Former Brazilian football star Dani Alves, who previously played for Barcelona, has been handed a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence following a conviction for sexual assault. Catalonia’s highest court ruled that Alves assaulted a woman at a nightclub in Barcelona in 2022. Additionally, he has been instructed to compensate the victim with a sum of 150,000 euros.
By Odey Emmanuel O. H22/mac/0019 Department of Mass Communication The Polytechnic Ile-Ife, Osun State In the aftermath of the victory, echoes of joy reverberated across the nation. The unity fostered by the Super Eagles’ triumph extended beyond the football field, sparking a renewed sense of national pride. As the streets echoed with celebratory chants, the…
Nigeria’s stalwart, William Troost-Ekong, expresses collective desire among teammates for the retention of Jose Peseiro as the helm of the Super Eagles. Uncertainty shrouds Peseiro’s future post the culmination of his contractual association with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), with the Algerian Football Federation expressing interest in his services. Having steered the national team to…
The planned international friendly match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Albiceleste of Argentina has been relocated to the United States of America. Originally set to take place in China, the game was canceled due to a disagreement between Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi and Chinese soccer authorities. The new date for the…
The Confederation of African Football, CAF has announced a date for the preliminary round draw for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The draw, according to CAF, will hold at its headquarters in Cairo, Egypt on Tuesday, February 20. The event will start at 2pm local time. The eight lowest-ranked teams in the last FIFA…
Former Liverpool luminary, John Barnes, expressed bewilderment at the content emblazoned on Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi’s undergarment T-shirt following his goal in the Premier League clash against West Ham United on Saturday. Awoniyi played a pivotal role in Nottingham Forest’s triumph, securing a 2-0 victory against West Ham at the City Ground and restoring…
In a covert operation anticipating Kylian Mbappe’s departure, Paris Saint-Germain unveils meticulous plans to usher in three formidable players this upcoming summer. The official announcement of Mbappe’s impending exit has reverberated through the club’s hierarchy and resonated among his teammates, as the 25-year-old forward declares his departure at the culmination of this season. With speculations…
Senator John Owan Enoh, the Minister of Sports Development, extends heartfelt congratulations to Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National team, the Super Eagles, for their commendable surge in the latest FIFA rankings. The squad has ascended a notable 14 positions, leaping from 42nd to an impressive 28th spot globally, marking a pinnacle not witnessed in 16 years…
In a recent announcement, UEFA, the European football governing body, unveiled its selection of the top five standout performers in this season’s Champions League. The distinguished players securing a spot on this esteemed list include Erling Haaland from Manchester City, Kylian Mbappe representing Paris Saint-Germain, Phil Foden of Manchester City, Rodrygo from Real Madrid, and…
In the aftermath of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Super Eagles’ stalwart, Kenneth Omeruo, unequivocally dismisses any notion of international retirement, despite a limited role in the tournament. The 30-year-old defender, predominantly a substitute in AFCON, saw minimal action under coach Jose Peseiro’s preference for a defensive trio featuring Troost-Ekong, Bassey, and Ajayi. Omeruo,…
Manchester City’s Rodri, expressing his lack of surprise at not securing a top-three spot in the Ballon d’Or rankings, alleges that the prestigious award leans heavily towards financial considerations and advertising prominence. Despite his notable contributions, Rodri found himself in fifth place behind teammate Kevin De Bruyne. In an interview with The Mirror, he remarked,…
Nigerian footballer Alex Iwobi has deleted several photos from his Instagram page following Nigeria’s loss to Ivory Coast in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Iwobi was criticized by fans for his performance in the game, which contributed to the team’s loss. After the game, Iwobi chose to delete photos from his…
Renowned football strategist, Jose Mourinho, has lauded the officiating standards witnessed at the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON), expressing a preference for AFCON over European football. The former Chelsea and Roma coach emphasized the commendable integrity displayed in AFCON officiating, specifically highlighting the equitable use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology. Mourinho urged Europe…
In an exclusive exchange with West Ham defender Kurt Zouma, Nigerian singer Omah Lay, also known as Stanley Omah Didia, emphatically declares that a seismic impact would reverberate worldwide if the Super Eagles of Nigeria emerge victorious in the impending 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON). The ‘Soso’ maestro expressed his admiration for Nigeria’s remarkable…
South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams proved the hero again as Bafana Bafana beat DR Congo in a penalty shootout to claim third sport the Africa Cup of Nations. South Africa and DR Congo looked to bounce back from their defeats in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final when they contested the third-place play-off. It has…
The semi-final match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Wednesday, February 7, at the ongoing 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote D’ivoire, ended with a combination of joy and sadness for Nigerians. At the last count, five Nigerians reportedly dropped dead while watching the match;…
Renowned former Liverpool and Tottenham striker, Peter Crouch, has laid out his strategic vision for the Premier League standings this season, foreseeing a triumphant finish for the Reds. In a compelling analysis shared on his podcast, Crouch asserts Liverpool’s claim to the top position, leaving no room to discount the relentless challenge from Manchester City,…
Former Arsenal defender Kolo Toure has lavished praise on Super Eagles sensation Victor Osimhen in the lead-up to Nigeria’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final clash against Ivory Coast this Sunday. Toure, speaking to the BBC World Service on Friday, commended Osimhen’s formidable strength and lightning-fast pace, characterizing the Napoli forward as a game-changer…
The CAF has unveiled the officiating team for the impending 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final. The pivotal role of the referee will be assumed by Dahane Beida from Mauritania, with Jerson Emiliano Dos Santos of Angola and Diana Chikotesha as the first and second assistant referees, respectively. Bouchra Karboubi from Morocco will officiate as…
In the aftermath of the Super Eagles’ triumphant 4-2 victory over their South African counterparts on Wednesday, an exuberant celebration turned tragic in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State. Regrettably, the jubilation claimed the life of Lukman, a man in his late twenties. Details gathered by Newsmen indicate that the unfortunate incident occurred along the…
Super Eagles’ stalwart defender, Semi Ajayi, revealed his absence from head coach Jose Peseiro’s post-game briefing following Nigeria’s triumph over South Africa in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final. The West Brom standout, pivotal in the Super Eagles’ penalty shootout victory against Bafana Bafana after a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes, clarified that he…
In a tragic turn of events, Ayuba Abdullahi, the deputy bursar of Kwara State University, Malete, met his demise on Wednesday night while fervently watching the AFCON semi-finals showdown between Nigeria and South Africa. Sources, preferring anonymity, disclosed to The PUNCH that Abdullahi, engrossed in the match at a Sango sports center, suddenly began feeling…
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State commended the Super Eagles squad, specifically acknowledging goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali and head coach Jose Peseiro, following Nigeria’s triumph over South Africa in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final on Wednesday. The victory, secured through a penalty shootout, propelled Nigeria into the AFCON finals after a 1-1 draw in…
Nigerian and Bayer Leverkusen forward, Victor Boniface, shares his thoughts on the Super Eagles’ triumph against South Africa in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali’s remarkable performance, saving two penalty kicks, propelled the Super Eagles to a 4-2 victory over Bafana Bafana, securing their spot in the final….
Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro has said his players must be willing to give more than 100 hundred per cent on the pitch when they confront South Africa. Nigeria and South Africa will clash in a semi-final tie at the Stade de la Paix on Wednesday night. The Bafana Bafana have won four consecutive…
Victor Osimhen’s Nigeria will aim to continue their formidable record at this Africa Cup of Nations when they take on South Africa in the semi-finals on Wednesday, while hosts Ivory Coast meet the Democratic Republic of Congo after a miraculous run to the last four. Nigeria appear the strongest side left at the competition with…
The president of the Republic of Angola, João Lourenço, has said he is happy with the team’s performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. The Palancas Negras were eliminated from the competition by Nigeria on Friday. It was the third time they had made it to the AFCON quarter-final. Ademola Lookman scored the only…
Former Super Eagles skipper, Joseph Yobo, commended Ademola Lookman for his stellar performance in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, particularly in the match against Angola where his first-half strike proved pivotal in securing Nigeria’s spot in the semi-final. Lookman, with three goals to his name, currently holds the title of the team’s leading goal-scorer…
Barcelona’s helm, Xavi Hernandez, alleges that Real Madrid is systematically influencing referees in Spain through their television network. Reiterating his previous assertion of LaLiga officials displaying favoritism towards Madrid, Xavi contends that this bias impedes Barcelona’s competitiveness in the title race. Undeterred, he underscores the ongoing influence exerted by Madrid on referees and laments the…
Sports Development Minister, Senator John Owan Eno, has sent a heartfelt message to the Super Eagles of Nigeria as they prepare to face the Palancas Negras of Angola in the first quarter-final match of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire on Friday evening. He praised the team for their outstanding performance…
Mutiu Adepoju, Nigerian ex-international, has urged the Super Eagles to keep their defence strong and maintain their style of play in their next match against Angola in the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) competition in Cote d`Ivoire. Adepoju, who was part of the Eagles squad that conquered the continent in Tunisia in 1994, said…
