Football
Manchester United delay extension talks with Odion Ighalo
Manchester United are delaying talks of loan extension with Shanghai Shenhua striker Odion Ighalo who joined the Red Devils on a loan move from Chinese Super League in the January transfer. Manchester United reserved the right to make the move permanent based on the performance of the 30-year old striker at the Old Trafford. The former Super Eagle striker hit the ground running in the Red Devils colours having scored four goals in eight games for Manchester United. Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been impressed with the performance level of the former Watford striker and he has instructed the Old Trafford board to permanent his deal at the club. The Red Devils want to keep Ighalo for the remainder of this season, even if games go deep into the summer. Manchester United m...
Victor Osimhen emerges fourth best scorer in Ligue 1
Victor Osimhen has emerged as the fourth highest goalscorer in the French Ligue 1 this season. The 2019/2020 campaign was cancelled last week, following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Osimhen, who joined Lille from Belgian outfit, Sporting Charleroi last summer scored 13 goals and bagged four assists in 27 league appearances for the Great Danes. Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Boot with 18 goals, while Monaco’s Ben Yedder came second with same number of goals. Mbappe edged out Ben Yedder because he scored more goals from open play. Three out of Ben Yedder’s 18 goals came from the spot while none of Mbappe’s 18 strikes were penalties. Mbappe also had a better goals-per-game ratio, scoring 18 in 20 – the same number in six games less than his rival Ben Yedder. M...
NFF gives out palliatives to clubs in Abuja
The Nigeria Football Federation on Thursday handed out palliatives to representatives of 14 different clubs and two communities in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, as token support in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic ravaging the entire world presently. The clubs, spread across Nigeria National League, Nigerian Nationwide League One and FCT League (academies) cadres, included Supreme Court FC, EFCC FC, Abuja Female United, FOSLA FC, Bimo Sporting Club, Wazobia FC, Setraco FC, Goodland FC, Fire Service FC, NYSC FC, FWC Champion Club, Abees Academy, Casmat Academy and WACO Academy. Garki Village and Karamajiji communities also benefitted from the package. At the presentation of packed items such as rice, beans, Indomie noodles, groundnut oil and tin tomatoes at the football bo...
Louis van Gaal blames Ed Woodward for Manchester United sacking
Getty Images Louis van Gaal blames Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward for his departure from the club in 2016, describing him as “the evil genius” behind his sacking. The Dutch head coach replaced David Moyes at Old Trafford in 2014 but lasted just two years in the job despite winning the FA Cup in his final game in charge. After guiding United to fourth place in the Premier League in his first season, Van Gaal saw his side slip down to fifth the following campaign as he failed to convince the club that he could turn their fortunes around. Jose Mourinho was named as Van Gaal’s successor just days after he was sacked and the Dutchman has stressed that he blames Woodward and not the Portuguese for his departure. “I blame Ed Woodward, my CEO at Manchester United, much more ...
Yaya Toure backs Didier Drogba’s bid for Ivorian FA presidency
Getty Images Yaya Toure is backing former Ivory Coast team-mate Didier Drogba’s bid to become president of the Ivorian Football Association (FIF). The Chelsea legend announced he would be running for the post in September 2019, though his campaign took a major hit at the end of April. In a recent vote between former Ivory Coast players, 11 of the 14 votes went to current incumbent Sory Diabate. Drogba and current vice president Idriss Diallo won zero votes between them, with three former players withdrawing from the vote. “It’s time for change in our football. It needs modernity,” said Toure. “When I say I support Drogba, it’s also for the good of the country, to have a former player of his kind investing himself in Africa.” Drogba represented his country 105 times and announced his intent...
Edo clears 111 suspected coronavirus cases, 380 contacts
The Edo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Patrick Okundia, has said the state is making steady progress in the management of coronavirus (COVID-19), noting that all active cases of COVID-19 are being managed at different isolations centres across the state and are responding well to treatment. Speaking to journalists in Benin City, Okundia said Edo has discharged ten persons who have tested negative twice to the virus and exited another 491 persons, comprising 111 persons of interest (POIs) and 380 line-listed contacts, who have completed the compulsory 14-day follow up and tested negative. The commissioner noted that from the onset of the outbreak, Edo State has recorded a total of 593 suspected cases of COVID-19 and 65 confirmed cases spread across nine Local Government Areas (LGAs) of t...
Will Premier League with no fans be worth the wait?
The Premier League is adamant that it can overcome huge logistical challenges to get players back on the pitch during the coronavirus crisis but has long since accepted there will be no fans in the stadiums. English Football Association chairman Greg Clarke became the latest senior figure to admit this week that social-distancing guidelines make it impossible for supporters to congregate in stadiums “any time soon”. The drive behind the Premier League’s “Project Restart” is the attempt to avoid having to pay back millions in TV revenue. Clubs could reportedly miss out on £762 million ($946 million) for failing to complete this season alone. According to UEFA’s latest European Club Footballing Landscape report, just 13 percent of the Premier League’s revenue comes from gate receipts. Englan...
Nine Premier League clubs to allow stars miss project restart
Up to nine Premier League clubs will let their players skip Project Restart over fears they could infect their families with coronavirus. England’s top division is looking at a return date of June 12 as they attempt to conclude this season. But The Sun have reported that nearly half of the league’s teams have conceded forcing players back into action while the virus is active will be impossible. A source told the publication: “If someone has a partner who’s pregnant, or close family who has cancer, how can we force them to play in those circumstances?” It is understood that teams from across the table are concerned with player safety and one team has told stars they do not have to play. One club who will be without key players should football return is Aston Villa, with manager Dean Smith ...
Almeria centerback confident of breaking into Super Eagles squad
Almeria center back and Nigeria international, Valentine Ozornwafor, has confidently disclosed that he is so sure of making the Super Eagles set up in the nearest foreseeable future. Ozornwafor in a chat noted that the Super Eagles chance is not something to think about too much because his time to become an Eagles regular is closer. “I don’t think about it, I am sure that one day I will play for the Super Eagles, and it is not going to be far from now, all I do now is work hard to making sure it comes to pass,” He said. “Talking about the players there presently, I am not disputing the fact that they are not good, but I am speaking confidently that I know who I am, I know what I am capable of.” Lastly, the on-loan Galatasaray defender, however, admitted that there are many central backs c...
La Liga congratulates Bundesliga ahead football league return
The Spanish La Liga has congratulated Germany’s Bundesliga for announcing its imminent return as Spain’s top-flight stepped up its own comeback preparations. The Bundesliga was given the green light to resume later this month when chancellor Angela Merkel made the announcement during a news conference on Wednesday. Strict testing and matchday procedures will be put in place by the German government, with football seemingly set to resume on May 15 having been paused in mid-March. LaLiga outlined its own plan for a staggered return to training on Monday, with teams set to begin individual work this week before gradually moving to group sessions, the ultimate aim being to re-commence the 2019-20 season in June. Spanish clubs began testing players for COVID-19 on Tuesday and LaLiga sees the Bu...
Inter ask Chelsea to drop asking price for Victor Moses
Inter Milan have reportedly asked Chelsea to drop their asking price for Nigerian utility player Victor Moses. According to Calcio Mercato, the Italian club are unwilling to match Chelsea’s €12 million price tag. Inter head coach Antonio Conte remains eager to sign Moses on a permanent deal at the end of his loan spell with the club. The Nezarrurri though will require Chelsea to drop their evaluation of the player if he is to complete a permanent switch to the San Siro at the culmination of the 2019-20 season. Moses spent the first half of the current campaign on-loan at Turkish Super Lig club Fenerbahce, but left the Istanbul-based club almost exactly a year after joining the them on an 18-month loan deal. The 29-year-old has made seven appearances for Inter across all competitions this s...
Liverpool midfielder chooses Nigeria over England
Ovie Ejaria has committed his international future to Nigeria. The midfielder is currently on loan at Reading from Liverpool. According to former Super Eagles media officer, Colin Udoh, Ejaria is now set to represent the three-time African champions. “Ovie Ejaria has committed to Nigeria, an @NGSuperEagles team source tells me. “Paperwork is already with FIFA, and Nigerian passport needs to be renewed. “All but settled for the Liverpool man who is on loan at Reading,” Udoh tweeted on Wednesday. Ejaria was born in London to Nigerian parents. Get more stories like this on Twitter
