned his senior international debut for Senegal. According to the Daily Mail, United has taken notice of Faye’s development and views him as a cost-effective alternative to other defensive targets like Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite…
According to reports, Manchester City is closely observing the progress of Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite. Despite Everton’s struggle against relegation in the Premier League, Branthwaite has stood out with an impressive breakthrough season at Goodison Park. He is also poised to earn his maiden senior England cap in the upcoming match against Belgium. The 21-year-old’s remarkable form has sparked speculation about his future, especially given Everton’s financial challenges. With the club already facing deductions for PSR breaches, Branthwaite has been linked with a potential departure. The Daily Mail suggests that Manchester City has joined the race for Branthwaite’s signature, attracted…
Gareth Southgate has officially announced that Declan Rice will take on the role of captain for England in Tuesday night’s friendly against Belgium at Wembley. Rice, who is set to earn his 50th senior cap for the Three Lions, will lead the team in the absence of regular captain Harry Kane. Kane withdrew from the squad due to a hamstring injury, and his stand-in, Kyle Walker, also sustained a hamstring problem during Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Brazil. With Walker sidelined, the captain’s armband passed to Harry Maguire when he left the field. However, Maguire has since withdrawn from the squad…
Nottingham Forest has officially confirmed their decision to appeal the Premier League’s ruling, which docked them four points for violations of the Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR). The Premier League’s announcement last week regarding the deduction prompted Forest to challenge the decision, as per the statement released by the club on Monday. “Nottingham Forest can confirm that it has today lodged an appeal against the four-point sanction imposed by the Commission in relation to the Club’s breach of the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR). The club will not be making any further statement at this time,” the statement…