Author: Nurudeen Obalola
Real Madrid defeated Mexico’s Pachuca 3-0 on Wednesday night to win the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in a largely one-sided final. Attacking trio Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr were all on target for the UEFA Champions League holders at the Lusail Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Real Madrid were comfortable for most of the match and never looked likely to cede control despite allowing the CONCACAF champions to threaten occasionally from counter-attacks. The Spanish side opened the scoring in the 37th minute with a fine team goal. It started with Jude Bellingham passing to Vinicius Jr, who ran past the goalkeeper…
Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho could be on his way out of Sevilla in January, according to reports in Spain. The Nigeria international, 28, joined the LaLiga club on a free transfer in August after leaving Leicester City, but has struggled for form. Having scored no goals in nine LaLiga appearaces for Sevilla, the club are keen to let go of Iheanacho less than six months into his time in Spain. Marca claimed that Iheanacho is almost certain to leave Sevilla during next month’s winter transfer window. The club’s sporting department, led by sporting director Victor Orta, is believed to…
Former world number one Simona Halep, whose career stalled due to a doping ban that was reduced on appeal this year, will step up her comeback at the Australian Open after receiving a wildcard for the qualifying tournament on Wednesday. The 33-year-old was provisionally suspended in October 2022 and later banned for four years, a period which was cut to nine months in March following an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Halep, who has denied knowingly taking the banned drug roxadustat, returned to action in Miami in March and last competed on the WTA Tour in Hong…
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim says the club are “better” with Marcus Rashford after the forward suggested he could leave Old Trafford. The England international, 27, said on Tuesday that he was “ready for a new challenge and the next steps” in his career. It came two days after Rashford was dropped for United’s derby win against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium. Rashford’s last Premier League start came in a 4-0 win against Everton on 1 December 1, when he scored twice. Amorim suggested the club want the striker – who came through United’s youth ranks – to stay, saying: “I…
By Nurudeen Obalola Super Eagles head coach Austin Eguavoen and captain William Troost-Ekong went in different directions in the voting process for 2024 The Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award. Brazil and Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr won the award on Tuesday night in Doha, Qatar, beating Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. The winner was determined by votes from national team head coaches and captains, with Eguavoen and Troost-Ekong representing Nigeria. While Eguavoen went for Lionel Messi, Vinícius Jr and Rodri as his top three in that order, Troost-Ekong opted for Jude Bellingham as No.1, followed by Vinicius and…
Marcus Rashford is prepared to leave Manchester United after spending nine years in the club’s senior team. The Manchester-born academy product was left out of the squad for Sunday’s derby win at City, leading to reports that the Red Devils were willing to sell him as soon as next month. “For me, personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps,” Rashford told Henry Winter on Tuesday when he was asked if he would stay at Manchester United or leave the club. “When I leave it’s going to be ‘no hard feelings’. You’re not going…
By Nurudeen Obalola Vinicius Jr has won The Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year prize ahead of Rodri. He was presented with the gong at the The Best FIFA Awards ceremony in Doha, Qatar on Tuesday. Brazil and Real Madrid forward Vinicius had finished second to Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri in the Ballon d’Or weeks ago, sparking controversy and eliciting bitter reactions from Vinicius, his Real Madrid teammates, fans and the club hierarchy. Vinicius won the 2023/2024 UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid, and their manager Carlo Ancelotti has been voted Men’s Coach of the Year. Emma…
Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk has failed a drugs test and been suspended by the Football Assocation, the English Premier League club confirmed on Tuesday. The Blues said they were contacted by the FA after an “adverse finding in a routine urine test”. Ukraine international Mudryk has however denied knowingly using any banned substance and Chelsea say they will work to establish what caused the test result. The 23-year-old last played for Chelsea on November 28 and has missed the last five matches in all competitions. He was included in the matchday squad for the Chelsea’s victory against Aston Villa on…
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman on winning the 2024 CAF Awards African Player of the Year prize. The President also lauded Super Falcons star Chiamaka Nnadozie for bagging the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award and the Super Falcons for being named the Women’s National Team of the Year. The awards were announced on Monday night at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco. Lookman, who plays his club football with Atalanta in Italy, beat off competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Cote d’Ivoire’s Simon Adingra, Guinea’s Serhe Guirassy and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams…
Manchester United are open to letting Marcus Rashford leave the club and have put the forward up for sale, according to reports in England. Rashford has been marginalised and on the way out of Old Trafford as part of a cultural reboot deemed necessary to transform the club after standards were allowed to decline for more than a decade, the Guardian claimed on Monday. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is intent there can be no passengers and is ready to cut his losses on Rashford if there are suitors in January. A willingness to take short-term pain in pursuit of long-term gain was…