Author: Nurudeen Obalola
Flying Eagles head coach Aliyu Zubairu has named a squad of 24 players, some of them based in Europe, for the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Egypt. The Nigerian side are among 13 national teams taking part in the tournament, scheduled for April 27 to May 18 in the North African country. Zubairu has selected first-choice goalkeeper Ifeanyi Harcourt, defender and captain Daniel Bameyi, midfielder Sulaiman Alabi Jojo and forward Kparobo Arierhi among his squad, with the Flying Eagles set to face Tunisia, Morocco and Kenya in Group B. Defenders Adamu Maigari and Emmanuel Chukwu (based in…
Carlo Ancelotti is expected to leave Real Madrid after the Copa del Rey final on April 26, according to Sports News. Ancelotti cast doubt over his future as Real Madrid head coach after Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final defeat to Arsenal, which saw his team lose 2-1 at home and 5-1 on aggregate. It is understood the 65-year-old will remain in place until the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona in Seville but is expected to depart the club after that game. Real Madrid and Barcelona are fighting it out for the domestic double, with Ancelotti’s side sitting four points behind…
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has penned a new two-year contract with the club after months of speculation linking him with a move. The 33-year-old Netherlands centre-back’s previous contract was due to expire at the end of the season, but Van Dijk has joined forward Mohamed Salah, who signed a two-year extension last week, in committing his future to the club. “It was always Liverpool,” said Van Dijk, who had been linked with a move to Paris St-Germain. “That was the case. It was always in my head, it was always the plan and it was always Liverpool.” The Dutchman,…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed some gratitude to Pep Guardiola after the Gunners defeated holders Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night to reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. Arteta worked under fellow Spaniard Guardiola at Manchester City before taking the reins at Arsenal in 2019. He hailed the victory as one of the best nights of his career and revealed he had a chat with Guardiola on the morning of the second leg before Arsenal claimed a 5-1 aggregate victory. “I called him because if I am here, it is thanks to him…
American great Serena Williams said she would have been banned for 20 years and stripped of her Grand Slam titles had she failed drug tests like men’s world number one Jannik Sinner did last year. Sinner accepted a three-month ban in February following an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency, which challenged an independent tribunal’s decision to clear him of wrongdoing after two positive tests for the anabolic agent clostebol. “I love the guy, love this game,” Williams, who retired in 2022 after winning 23 Grand Slam trophies, told Time Magazine. “He’s great for the sport. I’ve been put down so much, I…
Bukayo Saka scored a goal and missed a penalty as Arsenal held off Real Madrid to reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in an incident-packed match at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night. The Gunners won 2-1 on the night to advance to their first Champions League semi-final since 2009 5-1 on aggregate, while Inter Milan drew 2-2 at home to Bayern Munich but the Italians progressed 4-3 on aggregate. Arsenal had a 3-0 aggregate lead to defend after their superb victory in the first leg last week – and they were given the chance to silence the noisy home…
Gabon forward Aaron Boupendza has died at 28 following a fall from the 11th floor of a building in China, the Gabonese Football Federation (FEGAFOOT) said on Wednesday. Boupendza, who joined Zhejiang FC earlier this year, was in good form with four goals in six matches. “At 28, Boupendza is remembered as a great striker who left a lasting impression at the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon (in 2022),” FEGAFOOT said in a statement. “Trained at CF Mounana and Bordeaux in France, the Gabonese striker joined the Chinese league after a brief spell in Romania. “FEGAFOOT and the great…
By Nurudeen Obalola Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has confirmed that Andre Onana will be in goal when the Red Devils host Lyon in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final tie on Thursday night. Onana was left out of the Manchester United squad for the English Premier League defeat at Newcastle United on Sunday after his two errors in the 2-2 draw in Lyon last Thursday. While speaking during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Amorim responded in the affirmative when asked if Onana would start in goal. “Onana, he will play tomorrow,” Amorim said, then…
Barcelona defender Mapi Leon has been banned for two Liga F matches following an incident with Espanyol defender Daniela Caracas in February. The Spain international was accused of “violating the privacy” of Colombia defender Caracas on 10 February after appearing to touch her in the groin area while Espanyol defended a corner kick. Espanyol expressed their “total discontent and condemnation” of the incident after a video of the clip went viral on social media. Liga F has confirmed to BBC Sport that Leon has been given a two-match suspension “due to the incident with Daniela Caracas” and would not be making any…
Barcelona and Paris St-Germain became the first teams to advance to this season’s UEFA Champions League semi-finals after aggregate victories over Borussia Dortmund and Aston Villa respectively. Both Barcelona and PSG took healthy first-leg advantages into Tuesday night’s reverse fixtures, but they needed to hang on in the end. The Spaniards lost the second leg in Germany 3-1 to advance 5-3 on aggregate, while PSG endured a nervy finale to qualify 5-4. Villa were attempting to overturn a 3-1 deficit to reach the semi-final but their hopes looked in tatters when they were two goals down inside the first half-hour.…