Author: Nurudeen Obalola
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has questioned the decision-making of those surrounding Marcus Rashford, who has been left out of the squad for the club’s last three games. The Portuguese coach did not include Rashford for Sunday’s 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth in the English Premier League amid speculation that the forward want to leave Old Trafford. Amorim initially left him out for the 2-1 derby win at Manchester City on December 15, two days before the 27-year-old said in an interview that he was “ready for a new challenge” after having been at Old Trafford since the age of seven. While…
Bukayo Saka will be out of action for a number of weeks after suffering a hamstring injury during Arsenal’s 5-1 English Premier League victory at Crystal Palace, Mikel Arteta has announced, adding that Raheem Sterling is in the same situation. The Gunners forward will miss Friday’s league clash against Ipswich Town at the Emirates Stadium, along with several others, but Arteta is hopeful the 23-year-old will return to fitness before the end of the season. Saka, the England forward with Nigerian heritage, has recorded five goals and 10 assists in the Premier League this season, helping Arsenal to third place…
By Nurudeen Obalola Ademola Lookman was on target on Sunday to help Atalanta beat Empoli 3-2 and retain top spot in Serie A, days after the Super Eagles star was crowned the African Player of the Year at the 2024 CAF Awards. The Nigeria international’s CAF Awards predecessor and national teammate, Victor Osimhen, also netted for Turkish Super Lig leaders Galatasaray on Sunday, bagging a brace as they beat Kayserispor 5-1. Lookman struck on the stroke of half-time as Atalanta turned the game around after going down 1-0 to the visitors early in the contest. Zaniolo nodded down Charles De…
Hosts Ghana have won the inaugural WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup after defeating Nigeria’s Flamingos 5-4 on penalties in the final in Accra on Sunday after regulation time finished 2-2. Minutes after both countries’ senior men’s B teams battled to a 0-0 draw in an African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier kilometres away at the Accra Sports Stadium, the girls produced a four-goal thriller. They could not be separated at full-time, resulting in a penalty shootout, which the Maidens won after scoring all five of their spot kicks while the Flamingos missed one of their own. Getrude Amoafo put the hosts…
Liverpool increased their lead at the top of the English Premier League to four points as they thrashed Tottenham Hotspur 6-3 in front of their own fans in London on Sunday. The Reds were in irresistible form and ruthlessly took advantage of Spurs’ injury-hit team. Liverpool had already had several opportunities before Luis Diaz headed in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s perfect cross after 23 minutes, with Alexis Mac Allister doubling their lead with another header 13 minutes later. James Maddison gave Tottenham hope of an unlikely comeback when he curled in his eighth goal of the season four minutes before half-time but…
Nigeria’s Super Eagles B held Ghana to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying tie in Accra on Sunday. Ghana’s Black Galaxies were dominant in the first half at the Accra Sports Stadium with a slew of opportunities, but they were held off by the Super Eagles defence, led by captain Nduka Junior. Stephen Amankwoo found an opening through the Nigeria defence in the 15th minute only to see his rising shot go inches wide of Henry Ozoemena’s goal-post. Sikiru Alimi’s free-kick, with a minute to half-time, also sailed over as the regional rivals…
Bournemouth thrashed Manchester United 3-0 in the English Premier League at a chilly Old Trafford on Sunday and climbed to fifth in the table thanks to goals from Dean Huijsen, Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo. Bournemouth’s fourth league victory in five matches moved them to 28 points after 17 games, while United are 13th with 22 points and will spend Christmas in the bottom half of the table for the first time in Premier League history. Huijsen put the visitors on the score sheet when he out-jumped Joshua Zirkzee to head home Ryan Christie’s free kick in the 29th minute.…
Tyson Fury claimed he was “robbed” after losing a unanimous decision to Oleksandr Usyk in their heavyweight world title rematch. Having beaten Fury by split decision in May to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis, the Ukrainian retained his WBO, WBA and WBC titles on Saturday as all three judges scored the fight 116-112 in his favour. Fury, who was unbeaten in 35 professional fights before facing Usyk, celebrated as though he had won at the final bell and looked shocked as the scores were read out. Having chosen not to do an interview in the ring…
Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk retained his WBA (Super), WBO and WBC world heavyweight titles by unanimous decision against Britain’s Tyson Fury to remain undefeated after an enthralling clash in an electric atmosphere at the Kingdom Arena on Saturday night. Giving up advantages in height, weight and reach to his much bigger opponent, Usyk fought superbly throughout to win 116-112 on all three judges’ scorecards as he again defeated Fury after his success in May made him the undisputed champion. Fury, 36, was much-improved from that first encounter where he wilted in the ninth round but could still not solve the puzzle…
By Nurudeen Obalola Super Eagles defender Ola Aina scored on Saturday as Nottingham Forest defeated Brentford 2-0 to move to fourth place in the English Premier League table, while Gabriel Jesus starred against Crystal Palace for the second time in three days. Nigeria international full-back Aina struck the opening goal in the 38th minute to take his Premier League goals this season to two in 17 games, with Anthony Elanga netting in the second half to seal the away win for Forest. The afternoon kick-off victory at the Gtech Community Stadium took Nottingham Forest back to fourth, two points behind…