Former Barcelona full-back Dani Alves has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison for sexual assault following an incident involving a 23-year-old woman at a nightclub in Barcelona. Evidence presented in court from the Audiencia Nacional confirmed that the woman did not consent to sexual activity with Alves, ultimately leading to his conviction. Despite denying the allegations, Alves plans to appeal the verdict, with his lawyer asserting his innocence. “We will appeal as I’m still convinced that Dani is innocent”, Inés Guardiola added today. In addition to the prison sentence, Alves has been ordered to pay €9,000…
Author: Oladimeji Adeoye
Oladimeji Adeoye
Oladimeji Adeoye also known as Osniff is a writer, he is mainly into writing sports with vast knowledge of African Sports, and other continental sports. Oladimeji has worked with top news outlets and currently writing with top newspapers in Nigeria.
Napoli’s new manager Francesco Calzona commended his team’s performance against Barcelona following a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night. He was announced as the team’s head coach a day ago and his first game in charge was a big contest against the La Liga giant Barcelona at the Stadio Armando Maradona Stadium, in Italy. Robert Lewandowski fired the visitors to an early lead in the second half of the stringent encounter, but of course, Osimhen’s 75th-minute strike (which was Napoli’s only shot on goal) leveled up the game at 1-1; both teams sharing the spoils at full-time. It was Osimhen’s first…
FC Bayern and Thomas Tuchel’s relationship has brutally ended after the club provided an update on the German relinquishing his position as the team’s head coach. “FC Bayern Munich and head coach Thomas Tuchel have jointly decided to end their working relationship, which was originally set to run until 30 June 2025, on 30 June 2024. This is the outcome of a constructive discussion between CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen and Thomas Tuchel.” FC Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen: “In a good, open discussion, we decided to end our working relationship by agreement in the summer. Our goal is to pursue a new…
Chelsea Football Club has appointed Brighton’s head of recruitment Sam Jewell, according to Sports Transfer Journalist Fabrizio Romano. Sam Jewell becomes the 11th staff member to join Chelsea from Brighton since Boehly took over Chelsea in the past 17 months. In that 17 months span: Graham Potter, Billy Reid, Björn Hamberg, Bruno Saltor, Ben Roberts, Kyle McCauley, Paul Winstanley, Robert Sánchez, Marc Cucurella. Moisés Caicedo, Sam Jewell have all switched club allegiance from Brighton to Stamford Bridge. According to Fabrizio, Jewell will be part of a multi-club project to bring in and select new players for Chelsea and more clubs.…
Serie A defending Champions Napoli has announced the departure of its first team head coach Mazzarri through the club’s President post on his Twitter page (now X). The President, who appreciated Mazzarri for his time with the club in his Tweet, also revealed his successor; Francesco Calzona will take charge of the first team manager role according to the President. “The De Laurentiis family and of Napoli, for having supported the team in a complex moment. He will remain in the hearts of the Neapolitans and of our family. Welcome back to Francesco Calzona, who has already worked with us…
Olympique de Marseille has cut ties with first team head coach Gennaro Gattuso, who joined the club in September according to Fabrizio Romano. Gattuso and his backroom staff will leave the club while the club works on replacing them as soon as possible. “Gennaro Gattuso has been sacked by Olympique Marseille, decision made. OM are already looking for a new head coach after recent poor results — Gattuso has been informed this morning.” His dismissal came after the defeat his side encountered away to Brest last night in the Ligue one. The defeat leaves Marseille in the 9th spot on…
Super Eagles defender Zaidu Sanusi has suffered another injury blow after the Nigerian was stretchered out in the 31st minute during FC Porto’s home victory against Estrela on Saturday. Portuguese giant FC Porto will miss Zaidu during the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League slated for this week. It is his first game for Porto since returning from the AFCON where he represented Nigeria. He was a key player for the Super Eagles, playing every game except for one where he didn’t make the match day squad. It could be an ending season for the 27-year-old following the…
This marked their second draw of the season, following a 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge earlier. In a fiercely contested first half, Raheem Sterling scored in the 42nd minute to give Chelsea the lead. However, Chelsea mounted a strong defense in the second half, with Rodrigo’s 82nd-minute strike leveling the score at 1-1. Manchester City’s dropped points see them trailing behind Arsenal and Liverpool by 2 and 5 points respectively, with a game in hand. Chelsea, securing a point at the Etihad Stadium, moves up to 10th place in the league standings with 35 points.”
Liverpool outshone Brentford in their English Premier League encounter, securing a commanding 4-1 victory at the Brentford Community Stadium in London. Darwin Núñez’s brilliant chip past the Brentford goalkeeper gave Liverpool an early lead in the 35th minute, with his goal proving to be the difference at halftime. Despite an unfortunate first half that saw Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota forced off due to injuries, Liverpool extended their lead in the second half with Mac Allister doubling the advantage in the 55th minute, assisted by Salah, who later found the net himself in the 68th minute. Despite Brentford’s efforts to…
The Equatorial Guinea Football Association has suspended Emilio Nsue, the top scorer of the 2023 AFCON after he made allegations of corruption against the FA on his Instagram page. Nsue claimed that the FA took one million euros for themselves, leaving the national team in poor condition after their elimination from the tournament. “These cancerous and corrupt people who manage football in Equatorial Guinea took 1 million euros for themselves by leaving the national team in bad conditions.” He also stated that players had to pay for their own outfits before their match against Nigeria, and he was allegedly expelled…
The Algerian Football Federation is reportedly interested in signing Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro, as revealed by Algerian publication DZ Foot. This interest stems from Algeria’s disappointing performance in the recent AFCON tournament in Côte d’Ivoire. Following Algeria’s poor showing in the 2023 AFCON, where they failed to win any of their three group games and finished at the bottom of their group, Djamel Belmadi was relieved of his duties as head coach. According to DZ Foot, Algerian Football Federation President Walid Sadi is keen to discuss with Peseiro, considering his successful campaign at the recent AFCON. A shortlist…
Following the 2023 AFCON, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has come to the defense of Alex Iwobi amidst numerous criticisms he has faced. Iwobi has been subjected to severe bullying following the Super Eagles’ defeat against Côte d’Ivoire. The NFF issued a statement condemning the relentless criticism aimed at Iwobi, urging Nigerians to refrain from such harsh treatment. They highlighted Iwobi’s dedication and past contributions to the national team, citing his pivotal goal against Zambia that secured Nigeria’s spot in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. “Alex Iwobi does not deserve these attacks. He has a record of utmost dedication to…
Three Super Eagles players, Troost Ekong, Ola Aina, and Ademola Lookman have been nominated for the 2023 African Cup of Nations team of the tournament. Troost Ekong led the team to their 8th finals in history, featuring in all Super Eagles AFCON games except for the third group A game against Guinea-Bissau, where Nigeria won 1-0. He scored three goals in the campaign, making him the highest-scoring defender in the tournament’s history with a total of 5 goals. He was also voted the tournament’s best player. Ademola Lookman played a crucial role for the Super Eagles, scoring three goals in…
British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe has received approval from the Premier League Board for his acquisition of a 25% stake in Manchester United FC, alongside a $300 million investment in the club. This follows the completion of the Owners’ and Directors’ Test (OADT). The club’s board recently agreed to alter its ownership structure, a decision clarified by an independent oversight panel. Sir Jim Arthur Ratcliffe, born in 1952, is a British billionaire, renowned engineer, and businessman. He is the founder and CEO of the INEOS chemicals group, which he founded in 1998. The company is estimated to have had a…
The Nigerian Football Federation has urged cooperate organizations to invest in the Nigerian League to help in developing it. The NFF President made this assertion when MTN hosted the Super Eagles team to a breakfast meeting in Abuja following their second place finish in the just concluded AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire. While delivering his speech during the Tuesday dinner in Abuja, Gusau revealed his happiness despite Nigeria finishing as a runner-up to the host nation on Sunday: “All of us here today (Tuesday) would have loved to be celebrating here with the trophy, but unfortunately, God knows why. But we…
The Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, has urged Nigerians to put an end to the cyberbullying directed towards teammate Alex Iwobi. Iwobi has been under massive criticism from some Nigerians, who feel his playing has been awful since the start of the Nations Cup. The bullying intensified after Nigeria was beaten in the final on Sunday. Musa on his official social media account asserted that it’s inappropriate to target one player for the Super Eagles inability to win the trophy, rather they should show love to them because they need it: “Dear fans, I want to please urge you to…
Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa extends his gratitude to Nigerians for their unwavering support during the Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire. “Reflecting on our journey in the AFCON tournament, I’m filled with immense pride for the Nigerian Super Eagles. Though we may have fallen short of the championship, our unity on the field transcended religious and tribal differences, reminding us of the power of football to bring us together. Despite the twists and turns of the game, our team stood strong, displaying resilience and determination that resonated with fans across the nation.” Musa expressed gratitude to Nigeria for…
Nigeria’s assistant captain, Troost Ekong, has been nominated for the MVP player of the tournament following his outstanding performance at the just-concluded Africa Nations Cup in Côte d’Ivoire. The Super Eagles had a tremendous run, remaining unbeaten from the group stage to reach the finals. However, they were denied the trophy for the fourth time after suffering a 2-1 defeat against the host team. Troost scored Nigeria’s only goal in the first half with a brilliant header, but unfortunately, his effort was neutralized by Frankie Kessie, and Sebastien Haller’s superb touch in the second half ended Nigeria’s dream. Ekong, who…
Arsenal convincingly defeated West Ham in the London Derby at the London Stadium with a resounding 6-0 victory, marking Arsenal’s fourth consecutive win in the Premier League. Bukayo Saka scored twice, once in each half, while Saliba, Gabriel, Trossard, and Rice also contributed goals for the Gunners. This match was significant for Bukayo Saka, who now has 51 goals and has been involved in 100 goals while wearing the Arsenal jersey. Arsenal is currently tied on 52 points with Manchester City, trailing league leaders Liverpool by just 2 points with a game in hand.
Former AS Roma head José Mourinho has stated his views on how resplendent the VAR has been used in the African Cup of Nations since it kicked off. Mourinho asserted that the AFCON uses the VAR better than the originators, indicating that CAF referees have shown honesty in their usage of the VAR. “I have watched AFCON more than European football. They are simply teaching us, to be honest. In AFCON VAR is used exactly the way it should be used. The Portuguese highlighted that the African referees don’t comprise in their course of discharging their duties using the VAR.…
The Super Eagles of Nigeria mourned the tragic loss of fans who passed away during their semi-final match against South Africa on Wednesday. Reports indicate that at least five fans died while watching the game, which ended in a 1-1 draw and was decided by a penalty shootout. The fans reportedly collapsed and died after a controversial decision by the referee to cancel Nigeria’s second goal, scored by Victor Osimhen. The Super Eagles expressed their condolences and grief through an official statement, acknowledging the fans’ passion for the game that unknowingly led to their final moments. “In a cruel twist…
Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcântara season may have come to an end after the club’s first team manager confirmed that the Spaniard has suffered another injury spell. Thiago has been absent for the entire of Liverpool’s campaign this season, having only played 5 minutes against Arsenal in the Premier League, where Liverpool were beaten 3-1 last Sunday at the Emirates Stadium. “Thiago, obviously, is not cool. Everything looked absolutely fantastic in training. We showed quite a lot of things, I think, on LFCTV so you can see the training moments, and it looks outstanding so you think, ‘Come on, take him,…
The Football Governing is set to introduce the use of blue cards during professional games. A player who commits cynical fouls or shows dissent will be shown the card and would be out of play (in the sin-bin) for 10 minutes. MSport on their Facebook page, said this about the development: “A blue card is to be introduced in professional football as part of sin-bin trials, According to reports, the card will see players removed from the field for 10 minutes if they commit a cynical foul or show dissent.” ESPN also asserted this on their Facebook page: “Players who…
The Premier League has revealed nominees for January awards, which includes six Premier League players and four Coaches. The six players shortlisted for the January 2024 EA SPORTS Player of the Month award include: two players from Liverpool, Diogo Jota and youngster Conor Bradley, Gabriel Magallanes of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur’s Richarlison, Elijah Adebayo of Luton Town and Manchester City midfielder Kevin Debruyne. In the coach category, The nominees for January 2024’s Barclays Manager of the Month award have been revealed, and you can help to decide the winner. The fans’ votes will be combined with those of a panel of…
Nigerians went on social media to criticize Italian football team Napoli for celebrating Nigerian player Victor Osimhen only after he helped Nigeria qualify for the 2023 African Cup of Nations final. Napoli had not acknowledged Osimhen’s performance earlier in the tournament, which upset many Nigerians. One person, Onyeani, expressed disappointment in Napoli’s delayed recognition, using a mix of Pidgin and English to convey their frustration. They compared Napoli’s actions to cooking jollof rice with specific ingredients and questioned why the club hadn’t supported Osimhen from the start. Dr. Stan criticized Napoli for not valuing Osimhen, suggesting he should consider moving…
Super Eagle’s journey to their fourth title has one more mountain to conquer, which is the host nation. Ivory Coast reached the final of the tournament following their 1-0 full-time victory over Dr. Congo last night in the Semi final and will face the Eagles yet again but in the final this time. Nigeria edged Ivory Coast in the second game of group A through Troost Ekong 55th spot kick. Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria scale through to the round of 16 in group A, while Ivory Coast made it as one of the best third places. It’s Super Eagle’s first…
The Super Eagles of Nigeria reached the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 11 years after a terrific performance against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa. The game which extended to extra time was finally decided by penalty shoot out. Nigeria beat South Africa to reach the final. First half: The game kicked off with both sides looking disciplined and avoiding noticeable errors. In the 15th minute, South Africa had a better of the ball possession, utilizing the vulnerability of Nigeria in the midfield. The first half ended on a barren draw as…
Chippa United Chairman Siviwe Chippa Mpengesi has revealed that he and the Club will be supporting Stanley Nwabali tonight against Bafana Bafana of South Africa when both nations battle each other for the AFCON final. Nigeria shot stopper Stanley Nwabali has been with the South African outfit, Chippa United, since 2022 where he was spotted by the Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro. Stanley Nwabali was first capped during preparatory friendlies before the commencement of the 2023 AFCON. His confidence and reliability has now earned him the number 1 spot in the Eagles team. In his 5 games so far…
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has made an honest assertion in regards to coaching Chelsea Football Club. The Argentine disclosed that having Chelsea job as the head coach is one of the toughest. Having made his stints In England with Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur, Pochettino returned to the Premier League, signing a two-year contract with Chelsea Football Club. “It’s a tough job. It’s a difficult job here at Chelsea. But at the same time, it’s an exciting project”. “Knowing it’s difficult, in this type of moment we are living in a situation that is not nice, we can learn. It’s a…
Super Eagles talisman Victor Osimhen has been declared not fit to travel with the team to Boukare due to abdominal discomfort the Napoli striker is experiencing. “Members of the team traveled from Abidjan to Bouaké today via a 10pm Air Côte d’Ivoire flight. Osimhen did not, however, make the trip as a result of abdominal discomfort.” According to the Super Eagles, one of the team’s medical Doctors has been asked to stay with the player while his progress is monitored. He will join the team when he’s declared fit. “Team medics confirmed that he has been placed under close watch,…
