Author: Kayode Akinwumi

Manchester United coach Darren Fletcher has been handed a three-match touchline ban and fined £7,500 by the Football Association (FA) for misconduct. The ban stems from a furious rant directed at officials during halftime of Manchester United’s match against Brentford on October 19. The FA alleged that Fletcher acted in an improper and confrontational manner, using abusive and insulting language towards the fourth official, referee, and assistant referees in the tunnel area. The FA’s statement, released on Friday reads, “An independent Regulatory Commission has imposed a three-match extended touchline ban and £7,500 fine on Darren Fletcher for misconduct at Manchester…

While the U.S. presidential election may be the most talked-about political event in November, even in Nigeria, Nigerians should also pay close attention to an important election happening this month: the Ondo State governorship election. Amid various national issues—from teenagers facing treason charges to a divisive tax reform bill—it’s easy to overlook the importance of this upcoming election in Ondo State. In Nigeria’s federal system, where states strive for equal prominence, certain states, like Ondo, stand out due to unique characteristics. These factors highlight why the Ondo governorship election deserves close attention. Ondo is a frontier state in Nigeria’s southwest,…

While electoral races in advanced democracies usually center around party ideologies and policies, in Nigeria, they are often more about individual interests. This is not to say that political parties in Nigeria do not play a significant role in elections. However, the lines of distinction are so permeable, and party structures so weak, that politicians can easily switch affiliations and take over party structures to serve their own interests. Many past elections have reflected this, and the upcoming Ondo governorship election may not be an exception. According to information from the Independent National Electoral Commission, 17 parties will be on…

As Arsenal prepare to face Inter in the Champions League on Wednesday night, winger Bukayo Saka has address the club’s recent faltering form, insisting that the Gunners can still compete for trophies. Mikel Arteta’s men have played three Premier League games without a win and recently saw their sporting director Edu Gaspar. Notwithstanding, the English winger remains confident in the team’s quality, stating that the season is way too early to call. Saka has stepped up into Arsenal’s captaincy role since Martin Odegaard’s absence due to injury. He described his leadership style as leading by example, although he acknowledges that…

Real Madrid’s woes continued on Tuesday as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at home to AC Milan in the Champions League. The Los Blancos had earlier suffered a humiliating loss to rivals Barcelona, mounting up pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti and his players. Fans of the club are finding blames wherever they can, with midfielder Fede Valverde’s partner, Mina Bonino lending her criticism. The Argentinian media personality voiced her discontent on social media during Madrid’s loss to Milan on Tuesday. She pointed out that her partner, a natural midfielder, is being deployed wrongly in a wider role in order…

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been named as a potential replacement for embattled Everton manager Sean Dyche. Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer made the suggestion in an interview with Betfair, pointing out that the three-time Premier League winning manager has been exhibiting a desire to return to the English top-flight. Mourinho currently holds the role of manager at Fenerbahce where he moved in the summer after a stint at Roma. He recently made headlines for his comment that nobody watches the Turkish league and has also openly criticized VAR. Shearer is of the opinion that Mourinho’s recent antics are…

Brazilian star Neymar Jr has picked up another injury following his recent return from a knee injury that sidelined him for more than a year. The former Barcelona man was brought on for Abdullah Al Hamdan in the 57th minute of Al Hilal’s three-nil victory over Esteghlal in the AFC Champions League. He was forced to leave the game after playing for less than 30 minutes, however. The Brazil captain appeared to have injured his left thigh as the game entered stoppage time, and got a quick medical attention on the sideline before returning to action. He wasn’t able to…

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has acknowledge the recent struggles of his team, following their 2-1 loss over the weekend at Bournemouth. He maintained, however, that they will contest for trophies by the end of the season. Several injuries have hit the City squad, compounding their woes as they suffered their first Premier League loss of the season over the weekend, ending their unbeaten streak from last season. Notwithstanding, they remain in the title race, with only two points separating them from league leaders Liverpool. The Spanish coach conceded the fact that his team’s injury challenge will affect their performance…

José Mourinho has revealed that he had the opportunity to sign in-form Nigerian star Ademola Lookman. The Fenerbahce manager recounted how he was prevented from recruiting the Atalanta forward during his tenure at Italian side AS Roma in 2022. The Nigerian international was recently voted 14th in the Ballon d’Or and remains the favorite in the race for the African Player of the Year Award. According to Mourinho, the head scout at Roma during the period José Fontes, recommended that Lookman, then at RB Leipzig, not be signed by the Roman side. Fontes’ report painted a negative outlook on Lookman,…

Edu Gaspar, Arsenal’s sporting director, has officially resigned from his position to join Nottingham Forest’s multi-club network. The Brazilians departure comes as a shock to many Arsenal fans considering his role in the club’s recent resurgence. Edu, who is also a former Arsenal player under the legendary manager Arsene Wenger, has been a significant presence within the club. During his time there, he became involved in the rebuilding project with manager Mikel Arteta, transforming Arsenal into one of the most consistently top-performing clubs in England, especially with his input in the transfer market where his ability to spot and recruit…