football Archives | Page 10 of 12

Ronaldo’s Al Nassr fires coach Castro

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago02 mins

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi club Al Nassr announced the departure of Portuguese coach Luis Castro on Tuesday, a day after starting their AFC Champions League Elite campaign with a disappointing draw. Monday’s 1-1 stalemate with Iraq’s Al Shorta in the Asian competition compounded a slow start to the domestic season with the current contract of Ronaldo, 39, due to expire next summer. “Al Nassr can announce that head coach Luis Castro has left the club,” said a statement posted on X. “Everyone at Al Nassr would like to thank Luis and his staff for their dedicated work during the past 14 months, wishing them the best of luck for the future.” Castro, 63, is the third coach to depart Al Nassr since Ronaldo’s groundbreaking arrival in early 2023 on a contract that was said to net him 400 million euros over two-and-a-half years. Frenchman Rudi Garcia quickly left that April, followed by a brief stint by Croatian coach Dinko Jelicic before Castro was appointed in July last year. The highly decorated Ronaldo is yet to win a Saudi trophy with the Riyadh club, with his sole silverware so far being last year’s Arab Club Champions Cup. Al Nassr, who finished a distant second in the last Saudi Pro League season, have drawn twice in three matches at the start of the new campaign. Ronaldo’s arrival heralded a rash of high-profile signings by Saudi clubs last year, with Neymar and Karim Benzema among those opting for the oil-rich, conservative kingdom.

Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania to Co-Host CHAN 2024

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago02 mins

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has confirmed that Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania will co-host the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) from February 1 to February 28, 2025. This announcement was made by FUFA Executive Committee member Rogers Byamukama during the unveiling of the new Uganda Cranes kit ahead of the AFCON Qualifiers. Byamukama revealed that the East African trio, were granted hosting rights by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to hold the CHAN tournament, to serve as a preparatory competition for their larger goal of hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). He also highlighted that CAF had sent several inspection teams to assess the preparedness of Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania before granting the hosting rights. Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania were awarded joint hosting rights for the 2027 AFCON in September 2023. Hosting CHAN 2024 will be a critical test run to ensure the three nations are fully equipped to handle the scale of a major tournament like AFCON. The CHAN tournament, which began in 2009, exclusively features players who are actively competing in their national leagues, making it distinct from AFCON, where players from international leagues also participate. The tournament brings together 18 African nations, and Uganda has qualified for six of the seven editions since its inception, although they have yet to progress beyond the group stages.

Ahmed Musa reveals plans to return to NPFL

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago02 mins

Former Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has revealed plans to return to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). The pacy winger gave this hint in a post on his official X handle on Tuesday. He asked; “Let’s go again, which of this teams do you wish for me to sign?” Musa was loaned to Kano Pillars in the 2009–10 season where he set the league record scoring multiple crucial goals as Pillars finished second. Hereford held the record for the highest goals ever scored in one season in the history of the Nigeria Premier League until November 2011. Musa became the first Nigerian to score more than once in a FIFA World Cup match, after scoring twice against Argentina in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Musa is also the first Nigerian to score in two FIFA World Cup competitions, after scoring another brace against Iceland in the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

CAF Beach Soccer AFCON Draw holds on Thursday

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago02 mins

The final draw for the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2024 will take place in Cairo on Thursday, 19 September 2024. The Draw will be conducted at 17h00 local time (14h00 GMT) and will be live-streamed on CAF Digital Platforms including CAF TV (YouTube) and CAFOnline.com. The sixth edition of the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled from 19 to 26 October 2024 in Hurghada, Egypt. The participating teams are Egypt (hosts), Senegal, Ghana Morocco, Tanzania, Mauritania, Mozambique and Malawi. The tournament, which will see the eight (8) nations divided into two groups of four, is expected to be another thrilling African beach soccer experience, with all eyes on reigning champions Senegal, as they aim for their fifth championship title. The Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations is a qualifying competition for the the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2025 set to be hosted by Seychelles next year. Egypt is hosting the final event for the second time, after the 2018 edition in Sharm El Sheikh.

Osimhen makes winning debut for Galatasaray

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago01 mins

Victor Osimhen got off to a winning start for Galatasaray as they smashed past visiting Rizespor 5-0 in the Turkish Super Lig. The Napoli striker on loan to ‘Gala’ was even widely credited with the second goal, but repeated TV replays showed he did not have a touch to the free kick in the 26th minute. Otherwise, he enjoyed a decent debut. He saw his header in the 15th minute off a cross by Dries Mertens miss target narrowly. In the 42nd minute, the striker failed to get a good connection to the ball inside the box. He was then denied his debut goal in the 77th minute by the Rizespor goalkeeper. Osimhen played the entire duration. Fellow Nigeria stars Ibrahim Olawoyin and David Akintola featured for the visiting team.

Bundesliga: Boniface fires brace in Leverkusen win

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago01 mins

Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface netted a brace in Bayer Leverkusen’s 4-1 drubbing of Hoffenheim on Saturday. The Nigerian forward returned to Bundesliga action after failing to score during the international break. Before the break, the Boniface had reclaimed his starting shirt in the team, and he started for them against Hoffenheim alongside compatriot Nathan Tella. Die Werkself were the favourites to claim the win, and they enforced their authority early on. They created the better chances from the start, and it took them just 17 minutes to get the opener. Boniface was the creator, as he sent a nice pass to Martin Terrier, who converted calmly to make it 1-0.

Victor Moses resumes training at Luton Town

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago01 mins

Former Super Eagles midfielder Victor Moses has resumed training with his new club, Luton Town FC. The 33-year-old posted pictures of his training at the new club on Friday. Moses said: “I’m looking forward to it. “I had a few offers from Europe, but I said to my agent that I set my mind on staying over here, and here we are. I’m very pleased and honoured to be at this club and I just can’t wait to get going. “I spoke to Rob before I came, I spoke to the directors and they told me the plan and the history of the club, and I just want to be part of the success. “I want to come here and enjoy my football, work hard for the club and for the team, and get back to where we belong in the Premier League.”

Haaland nets Premier League player award for August

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago03 mins

Erling Haaland has won the Premier League Player of the Month award for August following his electric start to the season for Manchester City, while Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has snared the Manager of the Month gong.Haaland, after a summer of rest, roared into life at the outset of the domestic league season, banging in consecutive hat-tricks to sit on seven goals after just three games.The Norwegian – if he can stay fit – already appears the early favourite to win the Premier League Golden Boot with his nearest current challengers – Mo Salah, Noni Madueke, Bryan Mbeumo and Luis Diaz – already four back, on three goals each.Haaland – as part of a City team that have made an ominous, 100% start to their 2024/25 Premier League campaign – scored in the opening-day win over Chelsea, before grabbing trebles against first Ipswich, and then West Ham.While on Norway duty in the recent UEFA Nations League international break, Haaland added another strike to his already bulging season tally against Austria.The other nominees on the list had been Salah, Mbeumo, Amadou Onana, Cole Palmer, David Raya, Bukayo Saka and Danny Welbeck.City’s next test is a home meeting with Brentford on Saturday, before they host Inter in their opening UEFA Champions League tie of the season, a mouthwatering repeat of the 2023 final, which City memorably won in Istanbul.The Citizens then play Arsenal at the Etihad on September 22 in a match that could already hold big implications for the title race.