Interim head coach of the Super Eagles, Finidi George, stresses the importance of securing a victory against long-standing rivals Ghana in today’s friendly match. Highlighting the intense rivalry between the two nations as an additional motivation for his players, the former winger emphasizes the significance of delivering a strong performance and returning home triumphant. “In the face of the enduring Nigeria-Ghana rivalry, our team is primed and motivated,” Finidi shared with the Super Eagles media following Thursday’s training session. “We’re poised for action, fully aware of the stakes. Our aim is a stellar performance culminating in a win.” While the…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
According to reports in Spain, Barcelona has identified Joshua Kimmich, Amadou Onana, Aleix Garcia, and Mats Wieffer as their primary targets for midfield recruitment in the upcoming summer transfer window. The departure of club legend Sergio Busquets to Inter Miami in MLS at the end of the 2022/23 season has left a void in Barcelona’s midfield. Despite financial constraints last summer, which limited their transfer activity to free transfers and bargain deals, Barcelona’s sporting director Deco is determined to bolster the midfield ahead of the 2024/25 season. Among the targeted players, Everton’s Amadou Onana is highly regarded by Barcelona for…
Arsenal and Chelsea target Viktor Gyokeres hints at a potential return to England this summer. The 25-year-old striker has been in outstanding form for Portuguese powerhouse Sporting CP, tallying an impressive 36 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions since his club-record €20m (£17m) transfer from Coventry City in July. Gyokeres has also provided ten assists in the Portuguese top flight and assisted twice in the Europa League, although Sporting recently bowed out of the competition to Atalanta. His remarkable performances have naturally attracted attention from top clubs across Europe, with reports suggesting that both Arsenal and Chelsea have had…
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has expressed “total and unconditional support” for La Liga referee Juan Martinez Munuera following a complaint from Real Madrid regarding the alleged omission of racist abuse towards Vinicius Junior in his match report over the weekend. Despite Madrid’s victory over Osasuna, the focus shifted to the abuse directed at Vinicius, prompting the club to claim that Munuera “voluntarily and deliberately omitted the insults and humiliating shouts… despite being warned insistently by our players at the same time they were occurring.” However, Osasuna refuted any allegations of racist chanting aimed at Madrid players. Munuera’s post-match report…
Manchester United’s captain, Bruno Fernandes, has confirmed his intention to extend his contract at the club beyond its current expiration in 2026. The attacking midfielder, who was appointed captain over the summer, has been a standout performer at Old Trafford since his arrival in 2019. With just two years remaining on his current deal, speculation has arisen regarding Fernandes’ future at the club. However, speaking during a press conference while on international duty, Fernandes reiterated his commitment to Manchester United, particularly after discussions with the club’s new owners, INEOS. “I’ve already had a meeting with the new owners. They want…
Joao Cancelo was notably absent when Barcelona secured a victory over Atletico Madrid in La Liga over the weekend, as a precautionary measure due to concerns over a potential heart condition. Cancelo, who has been a consistent presence in Barcelona’s lineup since joining on loan from Manchester City, missed the crucial match in Madrid. It was revealed through an RAC1 report that Cancelo received medical advice to abstain from participating. This precautionary decision was made because one of Cancelo’s relatives has been diagnosed with a heart condition, prompting club medical staff to investigate whether it could be hereditary and potentially…
Interim coach of Nigeria’s national team, Finidi George, is adamant about not underestimating the significance of the forthcoming friendly matches against Ghana and Mali, as he eyes a potential permanent role as the replacement for Jose Peseiro. George, who recognizes the importance of maintaining Nigeria’s momentum following their recent second-place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations, is keen on securing positive results in these encounters. In an interview with Newsmen, George highlighted the weightiness of the upcoming fixtures, particularly the clash with Ghana’s Black Stars. “They call it friendly matches, but there is really nothing friendly when you play,…
Fenerbahce defender Bright Osayi-Samuel is potentially facing a suspension of up to 10 games following his involvement in the post-match violence that occurred after the club’s away victory against Trabzonspor last weekend. Osayi-Samuel found himself in a scuffle with some home fans who encroached onto the pitch following the Turkish Super Lig encounter. Reports from Turkey suggest that the Nigerian international could be charged with violent conduct by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) Disciplinary Committee. The 26-year-old is reportedly planning to argue self-defense to mitigate any potential punishment. The hearing for the case is scheduled for Tuesday, April 2. Currently,…
Former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward Michael Owen has voiced his preference for Liverpool to clinch the Premier League title. However, he anticipates both Liverpool and Arsenal falling short in the title race against Manchester City, who have displayed exceptional form this season. With only one point separating the top three teams and ten games remaining, the competition is intense. Arsenal’s impressive eight-game winning streak since the beginning of 2024 has propelled them to the top of the table, while Liverpool’s success in the COVID-19 interrupted 2019-20 season underlines their pedigree. Despite his allegiance to Liverpool, Owen acknowledges Manchester…
The Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel has concluded that Arsenal forward Kai Havertz should have received a second yellow card before scoring the winning goal against Brentford earlier this month. During the match, the 24-year-old had already been booked for an elbow on Bees defender Kristoffer Ajer. In the 65th minute, Havertz went down under a challenge from Nathan Collins. Despite referee Rob Jones waving play on, replays indicated minimal contact between Havertz and Collins. Ultimately, Havertz proceeded to score the winning goal for Arsenal in the dying moments of the match. A recent report from The Times has disclosed…
Nottingham Forest is considering the sale of some of their prominent players, including Nigerian international Taiwo Awoniyi, during the upcoming summer transfer window. This decision aims to prevent further breaches of Premier League financial regulations. According to reports from the Daily Mail UK, the club is facing challenges in retaining key center-back Murillo amidst significant uncertainties looming over the summer. Murillo is not the only player who could potentially depart, as Morgan Gibbs-White and Awoniyi are also rumored to be on their way out. Both Gibbs-White and Awoniyi are anticipated to attract interest from clubs within the English topflight as…
The 2023/2024 Premier League campaign has showcased remarkable performances from players across all twenty teams, adding excitement to the competition. While Arsenal narrowly missed out on the title last season, Manchester City claimed the trophy. However, the players who drove Arsenal to contention have continued their stellar form into the new season, keeping them in the running alongside Manchester City and Liverpool in a fierce battle for the top spot. Powerhouses like Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Mohamed Salah have consistently delivered outstanding performances despite facing injuries, contributing to their teams’ success. Even teams with lower expectations, such as…
Chelsea and Manchester City have received warnings from the Premier League, indicating that they could potentially be expelled from the league. The English football governing body underscored that such a consequence could await both clubs if found guilty of violating Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. Manchester City is currently contesting 115 charges brought by Premier League legal authorities since February 2023, while Chelsea, currently occupying the 11th position, has yet to face charges. The financial impropriety of Chelsea during the Roman Abramovich era was flagged last summer, with payments to agents being conducted outside the club’s official records. In a…
Man Utd Secures Raphinha Deal Agreement Reports from GOAL indicate that Manchester United has struck a deal with Barcelona for the surprise acquisition of Raphinha. While the Red Devils have been linked with various players like Michael Olise (Crystal Palace), Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton Wanderers), and Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), a surprising turn of events places Raphinha as the closest to joining the 20-time English champions. Sources suggest that United is currently in “full negotiations” with Barcelona regarding the player, with both clubs reportedly reaching an agreement in principle for a surprising €50 million transfer deal. Arsenal Urged to Pursue Joao…
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville emphasized that Arsenal and Liverpool’s chances of winning the Premier League hinge on defeating Manchester City. Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville cautioned both teams against relying on other clubs for assistance. City demonstrated their resilience by coming back from a goal down to defeat United 3-1 on Sunday, bringing them within a point of league leaders Liverpool. Arsenal has the opportunity to close the gap to two points by securing a victory against Sheffield United on Monday night. City’s upcoming league fixtures include challenging away matches against Liverpool next weekend and hosting Arsenal on…
Chelsea icon Eden Hazard is poised to grace the Stamford Bridge pitch once more, this time for the Soccer Aid charity match in support of UNICEF. Having bid farewell to professional football after his Real Madrid contract concluded, Hazard looks forward to donning his boots again for a noble cause this summer. He has been selected to represent the World XI team against England. In anticipation of the event, Hazard expressed his excitement, reminiscing about his illustrious years at Chelsea and the memories shared with the fans. He emphasized the opportunity to create new history through Soccer Aid for UNICEF,…
According to a report, Raheem Sterling is determined to remain at Chelsea and compete for his spot amidst speculation linking him to the Saudi Pro League. The winger, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City in the summer of 2022 for a transfer fee of £47.5m, has faced challenges in replicating his previous form from his time at the Etihad Stadium. Sterling’s recent performance in Chelsea’s 4-2 FA Cup victory over Leicester City drew intense criticism, particularly for missing a penalty and failing to convert other scoring opportunities. Despite the scrutiny and boos from fans at Stamford Bridge, Sterling has expressed…
According to a report, Arsenal and Liverpool could find themselves in a bidding war for the signature of Borussia Dortmund forward Donyell Malen, as both clubs have expressed interest in the Dutch attacker. Several top Premier League clubs have been linked with Malen, who is reportedly seeking a move away from the Bundesliga. Sky Germany reporter Patrick Berger has disclosed that both Arsenal and Liverpool are weighing up a move for the 25-year-old, who is valued at €40m-€50m. Liverpool, under the guidance of Michael Edwards, who now serves as FSG’s CEO of Football, are looking to bolster their squad ahead…
Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has earned a spot in Gareth Southgate’s senior England squad for the March internationals. Despite being initially omitted from the 25-man squad, the 18-year-old’s impressive performances at club level prompted his inclusion. Southgate had refrained from rushing Mainoo into the senior setup, preferring not to burden him with excessive pressure early in his career. Initially slated for the Under-21 squad, Mainoo’s elevation to the senior team was confirmed by England. He joins the squad for the upcoming friendlies without replacing any injured players, as the original 25-man roster convened at St George’s Park on Tuesday.…
Eden Hazard has hailed his seven-year tenure at Chelsea as the “greatest memory” of his football career, highlighting his second season at the club under Jose Mourinho as the pinnacle. Hazard retired from football at the age of 32 in October 2023, following a disappointing final few years marred by injuries at Real Madrid after his £100m transfer from Chelsea. However, his time at Chelsea was marked by brilliance, particularly during his second season under Mourinho. Reflecting on his time with the Blues in an interview with the Standard ahead of his participation in Soccer Aid at Stamford Bridge, Hazard…