Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

Concacaf president Victor Montagliani has voiced strong opposition to proposals to expand the 2030 FIFA World Cup to 64 teams. The idea, put forward by South America’s Conmebol, has already been met with criticism from multiple football authorities, including Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The 2030 World Cup will be hosted by Spain, Morocco, and Portugal, with the opening matches in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. While the 2026 World Cup will expand to 48 teams, Conmebol’s proposal aims to mark the centennial anniversary of the tournament by further increasing the number of participating teams. Montagliani…

Manchester United’s hopes of a strong finish to their season have taken a major hit with the news that forward Joshua Zirkzee could miss the rest of the campaign due to a hamstring injury. The 23-year-old Dutch international limped off during the second half of Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Newcastle United and has since undergone tests to assess the damage. Early indications suggest the injury is severe enough to potentially sideline him for the remainder of the season. United manager Ruben Amorim is expected to provide further clarity during Wednesday’s press conference ahead of the crucial Europa League quarter-final second…

Legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum believes the curtain has finally closed on Tyson Fury’s career, insisting the former heavyweight champion will not fight again following his latest retirement. Fury, 36, announced his retirement in January, just weeks after suffering a second consecutive defeat to Ukrainian champion Oleksandr Usyk. Though the Briton has retired multiple times before, Arum is convinced this time it’s for real. “If I was a betting man I would say he will never fight again,” Arum said on the 5 Live Boxing podcast with Steve Bunce. “Tyson doesn’t need to do it anymore, and I don’t think…

Rúben Amorim has a big decision to make—and it could shape not just Manchester United’s Europa League fate, but also the future of Andre Onana at Old Trafford. As United prepare for a decisive quarter-final second leg clash against Lyon, all eyes are on the goalkeeping position. Onana, signed for £47.5 million in the summer of 2023, has endured a turbulent debut season, marred by high-profile errors and intense criticism—most recently from ex-United midfielder Nemanja Matic, who branded him one of the club’s “worst-ever goalkeepers.” It’s a claim that stings, but it also reflects a growing unease about Onana’s form.…

Aston Villa came within inches of a historic UEFA Champions League semi-final berth on Tuesday night, staging a breathtaking comeback against Paris St-Germain before bowing out 5-4 on aggregate in a pulsating quarter-final second leg at Villa Park. Trailing 3-1 from the first leg in Paris, Villa’s hopes took a hammer blow as Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes put PSG 2-0 up within the opening 30 minutes, capitalizing on early defensive lapses. Emiliano Martinez’s misjudged pass gifted Hakimi the opener, before Mendes doubled the visitors’ lead with a clinical finish assisted by Ousmane Dembélé. Villa, however, refused to lie down.…

Newcastle United delivered a commanding 4-1 victory over Manchester United on Sunday, with Harvey Barnes starring in the win by scoring twice, alongside goals from Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes. The result, marking their first league double over United since the 1930-31 season, was a significant boost in their push for a Champions League spot. However, there was one notable absentee from the celebrations – manager Eddie Howe. Howe, who has been absent since Friday due to a health issue, was in hospital, leaving assistant managers Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones to lead the team. Despite his absence, the players…

Liverpool’s march toward their second Premier League title of the Premier League era was propelled by Mohamed Salah’s dazzling performance against West Ham on Sunday. Salah’s goal and assist made history, setting a new record for the most goal involvements in a 38-game Premier League season with 45 (27 goals, 18 assists), surpassing Thierry Henry’s 2002-03 record. Salah’s assist for Luis Diaz’s opening goal demonstrated his extraordinary vision, with the Egyptian’s pass with the outside of his boot leading to Diaz’s strike in the 18th minute. Salah’s contributions helped Liverpool secure a 2-1 win, bringing them within six points of…

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim faces a crucial decision after goalkeeper Altay Bayindir’s disappointing debut in United’s 4-1 defeat to Newcastle. With regular first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana dropped for the game, Amorim’s gamble backfired as Bayindir’s errors contributed to United’s heavy loss. The Turkish goalkeeper’s mistake leading to Newcastle’s fourth goal, a poor pass intercepted by Joelinton, further exacerbated the situation. Bayindir, who joined from Fenerbahce in 2023, was making his Premier League debut, but his lack of control over the game and his inability to cope with crosses or complete passes left much to be desired. His poor distribution,…

Matias Soule’s stunning second-half strike earned Roma a hard-fought 1-1 draw in a fiery Rome derby against Lazio, stretching their unbeaten Serie A run to 16 matches. In a pulsating clash at the Stadio Olimpico, boyhood Lazio supporter Alessio Romagnoli opened the scoring for the hosts just after the break. But Soule responded with a moment of brilliance, curling home an equaliser that kept Roma’s European hopes alive. The opening 45 minutes belonged to Lazio, who pressed relentlessly. Roma keeper Mile Svilar was called into action early, denying Romagnoli and Gustav Isaksen with impressive reflex saves. Lazio’s persistence finally paid…

Tottenham Hotspur’s season lurched further into crisis on Sunday as a shambolic defensive display saw them fall to a 4-2 defeat against Wolves, intensifying pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou ahead of a pivotal Europa League tie. While the Australian tactician recently lamented a mole leaking inside information at the club, it’s Spurs’ porous backline that remains his most dangerous saboteur. Individual errors, poor organisation, and a comical own goal from Djed Spence all contributed to a 17th Premier League defeat—Tottenham’s worst tally in two decades. Wolves struck inside two minutes through Rayan Ait-Nouri before Spence inadvertently bundled in a second.…