Author: Nurudeen Obalola
By Nurudeen Obalola Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has insisted that his side can still win the English Premier League title this season despite being behind leaders Liverpool by 11 points. The Gunners slipped up on Saturday by losing 1-0 at home to struggling West Ham, while Liverpool secured a comfortable 2-0 win at champions Manchester City the following day to widen the gap at the top. During his pre-match press conference on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s trip to third-place Nottingham Forest Arteta was asked if he had given up on Arsenal winning their first Premier League title since 2004. “Over…
Manchester United expect to make up to a further 200 jobs redundant as part of cost-cutting measures after five straight years of losses, the club said Monday. United made around 250 roles redundant in a first wave of savings last year after British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe paid $1.3 billion for an initial 25% stake in the club and assumed control of its football operations. Now, as part of what United called a “transformation plan,” the club “anticipates that approximately 150-200 jobs may be made redundant, subject to a consultation process with employees.” “We have a responsibility to put Manchester…
Galatasaray, the club of Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen, said they would “initiate criminal proceedings” against Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho after claiming he made “racist statements” following the teams’ 0-0 draw on Monday. It was not clear which statements Galatasaray were referring to. Speaking in the news conference after the Istanbul derby, Mourinho said the home bench had been “jumping like monkeys” and also repeated his criticism of Turkish referees, saying it would have been a “disaster” to use an official from the country. Monday’s match was refereed by Slovenian Slavko Vincic after both clubs requested a foreign official take…
By Korede James Police have clarified that Nigerian forward Abubakar Lawal, who played for Uganda Premier League side Vipers Sports Club, died after falling from a building, and not in a traffic accident as earlier reported. This is according to a statement by the Uganda Police (via independent.co.ug). There were reports on Monday that the 29-year-old, who joined Vipers from Rwanda Premier League side AS Kigali in 2022, died in a traffic accident. It was reported that the former Kano Pillars, Wikki Tourist and Nasarawa United player was on his way to training when the accident happened. However, the Police…
By Korede James Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) club Lobi Stars have appointed Mohammed Baba Ganaru as interim head coach to replace former Super Eagles striker Daniel Amokachi. The experienced Ganaru, who has handled several NPFL club, will take charge until the end of the season. “Lobi Stars have appointed Mohammed Baba Ganaru as head coach in interim capacity until the end of the season,” NPFL announced on Monday. “He replaces Daniel Amokachi who left the role last week.” Amokachi had reportedly first quit his position in December, a claim that was later dismissed by the club. Ganaru would have…
By Korede James Former Kano Pillars forward Abubakar Lawal, who played for Uganda Premier League club Vipers Sports Club, died in a traffic accident in Uganda on Monday. The 29-year-old Nigerian, who also featured for Wikki Tourists and Nasarawa United, was reportedly heading to Vipers’ training ground at St. Mary’s Stadium in Entebbe, Central Region of Uganda, but got involved in a crash on Entebbe Road that claimed his life. Abdul Wasike, the Vipers SC head of communications confirmed to Xinhua about the sad news on Monday. “It is a sad day as we communicate the death of our player…
By Korede James Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has been included in the unofficial Ligue 1 Team of the Week compiled by football facts and statistics website whoscored.com. Simon is one of two Nantes players who made the team released on Monday. The Nigeria international is placed on the left of a three-man forward in a 4-1-2-3 formation for the best XI. The 29-year-old Simon was on target for Nantes in their 3-1 home win against Lens in a league match on Sunday. He converted a 60th minute penalty to put Nantes 3-1 ahead as they gave their fight against…
By Korede James Former Turkish international Tümer Metin has identified Black Stars of Ghana defender Alexander Djiku as the player Fenerbahce should assign to stop Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen in Monday’s Super Lig derby with Galatasaray. Osimhen has been in superb scoring form since his loan move to Galatasaray, scoring 14 goals in 18 league games and 20 goals in all competitions this season, including four goals in his last five appearances. Metin, who starred in midfield for Fenerbahce in his playing days, named Djiku as the ideal player to neutralize the threat that would be posed by Osimhen.…
An awkward moment in the Sky Sports studio on Sunday saw Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge check former England and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher after he appeared to disregard the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The trio were analysing Liverpool’s impressive 2-0 win away to Manchester City in which Mohamed Salah scored one goal and set up another. That took him to 30 goals and 21 assists in all competitions this season, on course for his best campaign in a Liverpool shirt as the Reds moved 11 points clear at the top of the English Premier League table. Salah, 32,…
By Korede James Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman put behind him his issues with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini to score twice in Atalanta’s 5-0 win at Empoli in Serie A on Sunday night. Lookman’s clash with Gasperini dominated headlines in the past few days following his penalty miss against Club Brugge in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League clash. The Italian tactician slammed the Nigeria international for the miss during his post-match presser, a statement Lookman described as disrespectful. Atalanta lost the second leg play-off encounter 3-1 and crashed out of the competition 5-2 on aggregate. But all that was cast…