Author: Nurudeen Obalola
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said his players must be at their best to overcome Plymouth Argyle in the fifth round of the English FA Cup on Saturday. City have just the FA Cup still to play for in terms of silverware after the collapse of their English Premier League title defence and their ouster in the UEFA Champions League defeat by holders Real Madrid. Plymouth, who are in the Championship relegation zone, stunned runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool 1-0 in the fourth round. Guardiola, whose side are trying to reach the FA Cup final for a third consecutive…
By Korede James West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Mowbray has bemoaned Super Eagles defender Semi Ajayi’s latest injury. Ajayi, who had only just returned from a previous injury, will not play against Leeds in the Championship this weekend or the next few matches. The Nigeria international could hopefully be back for a play-off push after suffering a fresh hamstring injury. He came off in the 41st minute of the first half during last weekend’s 2-0 win against Oxford United and will now enter a period of rehabilitation. “It’s disappointing for him, frustrating for him and for us,” Mowbray was quoted…
By Korede James Nigeria’s Flying Eagles lost 2-0 to Cote d’Ivoire in a friendly match at the Stade Félix Houphouet Boigny in Abidjan on Friday. Friday’s friendly was the second in three days between the two teams, who are both preparing for the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, which Cote d’Ivoire will host from April 26 to May 18. In their first encounter on Wednesday, the Flying Eagles won 2-0 thanks to goals from captain Daniel Bamayi and Divine Oliseh. The U-20 AFCON hosts got their revenge on Friday, winning with the same score. The Flying Eagles are in Group…
The Nigeria Football Federation has continued the search for clarity concerning the tragic death of former Nigeria U-20 player, Abubakar Lawal, in Uganda on Monday. NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, reiterated on Friday that the country’s football-ruling body has been monitoring the situation, and will not relent until the truth is revealed. Lawal, 29, who was playing for Ugandan top flight club Vipers SC, died on Monday morning, with initial reports claiming he lost his life in a car crash. Hours later, the Ugandan Police stated that Lawal died after falling from the third floor of a hotel at…
By Nurudeen Obalola Former Super Eagles captain Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has lambasted football pundit Jamie Carragher for disregarding the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and claiming it is not a major tournament. Carragher has been at the receiving end of relentless backlash since suggesting that Mohamed Salah’s Ballon d’Or chances were limited because the Liverpool forward plays for Egypt. In spite of pushback from his fellow pundits on Sky Sports Daniel Sturridge and Micah Richards, Carragher held his ground while they were analysing Liverpool’s 2-0 English Premier League win over Manchester City last weekend. Carragher, a former England and Liverpool…
By Korede James Rivers United defeated Katsina United 1-0 in a rescheduled week 26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture on Friday in Port Harcourt. The match kicked off on Thursday, but was called off at half-time due to heavy rain with Rivers United 1-0 ahead, Ubong Friday scoring the goal in the 17th minute. The game resumed at 9am on Friday from the second half with the home team holding on to clinch the three points. The victory took Rivers United up to second place in the table, nine points behind leaders Remo Stars, while Katsina United are 14th.…
Jose Mourinho has been hit with a four-game ban and fined £35,000 after the Fenerbahce boss sparked fury with comments about their rivals. The Portuguese coach made comments after the derby with Galatasaray where he claimed in a press conference that the opposition bench were “jumping like monkeys”. Galatasaray have announced that they intend to bring criminal proceedings over Mourinho’s comments which they alleged to be racist. The Special One also claimed that the match was better because it was not officiated by a Turkish referee having been vocal about the quality of the officiating in the Super Lig, previously suggesting he would not have taken the…
English Premier League club Manchester United are reportedly considering offering cash and Rasmus Hojlund for Napoli-owned Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen. The Nigeria international is currently on loan at Galatasaray, but he will return to Napoli at the end of the season and be available for a €75m release clause. Now according to Calciomercato.com (via Football Italia) United are currently unwilling to match Osimhen’s transfer fee, but they are preparing an offer worth €40m plus Hojlund. Repubblica reported in January that United were already interested in signing the striker in the winter transfer window, but he refused to leave Galatasaray…
Manchester City are reportedly aiming to land Liverpool hero Xabi Alonso if Pep Guardiola does not see out his contract at the Etihad Stadium, though there will be stern competition for his signature. Guardiola appeared to be heading towards the exit door at Manchester City before he extended his deal in November. The contract is designed to keep him at the club until summer 2027. The world-renowned coach is determined to turn City’s fortunes around and build a squad capable of challenging for big trophies even when he leaves and is replaced. Although, it is not guaranteed that Guardiola will…
By Korede James Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has declared that his main objective is to finally get his hands on the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy. Troost-Ekong made this known on talkSPORT while reacting to questions about comments made by Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher concerning the importance of the AFCON. Carragher received backlash after appearing to dismiss the notion that the AFCON is a major tournament. Speaking on Sky Sports after Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City on Sunday, the ex-Reds defender felt that Mohamed Salah playing in AFCON counted against his case to win the Ballon d’Or.…