Author: Nurudeen Obalola
By Korede James Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has said his players must be at their best in order to get a result against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at the Emirates on Tuesday night. The Magpies will clash with the Gunners for the second time this season when they square off in the League Cup. When both teams met in the English Premier League in November, a first half goal by Alexander Isak secured a 1-0 win for Newcastle. But Howe feels his players must be at their very best if they hope to secure a…
By Korede James Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi netted his first goal in the English Premier League this season to help Nottingham Forest beat Wolves 3-0 at Molineux on Monday night. Awoniyi eventually opened his goals account in the league this season after coming on in the 88th minute for his 15th appearance. Also in action for Forest was another Nigeria international, Ola Aina, who made his 20th league appearance for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side. Forest continued their impressive form as they picked up their sixth straight win in the English top flight. The victory means Forest remain in third…
By Korede James A stoppage time goal by Tammy Abraham earned AC Milan a dramatic 3-2 comeback win against city rivals Inter Milan in the Italian Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia on Monday night. Inter looked set to clinch a fourth consecutive Italian Super Cup victory and also a record-equaling ninth title after they raced to a 2-0 lead courtesy of goals from Lautaro Martinez and Mehdi Taremi in either half. But goals from Theo Hernandez, Christian Pulisic and Abraham secured the comeback win for new AC Milan coach Sergio Conceição. Milan are now tied with Inter on…
Naomi Osaka revealed on Monday that she had broken up with longtime partner Cordae, who is also the father of their daughter Shai, on social media. “No bad blood at all,” wrote the former world No. 1 women’s tennis player, “he’s a great person and an awesome dad. “Honestly really glad our paths crossed because my daughter is my biggest blessing and I was able to grow a lot from our experiences together.” Osaka first began dating the rapper in 2019, the same year he released a his critically acclaimed solo debut The Lost Boy. Cordae became a fixture at…
West Ham have decided to sack their head coach Julen Lopetegui, according to reports in England. The English Premier League club are already holding discussions with former Chelsea manager Graham Potter with a view to appointing him as the Spaniard’s replacement. Lopetegui joined the Hammers in the summer as the successor to David Moyes, but will be leaving the club 14th in the Premier League. He has come under increasing pressure in recent weeks amid their poor form, with just six wins coming from 20 league games. A 4-1 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday has appeared to be the…
By Korede James Enyimba head coach Stanley Eguma has said the presence of Brown Ideye has boosted the output of his teammates. Former Super Eagles striker Ideye, 36, joined Enyimba in December after almost two decades in Europe. He was a key member of the Nigeria squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations title in South Africa in 2013. He opened his goals account for Enyimba in their 4-1 win against Black Bulls of Mozambique, in Sunday’s Group D CAF Confederation Cup matchday 4 fixture in Uyo. It was the former Super Eagles striker’s second game for Enyimba. Speaking…
By Korede James Nigeria’s Super Eagles B will find out their African Nations Championship (CHAN) group stage opponents on Wednesday, January 15, when the draw will be conducted. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the draw date in a statement on their website on Monday. The continental governing body confirmed that the draw for the eighth edition of the tournament will be held at the Kenyatta International Conventional Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. CHAN 2024 will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from February 1 to February 28, 2025. The Super Eagles B squad will make a return to…
Mohamed Salah has equaled Arsenal legend Thierry Henry on the all-time English Premier League goalscorers’ chart. Salah scored his 18th goal of the Premier League season in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United on Sunday, taking him to 175 career goals in the competition, according to premierleague.com. It puts Salah joint-seventh in the all-time standings, only two behind Frank Lampard in sixth. Salah reached 175 goals in 282 appearances. Of the eight players to score as many goals, the Egyptian reached the mark in the fifth-fewest matches. The four players to reach 175 goals quicker than Salah were all out-and-out…
Amad Diallo struck a late equaliser as Manchester United made a mockery of their recent form to hold English Premier League leaders Liverpool to a thrilling 2-2 draw at Anfield on Sunday. It looked as though Ruben Amorim’s United would go home empty-handed despite a vastly-improved display but Diallo swept in a shot in the 80th minute to earn his side a point. United had gone ahead in the 52nd minute when Lisandro Martinez powered home a ferocious shot from a tight angle. But an off-key Liverpool responded seven minutes later with Cody Gakpo curling home a stunning equaliser before…
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Saturday night, with President Joe Biden holding a star-studded ceremony at the White House. Argentina captain Messi was among 19 award recipients alongside basketball legend and LAFC co-owner Earvin “Magic” Johnson, U2 frontman Bono, Spanish-American chef José Andrés, Hillary Clinton and more. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the United States of America’s highest civilian honour, presented to people who have made “exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values or security of the United States, world peace or other significant societal, public or private endeavors,” according to the White House.…