Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

Barcelona have been dealt a significant setback after confirming that midfielder Gavi will be sidelined for up to five months following knee surgery. The 21-year-old, who had only just returned to full fitness after a serious injury last season, underwent an operation to repair cartilage damage sustained in training. The Spain international had started Barcelona’s opening two matches of the 2025-26 campaign before suffering the setback in August. Initial fears were that he had suffered a recurrence of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear that ruled him out for 11 months between 2023 and 2024. While scans brought some relief…

Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa has admitted Unai Emery was right to question the attitude of his players after the head coach branded them “lazy” in the aftermath of Sunday’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Sunderland. The Spaniard was furious as his side failed to beat a Black Cats team that had been reduced to 10 men for an hour following Reinildo Mandava’s red card. Matty Cash’s opener appeared to have put Villa on course for their first league win of the campaign, only for Wilson Isidor to snatch a late equaliser. After the game, Emery did not hold back, publicly…

Tolu Arokodare has vowed to keep finding the back of the net after opening his goalscoring account for Wolverhampton Wanderers in their 2-0 Carabao Cup third-round victory over Everton at Molineux on Tuesday night. The 24-year-old Nigerian forward, who signed from Belgian side KRC Genk on transfer deadline day, scored Wolves’ second of the evening with just three minutes of normal time remaining. It was a strike that not only secured the win but also lifted the mood around Molineux as Arokodare looks to cement his place in Gary O’Neil’s squad. Coming on as a 68th-minute substitute for Jørgen Strand…

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has voiced frustration over the Premier League’s scheduling, claiming his side were unfairly disadvantaged in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage-time goal rescued a point for the Gunners, leaving City to lament what they say was an unbalanced fixture calendar. City had only 66 hours to recover from their 2-0 home victory over Napoli in the Champions League on Thursday, while Arsenal enjoyed a longer recovery period after a 2-0 win over Athletic Club in Bilbao on Tuesday. Silva believes the short turnaround left the City squad physically compromised.…

Christian Horner has formally departed Red Bull Racing, concluding a remarkable two-decade tenure as the team’s principal, following his controversial dismissal in July. While Red Bull’s official statement made no mention of financial details, sources have confirmed that Horner received a severance package worth 60 million euros (£52 million), making it one of the largest pay-offs in sports history. Horner, 51, had led Red Bull since the team’s inception in Formula 1 in 2005, guiding the squad to eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ titles. Under his leadership, Red Bull became one of the sport’s dominant forces, challenging established automotive…

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has thrown his support behind Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah to win this year’s Ballon d’Or award, describing the Egyptian as the most impactful and consistent player over the course of last season. Speaking in an interview with British GQ, the Brazilian midfielder admitted that the competition for football’s most prestigious individual prize is always fierce but believes Salah’s performances stand out among his peers. “It’s very difficult, but in my opinion, for me, Salah,” Casemiro said. “He is the best player with his impact on the game. He scores so much and assists so much.” Casemiro…

Arsenal’s early season optimism has been tempered by yet another injury concern, with summer signing Noni Madueke facing an anxious wait on the results of a knee scan. The winger, who joined from Chelsea for £48.5 million in July, was forced off during the Gunners’ 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the Emirates on Sunday, raising fears that Mikel Arteta’s attacking depth could once again be stretched thin. The 22-year-old pulled up midway through the first half, visibly uncomfortable, and was replaced at the interval by Bukayo Saka, who himself was only making his return from a month-long hamstring lay-off.…

Former Nigerian international and youth coach Fatai Amoo has expressed confidence that the Flying Eagles will deliver a strong performance at the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. The tournament, which runs from September 27 to October 19, offers Nigeria’s youth team another chance to chase their elusive first title at this level. The Flying Eagles have been drawn into Group F, where they will face Colombia, Norway, and Saudi Arabia. Though the group presents challenges, Amoo believes Nigeria has both the talent and pedigree to progress deep into the tournament. “I am backing the Flying Eagles to excel…

Liverpool’s summer signing Hugo Ekitike continued his dream start to life at Anfield with another influential performance in the 2-1 Merseyside derby victory over Everton. His seamless transition from Eintracht Frankfurt to the Premier League has not only delivered goals but also created an unexpected tactical conundrum for new head coach Arne Slot. Signed for £70m after a hot pursuit that saw Liverpool edge out Newcastle United, the 23-year-old Frenchman has already become a cult hero among the Kop. On Saturday, he delivered again, scoring Liverpool’s second goal with a composed finish under Jordan Pickford before leaving the pitch to…

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles continued their preparations for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against host nation Chile in a friendly encounter played on Saturday. The fixture, staged as part of both nations’ warm-up schedule, gave coach Aliyu Zubairu valuable insights into his squad ahead of the global tournament, which kicks off later this month. The w started brightly and showed great composure against a technically sharp Chilean side buoyed by home support. In the 18th minute, their early energy was rewarded when Ahmed Akinyele rose highest to meet a Tahir Maigana corner kick. His powerful…