Atalanta has commended Ademola Lookman following his impressive 14th place finish in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings, making him the only African player on this year’s 30-man shortlist. Lookman, a standout for both club and country, was recognized at the prestigious award ceremony held in Paris, France, on Monday. Atalanta expressed pride in their star forward, posting, “14th place for Mola: proud of you, Ade.” The Nigerian international’s season was…

The Phoenix Suns handed the Los Angeles Lakers their first defeat of the 2024 NBA season in a dramatic 109-105 clash at the Footprint Center on Tuesday night. The Suns’ dynamic duo, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, combined for an impressive 63 points, with Booker scoring 33 and Durant contributing 30. This stunning display secured a hard-fought win for Phoenix and ended the Lakers’ unbeaten start. Durant, who recently reached…

Former Manchester City and Italy striker Mario Balotelli has signed with Serie A club Genoa on a free transfer. The 34-year-old joins after a spell with Turkish club Adana Demirspor and will make his return to Italian football for the first time in over three years, following his departure from Monza in 2021. Balotelli’s move to Genoa marks a new chapter in a colorful career that has taken him across…

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that forward Diogo Jota will be sidelined until after the November international break due to a rib injury. The Portuguese striker suffered the injury during Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Chelsea on October 20 following a collision with Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo. Jota, 27, has missed the last two matches and has yet to return to training. He is expected to miss at least four…

Bayern Munich and England midfielder Georgia Stanway believes it was “inevitable” that the Lionesses would reach a “plateau” after recent successes, following mounting criticism of their performance in the Women’s Nations League and their failure to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games. The Lionesses, who celebrated historic milestones by winning Euro 2022 and reaching the 2023 World Cup final, have since faced growing scrutiny over recent results. On Friday, England…

FIFA has appointed former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to lead a taskforce dedicated to addressing growing concerns over player welfare, as calls to address an increasingly congested football calendar escalate. This new initiative comes after top European leagues and the players’ union, Fifpro, filed a complaint to the European Commission against FIFA, accusing the organization of abusing its power by overloading the international fixture schedule. The taskforce will include representatives…

The Confederation of African Football has picked November 18 for Nigeria’s final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Rwanda. The match is scheduled for the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. This is contained in a statement on Tuesday by the Nigeria Football Federation. The Matchday 6 encounter will draw the curtain on the race from Group D for slots at the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals to be…

Spain and Barcelona’s mercurial midfielder, Aitana Bonmati, has been crowned the Women’s Ballon d’Or winner for the second consecutive year, celebrating a season of unparalleled success.The 26-year-old was instrumental in Barcelona’s historic quadruple win, which saw the club secure Liga F, the Champions League, the Supercopa, and the Copa de la Reina.With a career-high 19 goals across all competitions, Bonmati emerged as a key player, driving both club and country…

In a glittering ceremony in Paris, Manchester City’s midfield maestro, Rodri, claimed the 2024 Ballon d’Or, crowning a year marked by club and international triumphs.His contributions were pivotal, leading Manchester City to the Premier League title and Spain to Euro 2024 victory, cementing his place as one of the finest players in the game.On crutches due to a recent ACL injury, Rodri was assisted onto the stage by Didier Drogba,…

Zambia’s football community has been shaken by a tragic bus accident that claimed the lives of seven players from Chavuma Town Council FC. The team was en route to a third-tier league match in the northwestern region of the country when the accident occurred, leaving the nation in mourning. The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) released a statement expressing “deep shock” at the accident. FAZ President Andrew Kamanga confirmed they…

Manchester United have confirmed the sacking of manager Erik ten Hag following a disappointing start to the season that leaves the club languishing in 14th place in the Premier League. The Dutchman’s final game at the helm was Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham, extending United’s dismal run to just three wins from their first nine league matches. The club has appointed Ruud van Nistelrooy, who joined as Ten Hag’s…

With Erik ten Hag’s dismissal following Manchester United’s challenging start to the season, the search for a new manager has begun in earnest. Several high-profile names have already emerged as potential candidates, each offering different strengths, experience, and tactical approaches that could shape United’s future. Here’s a breakdown of some of the top contenders for the role at Old Trafford. Ruud van Nistelrooy Managerial Record: Played 33, Won 22, Drawn…