Author: Nurudeen Obalola
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone said his team paid the price for missed opportunities in a heated LaLiga derby at Real Madrid on Saturday after Kylian Mbappe cancelled out Julian Alvarez’s opener for the visiting side. Atletico were unable to make the most of the chances they created during a dominant start to the game. “We played a very good first half but we didn’t have the clarity to take advantage of the chances we created,” Simeone told a press conference. “We could have managed those opportunities better. That led to a draw despite the feeling that in many parts…
By Korede James Former Fenerbahce assistant coach Onder Ozen has backed Galatasaray new signing Alvaro Morata to thrive along with Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen. Morata joined Galatasaray on loan in the January transfer window from AC Milan. The 32-year-old former Real Madrid and Chelsea opened his goals account for the Turkish in the 4-1 win against Boluspor in the Turkish Cup on Thursday. Prior to joining Galatasaray, Morata had scored five goals in 16 Serie A matches this season. “If you ask me to name 10 real centre forwards in the world, three of them are currently under contract…
Flamingos head coach Bankole Olowookere, who led the Nigerian team to a third-place finish at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India in 2022 and to the quarter-finals last year, has invited 30 players to begin camping on Sunday. They will be in camp at the Remo Stars Sports Institute, Ikenne-Remo, to prepare for their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifying tie against South Africa’s Bantwana. The list of invitees includes goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma, defenders Hannah Ibrahim and Jumai Adebayo, midfielders Shakirat Moshood (four-goal heroine at last year’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic) and Muinat Rotimi, and forwards…
Real Madrid came from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw against city rivals Atletico Madrid in a LaLiga clash of title hopefuls on Saturday night. Kylian Mbappe scored a second-half goal to cancel out Julian Alvarez’s first-half opener for the visiting Atletico, with the result keeping Real top of LaLiga, one point ahead of their city rivals in second who missed a chance to leapfrog them. In a tale of two halves at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Atletico dominated the first 45 minutes and took the lead when Alvarez struck a 35th minute penalty after Aurelien Tchouameni had fouled Samuel…
By Korede James Brighton and Hove Albion defeated Chelsea 2-1 at the Amex Stadium to progress into the fifth round of the English FA on Saturday nighy. Chelsea took the lead just five minutes into the match after Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen parried Cole Palmer’s cross into his own net. Georginio Rutter pulled the hosts level seven minutes later with a header from a cross by Joel Veltman. Kaoru Mitoma then bagged the winning goal in the 57th minute. In the other FA Cup fixtures played on Saturday, Super Eagles stars Paul Onuachu and Joe Aribo featured as Southampton lost…
By Korede James Remo Stars recorded their sixth straight win in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) after beating Kano Pillars 2-1 in a matchday 23 contest in Ikenne-Remo on Saturday. The Daniel Ogunmodede-led side are on top of the league table, eight points clear of second-placed Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC). Sikiru Alimi opened the scoring in the fifth minute for Remo Stars after finishing off a low cross by Seun Ogunribide. With five minutes left to play in the first half, Ibrahim Abubakar made it 2-0, guiding the ball into the net after the Kano Pillars goalkeeper had…
By Korede James Manchester City had to dig deep to overcome League One outfit Leyton Orient 2-1 away in the fourth round of the English FA Cup on Saturday. Kevin De Bruyne came off the bench to net the winner with less than 20 minutes left after the home side went into the break 1-0 ahead. Leyton took a surprise lead on 16 minutes after a lob from the middle of the pitch by Jamie Donley hit the bar and came off City keeper Stefan Ortega. The Cityzens equalised in the 56th minute thanks to new signing Abdukodir Khusanov who…
By Korede James Sevilla head coach Garcia Pimienta has ruled Nigerian striker Akor Adams out of Sunday’s LaLiga clash with Barcelona due to injury. According to Pimienta, Adams and on-loan midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga both suffered muscle injuries after training. “A player getting injured is always bad news,” Pimienta said on Friday. “Unfortunately, two of our boys picked up an injury right at the end of the session. “I feel bad for them, Akor and Sambi have both strained a muscle. They will both be out for a few weeks, but the rest of the squad is looking good.” Adams…
By Korede James Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers’ strike against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the UEFA Europa League has been voted Rangers men’s Goal of the Month for January. “It was an excellent take-and-finish from the striker in the UEFA Europa League as he got on the end of a long pass from James Tavernier,” the Scottish club stated. “Dessers used his body intelligently to nudge defender Harry Maguire out of the flight of the ball and after a lovely touch on his left-side he swept the ball into the bottom corner.” Despite Dessers scoring on the night,…
By Korede James A stoppage time goal by Harry Maguire earned Manchester United a 2-1 win against Leicester City in the Emirates FA Cup fourth round at Old Trafford on Friday night. Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi made a return to Leicester’s starting line-up after being sidelined with a hamstring injury since December. The Nigeria international was impressive in Leicester’s midfield for the 58 minutes he played before being substituted off. It was a return to Old Trafford for Ruud van Nistelrooy who was briefly in charge of United before the appointment of Ruben Amorim. A shock seemed to be…