Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal has been ruled out of Spain’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers after aggravating a groin injury, deepening a growing club-versus-country row over the teenager’s workload. The 18-year-old winger, who has already established himself as one of Europe’s brightest prospects, will miss around two to three weeks of action, according to Barcelona. That timeframe excludes him from Spain’s matches against Georgia and Bulgaria next week and sidelines him from Barça’s La Liga clash with Sevilla this weekend. Injury setback Yamal initially suffered the groin problem while on international duty in September, missing four games for Barcelona as a…

Nottingham Forest’s board have offered Ange Postecoglou their public backing, but the Australian coach knows Sunday’s Premier League clash against Newcastle United could be pivotal for his future. The 60-year-old has endured a difficult start to life at the City Ground, failing to win any of his first six matches in charge across all competitions. Forest’s 3-2 Europa League defeat to Danish side Midtjylland on Thursday brought frustration from supporters, with chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” echoing around the stands. Yet, despite growing discontent from sections of the fanbase, Forest’s hierarchy are urging patience. Insiders at the…

Jude Bellingham has been named England Men’s Player of the Year for the 2024-25 campaign, capping another milestone season in what is already proving to be an extraordinary career for the 22-year-old midfielder. The Real Madrid star finished ahead of Declan Rice and Harry Kane in the supporters’ vote, further underlining his growing influence on the international stage. It marks the first time he has received the honour, and he becomes just the second player in history to win it while representing a club outside of England, following Owen Hargreaves’ success in 2006 during his Bayern Munich days. Impact on…

As planning intensifies for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico, kick-off times are becoming a growing point of contention. FIFA officials are expected to schedule matches involving Europe’s leading nations after midnight UK time, in a bid to protect players from the extreme heat that plagued this summer’s Club World Cup. During that tournament in the United States, players and managers repeatedly raised concerns about soaring pitch-side temperatures. Matches in Los Angeles, played under blistering midday sun, saw Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique lament the near-40 degree heat, while Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández…

Paris Saint-Germain produced a statement victory in the Champions League as Gonçalo Ramos’ dramatic 90th-minute winner sealed a 2-1 triumph over Barcelona at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. It was the first time an away team had ever scored a last-minute winner in European competition against Barcelona, and it underlined PSG’s intent to defend the treble they captured last season. Early Promise for Barcelona Barcelona started brightly, fuelled by the pace of Marcus Rashford and the trickery of 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal. The home crowd was rewarded after 19 minutes when Rashford burst down the left and delivered a superb…

Arsenal maintained their perfect start to the Champions League league phase with a 2-0 victory over Olympiakos at the Emirates Stadium, as Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka delivered decisive goals in a controlled performance. The Gunners, who opened their campaign with a win over Athletic Club, made it two wins from two thanks to another influential display from Martinelli and the returning brilliance of captain Martin Ødegaard. Early Breakthrough Mikel Arteta’s men struck early, capitalising on their attacking intent from the outset. New striker Viktor Gyökeres bulldozed his way through the Olympiakos defence in the 12th minute, and though his…

Manchester City were held to a 2-2 draw by Monaco in the UEFA Champions League league stage at Stade Louis-II, as Eric Dier’s last-minute penalty cancelled out Erling Haaland’s first-half double.

The Champions League continues to serve up drama on and off the pitch as three English sides — Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham — prepare for crucial group-stage ties on a night that also sees Jose Mourinho return to Stamford Bridge with Benfica. For Liverpool, the trip to Istanbul to face Galatasaray comes under the shadow of a hostile atmosphere, with the Türk Telekom Arena infamously dubbed “hell” for visiting teams. Jürgen Klopp’s side are looking to recover from an inconsistent start to the European campaign, but the team news brought surprises: both Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak were named on…

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has been handed a one-match suspension by UEFA following his red card during a heated exchange with Liverpool fans at Anfield earlier this month. The Argentine coach was dismissed late in Atletico’s 3-2 Champions League defeat and has now been punished for what UEFA described as “unsporting conduct.” Incident at Anfield The flashpoint came deep into stoppage time after Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk scored a dramatic 92nd-minute winner. As Anfield erupted, Simeone appeared to react angrily towards a section of home supporters who had been jeering him throughout the game. The 55-year-old left his…

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has issued a stern warning to Warri Wolves following the suspension of the club’s head coach, Napoleon Aluma, by the Delta State Sports Commission. The league body has threatened sanctions if the club fails to comply with its operational requirements. League Queries Warri Wolves In an official letter signed by NPFL Chief Operating Officer Davidson Owumi, the league body demanded Warri Wolves submit contracts for all technical and management staff within 24 hours. The letter was prompted by reports that coach Aluma had been suspended without the NPFL receiving proper documentation from the club.…